The 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]
