London & South East Premier Hospitality

Victoria Inn

Victoria Inn
Written by Roma Publications

The Victoria Inn

Victoria Inn

One of London’s most historic pubs has reopened following a major refurbishment. First opened over a century ago in 1878, The Victoria Inn has been given a contemporary refresh yet at the same time the classic heritage feel remains.

With 15 newly revamped guestrooms, brand new food and drink menus and a private dining space for up to 15 people, the refurbishment was no small task. Situated in a quiet corner of Peckham, the pub is now more equipped than ever before to cater for a variety of customers.

At its very core, The Victoria Inn has and always will be a place for locals to enjoy a quiet drink and a bite to eat with friends. However, the historic venue is also a hidden gem for visitors looking to explore the unique surroundings for the first time.

Beginning with the pub and restaurant, the space is now a stylish mix of old and new. Original period details, such as the horse show bar, remain and blend with new furniture and decorative pieces. The range of drinks available has been extended alongside traditional light bar snacks. Artisan craft beers and locally distilled spirits are available for customers looking to embrace the local culture alongside an eclectic collection of organic and biodynamic wines. New additions to the wine list include vegan wines from East Sussex and low sulphur wines from Lebanon.

Under newly appointed head chef Dan Smith, the 100 cover restaurant will be serving high quality dishes using the best ingredients from local suppliers and producers. Putting a twist on traditional cooking, the dinner menu includes Crispy Fried Squid, Baked Devon Crab and Detox Spa Salad. However, it is on a Sunday when the new menu comes into its own. Roast Scottish beef, Roast free range chicken, Roast Dingley Dell pork belly and Nut Roast are all served with classic Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, seasonal vegetables and gravy.

Decorated in soft brown and blue hues, the restaurant space features antique wooden chairs and newly upholstered banquettes covered in deeply comfortable dark leather. Large windows allow natural light to bathe to the pub and restaurant whilst artwork on the walls gives a subtle nod to the history of Peckham. Classy external signage and a bold grey paint job that clashes with the buildings original brickwork catches the eye immediately, enticing customers inside.

A private dining space will also be used for parties and supper clubs. Furnished with a long table made from light-coloured wood, the space can seat up to 15 people. To help maximise income and functionality, during the day it will be available to local businesses and residents who can utilise the digital facilities for presentations. Technology is also visible in the pub where customers can use the ‘Secret DJ’ app to add their favourite tracks to a digital jukebox.

Prior to the refurbishment, The Victoria Inn was able to offer 19 guestrooms but one of the key aspects of the development was downsizing to 15 rooms. The reason for this was to make each room significantly larger and enhance the experience of guests. Created by ADS Design, the guestrooms are Scandinavian inspired with clean lines and muted tones of off-white and slate with pops of yellow. Each room has unique art pieces and fixtures as well as a Nespresso coffee machine, air conditioning and a sound system.

To help maintain a relaxed and informal atmosphere, there is no fixed reception with guests instead asked to check in and out at the bar. Speaking about the re-opening, Joe Sheasgreen commented:

“We are delighted to bring The Victoria Inn back to its former glory as a relaxed and friendly pub in which to enjoy a beer or a comforting meal in our beautifully refurbished restaurant. With 15 stylish guestrooms, we wanted to celebrate the vibrancy of Peckham and showcase the area to our resident guests as well as remaining a firm favourite with the locals. We are extremely delighted to open our doors to the Peckham community and beyond.”

Reviews since the refurbishment completed have been extremely positive, both in terms of the revamped food and drink options and the new rooms.

In terms of location, The Victoria Inn is an excellent base from which to explore some of London’s less publicised tourist attractions. Peckham has developed as a creative hotspot in recent years and there are plenty of galleries dotted around the area such as South London Gallery. Each Sunday foodies can indulge themselves at the excellent Peckham Farmers’ Market, while just around the corner is Bellenden Road, home to an extensive range of quirky independent shops and vintage boutiques stocking fashion, books and homeware.

As a member of the Metropolitan Pub Company, The Victoria Inn is part of a collection of over 70 local pubs each with their own distinctive character and charm in London and beyond. Every pub is different, specifically developed to serve the needs of its community. From suburban locals, to city pubs and foodie destinations, the things that unite each one are a friendly welcoming atmosphere, contemporary furnishings, craft beers and quality food.

Victoria Inn

Stroods

Stroods is a leading construction and interiors contractor specialising in works within the hospitality industry; from bars and clubs, to restaurants & pubs. Stroods has been in operation since 1988 and each year completes around 100 projects, with 60% of the company’s turnover taking place within the hospitality and leisure sector.

Over the past 28 years Stroods has worked on many prestigious projects, from the Lanes of London Restaurant at the Marriott Park Lane to Whittard of Chelsea in Covent Garden, the Voltaire Bar at the Crowne Plaza and the Herb ‘N’ Kitchen deli at the Hilton Metropole. Most recently, Stroods was the main contractor on the Victoria Inn project for Greene King.

Discussing the importance of the project, Stroods Director, Craig Davies, said:

“We’ve worked with Greene King for 25 years and are heavily involved in their Sparkle and Refurbishment programme. We value our working relationship with this client.”

Craig added:

“At Stroods, we always finish on time and the majority of our work comes from recommendation or repeat business – this is something we are very proud of.”

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Roma Publications