Pubs in Reading

This is where we'll give some ideas for other places to try while you're in Reading. The drinking scene has improved a lot in recent years and the range of real ales on sale is excellent for a town of this size.

One of our local real ale pubs has asked not to feature on this list as they can't cope with the increased trade at Festival time. With that in mind, here are some suggestions of other places that you may enjoy visiting while you're in town.

Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of Reading's pubs, and that the walking times quoted assume that you walk at a reasonable speed.

3B's Blagrave Street/ Friar Street (part of the Town Hall). Closed Sunday. 10 minutes walk from the festival site. A modern cafe bar with four regularly changing beers often including local micros such as Butts and West Berkshire. Outdoor drinking area. Live music some evenings; a relaxed atmosphere during the day.

ALLIED ARMS St. Mary's Butts. 15 minutes walk from the festival site. A traditional two-bar pub which was runner up in Reading and Mid Berks CAMRA Pub of the Year 2005. Although located in Reading's busy town centre, has very much the feel of a "local". Regular beers are London Pride and the local Loddon Hullabaloo with a third guest beer usually available in the back bar. The secluded rear patio is a sun trap on a warm day and has heaters for when it's not. www.allied-arms.co.uk

BUTLER Chatham Street (continuation of west end of Friar Street across the Inner Distribution Road). 15 minutes walk from the Festival site. Fuller's pub just outside the town centre. After a recent change of landlord this pub is getting good reviews and has been lightly refurbished while keeping much of its character.

CORN STORES Forbury Road. 5 minutes walk from the festival site. The closest real ale pub to the site, you'll pass this on the way from the station. Four Fullers beers in a bar on the ground floor where the decor is a bizarre kind of North African / British mix [Go visit and see if you can categorise it any better]. The Italian restaurant on the first floor is good as long as you avoid the days they have belly dancers! Beer is served upstairs (waiter service) but is generally more expensive than in the bar.

CROWN ON THE BRIDGE Bridge Street Caversham (north side of the Thames over Caversham Bridge). 15 minutes walk from the festival site. Local pub with friendly staff and regulars serving London Pride and Youngs Bitter.

ELDON ARMS Eldon Terrace (off Eldon Road). 20 minutes walk from the festival site. Friendly two-bar back street local run by Reading's longest-serving landlords and runner up in Reading and Mid Berks CAMRA Pub of the Year 2007. A choice of Wadworth beers is offered along with lunchtime food. Closed in the afternoon.

GRIFFIN Church Road Caversham (north side of the Thames over Caversham Bridge). 15 minutes walk from the Festival site. Large friendly pub that usually has two guest beers and does good quality food all day. www.thegriffincaversham.co.uk

LYNDHURST ARMS Watlington Street / Queens Road. 20 minutes walk from the festival site. Five real ales on offer in this pub, popular with students. Decent food and a small outdoor drinking area. Forms a nice little crawl with the Retreat and the Eldon Arms.

MODERATION Caversham Road. 10 minutes walk from the festival site. Newly refurbished (both decor and customers!) this clean, friendly pub offers three real ales in good condition, plus excellent food at reasonable prices. The sister pub of the Lyndhurst Arms, this one is convenient for the Caversham Road hotels.

NAG'S HEAD Russell Street. 20 minutes walk from the festival site. 12 real ales are on offer here including always at least one stout and one mild. A good selection of wines too. Open little more than a year in its current form, this has quickly established itself as one of the must-visit pubs in town. Friendly, comfortable and welcoming to all. www.nagsheadreading.com

RETREAT St John's Street. 20 minutes walk from the festival site. Backstreet community local with two bars, up to six real ales and multiple awards including most recently CAMRA Regional Cider Pub of the Year 2007. While the decor doesn't seem to have changed much in years, the atmosphere is something to be savoured. Good selection of real ciders and a small number of Belgian and German bottled beers. Also home to Reading's prestigious annual pickled onion contest. www.retreatpub.co.uk

SWEENEY AND TODD'S Castle Street. Closed Sunday. 15 minutes walk from the festival site. As its name suggests this is a pie shop, but walk up a few steps at the back and you find a tiny bar offering four real ales, plus a restaurant where you can sample the famous pies. This is very much an informal dining experience and the menu seems to be for guidance only - someone will tell you today's pie availability when you sit down. The pies are excellent quality and value, and all made on the premises.