The Lyndhurst in Reading

Changed management in October 2024. The previous, terrible management is gone. It seems to be promising. I love the atmosphere and I’ll be back regularly. Food not provided yet but coming soon.

Totally ruined 😒 Read how it used to be, and check out the older comments and lament the passing of an iconic pub. Truly amazing experience thes new people really know how to cook with flare and imagination. Expertly prepaid food from an exciting menu - do your taste buds a favour and go there now - go on what you waiting for? - A bit more pedestrian post covid but still good. Had a nice Sunday lunch. The Lyndhurst is nomore :( Well, until the new landlord takes over

Cute spot for an afternoon cider on the patio

Didn't get food here but looks very good Nice and friendly and great service great beers 🍻 👍

The lyndhurst had clearly changed hands since the most recent reviews. Possibly the worst Sunday roast I’ve ever had. ‘Beef’ was two this slices of cardboard. Menu says freshly made, I suspect everything was freshly cooked from the freezer. Plastic veg, vile potatoes, instant gravy, frozen Yorkshire puds, possibly 10% pork sausage. The lady serving us was pleasant, food was delivered extremely quickly, not surprising really given the quality. What a waste. Shame.

An absolute master class in how to take one of the best boozers in the district and run it into the ground in record time. These people clearly don’t have a scooby, just a sinfully wasted opportunity.

Such a shame how this pub has been ruined by the new management.

Probably the worst pub meal I’ve ever had. Don’t go here for food.

Im not sure the new owners know what they're doing. Basic Aldi burgers, no salad. Just awful and expensive. Don't bother!

Pub has changed hands and gone downhill dramatically, food is mid, service and atmosphere is also taken a big hit, not the great local that it used to be

This is what happens when you go to the Lyndhurst. We only walked past the smoking area, they allow people to sniff coke and get violent, and completely bully 2 innocent people and a Dog who did nothing wrong. Riff raff and hooligans is their clientèle. AVOID AT ALL. COSTS. THE PEOPLE THERE SEEM HORRID.

Pub has changed hands and is simply a different business. The food offering is 100 percent unrelated to what came before. I haven't actually been so feel bad about the 1* rating but people are unfairly visiting based on the past businesses' reputation and are being disappointed so it seems necessary for now.

After reading many positive reviews about it in google reviews (wish I did a deeper dive) it all looked very positive. Went with family and wow... Actually speechless at how bad the food was. Wish Sweeney was open so we could've gone there instead. Unseasoned. Small portions. Cold vegetables. Misleading menu. Said 'homemade' yorkshire puddings and when I inquired about allergens (dairy free) the waitress brought out a frozen bag of Aldi's own yorkshire pudding. I also ordered the vegan roast and got given the choice between sausages or vegan burger. The website says 'nut roast'! I got given cauliflower cheese and yorkshire pudding on my plate! £15 per plate for this frozen rubbish! Actually shocked by this. This was my first time going.

Amazing pub , good food and drinks

Changed ownership. Sunday roast is very mid.

Unfortunate what has happened to the place. Used to frequent with my wife quite a bit as it always had a nice pub atmosphere with great food. Nowadays it's beef burger, chicken burger, or chili for £18. Zero customer service, completely empty, a bit sad really.

Little gem of a pub with a good menu and great Sunday Roast, good selection of beers, and a full bar. There's always a fun & friendly crowd.

Spent a really nice evening here with friends. Food was lovely and the bar staff even had treats for the dog.

New landlord and owned by a chain, ruined a brilliant pub. No longer recommend

Our first time with the new owners, so we went for a sunday roast dinner. What we got was completely the opposite from what the previous owners provided. A roast chicken which was not a roast chicken, more like a frozen chicken breast with no sign of it being roasted. Veg that was mixed at best and roast pots which left a lot to be desired, as for the gravy as weak & tasteless as we have ever had. Now I know these owners are new, settling in etc and the previous people were very good. However the new owners have said they are experienced at this, yet it did not show. Charged us a very similar price to the previous owners, sorry but if you are going to charge that sort of price, it needs to be of good quality, therefore you will be compared. For that we felt let down and ripped off. Will not be returning

Met us with friends for a drink

Nice food, lovely jazz, cute staff

Absolutely lovely little pub in the heart now Reading town. The staff are cheerful and amazing, great atmosphere to unwind after a long day and enjoy some classic pub live music 🎶 . Will going again in the near future.

Used to be lovely local pub, now it's a horrible sports bar.

Used to love this place. It’s been taken over by new owners and they’ve ruined it by turning it into a BTEC sports bar. I wish I could give less than 1 star.

Thank you for the fantastic memories. We'll miss you , but wishing you every success in the future xx

Great food, more brasserie than gastro pub level. Great staff, very considerate. Nice locals, no American Werewolf vibes here. If you move to Reading, move round here to be near this pub and the nicest vibe area.

Great roast, lovely atmosphere and team

We went for Sunday lunch as we'd heard it was good. It did not disappoint and all our courses were delicious. We enjoyed the ham hock terrine to start. The main roast meals were well cooked with tender meat and unsoggy vegetables (we particularly liked the spiced cabbage), plus a great big Yorkshire pud (and who doesn't want more of that!) The portions were good too, not too much but not stingy, just leaving room for a tasty dessert to hit the sweet spot (the sticky toffee pud was great). Our bellies were full but not to the point of regret. Partly this may be because our meal wasn't rushed. We do appreciate time to relax and chat and enjoy our drinks before the food comes and space between courses. It was getting to be a little too long until the main arrived however, but that's only a minor criticism. Plus we would have liked a better located table (but that was impossible because it was packed). The staff were fabulous, friendly, attentive, competent. The general atmosphere was lively but relaxed. We would definitely go back if we get the chance.

Such delicious food, the chef is amazing. Everything we chose - starters, main courses, desserts - was superb. We were a party of 6, all vegetarian, and everyone was raving about their meal. The menu changes regularly so you never know what to expect, but we have eaten there 3 times recently and have only had fabulous food.

Lovely owners, so friendly and accommodating. Small decked area outside the front door perfect for the sunny weather which has been recently renovated. Amazing fish and chips especially as the chips are so crispy they melt in the mouth. The beer batter is so light every time and crunchy I can't wait to have it again! They always have a specials board too! On Thursdays they have a curry night which is a really good deal with a pint or other drink included. There are three different curries on the menu and the staff will tell you about them if you ask. Vegetarian curry, beef or lamb curry and chicken is quite usual, it is different every time. Overall a great local pub, with very friendly and lovely owners, just on the outside of the town centre. It is Well worth a visit! OK so I visited again last night and was not disappointed at all! I had the specials board Gnocchi with Butternut Squash Puree and Parmesan! So tasty and looked amazing I was so excited I totally forgot to take any photos! I will have to have it again so I can show you all! My husband had the specials board Pork Schnitzel with New Potatoes, Capers and Cherry Tomatoes. It looked amazing and was eaten and enjoyed very quickly. The Chocolate and Orange Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream pudding looked so good and we were very tempted but will have to have that next time instead! Mother's day menu was really good, a free glass of bubbly for all Mums too which was a lovely touch. We have the calamari to start which was, amazing as always, we had the roast duck which was so tasty and then for pudding, the Banana and Salted Caramel Vacherin cake which was amazing! Went there last night and had the black pudding scotch egg starter which was so tasty! Then had the rhubarb, ginger and Almond crumble with Clotted Cream Ice-cream to share along with the Mango Pannacotta with mango sorbet. Both were so good! The crumble was our favourite though ☺ Visited again last night and had the fish and chips obviously as it was Friday, but the two of us also shared a starter - Karaage Chicken which was huge! So much chicken, with a wasabi mayo, it was so tasty! Two hours free parking bays nearby and Queens Road Car Park a short walk away.

Try the Curry night a friend told me. Wow the amazing tenderness & flavour of the Sri Lankan Pork Curry blow my mind. From start to finish a great meal. My wife had a Beef burger & chips and you can tell it was fresh. Washed down with a couple of cold ones & a great atmosphere. We have already booked for next week!

Great pub for Sunday lunch, I visited as part of an 8 people group. Service was slow initially, especially for drinks, but as it got busier this only got worse. Added complication of live music and people crowding in whilst people were still eating was not ideal. The food however was divine and telly with the price.

Incredible roasts and a fantastic Easter menu, the confit duck was divine. 100% recommend.

The Lyndhurst and near by The Retreat put on The Village Easter festival of live music and dance. Lots of happy people. Details on the Beer mats! More bands today and Sunday and Monday. If nearby then come and enjoy. Also couple of themed night's each week such as beer and curry evening Also monthly events like Quiz Night. Look on web site. Nice welcoming clientele good food nice ambiance.

Perfect place, excellent food, and lovely ambiance

We had a delicious dinner for a birthday treat, great service, lovely pub. The staff are friendly and helpful and the food was really good quality.

Fantastic food here the staff are excellent and friendly and the steak is top notch. Good beer and great atmosphere please come again

Very nice work do meal! As always, service was delightful, thank you! The starter was nice as was the main and i enjoyed the pudding too.. we will be back!

The food was amazing. The fish tacos were chefs kiss! Highly recommend. Really lovely vibe and great service! Will be back again!

Delicious food and great atmosphere. Would defiantly e recommend the mussels and the burgers. The chcolate panacotta was delicious too!

High quality food, fair prices, cozy place, welcoming staff. Burger, chips, sides, beers, drinks, central location.

The Lyndhurst never fails to impress. The food is so good and in particular I keep coming back for the incredible chicken burgers. I was a big fan of the katsu chicken burger, but the crispy gochujang chicken burger today was just wonderful.

Lovely pub, really nice and cozy atmosphere inside. I really fancied a steak and I had it with a lovely glass of the Californian Malbec. Food was quickly served, well presented and extremely tasty, super well seasoned steak. The two gentlemen behind the bar are the kindest ever, fantastic customer service. Thanks guys, I am coming back tomorrow for Sunday Roast!!!!

Great roast dinners, friendly relaxed atmosphere.

Really very good Sunday roasts. Too full for pudding but sure that's probably good too. Have been back numerous times and rest of menu is awesome as well. Just had the pork belly with peaches starter/small plate and it was the best thing I've eaten in ages!

Returning to visit Reading, we often go for an early evening meal. The pub offers a wide variety of dishes, from terrine on toast to steaks curries and lots of fish dishes. Recently I have turned down lots of delightful dinners in favour of plate of gnocchi. Small globes of tasty pasta delight with a generously-filled interior (the latest was mixed mushrooms) and a creamy mushroom sauce, parmesan and rocket and other leaves, all with a glug of good olive oil. It won't make me thin, but it made me very happy!

Went here for some lunch on a sat afternoon. Starters were super good and tasty, fish and chips were great, the chicken burger was average. All the tables were reserved for the evening so book if you want to go then. Really relaxed vibe and super attentive staff. Worth going for food and some good food.

The soup was great. However Sunday Roast was like a shoe, so hard to cut and chew.

Have booked the work Christmas Dinner here two years in a row now and the food, service, and portion sizes have been fantastic each time. They've also allowed us to drop off our secret Santa gifts and other Christmas games in advance when needed.

Went in for a curry and a pint night - barging at £11.99 Curry was amazing, all home made. Well worth a visit!

Best pub roast dinner i've ever had. Comparable to Christmas dinner, dare i tell that to granddad. Pub quiz was great fun, solid pint of Guinness. very reasonably priced (could definitely increase their prices if they wanted to. Looking forward to going again

Very relaxed atmosphere. Traditional pub food done really really well.

The Sunday lunch was absolutely amazing. Everything was cooked to perfection. Staff was very attentive thank you 😊

Outstanding food. Excellent portion sizes. Great prices. Superb service. Lovely and clean pub. Love this gem in Reading

Went to the Lyndhurst because I had read a food blog where the writer said he had had his favourite meal of the year there. Korean Chicken Wings and a Monkfish Taco. Sadly neither dish was on the menu or specials board. Despite this we had a selection of small plates which were all delicious. A decent pint of beer and good wine helped wash the food down. A lovely night out. Good and quick service too, not our usual pub/restaurant but well worth the walk. We will go again as I want those wings and tacos 😁

We tried their Sunday lunch menu and was delicious! Staff was very friendly, and price was reasonable. Would recommend, and will for sure come back.

Relatively pricey small venue focusing on food

Lovely, out of the way Pub. Good selection of beers etc. Excellent food. .would recommend.

Such a lovey atmosphere, staff so welcoming and friendly. Food was delicious - best burger, fish & chips we’d had in a long while. A gem of a place that also welcomed our Springer with open arms - highly recommend 😊

Always a warm welcome and a relaxed atmosphere.

We visited the Lyndhurst for Christmas Day dinner and we were not disappointed. We had 3 courses: Scallops, champagne sauce with Caviar to start, Hereford beef fillet for main and chocolate textures with blood orange sorbet for dessert. Each course was so good. I was very impressed. Service was great, staff all really cheery and helpful with a happy atmosphere. The Lyndhurst always has great food and they did it again on Christmas Day. Would highly recommend.

I am happy to add to the shower of praise the Lyndhurst is currently receiving! I’ve known this pub for years having been through several operators so I am thrilled to see it doing so well. What makes it so special is the fact that the food is absolutely superb, even on a busy Xmas Friday night it all came out perfectly and was delicious. We were three friends who ordered pretty much all the starters and shared them, every one was fantastic. I would highly recommend a visit, oh did I mention it is also great value for money? Bravo!

Nice Sunday roast, cozy environment, tasty food and kind staff. We will come back next Sunday for another roast.

The Sunday roast was terrific, service was great, and the price was right. Would go again and recommend to friends/family.

I wish I had reviewed this place during my time as a food critique. The Lyndhurst combines a traditional atmosphere with discreet service and warm welcome to all the family. The chef judges with a sophisticated but non-judgemental hand what seasonal pleasures are on offer and prepares all with a delicate touch. From fish and chips to the lightest gnocchi, or umptious venison scorched eggs chef's game is on point. None of the faff but all of the delight of Michelin Star dining. I wish chef thought a class.

The food at The Lyndhurst is always excellent, and the burger and pint for £10.95 on a Monday night is an absolute bargain. We will be making it a regular event!

Excellent meal for our Christmas Party - hot, fresh, home-cooked food all served quickly with no errors.

Excellent quality food, great selection of drinks, friendly staff, wholesome atmosphere and brilliant value for money.

We were a party of 6 enjoying our year end party! Fantastic meal with fantastic service! The themed menu was brilliant and enjoyed by all

Love food, good quality, large portions, can you ask for more? We will be back. Roasts are amazing. Recently went somewhere else pub but wont make that mistake again.

We had a fabulous meal at the Lindhurst. I had been spending a few days in both Reading and London and had eaten out extensively and it was the best meal I had !

I would Highly recommend the Lyndhurst . The staff are really friendly and the food was delicious. Thanks the way family .

Such a lovely Sunday Roast treat. The pub is cosy on a winter day and the service always friendly. Book a table as it’s a favourite place in Reading

The food we had was really nice and we felt the choice was varied with both meat and veggie options. Additionally, the service was very attentive and the portions generous. Overall, a lovely experience.

We recently held an event at the Lyndhurst with family and friends. The team were excellent working with us to provide a menu that fit all our guests (vegan, gluten free, kids) and gave a great rate for exclusive hire of the pub. The changing menu is always good and I’d really recommend them!

My food was a bit watery but missus enjoyed hers.

The atmosphere is great and the food was superb. The roast dinner is always a hit at the Lyndhurst for us!

They’ve got some of the best food in Reading! Comfy atmosphere and a great family hangout spot. Make sure to reserve before coming though

What an amazing find! Catered well for the vegan roast... Best vegan roast I had in a while! One of our party had the roast beef and again comments on the high quality. The portion sizes were generous and the service was great. Can not recommend enough!

Lovely food, great beers and fab whisky.

Amazing Pub! The curry was an absolute treat. Food and service was on point! Thanks Dishon!

Lunchtime is quiet, so ideal for a working lunch. Great gourmet quality food at pub prices. Fast WiFi too

Great food. Live music. A really nice local pub. Great vibe

Great service and good value. Meals were interesting and very well prepared. Menu varies so always an interesting choice.

Had a really great work dinner here. We were a big group (about 25 people) and I was really impressed with the food, service and atmosphere. Thoroughly recommend this pub.

Cosy atmosphere, delicious food, good service

An excellent meal with friendly service. Small but considered menu. Group of eight of us with a range of starters and mains.

Honestly the best Sunday Roast I have ever had! I got the pork and my friend got the chicken - they were both equally as good!

Stopped off on a rainy sat evening after a gig a reading university. Brilliant tasty home made burgers at very reasonable prices , premium beers at £5 per pint. Really a little gem of a pub doing things just right , if only I had...

Monkfish was lovely, very filling. I had to help my friend finish it. Really good portion size and fresh ingredients.

Always a really warm welcome , and as we not locals and only come in irregularly that’s really nice. Great food and great selection. On this occasion we went for the curry and drink night: great selection of beers and curry was very tasty. Vegi...

Stopped off on a rainy sat evening after a gig a reading university. Brilliant tasty home made burgers at very reasonable prices , premium beers at £5 per pint. Really a little gem of a pub doing things just right , if only I had a pub this good on my doorstep my BMI would be in the red and my liver would be shot , people of reading , enjoy this gem of a pub

Top food, top beer, top wine. All served with a smile. Highly recommended, they have really turned this place round from a few years back. Nice vibes all round, we’re looking forward to coming back very soon

Wonderful pub, great atmosphere, amazing food, great service. Sunday lunch is good value and top quality.

Fantastic family Sunday lunch. Visiting our son at Reading university. Food was truly home made. For starter parfait was delicious and good size, smoked salmon gravlax so fresh, salt and pepper prawns light and tasty. Roast beef very good, meat high quality and cooked perfectly....

The menu here is fantastic and the staff are so friendly and helpful. Thankyou!

Our favourite restaurant in Reading. Amazing food, lovely people and great value for money. Highly recommended.

My favourite place to eat and drink in Reading. Cosy interior with amazing gastropub dishes on a menu which changes enough to keep you coming back. We've had small plates, Sunday roast, steak and just drinks and come along for live music and Craig's pub quiz. For once, a place that deserves and lives up to the hype - an essential to visit in Reading.

Great Sunday lunch at The Lyndhurst (and noting they have added cauliflower cheese after feedback my wife gave earlier in the summer).