Mrs B and I tried the Diamond Tap this morning - came out with mixed feelings.
Mrs B's hot chocolate barely tasted of chocolate (even on the second attempt) and my coffee (Americano) was pretty weak - I guess Weatherspoons are more about beer and, on this evidence I can see why. I went for the big breakfast - good value in terms of quantity and quality, but it would have been better served hot than tepid.
We did like the decor, particularly the many photos of old Newbury and area.
All in all a huge improvement on Chicago Rock but with plenty of scope for further improvements (unsurprisingly most of the staff did seem to be new to the work). I'd go again, perhaps at a time more appropriate for beer drinking.
Mrs B and I tried the Diamond Tap this morning - came out with mixed feelings.
Mrs B's hot chocolate barely tasted of chocolate (even on the second attempt) and my coffee (Americano) was pretty weak - I guess Weatherspoons are more about beer and, on this evidence I can see why. I went for the big breakfast - good value in terms of quantity and quality, but it would have been better served hot than tepid.
We did like the decor, particularly the many photos of old Newbury and area.
All in all a huge improvement on Chicago Rock but with plenty of scope for further improvements (unsurprisingly most of the staff did seem to be new to the work). I'd go again, perhaps at a time more appropriate for beer drinking.
Together with others of the great and good of West Berkshire (modesty is my strong point!) I was invited for lunch and a drink on the training day last Thursday.
I thought the place was excellent; I agree about the decor and the photos, and I found that the layout and atmosphere well matched some of the excellent Wetherspoons I have visited (The Standing Order, Edinburgh; The Imperial Hotel, Exeter; The Commercial Rooms, Bristol; and The White Lion of Mortimer, N. London.) Lots of lovely dark wood and a splendid marble bar top. The upstairs room, which I believe they are referring to as 'The Gentlemen's Club, is another plus point.
Wetherpoons' food is never Cordon Bleu; it is good value, basic grub, and I doubt if the Diamond Tap is the first of the chain not to serve it hot enough. The beer was good, as it was when I visited the place again yesterday, and at £2 a pint (less 50p with a CAMRA member's voucher) this will be a big rival to places like The Lock, Stock and Barrel.
The staff are obviously very new; it took me ages to get change from a fiver yesterday because the little girl made a mistake and had to get the manager to open the till.
What puzzles me is that Wetherspoons should decide to open two new pubs within a few yards of each other. The Diamond Tap is one of their Lloyds No.1 bars, and I was told that it will attract a much more upmarket clientèle than the Hatchet, which is a regular Wetherspoons and will be for the chavs.
The Diamond Tap is one of their Lloyds No.1 bars, and I was told that it will attract a much more upmarket clientèle than the Hatchet, which is a regular Wetherspoons and will be for the chavs.
There were lots of chavs smoking outside The Diamond Tap earlier this afternoon when I walked by holding my breath.
The beer was good, as it was when I visited the place again yesterday, and at £2 a pint (less 50p with a CAMRA member's voucher) this will be a big rival to places like The Lock, Stock and Barrel.
I wouldn't have thought so, not in the summer anyway given all the outdoor space at the LSB.
Informed my Mom where to go to get grabbed, but there were likely to be chav's. She didn't understand the chav term and I cant think of a definition. Standing outside have a ciggie doesn't cover it, can anyone come up with a definition.
The Diamond Tap is one of their Lloyds No.1 bars, and I was told that it will attract a much more upmarket clientèle than the Hatchet, which is a regular Wetherspoons and will be for the chavs.
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