Zerodegrees, Reading

This is a large, modern bar and restaurant, similar in style and layout to the other venues in this small chain of brewpubs. You can enter from two opposite ends as I entered I found myself in the restaurant section, with no obvious sign of a bar. This seems like quite a nice spot to eat with plenty of seating options in a large, well lit space, but I didn’t linger, heading towards the open kitchen at the rear where a dog-leg turn soon reveals the lower level bar area. This has a fairly utilitarian look to it, with a concrete floor, exposed metalwork, bare blockwork walls and lots of visible piping, air ducts and the like running beneath a corrugated iron ceiling, all of which makes the place fairly cold and uninviting. Even the sight of the brewing vessels behind the servery failed to lift the spirits. A few comfy sofas and pouffes have been arranged on a slightly raised platform opposite the bar in a failed attempt to off-set the brutal décor, whilst some standard tables and chairs can be found to the right, near the other entrance. A drinking shelf separates the bar area from the raised seating section and would be a handy spot to grab on busy evenings. Large floor to ceiling windows displaying the brewery logo, run down the right hand side, allowing plenty of light into the room. I noticed a TV set opposite the bar which was switched off in favour of a jazz and swing soundtrack. I managed a quick glimpse at the menu, which seems to focus around pizza and pasta dishes, with most mains costing around a tenner. There were plenty of Zerodegrees beers available at the bar, all dispensed from the tall keg-style fonts, and a quick walk down the length of the counter whilst waiting for the barmaid to return allowed me to note the following options – Pale Ale, Mango, Pilsner, Wheat Ale, Elderflower Lager, Black Lager and Christmas Bock. I opted for the Wheat Ale, which was fairly average and not really enhanced by having a chunk of fruit dropped in it, and the Black Lager, which was much better, but still served at a temperature close to zero degrees. For reasons that I suspect I’ll never understand, these beers are classed as real ale by CAMRA. I didn’t particularly dislike this place, but I did feel that you have to ignore quite a few negative points before you can really enjoy a visit. For me, the prospect of some interesting beers that are hard to come by elsewhere means that I would consider a return, but I can see why others might be less inclined to give it a second chance.