|
|
Post by tyrednexited on Aug 22, 2016 12:26:32 GMT
Dredging my memory, wasn't that a Fullers place in the day? I'd have guessed more at Flowers, but I really don't remember. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2016 12:30:10 GMT
Flowers was more common at the pubs out the other side of Reading, but I can't remember for sure. I know that there was one pub which we went to that had Fullers. For sure The Butlers by Chatham Street was one, I thought this was the other. I could be quite wrong.
Welcome, by the way, good to see you here. Going to put a little note in the "Who am I" bit? Do feel free to introduce others if you wish, wherever they come from.
|
|
|
|
Post by tyrednexited on Aug 22, 2016 12:30:44 GMT
Blimey. The Three Wheatsheaves, yes I'd forgotten that one. Been there a fair bit. Well, I could reminisce all day about Nottingham University and pubs, but to bring us back full circle, just a little note to say I was in The Greyfriars mentioned in the op Saturday before last. Agreed that it was notshit, but also not much atmosphere. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2016 12:37:09 GMT
Yes, the Greyfriar is one which I tend to go to fairly often at the moment out of convenience of location, but it does lack a certain atmosphere. Fox and Hounds Caversham is the one I frequent out of choice these days.
I remember Flowers bitter in a few pubs back in the day, more Windsor direction than Reading, but don't remember any pubs being tied houses to that brewery.
Courage has already been mentioned, and in the 80s it was easily the most common tied house around Berks as you and OK will know (along with Ind Coope, bleurgh), but I never really got on with either Best or Directors. Both made me gag. Which isn't ideal. The only other one I can remember doing the same to me was Banks's from Wolverhampton.
|
|
|
|
Post by harleyman on Aug 29, 2016 18:23:21 GMT
6X was a favourite of mine when I first came of age and discovered drink in the 80s, before moving away to Univerity. Spitfire always reliable, but 6X and London Pride I find can be brilliant/terrible - suppose this depends upon the establishment more than the beer but in quality terms they're a bit 'fragile' for want of a better word. Theakstons XB was always a favourite when I lived oop northish, it's rare down here on draught though. Black Sheep, a spiritual descendant of the same, is a good brew. I think what happened to me is that my formative beer drinking years were in Nottingham, and I got accustomed to the northern style of bitter and also the style they're served through a sparkler. Although it was always best to avoid the local stuff in Nottingham - Home Ales, Kimberley, and particularly Shipstones were routinely Rank Hovis McDougal. I remember getting a Student Union flyer in freshers' week entitled "Never Drink a Pint of Shipstones, My Son". Sage words. Don't know the lay of the land beerwise in Nottingham these days, although I did go for a massive booze up there with some old friends two years ago, but can not remember what I drank. Which is clearly indicative of correct beer drinking behaviour, in terms of quantity at last. Home Brewery is long gone, though the (listed) main building survives, as council offices I believe. Shipstones likewise, only missed by locals who'd become hardened to the filthy stuff. Kimberley was Hardy Hansons of course, bought out by the ubiquitous Greene King who sell a brew under that name which predictably tastes and looks nothing like the original. I always liked their mild, pleasantly sweet. "Shippo's" was a byword for bad beer in Nottingham. Speaking of Courage; many pubs round my home village, about ten miles north of Notttingham, were John Smiths houses which at that time Courage had a stake in; all fizzy keg rubbish this being the late 1970's when I first (illegally) started drinking. On joining REME in 1977, I went of course to Arborfield; arriving at Wokingham station I decided to bag a pint before getting on the bus to the camp, and was bitterly (sorry for the pun!) disappointed to see the "Courage" sign above the Molly Millar's pub; even at that age I enjoyed real ale and seriously thought I'd drifted from one beer desert into another. Quick look inside revealed AK, Best and Directors on handpump, quick pint of the latter convinced me that life down here might not be so bad after all. After the Army started letting us out of camp on the occasional weekend I soon discovered the Ship, where I first encountered Fullers. To this day ESB on draught remains a favourite. I'm keenly anticipating a re-match next may when my apprentice intake will be in town for our 40th anniversary celebration. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 12:24:29 GMT
I think it's been fairly obvious over the years that I don't suffer any status anxiety in relation to my domicile. In any case it has changed enormously since your time and improves year on year. Despite the local council's best efforts.
Perhaps you'd care to stop by to sample its many fine hostelries and epicurious delights, not to mention historical and cultural attractions such as the Oscar Wilde exhibition, on the way to Portsmouth? They've even resurfaced the part of the IDR outside the fire station this summer.
;-)
|
|
|
|
Post by tyrednexited on Sept 2, 2016 12:26:03 GMT
You're IN Caversham Heights, NEAR Reading, surely. Considerably posher. It was considerably posher years ago, when I lived there. Gone downhill since; all sorts of riff-raff you know; area's full of old Saabs. ...mind you, someone did have an AMG Pacer when I was there...  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 12:27:08 GMT
You're IN Caversham Heights, NEAR Reading, surely. Considerably posher. Well even that's moot. Caversham Heights is west of the Woodcote Road. If anything I'm in Mapledurham, my house is on old estate land. But Reading is a sufficient description for me. It's them wot gets my £Massive in council tax. I'm not overly concerned about notions of poshness. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 12:28:35 GMT
You're IN Caversham Heights, NEAR Reading, surely. Considerably posher. It was considerably posher years ago, when I lived there. Gone downhill since; all sorts of riff-raff you know; area's full of old Saabs. Ah now that's a sign of proper posh folk. Old money. Taste. It's all these wannabes with their new Mercedes bling which really lower the tone. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 12:29:02 GMT
Last time I went drinking in Reading town centre at night was about 5 years ago. I was shocked, it was like a bloody war zone full of nasty chain "pubs" & restaurants.
Whereas it used to be great fun; and busy, and pretty much trouble free, with lots of interesting, individual places.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 12:31:00 GMT
I *think* I'm still a member of Mapledurham Golf Club. I must check, I used to play there with my Father.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 12:31:23 GMT
p.s. in common with most of these buzz phrases, I've never been entirely clear what "the art of the possible" actually means. Most of these phrases, when used, remind me of "The Emperor's New Clothes". It can be quite fun to ask the speaker what they actually mean. They very rarely know. In this case I just meant that I was investigating what would and wouldn't be possible and/or desirable in terms of my plans to drive to the Vendee next summer. It's a bit of an art finding the right travel arrangements, as exemplified by tyred's thread here. I'm struggling to see the problem with the phrase, and it isn't one I hear at all often. Perhaps I need to get out and speak to more BMW 3 Series GT salesmen. |
|
|
|
Post by tyrednexited on Sept 2, 2016 12:31:36 GMT
Perhaps you'd care to stop by to sample its many fine hostelries and epicurious delights, not to mention historical and cultural attractions such as the Oscar Wilde exhibition, on the way to Portsmouth? ;-) Given my Daughter lived in Caversham (s'near Reading y'know) until two years ago, I've probably frequented a good few of the newer ones. (Even she, having moved, has started to say she lives near Newbury  ) |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 12:36:59 GMT
Last time I went drinking in Reading town centre at night was about 5 years ago. I was shocked, it was like a bloody war zone full of nasty chain "pubs" & restaurants. Whereas it used to be great fun; and busy, and pretty much trouble free, with lots of interesting, individual places. Trouble free? Blimey, you must have never gone near the Whore's Bed.
I know what you mean about the chain pubs though, if you avoid Friar Street/The Oracle at weekends you'll be fine. There are lots of interesting places to eat and drink, but are nowadays a little bit further out than that. Possibly places you wouldn't have dreamed of going in even 5 years ago, like the Malthouse (changed name now), the Moderation and the Fox and Hounds.
Honestly, I've been here 22 years, it was dreadful in the 90s and is brilliant now in terms of drinking/eating/entertainment, with the exception of the rubbish around Friar Street as you noted. A smidge of more recent local knowledge and you'd have a great night out.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2016 12:38:56 GMT
Perhaps you'd care to stop by to sample its many fine hostelries and epicurious delights, not to mention historical and cultural attractions such as the Oscar Wilde exhibition, on the way to Portsmouth? ;-) Given my Daughter lived in Caversham (s'near Reading y'know) until two years ago, I've probably frequented a good few of the newer ones. (Even she, having moved, has started to say she lives near Newbury ) Well yes, each to their own ad all that, but I'd say even in the last two years the offer of the town has improved exponentially and is constantly evolving, for the good it seems to me. |
|
)