Island Bar
Bridge Street, Caversham, RG4 8AH, Reading
Island Bar is, surprise surprise, an ?island? bar.. It sits bang in the middle of the Thames, and it's accessible via a quirky little walkway off the Caversham Road bridge.
The bar's based on a big pontoon with outdoor and indoor seating ? good for all weathers. In the winter, you can watch the swans dodge canal boats while you sit in the cosy conservatory; in the summer, you can stretch out in the sunshine posed in a lazy Cannes-esque attitude.
There's a food menu if you want to be there all night, but the bar staff are perfectly accommodating if you're just looking to enjoy a drink on your way to or from town. Your typical Islander is a Caversham beauty or a young worker from the nearby offices ? so if the life of the Thames doesn't grab you, then you can always turn your attentions to your co-drinkers.
The only downside is that Island faces a grotty boozer over the water. So, for a moment, you might wish you were over there yourself, seeing yourself lounging on the pontoon, tickled by palm fronds, ice-cold beer/swanky cocktail/full glass of wine in hand. Then you'll realise that the envy would be intolerable.