Home > Berkshire > Reading > The Dreadnought The Dreadnought
Picture source: Sue McArdle
The Dreadnought was situated on the bank of the River Thames. This pub is now in residential use.
My father, Cecil Cole was the publican of this pub in 1937 . As a small child I lived in the pub for a few years.
John Cole (May 2014)
I was at Reading University from 1951 to 1954 and was an active member of the Reading University Sailing Club.(RUSC) which operated from a boathouse next door to the pub. The pub was still open then but closed in 1952. It was abandoned and became vandalised but was bought by Reading university in 1954 and a river studies laboratory was erected in the garden behind the pub. After the purchase the University appointed caretakers who lived upstairs. where there was also an office for the professor. The ground floor became the RUSC clubhouse and was much improved over the years. It was the clubhouse for RUSC until some time in the 1990s . I have been writing an account of the RUSC’s “Dreadnought Days” but am still in want of information regarding the time when RUSC finally left the Dreadnought. I think this was about 1996 when they moved to Burghfield Sailing club but no one in the University or the RUSC has any knowledge going back 30 years. It has variously been reported as bring a private house, a potential tea-room or the headquarters of the Reading University Boat Club, untrue but probably confusing rowing with sailing. I have recently been told it is still owned by the University but becoming derelict
Laurence Jones (July 2018)
I was president of the reading canoe club when reading announced that they were demolishing the 2 sheds upstream due to asbestos and the woodworm gave up holding hands. The university went into partnership with Thames Valley park and the canoe club are now based out of there. I lived above the bar for 2 glorious years post graduation whilst being 'caretaker' of the building. It was the focal point of my uni life. However once the new building downstream was open its days were numbered and it was mothballed, due to costs. There had been a fair amount of 'settling' due to the rail line. The upstairs rooms all slope away from the stair case. Most doors have sections cut off the base and added to the top.
Paul Beswetherick (October 2019)
Just looking the Dreadnought up, as I was the carver of the RUSC club sign way back in 1988 when I was RUSC Bosun, from a bit of drift wood found whilst sailing on the Thames. I graduated in 1989 and we had our celebration drink with Jon and Anne who were the caretakers at the time. The last sign had been knicked by some unruly students I understand. So I made a new one. I spent many a day (and a few nights) down at the RUSC. I served behind the bar many times. It's the place where I first got properly drunk and woke up in a spare bed in the Dreadnought (with a bad head I might say). Many happy memories of events, the annual BBQ and Raft Race and taking out people to learn to sail on Wednesday Afternoons and most Saturdays. We had access to the Gravel pit opposite (now part of the rowing lake) and towed the Larks around with the Dory. I revisited in summer of 2025 and was amazed that my sign was still on display some 37 years later. It also featured with the sing in a calendar of Reading Thames Riverside properties in 1989. I have attached some photos of the Dreadnought from 1986-1989 and 2025. It has aged better than myself. It is sad its not really a property with a safe future with a purchase falling through. It would make for a very popular drinking venue but the access is now very limited. It comes with an Island on the Thames also although when I looked online on the auction site, it looked a bit silted up..
Steven Pettifer (February 2026)
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Name Dates Comments Joanna Dickinson 1972 - 1986 I was very lucky to live here at The Dreadnought for 14 years with my family. Great times and memories at this fantastic house/pub. Fabulous Summer outdoor barbeques for Reading University Students with the superb Hog Roast which, in those days, was a real treat!! Beautiful plums, rhubarb, gooseberries and strawberries all within an arms reach in the garden. Gillian Otton Clark 1942 Born in this wonderful place. Enjoyed a magical childhood there .Enjoyed the plums in the lovely garden with my brother Peter. The Regatta was a special time huge tents went up and Mum and Dad were very busy in the pub.I left when I was 11 and moved into a Newsagents in Great knollys Street.Electricity flushing toilet,different world.My heart is still by the river and always will be .Happy ,happy days .
Other Photos
Date of photo: 2025	Picture source: Steven Pettifer
Date of photo: 2025	Picture source: Steven Pettifer
Date of photo: 1988	Picture source: Steven Pettifer