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The Victoria Tavern
Review
About
165 Smart's Lane
Town Centre, Loughton IG10 4BP
020 8508 1779
Features
CUISINES
Bar, British, Pub
Meal types
Lunch, Dinner
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
FEATURES
Full Bar
Highchairs Available
Outdoor Seating
Parking Available
Seating
Serves Alcohol
Table Service
Wheelchair Accessible
Location
Parking Available
Can a gluten free person get a good meal at this restaurant?
Save this restaurant
Hours
Open until 11:00 PM
Sunday
12:00 - 23:00
Monday
11:00 - 15:0017:00 - 23:00
Tuesday
11:00 - 15:0017:00 - 23:00
Wednesday
11:00 - 15:0017:00 - 23:00
Thursday
11:00 - 15:0017:00 - 23:00
Friday
11:00 - 15:0017:00 - 23:00
Saturday
11:00 - 23:00
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4.2
191 reviews
Excellent
113
Very good
42
Average
14
Poor
6
Terrible
16
Norman B
Woodford5 contributions
Oct 2023 • couples
My wife and I went for a light lunch and chose this venue because it had a good sandwich menu. We were made to feel very welcome and served straight away. We chose tuna and mayo sandwiches served with salad and a shared portion of chips. Often one finds that bread is not fresh and salad wilting and unpleasant. Not in this case! The bread was thick sliced and fresh, and the filling tasty and generous. Salad was fresh with tasty dressing and the chips were as good as we have eaten anywhere. To add to the experience it was great for someone of my era, elderly and old school, to find a pub selling a number of high quality real ales. Quality and good value.
Well done to all at The Victoria Tavern. We will be back soon.
Norman and Vicki.
Written 3 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thealbinobiker
6 contributions
Jul 2021 • solo
Asianpleasure101, as one of the kitchen team at this establishment i can wholeheartedly guarantee your issue with the pub has absolutely nothing to do with your skin colour, nationality or beliefs. The fact that food was still being sent out after you were told we had stopped serving is because they would have been food tickets put up on our rack BEFORE THE 14:30 DEADLINE and has only just been freshly cooked and sent out, and has nothing to do with who you are as a person. I would strongly suggest you step back and think about it before throwing out wild accusations that could finish a business. We have staff AND many locals of every different walk of life, and heritage who we welcome every day and provide a great service to, and you are doing them all a major disservice with your wild, jumped up accusations based on no facts whatsoever. We look forward to WELCOMING you back in the future for an enjoyable meal, between the hours of 12-2:30 & 6-9.
Written 14 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DarrenandCaroline
London158 contributions
Oct 2020 • none
This pub is doing wonders to cater for the local community in very difficult times. James and the team have done everything possible to ensure that customers are safe and well looked after. The staff work hard to deliver table service and the food is also excellent.
During lockdown the takeaway service has been first class, the food is piping hot and tasty. The Vic team have also provided lunch packs to local families struggling during the school holidays.
A great comunity pub.
Written 16 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jp
2 contributions
Jul 2021 • family
Went there to try to get a meal as it was the closest place to get a meal before hiking with the family to Epping forest. Got there around 14:20. Waited by the sign that said table service. 2 of the waitress ignored us. So just sat and asked wife to go in and check if we can be accommodated. Sat down hoping to get lunch before hike. When the waitress came over we asked to see the menu. She then said that the kitchen was closed as it was 14:30. Asked if she can give us any kind of food? All she did was looked at me with a blank stare and without saying a word. Told her I will have some snack and a pint of juice she then repeated the order. Another waitress came over with a tiny bottle of apple juice and a crisp for £4.20, asked the other waiter if there was any other place to eat as we were starving, she just said that there could be restaurants by the high road. Asked what time they will be serving food was advised that they will re open the kitchen at 6pm. As we were about to leave the table next to us just had their food delivered to their table. And we were like we thought the kitchen was closed. The waitress then said that was the last food. As we were leaving for the forest another food was delivered to another table. Not sure if our attire (was we suppose to wear a shirt and slack with leather shoes to hike?) was not good enough to eat at this pub, but this experience really put me off. Not saying that we felt alienated as we are the only non white family that was sitting there. Not sure if the waitresses was having an off day. Anyway just to let anyone else coming from London who is probably not white or have the British accent, don’t waste your time. Eat at the restaurant near the station, Zizzi or other place which are more welcoming.
Written 13 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katherine H
2 contributions
Aug 2021 • none
Much reduced menu, not the same as advertised on their website.
Sticky tables on arrival that hadn't been wiped from previous occupants.
Surly waitress who clearly didn't want to be there with her eye rolling.
Both burgers (@£14 each) came with burnt and blackened brioche buns, more eye rolling when we requested non-blackened brioche buns please.
Scampi (similarly priced) way overcooked and outer casing inedible (dark brown/black.)
New brioche buns came back untoasted - clearly too much trouble to toast them or chef is incapable of cooking anything without blackening it. This made burgers soggy along with the excess burger sauce inside.
Son spilled a drink, we apologised, waitress said she'd clear it up. She didn't so we continued the meal with half the table even more sticky.
Had got to the point where waitress' attitude and how she made us feel and general incompetence of chef to cook basics meant we felt meal was beyond repair, plus we didn't want to ruin a family meal any further.
Noone bothered to ask if our meal was satisfactory until after the bill was paid. When faults were raised nothing was done to recompense, instead a vacuous and insincere "Sorreeee".
Only three desserts on the menu, two of which are chocolate.
Poor food, poor customer service and food way overpriced.
Waste of £67, will not be returning and will spread the word.
Written 18 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steven M
London33 contributions
May 2021 • none
We went here for lunch today, midweek. First time visit. Food very ordinary, nothing to get excited about but the main issue was how unfriendly and offhand the staff were. Our two waitresses were both not interested in out welfare and when I popped my head around the door to ask the girl behind the bar if we could order, I was met with a non-chalant "Somebody will be with you soon". Also, by all means charge £3.50 for a side of chips, but at least put a decent size portion in the bowl. How much do potatoes cost??
Written 26 May 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Charlot H
Amsterdam9 contributions
Oct 2020 • friends
Okay. I am sorry to review negatively but not once were we asked if our meal was okay, soooo... We tipped at payment as we do in the UK but the whole situation was not worth it and obviously we were not going to ask for a refund especially in current times.
Tables were not cleared, throughout the whole garden, including ashtrays which is weird. Our meat came out, then slowly the veg (basic school dinner / micro veg vibes without seasoning), then came the drinks, at which point payment was requested for the additional drinks without any cutlery present. We asked for the cutlery before the drink payment(!) but no urgency was portrayed by the waitress and it came after. Obviously it was cold as been ages and we were outside. Beside the fact the food was tasteless, the beef was extremely strange and the veggie roast was basic veggie sausages that probably cost around 70p for 2 and the aunt bessies roast potatoes... 2/3 people have had extremely bad guts for the past couple hours and are feeling pretty unwell. Oh and also no horseradish ever appeared. Please get it together guys, you have a prime location and nice settings.
Written 25 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MattBlacksky
2 contributions
Jun 2021 • none
Weird experience to be honest - went with my wife and young daughter and all was fine until we asked for dessert and were told no by the young waitress. She told us curtly that the kitchen was closed becuase they were too busy. We explained that we were halfway through our meal and that our daughter was looiking forward to her dessert (as children often are) but she clearly couldn't care less. We asked for the manager and she went off to get them but came back a little while later with her bag, walked past us and left the pub! Turns out it was the end of her shift and she hadn't told anybody at all about us. I asked for the manager again and was told that they would be out but again nobody came. At this point I'd had enough and went into the pub myself only to be told that they were very busy and therefore couldn't attend to everybody. I argued with the three people behind the bar who weren't doing anything and they were very dismissive and one even said, 'We're a pub not a restaurant'.
I left after that and obviously will not be going back. Real shame.
Written 5 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keira
London4 contributions
Oct 2020 • family
Visited the pub today for Sunday lunch. The place was busy but that doesn’t excuse the terrible service. Waited at least 10-15 mins when we asked for anything. The staff also weren’t very friendly or apologetic for the bad service. The roast dinner was below average, food needs seasoned and need to serve better quality beef. Will not be back for Sunday lunch!
Written 11 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda B
2 contributions
Feb 2021 • none
During lockdown, when pubs and restaurants are closed, for a real treat we would recommend the Vic's takeaway Sunday Roast. It is of consistent high quality and the roast potatoes are to die for! It makes such a nice change not to cook for yourself and it's something to look forward to brighten your day. James & his team are doing a brilliant job to keep things going during this time & we can't praise them enough.
Written 16 February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arthur S
1 contribution
Apr 2021 • family
I tried to reserve a table at the Victoria Tavern for my birthday this weekend, however we were informed that the pub was only taking ‘walk ins’ by the manager. On the off chance, we walked to the tavern on my birthday and to my surprise multiple tables were ‘reserved’ despite being previously told that this wasn’t possible. Despite it being busy on the day, there were various tables that were not fully occupied.
I even mentioned to a waitress working that day that there were two six seater tables occupied by three young boys - her response was that I could ask them to move. This was definitely not the response I was expecting...
Overall, I am extremely disappointed by the lack of customer care provided by this pub and I certainly won’t be returning to it hastily!
Luckily there are plenty of other nice pubs in Loughton for enjoyment...
Written 16 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MJin essex
3 contributions
Dec 2020 • none
We were given a prebooked table opposite a group of 6 VERY noisy middle aged men. When we asked to be moved the staff struggled to find us somewhere else to sit. They managed to find us a table by the ladies toilets which meant my husband had to move every time someone wanted to use the facilities. These 6 men could still be heard at the other end of the pub - tell me how this can be classed as social distancing how can they all be in a support bubble together. Food was fine we all had fish and chips - 2 of our group would have liked steak pie but it was sold out. It was hot and fresh my preference is for the fish to be skinned but otherwise we enjoyed our meal but will not return at the moment because it would appear that the social distancing rules were relaxed for this group . We did not see them eating and they were still there when we left carousing.
Written 5 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sue
4 contributions
Sept 2023 • friends
Have been a customer for almost 20 yrs. Visited twice in last 2 weeks and sadly both not good. Ignored at the bar, locals came in and were served 1st. No big deal really. Bar staff rude . Bar sticky as were tables. Staff outside kept asking if our glasses were done even though we both had half a glass left. Won't be returning
Written 1 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
K Spencer
4 contributions
Jul 2022 • family
Had a lovely lunch but where we sat inside all we could hear was the kitchen staff shouting and swearing. The language used was awful and some would say offensive. The chef even came out shouting at his colleague. I had prawn sandwich with salad and coleslaw. I actually had to look for the coleslaw.
Written 28 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nigel T
Loughton53 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
This is an excellent traditional British pub. They serve an extensive menu of excellent British food which I can't fault. Also has a garden with tables for sunny days.
This was a group of eight friends and we all ordered different dishes. All were served together and we all loved our choices.
Wines were very good and fairly priced.
Written 20 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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