Walkabout, Newbury

Well the layout remains the same as the JDW Diamond Tap days but it has been cheapified under new ownership; beyond an Australian flag and a crap Little Creatures on keg, this is just another tacky bar - years ago they had Coopers available in this chain. Lowlights of my visit were a raucous pool table, stains all over the ceiling and an animated discussion at the bar regarding someone who was barred for life despite his apparent friends’ attempt to persuade the barmaid otherwise. Crap.

This is a Lloyds but the external signage gives no indication of that and looking at earlier pictures it never has. Inside you can see the lighting rig area opposite the bar and there are also speakers. I got here around 10:00 on a Saturday morning to find it virtually empty. For some reason this one has two more hand pumps than the Hatchet nearby but the beer choice was rubbish with two available soon, the JDW Trio Of Doom doubled up leaving just the Marston's One Is 90 and the Caledonian Ithaca International beer. I went for this (£2.75) and it was pretty poor. It's hardly surprising that this one is for the chop. Apparently it only stays open until 23:00 all nights of the week. What sort of night club closes at 23:00?