Abandoned pub on tough Plymouth estate is back after 10 YEARS (2024)

The last pub in Honicknowle is back after a 10 year hiatus - and you'll be astonished by how different it looks and feels now.

The Victory has been shut to the general public and only available for private hire under the name Function Junction since its demise in 2009.

The venue didn't always have the best of reputations; falling on hard times in years gone by because of issues with troublemakers.

But now it's had a sensational makeover and had a locker room clear out thanks to pub legends Kay and Kirsty Whiting-O'Brien.

The couple formerly managed the Brookside Social Club before its sudden closure last year; leaving the Plymouth estate in a state of shock.

They couldn't live with the thought of Honicknowle being without a proper local; the next nearest being the Tamar up in Crownhill village.

So they struck a deal with property chiefs to take on the tired Farm Lane building where The Victory stood so locals could party again.

The Victory - the Plymouth pub that's made a stunning comeback

Last month, Kay and Kirsty were successful in their legal bid to bring back its original name.

And now things are finally taking off.

The ladies have introduced a sports bar for die-hard darts and football fans - a shrine to all the greats.

And it'll soon have its very own gin and bottled beer bar.

A huge separate function room has been completely modernised and features a brightly lit custom stage for dart competitions.

The outside is not quite done yet - there's still some painting to do - but the long-term goal is to introduce glass bi-folding doors and re-surface the crumbling concrete patio so people can enjoy a pint in the summer.

Now the landladies are urging visitors plough all their faith back in their beloved pub.

Proud Kay, 44, who also ran The Shakespeare Hotel in Devonport for a couple of years, said: "It used to have a really bad reputation and I don't want that to stop people coming in.

"It used to be pretty bad, for fighting and drugs.

"But we have really turned it around; it's amazing how different it is now.

"It's been hard work, but it's been great. The older crowd have come back, from 10 years ago and before that.

"People who never came in before are here too. We've still got lots to do but it's really coming along."

'When the Brookside closed... people were devastated'

The pub's preparing to sort out the kitchen ready for Sunday roasts, which they anticipate will be a sure-fire hit.

It's already proving a big draw with people wanting to throw a birthday bash and it's held some wedding receptions.

"It's hugely exciting; Christmas Day, we stayed open and fed everyone who were on their own, free of charge, people who had no-one," Kay said.

Kay explained how they were able to bring The Victory back from the very brink.

"We ran the Brookside, listened to the locals and realised when it closed that they were devastated because there wasn't anywhere else around," she said.

"We enquired about taking on other pubs. People were saying they'd love to see The Victory back open again.

"We put that to the owners at the time and they offered it to us. They said, do you want to lease it and move in upstairs? So we did - and they are happy."

"The feedback has been fantastic," Man United fan Kirsty, 43, said.

"We had a fantastic Christmas and New Year, and touch wood it has worked because we haven't had any trouble since we have been here.

"It's been great for parties and weddings."

'The best pub I've ever worked in'

Teresa Clancy, 57, is Honicknowle through and through.

She says it's a massive triumph for the estate that The Victory is back.

"It's brilliant, it really is, they have really turned it around," she said.

"It's homely, friendly, they had the Brookside and turned that around and have done the exact same thing here.

"There wasn't a pub left in Honicknowle - this is the nearest to the Tamar."

Barmaid and young mum Regan Davies, 20, loves life at The Victory.

"It's great; the bosses are good as gold, the customers are really nice," she said.

"I have worked in other pubs but this is the best one I've ever worked in."

Barney Wills, who owns Boomerangs up on Mutley Plain, was enjoying a drink and a chat with the locals when Plymouth Live stopped by.

And the popular publican reckons The Victory is even better than his own place.

"This is the best pub in Plymouth by far," he said.

"It's amazing, it's cracking. I drink all around Plymouth and I'd rather drink here than in my own bar.

"They (Kay and Kirsty) are cracking ladies, lovely girls."

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