Boom Battle Bar

[ChipbuttyG]

A games bar which could include axe-throwing, at the former Lakeland site at The Oracle are trying to get a licence.

According to the applicant. Apparently the days of people going to pubs and having a few pints and bags of crisps are "gone" now and people want to instead do competitive socialising,

Erm - Going to the pub and having a bag of crisps is literally the thing I do most Saturdays.

[mikejee]

It started with loads of football or rugby supporters behaving like children and ruining the atmosphere in the pub, proceeded to ping pong and now apparently axe throwing. I suppose it would be a good use of the old prison - keeping all these idiots away from normal people

[chris_j_wood]

It started with loads of football or rugby supporters behaving like children and ruining the atmosphere in the pub, proceeded to ping pong and now apparently axe throwing.

That is nothing. In the Midlands they have indoor target shooting with air rifles in pubs!. Apparently it used to much more common than it is now, but there are still inter-pub leagues. My cousin's husband competes in one.

[piwacket]

That is nothing. In the Midlands they have indoor target shooting with air rifles in pubs!. Apparently it used to much more common than it is now, but there are still inter-pub leagues. My cousin's husband competes in one.

Ha! Much as I’d love to have a go at that, it wouldn’t be wise - the couple of times I’ve attempted to play darts, the bar was soon cleared around me

[OLDMAN]

It started with loads of football or rugby supporters behaving like children and ruining the atmosphere in the pub, proceeded to ping pong and now apparently axe throwing.

That is nothing. In the Midlands they have indoor target shooting with air rifles in pubs!. Apparently it used to much more common than it is now, but there are still inter-pub leagues. My cousin's husband competes in one.

History of Reading shows there used to a be a rifle range club / pub in the Butts, quite apt as the area was named after the Archery Targets as it was practised there as part of law at the time that all Englishman had to!

[ChipbuttyG]

You can still see where the steps were filled in for the Target Pub.

[bert]

I prefer to sit at a table and have a quiet pint - but I suppose times have changed and they need to think of attractions (gimmicks?) to get punters through the door, especially the younger crowd.

I wonder how Spinners (the newish bar near broad street mall with a bowling alley/crazy golf/electro darts is doing? A friend took his kids bowling there and he said it was quite nice and family friendly during the day.

[Ollycat]

I prefer to sit at a table and have a quiet pint - but I suppose times have changed and they need to think of attractions (gimmicks?) to get punters through the door, especially the younger crowd.

I wonder how Spinners (the newish bar near broad street mall with a bowling alley/crazy golf/electro darts is doing? A friend took his kids bowling there and he said it was quite nice and family friendly during the day.

Golly, I'd love to find a pub in Reading where I could have a drink and bag of crisps! The closest I can think of is the Allied Arms. The last thing I want is family friendly - I guess gone are the days when a pub was no place for a child. Seen and not heard, I say. And preferably not seen either. Oops, sorry - off topic - not the Rant thread!

[OLDMAN]

I prefer to sit at a table and have a quiet pint - but I suppose times have changed and they need to think of attractions (gimmicks?) to get punters through the door, especially the younger crowd.

I wonder how Spinners (the newish bar near broad street mall with a bowling alley/crazy golf/electro darts is doing? A friend took his kids bowling there and he said it was quite nice and family friendly during the day.

Golly, I'd love to find a pub in Reading where I could have a drink and bag of crisps! The closest I can think of is the Allied Arms. The last thing I want is family friendly - I guess gone are the days when a pub was no place for a child. Seen and not heard, I say. And preferably not seen either. Oops, sorry - off topic - not the Rant thread!

You could have a beer / crisps in the Roebuck without a problem - children are 'tolerated' during the day but not normally allowed in the evenings unless the sort where no-one knows they are there!

[chris_j_wood]

Golly, I'd love to find a pub in Reading where I could have a drink and bag of crisps! The closest I can think of is the Allied Arms. The last thing I want is family friendly - I guess gone are the days when a pub was no place for a child. Seen and not heard, I say. And preferably not seen either. Oops, sorry - off topic - not the Rant thread!

I can think of several that could still do that. The Roebuck as Oldman has just pointed out.

The Hop Leaf on Southampton Street springs to mind as a good old fashioned pub thay you might like. They did it up recently but kept everything the same apart (thankfully) for the loos. Other than that, and the fact that the paint is new, you really wouldn't know. If it has TVs, I've never seen them on, and I've never seen any kids.

[KeithW]

Thanks to this thread I've now picked up an earworm - Lulu singing "Boom Battle Bar" in the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest.

[OLDMAN]

Golly, I'd love to find a pub in Reading where I could have a drink and bag of crisps! The closest I can think of is the Allied Arms. The last thing I want is family friendly - I guess gone are the days when a pub was no place for a child. Seen and not heard, I say. And preferably not seen either. Oops, sorry - off topic - not the Rant thread!

I can think of several that could still do that. The Roebuck as Oldman has just pointed out.

The Hop Leaf on Southampton Street springs to mind as a good old fashioned pub thay you might like. They did it up recently but kept everything the same apart (thankfully) for the loos. Other than that, and the fact that the paint is new, you really wouldn't know. If it has TVs, I've never seen them on, and I've never seen any kids.

I was sort of regular at the Hop Leaf when OH worked there and they did let kids in, but as with the Roebuck they have to be out by 9:00pm
It’s the same with any pub unless they have a restaurant licence which allows kids to stay after 9:00pm

[sarahbentley]

Here's the website
https://www.boombattlebar.co.uk/

Seems like it'll be an expensive place for fancy drinks and ordinary food but you'll be paying for the atmosphere and arcade games

[ChipbuttyG]

I ventured in Reading for the first time in ages over the weekend.

Busiest place I went to was The Back of Beyond.....I can't think why......