Pubs and Bars / Pub of the Week
Pub of the Week: The Victoria Park
A merry hubbub of voices fills The Victoria Park, which is looking decidedly festive on a recent Wednesday evening.
A lone man sits reading his Kindle at one of the wooden tables in front of the bar, a glass of red wine sits barely touched before him.
With a blast of cold night air, the door opens, and a woman wearing a long, dark coat enters. Their eyes almost meet as she scans the candlelit room. Alas, she fixes upon a table in the far corner and heads over to join a big group of friends.
is needed now More than ever
No love at first sight story tonight, but there is a certain magic in the air this brisk mid-December evening.
It could be the golden glow of fairy lights twinkling over the rustic wooden surfaces, or the festive scent of mulled wine wafting from behind the bar making this night particularly special, but this is a pub that tends to shine whatever the season.
The Victoria has a well-earned reputation as a gastropub, and a pretty up market one at that.
But it is also a local in the heart of the community – one where you can leave the Brexit shambles and worries of the world behind, kick off your shoes (maybe not literally) and allow yourself to be engulfed in its safe, warm embrace.
Take refuge during those rare snowy days and you won’t be able to move for sledges, excitable children and parents making the most of an excuse for a middle-of-the-day bevy.
Pop in for a summer evening drink and you’ll be fighting for space in the tiered garden, where large picnic tables are crammed with locals and dogs soaking up the last of the rays, while children play on the grass and pizzas are whisked from the clay oven to waiting diners.
The feature window that has taken the place of the pub’s rear wall affords fantastic views across south Bristol on a clear day.
This evening, the view is more one of a cosy ‘après ski’ scene. A canopy provides shelter over the garden patio area and large gas heaters work briskly to warm customers outside – an addition that is probably doing the environment no favours, but does add to the atmosphere.
Back inside, the rich scent of hearty winter fare blends with the tantalising scent of sourdough pizzas fresh from the oven.
The soup is a fairly pint-sized portion for £5, but is a delectable creamy parsnip flavour, complemented by a chunk of fresh bread and heavenly salty butter. The mulled wine is a heart-warming treat.
A blast of cold air escapes through the rear door as a small group of women heads outside, while the lone man continues to read his Kindle in the warm. It is after all a perfect place to take refuge from the outside world.
The Victoria Park, 66 Raymend Road, Bristol, BS3 4QW
0117 330 6043
www.thevictoriapark.co.uk
Read more: Pub of the Week: King William Ale House
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