please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A charming if basic pub - good beer and simple, quality food. Its better on the inside than its outward appearance might suggest.
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a very pleasing ,very busy,rather good pub.
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Wonderful service and a refreshing pint of the local Dark Star Hophead from the wood. Tasty apple juice from just up the road too. The wasps in the garden were a pain but the pub is clearly appreciated by all sorts of punters from Porsche drivers to local boozers. Not to be missed for the gratifyingly real historic interior and the warm welcome. Quintessential but not a theme park.
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Up until fairly recently was the last unspoilt pub in the South East. Always was popular with the Porsche Turbo type, but beer was kept in wood out the back, and was good. They never did food which kept the Porsche Turbo crowd healthily low. But, things always change, and they now do food, and the clientelle has changed. It's still worth going to, the ale is good and local, Bedlam. It is surrounded by some of the best countryside of the weald, if you like walking.
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First, I will say this is a beautiful pub, and if you have overseas visitors with you, it would be difficult to find a better example of an old English country pub. But...
I was driving, and had a straight tonic water, and it was the smallest tonic water I've ever had in a pub. Their largest glass of wine was tiny as well, and the landlord was obviously angling for you to purchase a "double" rather than have what all other pubs I've been too offer as large glass.
I've had the beer in he past, and I remember it being ok, being a real ale drinker myself. And as I say, great atmosphere, and really glad its still there. But I don't know, the stingy meanness of those non ale drinks we paid for (six quid) left me feeling not so well inclined to the place, and will make me reluctant to return. And all for few not pouring a few pennies worth of tonic water into a half pint glass.
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RUBBISH PUB - or at least that's what I tell people so I can still get a table :). The best example of a traditional pub I can think of. First class food, real ale and service. Great garden in the summer, cosy pub in the Winter - easy 10/10
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Anyone who loves a traditional English pub should visit this place. Very simple and unchanged interior and picture-postcard outside. Beer from the cask and good substantial food. Yes the food is a bit pricey but to me it is a price worth paying if it helps keep a bit of history like this in existence. There are plenty of Wetherspoons if you want them, but not many original ale-houses like this one. Long may it continue.
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Tried this pub with a bunch of friends on a warm Sunday . Sat in the beer garden as it was sunny and inside was a bit stuffy and dark. Garden was busy , yet clean but there was loads of room . All ordered roasts , only a 15 min wait and the food was well presented and tasted great. Desserts were quite something , home made and tasted really nice . Bearing in mind most of my friends were chefs and critics the food went down well. Did overhear a few people who were expecting food in 5 minutes and felt the prices were a bit high. Some people just do not know the difference between process and fresh food nowadays. Thankfully they left after a drink which actually tasted nice so must have thrown them. Will try it again later in the summer to see if the experience is consistant
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I'm a bit of a traditionalist really in terms of what an English pub should be. OK, the welcome was warm, the food substantial, but the beer...bland!Nothing from known local micro breweries which is a shame. We're hoping something exciting happens in the summer. We'll vist on emore time maybe.
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Not sure the previous reviewer did pick the wrong day- it is certainly a strange place- and if this is 'Old England' then thank God we're moving on! Firstly, the beer is excellent and is delivered straight from the cask. This being said, the choices are limited to maybe a beer and a porter, but thats ok. The food thing was the same with us, as the menu had to be 'discussed' as it was fresh everyday. Perhaps the Brake Bros lorry hadn't turned up because if my pie was freshly made, then it must have been baked in a nuclear power station as it has the suspicious tell tale signs of a microwaved pie- of course it was- but 3 baby carrots made up for that- surprised i had sufficient carbohydrates to make it home. There is also a heating problem in the pub, and whilst the commuter-types who spend all day in an office in the square mile might think that this is quaint, in fact, its just freezing and we all had to huddle around electric fires in the back room. Well, I guess thte locals are a bit partisan about it, and it is exciting listening to people outdo each other with how large their cars are or whatever, but if it hadn't been for the decent beer then we would have been out of this pretty humourless place faster than a Brake Bros lorry! Give it a 4 for trying.
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Having read the very positive comments for this pub, we went for a pleasant walk in the area and got back to the pub just before 12 intending to have lunch there. When I asked for the menu, I was told that it was not ready as they produce a new menu every day after discussion between the management and the chef. The landlord said it would be ready "in ten". After sitting in the garden for a while with our drinks for well over ten minutes, my wife went back to the bar to ask again for a menu. After having been ignored at the bar for quite a while, my wife eventually got the attention of a member of the staff only to be told that the menus still had not yet available. We decided to cut our losses at this point and find a pub that actually wanted our custom. Perhaps we picked a bad day?
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Perhaps the last unspoilt pub in the whole of the South of England. That fellah that owns all the Ditchling pubs must be hanging around to buy it, lets hope it never happens. Sort of place that any American would relocate for really, you have to visit to believe it.
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What a terrific pub.
Wonderful Harvey's, straight from the cask. No jukebox, one-armed bandit or similar. Gorgeous old building, _not_ 'restored' to damnation. Nice selection of locals and incomers and a good atmosphere. Lovely welcome from a young guy, and a very toothsome young lady with an accent like having maple syrup poured over your head.
Excellent food - really excellent - and the bill for four came to fifty quid.
Darn near perfect.
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Having been to this pub on a few occasions, i would like to say that the landlord and landlady are very welcoming. The food has been to a high standard, especially the Roast Pork and ploughmans. The pub is situated in quiet surroundings with quality maintained gardens. Well worth a visit or two.
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new people but same atmosphere - old world pub, great for drinkers and now good food too. there aren't many like this anymore.
mrsme - 13 Sep 2008 14:00 |
This pub used to be the village shop!
I knew Young Tim and Old Tim. Many of the artefacts on the walls were supplied by my father, a drinking buddy of Old Tim (in the Good Old Days' ) Sadly both old gents propping up the bar in the St Peters Arms now.
I still reckon this is possibly one of the best pubs anywhere.
Hope the new people are keen to keep[ the pub the way it is. Have heard they have bands on! The Old Man and Old Tim will be spinning!!!
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This is a great little country pub and I would agree with all the comments including the sandwiches. I hope it doesn't change - it would be a great loss if it changed, but would welcome some food. Full of character if lacking some atmosphere. Worth a visit.
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Tims gone.....
New landlord took over 26 Nov 2007.
End of an era.
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you do have a point about the sandwiches, this is not a food pub. this is a drinkers pub.
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we decided to go to this pub after reading all the wonderful reviews,yes lovely location very old world. But the sandwiches! �2.75 each for supermarket sliced bread,and a sad piece of cucumber as a garnish..the sign says freshly sliced,,im sorry but I would not put them in my childs lunch box !rip off Britain..alive and well in Wineham !
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Not many places like this left anymore. It certainly has character and a dedicated local following. A lovely old place in a timewarp with an old fashioned publican. I guess if you became a regular you would feel more at home. If want to taste what beer kept traditionaly and served directly from the cask is like then make a stop here. If you want a row of shiny brand labels on the bar and ice on your glass of the amber nectar then this is not the place for you. If you want to experience the way your Father & Grandfather drank go now if, only once, before things change.
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this is a great and very old pub. no food except sandwiches, toated sandwiches and soup but there is no cut off point which is great for soaking up the beer late on in the evening. harvey's gravity fed straight from the barrel, beautiful. mortified to hear that tim is leaving lets have a whip round everyone and make sure it does'nt become another loathsome greene king or hall and woodhouse pub!!
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I hear that Tim is going in the spring (of 2008)
This place will no dought be ruined, A Harvester Maybe?
Go soon to see what a real pub was/should be like.
Smile at Tim and see if you can get one back!
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The Royal Oak has everything one could wish for in an unspoilt country pub, fine location, beautiful old building, enchanting rustic interior, disappointing however when I visited with a friend on a weekday evening and was chilled by the frosty reception I received.
Tim, try to be, at least, a little welcoming to a non-local.
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Superb location for an unspoilt country pub. I absolutely recommend to everyone! The only thing is that you have to get there on good time 'cause it seats limited people.
Cheers to the Royal Oak!!!
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Brilliant Pub run by brilliant people, dont tell everyone about it as it will ruin it
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There aren't many places like this left!
Excellent beer, pleasant enough landlord and staff, a lovely old building (with very very low ceilings), no restaurant (hurrah!), and it's almost in the middle of nowhere.
Occasionally used by a local Morris side for sing-songs which add immeasurably to its "olde worlde" feel.
Superb!
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I agree entirely with the above, this unspoilt pub is a real find with well kept beer, however if visiting on a weekday evening a warm welcome from the landlord or the locals is not guaranteed, my friend and I quickly retreated into the garden to get warm again! No doubt regular visits would secure a nod or a half-smile.
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Wonderful old traditional no frills Pub, small inside but with huge garden for the summer. Sunday lunch times can be very busy, good beer straight from the cask, mind your head on the very low beams.
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A traditional old world pub low beams, beer on gravity, no music, simple food. Fantastic
David - 4 Oct 2004 11:33 |
