From Sipping Martinis to Playing Table Tennis: Father’s Day Experiences in Reading

It is now just a matter of weeks until Father’s Day on June 18th, which is a great opportunity for sons and daughters to say thank you to their dads for all their unconditional love and support. Well, that and helping with decorating, fixing the washing machine and lending much-needed DIY advice too.

Sadly, despite everything our fathers do for us, research from Mintel has shown that they tend to get a bit of a raw deal when it comes to the big day. While Brits spent £510 million on gifts for Mother’s Day in 2015, just £360 million were spent on Father’s Day in the same year, with only 47% of those polled actually choosing to buy something. This seems like a fairly poor effort to us, so we’ve decided to try and inspire you by revealing how Reading has everything you need for the perfect day with your old man.

Big-screen fun

Most dads enjoy a film or two, which is why we put together our handy guide on potential movies to consider on the day. However, why simply watch films when you can take inspiration from them too? As far as we know in popular culture about roulette, casino games have played a key role in a number of films from 1942’s Casablanca to Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale in 2006. If your dad loves Bond, there are 3 local casinos where he can try his hand at roulette, including Genting on 18 Richfield Avenue, before following that up with a sophisticated round of martinis at The Forbury’s Cerise Cocktail Bar. Remember, they'll need to be shaken, not stirred. Alternatively, if your dad sees himself less like Daniel Craig and more like Sly Stallone, you could always take things up a gear with a spot of paintball at Delta Force with prices starting at £9.99 for 12 to 14 games. It is an ideal pastime for anyone who likes to imagine they are one of the Expendables - after all, there’s nothing quite like getting hit by a ball travelling at around 280 feet per second.

"paintball-057" (CC BY 2.0) by popofatticus

Being a good sport

The football season may be over by mid-June, but there is still plenty going on in other sports at that time of year. As such, you could have a spot of bonding with your old man at one of Reading’s many bars which show sport, from Walkabout to Pavlov’s Dog. Key events to look out for across the Father’s Day weekend include golf’s US Open, the America’s Cup in sailing and football action in the Confederations Cup. If playing sport is more your father’s thing, you can book racket sports and table tennis at Reading Sport and Leisure to take him on in a head-to-head match – table tennis costs £10.20 per adult. Another option could be to bring together your friends and their fathers for a friendly 5-a-side game, although you may need to go easy on the bad tackles. Finally, petrol heads can go karting on Team-Sport’s 450-metre track. While traditionally viewed as a pastime for a stag do – with research revealing almost 30% of men think it is ideal for such events – there is no reason why it cannot be fit for Father’s Day.

Relaxed times

Of course, going all out on activities is great for a certain type of dad, but many of us have fathers who simply appreciate a chance to relax and unwind. One option could be to book a table at one of Reading’s many restaurants for the entire family to enjoy a proper Sunday lunch and some drinks – Browns offers a classic roast from £14.50 per head while The Bladebone Inn caters for more refined tastes with roast Bucklebury pigeon served from noon to 5pm.

"Roast beef" (CC BY 2.0) by adactio

The scenery of Berkshire is often a sight to behold too, so take a stroll before or after your lunch to blow the cobwebs away and enjoy some fresh air. Potential options range from simply having a stroll alongside the Thames to discovering Clayfield Copse or even heading to the National Trust’s 18th-century house at Basildon Park. The health benefits of even a short 30-minute walk are well known, so why not enjoy being healthy by taking in some stunning heritage at the same time?

A great family day

Regardless of whether you’re looking to splash out or keep costs low, there are a host of options in and around Reading which mean that you can have a great day no matter what you decide to get up to. For more hints and tips, we have a guide featuring plays, gigs and more events to consider to give your dad the treat he truly deserves.