Walkabout - Sheffield

You know what you're getting when you walk into this Aussie-themed chain on Carver Street - and sometimes that's exactly what you need. The sports screens dominate during the day, making it prime territory for catching the footy with a pint, but come Friday and Saturday nights, this place morphs into something entirely different. The music cranks up, the cocktails flow (they're surprisingly strong for a chain), and suddenly you're part of Sheffield's messier weekend crowd. It's not sophisticated, and it doesn't pretend to be. The décor screams 'franchise', but the weekend atmosphere is genuinely electric when it's packed with students and city centre revellers. Those 3am weekend closing times tell you everything - this is where nights go to get properly messy.