The Queens Head Inn — Restaurant in Reading

I’ve been debating for a while should I post my experience here and I’ve finally decided. My initial experience with my stepdaughter was exceptional, a beautiful polite lady called Christine or Christina. She was fantastic, talked to us asked where we were from and staying and said we could have 10% discount as we were staying at an hotel nearby. She was lovely, unfortunately she said she was off for a few days as I wanted to spend my money here. We had just travelled from Thailand to England for 4 days and were visiting Reading University. The following night I went here alone, different manager. Granted I had a few beers in me but I was polite and immediately when I entered the new manager looked down on me, maybe I wasn’t dressed smart enough even though everything I wear including my gold is genuine. I ordered a drink and asked do you have change from a £50 note, no we don’t accept them. My initial chat with Christina I told her I was with my step daughter but I needed to update my bank cards and could only pay cash all my other accounts are in Thailand. She was so nice So I asked the different manager does she accept £20’s she said yes and I also asked £10s and £5’s and she said yes, I was like ok then we don’t have a problem. I found her rude and had an attitude as soon as I entered the premises. The following day we went to reading university for an open day and decided to give them a second chance, maybe she was having an off night the night before. Same feeling when we entered the bar with my daughter, but I didn’t want to say anything. We ordered 2 lasagna a beer and water I think it came to about £32 behind me a table probably locals (they seemed like nice men) were having a discussion about £50 notes, saying they never see them now and called across to the manageress and asked her when was the last time she seen one. I had offered the previous night to pay with mine, oh her reply was I can’t remember. Less than 12 hours before I had wanted to pay with one. I told the locals I wanted to pay with one last night but she wouldn’t accept it. She heard me and blanked me again. I sat with my daughter we had our food, it was very good and just as we are eating another member of staff came and plopped a reserved sign on our table, a hospitality no no. We finished our food and left without thanking them or saying goodbye. We didn’t take advantage of the 10% discount as it wasn’t even mentioned when I paid and after I realised my error, I couldn’t be bothered as I didn’t want to make a scene with my stepdaughter present. We had bus tickets valid for 24 hours the night before but we ended up getting a taxi to the hotel, I gave mine to a member of staff a guy who was more polite and professional than the manager. The following day I wanted a beer before flying back to Thailand and I swore I’d never enter this bar again if I was to feel inferior. I went to another bar not as fancy but spent my money there and they did accept £50 notes. In conclusion I’d visit this bar just to see Christina apart from that give it a wide berth Ps you can keep the 10%...

Please don't take this the wrong way: the staff were great, the space and decor are pretty good, the drinks (alcoholic at least) are also okay (caveat - didn't look at the wine list - had London Pride & Thatcher's Haze). The problem is the food. My party had X 4 adult mains & 2 X children's dishes. The menus looked alright. The kids weren't very inspired by their options but both went for the fish bites which they finished. Three adult portions of the pie-of-the-day (steak & ale) and 1 X fish cakes. Average wait for the food: no probs. The main courses were all just a bit meh. It just tasted like a pre-cooked, defrosted beef casserole with a cooked-from-frozen flaky pastry lid. Great chips and nice veg - French beans and garden peas, with extra jugs of gravy. The kids meals were similar. Having had a bit of a break we returned for pudding and opted for 5 of the treacle sponges from the 'specials' board. We also ordered cups of tea for the grown ups and hot chocolates for the kids. The cups of tea were great but the milk arrived in a latte glass... ?!? Really doesn't pour well! One child refused their hot chocolate - it tasted like a rather unpleasant something else so a grown up then tried it but struggled to finish it: definitely avoiding that in the future! Although they looked nice, the sponges were such a disappointment - far too sweet and cloying, and a weirdly 'off' balance of flavours. As this is almost a local pub, I really hoped to find something better than this. I won't be returning, and definitely do not...

Let me share some details about the Queens Head pub that customers probably don't get to see or hear about. The landlord behaves disgracefully in the Community. He affixes signs & damages private property & nature, in the name of advertising his business. Criminal offences by the way, and the Council have had words. He behaves petulantly towards local neighbours by parking his red Range Rover in their permit parking spaces DESPITE having pub parking. His language towards people & women when asked to move his vehicle is vile. All in all he is not a particularly tasteful businessman or a leader in the community. Oh, and actually the food really is below average. Much better places to dine in Reading. Gastropub it is not. He is considered a clown in the local community and none of us use the pub because we know the truth and would never spend our hard...