Victoria Inn — Restaurant in Colchester

This is a complicated one to score to be fair. Upon a quick stop off in Colchester near the station, I was attracted to The Magnet but it didn’t open until much later.

First impressions of The Victoria weren’t too bad with a friendly young bar lass and a decent selection of unusual lagers and plenty of ales.

Upon further inspection the yellow jumpered old boys from the ‘Victoria Inn old gits club’ sent alarm bells ringing. Given they made up most of the clientele and were just a bit hostile to anyone who wasn’t part of the ‘club’ it felt like boomer central and one to drink up and leave.

It’s a shame really as the pub has potential and these guys haven’t got that long left, so should embrace any new blood to keep the place going once they pass.

The young bar girl was nice though and I’m not sure why she bothers! That justifies the extra star as two would normally suffice for such a place, despite the good selection of beer which was all quite reasonably priced. Once the old boys have gone I’m sure it’d be great. Luckily I don’t need to hurry back...

In response to Ben Morris's review, the gentlemen in question were talking VERY loudly while the band were playing which was disruptive, disrespectful and unpleasant for the customers who were there to see the live music, plus extremely off putting to the musicians!! There were other areas of the pub that were more suitable to you if you wanted to have a chat and I believe you were asked politely to lower the levels of volume and even offered another area to sit! To leave a review 10 minutes after leaving the premises and not even speak to the management shows more disrespect and a certainly level of harshness! To rate the venue 2 after one experience could be damaging, as people often pick a location by recent reviews so thank you for doing a typical keyboard warrior act! If in future you'd like to go for a chat in a pub maybe try one that doesn't have live, great and entertaining...

Best pub in Colchester by any normal measure. OK they don’t serve food (unless you count locally sourced crisps, pork scratchings and home made pickled eggs [3 of your major food groups right there]), but the beers and ciders are sublime and surprising, and the staff welcoming to regulars and new customers alike, and delighted to talk you through the brews on offer.

Oh, and most Sunday afternoons there’s live music on - walk in off the street free, gratis and for nothing, to hear top notch acts...anyone with a shred of a beating heart will praise to the rafters the quality of the bands in the Vic, and the commitment of Andrew and Sheena to keep music live in this gem of a...