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The Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel, Dartford

1 High Street
Dartford
DA1 1DU
Phone: 01322224415

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel

Imposing old coaching inn, still operating operating as a hotel as well as a town-centre pub. The former courtyard has been covered over at some stage and now houses an island bar. A variety of different seating / dining areas can be found in the main buildings on either side of this, with the refurbished galleries above. Doom Bar and Hobgoblin (badged as the original, but definitely the Gold version: £3.70) plus a cider available from a total of seven handpumps distributed between both ends of the counter.

On 22nd December 2022 - rating: 6
[User has posted 8061 recommendations about 8061 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Alan Winfield left this review about Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel

The Royal Victoria is a large pub situated in the middle of Dartford.
The pub had market stalls outside when i visited it.
Once inside there are two small rooms either side of the entrance,the main room to the rear is square shaped with a high ceiling and looks like a covered courtyard,there is a large island bar in the middle of the room and two area at either side which are carpeted,the seating mainly normal tables and chairs.
There was one real ale on which was Jennings Cocker Hoop which was a decent drink to start my crawl of Dartford on.
I was happy enough having a drink in this pub.

Pub visited 22/10/2016

On 2nd January 2017 - rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]


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Malden man left this review about Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel

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.

On 4th December 2011 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Roger Button left this review about Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel

The Bull ‘N’ Vic (as it is locally known) is an historic coaching inn and was one of the main stopovers on the London to Dover route. It is Dartford’s oldest pub dating back to the 14th century although much of the current building is of later periods. Queen Victoria stayed here in 1836, hence the now Royal prefix, but the place is mostly connected with Cornish engineer Richard Trevithick who lived and died here. Until a recent and costly refurbishment it was a very tired and run down place but the interior has now been restored to bring out the best of its feaures.

To the left of the main entrance is a small self contained bar that I have never seen in use so I assume it is mainly for small private functions. The main island bar stands in the original flagstoned courtyard, glazed over in the 1820’s when the building doubled up as a corn exchange. The balcony has been given a fresh coat of paint and the glazing itself has either been replaced or cleaned up to look good as new. A couple of Coats of Arms overlook the bar adding to its historic feel although the hotel rooms themselves are hidden behind the glazed balcony. To the sides of the courtyard are various semi knocked through rooms and side bars, the pick being the Royal Room at the front of the main pub with its rich panelling and one of the many fine newly restored fireplaces. New seating and has been introduced where necessary replacing the bare spaces and making the place far more welcoming than it was previously. Even the games room to the rear has benefitted with extra seating and a table football replacing one of the 2 pool tables. Beyond this point was once a ballroom and another bar which was effectively a separate pub called the Bull Shades, used by the local market traders who weren’t particularly welcome in the main pub itself. Sadly these buildings were demolished in the 1970’s when the Priory Centre next door was built.

There is a detailed history of the pub on display and several interesting photos and pictures dotted around of both the town and the pub itself some old, others modern. Many of the rooms and side bars have now also been given names giving them a bit of identity and there is also more emphasis on the life of Richard Trevithick with his portraits taking prominent positions.

Somewhere in the pub is said to be an 18th century bullethole and some people may be surprised that there are not any more recent such additions given the poor reputation that place has sadly acquired. For all its history and magnificent features, the B’N’V has for many years been geared at enticing the younger generation with the emphasis on TV sport across multiple TV’s and club nights when the place turns into a magnet for young clubbers, scantily clad nubiles, plentiful bouncers and all the baggage that goes with it. Most Monday’s and Tuesdays currently showcase local Metal and Indie bands whilst weekends are various club and theme evenings most of which are pay to enter. That just leaves daytimes or a couple of evenings for those outside their first flushes of youth to enjoy what the place has to offer.

Following the refurbishment, 3 new hand pumps were introduced however the initial selection of more interesting ales has now declined to a single mundane Bombardier which is often not available and when it is can be of variable quality, certainly not justifying the Cask Marque award that it currently holds. The prices are confusingly erratic as they are sometimes discounted for the music and club evenings. Service has always been friendly but not always efficient with bar staff occasionally going walkabout when you need to be served.

Overall it is a very impressive building that certainly warrants a visit but you need to pick the right time and hope that the variables are in your favour.

On 22nd June 2011 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]


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Liz R-D left this review about Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel

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.

On 20th March 2011 - rating: 2
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]


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Steve C left this review about Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel

It was very quiet in here on my recent Sunday afternoon visit and I was surprised to hear a well known Christmas hit playing loudly, but the very friendly barmaid informed me that it just happened to come on the music channel that was being shown on the flat screens that are found throughout the pub. She served me a very nice pint of Guinness and I went off to explore the many parts of the pub. There are plenty of tables tucked away in various corners and there is also a room at the rear that houses a pool table.

Alongside the Guinness there was also a standard draught selection and three hand pumps are hidden away at the corner of the bar and these were drawing Bombardier and Westerham’s British Bulldog. I spotted some menus lying around and food is served from midday until 19:00 and was competitively priced, although I know not of the quality.

I would have no problem having another pint or two in here.

In regards to the little bar to the left of the entrance, I had a long peer in and came away thinking that it was a tearoom, but I may be wrong.

On 14th August 2010 - rating: 7
[User has posted 5179 recommendations about 5148 pubs]


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austin collinstone left this review about Royal Victoria & Bull Hotel

good to watch big brother in on big screens

On 14th September 2008 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]