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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Detail Pages
The Blagrave Arms, Reading
Reading
RG1 1PW
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Blagrave Arms
Getting tatty round the edges now, and the single ale on (Andwell) was dire.
June 2017
Usually a couple of local ales on, but quality can be pretty hit or miss.
August 2013
Re-opened as a gay-friendly venue and a thorough internal makeover, white paint, black trim and quite well-done. Even the toilets don't smell now! Two ales, often local and often awful. Hogs Back cider which apparently is a Thatcher's re-badge and isn't 'real' according to my cider-swilling friend. If you go in here with another bloke you get complimentary olives and nuts sped to your table. Maybe sort the beer out first, eh?
Oct 2012
Well Sam has gone, unfortunately he and the PubCo could not agree terms for a licence extension. A real shame as he'd turned this into a destination ale venue. New owners are rather at sea with ale selection and quality, but there is a more local slant emerging.
October 2011
The former Whitley Fight Club is now under new and improved ownership. Sam has made a big effort to turn the place round and back into a proper pub - "no screens or machines" declares the A-board. There are now four real ales (usually two or three local beers) and the quality of them becoming increasingly top-notch. Daily newspapers are available, along with rather nice rolls (£2 - though you can bring your own food from the local takeaways if you want). A dartboard is now up. Watch out for the pub dog, Ralph. There's still some distance left to go (the toilets, for example) but this is fast becoming a regular visit for me. And it's also very handy for the side entrance of Reading BR. Check it out.
On 6th August 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Blagrave Arms
Didn't think it was very swish like Graham.One room,and did notice the black and blue décor.Afternoon visit so didn't get any gay vibe Two cask beer from Sherfield and Lodden served by a friendly barmaid.
On 22nd February 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Blagrave Arms
Swish upmarket bar, tastefully decorated in black and pale blue with candles and chandeliers, presumably aimed at the gay community but providing a welcome change from the usual circuit pubs down the road. Had three interesting ales on pump at time of visit, from Binghams, Hammerpot and Sherfield, however the sampled Hammerpot Double Helix was rather gassy - either needed better venting or might even have been on a cask breather.
On 23rd June 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Blagrave Arms
Chance would have it that I visited the Blagrave Arms a couple of times on Saturday last weekend. The first time was just before lunch when I found myself to be the only customer. The second time was early evening when there were a couple of bouncers on the door and the pub wasn’t much busier.
I used to work in the offices opposite circa 2001 and remember this place being a bit of a dive. It now has the feel of a trendy bar with black leather (?) furniture and black tables. There are also a couple of black high tables and the bar stools are also black. There are a couple of framed plasma screens that were showing muted BBC 24 News, I cannot recall if these were on during my evening visit. During my lunchtime visit there was some depressing background music playing.
The bar is stocked with premium draught products and the two hand pumps were drawing Hogs Back Brewery’s T.E.A and Vale Brewery’s Metroland. Food is available and all of the mains are priced under £10.
I found this to be a characterless bar and I do not plan a return visit anytime soon.
On 21st July 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5228 recommendations about 5196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Blagrave Arms
A very fine frontage but quite sterile interior,done in that trendy bar style.Two doormen outside but about as many punters inside until the remnants of the PuG crawl barrel in.Two handpumps but my only recollection was having a Vale Metroland (half £1.75).I noted a wooden floor and raised banquettes but I am unlikely to darken it's doors again.
On 14th July 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dave stray left this review about Blagrave Arms
Very odd pub and theme nights they appear to do. Rundown and not really worth the visit anyway.
On 29th April 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 265 recommendations about 183 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
picasso 09 left this review about Blagrave Arms
Found it to be rather gloomy and soulless on my recent visit only a couple of other customers in at 4.30 on a Thursday afternoon.Only two real ale offerings available both from Andwells, not a favorite of mine,on this basis I don't intend to return in the near future.
On 29th March 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 14 recommendations about 14 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dave stray left this review about Blagrave Arms
Unusual sort of place but enjoyable nontheless.
On 11th October 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 265 recommendations about 183 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dave stray left this review about Blagrave Arms
Drank London Pride here on a visit. The fact its close to the station makes it a worthwhile trip.
On 8th August 2010
- rating: 5
[User has posted 265 recommendations about 183 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Blagrave Arms
A decent victorian interior, nice etched panels above the herringbone panelled bar counter which is curved at one end. From a broad front with a few posing tables the single room narrows to a sparcely furnished area with some short booths with upholstered benches. There is a pool table at the far end. The gold painted architrave looks quite good against white anaglypta and brown panelling. 6X and Pride on the two handpumps, nowt special, and T Bars with the usual keg stuff. Basic, plain, less than animated punters, I'll resist making any comparision with the stuffed pike on the wall especially as there was a small, noisy chav-like group of under 25s at the back. Very close to the railway station.
On 13th June 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]