90 Walton Street,
Jerico,
Oxford,
OX2 6EB
(01865) 511 516
The ViewOxford Review
Hallelujah. The Victoria has been transformed into a veritable a cult of Jericho coolness.
The Venue
Re-opened in January after being shut for a year for a complete overhaul, The Victoria has been through a miraculous transformation. It’s still a traditional pub but the revamp has introduced modern touches and flashes of stylistic genius.
It’s no surprise then to find out it’s all been done under the aegis of the man behind the supercool Raoul’s up the road, Matt Davies. It’s had a fresh lick of paint outside and inside the wood and fittings for the bar have been salvaged from a church. There’s a large model Hawker aeroplane suspended from the ceiling right in the middle of the pub too. Above that is a galleried area with chandeliers hanging down.
There are big mirrors, chunky candles on the tables, wood panelling on the walls as well as brown and cream flower and bird wallpaper. There’s a stag’s head on the wall too and a model of the Cutty Sark up on the ledge on the top floor room which leads out to the front terrace. There’s a big Sistene Chapel style mural on the ceiling with God and Adam clinking drinks rather than touching fingers. The back patio is stunning with bamboo screens, chunky arty cube chairs and tables and a pebbled beach style floor. There are palm trees too and bamboo shoots along the sides.
The People
Everyone seems to be flocking to The Victoria, attracted by its drinks, flair and food — and most of them can easily afford their reasonable prices. It's a jumbled mix of students, young professionals, couples and people who like eating pies in cosy pubs.
The Food and Drink
On tap there’s Guinness, Budweiser, Peroni, Jenning’s Cumberland, Banks’ Bitter, Kronenbourg and, unusually, Thatcher’s Somerset Cider Gold. And in bottles there’s Newcastle Brown, Leffe, Sol, Budweiser and the crisp and hoppy Old Empire.
The wine list is drawn up in conjunction with Oddbins and is excellent. The house red is a Nero D’Avola and is £10.80 a bottle — prices don’t rise much beyond £13, which is all very equitable. A glass of Prosecco is £4.20. A baked camembert sandwich is £3.70 as is a sausage and onion sarnie. They also do pies by award-winning local experts M Newitt and Sons (who have been sampled and given the thumbs-up by Prince Charles). One of their creamy chicken and tarragon pies is £4.50.
The Last Word
The Victoria has changed almost beyond recognition and is truly a thing of beauty.
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