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Disappointment of the week with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Victoria Family & Commercial Hotel, Leeds
Leeds
LS1 3BB
Pub Type
Nicholsons (Mitchells & Butlers)Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about Victoria Family & Commercial Hotel
A very impressive interior as others have noted,I liked the large fireplaces with ornate wood surrounds,the detailed bar back,various screens and unspoiled tiling in the gents.The seperate side rooms help the building retain it's Victorian past and this interior should be viewed on any tour around town.A Nicholsons house with a decent selection of real ale without anything to rave about but a safe bet all the same.
On 8th July 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Victoria Family & Commercial Hotel
A recent revisit found much the same place as before (thankfully!), though the price of the ales seems to have gone up disproportionately. First ale had to go back as it was bottom of the barrel (that’s flat and frothy, not vinegar…) and the quality of the replacement wasn’t great – in fact it was a bit similar. Perhaps I was unlucky? I felt a bit let down though, given the price.
August 2009
Located behind the imposing Town Hall, the wonderfully ornate multi-roomed Victorian interior makes this place worth a visit on that strength alone (the history of the pub is helpfully provided on the back of the menus). It’s also owned by the Nicholsons sub-chain of M&B, so the interior is in good hands, as apparently this was scheduled for demolition in the early 1970’s. Others describe the interior better than I, so I’ll just list a few bits: individual drinking booths, snob screens which still swing, lovely glass bar back, high ceiling, dark wood panelling. Sadly the atmosphere was spoilt a bit by the needlessly loud modern music, which wasn’t really befitting of such a grand Victorian opulence. Eight ales available and my Tetley Mild was in good shape (hey, I’m a Southerner!) amongst a fairly eclectic mix otherwise. A down point is that the halves are marked up compared to pints. Food is available, with sausages (done by the same butcher who supplies Harrods, apparently!) a speciality.
A destination pub and one that should definitely feature on any Leeds crawl. Scored 8.
On 1st October 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about Victoria Family & Commercial Hotel
This is another of my favourite Leeds pubs. I used to work in a nearby office block a few years ago and more recently at the Crown Court across the road. It's as described by OB below and was packed on Saturday night. There was still no problem with getting served though. This ended up being our last pub of the night as one of the booths became vacant and the other half went for it and got it. They always have a good range of well kept beers here, so I wasn't exactly upset. We had a couple of drinks here and the final beer of the night for me was a pint of Thornbridge Jaipur which at 5.9% finished me off nicely after over 9 hours out on the town.
On 9th February 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3223 recommendations about 3134 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Victoria Family & Commercial Hotel
Sitting behind the city hall, the high Victorian splendour of the Victoria delivers everything you expect from a late 19th century city pub. There are two bars, Victoria and Albert's, plus a function room at the front left called Bridget's bar. The Victoria bar has mahogany booths, each seating six to eight people, down one side complete with large snob screens and etched mirrors and glass. There is a raised area at the front looking out onto a rather dull street and the back door of the city hall, at the other end is a bench seating area, with a dreadful modern fire exit door. There are mirrors and etched glass everywhere and the room is topped by a coffered ceiling. Running down most of one side is the huge mahogany bar counter with fluted Corinthian columns and a vaguely ecclesiastical bar back. 9 handpumps grace the bar centre, serving a range of mostly Yorkshire beers from Tetleys, including the dark mild, Taylor's, Leeds Brewery; there was also Ringwood on today, the beers are always in good condition whenever I call in and are usually served by smart mature barmaids. Customers were mainly office types on their lunch break but the pub attracts a wide range of clientele. Running parallel to the Victoria is Albert's bar, this is laid out as a dining room and has less exuberant decoration, with an open tiled fireplace and only a little etched glass. You will not be surprised to learn of a regular GBG entry for this splendid pub.
On 28th February 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about Victoria Family & Commercial Hotel
Well preserved Nicholson's boozer, with as expected a decent range of standard and seasonal ales from Timothy Taylors, Tetley's, Acorn and Shepherd Neame. Absolutely rammed throughout a saturday afternoon session which affected queuing times, but I still like this place. It feels traditional and homeley, the sort of place you'd be delighted to take refuge in during a cold Yorkshire day.
On 9th December 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Victoria Family & Commercial Hotel
This is a lovely hotel bar, it reminds me of the central Edinburgh ale houses, comfortable seating, long bar, high ceiling.
Superb choice of very well kept beers.
Well worth a visit if you want a nice relaxing drink.
On 11th October 2009
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about Victoria Family & Commercial Hotel
This pub is like stepping back in time.An entrance hall leads to a grand wood and ornate glass bar with two small ornate drinking rooms (non smoking).Up to 7 real ales on tap and very friendly bar staff.A must on any visit to Leeds.
On 26th October 2006
- rating: 10
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]