The mighty Purple Turtle

9 Gun Street,Reading RG1 2JR

I just realized there is no entry on my blog about what it is, altogether with Pavlov’s Dog and the Afterdark, the pub/club that better memories brings me every single time I think about these old good times in Reading… and also about these not-that-old good times as well, with my brother several times (his famous cheeky countdown pulling a friend with a dinner at stake) or even more recently – last Sunday, for instance, in one of the most silly but at the same times delightful binges I’ve enjoyed lastly. Yes, I’m obviously talking about the Purple Turtle. Or just the Turtle. Or the Purple.

Some say that before God said ‘Let there be the Oracle’, only the Purple existed on Reading. It may well be an exaggeration, but the true fact is that everybody I know who lived there ages ago, they don’t remember too much but this pub. And very likely if it wasn’t for the fact that I go back quite frequently over there, that could be very likely my case as well – there I met very good friends for the first time, there I pulled (or there I was pulled, I have to say) by my Welsh ex-girlfriend, and there I went for tequilas with Cherra for at least a million and one times. A memorable place indeed, at least on my little drunkard memorabilia.

So, what is all this about? What makes this place so special, so fucking special? Well, call me a creep, but, you know what? This places closes at 4 am. At 3 am, on Sundays. If you’ve ever gone out in Reading, you may well know that this is late, big time. Full stop. There are alternatives, obviously, but the time I used to live there these were constrained to Mango, a dodgy and moody club demanding a 10 quid cover for the sake of listening bad electronic music and be surrounded by sweating loser. Fair enough, I’ve been there several times (I’m a creep, or a loser then?), but you really cannot compare. Music in the Purple is on the Metal side, with Metallica being a big local favourite, but you may enjoy more relaxing tunes and even cheesy electronic rhythms some times. This all refers to the main floor, where you can also find a juke box so everybody can have his pick of the day, buy a bunch of roses and seduce that little princess dress as a Lolita Goth over there. Whatever.

Second big hit – the terrace, with its gas heaters on winter. Always squashed, I’m not a big fan of it, I have to say – as when you go there, there is no stop: you just stay there. Given there’s no music in the outside, this tends to evolve into a initially interesting conversation that easily decays into drunkards grunting. Which is fine, but improvable with some music and dancing. Still, the terrace is pretty cool, gotta say.

Third one – the people. Trendiest ones in Reading, really it is one of the few places where you feel you are in Camden, Shoreditch or Kentish Town in London. Big gay community (apparently, not that I’m good spotting that sort of connotation), sometimes easygoing punks, everything is very modern but with a good attitude and friendliness that you may miss in the big city. Another point for the Turtle, there.

Fourth? If you are a crazy drum&bass chum, you may enjoy the rave sessions they have on the basement sometimes. Gigs, metal, but mainly electronic craziness is what you smell over there… quite filthy, not my cup of tea, but still another option to enjoy the place differently.

Flaws? Well, drinks are far more expensive than Reading’s average – this is, pint over 3 quid, double spirit over 5, shots over 3. Not a big issue if you benchmark the place with London clubs, but also, if you perform this comparison opening until 4, playing hard rock or getting cool people inside don’t score that well. So let’s say it is expensive.

And finally, the fact that you can’t get in after 2. Given the AfterDark – my favourite club in Reading by far- closes at 2.30, and they are not just one beside each other, really it becomes more and more complicated to have a perfect night, as you would never leave the After before you are forced to by the big bouncers. This is quite likely the reason I re-discovered the place last Sunday, after a while without enjoying it. And that is also the reason I’m going to Reading today Friday instead of tomorrow Saturday, for instance he he he.

PS: there is another Purple in Camden I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy as well (a further one in Oxford, I didn’t taste that one). Material for another post, I guess…