The Royal Oak, Folkestone

Basic pub atop the cliffs, mostly a local serving the nearby village - with its various mobile-home parks - since being bypassed by the A20 trunk road realignment. However, the relatively small bar and slightly raised (and larger) dining room were both doing good business on a Sunday lunchtime. With two of four handpumps in use, Shepherd Neame's Master Brew (£3.00) and an unclipped Greene King London Glory were the real ales available.

Perhaps I'm over-sensitive about "local pubs for local people", but I got definite vibes of “Royston Vasey”. Especially when “Jack” came in. I don't know who Jack was, but everyone else in the pub did, and made great show of welcoming him. We felt embarrassed that we didn't know him ! Whilst the locals were very welcoming, I did feel an intruder there. It's a strange place. The clientele were all well over sixty and the juke box was playing stuff from the 80s far too loud. The vibe just didn't seem right. Ideal for the locals, but not a place to pop in to whilst passing. But the food was OK. Two Sunday roasts, and drinks for thirteen quid. Can't be bad. The place had a meat raffle for those who like that sort of thing, and three decent ales can't be bad. However, after all is weighed up, it's just another Kentish pub. A good pub - there are some stinkers in Kent. But in all honesty it's just another good pub. And so it scores 7/10 - average