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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Detail Pages
The Castle Tap, Reading
Reading
RG1 7RJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Castle Tap
Quirky pub set among the faded Georgian spendour on the wrong side of the ring road,it has a very high ceiling ,L shaped interior with a mix of furniture,pew benches,small sofa,upright piano,two darts boards at right angles and a substantial library to the side of the fireplace.The bar is at the rear left and has a fine mirrored bar back.The soundtrack was heavy metal and punk but played at a sensible volume when the pub is quiet ,as it was on my Friday 4pm visit just after opening.
There is a community feel here,with events such as open mic,sea shanties,story telling and so on.
There is a TV room in a seperate shed like structure out the back which then leads to a beer garden of sorts.The screen is large but off during my visit,while the shed was dark and a bit gloomy.
Three real ale in St Austell Proper Job,White Horse Bitter and Dynamite Valley Ambrys (A malty mess in poor nick,NBSS 1.5).There was a single handpump for a real cider,goosberry flavoured plus 4 other ciders advertised but I should have investigated the craft keg options before plumping for a poor real ale.There were 9 keg beer options,7 over 5%ABV with some eclectic styles from respected craft keg brewers.
Swerve the cask,focus on the keg for which it's a decent stop on the way to the Nags.
On 22nd July 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Castle Tap
The cask doesn't really shift these days. I've switched to the fridge in which there are some decent Euro choices.
September 2015
Taken on by a combo of ex-Alehouse staff and the Grumpy Goat offy ladies. Has been refurbished inside in tasteful blue tones and now has an additional TV room to the rear (no TVs in the main bar). A number of cask and key kegs available as well as well-sourced wines. Five minutes from the Nags so and a no-brainer to drop into if you're on the wrong side of the IDR.
Feb 2013
Small little watering hole, that has seen some much-needed improvements under the management of the bloke from the (now-ex) Claddagh Ring (and now the very-closed Kennet Arms). Aimed mainly at the Irish side, the interior is fairly functional but fits in a dart board and a real fire in winter. One or two ales on the go at the small bar (Altons or GK IPA are normally on) usually in good-to-middling condition. Live music and loud football are often the order of the day in here. Good to see it surviving.
On 28th February 2023
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Castle Tap
Visited 23.4.21. First visit to this pub which was ever so friendly. Opens at 6pm most weekdays, but we were lucky as Friday is 3pm Sat and Sun 12 noon. Walk ins ok and we got a table at the rear. Their beer are listed on the Untappd venues app, but there is a beer board on the wall too. We chose cask Portobello Spring Ale and Grey Trees Drummer Boy, and draft Wild Weather Cephaloped 12% wow fantastic, and Electric Bear I can't believe it's next Tuesday 8%. These 2 draft beers, both stouts were our beers of the day. All beers good though and payment by card.
On 24th April 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Castle Tap
Cracking little pub with friendly barmaid.Old school rather than traditional but I liked it.Three cask beers from Thornbridge,Copper Street and Fixed Wheel .Good beers
On 22nd February 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Castle Tap
Just outside the town ring road. One large front room, high ceiling, classic pub furniture. No other punters. Surly barman who barely acknowledged a new potential customer.
Rear sports room to the back with a giant TV. Outside patio area, where I found some other patrons.
Beer was good - a couple of real ales on and I tried Bad Seed Brewery Old Skool. Which just about summed the place up.
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2ueRF1J
On 20th July 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Castle Tap
Update 27/2/15
First day fully open following the previous nights opening party, now totally stripped out and maybe a little austere in appearance as apposed to the former traditional pub it once was. However times move on and the beer selection has vastly improved, there are now four handpumps for cask ale with the possibility of more to be added in the future if all go's well, today there were two from Sherfield village Brewery and two from Art Brew from Dorset, a decent selection but three out of the four a little on the strong side for an early doors visit at 5,0% +. However all in good nick and not too overpriced, there is also a decent selection of Craft beers on keg and an impressive range of bottled and canned beer,this is a good addition to the Reading beer scene and will certainly return next time I am back in Reading.
From Dec 2014.
The Horse and Jockey is very much a traditional locals pub,a small single room with a bare boarded floor,some comfortable looking bench seating around the room,and four or five bar stools at the bar.Two hand pumps one of which was reversed the other dispensing Abbeydale Dr Mortons Bad Elf along with some standard Lagers, Cider and Guinness in both normal and extra chilled forms,there is a dart board and apparently a pool table which is housed in an external room,I didnt investigate this,a fruit machine and a couple of TV screens were also in evidence. I was the only customer on my early pre- mid-day visit but I understand it does get quite busy later in the day,I also understand from Quinno below that there will be a change of hands and change of direction for the pub next year to a more ale and craft beer led pub,good news on the ale front but also a bit of a shame if the cosy traditional interior is lost to a modern makeover. I will return to check it out at sometime in the future.
On 28th February 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
dave stray left this review about Horse & Jockey
Various gigs tend to be played here, but lack of room make it over crowded.
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 Horse & Jockey
Basic victorian boozer with red plush upholstered benches, matched with cream walls and red tongue and groove. An odd shaped room with an alcove at the front no doubt due to some daft modernisation in the past. Three handpumps all with reversed clips, London Pride amongst them otherwise just the usual kegs. Darts, games machines, and jukebox lurking in various corners. Happy punters mainly under 30. The kit for live music was stacked in one corner.
On 13th June 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]