July - Victoria Hotel
438 Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester, M20 3BW
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month award for July 2013 has been awarded to the Victoria, Wilmslow Road, Withington, writes Jim Flynn.
This late 19th century pub with its period exterior and etched windows has been a Hydes house for almost 110 years now. Although over the years the pub has been opened out the most recent tasteful and sensitive refurbishment has created distinct drinking areas that almost create separate rooms again giving the place a more intimate feel. At the rear of the pub there is an attractive outdoor beer patio where you can enjoy a cool beer in the sunshine.
However any pub is more than just its structure and decor. Its excellence is measured by the quality of its fare and the warmth of the welcome. On all these points the Victoria scores extremely highly under the guidance of its relatively new licensees, Alyson Spibey and Paul Mitchell who arrived in late 2012. Although they have only been in the trade for three years (previously they worked for Samuel Smiths in Chester and in Edinburgh) they have really demonstrated a passion for real ale and an ability to create a real friendly atmosphere.
Paul and Alyson's labours have ensured that the Victoria is very much a pub at the heart of its community with an eclectic mix of customers including families, pensioners, locals and more mature students. However it is with the beer that the two have really excelled with nine different cask ales at all times from across the Hydes portfolio and three or more guest beers always in excellent form. On a Monday and Thursday all casks beers are just £2.35 a pint all day so all goes well for the presentation night, Thursday 25th July 2013.
The pub is on one of the UK's busiest bus routes with amongst others the 41, 42, 43, 142 and 143 from the city centre and 42 from Stockport passing the door and other routes dropping close by including the 84 from Reddish and the Heatons.