Just Opened – Bel & the Dragon, Reading

This pub in Reading has been relaunched following the takeover by Longshot, which invested £330,000 in refurbishing it. Set next to a canal, it offers outdoor seating and a number of private dining rooms.

Opened 9 June
Owner Longshot
Manager Ben Smith
Head chef Steve Rooney
Designer Nicola Harding
Capacity 120
Menu British - typical dishes include peat-smoked sea trout with horseradish crème fraîche; chilled pea and mint soup with rocket crostini; spit-roasted suckling pig with crispy crackling and apple chutney; and Dorset lemon sole with cucumber and fennel beurre blanc.
Average spend £15 lunch; £33 dinner
Address Blakes Lock, Gas Works Road, Reading RG1 3EQ
Telephone 0118 951 5790
Websitewww.belandthedragon-reading.co.uk