Looking for a unique spot to enjoy lunch or dinner in Reading? How about sipping cocktails and enjoying tapas overlooking a historic lido? Sounds a little quirky, we know, but Thames Lido is an atmospheric restaurant and bar with a story to tell, making it a wonderful place for those who like something out of the ordinary.
Thames Lido was first built back in 1902 and intended as a swimming destination for Edwardian women, specifically designed without windows to protect the bather's modesty. While it was originally fed from the Thames, it sustained many changes over the next 100 years and fell into disrepair until 2013, when the current owners began works to renovate and bring back to life this storied site.
Fast forward to present day, and Thames Lido is a pillar of the community, enjoyed as a great outdoor swimming pool and spa but also loved for its indoor-outdoor all-day restaurant and bar. In the summer months, there's nothing better than enjoying a cocktail on the terrace, looking out to the water, while in the winter, the restaurant's Spanish cuisine really warms the cockles.
The website explains that in theme with its setting, the menu is inspired by Spanish tapas to give guests a 'holiday feeling'. The restaurant boasts an open kitchen with a charcoal grill and wood burning oven, bringing a sense of authenticity to the cooking techniques.
On the menu you'll find a selection of delectable starters such as air dried Galician beef with ember roast beetroot and ajo blanco, alongside salad of courgettes with cucumber, feta cheese, mint, zatar and pine nuts. Mains include the likes of braised pig’s cheeks with arrocina beans, migas, salsa verdi and beetroot leaves, with sides like fried new potatoes and garden peas with jamon.
There's also a mix of delicious cocktails and we particularly like the sound of the Champagne Cocktail, which brings together Nyetimber, Armagnac, angostura bitters and a brown sugar cube.