Victoria Hotel, Beeston

The Victoria Hotel, or The Vic as it is locally known, is a popular hotel and public house in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, England. It is noted for its quality beer and restaurant. It has banned the use of mobile phones inside the premises. [ [http://www.victoriabeeston.co.uk/general_information/ Victoria Beeston - General information] ]

History

Beginnings

There have been several incarnations of the Victoria Hotel. The first was built by Samuel Herrick Surplice at Station Villas in Beeston in 1840. It was named after Queen Victoria who had acceded to the British throne just three years previously in 1837. In 1868, the hotel was rebuilt on a new site opposite the Beeston Brewery.

Changes

The new owners, Ind Coope, rebuilt the hotel again in 1897, the year of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Their ambitious plans included twelve letting rooms, three bar rooms, a dining room, three large recreation rooms, pleasure gardens, stabling and a coach house; however, these were slightly curtailed in 1898. In 1899, Ind Coope opened the Victoria Commercial Hotel - this is the date recognised on the front of the buildings today. In 1906, plans were approved to convert the coach house into a bath house, presumably for public use, but the conversion never took place. By the 1980s, the Victoria Hotel had fallen on hard times.

Restoration and Modern Times

In 1994, the Vic was acquired by Tynemill who began work to restore the shell of the building to its former glory. Tynemill partially re-opened the Vic on June 29 1994 using the Vaults Bar and Smoke Room only. The Victoria Hotel's centenary year saw the inaugural "Vicfest" - a celebration of food, music and beer. This now takes place each summer.

The Vic is currently operated by the Hands On Pub Company in an agreement with Tynemill.

Awards

*Nottingham Evening Post – Pub Of The Year 1995
*Nottinghamshire Dining Pub Of The Year – Good Pub Guide 2002
*Nottingham Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Pub Of Excellence Award Feb 2003
*The Times – Pub Of The Year , Runner-Up 2000

Listings

*CAMRA Good Beer Guide
*The Good Pub Guide
*A.A. Good Pub Guide
*Which? Good Pub Guide
*Hardens Top UK Restaurants

References

External links

* [http://www.victoriabeeston.co.uk The Victoria Hotel homepage]