Thirsty Bear Bar & Pizza Restaurant in Reading - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

We went there for a birthday. The hosts had booked the upper room, and we were served a buffet of pizzas. The pizzas are more on the American than on the Italian side, so if you're after something light, that is not it, but I tasted 3 different ones, and they were all excellent.

Overall fun place to be but the pizza is so bad, it’s terrible and someone needs to look at the recipe. Why is it so salty. Maybe I just got a bad batch or something but yeah didn’t not enjoy that but the place is good other than that.

Great pizza at great price. Excellent customer service!

Amazing pizzas with great service. Henry and his team are amazing and always go the extra mile to make their clients happy!

We had a great time. Both the service and the food was very good. Thanks to Elvira for the fantastic service. All the other 5 star reviews are right; this is a great place.

This is my favorite pizza place in Reading. The slices are enormous and so tasty. There are good vegan and vegetarian options. The staff is very friendly too. I usually order their massive pizzas for my birthday guests and each time people are impressed by the quality.

absolutely amazing Pizzas !! great atmosphere

Ordered delivery for calzone and spicy wings, both excellent and would highly recommend. Calzone was a beast and so tasty.

Best pizza in Reading. Super cold beer and friendly staff. They added a lot of big screen TVs for the Euro Cup, and every night was packed, like most of the bars in town. The pizza still rocks, and they have a really good bartender who makes some mean cocktails. Loved our time here.

The pizza at Thirsty Bear is good but not outstanding. The menu features a variety of classic and specialty pizzas, but the execution can be inconsistent. The crust is decent. The atmosphere at Thirsty Bear is casual and laid-back. The service at Thirsty Bear is hit or miss.

Had a wonderful 30th birthday on the terrace. Staff were friendly friend and accommodating and the food was excellent. Thank you!

Compliments to the chef, I was in love with me food. And thank you Elvira you been so kind and lovely.

Among the best pizza I've tried in the world!

Amazing!!! The Thirsty Bear has the best pizza I've had in the UK! The atmosphere is great, and the staff is nice and helpful. As an Italian, I feel lucky to have discovered this gem.

Really friendly staff that greeted us and sat us down, service was quick The pizza was delicious, and it was a great recommendation from our waitress. Definitely want to try the 20" in 30 mins one day 😁😁😁

Excellent selection of pizzas available.

Always great food, drinks and service especially from Elvira!

Been here a few times. The pizzas are huge portions but theyre not cooked very consistently, and they seem to overload the toppings which doesn't help with the consistently of the cooking. The staff get a bit aggy when you try and order at the bar which is an honest mistake to make. I feel like the quality has been down the last 2 times I've been. The prices have gone up too

Ate here Wednesday night with some friends. Food was insanely good. Pizzas on point and the best buffalo sauce I’ve ever had on wings.

The best pizza I've ever had. Pizza toppings you'll have never tried or heard of but are amazing. Incredible value on Monday with all you can eat! Must try if you visit Reading.

Super Pizza and so large! Staff were friendly and helpful. Whole family enjoyed.

Henry from Thirsty Bear could not have been more attentive when we hosted a large get together in their private upstairs space! The rest of the team were awesome as well and nothing was too much trouble. And the pizza...well you have to try it!! Delicious🍕👏😋 Thanks Thirsty Bear team!

A quick bite to eat whilst in Reading

Lovely staff and pizza was very nice!

Great place to get pizza in the Reading area.

Nice pub with good pizza if you're hungry.

The place are well- decorated, the bathroom is clean for a pub. Great service, funny and quick! We tried the fried mushrooms, well seasoned and fried, juicy! Yet the pizza is so-so, we tried soho and meat district, soho is tasteless and meat district is too savory. I wonder did i order the correct thing for myself......

This place slaps so hard it's kind of ridiculous. The absolute best pizza available in Reading, and probably anywhere nearby. Please trust me, I've eaten a LOT of pizzas in my time. Portion sizes are gargantuan, one slice will fill a small human. I've dined in with a group of 14 and had a phenomenal time - we were offered the upstairs function area and the experience was beyond 5 stars. I've had delivery and been massively impressed with the food when it arrived. Last night I collected takeaway and had a chat with the manager (owner?) while waiting. This place really cares about delivering a high quality food experience and they completely achieve it. If you think this sounds too good to be true, I implore you to go and give it a try, I've never known anyone be disappointed.

Had the absolute best time celebrating my birthday at the thirsty bear in their upstairs area. The venue is ideal, spacious, plenty of facilities including screen, speakers, private bar, toilets and balcony. It’s near enough to the train station, car parks etc.. making a versatile option for people wanting to drink vs drive in. The food was incredible and well presented and the drink options were great. The Bar manager was amazing and really helped to make our night. Would highly recommend for events.

Had the absolute best time celebrating my birthday at the thirsty bear in their upstairs area. The venue is ideal, spacious, plenty of facilities including screen, speakers, private bar, toilets and balcony. It’s near enough to the train station, car parks etc.. making a versatile option for people wanting to drink vs drive in. The food was incredible and well presented and the drink options were great. The Bar manager was amazing and really helped to make our night. Would highly recommend for events.

Great pizza, slightly awkward service though. I understand it was busy but the server was quite cold.

Amazing food, toilets were filthy though.and table service could do with some work. Bar men very friendly hats off to him!

Good choice on the menu and love their starter platters. The pizzas are wonderful

Amazing pizza, every single time. Love it.

Delicious food with huge portions!

2nd visit and both were brilliant. Best pizza I’ve had in the UK.

Really good pizza, great service and nice atmosphere. The service staff deserve a massive shout out for checking in on us regularly even while being quite busy when we went. The pizzas are big and taste really nice.

Excellent place to go. Best pizza I have ever eaten and terrific value

This place is kind of popular, opt to reserve. The pizzas were good.

Love the Bear. Always make a point of getting pizza and a pint when Im over.

Dog friendly🐕A***,great service by the staff,pizza huge and delicious got leftovers for breakfast.Will definitely be back

The venue is very well presented, and gives a nice atmosphere. The food is excellent, and portion sizes are great, especially in relation to the cost, which was incredibly afforable. The serving staff are incredibly friendly, and provide great service - especially Chaimae and Elvine who were brilliant whilst serving oujr large group. 10/10 - will be going again!

Excellent find. Pizzas were amazing, staff were very friendly. Overall a lovely experience and we're planning on coming back soon.

Had to write a review after my second order because honestly, their pizza is bloody amazing. First tried it takeaway, then ordered on Deliveroo, and both times it was phenomenal. Like, seriously, the best pizza I've ever had, hands down. My absolute fave is the Hell's Kitchen pizza. It's got a kick, but nothing that'll make you cry (unless you're that way inclined, of course!). Honestly, can't recommend Thirsty Bear enough. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We work close to Thirsty Bear and decided to head there for a few beers after work. Sport on TV, great music, and good selection of beers would of been good enough. Elvira and Chaimae were awesome - really attentive, and enjoyed a bit of banter with the group! Made us feel really welcome. Spot on evening! Thank you Thirsty Bear.

First visit. Amazing! Our group of nine really enjoyed the whole evening. The pizzas are brilliant. We tried four different toppings, all very good. Staff were spot on. Good atmosphere. Definitely going back.

The food is amazing but the added American-style service charge really bothers me I won't be going here again.

Love it! Very friendly staff, amazing pizza and great atmosphere! Definitely be going back.

If I could give more stars then I would. I had such a lovely evening here with my mother, who is also in a wheelchair. The team were extremely accommodating and friendly. The food and drinks were delicious too! Thank you for a wonderful Friday evening!

I could only observe the atmosphere, and it seemed quality and fun, whilst waiting to pick up my pizza order. Great food

Everywhere else was always the small pizza, but here, so big.

The pizza flavors were fantastic, but the pizza was just good. Service was wonderful, but it was midweek in January so the atmosphere was a little flat.

Good pizza - and the service is excellent

Honestly my favourite pizza in Reading. The largest size will feed a family. Incredible dough and very well cooked fresh ingredients, good combinations! Also if you are on toogoodtogo (app) they are extremely generous with the portions and quality - proper looking after the customer. Staff here is really friendly, accommodating too! Worth a visit if 100%

Great pizza place, good for a pint too. All you can eat Monday great value for money

I think this is a lovely pub. I come here to watch football. The pizza is great if you like NY style slices. The service is okay.

What a treat. Fab food. Will def be back.

Visited the Thirsty Bear Sunday 17 Dec 23 at lunchtime to organise gift vouchers for a Christmas gift as this pub is a family favourite. Really lovely team particularly Elvira and Andreea who are friendly and helpful. The bar was buzzing and lots of tables filled, the pizzas are spectacular, we'll definitely be back.

Hi Henry, I have sent you an email.

My friend and I are always happy to have dinner at the Thirsty Bear! Pizza is delicious, they have so many recipes and the guys are so kind and professional. Elvira is great :) Cherry on top, I can speak Italian with them! Really recommended

Ive eaten pizza before and dined in Reading before but never as good as this. Pizza is the best I’ve ever eaten and the jalapeño poppers with marinaras sauce = awesome. Make the effort find this place it’s a gem.

Amazing pizza...staff are amazing so friendly

Thirsty Bear pizzas are fantastic. There is a great selection to choose from and the service is great too. This is the only place I will go to in Reading for pizza.

Best place in Reading, highly recommend.

Oh.My.God. The food here was amazing. Even offered some to my cousin who ended up eating my entire order. 10/10 isn’t even fair for this place, - thirsty bear breaks the scale 🤤🔥

I can’t lie, my cousin just ordered food from here and I was eyeing it up the whole time. It looked amazing, and when he offered me a bite I was overcome with joy. On my mother’s life it was the most scrumptious bite of pizza I’ve had in a while. Wish I ordered from this place instead.

Great place to get pizza, we also got wings which were bad bad I feel could have been better the pizza and the menu choose was incredible though

Very generous portions, really good food, amazing mocktails. Definitely recommend.

I went there first time when someone asked what I wanted and the manager heard it's only for surprise bag he interrupted me and asked rudely to wait, After a while he asked what do I want, I said for a surprise bag he said wait back there, I stepped back and he said no wait near the door always rudely. After 4 years living in the UK, it's my first time I felt a sense of contempt

Nice pizza (Upper East), fabulous service from Elvira, highly recommend.

Didn't eat but it looked awesome, just had drinks but great service from all the staff, we will have food on our next visit 5/5!!!!

PERFECT VENUE!! I hosted a surprise 30th Birthday party here in October and it was the perfect location to have it. You get the whole upstairs bar area to yourselves, this includes a male and female toilet, outside seating area, a private bar and a large seating area with room for dancing. The team go above and beyond, like getting certain beer from the downstairs bar due to not having a pump for it upstairs. We visited before the party to see the set up and the staff let us have a look around and said we can move the chairs and tables to how we like it. Staff so helpful with getting everything booked in and the contact with the manager was so helpful and quick at responding. I didn’t put food on but people at the party brought food and they said it was amazing pizza, and loved the big slices! The little things like being able to play your own music and have photos on a projector made it even better. My partner (bday boy) had the best time and he loved the venue a lot. If you’re thinking of having a party, this is definitely the place to have it! 10/10 location and service. Will definitely use again :)

Really nice place to enjoy a really good pizza or just to have a drink. The staff is really nice and the atmosphere is great.

To get order delivered from this restaurant (by Uber eats for example ) is always a miracle. The owner not allows any driver to pick up pizza, specially if it is the biggest one, as most of them don’t have special pizza bag. This is ridiculous. I was waiting for my 4th driver this time. Owner prefer to wait for driver who will prove ability to deliver in special bag rather than just give it to driver who can efficiently and quick deliver it. Eventually my pizza came cold as 4 drivers needed to cancel. What’s more - Uber drivers are not required to have such bags ( I know from autopsy) so owner really need to rethink rules or just stop offer the biggest pizza on Uber eats. Food is delicious but generally experience different then eat it is not worth it.

Lovely place great food and friendly staff

Great pizza! Massive as well but still super tasty! Service was friendly helpful and arrived exactly when we needed. Deserts weren't so good but pizza made up for it

A great place with extreme hospitality, the pizza portions are great. Starters are really finger licking. Good place to watch football matches and enjoy the vibe and food of this place. Pizzas are amazing here!!

Best pizza in Reading, New York style pizza with amazing tasty toppings I ordered two slices thinking it wouldn't be enough but left full and very satisfied.

We had a really fun work night out here, from the very first email communication, Henry (GM) was amazing, he accommodated 14 of us no problem even though it was a busy night, we pre-ordered our Pizzas and they arrived at the table at exactly the time requested. The Pizza's are soo delicious and the service was first class (big shout out to the staff). Henry went out of his way to make sure that a colleague with allergies was catered for which was very much appreciated.. all in all a fab night!!

Held a party here in September and what an wonderful night!!! Everyone had a great time and highly rated the pizzas. Henry & his team were amazing. If you are looking for a venue to hold a party would definitely recommend.

Great local pizza place perfect for groups. Staff were friendly and helpful and the food is very good quality and value. Would recommend the 20 inch pizzas half and half to share and wings and curly fries on the side. Inside and outside seating available. I've been there with groups of 4 and 9, and they handle it equally well.

I have been to this place 4 times in 6-7 months. Food is great - best pizza in town. I didn’t quite like the staff, who get rude and act weird.

Said you’d stop serving at 1230 and I booked at 12 and they didn’t serve mw

Perfect location, perfect environment, lovely service and most importantly delicious pizzas every single time! Just hoping they’ll add some seasonal options to the menu.

Place was so hot as entire garden area was booked for a private party. No way to open windows and only two members of staff seemed to be working the bat area. 20.mimuyes to get served a drink as deliveroo orders were given priority. Would recommend that you go but be prepared for a wait.

Lovely location, amazing staff members and delicious food! I spent a few days in Reading with my family and we came across Thirsty Bear. We had some drinks on Friday and came back to taste their pizza for dinner on Sunday. We're from Italy therefore we were really curious about if their pizza tasted as good as it looked and we have to say that it is the best pizza we ever had in England! Competent chef fron Sicily and good quality ingredients. Shoutout to the waitress Andrada! She speaks Italian fluently and she was super kind, patient and considerate to us all the time. Definitely coming back next time!

We just popped in with my kids and my little Poppy. The lady who served us was so friendly and helpful.

I love the pizzas here.. the portions are nice so I always end up super full with one starter and 2 slices of pizza. it’s always busy, but worthy. Good prices and very nice located if you walking.

First off, the service I received last night out with my girlfriend was incredible, all thanks to the service we received last night - particular big thanks to Andrada and Erik, who were more than friendly and attentive to our needs. The food was incredible! Some of the best pizza I've ever had, at a really great value for money.

Food lovely. Service diabolical. bought 8 friends for my bday and I will never return.

Very good pizza, nice place. Service can be better.

Absolutely amazing. Food was excellent and delicious. Staff were very friendly and it was all in all a fabulous experience.

I've walked past this place 100 times and I only stepped inside last night. It's actually really good, decent wooden decor/atmosphere, great toilets, the staff are second to none: gentleman with grey beard sat me down and got me a drink at once, and the lady working the bar was also very friendly and cool. I wasn't hungry enough to try the pizza today but I will definitely be back. Some sports TV (tennis) but nothing intrusive. Go there!

best pizza you will ever have. 10/10

Amazing! Such a hidden gem in Reading. We only live down the road and will definitely be coming back. The GM is so friendly and very hospitable. The pizza was huge and very reasonably priced. Highly recommend

Great staff, owner/manager is always incredibly friendly and pizza is easily the best in Reading

Absolutely best deep pan American style pizza in Reading! Hard to believe it is actually a local business. I recommend it to everyone with full responsibility.

We love everything, the pizza is wonderful, the girl Rossalla who served us was extremely friendly and super attentive. to repeat for sure.

Hands down, the best pizza place in Reading. And this isn't a fanboy. I've tried all the pizza places in town. In terms of price, quality of the ingredients and consistency this place is not even comparable with the competition. Restaurant quality dishes in a friendly, chill pub environment.

Low key pub that happens to serve the best pizza around. Massive pies means pizza for later. The rather pedestrian starters don’t compare and manage to drag things down somewhat. Only really dine in on Sundays when low crowds means service can be a bit spotty (as staff seem often lulled into complacency). There’s much to like here, especially if you’re willing to overlook some modest blemishes.