Location: 10 Castle St, Reading Rg1 7RD

Telephone number: 0118 586466

Website: N/A

Date of visit: 15 November 2009

Approximate cost per head: From £5

Comments on wine list/beer: They carry a range of  beer, cider and wine. The beer is the basic Adnams and Wadsworth 6x. There is also Peroni on tap.

Summary:
This establishment is famous for its pies and have been trading since 1978. It’s owned by the Hayward family that also runs Vicars (butcher) and one of the largest game wholesalers in the SE.

The range of pies here is phenomenal – e.g. there are 4 steak varieties – steak, steak and oyster, steak & mushroom and steak & kidney. On most days there are at least 20 varieties on sale. The basic pie is just over £1.20 in the retail outlet at the front and £5.20 in the restaurant with a salad trimming.  Extras such as potatoes and vegetables are available from £2. Chips are only available during lunch time.

The most interesting pies are the various games – hare, venison, country (rabbit) etc. They are done with internal gravy so it’s not the dryish hot water pastry pies that you get with most game pies.

The retail outlet sells cooked ham (no added water), scotch eggs, pasties, sausages rolls and filled rolls as well as the pies.

Opening hours are normal pub hours – they are closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

The best way to describe this place is that the cooking is basic, honest and nice. This is the place for a cheap meal in the centre of Reading although I have heard good reports about The Horn – round the corner.

I have been a regular customer since they opened.

Eddie

Location |: Great Knollys St, Reading RG1 

Date visited: 7 November 2009

The Thames Valley Farmers Market comes to Reading on the “first” and third” saturday of every month. Its open from 8.30 to 12.30. Go early as by 11am, the stocks are getting low.

The stalls are sited in the old abatoir complex near Reading Station.

On the wholse, its a smallish market with around 20 stalls, selling organic meat, organic vegetables, cheese & butter, eggs, cakes, jams, pies, bread, beer, apple juice and fresh water fish (mainly trout) both fresh and smoked.

The vegetables come from Ogg Valley Organic Farm. They sell the main type of vegetables in season. For more exortic vegetables (especially foreign ethnic ones, try Reading Market in the Butts (behind West St Mall, tue-sat).

Meat comes from Dews Meadow Farm, Flexmore Farm etc. You can get faggots and mutton as well as cuts of pork and beef. There are also various types of award winning sausages and bacons However, all the meats are “pre-packed” and its on the small side e.g. half a shoulder – unless you pre-ordered, you can’t buy half a sheep.

The breads come from the Old Farmhouse Bakery – various types of exortic breads that you can’t get in the supermarket as well as the basic bloomer etc.

I personally like the pie shop and the smoke trouts (Brookleas Fish Farm). Smoke trout are around £2.50 plus for a whole small fish. The cheese is also very good (strong) but is confined to cheddar and blue with one or two mix (e.g. cheddar and chilli) cheese.

Ascot Ales usually have a stand selling various types of beers at less than £2 per pint. I like the 5 litre tins. You can taste before you buy.

Eddie