The Three Guineas, Reading

Still deserves its reputation as one of the better station pubs but on a recent visit prior to a Reading crawl the quality of the beer didn’t live up to the selection. Admittedly it was just after midday but three of us had different beers and they were all either a bit cloudy or just not that good. For the prices charged they really need to offer a good product or people will, like we did, have one and move on.

Decent enough place for a station pub. I had to drink my pint out of a plastic cup on Saturday afternoon, but I'd imagine this was due to the football. There are a few tables and chairs out the front and a BBQ was starting up just as I left. OK for a couple, but I wouldn't stay too long.

Pretty good for a station pub and better than I remembered it from a previous visit. I suspect it's one of those places that has a couple of goods years and a couple of bad ones, thankfully at present it's going through a good stage. I found it clean and comfortable although perhaps a tad depressing which I suppose is understandable given the transient nature of customers in station pubs. Four real ales were on in decent condition and they were supporting the LocAle initiative. Sky Sports with all the big football and rugby games are shown on a big screen and various others dotted around the pub, including one outside.

I had a glance in on my way back to the station and was tempted inside by the bank of handpumps. It is a bit of a barn, one huge space and a high ceiling, and the music is a bit loud, but as station pubs go its pretty good. Live sports, (rugby dominates....on TV plus the large shirt selection) but also several screens with Sky Sports News on allowing for a check of the scores of the proper shaped ball game. There is also a monitor for train information. A few pics and memorabilia of the age of steam, a variety of seating, including an extensive outdoor area. Eight handpumps, Thwaites Lancaster Bomber & Wainwright, Hoskins Hob Best Mild & Dolphin....lightly coloured hoppy and bitter.....Titanic Iceberg, Inveralmond Independence, Houston Brewery Co Festival Ale, and GK IPA on at the time. A bit pricey but it is next to the station with a transient clientele so no real surprise I guess.

CLOSED. Now residential(01/12/09)

Within the station but accessed from outside only, probably due to fear of fare dodgers. A barnlike drinking area, 8 pulls with the beers much better than expected for this kind of place. Lots of big screens and numerous rugby shirts hanging down from the ceiling making the place look like it takes in laundry. Efficient enough staff and not a bad place to wait for a train. Personally I wouldn't bother to stay for more than one pint but quite a few people seem to. Paid another visit while waiting for a train and was much more impressed, I could see how it justifies its GBG entry. There seems to be a wider choice of smaller brewery beers than before and included George Wright from Merseyside - a particular personal favourite. The rugby shirts have been tidied up and the laundry decor is much less pronounced.