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Apart from the game which is shot by Mike, the fish he catches and the wild
crayfish which are caught by Katie, we try to buy all our supplies from small
local producers. This does mean that the menus change frequently to reflect the
changing seasons but it also ensures that everything we sell is in the prime of
condition.
West Berkshire Brewery
We have a number of award winning real ales supplied by the
West Berkshire Brewery run by Dave and
Helen Maggs, who brew our very popular signature beer, Brick Kiln, just behind
the pub. Descriptions of some of the beers which are on tap are available on
their web site. They also supply us with a guest ale which changes regularly but
always comes from a similar small but enthusiastically run brewery.
As well as draught ale, we also stock an excellent Normandy draught cider and
Budwar draught lager.
Vicars Game and Casey Fields Farm Shop
The trophy heads of deer in The Pot Kiln Dining Room have all been shot by
Alan Hayward who owns Vicars Game. Alan's enthusiasm for stalking
and shooting is legendary and he and Mike can often be found at 4:30 am crawling
through the undergrowth in pursuit of Red Deer, Roe Deer, Fallow or Muntjac.
Casey Fields Farm Shop, the retail branch of Vicars Game, next door to the Cookery School is the ideal place to
lay in supplies of all types of meat and game, Not only do they provide fantastic quality
but they do so at wholesale prices!!
Laithwaites
Shortly after I left school, I worked at Laithwaites for a short while (or
Bordeaux Direct as it was then) just down the road in Thatcham. I well remember
selling Bordeaux direct from the barrel with customers bringing their own
bottles. Laithwaites is now a really major operation with their headquarters in
Theale just 10 minutes away. Tony Laithwaite is a great supporter of the PK and
his excellent wines feature very strongly in our wine list. They have a great
showroom at Theale with a regular and very popular programme of wine tastings.
There are even vines growing outside! |