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Picture source: Sue McArdle

The Westside was situated at 12 Tilehurst Road. This pub was previously known as The Jolly Brewers and is now used as a Tesco store.

I used to work at the Jolly Brewers in the evening when I was working as a QS on the Reading Hospital project c 2001 – 2003, this later became ‘Westside’ after the renovation work. I live in Southport – North West England, and would travel down on a Sunday night to work the week in Reading. After a few months, and regular visits to the Jolly Brewer, I enquired about a bar staff position, and worked every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evening also. This was a great way for me to get out of my flat, and to meet new local people, many of whom I grew very close to. I have a lot of fond memories from working there, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It was interesting to note the attitude towards me from some of the more ‘interesting’ members of the public who frequented this site, particularly when they thought of me as ‘just another bar staff’. I once pulled into the car park to start work, in my flashy car and still wearing my suit from my day on site, when one of the regulars noticed me. When we later met (with me behind the bar) he said to me ‘this isn’t your regular job is it??’. When I told him what I did as my ‘day job’ he stated that he could tell by my attitude to my work and my professional ethics. I have not had an accolade such as this since.. I taught myself how to make cocktails (on the rare occasions people requested them) and could also produce the ‘shamrock’ in the top of a pint of Guinness. Even though I was effectively working from 07:30 am to 12:00am three days a week, I have to say that it was a fantastic experience working behind the bar of this pub. I only left once the contract for the Hospital had been completed, and I was re-located to Birmingham to work on the new hospital development there.

Guy Grenville (January 2016)

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