August 2025 by Andrew Irvine
Chef?s cooking of fish is amazingly good
You may be greeted with ?have you booked?? and then discussed loudly (?is it too late for a walk-in??) by the staff and made to pay when ordering instead of at the end of the meal. Makes you feel like a 2nd class citizen. Eaten there x3 but may but not do so again. Review edited 13/8/25.
August 2025 by Gökcan Yürük
I just crave a Sunday roast and found this amazing pub , very welcoming people and quick service and amazing food . I think I add a new place to my must go again list
August 2025 by Debbie Shore
We visited The Old Bell today, and unfortunately, it didn?t leave us with a positive impression. After waiting for an hour, we had to chase our order, only to be told it had been lost. We ended up waiting 90 minutes for our food, despite the fact that the place was nearly empty. The server didn?t seem to notice the delay, which was disappointing. They offered us free desserts as an apology, which we didn't want. They did take money off the bill, and the food itself was good. However, the service was impersonal and poorly managed. The young server repeatedly mentioned his manager but the manager never came over to address the situation. All in all, it was a frustrating experience, and we won?t be returning. Perhaps this is why the restaurant was so quiet.
August 2025 by Bhimsen Shrestha
We had very pleasant and good experience at this restaurant. Recommend everyone to try this place while in Reading UK .
October 2024 by christine hole
We arrived at the Old Bell, very weary after having travelled a long way, without a booking a table. With only a few minutes to spare before the kitchen finished cooking, James very kindly rushed an order through for us. We sat down, were served drinks immediately by James and within a very short time our meal of fish and chips appeared. The fish was the best fish we had tasted in a very long time, cooked to perfection. Thankyou very much to a very friendly James and the chef.
October 2024 by Mfothergillable
A solidly adequate pub next to premier inn. Excessively sign posted, priced according to how few alternatives there are around. You can't do more 4 out of 5 than this pub.
October 2024 by Luke Airey
Great service, lovely atmosphere. Will be back
September 2024 by Grimly Roberts
Great place. We had slow cooked beef roast and a duo of turkey and pork roast. All the food was lovely. Staff really friendly (James, Cameron and Eve) and we could take our furry friend in with us too. Most enjoyable. Weve been 4 times before and we just remembered why we always like too eat here. Thank you
September 2024 by Jackie Penn
Nice pub with very nice food. We stayed a few nights at the Premier Inn there and used the Bell every evening, sampling several meals, all good
Brilliant staff with special mention for James and Kathleen who couldn't have been more friendly and helpful.
Vegetarian options: Nice choice of more interesting options.
September 2024 by Ali Little
Firstly: went on a Sunday evening and there was only 3 other tables with customers so it wasn't busy. However the service was abysmal. So to take order, bring drinks, check if any more drinks or sauce required and had to go to the bar to pay as waited too long to have table cleared. That being said the chef was on form as the food was delicious. The Game Mixed Grill was a different treat to normal pub food and the Lamb Shank shepherd's pie was divine. The cooking staff took pub grub to a high standard. It was all let down by the miserable and inattentive service staff.
September 2024 by Jacob Kirton
Great place very good to bring you?re family for a nice meal
September 2024 by Ian Cooper
Stopped by on a whim. Greeted quickly, served promptly, food was excellent for a pub menu. Recommended.
All staff were great. Our server Bel was very polite and attentive.
September 2024 by Bb Bb
What a shame, had high hopes from the friendly welcome from Kathleen? but my order was lost, after 25mins a young chap came out to apologise and I was offered another drink, food wouldn't be long. I hoped that missing the order chef would make sure food was good, unfortunately not, half of the (four) carrots chunks were green and not roasted as per menu, was told menu doesn't say roasted (it clearly does). Pie was full of fat and some of the chips were grey, left most of the food. Sauce pot chipped and grubby. This is probably a one off as all other reviews are great. Knocked the price of my coke off the bill, food was charged at full. Kathleen was lovely and a real credit to the place, everything else was a hot mess I'm afraid!
September 2024 by Simon Turtle
We had a nice experience with friends.
Staff were attentive and we thoroughly enjoyed the nicely presented food. We would recommend.
September 2024 by Walter Dunaj
Excellent pub with excellent customer service ?
