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Detail Pages
The Old Vic, Preston
Preston
PR1 2UH
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Old Vic
The Old Vic is always handy to know about when changing trains, as it stands just above Preston railway station. I was hoping to have more time to get to a pub 10 minutes walk away but Northern Rail were up to their usual tricks in cancelling trains. So, I ended up with much less time than I'd hoped.
Nevertheless, the Old Vic was a decent replacement for my plans. The bar is in front of you as you enter with drinking space off to either side. 3 barmaids were waiting to serve me, whilst customers seemed to be mainly men sat on their own and spread across several tables. I was also on my own at that point. So, I was soon to join them.
On the bar, there are 7 cask ales. For my Saturday morning visit, these were Pennine Heartland, JW Lee's Boddington's Cask, Blackedge Dark Mild, Beartown Glacier & Schrodinger's Bear, Moorhouse's Blonde Witch & Bank Top Santa's Claws. Beers are listed on a screen next to the bar. Apparently Lilley's Bee Sting Perry was available. Beavertown Neck Oil was the pick of the keg beers. I tried the Blackedge and Bank Top beers. Both were in good condition.
I did pass by the pub again much later in the day and it seems that bouncers are in place on Saturday evenings. This pub seems to attract locals as well as those changing trains.
On 31st December 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3368 recommendations about 3366 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Old Vic
Better than average station pub - complete with electronic train timetable on the bar.
Handsome traditional exterior. Knocked through interior. L shaped bar, with different pumps on each side. Chalk board with offerings - at a reasonably £3 something a pint.
GBG 2023 entry.
Battleship grey painted beams made it a bit like drinking in an underground car park.
I would call back.
On 9th May 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1751 recommendations about 1724 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Old Vic
Shabby exterior didn’t bode well though fortunately the large knocked-through interior (still some distinct areas) was in a good state of repair and comfortable enough in a late 00’s refit kind of way, the banquette seating by the front windows were a good spot. Two banks of pumps, one of them hidden round the side and partially obscured by the COVID-era screens. I went for Osset Classic Twist (NBSS 4) and Black Edge East Coast (3.5) from a pretty samey style selection. Nice enough place given its proximity to the train station and the ale quality means it’s a crawl default. GBG ’22 listed.
On 19th May 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5964 recommendations about 5943 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Old Vic
A decent pub, surprising for one that's so close to the station. This was the starting point for the PuG crawl of Preston. I was a little early, but not the first, so I started off with a pint of Black Edge East Cost IPA which was in good nick. No need to describe the pub as it's been dome well in the reviews below. I'd happily call in here again.
On 10th May 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3333 recommendations about 3243 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Old Vic
Not too shabby for a station pub , quite large but well put together, six beers on and I had Black Edge Session IPA which was nice enough. Probabably not a pub I'd make a bee-line for but being close to the station would probably use again.
On 7th May 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2257 recommendations about 2222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Old Vic
Much larger, neater and appealing inside than I was expecting for a pub so close to the station. Various seating areas and side rooms in a U shape around the central counter (which still has its Covid-era screens). Good choice of six real ales available on handpump, including two from Ossett (including Classic Twist, £1.75, half) and a pair from Moorhouse's.
On 4th May 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 9017 recommendations about 9017 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Old Vic
The Old Vic is a U shaped pub with seating down both the left and right sides extending to the rear. Banquette seating is found under the front windows and in the left wall is a stone fireplace with burner. At the rear of the pub in the left hand corner are a pool table, dartboard and jukebox. Televisions are located throughout for live sport via Sky Sports. The bar supports seven handpumps and a premium keg range. Food is available and the doors open for breakfast at 10am, but I didn’t see any diners at midday on Friday. A quarter pounder cheeseburger with a bowl of chips is priced at £5.30.
The service was friendly and being as this pub is just over the road from the railway station I’ll probably find myself in here again at some point.
On 2nd May 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6377 recommendations about 6339 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Old Vic
A large and seemingly well-run pub just up from the station, as described below. There is also a decked area at the rear, with a less-than-exciting view of the car park, which seems to be used for contract parking rather than customers. The White Witch was well kept and it was a pleasant pub, but I agree that a more diverse beer range would be an improvement.
On 28th April 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3865 recommendations about 3797 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Old Vic
Despite being the first stop of my 12-pub crawl, I really can't remember the place, not through consumption, but because I was only in here for about two minutes before we moved on. My only record of it reads: Twist 170 v nice.
On 24th April 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2303 recommendations about 2249 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Old Vic
Handily located a short stroll from Preston train station, this is a decent comfortable pub for a pre or post journey pint.
Various seating areas dotted around the central serving area as well described by reviewers below, we were in early enough to get the widow seats on the left hand side which, with the sun streaming through the windows was a pleasant spot to enjoy a beer. And in that respect the ale choice was as described in the review below and I went for the Moorhouse White Witch which was served in good condition.
Cannot disagree with the comment about the similarities of the ale range for our visit. The Old Vic is one of those locations that utilises old jam pots by each pump to show you the colour of the beer and on this occasion it could have been the same straw coloured liquid in each one.
On 24th April 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2317 recommendations about 2167 pubs]