The Royal Oak, Northumberland Heath, Erith

The Royal Oak is situated just off a busy road, with a bus stop right outside. A tight car park separates the pub from the road. I entered through the front door, which gives access to a small bar, an adjacent games room, with a pool table and dart bar and the toilets. I didn't get round to the main bar, but this is accessed from the side of the pub, or presumably from the corridor to the toilets. Just a couple of locals were present in the front bar. They were putting the worlds to right with topics such as fuel and climate change protesters, whilst the barmaid was dealing with a delivery of crisps. Courage Best is the solitary real ale. Live music is advertised on the walls and apparently they have some on a Wednesday afternoon. Unless that is held in the main bar, there was no sign of any on my Wednesday lunchtime this week. Nice pub architecturally, but if it's a decent beer you're after, head elsewhere.

Official site of The Royal Oak - theroyaloakpub.com

Official site of The Royal Oak - theroyaloakpub.com

What a magnificent old pub this is. It still retains its inter-war multi-room interior in largely pristine condition. It must have been a Courage pub in a former life judging by the cockerel perching proudly atop the pub sign. The room on the left is fairly large, carpeted, and is comfortably furnished with just the one tall table/tall stools, plus some banquettes, normal tables and chairs, and small round stools. The pool table is located in this room. A door on the right (propped open when I was in) leads into another, relatively small room on the corner. This room is also carpeted, has some banquettes and normal tables and chairs, plus an attractive brick fireplace. The dartboard's located in this room, and what looks like the original matchboard panelling is still on the walls, although unfortunately now painted a mixture of green and cream. A separate Lounge is reached via its own door to the side of the pub. This is another large room, having a stage at one end and with the walls bearing the fielded panelling that was a typical feture of what was regarded as the pub's best room. The small room on the corner had a couple of handpumps on the counter, with reversed clips for Young's Bitter and Courage Best. Luckily there was one other pump working in the Lounge, where the barman went to fetch my pint of Courage Best (on special offer at £2.20 a pint). This seemed to be the only ale on, but was in good nick and at a very competetive price. I didn't see any sign of food. This pub is a tour de force of inter-war pub design and fitting. It's definitely worth dropping into for a good look round if you're in the area - and to be honest the Courage Best was quite enjoyable.