Walkabout

Just new to Liverpool, but Walkabout has been one of the worst experiences of my life. I ordered 2 double vodka redbulls. The bartender only put in a single shot. I was not drunk and saw him make the drinks. Then he tried to charge me over £11 for the drinks that weren’t even right. He sounded spanish, so I could understand if there was a communication problem, but after I asked to see the manager he said he was the manager. Next thing I know there are bouncers around «escorting me» out the front door. Had to ring my mates inside and tell them I’d been booted out. Walkabout — Don’t go!

A big obnoxious pub on town’s most obnoxious square makes the Walkabout a champion of obnoxiousness in the eys of every sane person I know.
A vacuous barn of a building with thudding music and a bunch of customers who look one drink away from turning to their friend and smashing a pint glass over his scalp for a laugh, the Walkabout isn’t a great place to go to so just don’t. You know i make sense.

This was unfortunately my introduction to Liverpool nightlife on my first night here, in a ramshackle group of fresher friends we staggered down to Walkabout. There are certain nights when, well, people get pretty much naked on stage, embarrass themselves all in the name of vodka and win more vodka. (So I guess if you win…)
I think the last time I was there a guy had to kiss another guy’s ass. Not really my idea of entertainment. My french mate takes all her new-​to-​England friends here for the shock value. Now that’s a funny night out.
I’ve never been here on a non-​student night so I can’t judge it on live music or atmosphere, other than the beer-​soaked image I have of Concert Square antics on a weekend. (Where did I put my slippers? I feel old.)

For live entertainment you’d have to say Walkabout is up there with best. Live music for just about most nights of the week keeps this place rocking, and with some of the best professional DJ’s in the UK making regular visits. You’ll always find Walkabout to offer sole acts, variety of DJ’s, top cover bands, tribute acts; so a good variety to keep everyone happy.
They all focus on crowd involvement and will have you singing and dancing from the first track creating a fantastic atmosphere, guaranteeing a night to remember.
Walkabout DJs play music from all genres with fast moving sets designed to keep you on the dance floor. You’ll hear all your favourites from Old School Classics to the latest Hits, including Pop, Rock, Party, RnB and Commercial Dance.
It’s a good idea to check out their website to see who they have lined up, some of the past people they have had have even included Alan Fletcher (Dr Karl Kennedy from neighbours), Rolf Harris, Abbi Titmuss and many others. I was more impressed with having an Aussie there to be honest.
Walkabout is not really my scene but is good for mature people who want to go out for a drink, listen to a range of music without having young teeny boppers in your face. The price of drink is average so if you are looking for a pound a shot and cheap vodka then popworld would probably be more your thing.

There’s one way and one way only to enjoy this particular Walkabout. Its location on Concert Square means it’s highly popular and gets very crowded of an evening, and as we all know, for a Walkabout this can mean several things. One of which is rowdiness. As a result, the bouncers have a tendency to turn away anyone they see fit, and that could be down to your trousers or the colour of your hair. Kind of makes you want to do the big ‘DOORMAN!’ speech from Knocked Up. Just hope he doesn’t respond with, ‘You old, she pregnant.’
We all know Walkabout means cheap drinks. So how best to enjoy it if you don’t want to brave the Concert Square evening crowds? Well, another universal thing about Walkabout is that it’s a great place to watch sports with its numerous strategically-​placed big screens. Often sport is on during the afternoon or early evening, and that’s certainly the most appropriate time to indulge in some Walkabout drinks special offers and tucker and watch a footie match.
As you probably already know, the choices at Walkabout are limited to the main ‘chain’ drinks like Strongbow, alcopops, Koppaberg, Fosters, all that kind of stuff, so it’s not the best place to come to sample anything a little different or a real ale. But what you pay certainly makes up for it and a couple of hours in this bar isn’t going to set you back too much. Like I say it’s not perhaps the pleasantest of places on a Friday or Saturday night, but the rest of the time I’d highly recommend it if you don’t want to lighten your wallet too much and simply want to enjoy a game on the tube with a few brewskis.

Maybe I’m being too idealistic but when I think about The Walkabout I imagine a dusty old pub in the middle of nowhere with terrific views of rolling hills and sparse desert.
Unfortunately, this particular Walkabout has no eye-​watering views or interesting history. Instead it’s a mediocre chain bar that’s usually packed with testosterone-​driven men actively cheering football and rugby matches. I say testosterone-​driven because in the last eighteen months there’s been over twenty accounts of violence in The Walkabout and they now only serve alcohol in plastic glasses during sports matches.
Clearly, the name couldn’t be more misleading!

Now then, I am not going to write a particularly glowing review about this bar, as I am an adult. A mature adult. Who does not think that walking into a bar and being eye-​raped by semi naked youths on a stage above the bar is nice.
Let me explain. The last time I went into The Walkabout they were treating it as though it wasn’t a bar in Concert Square Liverpool, but in Las Veronicas Tenerife, and hosting one of those dreadful documentaries about 18−30s holidays. They were holding some sort of battle of the sexes, which ultimately involved people getting naked and I can’t quite remember what the rules were, but neither could the guy running it once he saw the naked flesh. This is great if you’re on an 18−30s holiday and your sole aim for a week is to get as trashed as you can and make an absolute fool of yourself. It’s not exactly what I’d be doing in a cheap Liverpool bar.
Oh, and for those of you who are thinking right now that I am incredibly prudish, I would like to point out that I HAVE been an 18−30s rep in Tenerife and have been there, done that and given the t shirt to Oxfam. Of course, if you want a cheaper place to perv than a strip club, head down to Concert Square!

On a recent trip to Liverpool, my boyfriend and I decided to brave the Kangaroo steaks at Walkabout for lunch. The bartenders were very helpful, and despite not having the Walkabout card, because of our purchases, the man taking our order charged us £3 for the Walkabout discount card and gave us the 25% discount as it was a better deal (I later bought one outright, as I like going to the branch back in Lincoln).
To be honest, the kangaroo steaks tasted just like regular beef steaks, except more tender and leaner. However it came with chips and a delicious rocket salad that even my boyfriend enjoyed, and he never eats vegetables (He couldn’t quite strech to tomatoes, though)!
We finished off the meal with chocolate fudge cakes, which were delicious, and highly recommended. Next time I visit, I would like to sample the nightlife Walkabout has to offer!

Walkabout is right in the centre of one of the busiest night life areas in Liverpool; Concert Square. As it’s part of a chain it is very similar to other Walkabout bars you find in other cities. The food and drink are pretty reasonably priced, although you can get cheaper drinks elsewhere. It gets very busy on weekend nights with queues stretching round the building. You also have to pay for entry later on and I don’t really think that it is worth it, especially as there are quite a few better places nearby. There are two floors, with seating on the ground floor and the main dancefloor on the first floor. The music played is generally cheesy chart pop stuff.

located in the middle of Liverpools student night life, walkabout is a great place to go for some cheesy tunes, reasonably priced drinks, and a laugh.
Its always busy of a weekend, with queues down the street. and more often than not, you will have to wait for a while, and then pay to get in.
I can understand paying to get in if there was a band playing, or if it was a club, but walkabout is a pub!
there isnt very much room for dancing, especially on the ground floor, which is taken up by seating.
the actual dance floor area on the first floor is quite small, and often isnt opened until later on in the evening.
if dancing isnt your thing, but sitting and enjoying a drink and a laugh, listening to cheesy tunes with your mates is, then this is the place for you.
during the day, the place is quite quiet, and offers some reasonable priced food, that for a pub chain is quite different. such as the kangaroo burgers.
everything comes with an australian theme, which makes you feel summery even in the middle of winter.

Located in Concert Sq. it is in the heart of Liverpool’s nightlife, a place visited by students, and the odd Kangeroo.
Something ive noticed is that alot of australians do drink there as there were more accents on our side of the bar and not behind it.
The food and drinks is reasonably prices all with an australian flare, we went there for lunch mid shopping one day, both meals arrived at the same time and we were paid the right amount of attention by the staff even thought the bar did start to get busy after a couple of hours.
Best to go during the day as you will get a comfy seat and not have the cheesey tunes blasting out.

This place is horrendous — crap music and the people that go in there regularly have hardly any redeeming features. I’ve been there twice in my whole life and the first time was one too many. Avoid at all costs!

I wasnt very impressed with this place. It smelt of sick, service was slow. One good thing is they do have quite a big dancfloor. Made ur way upstairs (when we eventually figured how to get up there!) and sat on some sofas but it was cold and stinky cos all the smokers were up the on the balcony. It was pretty dire and i thought quite dirty too! i didnt dare check out the loo’s!
we had a drink and left.

I have such fond memories of the Walkabout after spending many Saturday Nights there when I was a student. Situated Right in the heart of Liverpool on Concert Square. This place is always busy with massive queues at the Weekend, so be prepared for a wait to get in. It offers Two Floors of (Loud) cheesy pop music but always a great atmosphere where you cant fail to join in the dancing. Popular with both students and locals. I love this place, a great scene to meet new people and everyones always very friendly. Good 2for1 offers on the drinks too which makes it a good all rounder.

Fab music — brings back memories. Huge place on 3 levels. gets crowded quickly after 11 so get in early

In the age of competition this place has got more front than Buckingham Palace. They charge to get in, the service is a joke, the beer is a joke, the music is a joke and it’s totally duff. The only thing that was worthwhile when I went there was the company but I’m not reviewing that.
I’d avoid this piece of tat like the plague. The star is a token gesture.