The Victoria Park neighbourhood, clustered around the popular park of the same name, has recently become one of the most sought-after locations in Bristol. Like Southville and Greenbank before it, Victoria Park has gone through a rapid process of gentrification, becoming a haven for middle class professionals, moneyed thirtysomethings and young families attracted by the area’s hazy leafiness.
The opening of The Victoria Park pub in 2010 – in the distinctive red brick building that used to sport working class local The Raymend – is testament to this gentrification process. From the start, the ‘Vic’ has aimed itself at the area’s growing band of young professionals, with light, airy decor and furnishings to match.
If you’ve been to, say, The Greenbank or The Spotted Cow, you should know what to expect. It’s a comfortable, relaxed and easygoing place to drink, with a pleasant outdoor space and a solid selection of cask ales, wines and continental lagers to quench your thirst. Like those other pubs, The Victoria Park puts good food – reasonably priced, given the quality – at the heart of its offering.
There’s little groundbreaking about the menu – think higher class takes on pub favourites, with some modern British dishes thrown in – but the food is uniformly tasty. Pleasingly, they do some great small plates, with the baked brie with sourdough toast and chipotle chilli jam being particularly moreish.