The Royal Oak, Harlesden, NW10

If in March 2016 this was a gastropub, then it certainly isn’t now as it’s part of the Crap Union chain of pub botherers, though substantially restrained in execution compared to most of their other offerings, however it did look more upmarket when I walked past the last time around 14 years ago. The former Royal Oak Hotel probably dates at least in this guise from the late 19th century, still with Charrington metal bands to the fascia’s seven lanterns. It’s as described below, with a typical CU interior makeover and as mentioned, restrained; no horrible jumbo-sized A-Z wallpaper depictions of the local area here, with some lovely retained polychromatic tiling to a rear room, home to CU’s trademark playthings. The floor is carpeted, the interior otherwise modern restrained, with grey paint, patterned wallpaper and bare brick. There are modern banquettes, games machine then a choice of multi-vision silent prerecorded sport or the Big Yin from about 30 years ago, clothed thankfully. Lighting is dim, décor an unimaginative collection of black and white heritage prints or framed drinks’ deals, then a deafening DJ at the time of my Friday night visit. I spotted only two unused pumps rather than four, then just a very basic keg array, with Salt Alpacalypse at £3.50 a half, served by a barmaid with whom communication was barely possible given the DJ’s [Portuguese?] contribution to the ambience. Despite the CU stewardship, this isn’t the worst pub in NW10 which is saying something – see the Green Man next door, for example – but then NW10 communicates little pub-wise.

Visited 08/04/25 No cask (again). The four hand pumps on the bar counter were clearly a country mile from being operational. Keg offering of original and dark fruits SB, Moretti, Peroni, Cruz, Fosters, Carlsberg, Peroni, John Smiths, Wingman and Guinness. This corner venue is a pleasant and comfortable space. The bar servery protrudes into the room off the right-hand wall and has a bare boarded skirt with tall, backed stools right around its curvy length. The outside perimeter of the venue that is carpeted has some decent quality and colourful leather banquettes serving regular tables with some small, backed leather and fabric chairs the other side of generally small round tables. Some of the original wood panelling on the walls remain and the lighting is ambient in a tall ceilinged venue. There are quite a few TVs on the upper parts of the walls showing women's rugby on TNT Sports absent sound that instead in the venue is provided by discrete background music. There is a wooden staircase in the rear right-hand corner but i didn't investigate whether that led anywhere meaningful or if it was decorative of a venue past. There is a small rear outside drinking space with some picnic tables on a concreted flooring.

Official site of The Royal Oak - www.craftunionpubs.com

Official site of The Royal Oak - www.craftunionpubs.com

under new management

Now opened by Urban Pubs & Bars as a gastropub.

There were two handpumps round on the right hand side of the central island bar - one had a St Austell Proper Job clip reversed, and the other was apparently unused. Just bad timing on my part I suppose, as the barman confirmed that it had been on. There was no sign of any food on Wednesday afternoon. This is clearly an old Victorian "gin palace", but sadly now stripped out. But one survivor is the tiled corridor on the left, featuring a superb tiled mural of Charles II hiding in the oak tree from which the pub's name is derived. Inside it's bare-boarded, with a central island bar which would once have served the various discrete (and sometimes discreet) rooms accessed by the several doors from the street. Furnishings are standard, mainly metal framed, tables and normal chairs, a couple of settles and small round stools. Decor is sparse, but there are a few potted plants dotted around the place. The TV was on showing the racing, and a dartboard was on the wall at the back. This looks like a basic locals' boozer with no airs or graces, that only retains vestiges of its former grandeur. I guess I was just unlucky on the real ale front, but it's probably worth dropping in if only to admire the Victorian tiling.