Browns Victoria, Victoria, SW1

Official page of Browns in Victoria - browns-restaurants.co.uk

One of a range of Ha! Ha! Bar and Canteens that are gradually being introduced around the country. The traditional pub lover will hate it, the chrome and neon brigade will love it. Those who baulk at the sight of All Bar Ones and Piano and Pitchers now have a new monster to contend with. This latest addition to Victoria's drinking scene is set over the first 2 floors of a 60's high rise and comes complete with wall to ceiling windows, pink neon lighting, pine floors, square furniture and plasma screen (with limited viewing). Up the large metal staircase is the restaurant – I didn't bother venturing this far. Outside in the canopied shopping precinct are a few chrome seats where you can watch the shoppers roam by. Don't look for any bitters – they don't have any, not even keg bitter which is probably a plus. Fosters, Stella and Guinness are the mainstream attractions. The adventurous can go for Peroni or 1664 Blanc. If you are feeling affluent, they do “wine bottle” sized Hoegaarden for £7.95 or Leffe, a snip at £10.95. That all said, Wines start at a “reasonable” £10.95 and someone somewhere may be tempted by the Krug Grande Cuvee NV at £119.95 that will apparently leave your palate dominated by honey and nuts. A bowl of sugar puffs and a packet of dry roasted will also have the same effect for a lighter tariff. Personally if I were spending £120 on a bottle of bubbly I would choose somewhere a bit more special than this. Shooters are available for £3 and a range of cocktails are £5 a glass or £10 a jug. Main courses for lunch start around £5.50 for Egg and Chips with “proper meals” around £7-£11 which is again fairly reasonable for the area. All cynicism aside, this place will probably appeal to many young office types and I would expect it to get quite busy in the evenings. Personally it's not my cup of tea.