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Nags Head, Reading
Reading
RG1 7XD
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about Nags Head
With the new Elizabeth line going direct to Reading and with me living under 20 minutes’ walk from Paddington, I decided to knock this one on the head; big mistake, as the Elizabeth line leaves 25 minutes after the advertised departure time for some reason and it takes twice as long as the train, though is still about half the price.
Not realising that the western line leaves every half hour (rather than every seven minutes if going east), my timing was completely knackered, as I was only going to get around half an hour in here.
I won’t bother to describe something that everyone’s visited, as I doubt it’s changed, still with 12 pumps (the left-hand bank blocked by a man-mountain of a Yeti) and countless pump clips on display.
I first went for a half of the Brew York Tonkoko at £2.30 (more than I paid later in the evening at the King’s Cross Queens Head) and it was far too cold and I’m sorry to say, it was ever so slightly on the turn. A half of Siren Memento (£2.30 and purchased prematurely to allow it to warm up) was ok and served by a barman who initially regarded me a little suspiciously, probably because unlike the other eight customers, I wasn’t dressed like a band member from Dexys Midnight Runners.
This place is obviously a must-visit ale destination, but not being able to view all the pumps is an annoyance and perhaps having 50% more pumps than customers is too many to allow for throughput, though perhaps this isn’t a problem later in the week when there should be more punters; the loud TV sports commentary was an unwelcome distraction.
On 8th September 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Nags Head
Visited 23.4.21 in the outside garden area. They have done a lot of work here with marquees to make the outside area for all weathers and we were had a table with sun one side and shade the other. All covid regs applied. Food menu brought out and we had a great afternoon with a terrific choice of beers, both cask and draft which are listed on the Untappd app venues. We had cask from Chin Chin, Elusive, Siren and Loddon, and draft from Vibrant Forest, Orbit, Signature and Bone Machine. All beers good as were the toasties we had. Payment by card.
On 24th April 2021
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Nags Head
Tradional corner local with car park turned into outside drinking space. Nice choice of well kept beers
On 2nd November 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Nags Head
A 'must do' permanent beer exhibition with a huge range of excellent ales at great value prices. Read earlier reviews if you need to know more.
On 1st June 2018
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Nags Head
Perfect example of how to run a pub - well worth seeking out. Outside the ring road and down a residential side street, they have done enough to make it worth the effort of a trip.
12 real ales on - they offer advice and testers. Pleasant boozy atmosphere, from the decor (loved the whisky tubes light fitting) to the games available. Proud of the Camra awards - a whole wall dedicated to the certificates.
2nd visit. I spent longer than expected due to being trapped by the first thunder storm of the summer.
West Berkshire Old Boy in good form tonight. They now do rolls as well as pies!
Visit blogged at http://bit.ly/2ueRF1J
On 20th July 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 277 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Nags Head
I won't be able to add much to this well reviewed hotspot so I won't try.
It was busy on our Friday evening visit but we managed to get seats and service was good throughout the evening. Good news given the amount of quality ale on offer.
Beers on were: WBB Maggs Magnificent Mild, Tap Stone Zen Garden, Hopcraft Grudge Match Round 2, New Dawn Fades and The Gallows Tree, Windsor and Eton Peppertree, Vocation Chop and Change, The Body of an American, Siren Craft Tidal Wave, Bad Seed White Stout, Mallinsons New World Pale and Tempest White Light. We must have pretty much done the card between us and all was pronounced excellent - until pronounciation proved too demanding. It's a very impressive range of ales and must be one of the best in the country in terms of both breadth and quality.
Tremendous.
On 4th August 2016
- rating: 10
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about Nags Head
I finally made it to one of the South's most famous pubs and was pleased to find that on an early Saturday afternoon it wasn't packed out. It's been described lots of times but it's a single square room with basic furniture that some people would probably call uncomfortable.
It was Cup Final day so I found a seat away from the TV screen. By chance this happened to be at the strong end of the row of twelve hand pumps which had beers from all over the place. I noticed Bristol Beer Factory 12 Apostles, Dark Star Hophead, a Brewster's beer, a joint venture with the Uprising brewery and two from a brewery called Five Towns. I went for these, Nowt (£3.40) and Secret Life Of Arabica (£4.80) both of which were excellent stouts. I could easily have stayed for a third but it was getting busy and doing so would probably have impeded further progress. This is a genuine no frills ale house and I loved it.
On 24th May 2016
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Nags Head
My favourite in Reading and one of the best in the South. 12 ales (always with a mild and stout, arranged in descending order of strength from left to right, with ‘now’ and next’ displayed on slates above the bar) served in good condition and £3.40 per pint unless there's a stonking abv one on. Tasters readily offered. 13+ ciders (the most popular of which are available at both chilled and room temperature) and a good selection of foreign bottled beers, including some lovely fruit Baccus ones as well as a couple of gluten-free beers. Keg San Miguel and Warsteiner are on for the lager-drinkers, as well as a couple of craft kegs from the likes of Siren, Wild Weather and Uprising. The other big selling point here are the staff, who are friendly and knowledgeable. The clientèle are quite a mixed bag, all ages and most persuasions present over the course of a week which means the atmosphere is always welcoming.
A Brewers Tudor exterior gives way to a relatively mundane open-plan interior that has been enlivened over the last few years by pump clips, bottles, book exchange, Reading FC memorabilia, piano and other nik-naks. Pub runs a bus to the Madejski on Reading home days, well-behaved away fans are welcomed (tickets available by the bar, home fans get first dibs). Dart board is in almost-constant use, look out for the 'live' TV games when the pub team are home. Food-wise there's a range of £2.50 rolls behind the bar along with hot pies at £3.50 (served all day) as well as Sylvia and Lolas 'Proper roasts' on Sundays. There’s a roaring log fire in the winter months that heats the place to the same temperature as an old folks home. A functional beer garden exists out the back, with wood burning stoves in the winter. Live music is an occasional feature (watch out for Gilby who tinkles the ivories of the upright piano some Sunday evenings) and a range of daily papers are available. There’s some pub games available atop the piano and there’s plenty of punter participation in pub organised frippery like Fantasy Football and Dead Pool.
I love this pub and you’ll find me in here quite often – high praise from a person who usually doesn’t stay anywhere beyond a pint!
On 3rd August 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Nags Head
Found a Reading Pub Crawl on barcrawl.com and this took me out of the town centre into the back streets.
Glad it did - a real ale oasis. Lots of beers on, most of which I'd never heard off. Barman helped me make my decision by offering me tasters.
Decent pint was had. Their courtesy papers were read. If only they did food (other than £3 pies) I would have stopped longer.
Worth seeking out.
On 17th May 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1338 recommendations about 1324 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Nags Head
I have not been in many pubs in Reading but I would imagine this is one of the best.Up to 12 real ales + real ciders which are kept at the back. The real ales that I tried were in tip top form and at a reasonable price.This is a good basic local pub and a must visit when in Reading.
On 4th March 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]