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Royal Oak Hotel, Middlesbrough
Great Ayton
Postal town: Middlesbrough
TS9 6BJ
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about Royal Oak Hotel
A three storey whitewashed 18th century building with a mansard roof opposite the village’s central green. Two bars, the main one to the right has a dining room at the rear and diners also sit in the bar. Rough cast walls and a fair amount of dark wood, the floor a mix of board and carpet, the curtains are tartan. Four pulls with Marstons Wainwright plus an average Landlord, Theakstons Summit, and Old Peculier, two T Bars of the usual suspects. The other bar is separate and obviously in a different but equally old building, although joined at the toilets behind the servery. This bar is similar and a bit more pubby but no pulls just a screen and usual kegs, a blackboard lists the ales, this bit is more dog friendly too. Usual oldies and dining families but the staff are friendly enough and it is GBG2022 listed.
On 20th March 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3230 recommendations about 2939 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Royal Oak Hotel
This is a prominent two bar pub and hotel in the heart of Great Ayton, which seemed popular with locals and tourists alike. There are two entrances leading into either side of the pub, with the right door taking you straight into the main bar area. This is a decent sized space that appears to have been opened out from a former multiple room layout, with bare boards to the left and a carpeted area running towards the rear along the right-hand side. Two large window bays have long, deep benches running around them, but in general, the room makes do with basic table and chair arrangements. There are fireplaces on both sides of the room, each with a pleasant brick surrounds, although the one to the right has sadly been boarded up. At first glance, the walls consist of whitewashed stone, but upon closer inspection, much of the ‘stone’ appears to be artificial, although it looks genuine enough to create the desired effect. Décor includes a few high shelves displaying empty spirit bottles and dispensers, a few paintings with a vague wildlife theme, many of which are for sale, plus a few blackboards promoting various upcoming events and deals. The room extends down the right side into a rear space with plenty more seating which could perhaps be seen to be more suited to diners. The servery is to the left and has an unattractive grey counter front offset by a nice bar back set into a recessed arch, which has also unfortunately been painted grey. A passage behind the bar leads through to the left-hand bar which has its own good-sized section of servery and a nice mix of chair and bench seating, again with the rear area looking better suited to those wanting to eat.
We popped in here mainly to have a bit to eat, and discovered a good menu supplemented by daily specials and specific parmo and steak nights. There were three ales on the bar – Theakston Old Peculiar and Summit and Thwaites Wainwright – and the pint of Old Peculiar I bought from the entertaining old school landlord was in very good shape. The staff here were all very friendly, the food was excellent and there were plenty of customers in every time we walked past the place.
This is a fine pub that provides decent spaces for diners and drinkers alike, making it an invaluable asset for the village. We enjoyed our time here and were a little disappointed not to make it back here a second time during our few days staying nearby. The ale range may not be enough to draw drinkers in from outside the village, but it is most definitely worth a look in passing.
On 23rd November 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rob Hunter left this review about Royal Oak Hotel
Visited yesterday at the tail end of lunch time. It's actually a bigger pub than it looks from the outside and I am guessing has been extended into the building to the left at some point. If you enter through the main door (between the two bay windows) there is no indication that there is further space to the left and it was only when I went for a wander to find the gents that I discovered that the space wraps round the back of the bar and opens out into this extra space next door. It also seems to go further back than I expected.
Back in the front room there is a real fire, which was giving off a nice warm glow with the associated comforting smell of a real fire. Despite being full of families eating (half term, innit) it had a pleasant relaxing feel to the pub. Service at the bar was friendly.
As with many North Yorkshire pubs, the beer choice does lack imagination. Four hand pulls offering Wainwright, TT Landlord, Theakston Old Peculiar (off) and the "guest" ale was Theakston Summit. The Summit is one of these new cask ales that's meant to be served extra chilled (quite why escapes me) though I am not convinced that it was in fact served any colder than a regular cask ale would have been. It was served in a special Theakston Summit branded glass and set me back the princely sum of £2.30 for half a pint.
It's a nice cosy feeling pub and despite the lack of excitement on the beer front, I could see myself coming back here.
On 19th February 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 750 recommendations about 598 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Royal Oak Hotel
Plush, rather snooty hotel, more Cotswold plush than homely North York Moors, complete with bused in pensioners. Ok, but there are better choices more into the Moors
On 2nd April 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
S Armstrong left this review about Royal Oak Hotel
Wifey and I called in for a snack on saturday lunchtime - what a pleasant surprise. Decent beer (Deuchar's IPA and XPA, and Theakstons Old Peculiar) and a decent looking menu, but we only wanted a snack, and so limited ourselves to a home-cooked scotch egg with tomato salsa, and king prawns with chorizo - both excellent. It's just how you imagine a proper village pub to be, complete with timber ceiling beams, and an open fire. No big screen TVs or loud jukebox to spoil the atmosphere, just quiet background music to add to it.
On 3rd March 2013
- rating: 9
[User has posted 7 recommendations about 7 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mike Hewitt left this review about Royal Oak Hotel
Excellent food, excellent beer, and a pleasant traditional environment. The staff are thoughtfull and attentive but without being pushy. Its one of my favourite pubs in North Yorkshire
On 28th August 2006
- rating: 10
[User has posted 83 recommendations about 71 pubs]