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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 14th April 2024) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Lock Stock & Barrel, Newbury
Newbury
RG14 1AA
Pub Type
Fuller'sReviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about Lock Stock & Barrel
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.
On 24th June 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5228 recommendations about 5196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Lock Stock & Barrel
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.
On 1st June 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Lock Stock & Barrel
The place continues to tick along, although beer quality doesn’t seem as consistently good as once was, although Dark Star now seems to be a fixture on the bar. Still popular though, and is often very busy. But it’s not the Newbury ‘must visit’ it once was, the Catherine Wheel, King Charles and (I kid not) Spoons have really sewn up the ale drinking market, especially as this place is the most expensive drinking spot!
September 2015
Has had a refit but nothing too drastic. Drink options pretty similar, my Gales Seafarers was decent though overpriced. It’s worth dropping in during a crawl but it’s no longer top dog in RG14. Rated 7
September 2013
Newbury’s most obviously ‘nice’ pub, situated down a small alleyway and boasting and impressive outside terrace overlooking the canal and lock side. Six ale pumps with most of the Fuller’s branded range plus West Berks GOB. The beer in my experience is generally good though I'm less convinced that they really know what they're doing behind the bar (eg having a clipped ale on that hadn't been available since the previous night). As noted, it is expensive for Newbury but that has more to do with Fuller’s pricing policy. Bar usually well-staffed though a good number of punters pay for everything by card slowing service to a crawl. The interior is done in various shades of brown bar a narrow but larger dining area at the rear. Some nice small paned frosted glass work along the top of the bar plus a sit-down arcade machine that appears to be in working order. Probably (just) my favourite in town. Rated 7
On 15th December 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Lock Stock & Barrel
This is a difficult pub to find,tucked away from a shopping street but it's position along the banks of the fast flowing Kennet and with views over the canal make it an iconic watering hole.The interior is quite unremarkable but the outside patio is great in good weather and attracts a wide range of customers including some all female groups.The ale choice is all from Fullers and my Olivers Island was acceptable if not memorable.
This was a nostalgic revisit after 20 years to a pub know to the crew as The Lock,Stock & Brawl and it was a pleasant feeling to leave the premises voluntarily this time.
On 16th July 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about Lock Stock & Barrel
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.
On 12th July 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about Lock Stock & Barrel
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.
On 5th June 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about Lock Stock & Barrel
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
On 6th August 2014
- rating: 10
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Lock Stock & Barrel
Expensive, river and canalside pub reached down an alley, it is a Fullers tied house although there were only two Fullers beers but four guests being served from a nice carved counter with some etched glass, when I visited. The guests were all from either Yorkshire or South Wales. It is Newbury's only GBG2010 listed pub. A bit pricey, but the quality of the beer is excellent. A few mini T-bars offer the usual kegs. It is an old building but has an “arty” modern interior, sofas, domestic style tables and chairs, an artfully arranged collection of mirrors, louvred window shutters and a few bits of art work. The service is largely of the “are you alright there” type combined with 'spoons-ish speed from young staff although the clientele is of mixed ages and types, but no gay bargees that I can report. Card games are taken quite seriously with special table coverings and chips being brought out for the occasion, this was not incidentally on a Thursday when Sky Poker is on. The pub also has a riverside terrace and a roof terrace.
On 11th July 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]