"On a day trip to Chester, we decided on a pub lunch and found The Victoria Pub just next to the High Cross. The pub layout was traditional, with low ceilings, thick wooden beams, and uneven floors. It had a unique atmosphere. There was no welcome, as such. I asked where we could sit, and I was told, pleasantly enough, by a rushed member of staff. Despite this, the staff, overall, were kind and helpful. I ordered a traditional lunch of cod, chips, and mushy peas, with a side of “crusty” bread, while my wife had steak and ale pie and chips, with a side of onion rings. After a short wait, the orders arrived. The chips were a good size, a reasonable amount, and tasted good. The mushy peas were sweet and tasty (I hope they were homemade). The fish was nice; however, the batter was quite greasy, meaning the fish itself didn’t “crumble” it was a bit moist. Although it appeared to be a good size, it was disappointing to cut 2 or 3 cm from the end before eventually getting to the fish. Two slices of bread were included but were not from a crusty loaf. For my wife, again, there were a good amount of chips. The steak and ale pie may need redefining as I don’t think “pie” is the right word. It arrived in a traditional steak and ale pie dish the meat was nice; however, it got lost in the vast amount of gravy that was in the dish, which also made it difficult to eat with a knife and fork. I think the qualification for it to be a pie was the thin, dry rectangle of pastry laid on top of the gravy. The onion rings were from a frozen pack rather than being made fresh. Overall, we weren’t looking for supreme quality. We wanted a pub lunch to see us through the journey home, and that’s what we got. For that, it’s suitable."
