The Bull at Riseley is a pleasant village pub

The Bull at Riseley is a rare beast – a pub in Berkshire tied to Kent’s Shepherd Neame.

The brewery, based in Faversham, is known as Britain’s oldest brewer. Its ales include Bishop’s Finger, Master Brew, and Spitfire, among others.

These three are all on tap at The Bull, a charming pub in a semi-rural location and opposite the village green.

The pub has mock Tudor beams instead, some decorated with witty slogans, including the famous Benjamin Franklin quote “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy”.

Wooden tables and chairs, a decent sized bar and a warm welcome all await.

It is a popular village pub, not least for its food offerings which include a pub roast on Sunday lunchtimes (last orders 4pm), and pizzas, as well as pub grub.

Pizzas start at £9.95 for a small, to £18.95 for a large, and there is a mixture of vegetarian and meaty pizzas to choose from. House speciality is Sycilian style – a square pizza with a thick crust and any variation of your choice.

The main menu has a selection of starters at £7.95 each, including Hot and Sticky Chicken Wings with a blue cheese dressing; Tempura Prawns with a sweet chilli dip, and Breaded Garlic Mushrooms with garlic mayo.

Mains include Hunter’s Chicken (£17.95), Homemade Lasagne with salad and garlic bread ($16.95), and burgers from £15.95. They also have a selection of steaks, starting at £22.95 for a 10oz rump, served with peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomato, onion rings, and salad, plus a choice of chips, jacket potato or a larger salad.

On our visit, sadly both Master Brew and Bishops Finger were off, leaving just Spitfire. It was £4.80 for a pint and a pretty decent offering too.

Also on tap were Fosters, Kronenbourg 1664, San Miguel, Guinness and Strongbow.

Sport is shown on reasonably big screens, but in the background, allowing people to enjoy their conversations without letting it distract them.

There is music, but it’s not too loud so it won’t disturb your conversations.

Outside, there is a beer garden complete with children’s play area.

A large car park and on-street parking nearby will help allow groups to come together for gatherings.

There are regular events including live music on a roughly monthly basis, plus quiz nights.

There is WiFi, a chance to buy free range eggs, and a large fireplace that will no doubt be welcome in the winter.

It’s a pleasant village pub that is worth sniffing out.

The Bull at Riseley

Basingstoke Road,

Riseley RG7 1QL

0118 343 0565

www.bullatriseley.co.uk