The Victoria

Ultimate Surbiton Pub: Atmosphere, Food, and Fun

Ah, The Victoria in Surbiton—it’s like stumbling upon a classic pub dream amid the unpredictable storms of gastro-pubs and themed diners. You step in, and you’re greeted not just by friendly faces but by an air thick with laughter, warmth, and about a million tales painted across its handsome, well-furnished space. It’s as if every corner of this establishment is vying to convince punters that they’ve found their haven—that featuring the rugged charm of Old English architecture entwined flawlessly with modern aesthetics. With an impressive lineup of cask ales to salivate over and forget the wine snobbery—bravo to whomever hand-picked those luscious cult classics for those of us still in a monogamous relationship with the grape.

I indulged in their renowned Sunday roast, infamously described as "one of the best roasts in Surbiton" and folks, it lives up to such braggadocio. The beef is perfectly blushing pink, generous potatoes cresting admirably against a whirlpool of pertinently thin (yet flavour-packed) gravy. Yorkshire puds are gloriously gargantuan—the stuff of great English fables—and apparently made for the gluttonous fantasy we all secretly crave on a Sunday. Then there’s the staff: akin to delightful characters scampering through a Bennett novel, equipped not just to serve but to create an experience; big kudos to Emma and Matthew for orchestrating seamless symphonies of service. Tap your glasses to this animated establishment, for a clear lesson learnt: it's not just about feeding bellies at The Vic—it's shaping stories in them.
— Milo Tastemaker