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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Victoria, Lincoln
Lincoln
LN1 3BJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Victoria
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.
On 11th November 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Steve of N21 left this review about The Victoria
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.
On 6th November 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2236 recommendations about 2098 pubs]
Graham Coombs left this review about The Victoria
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.
On 2nd November 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Victoria
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.
On 7th May 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Victoria
I always liked the Victoria when a group of us used to come out on the train from Sheffield every year or two, but a few years without a trip left me a little gob-smacked at the deterioration in the pub's condition. The leatherette on the benches has worn through and there's a bit of a smell, of changing rooms and dogs, perhaps. The young lass who served us was friendly and welcoming. There was no Batemans XXXB on, but one of my companions had the XB and I went for the Salem Porter, which was really good. There were a couple of guests too, but I forgot to make a note. There are some benches outside, with a temporary covering, which has no doubt helped the pub survive the Covid restrictions, but someone needs to really pull their thumb out before this really nice old pub goes down the pan. (Beer quality and service just about justify my 5, otherwise it would have been a 3.)
On 6th April 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Victoria
Still a great pub. Friendly staff and punters, great ale and a neat interior.
27/04/2010
Two roomed pub with a small snug to the left as you enter with a few settles and tables. Straight ahead is the main room which is long and narrow with the bar on the left. There’s a large outside drinking area directly under the walls of the castle. This used to be a Tynemill house, but is now owned by Batemans. They still sell the Castle Rock Harvest Pale though on one of their 10 handpumps over the 2 rooms. Other regular beers are Batemans XB and Timothy Taylor Landlord alongside a range of changing guests. Both pints I had were excellent, I’ve been coming in here for years whenever I’ve been in Lincoln and the beer has always been top notch. They also sell good value quality food, including hand cut chunky chips, none of your frozen chip rubbish here. The best pub at the top end of Lincoln.
On 24th September 2019
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Victoria
Well-known beer pub, owned by Batemans but largely stocked with real ales from other breweries, although XB (£3.42, including 5% Camra discount) and TT Landlord seem to be the regular offerings. Anyway, it has a dark traditional interior with an attractive fireplace in the narrow main bar, with pew-type benches in the small side lounge (which also has its own counter in one corner), and it comes as little surprise that this is also the home of the Lincolnshire Steampunk Society. For the better weather, there are a number of wooden picnic benches along the south-facing side of the building, and this is where all the customers were to be found on the day I visited.
On 29th June 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Victoria
Nice Batemans pub with main room to the right and an area in the front. Beer garden to rear. The bar is to the left with a fair amount of real ales, nothing particularly strong mind you.
On 17th July 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Victoria
Uber-traditional and uncomplicated Bateman's boozer up the hill by the cathedral and round the back of the castle. Two rooms within, right hand side is long and narrow with wood flooring and red ceiling, plus a majolica tiled fireplace and to the left is a square snug-cum-lounge for the old boys. There’s a lot of character within the interior, though I have to admit it was perhaps a little shabby in one or two places. Seven ales available from a good spread - White Horse, Bateman's XB, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Black Sheep Blitzen, Hook Norton Greedy Goose, Newby Wyke Festive Delight and Bath Ales Festivity (very good nick). Filled rolls available at 2 quid a pop. Noticed ‘board games Tuesday’ advertised. Whilst busy, it was notably less rumbustious than most of the other Saturday night pre-Christmas boozers. I enjoyed my pint in here and was sad to have to press on in order to tick off others on the list. In retrospect, I’d have stayed in here and the Strugglers all night. A very enjoyable 30 minutes and would default back to it next time I’m looking for the imp.
On 17th December 2017
- rating: 9
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Victoria
A Bateman's house but serving a few guests as well, it's a traditional pub just round the corner from the outstanding Strugglers which is in the same mould. There's a narrow public on one side and a square lounge to the other. There is an impressive collection of GBGs behind the bar.
On 31st May 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]