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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 28th April 2024) with aleandhearty
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Bull Inn, Reading
Sonning
Postal town: Reading
RG4 6UP
Pub Type
Fuller'sReviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Bull Inn
Continues to be a minor classic. A very nice HSB supped last week.
April 2017
A fairly pleasant village pub with a bit of rustic charm. Bigger inside than it looks on the outside. Features in Three Men in a Boat: "If you stop at Sonning, put up at the Bull, behind the church. It is a veritable picture of an old country inn, with green, square courtyard in front, where, on seats beneath the trees, the old men group of an evening to drink their ale and gossip over village politics". Well the green courtyard and trees are sadly now concreted over to allow for a handful of car parking spaces, which is sad. The interior is dark and cosy with comfy seating and a real fire and there’s a side hatch outside for beer orders. A bit too much of the place is given over to diners though, in my opinion. Usually packs in four of the Fullers-Gales range, including HSB. Beer is usually in good nick, although the occasional stinker gets through. Still, it’s worth a visit, best sampled on a cold winters evening or a lazy summers Sunday.
On 24th December 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Bull Hotel
Clearly a very old village pub/inn, timber framed with black and white exterior and low beamed ceilings. The pub has four connected areas, one end seems to be purely for dining, as perhaps is the room behind the bar, deserted on my visit but interestingly the exterior (unused) door is marked "Locals Bar". No Royston Vasey feel to the place though, however I was a little unsure of the "meet and greet" style reception on entering, but I suppose the place is a small hotel too.
Back to the pub, the bar area is warm and welcoming, the fire was not necessary on the day of my visit, but I bet it makes for a cosy atmosphere on a crisp day. The fireplace in the "Locals Bar" is huge, Inglenook style.
Generally wooden floors, mix of seats including wing back chairs by the fire....The comedy character "ver ver drunk" sprang to mind.....Whitehouse(?)....old photos, pics of the area etc. The courtyard outside is nice with plenty of seating but I do agree the parked cars take the edge off it a bit, Clarkson would love it though, no old bangers here! Nice hanging baskets, and climbing plants, Wisteria I think.
The building itself is large and nowadays includes accommodation. I'm fairly sure there was a brewhouse here once, the front attached cottage is "Malt Cottage" and at first floor level there looks to be a grain store, now converted.
Fullers now, Pride, Gales HSB, Chiswick and Discovery. £2.80 for Chiswick.
A good looking food menu, ranging from the pricier Chefs Specials, but also including smaller offerings and sandwiches/snacks. A nice spot.
On 3rd February 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]