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The Hare & Hounds, Speen, Newbury
Speen
Newbury
RG14 1QY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Michael Wright left this review about The Hare & Hounds
Return visit, lunchtime on a dull Monday mid Jan 2015. Visit was mainly food led, lunch basically. Beer not tried this time, driving duties, but seems same old favourites still available, GOB etc.
The pub / hotel has had work done, most of the garden has gone and is now replaced by a large conservatory style building named The Barn, it is barn size and spacious, pictures submitted. I suspect now hotel is catering for wedding trade this fits that function nicely, we remained in the original bar area, would have seemed like two loose peas rattling around in The Barn
Food remains same high quality, as does the service, although I never had any beer it seemed popular with what were obviously regular customers, again the food lunch trade mainly, but certainly not locals in overalls off a building site
The car park has not been affected by The Barn building
One thing to note, there is now a direct entrance from car park, through The Barn, however there are about half a dozen stone steps down [can't be helped, it is on a hillside], if in a wheelchair or walking frame, go to right from car park and use the original side door, only one step down to bar.
I noticed a small, silent, TV has now appeared in part of the bar, not obtrusive but could distract
I will return, it is close to A34 road home, no complaints, warm & friendly enough, reasonable prices for reasonable food, with large car park
Ok if in area, or on A34 / A4 and need a break
On 26th January 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 526 recommendations about 382 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Hare & Hounds
Roadside pub with a surprisingly small bar given the size of the building, long and quite narrow with some small semi-booth seating overlooking the road (I was reminded somewhat of an American roadside diner in pub form eg the carpeted floor). Food and accommodation offered. Two local ales, West Berks GOB and Two Cocks Golden (a bit warm but OK) served by a single overworked barman. Fair enough stop without being overly memorable.
On 5th December 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5107 recommendations about 5090 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Michael Wright left this review about The Hare & Hounds
Just update, visit on Thursday lunchtime, hot & sunny day early September 2013
This time i can remember what I drank, pint of West Berkshire Brewery "Good old boy" which was excellent, shame I was driving or would have had another. Alternative ale was Doom Bar. Both £3.50 a pint
Partner had coffee, from a hissing thingy machine, judged as excellent
Again our main mission was lunch, and it was all good, absolutely no complaints whatever
Pub / hotel seems to be having a bit of a tasteful spruce up, fresh exterior paint, all in best possible taste, not garish
Still remains food based, but given it is hotel, ex coaching Inn, then that is to be expected
Staff polite, friendly & helpful
If you are in area give it a try
On 5th September 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 526 recommendations about 382 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Michael Wright left this review about Hare & Hounds Hotel
Monday visit at lunchtime before Christmas , weather dull & cold as per photos, the pub / hotel was not
The main entrance seems to be via car park and at the side, there is a door fronting onto the Bath Road [A4] but not sure if it operational or a relic of past coaching days
We entered via side door from the very large car park, as it is a hotel as well as bar the car park needs to be large to cater for hotel guests, and it meets these requirements in spades
On entry it could be a bit confusing as one is in the hotel lobby area really, with public bar off to the right via a door at the end of a corridor, however you would have to struggle to not find bar area
Because the hotel / bar is built on a hillside the bar / dining area is accessed down a some steps, there is a warning notice on the door, but do take caution if not steady on your pins, I reckon wheelchairs could use but could probably need assistance
Once in bar area it is apparent that food is the main attraction here, the bar / dining area is a flattened U, on entering to left are dining tables, to right is bar on inside bend of the U. On flattened base of U is more dining + bar with hand pulls and normal pubby items, the final leg of the U is more dining area. The areas are spacious are not cramped in
Three hand pulls for real ale, names forgotten but two were standard to pub + one guest. It is a free house, so beer is not tied AFAIK. Although I cannot remember what I drank it was a nice pint, around £3 mark. The main bar area has fruit machine, but no TV that I spotted, and the given area I doubt Sky sports is a top priority for most customers
The main reason for visit was lunch, and there is a wide selection, ranging from Chef's specials to Credit Crunch Lunch [2 pick 'n' mix courses around £7.50]. Prices are very reasonable, around the £7 mark for main course. Two of us had main course, 1.5 pints & 2 coffees for just over £20, which whilst not in the two for a tenner range the food was also not in that range and was good value
Some notes of caution, if arriving via A34 / Newbury bypass from the west, there is a permanent radar trap on the hill, around a bend, 30 MPH limit and believe me it would be very easy to get a ticket if not aware
There are some steps in the pub, not big ones, but may be difficult for some, do not let that put you off, or if it does go west along the Bath Road / A4 a mile or so to the Halfway House
Because of the steps I cannot give this 10, & if there were 1/2s it would be 9 1/2, so 9 it is
I will definitely go back, and it is well worth a visit, just watch out for the radar
On 14th December 2010
- rating: 9
[User has posted 526 recommendations about 382 pubs]