Walkabout
Temple Station
Temple Place
London WC2R 2PH
Tel : +44 [0]20 7395 3690
Fax : +44 [0]20 7395 3691
Email: temple@walkabout.eu.com
Opening Hours:
Monday and Tuesday: Midday - 11pm
Wednesday: Midday - Midnight
Thursday: Midday - 1am
Friday and Saturday: Midday - 3am
Sunday: Midday - 10.30pm
Walkabout is a popular Australian bar/restaurant chain with 48 locations throughout the UK, 17 of which are located in London. On most nights, live bands play rock and indie hits as well as anthems from the last three decades. Old school hits such as “Jessie’s Girl,” get the crowd revved up on the dance floor. This is an excellent find for a traveller on a budget as all meals are only £3.50! Their eclectic menu features many Aussie favourites such as kangaroo and springbok (a breed of antelope). For the less adventurous diner, Walkabout has burgers, salads, sandwiches and an all-day breakfast.
I ended up at the Temple location merely by chance one Friday evening as it appeared to be the only lively bar in the neighbourhood. I was a bit taken aback by the £5.00 cover charge as it is more of a sports bar than a nightclub, but I gave in for lack of other enticing options.
I was initially excited, as the bar was packed wall-to-wall and everyone seemed up for it. The thrill soon wore off after five minutes here. The bar staff were terribly inattentive and I estimate I had to wait seven minutes to get served.
I sipped my weak Jack and Coke and was quickly annoyed by sheer amount of lager lout types constantly bumping into me. The sound system was blaring obnoxious, overplayed songs from the early nineties, and it was virtually impossible to carry on a conversation over the din.
Luckily, the upper level has ample seating, so I lounged on a bench away from the seething masses.
All in all, it is what it is- a chain. What it lacks in décor and atmosphere it makes up for with cheap eats and reasonable drinks. My advice is to keep walking…
