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Chicago Rock Cafe, Aylesbury

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user reviews of Chicago Rock Cafe, Aylesbury

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

Good selection of sensibly priced ales, food O.K., Staff friendly and efficent. Not too many "benefit boys" get in there, and weekends see potential Brokeback Mountiain extras, standing around in groups.
triumphman - 28 Oct 2011 13:30
Now called The White Hart and run by Wetherspoons. Typical decor for a Spoons but my local friend says a great improvement and addition to Aylesbury's drinking holes.

Visited Sunday lunchtime during their annual Beer Festival. Had pint of JW Lees Chocoholic which had superb flavour but served a tad too cold - as were the other beers my mates had.

Imagine this pub is OK other than Friday and Saturday nights when it's transformed from a pub serving pensioners cod and chips to a nightclub serving teenagers shots.

Would definately visit again if in area.


davewat - 1 Nov 2010 09:56
This is now Lloyds No. 1 bar (Wetherspoon) which opened July 2010. New pub submitted on this website.
Booze_Allen - 17 Jul 2010 16:26
Well what can I say beer crap (lager anway) so long to get served, brought 3 rounds for 4 people diffrent price every time. The music was ok but the place is like a meat market!!!!! not for a beer drinker
apintofbestplesae - 5 Sep 2008 21:47
Shopping along the Magnificent Mile, its 150-foot tall Ferris Wheel and two tall glass sculptures that make up the Crown Fountain are just some of the attractions that may tempt you to visit the city of Chicago in the U.S.A.
In contrast, the long walk through the town centre, the 150-foot queue and the bricked-up Maxell Centre twinned as a urinal, are what you may experience if you decide to visit Chicago, Aylesbury.

As Frank Sinatra once sang, "They have the time, the time of their life, I saw a man he danced with his wife in Chicago"
There were certainly a lot of people showing signs that they were enjoying themselves, but a man dancing with his wife? Not a chance.
Town planners tend to get a bit of stick at times, but one must admire the drollness of the decision to erect this Cafe on the site of the old Cattle Market of Aylesbury. A site where livestock was once auctioned off to the highest bidder. One might say that the full circle of life is complete, and that, pardon the expression, the cows have come home.

The Changing Rooms style makeover that the venue went through in recent years seemed to have taken away some of the encouraging atmosphere that could once have been experienced in more popular times. It now feels as though the party has moved from the living room to the kitchen.
According to 'reliable' sources the name "Chicago" is the French rendering of the Miami-Illinois name shikaakwa, meaning �wild leek�. This is quite apt, as it appears that this is an affliction suffered and shared by every male in the building, judging by the state of gents, even at early evening.

Overall, this place wasn't as bad as previously anticipated after past visits; pleasant door staff, who spoke to you as customers rather than adversaries; good, quick(er) bar service; an air of enjoyment. The DJ was more Thomas Cook than Norman Cook, but his set was well received.
Bottled beers are recommended, unless you're happy drinking 'some sort of yellow stuff' out of plastic glasses and �5 entry fee is way too steep.

Although better than expected, Chicago, Aylesbury will still remain a once in a lifetime establishment. This is of course the amount of times you should visit; having said that, once every two or three months may be tolerated.

InnCheck - 4 Sep 2008 21:36
Horrible place. Never ceases to amaze me that people queue for hours to get in. The place is empty anyway, that's just the L.D. on the door's sense of humour. The beer must have done something really nasty in a former life and it won't get any karma points for this one either. The food is even worse... should you ever get it before you tolerance snaps and you escape. Should you stick around you'll be abused by a desperate divorcee whose first husband must have been high as a kite when he married her... and ten years of marriage have killed any redeeming features she may have had in the first place. Only night with any redeeming qualities is Monday night when some very pretty girls are in there. Unfortunately they leave early as they have school the next day. Read the rest of the review and take note: AVOID!
Mr_FRISKY - 18 Jan 2008 19:58
Fcuk me yet another chicago rock! and YEs yet again a real TURN of a venue, the guy below said it had GASTRO FOOD! compared to what? poo & chips???? Discusting yet again, did how maybe this one might be better than other TURD crc's but sadly no! AVOID AVOID AVOID
ukvenues - 13 Jan 2008 20:29
This pub used to be my local a couple of years ago. The monday night entertainment is provided by longtime resident DJ Dan Blaze, and he is without doubt the most versatile DJ they have ever had. However, the beer is sadly comparable only to swafega. The food (for a gastro pub) is reasonably priced and not bad at all. You don't take home the carpet since the refurb either!
mattjames - 9 Jan 2008 15:57
When the early Mesopotamians began toying with the idea that continually wandering about the place swearing at livestock was only one of a myriad of lifestyle choices, they were not to know that the early trade and bartering systems they established would eventually lead mankind down the path of soulless global capitalism, where high streets teem with identi-kit chain stores filled with comfy aspirations and mass produced tat. This brings me nicely on to Chicago Rock Caf� Aylesbury. Initially the building’s facade speaks of class and evokes a feeling of upmarket, sophisticated luxuriance in which one could happily while away ones days in an alcoholic fug. On entering the place however, assuming you’ve managed to evade the simian door staff who sit grooming one another in the doorway, it is clear that any charm and character promised therein was never anything more than an illusion. The interior is all IKEA individualism, polished surfaces and generic sports programming. The beer available ranges from the same characterless Australian swill found throughout Aylesbury to the kind of tofu flavoured wheatgrass based ales that evoke the nasal caress of a vegetarian’s fart.

Some of the pubs “positive” features include: generally attractive bar staff, who serve customers with an icy, glacial precision, very much at their own convenience; and a number of interesting eccentrics.

All in all avoid like the plague, which you may well contract if you do go into the place.

pubwatch - 3 Nov 2007 18:41
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO DONT DO IT
anonymous - 23 Sep 2007 20:52
PLEASE DO NOT GO IN IF YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU.
if you drink the draught beer the next day you will feel like you have had a really bad curry.
the service is really bad even after the reburbishment
anonymous - 23 Sep 2007 20:51
Chicagos used to be an 'entertainment venue' a place where no matter what night of the week you went in there was something was happening then it kind of slipped into just being a 'pub'. The new refitted chicagos looks more like a night club than the old mish mash of styles.
I went in on a monday and amazingly there were loads of staff and they actually looked pleased to be there! I got served V quick and it's still the same DJ so we had a billiant night. It looks like they're gonna be doing more live entertainment too now, Much better
beer_today_gone_tomorro - 26 Jun 2007 17:54
its closing down for a reburbishment soon but i would like to say i am a regular in there and always have a great time. staff and management are friendly and they have some great drink offers.go on give it a try
anonymous - 3 May 2007 21:51
I actually like Chicago's. It is what it is. Music for people who like a few drinks and a bit of a dance to cheesy music. Its a slightly older crowd, probably 25 upwards at weekends, but I've never seen any trouble, the staff are friendly and its no dearer than anywhere else in town. Just gutted its closing down for 2 weeks in May for refurbishment. Should be really nice afterwards though!
bugbabe1 - 28 Apr 2007 20:23
Dreadful place. Chances are you'll have to queue or pay or both to get in - don't bother!
HelenC - 8 Apr 2007 18:49
It had a live band, quite good, a mix of age groups, 18 to mid sixties, which in a pub like this was suprising. There were plenty of bouncers, which may tell its own story, but the night was trouble free. The beer was a little ropey, the bottles were fine.

It took ages to get served, but when eventually this happened the staff were friendly. Seemed more of a pick up joint in all honesty. Probably would go back.
playfair - 3 Aug 2006 09:12

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