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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat on the Pub Forum

The Starting Gate, Newbury

75 Brummell Road
Newbury
RG14 1SG

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Pub Type

Punch Taverns

Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Strongers . left this review about The Starting Gate

The Starting Gate is a large pub with a central serving counter that has a few high tables dotted around it. It was busy during my recent Tuesday evening visit with most of the action happening around the two pool tables in the front right corner, I think it was pool league night. There’s also a dartboard and televisions throughout were airing muted snooker via BBC and football via Sky Sports. The serving counter extends into a function room at the rear that can be separated from the main bar area used sliding doors. Premium and mainstream keg were available and both the hand pumps were badged with TT Landlord.

On 30th April 2025 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Quinno _ left this review about The Starting Gate

Has had a bit of an upmarket refurb and they've done a fair job on it. The emphasis is still on the locals though and a very healthy attendance on Saturday afternoon a few weeks ago. A decent pint of Doom Bar was available.

March 2014
A big pub off the main road, serving the (seemingly boarded-up) estate. Not as rough as we expected. Corporate interior, no real charm bar a few prints in the left end of the room but at least well maintained, with double glazing etc. TVs showing Six Nations rugby plus two pool tables available. Very quiet, though it looks like a lot of the flats next door have been emptied and condemned which presumably has deprived the pub of a fair bit of local custom. Two ales, Wadworth 6X and Doombar (good nick). The solitary barman was doing a fair job, given that he was also processing kitchen orders. 30 different burgers (in reality, mainly different combinations of filling) listed on a blackboard as their USP. Surprisingly OK and more of an asset than liability to the local area. Rated 5.5

On 16th December 2018 - rating: 6
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]