Victoria Hotel, Great Harwoodback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This place should be a model for any prospective Pub Manager or Landlord to learn from. Jean the Landlady is quite unique. You go in get served sit down and enjoy the experience. Beer quality as ever is magnificent as is the choice. Cannot rate this place highly enough.
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The Victoria was the pub of the day in Lancashire for us. The several roomed interior is in a fantastic condition. I would say the pub has been restored, but if so, very sympathetically. All rooms are tastefully decorated. One room has a pool table, but still has plenty of character. Another features a dart board. A lounge has great views over the pub garden and down into the valley. The bar area itself and the entrance have marvellous green and white tiling. To top it all, the beer selection is also impressive - Cottage Diamond Sovereign & MGB, Timothy Taylor Landlord, Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Hopstar Dizzy Danny, Pennine Glen Top Bitter, Hawkshead Windermere Pale Ale & Conwy Clogwyn Gold. The locals were fairly friendly too. Whilst sneaking glimpses of the beer range, I nearly managed to wander into the ladies. My wife did inform me that they were worth a view!
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Superbly traditional locals' boozer in archetypal Lancastrian suburban scenery. It's a pain to find, located at the bottom of several hilly terraced streets at the very edge of the town (known locally as 'Railway Bottoms'), and overlooking a farm. However, do persevere, as a gem awaits.
The pub is badged as a Hydes pub but appears to be a freehouse, with Salamander Springbok, Goose Eye No Eye Deer, Fuzzy Duck Feathers, Coach House Bitter, Hawkshead Bitter, Landlord and Deuchars making for a more than acceptable showing, not rivalled for miles around. Had two pints of the Hawkshead which was an excellent pint as ever.
The pub features on the CAMRA National Inventory of Unspoilt Pub Interiors for its classic unaltered Edwardian interior. The lobby as you enter has crea mand green Art-Nouveau tiles from top to bottom and forms a U-shape around the bar. This is itself is impressive, with the top part made up of etched glass windows in wooden frames. The ceiling of the lobby is also wood-panelled.
At the front the lobby opens up into a vault which forms one side of the bar, but the other four rooms accessed from the lobby are comletely separate, with their own door. These are two games rooms in the corners, a small snug in the middle, and a lounge at the back. Each room is highly individual and tastefully furnished with rustic furniture and wallpaper, giving a fine timeless feel. the games rooms (front for darts and rear for pool) have unusual slatted wall-mounted bench seating around the room, and one wonders how comfortable they must be!
Usually you'd expect such a locals place to be cliquey but a warm welcome is extended here.
It's a great unspoilt place and is worth the effort to reach, I for one look forward to returning.
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Blimey it does take some finding but what a gem. Very welcoming, traditional pub. The selection of ales was incredible (6 on our visit) and the quality was spot on. A great find, go there now.
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Hard to find, but well worth it. One of the best pubs I have ever been in . 8 guest real ales, spotlessly clean.
Very friendly clientele. The landlady, Jean, is a star.
Gave our driver free coffee. Not a "foody" pub, but you may get free sandwiches or chips on pool or darts match nights. Original green tile interior and etched glass in the doors.
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Multi roomed Grade II listed Edwardian boozer with a wonderful tiled interior. Lots of very good beers and a star turn of a landlady called Jean.
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