Nags Head

A great place for Sunday lunch alone or with friends. A traditional ‘no frills’ pub with a piano stacked with games, lino floor, rough wooden tables and chairs. Excellent music. Good English comfort food and they don’t tax your brain with a huge range of menu choices. Hoorah! A full Sunday lunch for £6 and a choice of 12 real ales

This is the best pub in Reading.
A great atmosphere, lovely and quirky staff. And the beer, an amazing selection.
I would and I do recommend this pub to everyone and anyone

The Nag’s Head is my go-​to pub in Reading, despite not being my local in the conventional ‘end of the street’ way. Always busy with a good atmosphere, but rarely so crowded you can hardly move, the Nag’s Head is a perfect place to go to for a chat with friends over a beer. No thumping music, no groups of sportswear obsessed louts. Just a classic British pub feel, with a plethora of real ales on tap, a simple food menu but good quality, darts, and — last time I was there — a cider menu. Excellent.
The staff are friendly, as seem to be the majority of regulars who frequent the place. The ever changing selection of ales, etc, on tap makes trying something new easy. They also take cards and offer cash back, which has been a God send to me on more than one occasion, and there is a car park at the rear with some tables available in case it is a hot day or you have someone with you who urgently needs a nicotine fix.
Accessing the car park involves driving down a narrow alley way, invariably lined with punters who will pretend you have run over their foot and, amusingly, will try the exact same joke as you leave. Parking space is limited, but I have only once been able to get a space.

I hate you, Paul. I really do. You’ve said everything I would have said about the Nag’s Head in your review. :-)
This is my local, right at the end of my street. It’s a very friendly place, warm and welcoming. They’re also outgoing. When the Reading Half-​Marathon route goes past, they set up a «beer stop» table out front that was crowded with supporters. Every time a runner went past and picked up a beer, there was a loud round of «yay!» from all. And sometimes, a runner would *almost* take a beer but would think better or it (have you ever tried walking and drinking a beer, let alone running?), they would «awwww». Hilarious!
The place is always busy, with people sitting at most of the tables just talking. Sure, they’re drinking beers and wine, but it’s more of a neighborhood hangout and less a «bar.»
Which isn’t to say that the beers aren’t worth the trip by themselves. Yes, they have a few of the mass produced bottled beers in the fridge under the bar, but the taps are loaded with «real ales» and ciders from local breweries. The stuff is constantly changing based on what was ready that day or that week, so if you like something you better find out what it is now, because it’s probably not going to be there next time. :-(
Food choices are limited, but what they have, it’s good. Baguettes loaded with something yummy at lunchtime and some interesting special at dinnertime. All good quality, but it does sell out.
Note: the Nag’s Head consistently wins awards for «best ale in Berkshire». The web site also lists the beers currently on tap.

This was my local when I lived in Reading. I’m not a consistent fan of real ale, but this is the place to drink it. 10 or 12 different varieties on at a time, when one runs out a different one replaces it. A slate above each tap informs you of what to expect next. Cask ale can be temperamental, but every pint I ever had at The Nags Head was excellent.
I never had the chance to try a full meal. Usually there’s only one dish per day on the menu, a soup of the day, and a selection of homemade baguette sandwiches. The sandwiches I’ve had on many occasions, and have always been delicious. Hand fried and all-​natural crisps, packets of nuts, huge bags of gourmet pork scratchings, and pickled eggs are on offer as bar snacks.
The staff are friendly and personable, and quick to offer you ale samples before you decide on which pint to purchase. The pub is very clean, but also very comfortable. The regulars are jovial. and despite usually hogging all the bar space never make you feel unwelcome. There’s a real fire place for cold winter evenings. The beer garden is really relaxing and pretty, especially considering its not located in the most picturesque or pleasant neighbourhood.
Newpapers and books are available to read, and there’s a nice selection of board games too. An upright piano gets played on occasion by a very talented and entertaining musician. There’s darts too, and sports on the telly if that’s your thing.
Tends to be quiet and relaxing during the week, and fairly lively Friday and Saturday evenings. Maybe not the most exciting place, but I highly recommend it.

This has to be the best pub in Reading. It has a great range of constantly changing real ales, friendly bar staff and an eclectic choice of music. Food is served between 5−7pm but in the Winter there is usually a homemade soup also available, along with a selction of home made filled baguettes.

The best pub in Reading, a great choice of ales, fantastic staff, a great atmosphere and they do a brilliant weekend full English breakfast (black pudding included for the more blood thirsty among us)!

Friendly, comfortable, good atmosphere, good beer — what else do you want in a pub! The Nags Head has become an ideal local with a good buzz every night and a choice of 12 real ales, good lager and good cider. My world is now complete (and that’s without mentioning the Sweeny & Todd pies!)