Magpie and Parrot in Wokingham

My wife and I saw an advert on our local community group saying this establishment was doing very good fish and chips for take away. On the group site people were saying this cost £7:50 each for fish&chips but you had to order in advance. My wife wife placed an order and on the other end of the phone it sounded like an old lady taking the order, she was very abrupt and wasn’t listening to what was being asked and just kept talking over what my wife was trying to ask. Anyway we eventually placed our order. When we arrived to pick it up my wife went into the side entrance and went to pay, the old lady was quite rude and said it was £8:50 each, when my wife said that on the local page it everyone was saying £7:50. She just brushed it off and said she didn’t know about that, my wife only had £15 in cash and as we had only ordered for 2 this is all she had. There were dogs running around the area as well not very hygienic. The price appears to change depending on who you are as my wife went back to the local group and the members are still saying they pay £7:50. First and last time using this pub takeaway the fish and chips were a small portion for the price.

While the Magpie and Parrot can't be open as usual, they are providing a very good take away service. I paid and picked up our fish and chips from outside the pub. Everything is cooked to order and it was delicious!

I’ve often driven past and wondered ‘is that a pub or a private house?’ Tonight we found out it’s both! An incredibly warm welcome from Carole and some regulars, excellent and exceptionally good value fish and chip supper and a beautiful pub dog. We will be back soon. This pub has a beautiful garden as well. The interior is very ‘traditional country pub’ and the publican, Carole took time to come to chat to us as newcomers. We are looking forward to trying the jazz night and expect to return soon with friends. Thank you for the warm welcome.

Invited to a great party in the marque in the back. Bar prices were good, food excellent, hog roast and pies later on

Working on behalf a local school, myself and a couple other students were recommended to this venue by another school. We were looking to host a summer party for around 100 of our teachers and Sixth Form Leavers, so we contacted Carole, who gladly invited us over to have a look to make sure we were happy with what she had to offer. Although we didn’t spend much time in the pub itself, the marquee was a fantastic entertaining space. The bar was stocked, the dance floor quickly filled, and the decking area provided a quieter area for some of our guests to drink on the summer’s evening. Carole was very easy to work with - something hard to find considering we were just a couple of 18-year-olds. We were given great prices for marquee hire and the authentic hog-roast (which went down a charm!). The bar staff were also incredibly friendly to both students and teachers present. The bathroom facilities for the marquee aren’t amazing but were fine for the tone of the evening - just make sure you have a full look around before you book! Would definitely recommend Carole and the Magpie and Parrot, and we’re sure our school will be returning again next year!

Arrived just after 12 noon with our 3year old grandson, to be met at the door by a rather unfriendly greeting of “Oh we’re not ready for you. The staff haven’t arrived yet!” We were taken into a dingy dining area with stuffed animals on every window sill . Three dogs followed us in from the door ,2 of which stayed. The room smelled musty and of dogs. The old lady walked off & we decided not even to wait to see the menu as who knows how long we would have had to wait for food to be prepared & cooked. There are far superior pubs with dining facilities located close by. Do not waste your time visiting this place.

We are arrived on the royal wedding day at the above place , we heard we could take dogs , so we took our gorgeous little woofers . A lady came out to say can I help you not even a hello , Then her dogs run up to our dogs , one of them bit one of my dogs face , the lady did not once say sorry . She was unwelcoming , unfriendly and should not be running an establishment where she has to speak to customers , we will never be returning here .

I went here for my sisters wedding anniversary and was very impressed with the marquee and had a good evening until it was time to leave and the landlady was asking everyone if we had transport, it was like she was just trying to get rid of us as soon as possible. she complained about poor takings from the bar even after my sister paying over a thousand pound for the hire of the marquee. she was rude to my teenage daughter. she needs to retire and live in a place with a population count of 1..

Having been to my sisters wedding at the Magpie,I could not fault it,what a wonderful place in a great setting.The marquee was just something else.Carole and Doug could not have been more helpful,they made a special day for our family in to a memorable day.

I went on Jazz night which i once a month on a Thursday night. £5 entrance fee. The place is quite small so get there early. The musicians are fantastic. There is so much character in the building, owners and customers. My friends and i plan to go again soon. You could absolutely not get such a bargain deal for the high quality music and atmosphere.

Please visit the pub on selected Thursday nights when Jazz is playing .... very friendly and homely well worth a visit. See listings of similar vents on the Jazz in Reading web site.

Went with my dogs and it was great.Large garden and bar has loads of groovy things.The pub dogs are something else !

From the moment we booked Carole was fantastic, made everything so easy & relaxed. The day was brilliant, all the staff were great & really friendly. The food (especially the hog roast) was lovely & the garden looked beautiful. We were lucky to have nice weather so could fully enjoy the outside area as well as the beautifully made up marque. Can't thank Carole & all the staff at the Magpie & Parrot enough, we had a wonderful day/night!

We went to a friends wedding yesterday at the Magpie and Parrot and it was great! The weather was amazing which was so lovely, we arrived at the back of the pub as it was not in the pub itself. It had a perm marquee set up, lots of seating outside with outdoor tables and bar stools, decking, lovely garden and picnic type benches. There was a steel band hired for the reception drinks so it felt like we were on a mini holiday. Loved it. The staff were all lovely, really felt like a family run business which is so important, especially when people are in trusting you with their wedding. The facilities were perfect for a wedding. The toilets were separate to the actual pub but perfectly located near the marquee. The set-up was really handy for that kind of event and due to the weather we could make such good use of the setting. The bar was cash only but that was fine as we all knew well in advance. The selection of drinks was good and really reasonably priced. I think everyone had a fab day and the staff at the Magpie & Parrot had a lot to do with that! Thanks for helping make sure our friends wedding day went so well!

We had approx 70 guests and opted for a BBQ. Unfortunately the weather was not on our side but we could not fault the food, service or venue. If the weather had been good we would have been able to make use of the outside garden area which would have been excellent. Both Carol and Doug we accommodating as were their staff on the evening of the function. Great place would recommend.

Habíamos oído sobre este pub de un amigo y aunque no somos locales, dimos un paseo en coche a almorzar en un soleado viernes. El menú no es enorme, pero la comida es muy buena relación calidad-precio y sabroso. Nos sentamos en la terraza del sol hacia el jardín, que era preciosa. Dentro del pub es peculiar e individual y no ignorar la señal para dejar que el perro durmiendo en su silla mentira! Sin duda volveremos.

Carole sirve excelente Fish and chips cenas los viernes por la noche. Asegúrate de reservar antes de ir. jugoso bacalao y patatas fritas bien cocinadas. Volveremos pronto! Jazz los jueves (cada tres semanas durante todo el año) es una delicia, nuevo llegar temprano para 8...

Friday evening and fish and chips at the Magpie and Parrot. A great place to have Friday evening supper. Fresh cooked fish, delicious chips and a cosy dining room. I recommend this small pub, friendly clientele and excellent fish and chips. My wife and I are fairly frequent diners and have never been disappointed. Book beforehand for a Friday evening treat.

We've passed this place very often and said we should pop in sometime. Well today we did. It is on the A327 near Shinfield and easily missed. It is a lovely homely pub with a menu of Sweeney Todds pie (£3.95) with chips for £5.50; toasties; or ham, eggs and chips; or home made fish cakes. Yes there are some stuffed animals and brasses but that is the charm of the place. There are oak beams and the walls are painted white so it is not dark or dingy. It is cosy and welcoming. There was a roaring log fire. Our pie and chips was served quickly, red hot and tasty. London Pride and Guiness are on draft but there are other bottled beers. Fish and chips on Friday is very popular so you need to book. Some Thursday's there is a jazz evening. There was a table of regulars there today enjoying their pints and prattle. Just as we were leaving a pan of chestnuts went on the fire. We could have had some if we had stayed. Worth a visit.

It is great to find there are still real pubs around Reading. The welcome is always warm and the beer just right. We had fish and chips (only on Fridays and you have to book) which was excellent - great portions , well cooked and real value for money. The Magpie and Parrot is a quirky country pub that is a rarity in the South East - keep going guys we need more pubs like yours !!!.

Popped in here with my Dad for lunch - it is quality! They only have London Pride and Guinness on draught, but some other bottled choices. Lunch was Sweeney Todd's pies, Han egg and chips or jacket potatoes, but for £3.95 - bargain. The place is full of taxidermy and memorabilia. Had a roaring fire and pub dog - what more could you want?!? (Mobiles not allowed, so I had to sneak this pic!)

A different sort of pub but always friendly and welcoming. Interesting inside and a large garden outside worth a visit. Note the innovative opening hours .

This pub only opens for a few hours so check that it is open when you are intending to visit. Inside it is a wonder and a real old fashioned pub experience. It has a number of stuffed animals and it looks like they were there before taxidermy was trendy. The pub discourages mobile phone use in the bar but I think that is a good thing - however they will let you take some photos of the quirky interior. A great experience

We have passed this pub so many times but never managed to go in. Four of us had just finished a walk & thought we would end up there for lunch. We arrived at 1.45 to be told they had closed the kitchen even thou the time stated on the board was lunch till 2pm. We were surprised that they were happy to turn away 4 customers.Say that we will try again but make it earlier as it does look like an unusual place.

Quirky pub, unusual decor but well worth visiting. The Friday fish and chips is excellent, but book a table. Generous portions of delicious fish at a good price. Pub appears to close about 9pm so be prepared to leave after your meal.

Had the most enjoyable afternoon in the marquee and garden. Pork hog roast (with crackling) and lamb hog roast were to die for and the accompanying salad dishes were excellent too.In all, could not fault the venue, food, service and friendliness!

Not a lot of atmosphere inside pub. Strange furnishings. Almost felt like we were intruders. Nice garden to sit in if weather is good

I had my 50th birthday party at the Magpie and Parrot in their marquee. There were over 100 guests enjoying a hog roast and assortment of salads with a disco provided by us.We couldn't be more thrilled with landlady Carol and her team. The hog roast and crackling were done to perfection and easily fed 100 hungry guests. There were 10 different salads on offer for which we paid extra, but were immensely enjoyed by all. All was served on china plates, with cutlery wrapped in paper napkins. The venue was clean and tidy and Carol let us in earlier to dress the room. The toilets were clean and the outside area is lovely with a wooden patio deck and tables and chairs. Although there is no draught beer in the bar in the marquee, we found it to be well stocked and the prices reasonableHaving previously eaten in the main building and found the food to be excellent, we were all very impressed with the standard of both food, venue and staff. I can speak for all 100 when I say what a lovely evening we enjoyed.

A small pub with an inviting atmosphere. Not a wide variety of beers but what there is is excellent. Food is served at end if week, well worth having the fish and chips on Friday. Great portions, well cooked. Don't be in a hurry, relax and enjoy the charm, the atmosphere and the fabulous fish and chips.

There is no doubt that this pub will be found quirky by many; assorted stuffed animals and a displayed human skull are not common in pubs nowadays! The whole place makes you feel a bit like you have been invited into someone's living room. But the all that, the place is charming and a good reminder of how pubs used to be. There are two bars - a classic public bar where most congregate, and a pleasant lounge for eating and relaxing. The huge fireplace gave the lounge a welcoming atmosphere. The food menu is very limited, but the prices are very reasonable and the food they serve is wholesome and portions are large. At notice did we experience any poor attitude by staff. On the contrary, the landlady (well, I must assume she is the infamous "Carol") was charming, polite and welcoming throughout. I will definitely visit this pub again.

We visited with friends, who go there on a regular basis.It's a quaint venue and with a scenic outlook to the rear.We had the most wonderful fish and chips. Light crispy batter, beautiful flakey fish, chunky chips and served nice and hot.The pub/restaurant has a nice ambience, the owners were friendly and local patrons seemed a friendly bunch too.

If you are used to pubs which have been designed by breweries with identikit looks then this is not the place to come. For a start you enter through a lobby with an ancient telephone into a high ceilinged room with a low beam and many ancient signs, bottles, nic nacs etc. Aitch the pub dog (who has his own chair) came to welcome us and was very friendly. Served by a very personable young lady who was very pleasant but it was the end of her shift and so she said cheerio. The Fullers London Pride was in very good form and I saw a CAMRA Certificate on the wall to endorse this. The lady that took over was somewhat stern but nonetheless said goodbye as we left after a quick pint as the pub was closing.

Having driven past the Magpie and Parrot for about a year. We decided one evening to call in. Having listened to other peoples comments.Which were very negative. We found the MP very enjoyable and good atmosphere. Carol and Doug made us feel really welcome. Will continue using.

Been to the M&P many times over the years and eaten there too, but although I am very local and have tried to make it mine, there's always something that just makes me feel uncomfortable. Food and place nice, but Carol has a particularly toxic attitude, she is quite obviously somewhat tired and her partner Doug a strange fellow, whom does daily tours drinking each day at different venues not expecting anybody to notice, he, like Carol, again is obviously in the wrong business. Shame.

After visiting the Magpie and Parrot for a wedding reception I was told about reviews read by a fellow guest concerning the land lady. I thought that the reviews sounded a bit far fetched, but after first hand experience of Carol's lack of hospitality, inability to make simple drinks and charging a friend £3.50 for a can of cider I feel I have to warn others of this Fawlty Towers of a venue!

Awful! We hired marquee at the Magpie and Parrot. Carol had a terrbinle attitude the whole time, grazed for 3 hours on the buffet and snacks we had provided for our guests, helped herself to deserts, took unfinished drinks from the tables, and worst of all told the DJ to stop at 12am. This was only countered by producing our booking communication from Doug the owner saying the booking time was ‘open-ended’.When I tried to speak to Doug (who we had made the booking through) about the issues being caused by Carol, who was on her way to killing the atmosphere, he put his finger to his lips and said 'shhh just leave it'. Having paid hundreds of pounds for hire and catering, I wished I'd have seen negative reviews sooner and booked elsewhere.The food in the buffet was actually quite good, but it is off-putting to see the land lady licking her fingers then sticking it back into the buffet. When trying to approach this issue sensitively, I was told ‘it’s my house so don’t tell me…’Please only book this venue if you want a landlady hovering about the room and being rude to yourselves and the guests! Even we we went into the main pub to discuss some details of our booking, Carol greeted us with a blank look and no welcome whatsoever.A great venue with tons of potential for hosting great events, somewhat marred by the odd landlady and her non-existent approach to hospitality.

What a lovely cosy place to have a delicious lunch or a very good Fish and Chips on thursdays and fridays. The ambiance is different and you will not find another place like this in this area. I would recommend it to everybody who would like to experience a very traditional Pub with a warm feeling.