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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Mobyduck
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Victoria, Chester
Chester
CH1 2LD
Pub Type
Star Pubs & Bars (Heineken)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 4½ of 10) see review guidelines
ROB Camra left this review about The Victoria
Also see The Commercial. Called in here on Sunday night. Deafening music aimed at kids. No-one inside due to the unbearable noise. No idea who or what they're trying to attract, but it's not working.
We left it and won't be going back.
On 13th June 2025
- rating: 1
[User has posted 3296 recommendations about 3206 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about The Victoria
I'm glad I didn't read the unusually disparaging description on WhatPub before visiting, and some of the reviews on here are also less than encouraging. We were greeted in a very friendly fashion, and when I asked who brewed the house beer, the lass behind the bar had a little joke with me and said "I do!". She immediately owned up that it was Caledonian, or Belhaven as it is now, and then asked why it made a difference. Anyway, we both went for the Brakspear Gravity, which was very good but perhaps a little warm (NBSS 3.5, could have been a 4). It wasn't my round so I can't say whether the beer was at an "inexplicable eye-watering price" or not. I liked it here and would have no hesitation in returning.
On 20th May 2025
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4349 recommendations about 3997 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Victoria
On the first floor of the rows situated at The Cross, this pub has a splendid Victorian interior. Just inside the door is a seating area at leather upholstered banquettes and cast iron based wooden tables. I’m not sure how much is original or started life in this pub, some bits are obviously repro but it looks the part. Beyond to each side is the horseshoe bar, hand pumps on the right hand side, keg T-bars on the other. A prosaic range of Adnams Southwold, Deuchars IPA, Robinsons Unicorn and a house badged beer on the four pulls, my Deuchars was less than inspiring. There’s a higher level seating area at the back leading to a beer garden.
On 13th November 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3648 recommendations about 3327 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Victoria
The Victoria is a tourist pub located on the first floor up some stairs from the main high street. The U-shaped interior has seating around the walls so can get a bit ‘cosy’ when busy as this isn’t the biggest place. The décor is traditional, and the left-hand wall is lined with etched mirrors. The bar supports four hand pumps that were drawing Adnams, Caledonian’s Deuchars and Victoria Ale, the fourth was unused. Standard keg is also available alongside Birra Moretti and Amstel. I went for a half and didn’t receive my 10p change. The surly barmaid looked like she was chewing a wasp, so I didn’t ask for it. Traditional pub grub is served. This is probably the worst pub I have visited in Chester so I will leave it to the unsuspecting tourists in future.
On 28th July 2019
- rating: 3
[User has posted 6134 recommendations about 6100 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Victoria
given its tourist trap location I did expect this to be a bit more trendy than it was. it's a bit dowdy and old fashioned inside really but lacking the traditional warmth of the Sam Smiths pubs. Deuchars IPA the only ale going and it was too busy to even place a drink inside.
On 1st December 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Victoria
A fairly dull, touristy, food led pub. The place is spread around a central bar and to be honest is pretty bland. Expensive beers including standard national real ales. You'd be better off walking down to Lower Bridge St.
On 21st August 2018
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Oggwyn Great left this review about The Victoria
No real changes here , 3 handpulls on this visit with Bombardier Burning Gold , Victoria Ale and an OK Caladonian First Dawn , a fare few tourists in mostly Spanish and German who seemed to be more intrested in photographing their food rather than eating it .
Its OK in here but could be so much better
On 6th May 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Oggwyn Great left this review about The Victoria
Pub is well described in the previous review but is now looking a little tatty around the edges , usual kegs and four handpulls , only two on with Flying Scotsman and an OK Theakstons Best , a little pricey at £5.50 for a pint of Theakstons and a half of lager .
Service was very friendly with the barman having a very good sense of humour .
I liked it here and this could be a very good pub with a better choice of beer and a bit of a tidy up
On 19th October 2014
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 797 recommendations about 683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Soup Dragon left this review about The Victoria
A single storey pub on gallery level. The interior is open plan around a quite large central bar. It is traditional, with beams and white atrex, bamboo and grey walls, with wood panel, etched wood, part wood floor, old Chester and other pictures all over the place and leather seating. There was an ante-room in green and some nice tiling in the corridor and toilets, as well as around the fireplace. Mixed music at an ok level, with small clientele. The service was fine apart from the embarrassment shown by the barman due to the overpriced drinks - £3.15 for a pint of Courage Best.
Beer; tap stuff, with no MILD and Courage Best (Ok), Theakston's Bitter and GK IPA on handpull.
Nice pub spoilt by expensive, yet bog standard drinks - so caveat emptor
On 22nd October 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3077 recommendations about 3072 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Victoria
Very Olde Worlde pub on one of the upper galleries.Fairly small and compact and can get very busy.Unfortunately only Old Speckled Hen (Or so Greene King want to call it) on my visit but there were 2 other handpumps
On 20th May 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]