The Victoria, Lincoln

As the Cross Keys, this pub dates back to the 1840s, was refurbished in 2023 and is a stone’s throw from the Strugglers. I went for the Bateman’s XB which was a safe bet. Worth a visit when combined with the Strugglers; note the Toad in the Hole, which left some of our crawlers utterly mesmerised.

This Batemans owned pub is literally round the corner from the renowned Strugglers Inn and is definitely worth doing as a double as it is indeed another fine drinkers pub. I’m sure Batemans management took heed of Wills review from 2022 as it underwent a major refit in February 2023 and is now quite a smart two roomed pub with an enhanced external outside drinking area under the gaze of the west gate of the historic Lincoln Castle. The internal set up seems unchanged from previous reviews as it still has a smaller snug to the left as you enter then the main thin bar room, with its side entrance out to the external area, straight on. Then beyond this area is a small separate stone walled games room with an additional couple of tables that houses a dart board and the Toad in the Hole game mentioned by Graham below. Also when the seating on this side of the bar stops the space wraps around to an interesting section housing a photo booth and I guess an area where musicians play, given some of the signatures scribbled on the write on wall next to it. There are now 8 handpumps around the bar after the refurb with two in the snug section and the six main ones on the main bar area. For our visit the Bateman Ales of XB, XXB and Victory Ale were complemented by Adnams Ghostship, GK Abbot and TT Landlord, and the XB was on fine form.

Official site of The Victoria - www.batemansbrewery.co.uk

Official site of The Victoria - www.batemansbrewery.co.uk

Another good drinkers' pub - perhaps a little livelier than the Strugglers next door and certainly with more space. Three Bateman's brews on handpump plus three changing guests seemed in very good order. A Toad in the Hole game stands right at the back as this is one of the 4 pubs in Lincoln playing it since a group from Sussex brought it up around 2012.

The Victoria sits under the gaze of Lincoln Castle’s stone walls, so the picnic tables that run along the length of the pub are in a nice spot for some outside drinking. Inside the pub there’s a small room in the front left that is served by the end of the bar counter, one of the two hand pumps was in operation drawing Bateman’s XXXB. The main bar area is in the right hand side of the pub where the serving counter runs up the left-hand side. Premium and craft keg was available and an additional six hand pumps were drawing TT Boltmaker and Landlord, Bateman’s XB, Gold and Jewel in the Crown and St Austell’s Tribute. Along the front windows is a thin strip of seating and more seating is found at the rear where live music equipment is also found. I found the service to be polite and the other customers seemed nice enough. It’s good to see this place open again after a period of closure.