The Banstead Image Library
The Victoria Hotel, Banstead
An old postcard, postmarked 6 October 1905, showing the Victoria Hotel – which, now a Zizzi restaurant, continues to be one of the high street’s main architectural landmarks.
For many years the Victoria was a Courage pub, which featured regularly in the Good Beer Guide between 1976 and 1987. At the front was a fairly small public bar, which led through to a large lounge bar with wood panelling. Always busy, always popular, the Victoria eventually closed, and it became a Zizzi restaurant in 2004.
Given the pub’s long association with Courage, the sign above the first floor is almost certainly that of Hodgson’s Kingston Brewery, which was acquired by Courage in 1943 and ceased business in 1965.
And, given the reflected railings, could that be a pond in the foreground?
Picture added on 17 January 2018 at 16:06
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Public Houses
Public Houses
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Banstead History
Banstead History
That's very interesting, Lewis - thank you. The Hay Wain in Banstead!
Added by Peter Denton on 28 January 2018
There was also a small private bar, that existed in the 60s, and presumably before. The public bar was on the right hand side of the building, whereas the lounge bar was towards the back.
Added by Michael Funnell on 01 February 2018
The Pub was originally owned by Hodgson's Kingston Brewery. The first Licensee was Tom Gilbert, then Captain of Banstead Cricket Club. He was followed by his mother, Mrs. Gilbert, then his sister, Mrs. Bennett. Later, Arthur Pickering became the licensee.
Added by Tony Collinson on 16 February 2018
Does anyone know when the Victoria Pub was built, and whether it replaced a previous inn or pub? The field behind it was called 'cockpit' on the 1871 tithe map, rather suggesting an association with gambling and drinking, but no building is shown on this map. The Victoria does however appear on the earlier 1868 OS map.
Added by Jan Burbridge on 09 September 2019
Jan, the nearest I can get at the moment via John Sweetman's History of Banstead Vol II is sometime around the mid 1860s.
It is clearly listed in the 1871 census but I can't find it in the 1861 census.
It is clearly listed in the 1871 census but I can't find it in the 1861 census.
Added by Lewis Wood on 09 September 2019
Banstead
Yes that was a pond used to allow horses to drink, but the whole horse and cart used to be driven into it which had the added benefit of ensuring that the wooden wheels did not dry out and shrink as this would have allowed the metal hoop around the wheel to become loose. It is almost certain that this is exactly what is depicted in Constable's Hay Wain