Victoria Hotel, Nottingham

A wonderfully preserved Victorian boozer which, despite the high ceilings, feels comfortable and cosy immediately. Mr Fastard has detailed the main features below. It's worth noting that there is a gate from Beeston station at the opposite end of the Nottingham bound platform from the ticket office which allows access directly into the pub. Beer: 12 real ales on listed, along with ciders and continental beers, on a blackboard in the Red Bar. On our visit these were: Blue Monkey Original, Castle Rock Harvest Pale and Tiger as regulars and Castle Rock Sheriffs Tipple, Oldershaws Heavenly Blonde, Ossett Yorkshire Blonde, Batemans Spring Goddess, Holdens Golden Glow, Full Mash Warlord, Batemans Dark, Full Mash Nevermore and Flipside Russian Rouble as guests. The latter 3 were listed in the dark beer section and it's also worth noting that all but one of these were under 4.5% in strength so there's a good range of styles but less so strengths. Well worth a visit.

A very fine example of a late Victorian station hotel,there are lots of original features such as impressive brass door furniture.To the right of the front entrance is the drinking room called The Red Bar in the etched window with the next pane saying Vault.Red decorations and upholstery with fitted bench seating around the perimeter,lots of breweriana ,it's own serving bar and a no mobile policy.A wide range of real ales advertised on a board with hanging signs indicating ABV,price and style. To the left of the entrance is a more basic wooden floored public bar but this opens out to a dining area which was surprisingly full on a wet Tuesday evening.A sign indicated there is more dining tables up the solid wooden staircase on the first floor,if the back lounge area is also full.There is a large tented area externally giving more seating capacity. The highlight for me was the original interior,the classic high ceilings and frosted windows.My ale was in good nick ,but the variety of strenghts was missing on my visit.A great double header with The Crown if you like genuine pubs with real character.

My favourite pub in Beeston. Two parts to the place: a non-food proper bar area (the "Red Bar") and a series of rooms which are more restaurant-like. Good choice of beers and good food too. CAMRA discount. Well worth seeking out.

I suppose this pub is my local as I normally visit 2 to 3 times a week. Always a good selection of real ales. The pub is friendly and dogs are welcome.

Can't add a lot to the description below. Still a fantastic pub and worthy of its entry in 2011 Good Beer Guide, and was in the running for Pub of the Year that was won by the Crown, also in Beeston. Plenty of ales from micros to choose from, and we enjoyed Ossett Big Red, and Oldershaw Flag Fen. The food menu was very tempting and I really fancied trying the parsnip soup, and the crumbles in the deserts, but we were getting short of time so had to pass this time. Very friendly place and worth the trip out from Nottingham to visit. 13 and 14 bus to Beeston bus station and a 10 minute walk to it, or just round the corner from the railway station.

Kind of L-shaped with the bar in the internal corner of the "L". Black and white beamed high ceiling, panelled walls, large full height windows with stained glass top lights. Carpeted, small traditional tables generally, chairs stools and benches, a few bar stools. All tables set for food with mats, cruet sets and so on Sat lunch, a bit disconcerting but no issue for drinkers, this is a beer pub not one of those gastro places that freeze drinkers out. A nice spot just off the canal, plenty of outside seating too but no waterside views, its about 50m off the towpath down a lane. A covered outdoor area has a bar football table, I guess this large shed is well utilised for the beer festivals The Fox holds from time to time. Saturday's selection were Pride, Doom Bar, TT Landlord, Cottage Silly Mid Whippet and Morrisey Fox Blonde Ale. Be aware there are two banks of handpumps, the one nearest the entrance had the staples on with the two guests located on the second set around the corner. A very pleasing spot for a couple this one, I enjoyed it here. You can buy postcards of the pub for 20p from the bar too!

Fantastic Victorian railway pub with trains rattlin past the tent (huge covered outdoor seating area) which sits literally adjacent to Beeston rail platform – the spring-heeled could leap straight into the pub from the train as, sadly, the access gate is now locked. Classic tiled ‘vault’ has frosted windows, walls sporting framed breweriana posters, next (central) bar area gives on to a wood-furnished dining room and, beyond, the rear room displays a décor akin to café stylee. The central bar itself displays indiv blackboards carrying serious food choices, £8-12 mains, see website for ideas. Two of the company declared the Lincs sausages/mash/gravy to be very tasty, as did those who nicked some from their plates. Was pouring down Sat & I’m glad I no longer smoke, as even the outdoor ‘tent’ is off limits, meaning no shelter at all for those who needed a tab. There are signs against the evils of mobiles but ho-hum, & I did get a tug for having a drink outside(!) whilst taking a photo, but they weren’t overboard & I just signalled I’d be back in a mo & all was well, even if I could imagine getting irritated on another occasion. High ceilinged traditional décor & feel throughout and solid beer choice and quality: Castle Rock Harvest Pale, Preservation, Elsie Mo, Everards Tiger, Thwaites Original, Bateman’s XB, Wold Top Keeper’s Light & A4 Amber, Hidden Fantasy, Wentworth Imperial, Caythorpe Bitter, dark beers listed separately, Funfair Meteorite, Newby Wyke Black Squall, also Biddendens Bushells cider & Newton’s Perry. Very impressive. (review refers Sep08)

Official site of the Victoria Hotel, includes menu and beer list - www.victoriabeeston.co.uk

Official site of the Victoria Hotel, includes menu and beer list - www.victoriabeeston.co.uk