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Disappointment of the week with Real Ale Ray
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Detail Pages
The Newbury, Newbury
Newbury
RG14 5HB
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Newbury
A revisit as I was partaking in a meeting being held in the upstairs bar-cum-function room. Quite prissy and dining-focussed downstairs now. Four ales on, 2x Upham and 2x West Berks and I was fairly unimpressed by the beer quality. Shame – guess it has been left behind in the drinking stakes by the competition and has moved its attention elsewhere.
September 2015
Seems to have loosened-up and found its stride. My visit also noted an increased ale range, focussing exclusively on local brews. No complaints about my half of West Berks despite the roasting heat of the afternoon and my drinking companions were complimentary about the other ales sampled. Also discovered an upstairs balcony (new?) with a retractable roof! Impressed - will be back to see if this is the new normal. Rated 7
July 2013
Formerly the Purple Lounge, which has recently had a thorough refit and has re-opened as the Newbury with pretensions of gastro grandeur. There’s an odd mish-mash of interior styling in the two rooms, from low-back button sofas to metal stools and chunky wood tables. Lots of canvas artwork scattered around as well as other arty artefacts, some of which appeared to be for sale. Being Newbury, there’s a strong equine theme (though did not extend to the menu, it transpired). I was quite taken by the nice brick fireplace (with a metal stags head situated above) to the left and the detailed cornices running round the pub. Newspapers available on a large table to the right. Free WiFi, which was a nice touch. Four ales, two from the local Two Cocks, plus TT landlord and West Berks GOB. The Cavalier was not much to write home about and was served in a warm glass that had not long been out of the dishwasher. I was also asked if “I wanted any nuts or crisps” by the uniformed barman. It all felt rather like the Stepford Wives had been given a pub to run. I guess it’s early days, there was enough to tempt me back in for a look next time. Rated 6
On 15th November 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Thuck Phat left this review about The Newbury
A lovely Georgian building from the outside which has been pulled apart to accommodate modern, urban gastro nosh inside.
To the right is a vast, open plan dining area while to the left is the modern bar.
Beers on were The Newbury Best Bitter, Upham Brewery Punter, Ramsbury Deer Stalker and TT Landlord. A request for the Landlord to be poured with a tight sparkler was granted without question. Surprising and welcome this far south and the resulting pint was excellent and matched the service.
Very much a modern town gastropub but I'd certainly visit again for the Landlord.
On 4th August 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 679 recommendations about 678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Newbury
A good looking Georgian building from the outside but a gasto makeover within.To the right of the entrance is a greeting desk and a dining area behind but a few sofas in front of the desk,possibly designed for folk waiting for a table.The open kitchen is visible from here.Go left for the drinking area and bar,still kitted out in a modern fashion with a fine banquette running under the front window,and a high seating bench along one wall,exciting when accomodating short skirted totty.
The bar itself has a beaten copper frontage and wouldn't be out of place in a cocktail bar.There are four handpumps drawing on my visit Newbury House Beer (provenance unknown),Ramsbury Deer Stalker,Upham Punter and a very good TT Landlord,with a northern barman who knew that a very tight sparkler is the only way to serve this superior ale.This alone made the trip here worthwhile,the other ale options seemed dull and boring.Worth including on a crawl if you like upmarket interiors or properly kept Landlord.
On 15th July 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Newbury
A rather modern and sterile gastro pub,however there were five pumps on the bar including a couple from Windsor and Eton, my choice of Knight of the Garter wasn't bad.Not really the sort of place I would return to though.
On 5th June 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1871 recommendations about 1844 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Newbury
Upmarket, smart, modern bar, though there are still the Georgian style square room, straight lines and windows to the street.
Modern brown/pastel colours, some modern sculptures, wood floor and high benches/wood tables. A little pretentious & very slow service, but they still have 3 real ales &, although not the most comfortable place, it serves a purpose & something different for the area.
On 28th April 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Newbury
Large, upmarket dining pub or maybe more a restaurant with a drinking area. To one side is a less restaurant type area although the service is pure restaurant. The other, larger side of the building is just restaurant. The counter is in the more pubby part and boasts five pumps of local beers but they were fairly lacklustre in spite of the GBG listing for the place.
On 22nd April 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]