O'Neill's

You know what you're getting with O'Neill's, but this Friar Street outpost does the formula particularly well. The Irish pub aesthetic could feel forced, but there's something about the way they've fitted it into this corner spot that works – probably because the staff actually seem to enjoy being there, and that energy is infectious. The food menu hits all the right notes without any pretension: think proper fish and chips, hearty pies, and burgers that don't try to be Instagram-worthy but taste exactly like they should. The Guinness pours correctly, the atmosphere builds nicely through the week, and come Friday evening, you'll find a proper mix of after-work crowds and weekend revellers. It's not trying to be the coolest pub in Reading, and that's precisely why it works so well.