The Packhorse

Head out towards Mapledurham and you'll find yourself at a pub that feels genuinely removed from Reading's town centre chaos, yet it's barely a fifteen-minute drive from the station. The Packhorse sits on Woodcote Road in a spot that's got real character—riverside views, proper ale selection, and the kind of menu that doesn't overthink things but doesn't skimp either. It's the sort of place locals bring their mates to on a Sunday, where the food's reliable enough that you'll actually ring ahead to book, and the beer list suggests someone who actually cares about what's on tap.