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Detail Pages
Walkabout, Newbury
Newbury
RG14 5BX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Walkabout
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.
On 12th April 2022
- rating: 3
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Diamond Tap (Lloyds No.1)
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?
On 24th May 2016
- rating: 2
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Diamond Tap (Lloyds No.1)
Popped in again the other week – what a disaster. Place was deserted and all bar one of the beers (Adnams Broadside) undrinkable and even that was stone cold. Tim may have bitten off more than he can chew in Newbury, as all the usual JDW punters make a beeline straight to the nearby (and far superior as a pub concept) Hatchet. This place needs a kick up the arse – perhaps it may not even last another couple of years?? What a descent.
Feb 2015
Brief revisit to get shot of a 50p voucher. Looked like a good selection but then dopey drawers behind the bar tells us our first choices are off (so a fail on the mystery shopper then love, where’s the ‘coming soon’ labels eh?). Eventually I got one - Adnams Porter which was in good nick but too cold - much like the pub (can't someone locate the off switch for the aircon?). Pretty quiet for a Saturday night...your target audience are either in the Hatchet or on the train to Reading. Did JDW overestimate the demand for two Spoons in a mid-sized market town? Down a point for poor ale and full-blast aircon on a cold night. Rated 6
June 2013
Revisited yesterday and found 10 ales on but it was a pretty pedestrian selection by JDW standards. My Broadside was tasty enough, mind. This one seemed the more CAMRA-oriented of the town’s two JDW’s but odd given it had less interesting beer on than the Hatchet and is seemingly more a Lloyds No.1. Extremely quiet on my late Saturday afternoon visit despite everywhere else being busy. Though the unhogged aircon was gratefully received on a sweltering day. I sat upstairs by the balcony which gave an impressive view of the imposing bar back. If I had to pick I think I’d plump for the Hatchet based on yesterday’s visits. Nice enough though and handily near the station. Rated 7
July 2010
Formerly the Chicago Rock Cafe, this was acquired by Wetherspoons and re-opened in their Lloyds style and is amusingly situated in Cheap Street. The interior is quite huge and is done out in a more modern style - greys, blacks, wood, glass and steel over two floors (with a bar on each, upstairs is stripped down, choice-wise). Six (if I recall correctly) ales on the go downstairs. Hard to judge the place overall as I was lucky enough to receive an invite to their pre-opening shin-dig so all the stops were being pulled out. This is 'Spoons first venture into Newbury and if they can keep the place maintained and the beer decent, this should do well.
On 1st September 2015
- rating: 4
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about The Diamond Tap (Lloyds No.1)
Alot better than the other spoons 200 yards down the road and a lot cheaper believe it or not
On 5th August 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Diamond Tap (Lloyds No.1)
Large 2 floor Lloyds no1 spoons.
On 21st March 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Diamond Tap (Lloyds No.1)
This pub will open on the 9th July 2010.
On 7th July 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
elizabeth mcgraw left this review about The Diamond Tap (Lloyds No.1)
Was called Chicago Rock Cafe
On 5th July 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 252 recommendations about 249 pubs]