The Rising Sun
📍 2.2 miles from Select Car Leasing Stadium
About this Pub
Why it's great for Matchdays
The Rising Sun is a historic Grade II listed pub in central Reading, renowned for its welcoming atmosphere and proximity to the Select Car Leasing Stadium, home of Reading FC. It has previously hosted live screenings of major football tournaments, including the Euros, in its renovated bar area :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}. The pub's spacious beer garden, featuring a shepherd's hut bar and heated booths, offers a comfortable setting for fans to gather before or after matches. Its seasonal menu and Sunday roasts with bottomless trimmings provide a satisfying dining experience for all visitors :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
Recent Fan Reviews
I can't believe what they've done with this place, the oldest pub in Reading (about 800 years old if I'm not mistaken). It used to be a nice classic sports bar but now it's simply one of the best gastropubs in town and surrounding area. Everything was cooked to perfection; excellent quality ingredients and delicious deserts. Good selection of beers, including three real ales on cask. The service was simply perfect, quick and professional. Special thanks to Lana. Fantastic place. I can predict that we will be back soon, and very often!
Always a warm welcome at The Rising Sun. The staff are very friendly and nothing is ever too much trouble. You never feel rushed and the food is always impressive. Lana was attentive but not intrusive and all the staff were professional and polite.
Beautiful cozy and relaxing place. The layout looks very welcoming with lots of spaces and an approaching service. Food is nicely presented and tastes great however we had an issue with the chicken dish that was corrected immediately (even though it has been explained that the chicken is slowly cooked for 6 hours and what we saw as red meat next to the bone might have been a vein or simply the chicken’s colour, I still believe this should not be the case when it comes to high risk food - I had food poisoning and it’s definitely not fun even after all the explanations). Overall the place is great but be aware there is no free car park but you can use the Hexagon’s one which is closest or 2 hours street parking right outside the venue. Will leave a 4 star rating as an opportunity for improvement in the kitchen, everything else works as well as expected.
Excellent venue with a great atmosphere, brilliant service, and spacious indoor/outdoor areas. While the food quality is top-notch, the portions are a bit modest for the price point, I guess you can always have a starter or desert than relying on one meal only to fill you up. Also, take note that the pool and darts tables shown in older photos/reviews are no longer there—the space has been transformed into a much more upmarket destination. I appreciate it for accommodating a large group of 9 at short notice on a Saturday for food and drinks and would recommend to others.
First time visit to this enormous pub. Perfect for meeting up and pre dinner for the Hexagon. Very tastefully refurbished with friendly staff. My only small criticism is to be a bit more creative with the burger. It was pretty basic even with the additional slice of cheese. The chips were great and the sticky toffee pudding was very good ... and being there at happy hour saved on the drinks.😊