User name:

Password:

Login


Sign in with Facebook


Not already a member?
Join our community and - Rate & review pubs - Upload pictures - Add events JOIN for free NOW


Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 17th March 2024) with Mobyduck on the Pub Forum

Picture of Walkabout
Image posted by Quinno _
Submitted on Sunday, 13th March 2022
With picture contributions to 4923 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (19 more images)
Only members may add pictures, click to receive free membership

Walkabout, Newbury

42 Cheap Street
Newbury
RG14 5BX
Phone: 01635527320
Correct details

Served areas

Reviews of Walkabout (Average Rating: of 10) Add Review 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 5030 recommendations about 5013 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 5030 recommendations about 5013 pubs]


View more reviews of Walkabout (7)
External web links for Walkabout

No known official website for this pub.

Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by hondo .
Newbury, 0.4 miles, 7 min walk (show)
Newbury Racecourse, 0.79 miles, 15 min walk (show)
Thatcham, 3.88 miles, 1 hr 14 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for Walkabout, Newbury
12th Apr 2022, 19:16
Review submitted by Quinno _
 
13th Mar 2022, 15:30
Picture submitted by Quinno _ approved

Pub Details

Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Beer Festivals : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Beer Garden : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Car Park : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Child Friendly : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Darts : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Dog Friendly : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Function Room : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Hot Food : Yes last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Jukebox : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Karaoke : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Live Music : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Micropub : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Pinball : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Pool Table : Yes last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Real Ale : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Real Cider : No last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
  • WiFi : Yes last updated 12 April 2022 by Quinno _
Local pubs

Icon Key: Picture Recommendation Rating Closed