The Victoria Hotel, Nottingham

Update – November 2013 Enjoyed a good pint of Mordue Five Bridges Bitter in here recently. Other beers on included Kelham Island Best ( £ 2.90p ) , Everards Tiger, Batemans XXXB ( £ 3.10p ) , some Oldershaw Beers plus some Castle Rock beers. Remember to look in both bars to see the full range of available beers. There’s a large covered beer tent at the back, which provides much needed additional space. The pub appears to have a good cross section of customers of all ages, helped by the fact that there’s distinct drinking and eating areas. Various attractions were advertised – eg Live Music plus Tapas on 14 November and a Rhythmn and Blues Band on Sunday 17th. I was very impressed when I first visited this pub in July 2009 ( review below ). My opinion has not changed after this latest November 2013 visit. ORIGINAL REVIEW - JULY 2009 Marvellous Victorian red-brick pub adjacent to the northbound platform of Beeston railway station. The building dates back to 1899 and still advertises Ind Coope & Co Burton Ales high up on the building exterior. The room on the right as you go in is the public bar. This had a tiled floor, a wooden bar and etched windows proclaiming "Red Bar" and "Vaults". This room houses a fine collection of brewery posters and mirrors. Of particular note is a splendid full size St James Bar Worthington Ales mirror and posters from defunct breweries such as Holt Bros of Burnham, Somerset and Simpson & Co of Baldock, Hertfordshire. In this bar, you hear the occasional sound of the non-stopping high speed trains hurtling past ( Beeston is on the main line between Leicester and Nottingham ). In this bar, there's 5 handpumps. On my recent Monday lunchtime visit, these were dispensing Adnams Broadside ( £ 2.80p), Fullers ESB, Everards Tiger, Batemans XB and Bays Bitter ( £ 2.40p ) from Torbay in Devon. On the left is the main saloon bar. This comprises a number of interconnecting rooms which, whilst still retaining a traditional feel, gradually seem to get more food-orientated the further through that you walk. The food choice is wide and varied and is a step up from normal pub grub. Of particular note in this bar is a splendid picture of Queen Victoria and etched windows denoting "Smoke Bar". There's additional pumps in this bar, which add to the range on offer. These included Holdens, Ottershaw and Copper Dragon on my visit. Both the Copper Dragon and the Bays Bitter ( from the other bar ) were in good nick. There's no TV's or distractions anywhere in the pub and mobiles are thankfully banned. There's a large outside tented area almost on the platform. The pub offers regular themed food evenings and other events. The pub is a CAMRA GBG regular nowadays. This is a superb "must visit" pub in my book. If you're staying in Nottingham, as I was, it's £ 1.90p off peak day return and I thought it was worth every penny.

This is an imposing Victorian hotel built next to Beeston train station. As you approach, the large Ind Coope signage serves as a reminder of who the pub was originally built for, and the foundation stone can be seen from the pavement with its inscription dating the pub back to 1899. The main bar is located in the centre of the pub, to the left of the front entrance. The room is referred to as the Smoke Bar and has woodblock flooring, wood paneled walls and some nice etched glass windows. The room extends further to the left through two other areas, both of which appear to be set up for dining. Each area has its own fireplace and beer bottles are displayed along high shelves. There are some interesting bits of brewerania in these rooms including a Nottingham Brewing Family Tree, a Cains pump clip collection and the story of the Everards Brewery. To the right of the front door there is a quieter bar called the Vaults which has a nice brick fireplace, a lot more brewerania including a large Worthington’s mirror and banquette seating with heavy iron base tables. At the rear of the pub there is an external covered passageway which leads to the toilets and a garden which is adjacent to the railway. The central room has been covered in various blackboards which detail the beer, wine and food options in great detail as well as various special offers. The beer selection is split between the two bars with the full range listed on the bar back. On my visit, the choice was Oldershaw Caskade, Rudgate Ruby Mild, Lincoln Green Tuck Porter and Hood Best Bitter, Holden’s Golden Glow and Black Country Special, Castle Rock Harvest Pale, Kelham Island Best Bitter, Brewsters Decadence and Dancing Duck Ey-Up. Four cider/perry options were listed as well and there was an interesting keg range offering beers from Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic among others. I tried the Tuck Porter and Golden Glow, with the former in particular being in great shape. This is an excellent, well run establishment with plenty of good beer and an interior that is well worth exploring. The pub seems to dare you to enter the train station without popping in beforehand and having now seen what’s on offer inside, I’m sure I’ll be missing a few trains in the future.

This excellent real ale pub has been a local of mine since it re-opened the best part of 20 years ago! The beers are always excellent and the food although pricey is of an excellent quality and dosn't include anything with chips. The toilets are always clean and well stocked with soap and towels. The pub has regular live entertainment in the large marquee that covers the rear paved beer garden. Beer festivals and special occasions like the jubilee bring many more beers to the bar, sometimes as many as 50! On these occasions, a tempory outside bar is brought into use. Great place for an after work pint and plate or for a long Sunday lunch session and a far cry from it's old incarnation of a flat cap and whippet boozer selling Stones and Carling.

A wonderfully preserved Victorian boozer which, despite the high ceilings, feels comfortable and cosy immediately. Mr Fastard has detailed the main features below. It's worth noting that there is a gate from Beeston station at the opposite end of the Nottingham bound platform from the ticket office which allows access directly into the pub. Beer: 12 real ales on listed, along with ciders and continental beers, on a blackboard in the Red Bar. On our visit these were: Blue Monkey Original, Castle Rock Harvest Pale and Tiger as regulars and Castle Rock Sheriffs Tipple, Oldershaws Heavenly Blonde, Ossett Yorkshire Blonde, Batemans Spring Goddess, Holdens Golden Glow, Full Mash Warlord, Batemans Dark, Full Mash Nevermore and Flipside Russian Rouble as guests. The latter 3 were listed in the dark beer section and it's also worth noting that all but one of these were under 4.5% in strength so there's a good range of styles but less so strengths. Well worth a visit.

A very fine example of a late Victorian station hotel,there are lots of original features such as impressive brass door furniture.To the right of the front entrance is the drinking room called The Red Bar in the etched window with the next pane saying Vault.Red decorations and upholstery with fitted bench seating around the perimeter,lots of breweriana ,it's own serving bar and a no mobile policy.A wide range of real ales advertised on a board with hanging signs indicating ABV,price and style. To the left of the entrance is a more basic wooden floored public bar but this opens out to a dining area which was surprisingly full on a wet Tuesday evening.A sign indicated there is more dining tables up the solid wooden staircase on the first floor,if the back lounge area is also full.There is a large tented area externally giving more seating capacity. The highlight for me was the original interior,the classic high ceilings and frosted windows.My ale was in good nick ,but the variety of strenghts was missing on my visit.A great double header with The Crown if you like genuine pubs with real character.

My favourite pub in Beeston. Two parts to the place: a non-food proper bar area (the "Red Bar") and a series of rooms which are more restaurant-like. Good choice of beers and good food too. CAMRA discount. Well worth seeking out.

I suppose this pub is my local as I normally visit 2 to 3 times a week. Always a good selection of real ales. The pub is friendly and dogs are welcome.

Can't add a lot to the description below. Still a fantastic pub and worthy of its entry in 2011 Good Beer Guide, and was in the running for Pub of the Year that was won by the Crown, also in Beeston. Plenty of ales from micros to choose from, and we enjoyed Ossett Big Red, and Oldershaw Flag Fen. The food menu was very tempting and I really fancied trying the parsnip soup, and the crumbles in the deserts, but we were getting short of time so had to pass this time. Very friendly place and worth the trip out from Nottingham to visit. 13 and 14 bus to Beeston bus station and a 10 minute walk to it, or just round the corner from the railway station.

Kind of L-shaped with the bar in the internal corner of the "L". Black and white beamed high ceiling, panelled walls, large full height windows with stained glass top lights. Carpeted, small traditional tables generally, chairs stools and benches, a few bar stools. All tables set for food with mats, cruet sets and so on Sat lunch, a bit disconcerting but no issue for drinkers, this is a beer pub not one of those gastro places that freeze drinkers out. A nice spot just off the canal, plenty of outside seating too but no waterside views, its about 50m off the towpath down a lane. A covered outdoor area has a bar football table, I guess this large shed is well utilised for the beer festivals The Fox holds from time to time. Saturday's selection were Pride, Doom Bar, TT Landlord, Cottage Silly Mid Whippet and Morrisey Fox Blonde Ale. Be aware there are two banks of handpumps, the one nearest the entrance had the staples on with the two guests located on the second set around the corner. A very pleasing spot for a couple this one, I enjoyed it here. You can buy postcards of the pub for 20p from the bar too!

Fantastic Victorian railway pub with trains rattlin past the tent (huge covered outdoor seating area) which sits literally adjacent to Beeston rail platform – the spring-heeled could leap straight into the pub from the train as, sadly, the access gate is now locked. Classic tiled ‘vault’ has frosted windows, walls sporting framed breweriana posters, next (central) bar area gives on to a wood-furnished dining room and, beyond, the rear room displays a décor akin to café stylee. The central bar itself displays indiv blackboards carrying serious food choices, £8-12 mains, see website for ideas. Two of the company declared the Lincs sausages/mash/gravy to be very tasty, as did those who nicked some from their plates. Was pouring down Sat & I’m glad I no longer smoke, as even the outdoor ‘tent’ is off limits, meaning no shelter at all for those who needed a tab. There are signs against the evils of mobiles but ho-hum, & I did get a tug for having a drink outside(!) whilst taking a photo, but they weren’t overboard & I just signalled I’d be back in a mo & all was well, even if I could imagine getting irritated on another occasion. High ceilinged traditional décor & feel throughout and solid beer choice and quality: Castle Rock Harvest Pale, Preservation, Elsie Mo, Everards Tiger, Thwaites Original, Bateman’s XB, Wold Top Keeper’s Light & A4 Amber, Hidden Fantasy, Wentworth Imperial, Caythorpe Bitter, dark beers listed separately, Funfair Meteorite, Newby Wyke Black Squall, also Biddendens Bushells cider & Newton’s Perry. Very impressive. (review refers Sep08)