Withington’s The Victoria has picked up a serious bit of recognition, landing CAMRA’s Pub of the Year for Stockport and South Manchester.
The nod comes from Campaign for Real Ale, and it lands after 14 years of husband-and-wife team Alyson and Paul Mitchell steering the ship. Under them, the pub has quietly become one of those rare constants, the sort of place that keeps turning up in the Good Beer Guide without making a fuss about it.
What really sets it apart is what happens beyond the bar. The Victoria has built a strong community following, backed by years of charity work and local involvement. A big part of that has been support for Mero’s World Foundation, set up in memory of Rhamero West, who died in 2021. The aim is simple, tackling knife crime and backing young people across the city.
Fundraising has come in all shapes. New Year’s Eve events, raffles, marathon efforts from Paul Mitchell, and more recently customer-led challenges from sponsored bike rides to endurance swims matching the English Channel. That money has helped fund emergency bleed kits across Greater Manchester, including one now fitted to the pub itself. A defibrillator outside the venue adds another layer of support for the local area.
It all adds up to a pub that feels plugged into its neighbourhood in a very real way. CAMRA praised its warmth, consistency and beer quality, with one member even calling a pint there the best of their year.
Alyson Mitchell, manager of The Victoria, said: "We are so proud to win this award and it is a real honour to be named the best pub in the region by CAMRA. We love what we do, but we couldn’t do it without our amazing team and the incredible support and top-quality ales we receive from Hydes. The Victoria is a truly special place for us and we genuinely have the best customers you could ask for, from students to our local regulars. Winning this year after coming so close previously proves that our collective hard work has really paid off."Jim Flynn, Treasurer of CAMRA Stockport and South Manchester, added: "The Victoria is recognised as an extremely friendly pub where exemplary customer care and community relations seem to be in its very DNA. Most importantly for us, it sells really excellent beer; I personally had my best pint of 2025 in the pub last April."