The Victoria, Mile End, E3

Tris C left this review about The Victoria

A mid-Victorian pub rebuilt in the 1930s for Charrington’s, situated opposite Mile End Park, recently refurbished and no longer the Goth horror den encountered by a former reviewer.
Despite the lifting of plague protocols, I was chided by a member of staff for not manually listing my contact details and daring to stand at the bar, before being asked where I was sitting – I wasn’t – then being led to a table to be served by a waitress, the barman having taken my order; staff and customers were unmasked, rendering other measures meaningless.
The floor is bare boarded in various stages, judging by the mismatched styles. There’s also a fair amount of Minton-style tiling too. Walls are half height white field panelled then bluish floral wallpaper up to a white ceiling, from which hang a combination of shades, metal or fluted glass, with fluted glass sconces. There are mostly large high tables and chairs, some are low and a pew was spotted along with an obligatory fawn coloured vinyl banquette. Décor comprises a few framed prints to walls, along with very large pot plants. I didn’t spot anything of heritage value, apart from perhaps the wooden bar and pot shelf which is all fairly ornate; lavs are modern and swanky. Customers were young, professional incomers apart from myself, as I’m neither.
There were two clips, one reversed, the other dispensing Brewpoint’s Airship at a very painful £5.35 and a bit malty for my tastes and certainly too cold.
This pub isn’t one to avoid, but there’s certainly better in this enclave; with the table service and décor, I felt more like I was drinking in a restaurant or – worse still – a tearoom.

On 18^th September 2021 - rating: 4
[User has posted 1515 recommendations about 1495 pubs]