The Victoria

The night was young and we were situated at The Victoria for my friend’s leaving do. It’s a bit of an institution for the locals, as most neighborhood gastropubs are and surely would have evoked some fond memories for the folk. I was pre-warned the food is good, not great, but kept an open mind as one should do when reviewing. Pre-loading on some trusty G&Ts, the burgers looked mostly tasty but rather minuscule  and the pulled pork burger bun was charred to the “here be dragons” level. In the spirit of my vegetarian friend I deviated from a normal order to sample the vegetarian bangers and mash. For £12 it does feel more expensive than it needs to be. The sausages, three of them, feel clever enough and an alright substitute with the casing almost right. The peas were the usual and the mash was pleasant and creamy. A glittering of gravy helps bind the classic dish but being vego, it lacks the salty savoury notes of a meat one. Happy for the bite and the service and staff were accommodating over our long stay.

Lovely comfortable pub for a Sunday lunch.  Great Yorkshire puddings.  Friendly staff (especially Claire!) and good value for money!  Will return for an evening drink before too long. Great wifi! David Blake

One of the closest pubs to my Flat in Mile End was/is The Victoria. But we rarely went in there, because it never really looked open, and the couple of times we did venture in, it was dark and devoid of atmosphere. So it was with interest I noted it had closed and was being taken over by the Yummy Pub Co, the team behind Somerstown Coffee House. I immediately found them on Twitter and was chuffed to be invited to their opening. We were given the grand tour and treated to some food and some cocktails and other drinks. And yes, the word ‘grand’ is appropriate in this instance because they have turned the reborn Victoria into quite the large, smorgasbord of a pub. We’ll start at the front shall we? Firstly there’s a little ‘cage’ that opens in the morning to serve the locals coffee and pastries. Then later in the day the pub proper opens, a warm and welcoming large area, with access to the beer garden where they have installed little cabanas and a caravan – Charlie’s cocktail caravan in f

One of the closest pubs to my Flat in Mile End was/is The Victoria. But we rarely went in there, because it never really looked open, and the couple of times we did venture in, it was dark and devoid of atmosphere. So it was with interest I noted it had closed and was being taken over by the Yummy Pub Co, the team behind Somerstown Coffee House. I immediately found them on Twitter and was chuffed to be invited to their opening.

We were given the grand tour and treated to some food and some cocktails and other drinks. And yes, the word ‘grand’ is appropriate in this instance because they have turned the reborn Victoria into quite the large, smorgasbord of a pub. We’ll start at the front shall we?

Firstly there’s a little ‘cage’ that opens in the morning to serve the locals coffee and pastries. Then later in the day the pub proper opens, a warm and welcoming large area, with access to the beer garden where they have installed little cabanas and a caravan – Charlie’s cocktail caravan in fact, in homage to the first owner, boxer Charlie Magri. You can hire this out and get it stocked with any kind of booze you want!

We then went upstairs to be introduced to the Board Room, a private dining area that can also be used to host meetings and events. From there we went to The Lodge, one of my favourite spaces – a mini country retreat that can be used for all sorts of things – the other Sunday they made it a child-free haven for enjoying one of their roasts. From there we went into another dining area, this one with full view of the kitchen, and we sampled some of their ‘British tapas’. The expected scotch eggs, honey and mustard sausages etc were on offer as well as some interesting vegetarian items which I thought were particularly nice, in particular some fritters and some goat’s cheese ‘dumplings’ which had just the right amount of goaty tang. I must confess, I didn’t try the scotch eggs as they didn’t look that tempting, and when Stephen was brave enough to try the cod and mushy pea version, he was less than enthusiastic about it. But the rest of it seemed pretty good and they also do plenty of big plate food to choose from, and of course roasts on a Sunday.

From there we were shown the rooftops where the plan is to use the flat roofs to grow herbs and veg, and even keep chickens! All for use down in the pub.

We went back inside and were treated to several cocktails made with the bartender’s own infusions, such as whiskey with orange and cinnamon, and one of the nicest gin and tonics I’ve had – though served in a ‘beer mug’ that was a little too big for a cocktail!

The Vic as she is affectionately known also keeps a little secret, a devious side which I am loathe to reveal, but let’s just say downstairs is not all that it seems. I wouldn’t linger over your reflection too much when you enter or leave the bathroom…

They have a good selection of beers and wines – I was very pleased to see a white rioja on the list, as well as malbec and picpoul to have by the glass (or you can even treat yourself to some chateauneuf du pape!). We spent another couple of hours in there - the place was busy but not crowded, it felt comfortable, just the sort of ambiance you want from a pub mid-week.

This feels like a very ambitious project for the Yummy Pub co – in one pub they have channeled all their interests – cooking, drinking, cocktails and coffee and it could go horribly wrong. However, they seem like the kind of people who like to rise to a challenge – who get a thrill out of pushing their boundaries, and so far it all looks and sounds amazing. I really liked the place and have already been back for a quiet Sunday night wine or two. I hope to be there more frequently and see if they make a success of it. Apparently the last place wasn’t very popular and the local residents didn’t want the pub to reopen so they are having to go out of their way to win over the neighbours and the result is a pub that is a cut above the norm. For Yummy Pub’s sake, and the fact I want a decent local to go to, I wish them luck.

Quite an amazing pub with great traditions and style.

I have been there once and went for the Sunday Roast-a specialty of the pub every Sunday. The British dish was incredibly made with decorations, style and it was well-cooked. However, not only I liked the food, but the whole atmosphere of the pub itself. 

Once you enter, you transport into a different world engaging the British history, culture and style. The pub is build around 1860s-1870s and it dates back from then. 

It is definitely one of the places in London that should be visited more than once!

When is a pub not a pub? When it’s a Yummy Pub Co. venture. The Victoria is their latest addition and having very recently been opened to the public, this newly renovated iconic building is already winning a strong following.
This venue is full of surprises and exploring the many floors of the Victoria is delightfully fascinating. If it hadn't been for Tim Foster who heads up The Yummy Pub Co. giving us a guided tour, we would have certainly got lost.
First on the tour was the roof space, upon which the Victoria has plans to grow their own supply of fresh vegetables and herbs in old filing cabinets, as well as housing a handful of chickens for their freshly laid eggs.
As well as the roof space there is a Kitchen Room with a view of the chefs creating the meals of the day. There is a decadent Board Room perfect for group gatherings and also the Lodge, a cosy room decked out in a ski resort manner. In the spacious outdoor space there is a cocktail caravan named after the former owner and international boxer Charlie Magri.

But my favourite is the hidden speakeasy in the basement. Magri’s Cocktail Bar, is hidden behind a one way mirrored wall in front of the toilets, leading to a collection of humorous incidents involving those who do not know there are a bunch of people watching them from behind the glass.

In this speakeasy there is no drinks list. Instead your personal mixologist will conjure up whatever you ask for using his crate of spirits, magical ingredients and of course a Smeg fridge. This all makes this cosy hideaway bar one of my favourites in London.

In addition to all this excitement, there is also an in-pub coffee bar serving fantastic freshly ground aromatic, artisan coffee. This is ideal for a quick coffee or to pick up a take away wake-me-up.


Would I Want Seconds?

The food served in these cosy corners and big sharing tables dotted around The Victoria is British Tapas, which you can watch being prepared from the open kitchen. All the ingredients are sourced from local suppliers as well as their own rooftop collection, meaning the team here know where every single ingredient on the plate has been farmed.

The Victoria therefore takes pride in its food and all dishes are hearty and seasonal. Dishes on offer include vegetarian chickpea curry breaded brie, pigs in blankets in a honey glaze and their signature scotch eggs.

All as well lunch and dinner sittings, they are also open from 7am in the morning for breakfast and coffee. Due to the variety on offer here, including generous burgers, sharing tapas platters and even Sunday roast, the food gives enough reason to return here repeatedly.

Can I Afford Seconds?

The Victoria is well priced considering the fresh and sustainable quality of the ingredients used in the food.
From the Specials a Watermelon and Feta Cheese Salad is £7.50 and on the high end the pan-fried Barbary duck breast is £17.50. The delicious looking puddings all cost £5.50 and include bitter lemon tart, baked vanilla New York cheesecake and sticky toffee apple crumble. All very moreish!

Overall:

I’m actually quite jealous that The Victoria isn’t located at the end of my street. The residents of Mile End are immensely lucky to have not just a standard pub, but an all round venue open up on their door step.
The Victoria is a comfortable place to relax and socialise or have a fun night out; its idea of friends, family and is even dog friendly too. Despite not living anywhere near East London, I will certainly be returning here, especially for Magri’s hidden Cocktail Bar.

Freakin' good shrimp burger!! I think the best I ever had. Nice backyard to sit in. Nice service 👍 Inside and the front was a bit stiff looking..but I was surprised with the food how nice it was 😊

Great pub. We stopped here on our way to a concert at Victoria Park. Great atmosphere and would definitely return.

Came for a friend's birthday and had the best time. The best seafood I've had in a long time and the staff are so friendly and accommodating. Amazing place, would definitely recommend 👌🏻

Seen this pub change many times. This version serves great food, has a good atmosphere and friendly staff. The Devon crab was fantastic and my partner loved the mussels. Chips are tasty. Mostly seafood, there are veggie options and I saw a pork chop on the menu too.

Had a lovely Haddock & Chips, salad instead of Mushy Peas due to my dairy problem. Aspalls Cyder all very good. Will go back and have a go at the Seafood choices on the menu when my wife is back from her trip, can't wait 👍4th + visit and still great Lovely Sardines with chilli & pickled fennel. Another visit and still marvellous, still the same a few snack items and great service Went again brilliant I love this place, exceptional food and service