Food and drink

John Westendorp and Linda Pither get ready to re-open The Jolly Anglers
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Jolly Anglers reopen today

By Phil Creighton
March 01, 2010

Newtown residents will be raising a glass to The Jolly Anglers today as the much-loved pub finally reopens its doors with a party.

The Kennetside pub was closed down in June, with just a few hours warning from Enterprise Inns.

Since then a hard-fought campaign, dubbed Jollydarity by its organisers, has been running to try to get the pub reopened.

Campaign to reopen The Jolly Anglers

Now, they will be able to enjoy a pint in the refurbished boozer from 11am this morning.

In the evening, there will be a performance by Tony Brown, who will entertain with songs on his acoustic guitar.

“We’re looking forward to giving the Jolly Anglers a new lease of life,” said a spokesman for the L & J Partnership Ltd, a private consortium which is running the pub.

“It will be a simple old fashioned workers’ pub. It’s a place where people can come to chit-chat.

“We will have six real ales on tap and Thatcher’s Gold on draught all the time. We won’t serve Guinness, but we will always have a guest stout on.”

The pub will also launch its own specially brewed beer – dubbed Jolly Angry.

“It’ll be on tap all the time,” he said. “At 4.1 per cent it will be a session beer so people can enjoy it all evening.”

And regulars will be pleased to hear that the pub is also aiming to keep prices low, with pints around £2.70.

“Because we’re a free house we can negotiate good rates that we can pass on to our customers,” he said.

The newly-refurbished pub plans to sell pub grub, bring back the darts team and support local breweries.

“We’ll do regular festivals throughout the year,” he said.

“And we’ll welcome beer from microbreweries.”

Dogs will also be welcomed at the pub and the official relaunch party is planned for Thursday, April 1.

News that the pub is to re-open has been welcomed by Rob White, Newtown resident and member of the Jollydarity committee.

“This is great news,” he said. “We have come a long way.

“When the campaign first got going the new owners wanted to turn the pub into flats.

“After a few positive community events to show that there was still a lot of support for reopening the pub and a bit of gentle persuasion the new owners changed their mind.

“Thanks to the community for their support and to everyone who was part of the Jollydarity campaign.”

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Jpen - shame, but best of luck to the venture anyway.

Nowtas, Reading West
04/03/2010 at 09:29

Unfortunately, Nowtas, Linda is not there.

JPen
03/03/2010 at 14:28

As an ex Licensee I can do the sums and £2.70 a pint is not excessive for a free house to charge for locally brewed real ale. Many follow the Pubco led charge and fail to pass on their savings to the customer making them higher gross profits. The Jolly Anglers clearly is not following this approach and should be respected for their stance. Local micro brewers will be supported and beer miles minimised plus freshness assured (not so with the big boys).JDW are admittedly much cheaper and the BOB is one of our main haunts when in town because the beer is consistent. They do have economy of scale on their side though it does not offer the ambience for clean shaven but beardy old sods like me. I had to charge these prices five years ago for a mid range pint of real ale from Greene King. The tie and a ten grand p.a rent rise did the rest. Get this right and success will surely follow. Good luck and see you soon. Sam

Sam Blackdog
02/03/2010 at 17:31

The difference between the prices can be accounted for by the fact that the Allied -a great pub - is unfortunate enough to be owned by Enterprise Inns. The Jolly Anglers has been freed from their clutches.

Last Autumn when I was surveying local pubs I was told how the pubcos impose inflated prices through the tie. That's one of the reasons why pub prices have gone up so much.

The real delight of the campaign to reopen the Jolly Anglers is the victory of the community over Enterprise Inns.

Cllr Gareth Epps, Reading
02/03/2010 at 14:16

Well that's a good start. The photo looks out of date if the circulating rumours are true (I like Linda - nice woman, and I hope she is still there and very happy, as she deserves to be, so my apologies if the rumours are total rubbish), and the local news filmed down at the pub yesterday evening, with some children looking very pleased to be there.

Whoops.

Nowtas, Reading West
02/03/2010 at 14:09

Children not welcome?? Kind of limited your audience to empty nesters or kids out on the lash then aren't you?

Common Cents, Reading
02/03/2010 at 13:32

£3.70 for a pint of French lager in The Allied Arms... I'm willing to pay a premium for the ambience - and jukebox - but there's a limit. Cheers to the Jolly Anglers!

Dr Crappen
02/03/2010 at 11:19

Common Sense - unfortunately there is no garden nor riverside seating. Children are not disallowed according to the licence (although the licence appication stated no children) but therefore not welcome, but please bring your dog!!!!!!!!!!!!! No cats allowed!

JPen
01/03/2010 at 22:46

lorraine I have good news for you, 1st april is exactly a month away, not 4 years, the downside is you need a new battery for your calculator.

rogerjolly, reading
01/03/2010 at 15:48

Its Monday Club down Wetherspoons!

Bushes Bernal, Reading
01/03/2010 at 14:42

Have a drink Lorraine and forget about it.

JC, Woodley
01/03/2010 at 14:40

i am working in a special school and had my wages frozen for 4 years until 1st april when i will loose 180 pound a month for still doing the same job do you think this is fair

lorraine devil
01/03/2010 at 14:28

Spanky - as you say each to their own - and not all of it is fizzy crud, but a lot of people must love fizzy crud as they shift a lot of it. When I'm old and grey and like the mellow sound of an acoustic gee-tar whilst supping ale and swopping train numbers I'll get you one in.

Paul Maicoc
01/03/2010 at 14:11

Paul Maicoc, you are welcome to stay at home drinking mass produced fizzy crud from the supermarket, I for one prefer to drink real beer in a sociable environment interacting with other adults but hey each to their own.

Spanky
01/03/2010 at 14:02

£2.70 is more than reasonable but the point is that the Jolly has been saved, not how much a pint costs. I for one am very pleased that it has opened its doors once more and even more pleased that John Westendorp is behind the venture. He was doing great things in the pub until it closed and I'm sure he will continue the good work.