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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 28th April 2024) with aleandhearty
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Bell & Bottle, Reading
Shinfield
Postal town: Reading
RG2 9EE
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Bell & Bottle
Recently taken over by Mark (a proper 'Mine Host'), late of the Butchers in Tilehurst where he oversaw an impressive refurb and upswing in ale quality. He's exploiting the fact that this pub is free-of-tie and is getting a good range in. WIth the jumbo housing development getting underway nearby this place may well be a little goldmine in the next two or three years. Worth seeking out.
March 2015
I like to think that someone read my post below as the place has had a good lick of paint inside and out. Perhaps lacking a bit of cosiness but it’s certainly an improvement on the scruffy interior of yore. Three on last Saturday – Andwell, Pride and one other that I forget. The Pride was serviceable. With the closure of the nearby Royal Oak and the coming of a large housing estate, it’ll be interesting to see how things develop here over the next couple of years.
November 2012
Big spacious pub that is a mish-mash of everything but a master of nothing. It desperately needs to work out what it wants to be as there are plenty of pubs in Shinfield, given the population. In fairness they are trying with the beer - there are usually three ales on (Andwell and London Pride feature heavily) and it is free of tie. The condition ranges from not-so-good to very good but it can be a bit hit-and-miss. There's pool, a darts board that's seen better days and an old Frogger arcade machine that's never switched on. It overlooks the village green and really should do better - sorting out the sterile front bar would be a start?
On 16th July 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Bell & Bottle
Quite a large pub once you are inside,opened out and modernised inside but with distinct seperate seating areas around the bar with a games area to the rear,there is also a beer garden. I was pleased to see all four handpumps working with a reasonable choice available, Plain Ales Sheep Dip, Ringwood True Glory, Upham Bumper and Bristol Beer Factory Nova ,which was very good,from the beer clips displayed on the wall surrounding the bar it would appear there is a good changing beer policy here. I liked this pub a lot although quiet on my early lunchtime visit I imagine this is a pub on the up and would certainly stop off again.
On 13th July 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1875 recommendations about 1848 pubs]