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Detail Pages
The Fishermans Cottage, Reading
Reading
RG1 3DW
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 Fishermans Cottage
Has been through a number of licensees in the last few years. The current bunch are down to a single cask (Wadworth 6X) which whilst in fair condition also had a number of sea monsters floating around at the bottom.
April 2017
Now re-opened under the auspices of the former asst manager at the Greyfriar though the décor happily remains. A similar emphasis being brought to bear here, with a more challenging range of ale and an increase in the craft keg and bottle section. Beer quality is very good. An excellent addition is in the kitchen, with I Love Paella doing the cooking. Should be visited if you're crawling town.
September 2015
Pub has re-opened and like its sister pub the Butler, has been sold by Fullers and is now a genuine freehouse run by a local family. Staff are learning on the job and are creating a really good little pub. Three local ales on plus Brewdog and Guinness Porter in the fridge. Impressive internal makeover, now light and airy. Beer garden is unrecognisable from old and has beach hut style booths. Food served. Worth popping in!
September 2013
A small Fullers pub on the Kennet Side that has had plenty of ups and downs in recent times. Canalaside pub, a short stroll from the immediate town centre. Usually 3-4 Fuller's list beers (including Gales HSB and a Fullers seasonal) which can vary wildly in quality. The conservatory to the extension to the right looks like something out of the Everest catalogue. A decent place to watch the football and the outside seating is nice in the summer months. Shame Fullers are forcing their landlords to charge exhorbitant prices for the ale though.
On 29th May 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Fishermans Cottage
This is a smart riverside pub with an unusual interior comprising a compact cottage that may or may not have once belonged to a fisherman, with a much larger modern extension to one side in what felt like a giant conservatory. You approach the pub along the riverside path, passing through a decent sized tarmac space with ample picnic benches and views of the river, before entering the smart main bar area in the old cottage building itself. The room has quite a cosy feel, despite being opened out into the extension to the rear right, and offers some comfy armchairs in front of a nice old fireplace, some simple tables and chairs in the front window bays and a single high table with bar stools directly opposite the bar. The room has modern floorboards throughout whilst the servery runs along the rear wall, with a deliberately scruffy looking tongue and groove panelled counter front and plain bar back with a blackboard above detailing some of the offers currently available. Some plants along the bar counter add a bit of colour and there is a post at one end of the bar with a rope wound around it, which suggested a possible nautical theme that doesn’t actually materialise. The room opens out to the right into the ‘conservatory, which has a curtained glass roof, timber clad walls and some large UPVC folding doors at the front and rear. Tables and chairs in orderly rows provide the bulk of the rather uninspired furnishings, whilst décor is also a little less interesting than in the bar area, a large Estrella advert being perhaps the pick, along with a few more blackboards and potted plants. There was a reggaeton soundtrack playing rather incongruously in the background during my time here, although it was quiet enough to not feel intrusive.
Despite the four handpulls on the bar, only one was clipped, with St Austell Tribute, which came in at a hefty £2.40 for a half. It was in pretty good shape though and the barmaid that served me was very friendly and helpful, despite dropping my change everywhere and having to pick it up from the floor, slop trays and wherever else it might’ve landed.
I quite enjoyed this place and thought it was a nice spot to sup a few pints alongside the river on a warm day. The pub also seemed comfortable enough to hunker down in on colder days and the service and decent beer were definitely bonuses, although I would probably need a bit more variety on the handpulls to make a session seem like an attractive proposition.
On 7th January 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Fishermans Cottage
A quite small pub that has been extended in size with the addition of a large conservatory on the side of the building.The inside is done out in rustic/beachcomer style with mixed seating throughout,the seaside theme carrys on through to the outside decked seating area with a novel row of beach huts along the rear wall. Ale -wise there are four handles on the bar, three were in use,Wildweather Plain Sailing Weather,Dark Star American Pale Ale and Triple fff Moondance.All in all a decent little pub.
March 2015
Although now reopened I tried to have a look today at around 11:30 AM, according to Whatpub its open at 11:00 but when I got there although some lights were on I could see through the windows all chairs and stools were still upside down on the tables and somebody was visible hoovering the floors but the doors were firmly closed and still had the morning paper protruding from the letter box,maybe the times are wrong on the CAMRA website but if your not open when advertised your'e not going to get any business.Strangely this pub despite being open for a while now has no visible exterior signage at all as far as I could see and looks rather anonymous,all rather odd.
On 1st August 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Fishermans Cottage
Will reopen under new management after its previous owners announced they were standing down. Ex assistant manager at The Greyfriar pub will be taking over as general manager of the pub.
On 19th July 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Fishermans Cottage
Now reopen according to Getreading.
On 13th December 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Fishermans Cottage
This is currently closed with signage saying it will reopen soon,it looked like it may be a while though.
On 15th August 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1872 recommendations about 1845 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about Fishermans Cottage
Another Kennet side pub which shut last year, but was then given a major modern style refit and reopened.
A modern furnished main bar area , then a pleasant stone snug behind a fire place with a wood burning stove. There’s a small games room and then he pub has been extended with a light and airy conservatory out back. Beyond this is a very pleasant enclosed garden area with plenty of wooden bench tables
It benefits from having a nice spot by the first lock of the K&A canal and takes advantage of this with half a dozen wooden benches on the waterside.
Its a Fullers house and there was the full range of Fullers ales range available and my pint of Pride was perfectly fine.
On 12th October 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]