We love a ghost sign and you can spot the old H&G Simonds LTD signage under the paint work of the Hop Leaf on Southampton Street in Reading. The brewery was founded in 1785 in Reading and in 1960 amalgamated with Courage and Barclay, before then being bought by Scottish & Newcastle and FINALLY being sold to Wells & Young’s in 2007. Anyway, the trademark for Simonds was… a Hop leaf. Full circle. 🍺 #rdguk #camra @campaignforrealale #beer @_hopbackbrewery
A massive thank you to those of you who took part in this years ale trail. We know some of you are still going, tagging us in photos and stories and sharing your thoughts on our Facebook page, again, thank you! And, a round of applause to our volunteers and Ale Trail group who plan this every year starting in the autumn - in fact, they’re pretty much planning all the time! Your feedback is really welcome so do share it with us! 🍺 #aletrail #pubs #camra #beer #rdguk
CELEBRATING THREE YEARS OF MYSTERIOUS BREWING…
Over the next few days, we’ll be looking back at some of our favourite moments from year one, alongside a few exciting plans for what’s to come.
It’s definitely not been the easiest ride—but thanks to the support of our friends, family, customers, and trade partners over the past three years, we’re still here doing what we love: making beers people enjoy and being part of an amazing community.
As we raise a glass to three years, this one’s really for you.
Cheers,
Ken & Adam
@indiebeeruk@readingcamra@thenagsheadreading
It’s British Cider week so a great time to share the winner and runner up for Reading & Mid-Berkshire CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year.
The Bell, Waltham St Lawrence @the_bell_inn_wsl went and did the double (again!) and scooped the top spot! A big congratulations to them!
The Nags Head @thenagsheadreading in central Reading came in second and were recognised for the variety they offer customers, with 17 different ciders available. You’ll find @tuttsclumpcideroffical Route 17 on as a regular cider (appropriate!) and the fab @seven_trees_cider based in Tilehurst are often on too.
In third place is @the_castle_tap , also in central Reading. Did you know the Castle Tap hosts @readingciderclub once per month? It’s brilliant fun and they’ve had excellent producers and makers hosting talks and tastings on all things cider. It’s absolutely brilliant, so do check their social media or pop in to ask about this.
A big thank you to all these pubs who support cider producers not just locally but also from further afield. In Berkshire, we are surrounded by orchards and there is wonderful cider out there to try.
@camra.cider.perry #britishciderweek #camra #berkshire
The winner of Reading & Mid Berkshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2026 is the wonderful @the_bell_inn_wsl - a big congrats to @scott_ganson and his team - a truely wonderful pub and their second year winning in a row. If you’ve not been, go!
In second place is the superb @theretreatpub in Reading - the back street boozer is renowned for its live music and community in the “village” in East Reading.
In third place is the cracking Alehouse on Broad Street in Reading. Just look at those walls!
A big congrats to all three pubs - they really do serve their respective communities well, stock excellent beer from nearby breweries and also from further afield on cask and keg and have great teams that welcome their customers brilliantly.
#camra @campaignforrealale #rdguk #realale
There are about 25 tickets left for @stagecraftfestival tomorrow evening - so if you’ve been on the fence, just follow the link in their bio and do it. Great festival @southstreetarts today - great vibes, awesome beer from local and artisan breweries and lovely people AND the sun was shining. What’s not to love?! #rdguk #beer #camra
Really lucky that within Reading CAMRA we have so many members that go out and about across the country visiting different regions to check out pubs and breweries. They collect and bring back other @campaignforrealale magazines which I can peruse and take inspiration from! There is such great local writing out there and lots of social activities happening across the country. If you see your local CAMRA magazine, pick it up, have a read and tell us what you’d like to see more of. #rdguk #camra
Our new #Berkshire wide @campaignforrealale magazine is here! It’ll be arriving in your local over the next week, so pick up a copy and share your feedback with us. We’ve worked really hard to make this a big collaborative effort and we hope you love it. Lots of pub, brewery, beer & cider updates to share. #rdguk @swmcamra@camra.cider.perry
From one eventful Sunday to the next! 💃
Next up: International Women’s Day at The Nag’s! 💜
We’re marking the day the best way we know how - with an IWCBD tap list full of incredible women-brewed beers pouring from 12pm. 🍻✨
Come down for a pint (or two), bring your pals, and celebrate the brilliant women shaping our beery circles.
Then, from 3–5pm, join us in marquee B for a special panel discussion co-hosted with Reading CAMRA, exploring beer, community, and women — with plenty of space for your questions too. 💬
Free to attend. Please register via Eventbrite so we can keep an eye on numbers:
/e/international-womens-day-panel-beer-community-women-hosted-by-the-nag-tickets-1984063644771
Whether you’re popping in for the beers, the conversation, or both - everyone’s warmly welcome. 🤗
#InternationalWomensDay #WomenInBeer #IWCBD #ReadingBeer #Belonging
The Clifton Arms on Gosbrook Road Caversham looking lovely in the (currently rare) sunshine. It’s a Brakspear Pub so expect to find their bitter, Gravity, on handpump #rdguk #camra #brakspear
McCafferty’s bar on Friar Street Reading, which replaced the site of Wild Lime and many other previous incarnations of bars in the same spot. McCafferty’s Reading is the 18th pub in the McCafferty chain, the first being in Donegal Town, Ireland in 2017. Beers on offer include the expected Guinness, Caffrey’s Irish ale and some other kegged pales. It’s launch coincided with a refresh of O’Neil’s along the same stretch and the Monk’s Retreat also having an Irish style makeover 🇮🇪 #irishbars
