A real triumph next, as I beat both Pubmeister (who was actually conceived at Elm Park) and BRAPA (who saw Hull Tigercity win a corner at Madejksi recently) to this one.
GBG pubs in universities aren’t that rare; I can recall Lancaster, Liverpool. Warwick and Keele over the years. My own University, the Conservatoire of Life (a 2:2) is of course a GBG regular.
Reading University is in the bit of town not overrun by eccentric CAMRA members who believe in putting quality before range.
I spent the last year of my working life visiting University campuses in East Anglia, and there’s still a frisson of excitement about walking round the grounds with loads of young people having the time of their lives, with a Dr & The Medics Tribute act and pub quiz to look forward to at the weekend.
Huge queues are forming outside the dining complex, beguilingly called “Eat“. “Disappointing salads” says Mike on Google, clearly missing the point.
It took a while to discover the Park House, but for once the Guide sticker is useful.
With it’s (unique to GBG) card only policy I’d been expecting a modern student bar, like the one at my son’s Sheffield union HQ with Abbeydale and Punk IPA. Perhaps there is one of those at Reading, but the Park House is very much common room with handpumps.
Oh look !
I should have expected a handle, shouldn’t I ? But despite the lack of straight glassware this was a joy of a Plum Porter, NBSS 4 at least.
Plenty of pint men in cardigans, you could have been at a CAMRA branch meeting.
I contemplated lunch, probably something like spag bol or cottage pie or oxtail soup, but there was drama at the bar over astonishingly complex room bookings and the Plum Porter was a meal in a glass, anyway.
A pub fit for Royalty, and an ideal companion piece for the next estate pub that Reading CAMRA stick in the Guide.
retiredmartin 
“Reading University is in the bit of town not overrun by eccentric CAMRA members”
You didn’t bump into Quinno then?
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Quinno was there with his CAMRA vagabonds that night, apparently !
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Impressive! Also recall that University bar in Guildford. It moved floors in the same building so I had to go back and do it again.
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Can’t say I did that, but rings a bell. TWO trips to Guildford; you suffer for your art !
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I know it’s a trick of the light but at first glance, I had the horrified thought that there was a cherry floating in the pint in the top pic!
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Had an interview at Reading University in 1980. Didn’t go there because I got a better offer elsewhere. Might have changed my mind if I’d seen that bar.
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In 1980 it would have served spam fritters, Courage Light in bottles and Babycham. You made the right choice going to Wigan Poly (a wild guess).
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The Old Bar at Leeds University is of similar ilk, don’t believe it’s ever been in GBG though. It is on the official Otley Run agenda, which incidentally is a very good itinerary for a Proper Day out in Leeds (strictly outside term time and selected pubs (includes two good GK pubs which would suit Life After Football!)).
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Yes, Old Bar a cracker, had Kirkstall there on last gig at Uni and was very decent.
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Cracking Magnolia Grandiflora, Gromit.
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*Sorry, that relates to “A Grand Day Out”, rather than to Richard’s Proper one, for the pedants.
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Even more confused 0-)
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“The Conservatoire of Life (a 2:2) is of course a GBG regular.”
And unlikely to ever be voted out due to only opening for 10 minutes on February 30th.
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What sort of prices does a Uni bar charge then ? Is it subsidised or priced to keep the riff-raff out ?
Nice selection with Windsor & Eton and Lodden.
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£3.50 I think, a bit cheaper than central Reading but hardly subsidised. Felt more pubby than clubby.
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Oh dear, I try to avoid going over the £2.00 mark for a pint. However, I do find that it cuts down the number of pubs that one can partake in.
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Not if you live in Rochdale, Fred. Loads of Sam Smiths and a decent Spoons there.
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Trouble is that I don’t live in Rochdale ; down here, “economy drinking” rules out all but a handful of ‘Spoons.
Even Sam’s OBB is £3.00 per pint in the Three Goat’s Heads !
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Outrageous.
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Wow that “Easily mistaken for the Finance Office” is very accurately described! I sometimes wonder if the GBG is including certain locations for the sake of variety? Surely the “least likely to have a drinking establishment behind it” of any front door ever photographed for your blog!
I’ve been meaning to ask about your rating system. I interpret “NBSS 4” as among the highest ratings you’re likely to give, but I’m guessing you’ve sometimes gone as high as 4.5. Is 5.0 off limits as a matter of principle?
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I worked in an office (actually an old asylum) that looks just like the University pub. There’s some very unlikely places still in the Guide. One in Ipswich only accessible by buzzer entry sticks in the mind.
I don’t really have principles. The Dark Star Hophead in that really basic Hendon pub last year was pretty perfect, as was Citra in a new entry in Stamford. But you’re right, a 4 is high praise indeed.
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I understand people liking Plum Porter but don’t you realise that swathes of barley fields across North Staffordshire are giving way to plum orchards, and Titanic are to blame ?
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Plums are actually grown in underground caves in Fenton. Don’t confuse my readers.
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Great uni bar 👏👏 boring but true fact #1 Lou macari took us to reading uni for three days before 91 final as he wanted us in spartan surroundings ! Suffice to say it was quiet ☹️
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Images of you attending Psychology lectures then getting wrecked in student bar. No ?
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Unfortunately not! Trevor Aylott threatened to throw a bar of soap at some students to get rid of them though😀 if I recall Greg Downes dad had a bar nearby but I was not part of the breakout squad!
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