Located on the High Street in Wheathampstead, The Reading Rooms is the kind of pub that instantly feels like a local treasure. It’s set inside a former florist’s shop and lovingly refitted with reclaimed wood and second-hand finds, which gives it a real charm that you don’t find in bigger places. It was originally a reading room which was an attempt by The Temperance Society to keep people off the evils of drink, but such is the cycle of life!
It’s a micropub, so don’t go there expecting huge cavernous spaces, it’s small but perfectly formed! There are two distinct rooms: downstairs is cosy with a few tables squeezed together, a tiny bar at the end and with a big picture window looking out over the high street. Upstairs, there’s a few more tables in a quieter space, and the location for the weekly darts night.
It’s run by locals Farr Brew, so you can always guarantee a couple of their cask ales will be on draught. Plus there’s rotating guest ales too.
The Reading Rooms is a calm friendly place. No loud music just a genuinely communal space where conversation wins out. Dog-friendly and unfussy, it feels less like a venue and more like the village’s shared lounge!
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