Castle Inn, Cold Ash

View Larger Map Dist from nearest train station : 4.9Km (Thatcham)

Castle Inn
Cold Ash Hill,
Cold Ash,
Thatcham,
Berkshire,
RG18 9PS
Tel: 0871 917 0007

The last stop on our journey today, The Castle in Cold Ash, is a nice village pub just off of Cold Ash Hill.

Maybe not the easiest pub to get to, it has a lot of charm and well priced local beers. The landlord was very friendly, talking about where we had been cycling to and from. It would probably be unfair to judge the beer quality too badly. it was a fairly well kept and served West Berkhire brewery beer on sale for £2.00 a pint (must be nearing the end of its prime). but from earliey trips there, the beer has been good quality.

The pub had the usual decor for a village pub but still nice and clean with a good atmosphere. the garden was a patio at the front of the pub, but fairly sized with shelter if there was rain. Overall, Not bad.

Beer selection: 6/10
Beer quality : 7/10
Atmosphere : 7/10
Price : 8/10

Beer Garden : Yes 5/10
Food : Yes

Opening Hours : All Day

Overall : 6.5/10

Ye Olde Red Lion, Chievely

*Pic from Ye Olde Red Lion website

View Larger Map Dist from nearest train station : 9.9Km (Newbury)

Ye Olde Red Lion
Green Lane
Chieveley
Near Newbury
Berkshire
RG20 8XB
(01635) 248379
http://www.arkells.com/pubs_more2.php?id=676

Supposedly once been built in 1782 and been haunted by a flat capped ghost, Ye Olde Red Lion (Is there a certain amount of time something has been in existence when you can prefix it with ye olde?) looks surprisingly 60's Mock Tudor from the outside. With a beer garden / car park at the front it does look somewhat unappealing.

I was also a bit worried about the fact it was an Arkell's brewery pub, after previous experiences with other pubs in that chain. However I was pleasantly surprised to find that it served the best kept ale of the day. I supped on a rather decent Summer Ale, which was full flavoured and fresh.

Ye Olde Red Lion is worth a visit if you like your ales, just ignore the exterior looks and you'll experience a well kept village pub.

Beer selection: 7/10
Beer quality : 7/10
Atmosphere : 6/10
Price : 5/10

Beer Garden : Yes 3/10
Food : Yes

Overall: 6.5/10

Winterbourne Arms, Winterbourne

View Larger Map Dist from nearest train station : 7.4Km (Newbury)

The Winterbourne Arms
Winterbourne
Newbury
Berkshire
RG20 8BB
Tel: 01635 248200
http://www.winterbournearms.tablesir.com/default.htm


Sidney's Review

Proud of its status as a Gastro pub, the signage for the pub and the award certificates push this message into your face like a man armed with a home baked custard flan served with jucee. Well we weren't there for the reportedly grand food rather a quick drink and a sit down in the normally lovely beer garden. When I say normally I mean there isn't usually a massive marquee in it, which obscures the pub and boxes off the garden. Hopefully this isn't a permanent fixture as its as crass as putting a g-string on the statue of David.

The beer range was also lacking on the visit, left to drinking a slightly lukewarm pint of Ramsbury Gold as the only ale choice, it was all a bit of a disappointment compared to previous visits. This may have been a reflection of the scorchingly hot weather we've had recently but there are things you can do to keep your ales in better condition.

A re-visit to the Winterbourne Arms is probably required to see if this was a one off or a start of a downward trend.

Beer selection: 5/10
Beer quality : 5/10
Atmosphere : 6/10
Price : 5/10

Beer Garden : Yes 4/10 (would be higher without the Marquee)
Food : Yes

Overall: 5.5/10

Blackbird Inn, Bagnor

View Larger Map Dist from nearest train station : 4.9Km (Newbury)

The Blackbird,
Bagnor,
Newbury,
Berkshire,
RG20 8AQ
Telephone : (01635) 40638
http://www.theblackbird.co.uk/


King George V alleged final words were "Bugger Bognor", thankfully he didn't say "Bugger Bagnor" as he would have missed out of one the most picturesque pubs in the Newbury area; The Blackbird. Situated near the Watermill Theatre and bubbling brook it has a real old school English village feel. Charming it is, but it just lacks a certain something that would make it somewhere special to visit.

The ale (Butt's Barbus Barbus) I had was average at best, with that end of the barrel or kept to long feel you get at pubs that don't really shift another to keep it fresh. On a previous visit I had a cheese baguette which was fairly pricey and was again nothing spectacular and that's where the rub with the Blackbird lies. Its not poor but its not great either. Saved by its location and looks, The Blackbird is somewhere you might stop at on the way to somewhere else rather than being a choice destination.

Beer selection: 5/10
Beer quality : 5/10
Atmosphere : 5/10
Price : 5/10

Beer Garden : Yes 8/10
Food : Yes

Overall: 5/10

Chievely Cruise

5-4-09


View Larger Map

Total distance 24.2 Km

(A) Newbury train station
(B) The Blackbird Inn
(C) The Winterbourne Arms
(D) Ye Olde Red Lion
(E) The Castle Inn (Cold Ash)
(F) Newbury train station


A lovely sunny Sunday afternoon trip, starting in newbury, heading through speen to bangor and the Blackbird inn, up through the downs to the Winterbourne arms, carrying on up the hill to Chievely and the red lion. and back throug hermitage to Cold Ash, ending up at The Castle.

The Plough Inn, Thatcham

View Larger Map Dist from nearest train station : 1.3Km (Thatcham)

The Plough Inn
81 Chapel Street
Thatcham
Berkshire
RG18 4JS
Tel: 01635 860340

Sidneys Review:
-------------

The Plough is without doubt the best pub in Thatcham. Not difficult you may say but it’s positively Championship league compared to the lower division strugglers that form the rump of public houses in the town.

So what does the Plough do that other Thatcham pubs don’t. Well for starters it servers a decent range of beers at a reasonable price. It normally has an ever changing selection 3 Real Ales on tap as well as your normal corporate tap fodder. These ales are normally served to a decent level and have the bonus of being cheaper than all the other beer on sale. We visited there on a Wednesday and paid £2.20 for a pint of pretty good quality Otter ale.

For those of you looking for some decent music, The Plough also has an electronic jukebox with a wider selection than most. When’s the last time you saw a Roots Reggae and an Avant Jazz selection on your local jukie?

What lets down The Plough is that it lacks that certain element of charm and upkeep that would make it a must visit. It really needs a lick of new paint and some work to edge out its feeling of slightly run-downess which is most felt in the front games room. I’ve also heard on the grapevine that The Plough can be a completely different kettle of fish on a weekend evening and not in a good way.

Beer selection: 7/10
Beer quality : 6/10
Atmosphere : 5/10
Price : 8/10

Beer Garden : Yes 4/10
Food : Yes

Opening Hours : All day

Distance from nearest train station : 1.2Km (Thatcham)

Overall : 6.5/10

Six Bells, Beenham

View Larger Map Dist from nearest train station : 4.4Km (Aldermaston)

The Six Bells
The Green,
Beenham,
Reading,
Berkshire
RG7 5NX
Tel: 01189 713368
http://www.thesixbells.co.uk/

Review by Andy
-------------

A lovely rural pub, set in the hills of Beenham. With an unusual african theme and good quality beer, including localy produced West Berkshire Brewery ale.

Previously, the CAMRA West Berks pub of the year, The bar is split into two diferent areas with an aditional conservatory which is used as a restraunt. Pleasant service and generally a nice place to visit. thumbs up, yes!

Beer selection: 6/10
Beer quality : 8/10
Atmosphere : 8/10
Price : 6/10

Beer Garden : Yes 6/10
Food : Yes

Opening Hours :
Tues-fri 1200-1430 1800-2300.
Sat 1200-1500 1830-2300
Sun 1200-1400 1830-2200

Overall : 8/10