Reading Pubs History index (A - F) - Index 2 (G - Q) - Index 3 (R - Y)
Directory of Pubs in the UK, historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Reading, Berkshire. The Reading, Berkshire listing uses information from census, Trade Directories and History to add licensees, bar staff, Lodgers and Visitors.
The following entries are in this format:
Year/Publican or other Resident/Relationship to Head and or Occupation/Age/Where Born/Source.
1875/_ Malham/beer retailer/../../Smiths Directory ***
1881/Charles Spraggs/Bricklayers Labourer & Beerseller/32/Reading,
Berks/Census ***
1881/Susan Spraggs/Wife/29/Reading, Berks/Census
1881/Henry Wicks/Boarder, Labourer at Biscuit Factory/29/Reading,
Berks/Census
1881/Ada Wicks/Boarder/3/Reading, Berks/Census
1881/John Parsons/Visitor, Soldier 66th Regiment/25/Reading, Berks/Census
1888/Geo Spraggs/../../../Stevens Directory ***
1891/Charles Spraggs/Bricklayers Labourer/43/Reading, Berks/Census ***
1891/Susanna Spraggs/Wife/39/Reading, Berks/Census
1891/John Spraggs/Brother, Bricklayers Labourer/37/Reading, Berks/Census
1895/Henry Holt/beer retailer/../../Smiths Directory ***
1900/Henry Holt/beer retailer/../../Smiths Directory ***
1901/Henry Holt/Publican/63/Swallowfield, Berks/Census ***
1901/Lizzie Holt/Wife/31/Whitley, Berks/Census
1901/Reginald J Holt/Son/9/Reading, Berks/Census
1901/Charles A Holt/Son/9/Reading, Berks/Census
1901/Lizzie C Holt/Daughter/5/Reading, Berks/Census
1901/Ethel Hamblin/Niece/12/Reading, Berks/Census
1903/Hy Holt/beer retailer/../../Kellys Directory ***
1911/Hy Holt/beer retailer/../../Kellys Directory ***
1913/Henry Holt/beer retailer/../../Kellys Directory ***
1915/Hy Holt/beer retailer/../../Kellys Directory ***
1916/Henry Holt/beer retailer/../../Smiths Directory ***
1920/Hy Holt/beer retailer/../../Kellys Directory ***
1928/Mrs Lizzie Holt/beer retailer/../../Kellys Directory ***
1931/Mrs Lizzie Holt/beer retailer/../../Kellys Directory ***
We moved into The Pheasant from "The Happy Prospect", Coronation Square,
Southcote, Reading. We were there as managers for 2 years in 1962. It was
only 3 years old when we took over. It was a large pub and we had 9 bar
staff, 4 cleaners, a potman and a gardener. It was the time of "Beatlemania"
and we were the first pub to have our own "Beatles" Group playing on
Saturday nights. It was packed every weekend. The Group played in the public
bar and our new baby slept right through it in the room above it! It was
demolished in 2011 to make way for new housing. This is such a shame as it
was only 52 years old. *
Before that, we both worked in "The Ship & Castle Hotel" in St. Mawes,
Cornwall for 6 months. He in the pub and cocktail bar and me in the office.
After that we worked for Watneys Brewery doing pub relieving when managers
went on holiday, moving around Devon. We were based in Plymouth in a brewery
flat but weren't there much, eventually getting fed up with living out of a
suitcase, hence Watneys putting us in "The Happy Prospect". *
In 1964 my then husband Alan Edwards and myself, Audrey, took over the
management of The Pheasant Pub, Southampton Street, Reading. All our
furniture had to be taken in through the upstairs windows as the staircase
inside the pub was too narrow and winding. We were only there for a year so
it all had to come out the same way. It was not a happy time there and not
much business around at that time. *
* Provided By Audrey Groves
*** Provided By Colin Ager