Pub in Reading

“When asked where we could have a good meal ... they adviced The Bull ... the food was worth more stars than we can give. Staff was great and friendly. As said when we left, would return when passing through Theale again.”

“The Volunteer is a traditional pub in the heart of Theale, Berkshire. It has a warm and inviting atmosphere, with exposed brickwork and a traditional fireplace. The menu features a wide variety of pub classics, as well as some more modern dishes. We started our meal with sticky pigs in blankets. These were perfectly cooked and the sausages were juicy and flavorful. For our main courses, I had the chicken curry and my partner had the steak and ale pie. Both dishes were delicious. The chicken curry was rich and flavorful, and the steak and ale pie was hearty and filling. The service at The Volunteer was excellent. Our server was friendly and attentive, and he made sure that we had everything we needed. We also enjoyed the selection of beers on tap. Overall, we had a great experience at The Volunteer. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was warm and inviting. We would definitely recommend this pub to anyone looking for a great meal in Theale. Here are some additional details about the dishes we ordered: * Sticky pigs in blankets: These were made with pork sausages wrapped in bacon and cooked until golden brown. * Chicken curry: This was a rich and flavorful curry made with chicken, onions, peppers, and spices. It was served with rice and naan bread. * Steak and ale pie: This was a hearty and filling pie made with steak, onions, mushrooms, and ale. It was served with fries and peas. Polly our waitress was very friendly and helpful, she is a credit to the pub. Great atmosphere.”

“Lovely lunch. A hidden away place. Menu has almost all gluten-free options. Had risotto for starter, followed by steak and finished off with cheesecake. All perfectly done, especially the risotto which was fantastic. Highly recommended for anyone in the area”

“Excellent service and the food was amazing! The restaurant is spacious, beautifully presented with a cosy log fire. Staff friendly, helpful and accommodating. Thank you for making our 40th Birthday meal so special - we loved it!”

“We chose the angel to hold the wake yesterday, for the loss of our mother. We honestly couldn't have asked for more and are so happy we went here. Andy is an absolutely lovely, welcoming guy who was so intent to do whatever we wanted and made us feel so 'looked after'. The food was incredible and atmosphere of the function room and the bar are warm cozy. We aim to return for drinks by the fire and roasts on some Sundays! Thank you team much appreciated x”

“What a beautiful place. Food was stunning. Becca our waitress was amazing. She was so helpful. Constantly coming to check if we needed anything as there was 13 of us. Definitely will return when we are in the area next.”

“Love this place ! Always looking forward to have a glass of wine or wine tasting ! Customer service is amazing, you feel welcomed from the moment you step in. I had several wine tasting experiences and loved them all. Highly recommend this place !”

“Great beer selection and lovely food - would definitely go back!”

“If your looking for great pub grub in Reading this is the place to go. The Asian food is the highlight of the menu. We tried the crispy chilli beef which was delicious. My short rib green curry was the best Thai curry I've had. Will definitely be going back to try the other dishes.”

“Lovely country pub with a twist. Superb Thai food served here along with some traditional dishes as well. Friendly and very helpful staff and choice of indoor and outdoor seating. Some of the outdoor seating is also covered. Dog friendly outside and just a lovely country pub with lovely surroundings.”

“Lovely pub, with great owners. Parked my motorhome for free and bought a few pints + pizza, had a lovely time before I went back to the van to sleep. They have so many events on it's great to see, wish it was in my home town. Only one niggly thing - the access road is difficult for a large van, especially to get out, and walking my dog down there was a nightmare as people fly down it - assume it's a bit of a cut through for elsewhere? Not their fault, we will be back.”

“I hired the Outlook for a birthday party and cannot recommend it enough! It's a great space and the Shuffle Board and Dart Board are all in the hire price. The booking process was easy and there is great communication both verbally and via email. Nothing was too much trouble and each member of staff I communicated with were always friendly, helpful and totally professional, such a great bunch of people! I also hired Mock Vegas and they had very easy communication with he Outlook too. Definitely aten out of ten! Thank you Outlook for making everything so easy!”

“Nice local pub with good beers.”

“Amazing good and atmosphere! Best burger I've had in a long time! Close to the concert hall!”

“Ordered my food and mentioned once that I have dietary restrictions. Ordered and sat down with my drink. A few moments later the bartender came to my table to verify what if ordered and made sure everything was correct. I'm impressed by that level of service. When the food came out it looked good and tasted even better. The interior is comfortable. While I was there it wasn't very busy. Overall it was a great experience and I'll be going back. Note: online it's says they have darts which they don't.”

“As a Tilehurst resident, there are a selection of local pubs to choose from, all within walking distance. But the Fox & Hounds is the one for me! A proper pub that is frequented by those that are regular attendees and also those that stop by to enjoy its offerings of drink or food, including a choice of real ales. They are working hard at renovating the great beer garden and I am looking forward to the summer and enjoying it in all it’s its glory. Whatever day you visit, you will be welcomed. And every day is different! So watch their social media pages for ongoing events or pop in and discover for yourself. For example, Monday is Free Food night when purchasing a beer or medium wine, so we enjoyed a couple of drinks with yummy jacket potatoes. What is not to love?!”

“Have really started enjoying the company, mostly friendly staff and a great bar manager whose lovely”

“Bobby had a great service really made the night special and made sure we all had a great time. Would 100% reccomend this pub for family and friends to have an amazing evening. Bobby was inspirational and really represented how all bar staff should treat customers.”

“We had a lovely visit to this restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The seabass was fresh and delicious, and the Sunday roast was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. The setting is absolutely beautiful – a charming building with a stunning garden in a peaceful location by the river. The atmosphere was very relaxing, and the staff were friendly and attentive throughout our visit. It’s also a dog-friendly place, which we really appreciated. Free parking is another great bonus. Highly recommended for a relaxing meal in a lovely setting!”

“A group of 7 of us (and dog!) had a lovely Sunday roast today. I prebooked a table which was ready and waiting for us. We were well looked after by Hayley, Emily, Olivia, Pat & Izzy who ran a very efficient tag team and made sure we had everything we needed. The food was delicious and the space we left for pudding was well rewarded!”

“Went in for lunch with a friend and was not disappointed. Lovely pub with friendly staff and management. Even though it was fairly busy the service was quick and our food was excellent. My friend had pie with mashed potatoes which looked delicious while I had a selection of small plates which I thoroughly enjoyed. Will definitely return.”

“Make Sure You Personally Put The Address In Google Maps As Skiddle Sent Me Round The Houses! It's Actually Really Easy To Find, Decent Sized Venue, Helpful Staff, Fair Priced J2O's Mini Stage Area For Band Acts, Reasonable PA System, Definitely Loud Enough FOR Venue Size, 2nd Area Partitioned So Can Easily Hear Music From There Over The Bar! I Went FOR Particular Event As Aaron Liberator Was Playing, Banging 90s Acid Techno, But The Live DnB Act Was Good As Was The DNB Jungle DJ”

“A cozy, quirky pub, with so much character. Loved popping in here for a drink. A great atmosphere, friendly service. Plenty of selection and good prices. Only advice...watch your head on the beams!!! Duck, duck, duck!! I have a recomendation after witnessing a customer hit his head badly on the beam near the bar. I am sat in another pub right now and in the picture attached they have cushioned the risky beam. May e an idea for "The Old Bell". As the sign is not visible enough to customers.”

“Nineteen years ago, we held our wedding reception here, so returned on our anniversary for the night. The Inn has been updated sympathetically, and really enhanced. The room was quirky and well appointed, and the staff couldn't have been any better. Utterly friendly and helpful, and couldn't do enough for us. Supper was delicious, the chap making the cocktails was a delight, and breakfast was spot-on. We won't be leaving it nineteen years till the next visit.”

“Today we went to Hoffa for the first time and it was Father’s Day. We had a wonderful time! Being South African, it was such a treat to have South African food and drink options! Service was exceptional with Sophie and Anar looking after us from the moment we walked in. Food was absolutely delicious and the presentation of the food was outstanding! Everything was cooked to perfection! We will definitely be back! Thank you for making Father’s Day so special.”

“Amazing Saucy Spinach Eggs and Bloody Mary for Sunday Brunch, excellent portion sizes too! Tried a side of french black pudding, that we will defo have again too.”

“After visiting the B&G, Andrei and his wife Alina have been so welcoming every time we have been in. The pub is lovely with their presence and are so attentive. Great service! Thank you.”

“Not eaten here so no comment, but I'd imagine the nosebag is decent. Harvey's Sussex Bitter is the go to beer here and a classic. Budvar too and other decent beers with Amstel, Birra Moretti, Cruzcampo etc for those who drink the label and have to have it on their glass.”

“I regularly take my daughter here because it is such a lovely experiance. We travel here for movies even though there are 2 cinemas in our town. Plenty of parking, all seats are recliners and there are no bad angles.”

“A great little gem in Berkshire. Lovey and attentive staff. Beautiful interior and ait of sitting space. Food is immaculate. Quality ingredients and superbly presented. We ate set menu and it was magnificent. Would recommend to anyone who is around to go and visit.”