A group of Australians celebrate Prince William's marriage to Kate Middleton at the Walkabout Hotel. Picture: Britta Campion Source: News Limited
AN Australian institution for tens of thousands of young Aussie travellers is shutting its doors in London with the venue no longer suited to its upmarket surrounds.
For almost 20 years The Walkabout pub in Covent Garden in the West End has been a magnet for homesick travellers or expats wanting to watch the footy on the big screen or sing-along to Khe Sanh.
But the iconic Aussie-themed pub, the original Walkabout in London, is to close after the owners of Covent Garden district made an attractive offer to buy back the lease that the owner could not refuse.
It is understood the venue, which opened firstly as the Outback but for the past 18 years has traded as the Walkabout and this financial year experienced one of its biggest ever trading years, is to become an upmarket sushi bar.
Last drinks has been called for March 31 with 600 Australians already having pre-booked tickets for the farewell party the night before.
A spokesman said the closure, earmarked a year ago, was sad but stemmed from a desire to refocus the brand and concentrate on improving and refurbishing the chain’s other venues notably in London at the ever-popular Shepherds Bush and Temple sites.
"This was the first ever Walkabout so while the closure may evoke nostalgic memories for many, the decision last year to surrender the lease was purely a commercial one," he said.
"The reason for the closure is that the national high street for Walkabout is to focus on large sites in prime high street locations. Covent Garden is a small venue and so unfortunately isn’t in line with this strategy."
Walkabout still operates 30 venues across the UK having refinanced in 2009 when the then owners of the chain went into administration and were forced to close a number of unprofitable sites.
According to official industry figures, 18 pubs close every week in the UK with the economic downturn, high alcohol taxes and cheaper supermarket prices all leading to a drop in patronage cited as largely the cause. Other top Aussie watering holes in London have closed their doors recently including the Redback bar in Acton and Billabong in Wimbledon both in west London.
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