Reading Roars!

Following on from “speciality beers”, we don’t appear to have that many “speciality bars” in Reading (we have mostly yawn-inducing clone bars, as found in most UK cities).  One of the noble few is new Polish bar Gospoda (meaning “restaurant” in Polish) in the heart of Oxford Road’s Polish community.

Gospoda’s interior impressed me.  Its sweet, wooden decor felt rural and homely (a nod to traditional Poland).  Touches such as the immaculately-crafted “stars” at the bar added to the gentle mood.  Gospoda’s charm was attacked by the harsh commentary of Polish club football, shown on the screen, but as an enthusiastic follower of the beautiful game, that didn’t bother me. 

Lunch was a different issue.  Ordering a wooden platter of cold meat for sharing between two, I was expecting something better for £12.50 than the resulting cold streaks of greasy bacon, sliced sausage and a tomato for effect.  The failed chip & pin machine, requiring that I pay in cash only, got things off to a bad start, and service was slow (I saw just two other customers eating, so what was the issue?). 

Food aside, I’d be more than happy to go back (I’m keen on trying the Polish beer).  Gospoda is refreshingly different and a world away from the dive that previously existed in its place.

I was checking out the large Abbey Mill House construction project next to the library (it should look pretty spectacular, ok, relatively spectacular, when finished), when I spotted a new bar I hadn’t seen before: Copa.  The “Continental Biers” emblazoned across its front drew me excitedly across the road.  My mind conjured up thoughts of Chimay Blue, Pilsner Urquell and Paulaner.

What a surprise I got.   Instead of the “fantastic range of continental biers” advertised at the bar entrance, I saw what appeared to be a pretty average drinks menu.  Kronenbourg Blanc, Staropramen, Amstel and Leffe are all rather conventional, as opposed to ”speciality beers” as Copa’s website puts it.   Bizarrely, the site adds ”Our drinks range really sets us apart from the norm”.  Really?  And as for “biers”, rather than the more familiar “beers”, laughable (last I checked, Peroni is an Italian brand, but I guess “continental birras” doesn’t have the same impact).

I didn’t enter the bar on this occasion, so I cannot comment on anything else.  I suspect that Copa will prove a hit with office workers in particular.

And finally, if you are after speciality beers in Reading, rather than the same popular brands found in all cities across the globe, I personally recommend the following places (I’m sure others can come up with a bigger list):

• Zerodegrees - They produce their own (high-quality) beer such as Czech-style black lager (as not all lagers look like wee) and in fruity flavours such as mango 
• The Retreat - A traditional pub offering a number of Belgian (forget Stella) and German beers, as well as local ales
• The Hobgoblin - Always offering something new (beer with coffee, anyone?)