We have a pint in the tucked away Bristol pub with a secret garden and Sunday roasts for dogs

Any hungry dogs dragging their thirsty owners into The Victoria Inn are in for a real treat.

On the bar, next to the crisps and nuts for humans, there’s a display of posh canine snacks.

The ‘Sir Woofchester’s’ range includes ‘bark burgers’ and ‘Sunday roasts’ for dogs - proof enough that this welcoming pub in the old Westbury-on-Trym village is thoroughly dog-friendly as well as family-friendly.

Around the time of the pandemic, the future of The Victoria Inn looked bleak and it was closed for a lengthy time.

Thankfully, new landlord Martyn - helped by wife Darlene and daughter Francesca - took it over two years ago and it has regained a loyal local following.

Tucked away near the River Trym and surrounded by historic buildings with names like Old Malt House and Lamplighters Cottage, the pub dates from the 18th century and there are some lovely original features on display.

These include a wonderful stained glass window in the bar with the words ‘bottle and jug’ - a nod to its past when customers could turn up at a hatch and buy beer to takeaway with them.

With its bare wooden floorboards, old stone cider flagons and woodburning stove, it’s a small and cosy pub.

One small room has been turned into a darts area and there were a few regulars throwing arrows on the evening we were there.

On Thursdays, there’s a quiz night and there’s poker on Monday. There’s also live sport on the TV, particularly rugby, and occasional live music.

The Sunday lunches are apparently gaining quite a reputation for their quality and generosity. 

The corner bar is compact and its lack of space means the choice of drinks is slightly limited. I had a pint of Butcombe Original (£4.50) and it was the first out of the new barrel so in perfect condition.

There was another pump awaiting the next beer to arrive - landlord Martyn tries to get the excellent Wye Valley Butty Bach when he can, but sometimes it’s the crowd-pleasing Doom Bar.

There’s more choice for cider drinkers, with Stan’s Traditional Dry and three other Thatchers ciders - Gold, Dry and Haze. Other options on draught include Guinness, Carling, Kronenbourg and Moretti.

But the real selling point of The Victoria, especially in the warmer months, is the secret garden accessed via steps at the side.

Tiered and leafy with rooftop views, it’s a genuine find on balmy summer evenings and not one you want to broadcast too much in case you can’t secure a bench for yourself on the next visit.

The Victoria Inn, 20 Chock Lane, Bristol BS9 3EX.