Victoria

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Greater London East - Barking

One star - A pub interior of special national historic interest

Listed Status: Not listed

86 Axe Street / St Ann's Road
Barking
IG11 7LZ

Tel: (020) 3645 5607

Website https://brakspear.co.uk/our-pubs/?_location=Victoria

Real ale & Cider: Real Ale

Nearby Station: Barking

Station Distance: 600m

Public Transport: Near Railway Station (Barking) and Bus Stop

Bus: Yes

View on: Whatpub

The Victoria has two separate rooms joined by a doorway at the rear of the servery, original counters and fixed bench seating.

Re-built c.1961 to replace a Victorian building nearby. The public bar on the right has an original bar counter with fine diagonal panels on the front and inlaid Formica on the top; typical of its time. The simple bar-back which is shared with the lounge on the left is probably original, and amounts to little more than a couple of shelves, although there are illuminated panels at the top of it.   

The lounge on the left retains the original counter, also with a Formica inlaid top and simple square panels on the front, as well as fixed bench seating along the left hand side. Above the original fixed seating is vertical fielded panelling. There is an area to the front of the lounge bar with fixed seating around a bay window which looks like it should be a separate room but, as there is no sign of a door into this space, it may always have been a small snug area integral to the lounge bar. The only change appears to be the adding of double doors on the front left side to access the smoking area, and this meant a small section of fixed seating has been lost. Unfortunately all the woodwork in this pub has been painted either grey or off-white. A very 1960s feature is the glass bottles embedded in the walls of both exterior porches.

Re-built c.1961 in red brick to replace a Victorian building nearby. The public bar on the right has a lino floor, a bar counter with fine diagonal panels and inlaid Formica on the top, typical of its time. The bar back appears to be original with illuminated panels over it but sadly 'fridges have replaced most of the lower shelves. The fixed seating retains baffles at both ends and another by a small missing section in the middle – was there a fireplace here originally? Probably not as large radiators heat the room.

There is door on the rear right marked ‘Fire Exit’ but was this the original reason? Gents is unaltered. The lounge on the left has carpet and retains the original counter with padded panels, an original bar back fitting where two 'fridges replace some lower shelves. Above the original fixed seating is vertical fielded panelling and the two large radiators look very 1950s style.

There is an area to the right / public bar side which looks like it should be a separate room but the panels on the walls seem to indicate it was built as an area – there is no sign of a door into this space with fixed seating around a bay window. The only change appears to be the adding of double doors on the front left side to access the smoking area that meant a small section of fixed seating has been lost. A very 1960s feature is the bottles in the wall of both exterior porches – the ones on the left have been painted over.

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