please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
It's not far from the Golden Slipper to the Royal Oak. In fact, they're right nextdoor to one another!. The Royal Oak is a multi-roomed pub and worth a visit. It was fairly quiet yesterday afternoon. But there was still a decent enough range of ales - Theakston Old Peculier, Greene King Abbot, Partners Triple Hop & Shoddy Porter & Salamander Block Tackle. Cider was Old Rosie. We had to re-located from the rear bar to one of the front ones, as it was too hot.
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Although food orientated, there is a good selection of beer available here, as already mentioned by His Lorship below. The front bar was crowded with an enthusiastic drinking crowd whilst the diners used the other two rooms. The back bar was really hot and, as a result, there was a strong smell of the 'great unwashed' - at least cigarette smoke used to hide some of the less pleasant odours that now have to be endured.
Worth a go, but keep to the front bar!
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A comfortable two bar pub with a snug, and a labyrinthine, vertigo-inducing climb to the Gentlemen�s Lavatorial Facility. Unfortunately, a pub on the moon would have more atmosphere than The Royal Oak. As with The Three Tuns, you can have three one-third pint samplers, or, should you prefer, three malt whiskies for �10.00.
The choice of ale was between Timothy Taylor �Landlord�, Bradfield Brewery �Farmer�s Harvest�, Theakston�s �Old Peculier�, Greene King�s �Abbot Ale� and Leeds Brewery �Samba� at three guineas � absolutely outrageous for a 3.7% beer!
Not at all inspiring, I�m afraid so I set off for pastures new�.5/10.
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Had a couple of pints of Landlord and Old Peculiar, which were lovely! The bar is a real drinking area with a good atmosphere should you prefer to the lounge, which is a nice historic setting for a meal. The food is not the cheapest but represents VERY good value for money as it was substantial and of high quality. We visited with a wheelchair user which is usually quite difficult in 'listed' buildings, but the bar area was quite accessible and there was a separate accessible wash room and seating area which is very unusual for a listed building. Despite this option we ate in the lounge area due to its setting and the service was excellent from everyone
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Seemed to be closed for refurbishment. Fingers crossed it isn't ruined. The back room in particular was a lovely spot.
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Traditional pub with choice of three real ales
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What an improvement since the new landlady took over. The pub is clean, warm and friendly. It is one of only a few traditional pubs left in York. The beer is obviously kept very well. I had the best pint of Abbot for sometime. This was compliamented by an excellent steak and chips.
Well done to the new staff and landlady and compliaments to the chef.
A must to visit.. Outstanding.
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Situated next door to the Golden Slipper, on which I have just posted, is the Royal Oak, a pub with a distinctive Tudor style exterior.
It describes itself as a "Traditional 15th Century Haunted Inn". You might be starting to think that being a ghost is a productive career in this city!
Whilst retaining its multi bar layout, I found the interior relatively bland and characterless by York pub standards. A small basic bar at the front has fixed seating round the edges and was empty, apart from a group of mature customers enthusiastically playing dominoes. A larger bar at the back is similar in style, but a bit more comfortable and had a TV showing motor racing when I popped in in late June. A third room, on the other side of the corridor, seemed to be a bit newer and, of particular note here, is a framed photo of the fire at York Minster in July 1984.This bar is serviced via a hatch in the corridor.There's rather basic outside toilets
Food has a rather naff Tudor theme - eg Henry VIII pie
The pub is in the Punch Taverns portfolio and is, according to the local press, due for a refurb in July ( about now then !). Beers on were Copper Dragon's Golden Pippin, GK Abbott and TT Landlord, a somewhat disappointing selection by today's standards. The Golden Pippin ( served in a Timothy Taylors branded glass ) - � 2.90p - was reasonable.
This pub didn't particularly excite me and there's a fair few pubs in York that I'd rank ahead of this one.
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Great food and drink. I had the Henry Viii pie which was amazing. Friendly staff and excellent ale. To be highly recommended.
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Went to this pub just before xmas and it was pretty bad but it was great when i went a few days ago!!! Had one of the best steaks I'd had in a long time. Sat infront of the fire with the hubby and got drunk on red wine. Lovely evening. Staff were really nice and the landlady was lovely. Entertaining evening. Definitely would recommmend.
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You know I have always liked the Royal Oak but it has sadly changed. Had a few standard ales on hand pump (Landlord, Greene King) but aside from that was a shade of its former self. I still did like the fire, however, but the place was empty other than my wife and I.
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Absolutely diabolic ~ cash only ~ fake fire (matches the food)
Not a patch on what it used to be! Had to ask for a spoon for my soup, which on reflection, wish they had not brought! Supermarket bought pies! Soggy chips, lumpy mash potato! Where oh! where did the homemade bread and soup go to? Surely, there must be a law against 9 year old (yes! very young)
serving food and trapsing up and down those stairs with it!
Never never again!!
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What a huge shame it is that the Royal Oak has changed hands,This once warm welcoming pub is now sadly,a shadow of its former self,I can't comment on the ale as i had a room temperature J20 as i was driving,But i can comment on the food.........
Being the first through the door on a sunday lunchtime i would have expected the food to be at least hot! Two sunday "dinners" were ordered and we were served boil in the bag ready meals i think,Beef was pre-sliced and presumably pre-packed and i couldnt get my knife to cut it so had to prize it apart with my fork,yorkshire puddings were 2 minute microwave jobs,roast potatoes and veg were all pre-packed,instant mash,and very very lumpy gravy.Had to ask twice for sauces twice to give the food some taste.I wont be going back A big shame from the last time we went in and the food was all fresh made on site and piled high on the plate,seems so sad the previuos landlord built up a good reputation for food which now i feel is going to rapidly dissapear,a real shame
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Very disappointing - this pub didn't live up to it's recommendation and I suspect it has changed hands.
The beer is OK however the food well below average. For example a toad in the hole comprised some very low quality sauages tossed into a frozen yorkshire with badly made instant gravy.
The most annoyng thing was the refusal to serve tap water. A number of reasons were given to us and the next customer we overheard asking for an organge squash...
"Well it's York Water!"
"Health and Safety"
and my favourtie
"because it sits in the pipes so long"
Given the same supply must feed the soft drinks tap and go into the ice I would recommend avoiding this place.
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Good ales. Interesting atmosphere. Not as good as previous visits but still worth a look.
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As a visitor from the Newcastle area, I have been to The Royal Oak approximately 6 times a year for the last 14 years and I have always found the food excellent. I was dismayed to find on a recent visit (6th July 2009) to York that it seems to have changed hands�
While the food was still edible, it was a shadow of its former extremely high standard.
With Scott the Butcher having closed last year and The Royal Oak having changed, the reasons for visiting York are diminishing all of the time � a massive shame!
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Absolute stonker! Great local serving good beer and with friendly locals.
On the Friday night that we visited there was another non-local female in there who's laugh was the loudest highest pitch screech you could imagine. This caused a lot of mirth amongst the rest of the clientele who were a very friendly bunch.
We didn't try the food but the ale (for me) and the lager (for her) were all well kept and well served. Some people may hate me for saying this but I tried the Flowers IPA for a change and it was very good.
I would definitely recommend The Royal Oak to anyone of any legal drinking age.
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The Roayl Oak is a very nice pub. 3 separate areas to sit and enjoy a good pint. The Hobgoblin was superb- if I had known it were there sooner, I would have spent more time there!
Interestingly enough whilst there several German stonemasons were in and ordered 'das boot-' the 4 pint glass boot that is over the bar. The barmaid got it down, washed it out and filled it up (with Carling- ug) whilst we all looked on. Luckily for me, I was able to drink from it! I would have filled it full of Hobgoblin or Bombadier, however!
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It is a year now since we last drank and ate here, but I can report that the beer, the food (specially the home made chips) and the staff are as good as ever. In my book, there is no contest. This is the BEST pub in York. 10/10.
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another lovely quirky little pub, good beer not quite as nice as the Slipper next door
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Good food, ale and welcome. A really pleasant pub. Although I was a little unnerved on a recent visit when using the outside gents toilet when a Transsexual dressed as a nurse in full pvc peered over the door.
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As I predicted in my previous review of the Royal Oak, it was our first port of call when we visited York again last week. In fact we drank and/or ate there 5 times in 4 days. As before, the beer and the food were excellent with �proper� chips and the staff always very nice and friendly. The quiz on Monday evening was really good. No hesitation, the Oak gets 10/10 again.
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Well worth a visit.
I recommend their bar menu! I recently had an excellent sirloin steak, plus traditional home style chips and peas for a remarkable �8.50.
6 cask ales, those I tried were in reasonable condition, given that not many were being sold that evening.
Worth a visit if seeking food in the evening (last orders I think at 7.45pm)
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Thought it was a nice pub. Went in March so enjoyed a good fire with my pint. Was pretty busy during our visit, but the landlord was very helpful and courteous. Several good selections of real ale on tap. Good atmosphere.
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From the other reviews I clearly timed my visit badly. I found myself in the back bar, as a visitor I'd walked straight past the closed door to the busier front bar. I struggled to get served and then had a very poor pint of Landlord.
Unfortunately I never had a chance to go back for a second opinion.
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We have just returned home from a short break in York when we visited a number of hostelries in the city, but this is by far our favourite because it is what a pub should be like. A good selection of six well kept real ales (including Abbott, Hen, Landlord, Deuchars IPA, and Jennings Cumberland), really friendly staff, good service, a great atmosphere and excellent, reasonably priced bar meals. OK, maybe there is nothing too fancy on the menu, but the meals are good honest, freshly cooked, and home made ... and if you opt for chips, you will get real home made chips. For me even the "naturally ventilated" (ie) outside gents toilet adds to the charm ... When we visit York again, this will definity be our first port of call ...
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I've lived in York for over a year and, having been in a lot of the pubs, this is the favourite. Good range of ales including Deuchars, Jenning's and Timothy Tailor's plus a couple of decent lagers. Great cosy atmosphere and friendly staff - the food is excellent and great value.
It's quaint and pretty old-school, but that's what York's about. Great for a winters night or an afternoon session.
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Very disappointed that they have turned the cosy little family side room into a pretentious dining room. The place really seems to have gone down hill since the new owners took over.
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Food is good and proper home made, beer is good and barmaids are nice, if only they'd make the lounge bar non-smoking instead of the curious little room off the other side. Decent pudding menu too.
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Had a beer or two in the Golden Fleece on Sunday, and were recommended this pub as we wanted to eat. This was fortunate; this is a cracking old pub with a lovely warm atmosphere, great ales (Tim Taylor, Deuchars IPA, Abbott), friendly and attentive landlords in Darren and Sarah, and Sarah's Steak & Kidney pie with homemade chips was the best of it's kind I've ever tasted, and I've tasted some good 'uns!
Some blokes might carp about the outside khazi, but I just found it nostalgic - it's how my first-ever local was in the mid 70's.
We'll definitely be going back; really can't believe some of the negative comments about this place on here - were we just lucky?
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Have to say i also found the bar staff unfriendly and they seem to have a take it or leave it attitude towards food.
anonymous - 22 Sep 2006 11:35 |
One of Yorks best traditional, town, beer pubs. Plenty of beers, food, interesting interior. What more can you want... A great place to pop in, or make your local.
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Cracking pint of Abbott,sat in the front bar,`which is cosy & warm with the fire getting a lot of attention due to the freezing conditions outside.
Attentive bar staff and great value food,mainly veggie options.
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I went in September and had a couple of really nice pints there. The landlord was really friendly and it was full of local characters. My boyfriend wasn't thrilled as I think the only lager they had was Stella, so he had to drink Deuchars IPA. What a shame! Didn't try the food - maybe next time!
azp74 - 15 Dec 2005 13:06 |
Gone right down hill, smells like it needs a good clean. Below comment is right about the glasses.
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Used to be good but last time we went the glasses were dirty and the service slow. Food is still nice but they need to get their act together
anonymous - 14 Apr 2005 19:24 |
Great little pub. Friendly staff and some of the best pub food in York. Excellent Homemade bread. Not the best range of drinks but all you need.
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