Thames LIDO

You're drinking a proper cocktail next to a heated outdoor swimming pool in the middle of Reading, and it feels wonderfully surreal. The Thames Lido has transformed what was once a derelict 1902 lido into something that feels more Shoreditch House than Berkshire, complete with sleek poolside loungers and a bar that takes its drinks seriously. The setting is genuinely special – imagine explaining to your mates that you're meeting them at a swimming pool for evening drinks. The cocktail menu runs from classic negronis to more adventurous concoctions, and the kitchen serves up decent food if you're planning to make an evening of it. Open from 7am to 10pm daily, it works equally well for morning coffee by the water or sunset drinks that'll make you forget you're five minutes from the Oracle Centre.