The sign in the window of The Victoria Park is the first clue as to whether or not four-legged guests are encouraged or sent away with their tail between their legs. It simply reads ‘Dogs welcome inside - we love ’em’, which is probably why there were so many pooches in the pub when I arrived.
All pubs have different rules when it comes to canine customers. Some may offer the token bowl of water, others go as far as having jars of treats on the bar, but this pub between Bedminster and Windmill Hill does things differently when it comes to furry regulars.
At The Victoria Park, they are pretty much welcomed as warmly as their owners. Those dogs lucky enough to have their photo taken by staff even end up with the honour of appearing on a framed gallery of snapshots under the heading ‘Vicky P pooches’.
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When the pub was first transformed from The Raymend in 2010, the original owners had a dog called Sausage, who used to greet customers. The Victoria Park has since been taken over by pub giants the Stonegate Group, which has more than 4,500 sites across the UK, but it’s good to see them continue the dog-friendly nature of this popular neighbourhood pub.
Despite now being owned by one of the biggest pub companies around, The Victoria Park really has retained its original community vibe, right down to original paintings and prints from Windmill Hill-based artist Tom Lietzau. There’s a noticeboard plastered with flyers for local events and groups, shelves of toys and board games for the kids and even a ‘Vicky P library’ allowing locals to swap books.
On a Wednesday evening, there’s a quiz and live music happens on Saturday nights. The Sunday lunches are hugely popular with local families and the pub runs a sandwich and drink deal every weekday until 4pm, presumably to encourage local home-workers to leave their desks for an hour.
Large pub group-owned pubs often don’t get chance to stock local beers but The Victoria Park has an impressive range of Bristol-brewed ales including Moor Nano Cask and Bristol Beer Factory Fortitude. Other draught beers and lagers include Gamma Ray, Amstel, Peroni, Guinness, Asahi and Birra Moretti, with Thatchers Gold and Aspall on tap for ciderheads and a range of cocktails.
The food menu has more of a generic Stonegate Group look than the rest of the pub. One of the giveaway signs is the calorie count next to each dish, something most small, independent pubs don’t bother with, unlike the big chains.
The menu itself includes small plates, burgers and main courses such as fish and chips, chicken schnitzel, and steak and ale pie. Vegans and vegetarians are also well catered for, with dishes like quinoa and black bean chilli or Quorn sausage and mash.
One of the pub’s big draws, apart from its close proximity to the lovely park it’s named after, is the surprisingly large, tiered garden with far-reaching views across rooftops towards Dundry. This is a prime spot on those balmy August evenings when air balloons drift across south Bristol from Ashton Court.
There’s also a pizza oven in the garden and this will be fired up in the coming weeks ready to serve them throughout the summer months. Alfresco pizzas, local beer and stunning views from the garden - it’s no wonder BS3 locals love The Victoria Park as much as those pampered pooches.
The Victoria Park, 66 Raymond Road, Bristol, BS3 4QW. Tel: 0117 9928797.
