u/ZebraShark

While I think the best two pubs in Reading are elsewhere in town, I think overall as an area that East Reading is probably the best place for pubs. Not only do you have a huge concentration of towns within walking distance, but you also have a lot of variety meaning you can likely find a pub that fits your niche:

• The Retreat - A tiny, cosy pub tucked down a side-street which is owned and run by the local community. It's an 'old man' pub in the best sense of the word with nettle eating contests and feeling like you're in someone's living room.
• The Dairy - owned by the University of Reading, probably the cheapest place for drinks outside a chain and a good range of local breweries. Also, only place I've seen that screens less-popular sports from baseball to hockey.
• Hope & Bear - a good 'all-rounder' pub, the food, the garden, interior and drink choice are all good. It doesn't do anything exceptionally but also does nothing badly either.
• Sip and Spin - a real hidden gem also tucked away down a back street. Really friendly staff and free arcade games. Sadly tends to be quite quieter than it should be.
• Fisherman's Cottage - lovely spot in the summer. Really nice interior, and great to sit alongside the canal and enjoy a drink while the weather's warm. Popular with cyclists and dog walkers.
• Park House - if you consider it's pub garden the university campus then probably has the best one in Reading. Food is simple but a really good variety of drinks in a nice setting.
• The Queen's Head - like Hope and Bear, another good all rounder pub. Nice balance of students and residents with a surprisingly decent pub garden.

There are a few I've never visited (Mnkey Lounge, Palmer Taven, Three Tuns and Up the Junction) so can't comment on those and Lyndhurst has re-opened recently and hopefully does well in new ownership.

When looking through base recommendations online I find most are absolutely huge and feel ridiculous for a single player. I'd like to explore some bases which are a decent size but not cavernous and wondered if people had any other recommendations? Somewhere the right size for me would the Louisville Fire Station.

My organisation's graphic design team has recently come under my management (work in marketing).

They're a small team of two. Our lead designer is very strong: has all the technical skills required and can give a creative brief and is able to produce interesting options.

Our second designer has the technical skills but seems to be lacking the 'design eye' for lack of better wording. Their background has been more on producing and formatting documents for print so knows how to layout a document, but if you gave them a creative brief they would produce something very flat and basic.

The challenge we have is that it means all the pressure for more creative, high-importance documents are put on our lead designer which is unsustainable. I'd like to build up the skills of our second designer but not sure where to begin? Can anyone recommend any training at all?