The Victoria, Battersea, SW8

Official site of The Victoria - www.thevictoriabattersea.co.uk

Official site of The Victoria - www.thevictoriabattersea.co.uk

They had Deuchars IPA and Caledonian Over the Bar (£1.90 a half) on, with another couple of handpumps apparently unused. There were single-sheet menus on the tables, with main courses including pub grub favourites such as sausage and mash (£10.95), accompanied by something called “chefs (sic) homemade jus”, which I guess must be some sort of foreign gravy, and battered fish and chips (£13), with homemade tartare sauce. It’s evident that these aren’t typical “pub grub” prices, but this place doesn’t look anything like a gastropub. They also do burgers (£8 - £9.50) and “dogs” (one assumes that Korean cuisine hasn’t yet found its way to Battersea) for £8.50 - £9.50. A lunch menu is also advertised (Mon – Fri, 10 – 3), with main meals between £5 - £7. This place has been tarted up somewhat with a black painted ceiling, mainly light grey painted walls, and fairly minimalist decor although a couple of sets of antlers grace one wall and above the bar counter. There was a battalion of wax encrusted bottles sitting on a shelf, presumably awaiting deployment as evening approaches. Furnishings are black plastic upholstered banquettes, solid wooden tables and mismatched chairs. There’s another room at the back reached via an archway, with a few sofas, and where the large wall at the back is painted royal blue with white trees painted on it – and one of the trees has got its own owl. Free wi-fi is advertised, as well as “open mic” night on Saturdays. I don’t think that this pub is as good as it would like to be. £13 for fish and chips is fairly expensive by pub standards – but I didn’t see it so maybe it is an “awesome” meal. It should be for that money. This pub falls firmly in the OK category. The ale was OK and not overpriced by London standards. This won’t be one of my firm favourites, but it’s a decent enough place and OK for a pint if you’re passing.

Randomness Guide to London - Victoria entry

Randomness Guide to London - Victoria entry

I love The Victoria. It has wicked food every day and night, real ales with a weekly guest ale, coffee, sport, papers, sofas, non-smoking section, outside tables, pool...what more could you want? Oh yes,a dog, a Sunday quiz, efficient-as-well-as-hotbar staff, and hopefully soon a late licence (application pending).