The Victoria, Durham

The Victoria is a proper old school pub. Once inside i noted three separate rooms,i had a drink in the main bar room which is fairly basic,the room is bare boarded and the seating comfy bench type and small stools,there was a nice real fire on the go to the left. There is a smart looking lounge to the rear right which is carpeted and also had a real fire on the go,the other room is to the front right,but i did not look in this room. There was a good choice of real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Big Lamp bitter which went down well,the other beers were Youngs London Gold,Orkney Raven Ale,Wylam Gold Tankard and Abbeydale Deception. The pub was very quiet on my Saturday dinner visit with only two other customers in. This is a proper unaltered pub that is well worth a visit if in Durham. Pub visited 19/3/2016

Heritage multi-roomed corner pub a few minutes out of the city centre. Enter at the apex to a public bar with a proper fire on the go. Small, dark and quiet lounge 'sitting room' to rear via bar rear, housing an oddity of china ornaments, faded countryside prints and more Victoria ephemera. Old push bells behind the banquettes. Look out for the lobby with a number of doors, all having original frosted glass inscriptions of the room behind. To right as you enter is a nice quiet room, also well kitted out with ornate fireplace, rug, old royal family prints and old gin, rum and brandy serving kegs. Impressive collection of Toby jugs and elephants on a gantry behind the bar, plus a surfeit of QVI memorabilia throughout. Arkwright’s till behind bar, very ornate and calling up old money. A nice line of old man banter between the regulars, especially good given this is a quiet pub - no jukey or TVs. Six pumps here with four ales on; Saltaire Amarillo Gold, Durham Black Bishop (good), Big Lamp Bitter (fair) and Wylam Gold Tankard (good). Beers coming up included Kelham Island and Saltaire Triple Choc. Gwent y Ddraig farmhouse scrumpy also available. Wide selection of single malts as well as whiskies, so plenty of choice. A vast amount of old GBG window stickers attest to this pub’s place in the national ‘must-visit’ list. And I can’t really disagree.