The Plough

You'll find The Plough tucked away on School Road, the kind of neighbourhood spot that feels like it's been there forever and probably has. This is proper pub territory—no craft cocktails or Instagram angles, just straightforward drinking and eating done well. The regulars prop up the bar like they own the place, which somehow makes it feel welcoming rather than cliquey. It's the sort of venue where you can actually hear yourself talk, grab a decent pint, and settle in for the evening without any pretence. School Road's quiet enough that you feel a world away from the town centre hustle, but close enough that getting here from anywhere in Reading takes minutes.