The Victoria, on Strathearn Place near London’s Paddington Station, has been named West London Pub of the Year by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
West London CAMRA chairman Wanda Piontek with Chris Cochran, general manager of The Victoria, Sandra Spiller, from The Antelope, Ellie Harper, from The Star Tavern, and other members of CAMRA
The pub, which has just re-opened following redecoration, has been under the stewardship of general manager Chris Cochran for 23 years and is famous for its outstanding beer quality, fantastic food, and period décor.
The pub’s beer range includes six cask ales from a range of suppliers, including Fuller’s London Pride and ESB, which are permanent fixtures. There is also a large range of keg and bottled beers.
Chris said: “This is such great recognition. We have come second in West London CAMRA’s Pub of the Year competition more times than I care to remember. So having just re-opened — and with the pub looking so fantastic — this is the icing on the cake.
“People used to think my wife Helen played a major role in helping me maintain the quality of my beer — but now she’s off running another Fuller’s pub, I’ve finally won. I can’t believe she’s been holding me back all these years!”
In a clean sweep for Fuller’s pubs, The Star Tavern in Belgravia — one of only five pubs that has been in every edition of The Good Beer Guide — took second place, and The Antelope, near Sloane Square, came third. The result cements the position of Fuller’s pubs as the best place to enjoy excellent cask ale and reinforces the Company’s continued commitment to having great beer as a cornerstone of its customer proposition.
Wanda Piontek, chairman of West London CAMRA, said: “The Victoria is just a delightful place to visit — it really is a quintessential embodiment of what a great pub should be. A fantastic pint, an iconic venue, and a great host in Chris. It’s a pleasure to recognise it with this award.
“It’s also good to see Fuller’s pubs scoring so highly. Fuller’s has always taken beer quality incredibly seriously and we are pleased to be able to recognise this. If you are a beer lover in London, I would definitely recommend a visit to all three of these pubs.”