Style Points: 3/5
Price: £
Overall: 5/5

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 of all 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.

British Tapas Platter

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.

Website: www.thevicmileend.co.uk

Address: The Victoria, 110 Grove Rd, Mile End, London, E3 5TH