Reading pub brought back to life as The Kennet Arms
Cllr Tony Jones said of local newspapers in Reading, “Whether we always like what they say or not, they are important to our community.”
He’s right, of course. I’m a firm believer that pubs are also important to a community, and the carnage in the countryside that I have seen recently has not exactly filled me with joy. Take the brilliant Lamb Inn (Satwell), for example, now closed. Another traditional country pub has become an Italian restaurant. Another still, an Indian restaurant.
Pubs are an important part of our national culture. They bring people together. They are the so-called “third place” (in Starbucks parlance) that we have enjoyed for centuries. Then there is the beer itself…
I clicked on the Reading Chronicle headline “Pub’s new lease of life” within a nanosecond of it appearing on my screen. A Southcote man, Steve Ellis, has reopened the Claddagh Ring pub, shut for more than a month, and brought back its original name, The Kennet Arms.
There is hope.
This a piece of good news. Once upon a time it was a local of mine.
The name change was a bad move as it started to feel more like a theme pub.
I am glad to hear this.
The Claddagh Ring was a downmarket, rough, shite-hole.
This new landlord seems to have the right idea. Good luck.
rog blake …..obviously you never went in the claddagh ring pub it was a all cultured pub and everybody was welcome!! the landlord and landlady were the best you could get…obviously you judged the pub by its cover and never went in there because it was like home to the locals and we are all sad to leave it but dont worry we have the horse and jockey now.. so before ritin crap on here think twice..!!!!
I’m sorry.
the pub was in need of a refurb! it was a shit hole however now there is no character in the pub!