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Walkabout is an Australian themed pub and restaurant chain in the United Kingdom, owned by Stonegate Pubs since December 2016.[1]
![](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Walkabout_Chelmsford.jpg/220px-Walkabout_Chelmsford.jpg)
![](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/TS46-Walkabout_Sheffield.jpg/220px-TS46-Walkabout_Sheffield.jpg)
![](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Roo_Burger.jpeg/220px-Roo_Burger.jpeg)
History
editThe first Walkabout bar was opened in 1994. In December 2016, it was reported that the brand had 30 outlets, down from a peak of about 50.[1]
In 2009, Walkabout's parent company went into administration. A number of unprofitable sites were closed and the company refinanced itself.[2]
In the 2010s, Walkabout came under pressure by boroughs keen to clean up and gentrify their high streets.[3] Its Covent Garden branch, which was the first to open in the mid '90s, was closed in March 2013 with the company saying the site was too small.[2] There were 30 Walkabouts left operating at this time.[2] Shepherd's Bush Walkabout, one of their best known branches, closed in October 2013, leaving only one branch of Walkabout in London.[3] This closed in 2017.
Commencing in 2013, Walkabout embarked on a refurbishment programme across the estate, with the following sites being refurbished: Derby, Carlisle, Lincoln and Blackpool. Following a hiatus in the refurbishment programme works began in earnest in 2015 starting in March with Walkabout Bristol, followed by Sheffield and Newquay. Also the first new Walkabout for 6 years opened in Brighton[4] (in the former Walkabout site); other new venues popped up in Solihull and Lichfield (following the purchase of two former Apres sites[5]). 2015 finished with the opening of a new Walkabout in Manchester's Printworks just before Christmas.[6]
2016 began with the refurbishment of the Walkabout Birmingham on Broad St.[7] Throughout the year, many other existing venues were refurbished, now functioning as new concept Walkabouts. They also have continued to acquire a variety of new sites across the UK and close others.[8]
The most recent opening was in Chelmsford,[9] where the site transitioned from a Wetherspoons to a new Walkabout bar in under three weeks.[10] In contrast, Walkabout's Liverpool venue closed on New Year's Day 2018 after 20 years.[11]
Walkabout has also evolved through innovation,[12] from collaborations with Pieminister[13] and Kilner,[14] to developments in their food offering and stadium seating being added to the Reading venue for watching sports.[15]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b bighospitality.co.uk (6 December 2016). "Stonegate buys Walkabout owner Intertain". bighospitality.co.uk.
- ^ a b c "Iconic Walkabout pub to shut its Covent Garden location in London". News.com.au. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2016.
- ^ a b Ivett, Alex (20 September 2013). "Shepherd's Bush Walkabout to close its doors in October". AustralianTimes.co.uk.
- ^ "Bar news - First new Walkabout bar in six years set to open in Brighton". 23 March 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- ^ Jones, Tamlyn (14 August 2015). "Walkabout bars to open in Solihull and Lichfield". Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- ^ Evans, Denise (10 December 2015). "First look: Tuck in to a wild boar burger and sip a Bundaberg rum at new Walkabout in The Printworks". Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- ^ "Bar profile - Intertain transforms flagship Walkabout in Birmingham". 9 February 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
- ^ Begum, Shelina (2 February 2016). "Printworks looks forward to an exciting year". men. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ "When is the new Aussie bar Walkabout opening in Chelmsford?". Essex Live. 30 August 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ "Walkabout to replace Chelmsford Wetherspoons pub". Essex Live. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ Lally, Kate (22 November 2017). "Popular Liverpool bar closing its doors after TWENTY years". liverpoolecho.
- ^ "Bar news | New Walkabout food menu adds lighter options". barmagazine.co.uk. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ "£450,000 refurbishment for Broad Street's Walkabout". visitbirmingham.com. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ "Walkabout Reading Official Instagram account". imgrum. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
- ^ "iNTERTAIN completes second refurbishment of the year in Reading - Hospitality & Catering News". Hospitality & Catering News. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
External links
editMega Kilner jars are sold in Walkabout - Media related to Walkabout at Wikimedia Commons