Lock Stock & Barrel, Newbury

Official site of Lock Stock & Barrel - www.lockstockandbarrelnewbury.co.uk

Official site of Lock Stock & Barrel - www.lockstockandbarrelnewbury.co.uk

The Lock Stock & Barrel is a canal side Fuller’s pub that overlooks Newbury Lock. The interior is L-shaped with tables along a long windowed wall that looks out onto a terrace and canal beyond. The terrace that runs the length of the pub, plus a bit more, and the roof terrace with bench seating are certainly this pub’s major draw. The L-shaped bar counter supports two banks of three handpumps either side of a pillar that splits the bar in two. Seafarers, Oliver’s Island, London Pride and ESB were all available during a recent Wednesday afternoon visit. A premium and craft keg range was also available. This is a nice pub, especially on a hot summer’s day, but it is frequented by the sort of people that form a single line queue that runs perpendicular to the bar from the till. Worth a look.

A local warned me that this was the most expensive in Newbury. He also said it was the best. Only one way to find out! Enviably positioned, especially if like us, you had just walked from Hungerford on the canal. A stringent adherence to covid rules that both included a velvet rope and table defunigation from the previous occupants. A nice beer garden, app ordering and a pint of (very good) ESB and Stowford Press £11.50.

The Lock, Stock and Barrel seems little changed from when I first visited in the early/mid '90's. It's nicely situated - tucked off the High Street with attractive terraces overlooking the Kennet and Avon canal and it's feeders. The emphasis seems to be a little more on food than it once was, a sign of the times, with tables all equipped for potential diners. There were certainly plenty partaking at lunchtime and several were still there when we visited in the evening. The service was fairly sterile and the clientele mixed. I'd guess that it's popular with nearby Vodafone employees although I didn't spot any plastic Yorkshire engineers. Beers were all from the Fullers stable: Oliver's Island, London Pride, Ninety and ESB. I plumped for a Wild River from the keg selection which was as expected. It doesn't feature in the 2016 GBG and with good reason as Newbury has better options. A nice spot for lunch on a sunny day overlooking the canal or perhaps an ESB in the winter.

Looks like a purpose built tourist trap, nicely situated alongside the canal and very popular. Six pumps offering various Fullers beers, I had a rather average Olivers Island, not really my kind of place.

Called in what a nice surprise nice sun terrace outside on the canal were you can ss the lock in full working order. Had a good pint of Fullers Seafarers 3.6% would call again