Detour Pit Stop #135: Podium Place, Newbury, UK
Photo: Nik Berg
In an otherwise unremarkable trading estate in Newbury you’ll find cool cars, great coffee and sophisticated sim racing rigs.
They’re all at Podium Place, a hub for petrolheads, where enthusiasts meet to admire metal and shoot the breeze in a stylish club house. From the outside it doesn’t stand out from the other industrial units, but behind the glass is the kind of slick setup you’d find in a Formula 1 team’s hospitality suite.
To the left there’s a small coffee bar, plenty of seating on a mix of armchairs and diner tables and chairs, with more room outside. There’s always a couple of interesting cars and bikes on display, together with plenty of F1-inspired artwork.
To the right of the entrance is the sim lounge, with three very fancy full-motion racing simulators, each enclosed in a pod with a massive wraparound screen. Visitors can book up to an hour at a time in the hope of getting their name on the Top Gear-style leader board.
There’s also members club, which offers discounts on everything from coffee and merchandise to sim laps and driving events, with Podium hosting monthly local drive-outs and occasional trips further afield. To help the local car community look after their vehicles there’s also an on-site detailing facility.
When Detour visited on a sunny Saturday morning the café was packed, and there was a constant flow of arrivals on two and four wheels.
It’s not exactly a glamorous location, but it’s a popular spot for Berkshire bike and car fans and worth a visit if you’re in the area.
ROADBOOK
CLASS: Cars & CoFFEE
NAME: Podium Place
ROUTE: 31A Bone Lane, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 5SH
COUNTRY: UK
In an otherwise unremarkable trading estate in Newbury you’ll find cool cars, great coffee and sophisticated sim racing rigs.