On Sunday, I had a catch up girly day/night planned with two friends in Bracknell, they both live in Bracknell which is only 20 minutes away from me, and it was easier for me to stay over one of theirs instead of me trying to find space for two at mine, plus Bracknell has a bigger bowling alley than Reading does! We had everything planned, the bowling booked and paid for, the sleepover plans finalised, the travel arrangements to the bowling alley sorted, the only thing left to sort was where we were eating for dinner.
It's January, Christmas has wiped us all out financially, so we wanted cheap and cheerful but somewhere we could sit, relax and not feel rushed. We also wanted something a bit more 'special', over say a McDonald's or KFC, so we all agreed we fancied pub grub style food. Keeping it to an affordable budget, and not having the pressure of having to rush off, plus - we could then drink there as we had planned to have a few alcoholic drinks, that was the whole point of me having a sleepover after all! With them two being local they decided we would go to The Green Man which is in the Easthamstead side of Bracknell.
As soon as I stepped through the doors of this quirky pub, I was greeted by the sight of friendly smiley faces from staff, locals and other restaurant/pub guests, as well as wagging tails because thankfully the pub is dog friendly to well behaved dogs! That means my pooch will never step foot in there haha, but it's good to know! The welcoming vibe was immediately evident, with smiles exchanged all around, I felt like I was visiting a place I'd known for years and was instantly at ease.
The ambience of the place is enhanced by the pub's interesting decor that features history-laden brick walls, with a beautiful open arched old brick fireplace and a now disused and bricked up old brick chimney, the history lover in me had to do some research given the beautiful timeless history pieces I'd seen on my visit. I was surprised to find out The Green Man was reputedly a 16th Century former coaching inn, you can only imagine the history those old brick walls hold, and all of the faces that have passed through the doors over the years.
The pub may have old brick walls, but those old walls feature whimsical quirky wall quotes, randomly placed around the pub in no particular order. These quirky expressions add a touch of personality and charm to the place, and there's one other particularly intriguing feature of the pub, which was my favourite - a backwards clock, serving as a charming conversation piece and reminding everyone to take their time and enjoy the moment.
We went to the pretty displayed bar, where sparkles and glitter caught my eye, we was served straight away thanks to the bar area being quiet at the time and staff on hand ready to serve. The bar was well stocked with a variety of soft drinks, hot drink choices, cask ales, house wines, non alcoholic drinks, children's drinks and of course every alcoholic drink you could think of - it's a pub after all. We then found ourselves a table and took to the menu's to find what we each fancied for dinner.
The varied menu offers an impressive selection, catering to a wide range of palates and dietary preferences, from roast dinners to fish & chips, burgers to light bites, pasta based dishes to dishes from the grill, there's something for everyone with plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options and a great dessert menu - for those like me who has to have a sweet treat! They also have a limited edition/specials menu, along with a great choice kids menu, including desserts, and wait for it... a DOG menu - for those well behaved dogs! Winner winner, DOG's dinner!
As a self-proclaimed foodie, I found the selection of food on offer particularly appealing for a pub. Deciding what to order was no easy feat but after 20 minutes of deliberation, I decided to go for the small plates special, a trio of any three small plates of your choice for £15 - or five small plates of your choice for £22.50. After yet more hesitation, I finally ordered the Katsu Chicken Fries, Halloumi Fries and Chicken Strips. The menu states Small Plates are perfect for sharing or great for one if you fancy a little bit of everything - because they understand!
Whilst I couldn't quite decide on the menu itself, I ultimately knew one of those three small plates was going to be the Katsu Chicken Fries. Katsu curry is a beloved favourite of mine, this standout dish arrived nicely presented and was brimming with flavour. The chicken was perfectly fried to golden crispness, while the curry sauce was rich and fragrant, striking the perfect balance of spices and mouth watering flavours. Served atop a generous portion of crispy hot skin-on-fries and a spicy herb garnish that I asked to be left off - because me and spicy don't go together!
The second option I chose was the golden Halloumi Fries, which was perfectly grilled achieving a crispy exterior while retaining its soft and chewy inside texture. Its salty, savoury flavour pairs beautifully with fresh, colourful accompaniments including refreshing rocket that provides a nice balance to the richness of the cheese along with sweet chilli sauce. I can absolutely confirm that the Halloumi Fries are NOT a sharing dish and must be consumed by one person - cheese is life!
Last but not least, my last pick of the offerings was 8 Chicken Strips, which come served with a spicy herb garnish and your choice of IPA hot sauce, Texan BBQ sauce, Garlic & rosemary mayo, or Hot honey sauce. I went with the Texan BBQ sauce which was lovely, it was sweet and smokey at the same time and a perfect condiment to accompany the chicken.
Roe - one of the members of staff came over around five minutes after our dishes were served to check in and make sure everything was okay and if we needed anything, I felt that this was perfect timing as I've been to other pubs before where they've asked you a minute after serving and you feel so rushed! The generous portion sizes of the three dishes combined made them a filling dinner choice, and compared to similar dishes elsewhere at similar budget-friendly pub chains, this pub’s offering is a winner in taste, price and service.
Another great aspect of The Green Man is its family-friendly environment. Children are welcome until 8pm, and there is a thoughtfully crafted kids’ menu that promises to please even the pickiest of eaters, with such a varied menu that caters to younger diners, families can enjoy a stress-free meal knowing there’s something for everyone and no ones going to moan!
Once the three of us had not only eaten our dinner, but also let our dinners settle down, we ordered our first alcoholic drinks and moved over to the bar side of the pub where football was playing amongst the pubs various sized TV's. Whilst the football played the pool table was empty so us three decided to play pool - it was my first ever time, thankfully my two friends play often and was able to teach me the basics!
Each game of pool cost £1.50, and the machine takes card so you don't have to worry about carrying coins. The pub also has FREE pool nights every Wednesday, which now makes sense as to why the group chat goes quiet on a Wednesday. These two are secretly plotting on becoming the world's next best Pool Duo obviously!
Thankfully the girls didn't ask for a game of darts, because if they thought I was bad at bowling and pool, I would love to know what they would have thought about my dart skills haha! I saw the pub has a large dart board with electronics of some kind and a special floor ramp the players were standing on haha, along with a huge score board - don't you know I am clueless with darts!
As we was there on a Sunday, we was luckily able to participate in the weekly pub quiz held every Sunday with a number of great prizes! Entry to the quiz cost just £1 per team, NOT per person, with a maximum of 6 people allowed in a team. We had giggles from the get go just trying to pick a team name! The quiz itself was hosted by a great quiz master, with a variety of questions that had all of our brains thinking. Although we didn't win, we participated and had some fun, whilst learning new things and overall we all had a great time!
Once the quiz was over we went back over to the bar side of the pub again, where we all chatted with music playing in the background. The music selection was great and had even the quietest amongst us singing aloud, thankfully the music was played at a reasonable volume, so we could all hear one another speak. There is nothing worse than being in a pub where you're trying to chat and all you can hear is loud music.
I had to step outside to take a call and opted for the back garden over the front. The rear outdoor/garden area is home to plenty of outdoor benches, tables and chairs with plenty of space in between each one. There's also children's playground equipment for the kids to enjoy. I visualised this being a bustling place in the midst of summer, outdoor lunches, dinners or even summer evening pudding treats, or a refreshing soft drink, with children enjoying themselves and parents having a relaxing break in the summer sun.
The pub has a great sized car park to the front/side of the pub, with multiple disabled spaces for those that need them, plenty of normal spaces and even a few spaces for electric cars along with charging ports for those with electric cars. The car park is free to use for pub customers.
Overall this pub has a charming history that adds depth, it has retained its character and continues to be a beloved local spot. Its blend of tradition with modern influences and lovely staff make it unique. I'd personally like to thank Roe and the other members of staff for serving throughout the day and evening, in a friendly manner and for making us feel so welcome.
As I left The Green Man, I couldn't help but reflect on the wonderful experience I had just had. With great food, a friendly and inviting atmosphere - being one of the hallmarks, and attentive service, full of history, with it's own little quirky bits of uniqueness, it is a place I will undoubtedly return to. Whether you're a pub grub fan looking for your next pub stop, a duo/trio/small group of friends, a group looking to celebrate a special occasion, or a family seeking a relaxed dining experience at affordable family friendly prices, The Green Man is sure to please. Next time you're in the area, make a point to stop by - you won’t regret it!
Jada x
*This is a personal review written by me. I have no affiliation with Greene King, nor was I paid in any way including payment in kind for this post. Everything mentioned in this post was paid for by myself.
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