Reading Roars!

Further to my recent post about Reading’s new sushi bar, complete with conveyor belt, I now know its name: one o eight.

The photo seen here was sent to me by Reading 107 FM’s Joff Hopkins, who observes:

They’ve missed a trick with the name… thinking of the possibilities of teaming up with the local radio station!

Thanks Joff! I can see it now: “Top tunas to get you through your lunch hour”. Or “That was ‘Kiss Them for Me’, by Sushi and the Banshees”.

I received an email from a Seattle-based expat asking for top 10 tips for a newcomer to Reading. So here are my personal suggestions:

1. Visit Forbury Gardens, dominated by the famous Maiwand Lion statue. From the park, you can easily walk to the now ruined Reading Abbey, founded in the 12th century by Henry I (who, I think, is buried in the area). Also check out the nearby luxury Forbury Hotel.
2. Watch Reading FC play at the Madejski stadium (cheer them on - they need it at the moment). The local football team are, for only the second time in their long history (the club was founded in 1871), playing in the country’s elite league. Actress Kate Winslet is said to be a fan of Reading FC. Let’s hope they don’t sink like the Titanic.
3. Visit Reading Museum, where you can learn about the history of the town, including the birth of a biscuit empire (Huntley & Palmer’s). Admission is free.
4. Cruise the Thames on the Caversham Princess. The departure point is close to Caversham Bridge, where you can also feed the many swans that congregate in the area.
5. Reading is recognised internationally for its festivals. The town really comes alive in August (Reading Festival) and the Reading Beer and Cider Festival is a barrel-load of fun in May. Other than these major festivals, there are many smaller events running throughout the year.
6. If shopping’s your thing, Reading’s Victorian architecture can be admired while visiting Broad Street’s high street shops. More interesting units can be found in Harris Arcade and “Smelly Alley”, so called because it pongs (but don’t let that put you off). The Oracle is probably Reading’s biggest retail draw. Every major town has at least one Oracle-size shopping centre. This mall offers the River Kennet and its colourful barges, and a glimpse of the mysterious, weed-ridden Holy Brook. The Holy Brook is a mostly underground stream that supplied water to Reading Abbey (founded in 1121).
7. Tummy grumbling? Avoid the big chains. Instead, try a home-made pie at Sweeney & Todd, named after the legendary 19th century serial killer. There are many fillings to choose from, some less traditional than others, and you can enjoy your pie with a pint of ale. Alternatively, eat at Chronicles, a cellar bar and restaurant formerly occupied by the Reading Chronicle. A third great option is a pub called The Griffin, reached from Reading by crossing the Thames into Caversham. If you fancy something a bit more exotic, Taste of Malaysia and Tutu’s Table (Ethiopian), at the Global Cafe, are superb, and if you eat vegetarian food only, then I recommend Cafe Iguana.
8. Flagging? Time for a coffee! In Reading, there is a coffee-shop glut (you will find them everywhere: in bookshops, arcades, department stores and street corners). Again, avoid the big chains. Instead, enjoy a cup of ethical coffee at Picnic, a place that feels warm and homely. Excellent coffee can also be had a little further away from the town centre, at Workhouse Coffee. I also recommend Tutu’s Table (Ethiopian) once more: coffee was discovered in Ethiopia, after all, and there you can try coffee prepared in the original way, before machines with more nozzles than the Space Shuttle were invented.
9. Reading, like any large town, has a busy nightlife. Avoid the heaving chain bars of Friar Street. Instead, try local pubs with a more unique flavour: the tucked-away, award-winning Retreat, highly regarded for its cider, and The Hobgoblin, a traditional pub with a good range of ales and a bewildering collection of beermats (warning: mobile phone use in the pub is strictly forbidden). Pubs aside, Bar Iguana is a small and absolutely cracking venue worth visiting for the music alone: reggae/drum and bass with live vocals. For a more swanky experience, try classy cocktail bar Mix and the tres chic Cerise (Forbury Hotel). If you’ve just stepped off the train, head straight to the luxury Malmaison across the road from the station for a more relaxing drink. Three other venues are also worth mentioning: Zero Degrees, for producing its own award-winning beer, the Purple Turtle for its cosmopolitan crowd and late-night drinks, and The Blagrave Arms, as it was taken over by a mate of mine.
10. And finally, leave town. Eh? Yes, that’s right - get outta town! One of the best things about Reading is its location. It’s surrounded by gorgeous countryside. Head North into the hills (officially designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), where you can find fantastic country pubs serving great food and quality beer. Around Reading, there are a number of towns and villages worth visiting for their charm and history, such as Pangbourne, Goring, Sonning and Henley along the Thames river.

What would your top 10 tips be?

I remember saying a while back that was Reading really needed was a conveyor belt sushi restaurant (because they’re fun and London has had them since 1994).  Well, we’re finally getting one, and it’s taking shape in Queen Victoria St. (Reading Station would also be a great location for one, like Paddington).

I can’t wait for it (I’ve forgotten its name, but it isn’t YO! Sushi) to open.  I’m also very much looking forward to a Reading Borders store, Foyles, Madison’s Coffee…

I’ve been busy lately. That and my irritating cold has made blogging harder than usual in recent days. No matter. Last night I was at The Blagrave Arms where, after several flutes at the Grand Opening (I will explain), I suddenly began to feel a bit better.

The Blagrave Arms was bought recently by my friend Naz and his partner Anna Korsgrove. His announcement that he was buying a pub surprised me, to say the least. He had a successful IT career, flying regularly to Scandinavia, so this seemed a considerably radical move to me. Last night, in his speech, he said how he and his partner had always wanted to do this. It was a shared dream. Now they are fulfilling their dream - how many people can say that?

Naz and Anna had a plan to transform the pub into a wine bar, giving it a lighter look (whitening the walls and darkening the floor) but retaining the Victorian bits. The result was seen publicly last night at the new-look bar’s Grand Opening. I thought Naz and Anna (formerly an auditor), both newcomers to the hospitality sector, had achieved something special. The wine list looks good (though I’m not an expert) and Naz even designed a new logo. Pop in and take a look!