The Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel, Dartford

The pub has an island bar in a flagstone centre point which was clearly once an open courtyard in the pub's previous guise as a coaching inn and apparently was once cobbled. This area has now been covered by a glazed roof, forming an atrium with the original, now hotel serving galleries above screened off, presumably for fire regs. Royal Coats of Arms are still displayed. To each side of the covered yard are a series of beamed and stuccoed rooms, one with some fine wood panelling, containing various potted histories of the building. A rear room on the left has a pool table plus a bar football table, a front room on the right is more intimate with a couple of sofas. Over the bar are a a Penny Farthing and a large brass bell. Stairs lead up to the hotel accommodation and an upper outdoor terrace/smoking area. At a little odds with the history, and slightly spoiling the ambience there are numerous TVs and the usual pubco menus on the tables. Once I had managed to track down a barmaid I had the Hobson's choice of Brains SA, which was ok but I did need to request a significant top up. Worth a visit for the history and architecture but not a spot for a session.

My partner & I have been dieting for almost 2 months & decided that today we would treat ourselves to a nice pub Sunday Roasty.... Well if you fancy a similar treat do NOT waste your time or calories & £$$£ going to the Royal Vic & Bull. My partner ordered the food from the most unwelcoming barmaid who forgot everything she ordered & had to be told three times, she was very flustered. When she finally brought our food to us she was abrupt & unhelpful. My partner ordered a steak which was presented on a used wooden chopping board (now I know Jamie Oliver makes it look authentic & rustic) but seriously this is a major health & safety hygiene issue, besides where was all the gravy going to flow to (I saw gravy because there were no steak sauces on the menu or indeed available) when my Mrs asked what sauces came with the steak she may have well asked for directions to the moon for the look she was given by the undelightful barmaid. I had the Sunday roast priced at £5.95 - there was NO choice they only had beef, so beef I had... the whole meal was cold, beef was ok but shrivelled up & burnt in the corners, carrots were miniscule flavourless frozen stuff, peas were hard as bullets & the roast potaotes were the only tasty thing on the plate. I am not ashamed to admit I am following Weight Watchers & I am seriously pished off that I have just wasted 10 bloody points on a tasteless & unsatisfying meal that cost over £15 !!!! Scandalous Sunday meal.