flossietoo
Well-Known Forumite
The Royal Oak has been extensively refurbished. A banner outside indicates that it now serves food all day by popular demand. Our experience might help you decide whether to try it. We went last night. Our arrival seemed to cause no small amount of alarm, although we could see plenty of empty tables and were in no particular rush. We were warned that we might have to wait for "up to ten minutes". The pub has been completely gutted and looks almost unrecognisable. Much nicer. The old bar/lounge division has gone and there is a new extension on the side creating more dining space.
The Royal Oak is extremely child friendly. The relaxed approach to young visitors might be just what you are looking for and was clearly much appreciated by families with tiny babies and very young children. It took a while for me to realise that the labrador I thought I could see out of the corner of my eye, was in fact a toddler happily gravitating around the floor. For older children, there is quite a lot of play equipment outside.
The rest of you have been warned.
It is extremely hot.
Ye God it is hot. So hot, that, biology not being my strong point, I actually wondered if I had plunged headlong into the menopause in the space of an evening. Fortunately one of my companions felt faint too and she is 20 years younger. I noted that the locals wore shorts and T-shirts. That might be sensible if you are planning a visit. A vest would be madness.
The menu is all right but there are much more interesting choices on a blackboard, including vegetarian dishes which are not on the menu. I was intrigued to note home-reared sausages. We've been rearing four pigs all year. My husband was livid to discover someone had found out how to rear a sausage.
They take the orders direct onto a tablet-thing, which I found deeply impressive. The waitress looked a little alarmed when I asked if I could have a go on it. We had one mixed grill, two steak and onion pies and one country vegetable pie. Main courses approximately £10-ish. I quite liked the lack of artifice with the pie tops. There was no pretence that they were any integral part of the pie. They were simply sat on top of the dishes at a jaunty angle like a carelessly-thrown duvet. Beneath the puff pastry lid, my country vegetable pie consisted of a nice quantity of decently-cooked vegetables in a white sauce. The sauce was too thin to actually eat. You'd have had to use a spoon. Or a straw. The steak and onion pies were pronounced OK as was the mixed grill. A big bowl of chips were excellent - as good as the 'cheesy chips' which the old Royal Oak used to serve. We didn't try the puddings because we were so hot that we needed to make a dash for the exit. We drove home with all the car windows open and then sat on the grass in the garden for a while before going in the house.
There you go. I hope that is some use to someone.
The Royal Oak is extremely child friendly. The relaxed approach to young visitors might be just what you are looking for and was clearly much appreciated by families with tiny babies and very young children. It took a while for me to realise that the labrador I thought I could see out of the corner of my eye, was in fact a toddler happily gravitating around the floor. For older children, there is quite a lot of play equipment outside.
The rest of you have been warned.
It is extremely hot.
Ye God it is hot. So hot, that, biology not being my strong point, I actually wondered if I had plunged headlong into the menopause in the space of an evening. Fortunately one of my companions felt faint too and she is 20 years younger. I noted that the locals wore shorts and T-shirts. That might be sensible if you are planning a visit. A vest would be madness.
The menu is all right but there are much more interesting choices on a blackboard, including vegetarian dishes which are not on the menu. I was intrigued to note home-reared sausages. We've been rearing four pigs all year. My husband was livid to discover someone had found out how to rear a sausage.
They take the orders direct onto a tablet-thing, which I found deeply impressive. The waitress looked a little alarmed when I asked if I could have a go on it. We had one mixed grill, two steak and onion pies and one country vegetable pie. Main courses approximately £10-ish. I quite liked the lack of artifice with the pie tops. There was no pretence that they were any integral part of the pie. They were simply sat on top of the dishes at a jaunty angle like a carelessly-thrown duvet. Beneath the puff pastry lid, my country vegetable pie consisted of a nice quantity of decently-cooked vegetables in a white sauce. The sauce was too thin to actually eat. You'd have had to use a spoon. Or a straw. The steak and onion pies were pronounced OK as was the mixed grill. A big bowl of chips were excellent - as good as the 'cheesy chips' which the old Royal Oak used to serve. We didn't try the puddings because we were so hot that we needed to make a dash for the exit. We drove home with all the car windows open and then sat on the grass in the garden for a while before going in the house.
There you go. I hope that is some use to someone.