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The Griffin, Reading

12 Church Road
Caversham
Postal town: Reading
RG4 7AD
Phone: 01189475018

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Pub Type

Chef & Brewer (Spirit Pubs)

Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Quinno _ left this review about The Griffin

Retains its position as Caversham's premier mid-range eat and drink pub, and is usually busy all times of day. Five cask on with a fairly safe selection though there is a local beer on from either Rebellion or Loddon. Quality is usually in-or-around GBG status.

August 2016
Long-serving licensee Ann-Marie has gone. Still a good ale range but quality a bit more hit-and-miss these days. A fire a few months back mean that the interior has had a refurb, a bit lighter than before and maybe a bit less of the homely feel. Worth seeing what's on but generally expect larger national brands (only Binghams Twyford Tipple not fitting that description the other day).

May 2013
Chef and Brewer foody place that nonetheless has a bit of character and usually four to five ales in fairly good nick (Courage Best and Directors, Adnams and Bombardier usually feature alongside a guest). There's a pleasant outside rear area for smokers. It's a popular destination and gets very busy later on in the week.

On 2nd January 2023 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Steve of N21 left this review about The Griffin

In my experience the traffic in Reading is bad enough at the best of times, so throw into that Henley Regatta and the week long graduation ceremonies of the town’s university and you have all the reasons you need to stay away. So when finally finding myself somehow misdirected and heading out of town across Caversham bridge whilst trying to find a decent place to eat, I wasn’t going to turn round and try and make it back in, and this is the first place you come to across the bridge that looks like a half decent pub.
And as reported below, unlike a lot of the gastro abominations that make up the Chef & Brewer chain, The Griffin is actually quite a good traditional pub. Although it clearly focusses on food, with your usual C&B menu available, it’s not in your face, and the many different traditional wood décor separate seating areas around the main central bar are all comfortable enough just to sit and have a pint.
Five real ales on two banks of pumps on the L shaped bar and although four were the same uninspiring options also reported below (Courage Best and Directors, Adnams Broadside and Bombardier) the available guest was a very passable pint of Otter Amber. And along with some decent meal options off the menu this place certainly hit the spot for the required food stop with a decent pint. Would not hesitate to use it again for that reason when next in the area.

On 8th July 2013 - rating: 6
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]