A Sunday day out at The Victoria in Oxshott
Just a short train journey from Clapham Junction, The Victoria in Oxshott feels a world away from the enraging pace of London. Stepping off the train and into the leafy Surrey countryside, you’re greeted by village charm and leafy trees as well as a warm welcome. The Victoria has the best welcome too. Super cosy yet unmistakably refined, this countryside pub delivers what may well be one of the best roast dinners I’ve had this year.
On arrival, we wasted no time in settling in beside a roaring fireplace, the glow of the flames casting a warm, amber hue across the room. The pub was absolutely buzzing – every table filled, glasses clinking, conversation humming – but it never felt overbearing. Instead, it had that rare quality of being lively yet intimate.
We began with Boulevardiers, a bold and beautifully balanced mix of bourbon, Campari and sweet vermouth. Sipping something so perfectly bitter and warming beside the fire felt very decadent.
For starters, we opted for a selection of bar snacks – a decision I would definitely recommend given the size of the roast portions. The sausage roll was gloriously indulgent: golden, flaky pastry encasing deeply savoury, well-seasoned meat, served warm and utterly moreish. Alongside it, mini scampi bites delivered crisp, satisfying crunch with delicate seafood sweetness inside.
Then came the main event. We chose the beef and the belly pork roast, served on an enormous platter that drew admiring glances from neighbouring tables. The Yorkshire puddings were giants – crisp, golden and airy – filled with rich gravy. The beef was tender and blushing, sliced thickly and cooked with precision. The belly pork offered meltingly soft meat beneath perfectly crisp crackling, a textural triumph.
The vegetables were not an afterthought either: nourishing, vibrant and cooked to retain both flavour and bite. And the cauliflower cheese? A must order. Creamy, indulgent and deeply comforting.
It’s no surprise The Victoria has retained its three AA Rosettes, a prestigious accolade awarded to only the very best restaurants across the UK and Ireland. Under the direction of Executive Chef Daniel Lee, the kitchen delivers food that feels both refined and heartfelt. There’s clear technical skill here, but it never feels showy – just confident and consistently excellent.
We washed everything down with a gorgeous bottle of red wine from their thoughtfully curated list, perfectly complementing the depth of the roast. In fact, we loved it so much that what began as a leisurely Sunday lunch turned into hours propping up the bar, chatting with locals and soaking up the warm, convivial atmosphere.
Eventually, we made the short journey back home to London, satisfied, content, and somehow still with enough time for an early night before work on Monday. The Victoria manages something special: award-winning dining without pretension, countryside charm without cliché, and a roast dinner worth travelling for.
Find out more > www.thevictoriaoxshott.com
