The Victoria — Restaurant in London

My family and I travelled from Plymouth to stay at the Victoria all in preparation for watching the rugby at twickenham the following day. On arrival, the manager did not respond to us wanting to check in and only asked ‘you here for nicks party?’ to which we said no. We were then told our room wasn’t available which was not a problem. We found a table in the conservatory to sit for lunch and drinks. Shortly after, many children and their families piled into the conservatory, shouting, banging, screaming and slamming doors. Again, not a problem, we assumed it must have been ‘nicks party’ and moved to the garden. It was around 3pm that a waiter came to our table and told us that it was ‘last orders’ and that he would need us to leave the venue for a ‘private function’ through the remainder of the evening. At this point we expressed our upset. We had just paid good money to the establishment for lunch, drinks and accommodation to which we were only being told hours after arrival that we were unable to use the facilities of the pub we chose to stay at. We were very disappointed as we had chose this accommodation because of the option of dining and drinking below where we would rest for the following day. We strongly feel that we should have been advised after our booking was made 6 months ago that we would be unable to use the facilities so we could make a choice of whether we would prefer to book somewhere else. The waiter asked if we would like to speak to the manager and my dad declined as he didn’t want to have the discussion publicly and wanted to wait until he could catch her more subtly. We were then locked in the garden while the staff pulled the curtains down so we could not look into the conservatory. We walked back around the front and went to get changed to find somewhere else to stay for the evening. My mum and dad went for a quiet word with the manager who was unapologetic and defensive. My mum got so upset she had to walk away. My dad explained the issue and she offered to pay for us to get a taxi to the sister pub in Fulham, we declined because we wanted to stay locally. When my mum returned to the bar she could not see our family and was a bit lost and disorientated. My mum asked the manager, named Natalie, how to get out of the pub to which she barked ‘you walk out of the front door’. She is of course unaware that my mum in partially blind. We went out for the evening and on return the party appeared to be dying out and we asked for a drink at the bar. We were then told that we could have a drink but would have to drink it in our bedrooms. We then got talking to the host of the party who was outraged that we were being treated like that as residents and invites us to join his party. The staff were reluctant and seemingly embarrassed. Natalie was clearly muttering under her breathe and we were on the receiving end of several filthy looks. I asked Natalie her name and she rudely said why without even looking at me. I explained that she was the management and as such I wanted to know her name and she reluctantly gave it to me. The following morning during check out she did not even look up again or ask how our stay was. Assumingly because the service was shocking and she knew it. Absolutely tragic. That is not to mention the uncomfortable beds and trying to sleep through a flight path. I will not be returning and it seems Natalie requires a course in customer service before she offends more families and barks sarcastic and unhelpful remarks to more women who are partially...

A few minutes walk from Richmond Park is The Victoria, the most delicious place created by restaurateur Greg Bellamy and chef Paul Merrett. The perfect escape on a sunny week-end. This address has seduced many palates and guess what? It was awarded best Greater London region gastropub in 2011. Now why would you miss tasting this?

After a long walk, cheeks all pinked by the fresh spring air, d. Between town and countryside, you will immediately be seduced by the wooden counter, the dark wood, the brick walls, the homey feeling. Tables for two, other nestled along the windows, bigger one to welcome friends, a leather sofa near the fire, a collection of Penguin books, a selection of 25 wines by the glass. Ideal, right? The Victoria believes, together with skilled cuisine, in the quality of their ingredient. A page of the menu explains in detail the origin of meat, fish, eggs… but also includes anecdotes, the love for British product. They even use a forager. Recycling is a must too, even cooking oil will help to make bio-fuel.

A look at the starters list and I am very intrigued. If I have already tried Jersey rock oysters, they were always raw, with maybe a drop of tabasco sauce. But those - and aren’t they pretty too? – have been opened then cooked straight away in the lightest batter you can imagine, encapsulating the sea flavours. amazing. The texture reminds of mussels, more refined, more melt in the mouth. Beautiful presentation in the oyster shell on mushed-spring-peas. There is, in fact, no need for the tartar sauce, each bite is close to perfection. The magic of this restaurant is also the friendly feeling and the possibility to get chatting with complete strangers. And so I couldn’t resist sharing one of those with the next table, one of the guest having been a chef. We dreamt together, him picturing it with a little touch of lime, me nodding and imagining it.

Absolutely fantastic food....

We stayed at The Victoria for 3 nights this month. On arrival the person on reception was very abrupt and didn't seem to be expecting us. The room was very small dark and dingy with a small window. There was a coffee/tea making machine which was difficult to use, the tea available was either Earl Grey or a fruit tea, no ordinary tea. Two biscuits were available. There was no wardrobe just a rail on which were 4 hooks and 3 hangers. There was no fridge in the room so the fresh orange juice I had purchased earlier had to be left in the boot of our car. A small television was perched on the wall in the corner of the room. The bathroom was very small, long and narrow. There was one small glass shelf on which to put toiletries (enough space for just a few small bottles) and nowhere else to put any other items. The carpet was soiled and dirty looking. Downstairs there was a smell of drains coming from the toilets and the smell emanated into the dining room. Breakfast is continental and included in the price, poor choice of food, we had to ask for milk for our cereals even though the dining room was empty each day. A member of staff came to ask if we would like tea/coffee but only on the last morning did anyone ask if we would like an extra cup. We felt as though we were intruding. Each time we left or returned to the hotel no staff behind the bar acknowledged us even looked up. When we checked out we weren't asked if we had enjoyed our stay where we were travelling to etc. the usual things we have been asked in other hotels. We are well travelled and have stayed in many hotels in London and around the world and we can honestly say that this was our worst experience. We would consider this hotel as 3...