The Victoria

A relaxed, casual place with tasty, nicely presented food and great service. One of the best gastro pubs I've eaten at in the UK. The wine list was a little limited, though it paired well with the food. I didn't try the beers.

The food, pub, and staff were wonderful, but the hotel room was a real letdown for the price. I paid $510 for three nights, or $170 a night, and wouldn't stay again at that rate. The neighborhood is very nice, and the pub is delightful. It's a shame the stay didn't match that impression. Before I get into the room problems, the pub restaurant was closed to guests for private events on two of my days. I only found out at check-in, though they should have told me when booking so I could plan. The advertised complimentary continental breakfast was just a few boxes of dry cereal and a jug of milk. There were several maintenance and comfort issues. The TV remote was missing. Staff offered to move me, but said they already knew it was gone and were trying to order a replacement. The same staff member checked me in, so they should have told me before I'd settled in and unpacked. The shower's hot water dial wouldn't go past 8, the hose was torn and nearly falling off, and the water pressure was poor. There was mildew on the shower walls and the floor was stained and dirty. The floor lamp didn't work, which was a problem when packing because the overhead light was dim. There was no iron or ironing board in the room, though perhaps one can be requested. Other details added to the disappointment: no “do not disturb” sign, so housekeeping woke me from a deep sleep and I had to yell for them not to come in. The bathroom trash can lid was broken off, and the foot pedal didn't work, so I had to lift the lid with my fingers each time, which felt unsanitary. The kettle was scummy with limescale and its tray was dirty. There were only three hangers. The headboard was broken and lopsided, and the bed had velour pillows whose covers couldn't be removed, so I doubt they were washed after every stay. Some issues were minor on their own, but together they made for a really disappointing stay at $170 a night in a place positioning itself well above something like a Travel Lodge.

Such a great little find. The staff were super friendly from evening through the daytime, and nothing seemed like too much trouble. The food was delicious.

My child loved it too, and it’s a really family-friendly pub. The food was delicious, especially the hamburger, one of my favourites. I’d definitely recommend it.