The Victoria Inn, Colchester

Now this was the pub I'd been waiting for all day, after finding nowhere else to match the Spoons! A vivacious atmosphere, warm (not many pubs in Colch were..), friendly staff and cracking beer; five cask on plus boxed ciders, 2x Colchester ales with guests from Crouch Vale, Buxton and Brew York, I had the latter’s Fairy Tale and it really was, an easy GBG quality of the highest order (NBSS 4.5). Wraparound interior with three areas, maybe the only minor gripe is that the rear bar area is a bit over-bright – looks like a very recent refurb. Pretty close to the station and if I’m on the train line again I’d make a point of hopping off and getting a pint here. 8.5

A long established ale house in a square building not far from the station but before the steep clim into the old town. There is an island bar and seating areas dotted about with rather garish wall paper ,and looking a little worn.Initially there are no handpumps in sight so go around to the rear where the handpumps lurk with high tables opposite.The friendly barman explained there is soon to be a change of hands so things may alter. On my visit the ale selection was Kent Cobnut,Colchester Metropole and Ambassador,Crouch Vale Amarillo Mosaic and a very good Bristol Beer Factory Milk Stout (NBSS 4). The pub opening times have been shortened midweek to a 2pm opening beware.In the 2022 GBG and well worth a visit,I hope the change of hasnds doesn't change the boozer vibe in here.

The Victoria is a ten or so minute walk from Colchester North train station in the direction of the town centre. The pub has a fairly traditional feel to it, with three fairly distinct areas formed around a central servery. The front right area is set up as a lounge, with comfortable seating options, whitewashed walls and nice stained glass windows. To the left is a pleasant bar with bare brick walls, standard and low stool seating, dark wood beams and a nice brick fireplace. Both spaces are compact and cosy and connect to the rear area where the main public bar can be found. Seating here is limited to just a handful of bar stools and one or two high tables. There is an upright piano along the back wall, a juke box and a discretely hidden slot machine under a private staircase. All of the areas have brightly coloured carpeting and there are numerous pump clips on display throughout. Doors lead out to a rear courtyard with a decent amount of seating and I’m told that there is a barn outside with ‘conservatory style seating’, but I didn’t go outside to check this. The pub was named Colchester and North East Essex CAMRA Pub of the Year 2013, so I had high hopes for some good beer. The present owners took on this pub after moving down from Yorkshire, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise to see Yorkshire breweries well represented alongside local ales. The choice on my visit focussed around the Great Heck Brewery with their Yakima IPA, Dark Force Treason Stout and Nelson Sauvin available alongside Colchester Burton Pale Ale and house beer Farmer’s Puck’s Folly. Keg options included Brewdog Trashy Blonde Raspberry (I think I read that correctly) and Thatcher’s Gold and the fridges seemed to stock an interesting range of bottled beers. My Burton Pale Ale was pretty good and the barmaid was very friendly and welcoming. This is a fine addition to the Colchester ale scene and a nice break point if walking between the town centre and Colchester North. Coupled with the Bricklayers Arms it makes a fine double header in this part of town.