UPDATE: We revisited the Victoria Inn at the beginning of September 2016 and had a really nice meal in the dining room. Although their Eton mess dessert was nice, it wasn’t a patch on the one I’d had earlier in the day at the Bat & Ball in Hambledon. Service was very good and very friendly. No photo’s of our recent visit as it was quite dark inside and so they came out rather rubbish.
My husband, Geoff and I had been for a lovely country walk around Adsdean, West Sussex and needed to re-fuel. There are several places we could have gone to in the area of course, The Richmond Arms in West Ashling or Compton Village Shop & Tearooms (which is my regular cycle-ride haunt) but we decided to visit The Victoria Inn at West Marden.
Our last visit was just after Christmas, a drink with family before everyone went back to Uni’ and work. Unfortunately we didn’t eat that time, although our son Peter did have a dessert but starting eating it before I could get my camera out.
There’s lots to chose from on the menu, baguettes, burgers, ploughmans, fish & chips etc.,
Geoff had a lovely pint of Sundowner from Langham Brewery in Lodsworth (we’ve mentioned them before in our Cowdray Park review) whereas I had a large glass of Savignon Blanc. Our burgers, funnily enough, were home-made with beef mince from the Adsdean Farm Shop where we had just bought our beef for the Sunday roast.
It was a lovely burger which we both commented upon. I had grated cheese on mine, Geoff had bacon and egg and they were served with chips, a small pot of Marie Rose type sauce and coleslaw. The only disappointment we found were the chips. They were a little hard in the middle.
Inside was a chalk board with deserts, only four, Lime & Berry Surprise, Eton Mess, non-dairy Eton Mess and Chocolate Brownies. We decided to share both the Eton Mess and the brownies.
The brownies were served hot and were nice and gooey. I had ice-cream with it but you could have custard or cream.
The Eton Mess was our favourite, plenty of cream, meringue, strawberries and strawberry sauce, yum!
Service was good and friendly, even a small pot of jelly beans served with the bill.
There’s plenty of seating, we sat outside at the front/side of the pub but there’s also a garden. Inside are three rooms, the bar area, a room which looks more like a quiet dining room, another just off the from the bar and round the corner from that is a small room with a few games.
As I said this wasn’t our first visit, it was actually our third. Years ago, about 20 possibly when the kids were young we’d been out for a walk and it started to rain. The children weren’t welcome and we were only shown a wet bench outside where they could sit. Naturally we sat them there whilst we went inside the cosy pub declined and went on our merry way, or wet and miserable way more like. I have never ever forgotten that and each time we pass I would say ‘there’s that pub….’ We’ve not returned because of that. I think I’ve moved on now though 😉 Times have changed and it’s probably different owners.
The Victoria Inn have several things going on, some weekly such as Thirsty Thursdays, a monthly quiz night and a golf society to name but a few. Between 21st – 23rd August they have the West Marden Fest which has 30 ales and ciders.
There’s also the delightful West Marden Hill which is a great work-out on the bike, especially if you cycle up it 3 and a half times like I did… just for fun… like you do…
Ambience 8
Service 7
Value 7
Quality 8 – especially the burger
Return? Yes
Living life, loving cake
A x
[…] fish & chips day, yay! I was already going out for a meal that evening with a friend to the Victoria Inn in West Marden so I didn’t really want anything too filling but as the fish & chips were […]