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The Victoria & Albert, Marylebone, NW1

Marylebone Station, Melcombe Place
NW1
NW1 6JJ

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Tris C left this review about The Victoria & Albert

Some claim that this pub dates from 1899 (the date of the station), though a legend to the top right of the bar back cites a date of 1971.
I’m not sure if this was ever a real pub or perhaps the waiting room for first class passengers, but either way there’s some impressive dark woodwork with an attractive fibrous plasterwork cornice, fireplace and mirror. The floor is carpeted, with a flagstone apron to the bar. Lighting is traditional and furniture is comfortable, the whole exuding a slightly clubroom feel. However, there was at least one TV showing nothing of importance with the sound off; otherwise, décor amounted to just a few potted plants and Chinese-style vases to the mantelpiece. Customers were very few in number for a Thursday, which is probably why the barman called time at 9.15, then kicked us out at 9.30, though we were aware that there’s a closing time of just 10.00pm.
Real ale amounted to Doom, GK IPA and Wandle at a reasonable £5.45 a pint and perfectly drinkable.
This place is ok if you need the station and are too lazy to walk to the Royal Oak and can’t face the sensory assault that is the Sports Bar next door, but the arbitrary closing time was obnoxious, added to which, both the ladies and gents were out of order, which taken together, is bang out of order.

On 3rd March 2023 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1956 recommendations about 1923 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Graham Coombs left this review about The Victoria & Albert

Station bar which has varied over the years between great and indifferent. Currently mid-range, with the interior in fair shape but the beer less so and very overpriced. Two rooms, once known separately as the Victoria bar and the Albert bar, with some nice wooden bar backs, which are probably not original, and a splendid high plasterwork ceiling which certainly is. The station side has a few tables on the concourse, while there also a few pavement perches on the street side. Beers still as below.

On 25th May 2019 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Will Larter left this review about The Victoria & Albert

Having arrived with 20 minutes to spare before our train to Amersham, my daughter looked around instinctively for a pub - don't know where she gets it from. I followed her to the corner of the concourse where the track-side entrance to this pub is located, with a small exterior seating area. Inside are two rooms, the main bar counter being in the room accessed from the station, and the room to the right having an exit onto the street. There were four hand pumps on the main bar, with Sharps Doom Bar, Greene King IPA and Old Speckled Hen available. Only when I went to use the toilet, which is through the second room, did I notice the further section of bar counter with Fullers London Pride on hand pump. The pub is attractive and pleasant, and whatever was causing the toilets to smell in 2016 (see review below) has evidently been fixed. The beer was in pretty good nick, but I could have done with something stronger than a 3.6% beer to help me recover from the shock of being charged £5.80 for two halves. I leave the joy of any further visits to those with deeper pockets.

On 5th March 2019 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3699 recommendations about 3440 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Nick Davies left this review about The Victoria & Albert

Long ago, in Travellers' Fare days the V&A had something of a reputation as a real ale venue. Indeed TF were quite enterprising on that front, and in London at least the station bars were amongst the few places where you might find a decent pint of something other than Charrington IPA. Forty years on and the V&A Bar has changed little. Then, we would have gone out of out way to visit for a pint of Pride or GKIPA. The memory fades, but the surroundings seem much the same too, the same wood panelled two bar affair.

It remains fine for what it is, and perfectly acceptable for a pint on the way home, far better than the hellhole next door, though a little pricey as for some reason it's the only SSP outlet I've come across which doesn't accept BiTe cards. The bogs stink.

On 30th September 2016 - rating: 6
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


john gray left this review about The Victoria & Albert

Smart,clean tidy station bar with plenty of brown polished wood.Sign outside says (serious about beer)but they had the same dull imo beers they had on Just a Quick Pints visit over a year ago.Thats a cheap nasty pub sign as well

On 8th August 2015 - rating: 5
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]


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hondo . left this review about The Victoria & Albert

2 room 2 bar station pub. 4 real ales and food served. Train departure screen in 1 room.

On 31st October 2014 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


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

Quite attractive for a station pub, with some patio tables out in the concourse and at the front. Smallish bar with a larger lounge to the side, both with traditional furniture, dark wood decor and high ceilings. Pride, Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen and St Edmunds (£3.80) available from a total of five handpumps. Main downside: surprisingly restricted opening hours.

On 25th May 2014 - rating: 6
[User has posted 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Philip Carter left this review about The Victoria & Albert

I liked this place, the GK IPA was good and the staff very friendly. The seats in the 'Public Bar' area were very hard. The comfy seat next door were all taken up with diners.

On 13th October 2012 - rating: 8
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Bucking Fastard left this review about The Victoria & Albert

If you are after a quick one,there are four handpumps serving London Pride and three from Greene King;IPA,Old Speckled Hen and a seasonal beer often branded as St Edmunds Brewery.Craft beers are offered including produce from Sierra Nevada and Meantime together with bar food with mains £7-£12 ish.It's a station bar so you know what to expect.

On 18th May 2012 - no rating submitted
[User has posted 2709 recommendations about 2709 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Graham Coombs left this review about The Victoria & Albert

Victorian station bar which is getting a bit tired now, but still a reasonable place for a few beers while waiting for a train. Doesn't seem to get as busy as it used to.

On 23rd September 2009 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]