There is a corner of Reading that has stood the test of time, quite literally. Now, it is home to one of the town’s last independent bars with a team intending to be here for years to come.
Nestled down one of Reading’s side streets is a building that the term shabby chic could have been invented for. Downstairs is home to Shed, a sandwich bar and café. Upstairs though is something a little different: Milk Reading.
The award-winning cocktail bar specialises in artisan spirits, local craft ales, and cocktails – in fact, its website boasts Milk Reading is home to “the finest booze available to humanity”.
Add in music nights and stand-up comedy, and this small, but perfectly formed venue has been packed out with punters since 2012.
It’s a far cry from the venue’s earlier incarnation as the blacksmith Tibbetts, Son and White. The premises is thought to date back to the late 16th century and had been owned by the Tibbetts between 1887 and 1996.
Tim Hooper is the maestro behind its current incarnation and is thrilled to be serving a mixture of drinks such as The Milk Bottle (Mezcal Verde Amaras topped with Milk’s own blend Horchata) or the Not Y’alls Whiskey Sour (Evan Williams Extra Aged with sour solution and Angostura bitter foam).
They work with local breweries such as Tutts Clump Cider, and Phantom, so they can support businesses based in and around the town.
For those who don’t want to drink alcohol, there are also Coke Floats (a Coca-Cola with a scoop of ice cream), or drinks such as Stop Calling Me Shirley (Pomegranate molases, lime, ginger ale with Maraschino cherries).
Snacks include olives, cashews, cucumbers, crisps and chilli rice crackers.
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Of the entertainment, which also includes jazz nights, Tim says: “There have been so many events over the years. It’s a constant, constant stream with a full diary. There are monthly comedy events, regular tastings of spirts and wines, and occasional live music. We are sort of picky.
“We like to specialise in jazz and blues because this building lends itself so well to it… it creates a great atmosphere.”
Tim says this means it is a student favourite, and Milk Reading regularly welcomes members of the university’s Rock and Electronic Music societies. This has a beneficial effect in helping students get off the campus and see what is on offer.
The building is also a comfortable home for Tim and his team.
“We’ve been here since 2012, so we are now in our 13th year,” he explains. “I think we’re one of the only independent bars left in Reading and it is a labour of love. We are very passionate about it.
“We love this place; it’s got such a nice energy and Shed downstairs. We are the best of friends, and we work very closely together. It is such a hub and so loved by the people that come here.”
He’s not wrong: we are meeting in the early afternoon and some of the spaces are being used by people remote working, enjoying a cuppa and a sandwich from Shed while they borrow a cup of WiFi to get those spreadsheets sorted.
And Milk Reading has plenty to offer, following a refit last year with upgrades to lighting, the sound system, seating and the surroundings in a bid to make it comfier.
What hasn’t changed is Tim’s commitment to providing a good mixture of drinks. While it may be known for its rums, Milk Reading has more on its menu.
“We wanted to shift our focus a little more away from rum, to focus on other spirits: whiskeys, tequilas, bourbons and so on. There is Mezcal as well – something that is the very hot new trend.
“We have the tastings so you can come and learn about these new spirits. For example, we recent had an event about Pisco, a Peruvian fortified wine like bandy, which was incredibly well received and one of our best tastings ever. It’s really nice that there is an appetite in Reading for people to come out and learn about spirits and experience them.”
Some of the spirits on offer are from limited batches and one-offs, meaning that people must be quick to try some of these rarely available drinks, and it is one of the reasons why the Milk Reading selection is constantly changing.
“We’ve got weekend specials, and our menu is designed in house by our team using the best ingredients we can possibly get – we’re very proud of that,” he says. “Every week there is someone who says they didn’t know Milk Reading existed. That’s great as it’s a treasure that people find.
“I feel like we’re one of the specks of gold in Reading, with a building that’s incredibly old. With the whole new Station Hill development around us, it’s sort of beginning to look like the building from the Pixar film Up! It gives us that unique character.”
Tim hasn’t always been shaking things up in the cocktail world. Before Milk Reading, he was in music promotions, helping run the Outside Inside festival and some of the BBC Introducing nights at the Oakford Social Club. He also DJed and gardened, but not at the same time.
“It was a bit out of the blue that I got asked if I wanted to take the bar on,” he says. “I’d been friends with the previous incumbent, and she phoned me up to ask how old I was. Telling her I was 29, her reply was, ‘I think you’re just about old enough, would you like to take the bar on?’
“I jumped at the chance. It gave me the opportunity to open where that I would have wanted to go to listen to the sort of music I wanted to listen to. Music has always been very central to the ethos of the business. I don’t want to play the same things you hear in many other bars and restaurants and pubs across the country, there is so much amazing music out there that needs to be championed – we really like to champion it.”
Tim’s hunch has paid off, and Milk Reading now has a loyal customer base. But it’s not just the drinks, the music or an historic building. Success comes from the staff who work hard to keep the drinks flowing, the conversation constant and the specially selected snacks topped up.
“We’ve won many awards over the years, including one where the staff got taken out to St Lucia. We recently came second in the Heaven Hill Ambassador competition. It is based upon events, cocktails and other things such as social media postings and the amount of bottles you get through.
“We were incredibly proud to be runners up in a national competition.
“With our team, there is a lot of great talent in Reading, and some really fantastic bartenders who are really enthused and love their jobs. Cocktail bartending is a profession and an art form. Doing it right is not easy: knowing your balances, your measures and your flavour profiles is a gift.
“We try and get the best people we can here and quite a few of them have gone on to much bigger things. We nurture their talent, and they get to use the best ingredients they possibly can.”
It’s a winning combination.
What’s coming up at Milk
Clairin, the Spirit of Haiti tasting and masterclass night
This takes place on Sunday, April 23, from 7pm.
Tickets cost £12, and includes an artisanal Haitian rum cocktail on arrival.
Soul Time Vinyl Night
Featuring music from the 1950s to the present day, all on vinyl.
Expect a selection of soul, R&B, ska, blues, funk, jazz, disco, Motown, Stax and more.
The event takes place on the first Friday of every month from 7pm.
The next event will be Friday, May 2.
Laughter Craft Comedy Night
Laughter Craft Comedy Nights take place on the third Tuesday of the month and feature a headliner along with host Jonathan Elston.
On Tuesday, April 15, Matt Richardson will be performing.
Tickets cost £8 per person, and the funnies start from 7.30pm.
The show is suitable for adults only.
For more details, log on to: https://wegottickets.com/laughtercraft
Milk Reading opening times
Milk Reading is in Merchants Place, off Friar Street.
It is open every day apart from Mondays from 5pm. Of those days, it closes at midnight every night apart from Tuesday, when last orders is 11pm.
(Monday closed, Tuesdays 5pm-11pm, Wednesdays to Sundays 5pm-midnight).
It operates happy hours between 5pm and 7pm on a daily basis.
The venue is for adults only and operates a Challenge 25 policy. This means anyone who is fortunate enough to look 25 or under should bring ID.
For more details or to book a table, log on to: https://www.milkreading.com
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