Berkshire


<p><strong>Sit &amp; Sip,&nbsp;Wokingham</strong></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/SitandSip.jpg" alt="Sit and Sip Wokingham white retro mismatched hanging lights leather seating industrial lighting and marbled walls" class="wp-image-21843" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/SitandSip.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/SitandSip-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/SitandSip-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/SitandSip-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2019/06/SitandSip-720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure></div>



<p><strong>Location</strong></p>



<p>Visited Wokingham recently? If you haven&#8217;t, sashay that way pronto. Following a rather painful regeneration project, the new town centre has been given a&nbsp;facelift of Sharon Osborne proportions – and it&#8217;s looking good. The jewel in Wokingham&#8217;s crown is Peach Place, sandwiched between Rose Street and Peach Street, now home to some cool quirky hangouts, including Sit &amp; Sip – a boutique bar, serving artisan drinkies and snacks.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/SIT-AND-SIP-WOKINGHAM-exterior.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25853" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/SIT-AND-SIP-WOKINGHAM-exterior.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/SIT-AND-SIP-WOKINGHAM-exterior-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/SIT-AND-SIP-WOKINGHAM-exterior-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/SIT-AND-SIP-WOKINGHAM-exterior-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/SIT-AND-SIP-WOKINGHAM-exterior-720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure></div>



<p>Do not be fooled by the exterior, it&#8217;s not going to win any architectural awards, but there&#8217;s a nice spot to sink a few cocktails during the warmer months&nbsp;and head inside because this is like a&nbsp;grown-up sweetie shop.</p>



<p><strong>The vibe</strong></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Wokingham-Bar.jpg" alt="Sit and Sip Wokingham Bar diaganol wooden wall panelling" class="wp-image-25858" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Wokingham-Bar.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Wokingham-Bar-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Wokingham-Bar-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Wokingham-Bar-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Wokingham-Bar-720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure></div>



<p>It&#8217;s got all the unpretentious, funky&nbsp;bar vibes of a London hangout&nbsp;&nbsp;– metro tiles and typographical mosaics, fun neon art, industrial details and comfy retro&nbsp;furniture, and the all-important booth.&nbsp;It&#8217;s warm, friendly, sociable and crucially for bars these days (for where we go, those men are bound to follow), female-friendly.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Wokingham-wallpaper.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25862" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Wokingham-wallpaper.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Wokingham-wallpaper-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Wokingham-wallpaper-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Wokingham-wallpaper-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Wokingham-wallpaper-720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure></div>



<p>It all feels hip and groovy, but not at all alienating if you happen to be the wrong side of 40 – quite a feat to pull off, but there, owner Jamie Mattingley has&nbsp;done it. There’s lots of&nbsp;natural light in the bar during the day from large bar-front&nbsp;windows if you fancy a nifty swifty (or a coffee, obvs), and there are plenty of bar stools, tables and comfy chairs to snaffle for a longer stint. The&nbsp;&#8216;Sit &amp; Sway&#8217;&nbsp;live music evenings are really popular and more&nbsp;tasting events are on the cards. So keep your eyes peeled, I hear a cheese beer and wine pairing is on the cards.</p>



<p><strong>Scoff &amp; Quaff</strong></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Craft-lager-menu-board.jpg" alt="Sit and Sip Craft lager menu blackboard" class="wp-image-25855" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Craft-lager-menu-board.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Craft-lager-menu-board-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Craft-lager-menu-board-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Craft-lager-menu-board-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Craft-lager-menu-board-720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure></div>



<p>The scoffing is not the main event here, so let&#8217;s prop up the bar and tackle the&nbsp;quaffing first. Sit &amp; Sip&nbsp;is a relatively small space and the&nbsp;is stocked with artisan beers, wines, spirits and trendy softies.&nbsp;If you or your hipster other half is partial to boutique brew, then this is the place to be. They two taps serving Siren Brewery&#8217;s finest, brewed down the road in Finchampstead, or you can work&nbsp;your way through an ever-changing menu of IPAs, lagers, and ales. Basicallt, there&nbsp;no chance of beer boredom.</p>



<p>The cocktail list is kept deliberately short&nbsp;offering classics with a twist (but they take requests, so put the guys to the test). You&#8217;ll also see the&nbsp;Tapster&#8217;s Choice on the blackboard which is the special creation of&nbsp;one of the bar staff who each month&nbsp;battle it out&nbsp;to see who&#8217;s mixing is up to scratch.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-spiced-mojito.jpg" alt="Sit and Sip Winter mojito" class="wp-image-25857" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-spiced-mojito.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-spiced-mojito-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-spiced-mojito-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-spiced-mojito-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-spiced-mojito-720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure></div>



<p>My first drink was a gin and tonic (comfortingly predictable) and went for the recommended Tom Cat Cloudy Mango Gin. It&#8217;s made by a couple in Sussex and the distilling op there is so small, the team has to swing by their house to pick up a bottle.&nbsp;If they left the bottle and a bucket of tonic I would have happily drunk it all night.</p>



<p>Next up, a&nbsp;Winter Mojito. I&#8217;m a sucker for the classic,&nbsp;so this had stiff competition. The spicy dark rum with ginger beer and lime&nbsp;was actually quite nice. The&nbsp;cinnamon stick swimming in it was a no from me. That said, it&nbsp;came in a very priddy glass. It&#8217;s all about the details.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-sip-wokingham-meat-and-cheese-platter.jpg" alt="Sit and sip wokingham meat and cheese platter" class="wp-image-25860" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-sip-wokingham-meat-and-cheese-platter.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-sip-wokingham-meat-and-cheese-platter-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-sip-wokingham-meat-and-cheese-platter-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-sip-wokingham-meat-and-cheese-platter-768x511.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-sip-wokingham-meat-and-cheese-platter-720x480.jpg 720w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure></div>



<p>What about the food, I hear you cry? If you’re after the traditional three courses, you’ll have to undo more than a couple of your shirt buttons, to get down with this&nbsp;menu. It’s a strictly casual affair. Sharing platters and snacks are available with the same ethos as the drinkies – quality rules. I spy a wedge of Barkham Blue, Serrano ham, a beer stick (like Pepperami but much much much better) olives and cornichons and a ploughman&#8217;s chutney that is used instead of butter. What looks like a bowl of nuts, is in fact&nbsp;pretzels with a tomato and chilli rub.</p>



<p>It&#8217;s the kind of grazing menu that I love, perfect for&nbsp;a light lunch with the girls or rare date night drinkies with Mr M. Simple but with an&nbsp;emphasis on flavour and quality ingredients, just like the drinks. There&#8217;s something to tickle all tastebuds so if you get an attack of the munchies, order everything on the menu and you&#8217;ll be good for the long haul.</p>



<p>It&#8217;s worth noting Sit &amp; Sip is the first bar in Berkshire to offer CBD infused coffee and sparkling drinks, and they&#8217;re hoping to add&nbsp;CBD-infused Espresso Martinis to the menu next month. CBD has zero&nbsp;psychoactive properties, but loads of&nbsp;health benefits. It&#8217;s one of the hottest trends right now, so I&#8217;ll be going back to try it out.</p>



<p><strong>Kid-friendly</strong></p>



<p>Um, er, well, yes and no. In the daytime, it’s quiet, as you’d expect, so you can easily come in here for a double G&amp;T while your perplexed child looks at your glazed eyes and wonders where she put that number to social services. You can get a coffee here, of course, that’s probably a more sane idea, and it’s relaxed enough to do that with your children – plus there are baby changing facilities&nbsp;available.&nbsp;But, generally, no, leave the little people at home. Take your dog, though. There are pup&nbsp;treats&nbsp;available at the bar. Woof!</p>



<p><strong>The Muddy verdict</strong></p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://berkshire.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Beauty-is-the-eyes-of-the-beer-holder-neon-sign.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-25859" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Beauty-is-the-eyes-of-the-beer-holder-neon-sign.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Beauty-is-the-eyes-of-the-beer-holder-neon-sign-150x150.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Beauty-is-the-eyes-of-the-beer-holder-neon-sign-300x300.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Beauty-is-the-eyes-of-the-beer-holder-neon-sign-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/02/Sit-and-Sip-Beauty-is-the-eyes-of-the-beer-holder-neon-sign-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure></div>



<p><strong>Good for: </strong>Craft beer fans, after-work drinks, casual get-togethers and foodies who love provenance. It’s a cool hangout, so buckle up and book a taxi.</p>



<p><strong>Bad for:&nbsp;</strong>If your hangry or wanting the full three courses. This is not a foodie destination, but a drinkie destination. Make a beeline for pre-dinner drinks.</p>



<p><strong>££: </strong>Craft beers and small-batch spirits don&#8217;t come cheap, so expect to be spending £5+ for a pint and gin and tonics start at about £6.50. But nothing&#8217;s mass-produced. The food is great value for the quality with prices starting at £4ish for snacks to £15 for a sharing board.</p>


The boutique bar, it’s a thing

You may also like