Exeter’s ‘Pub Mum and Dad’ scoop major national operator award

An Exeter couple dubbed “Pub Mum and Dad” have turned their pub into a student haven, winning a national award for creating the city’s most welcoming hotspot.

Mark and Victoria Major, owners of the Victoria Inn on Victoria Street in Exeter, were named winners of the Best Student or Late-Night Proposition at the Craft Union Pub Company’s annual Operator Awards.

The award acknowledges operators who run pubs offering services for students and late-night customers.

Regular quiz nights and community events take place at the pub, offering a gathering point for both students and local residents.

This year, the pub has hosted quizzes organised by university social groups, with all entry fees donated to local charities, reflecting the couple’s commitment to supporting the wider Exeter community. 

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The pub also serves as a hub for Exeter City FC fans, providing a lively venue for pre- and post-match drinks.

One of the Victoria Inn’s most unique traditions is its annual graduation door signing, where graduating students leave messages on the pub’s fire doors. Once full, the doors are photographed, framed, and displayed above the bar, creating a lasting record of student life in the city. 

Victoria said that the tradition has become a sentimental highlight of the pub: “The signing doors started as a fun idea, but they’ve become something really sentimental. Seeing how much the pub means to others is the best part of what we do.”

Frazer Grimbleby, Craft Union Managing Director, praised the couple for their impact on both student life and the wider community: “Mark and Victoria have created a safe, fun, and inclusive space that has become an integral part of the student experience in Exeter.” 

“They’ve also made a real difference locally, bridging gaps and fostering a sense of unity and belonging.”

The Craft Union Operator Awards celebrate pub operators across the UK who go the extra mile for their communities.