Fun place to grab a beer. They allow food brought in as well if you like. Grab a booth in the back and read something of your choice. read more

The Ale House - Booths in the back - Pubs Near Me - Reading, RDG

A classic British pub with lots of nooks and crannies and places to hide out of our usually crap weather. Lots of beers and ciders to choose from but be careful some are stronger than others. Good staff with a sense of humour and the place is usually busy. Not too noisy as it's a pub not a sports bar. You go here for the beer and banter. read more

An odd little place, Hobgoblin is all about the real ales (though they have some of the major brands as well). It doesn't look like much when you step in, but there are more tables in the windy-twisty hallways heading back. Friendly service and friendly regulars, one patron who walked in after me asked for a draft he'd had four weeks back but couldn't remember the name. The stuff here doesn't last nearly that long, but they were more than happy to check back through their logbook and at least get him the name. I'm a specific beer drinker and it was a hot sweaty and mildly frustrating day, so I didn't want to take the chance of snapping at someone. When I asked for a lager with my very clear American accent, the bartender offered me a Budweiser. "No, I can't possibly drink Bud." She insisted and said it was the Czech version and that it would be good. And she was right. Well poured, it exactly hit the spot. And it was way better than American Budweiser! Next time, I'll try something else. But today, that was all I needed. Badges from beers are all over the walls and ceiling here, it's quite the little find though its location on the Reading Broad Street makes it hard to miss. There are also two benches outside if you're one of those that has to smoke. read more

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Don't bother with this on a Thursday lunchtime, the barman is ignoring customers as he is constantly on his phone!

A tiny pub with a good selection of ales, popular among locals. It doesn't have a whole lot of seating available but it makes up for it with its outdoor seating and friendly staff. read more

I think this picture says everything. They don't even make fun of Americans who don't have a pin and have to sign the receipt: a lot of fun beers and very glorious hair. Cute, cozy chairs. So glad That yelp pointed us here!!! read more

The Ale House - Pubs Near Me - Reading, RDG

Amazing. Had sex with a girl from the bar. Would go again. Bartender and staff where amazing.

No cell phones! They have a relatively strict no cell phone policy but other than that, this was place was awesome. From the outside, the Hobgoblin looks like a hole in the wall and a bit removed from the more modern shops on Broad Street. On the inside, it's a very quaint and often packed pub that serves real ale. There are a bunch of little nooks and crannies where you can sit and it feels somewhat like a maze when looking for an open table. I'm not sure why but it feels like every time I've come, people just become pleasant once you're in this bar. No raving techno d-bags and no yuppie college kids; this a bona fide good old-fashioned pub. The staff and bartender are very friendly and the overall environment was just very nice. Will definitely make this a regular watering hole during my stay here at Reading. read more

It can be difficult, can't it, to find a nice real ale pub in an unfamiliar city? I don't know Reading at all, but found myself there (for a Jethro Tull concert), and so did a bit of research for a drinking establishment not too far from the Hexagon that did good ale. I am very glad I found the Hobgoblin. My first clue that this was going to be right up my street was the discreet 'no mobile phone' sign (showing, amusingly a picture of a 90s brick of a phone). I find people chattering away on a phone in a pub very irritating, so the idea that a pub is for chatting with the people actually IN the pub was very appealing. Walking in, the bar is in front of you, serving a variety of ales - ales which were, by and large, new to me (and many which were local). There is evidence everywhere that the Hobgoblin has an ever-changing selection of ales - there are pump signs covering every available wall surface. The front of the pub is small - a handful of stools, and a small bar. Delving into the back (watch your head - the passage between front and back has a low ceiling - I could walk through no problem, but anyone taller than my 5'7" would have to duck), you'll find a number of small snug areas - seating between two and around six. Very cosy these were too. The pub is dimly lit, with a bare floor - no garish carpet or bright strip lighting here. I had a different beer each time, and to my shame, cannot remember what I had, but they were all well kept, and delicious. The staff were friendly and happy to help me choose my tipple - asking me what I liked, and recommending ales based on that. The clientele is indeed beardy, though mixed. It surprised me not a whit that a group by the bar were envious that I was seeing Tull that night. It can, I'd imagine, seem a bit intimidating if one is used to the normal Whetherspoons/lager type pubs, but I found it charming and pleasant. The loos were cold, and tired, but clean - nothing special, but nothing awful. I will certainly be re-visiting this pub should I find myself back in Reading, and would happily recommend it to any ale fans, and any fans of the quirky, intelligent and unusual. read more

These men and women know their beer. Spacious, slightly dark and dingy, and a vast selection of pints--all qualities of the best in British pubs. Never fear, friends of no beer: cider and mead are also available. There might be a bit of graffiti on a stained table that belongs to me from many years ago back when I was a Reading local. read more

Didn't see the Hobgoblin beer here. Then again I didn't see any beers I recognised, among the 8 on offer! Had a fireworks themed beer from the Hopback brewery. Pub looks like a good old proper pub and to maintain this atmosphere no mobile phones are allowed. (which might explain the lack of a qype champion here) Very central, couple of benches out front. Small cramped interior. Definitely my number one tip in Reading. read more

Love this place. Always a go-to when I'm in town on business. Good mix of blue collar and white collar folks getting along and having a pint together. Very friendly and welcoming place, even for a yank like me. No macro brewed crap like Stella so if you want that go elsewhere. Just a lot of good local brews and they are constantly changing so you can always try something new. Divey in the best sense of the word so stop by soon. Maybe I'll even see you on my next work trip. read more

No one is going to argue about the size of The Hobgoblin - it's tiny & consequently always busy! Although I smoke intermittently myself, I empathise with some of the other comments - smoking should also be banned from most streets, especially near shops & restaurants! The whole point of this pub to drink a wide range proper beer in a convivial (& crowded) atmosphere. My girlfriend goes for the perries on offer or maybe a glass of porter. The clientale don't all have beards, talk too loudly, fall over, drink beer(!) or wear sandals - that's just the bar staff! I think I saw a woman in there once ;). One of the best pubs in Reading if beer is your thing! read more

An oasis of Real Ale and superb ciders set in the heart of chav-town. There are little nooks and crannies to sit in, no phones allowed in the bar and a couple of picnic benches outside to sit and sup at - whilst watching the varied life-forms of Reading parade by. Prices are very reasonable, the bar-staff and friendly-ish and the music retro. If you get peckish, then nip next door for a Pastie. Result! read more

An unusual venue but a treasure for real ale enthusiasts. Small, cramped and difficult to navigate when it gets particularly busy, this is must venue for ales that other town centre venues do not do. Out of peak hours it is a good venue to settle down in and of outside, watch Broad Street go by. read more

The hob goblin pub on broad street in Reading is a little place with barely enough room to swing a cat. They specialise in real ales and bitters and the clientele is predominantly male and middle aged. The pub always seems busy whether it is lunchtime during the week or in the evenings. Since the smoking ban came into force there have been a great many people standing outside the pub on the highstreet with a beer in hand. I do not really like this since there are shops nextdoor and an Early Learning Centre a few doors down so lots of kids walking around that area where people are drinking and smoking. read more

Cool place to have a beer in a welcoming environment. I liked the fact that not only that the staff was extremely friendly, but everybody in the bar seemed to have a great time - together. I'm always delighted when I find a place that is this friendly to complete strangers and regulars alike. I always feel like I'm with friends whenever I choose to visit The Ale House! read more

Great beer, perfect place for meeting friends or for going on dates. Plenty of places to make out. There was also magical lighting that made everyone look hot. Most important thing, the bartender was wearing a shirt that said, "What would Frodo do?". read more

Great pub would recommend. It has the best beer selection ever and a curious cross section of patrons.

This is a must stop for anyone who enjoys a pint of beer or cider. My friend had a pint of bitters that the bartender recommended and it was the best that he'd ever had. I drink ciders and particularly enjoy dry ciders. Again on the bartender's recommendation I tried a pint of close to room temperature cider. It was superb! It's a small place but had cool little tuck away booths or you can stand outside and mingle. Next time I'm in Reading it's first on my list. read more

I like going to the hobgoblin. However i agree with the other review that it is too small. Last time i went in the jukebox was quite good, and the staff seemed quite friendly. read more

Good Real Ale pub. Need I say more?

This is a pub. It is the best pub. It is darkish and cozy, with booths tucked oddly into windy halls. It feels a bit like drinking in a very small castle plastered with pump badges from an astonishing variety of Real Ales (yes, they serve them, and yes, they know what they're serving). The music is often both excellent and obscure, and always on the whim of whomever is working at the moment--if you complain about it they probably will tell you, with the best of humor, to f--- right off. The crowd is always friendly, one of the bartenders (at least when I was there last year) knows sign, and there are any number of burly jovial regulars who will happily remove anyone who offers to cause trouble. Also, no one bothered me for being queer--I wouldn't expect a rainbow flag in the window but I'd feel safe drinking with a date. The regular crowd feels like a family, like everyone knows everyone else and will be happy to get to know you, too, so long as you're generally a pleasant and good person. Of course the most important thing is the drink, and on that account you will not be disappointed. They always have a selection of real ales on tap from small artisan breweries, and if you tell the 'keep what your taste is, they'll pull you something you'll like--or at least find interesting. If you're new to real ales, it'll be an education; if you're a lager fan there'll be something for you too. This is a good pub. It is the best pub. At least, assuredly it's the best place to drink in Reading, and I liked it better than the handful of pubs I visited in Oxford and London as well. read more

This pub repersents all that is bad about Camra. Cliquey, beardy, wierdy. There are plenty of other good real-ale pubs in Reading now and the Goblin lives on its past reputation. Avoid if you like friendly open pubs that let you use your mobile! read more