Royal Oak Inn, Wantage

Multi award winning corner pub a short walk from the town centre and definitely the best pub in the town, whither it's the best pub in the region or even in Oxfordshire I'll leave up to you. CAMRA thinks it is since it has been Pub of the Year several times and was a runner up in the national Pub of the Year competition of 2009 as the southern regional winner. Two bars, a small public at one side end and a large saloon next door, although the saloon once had a separate snug like bar at the far end, this now houses a dart board and piano. The bar counter was fairly stiff with middle aged bar blockers but there was a choice on four pumps here plus three other beers on in the public, fortunately the usual blackboard at the less packed end of the counter lists them all. Oddly I didn't see any beer being pulled, the wine drinking landlord disappearing behind the public bar to reappear a few minutes later with a full glass or two. As expected the quality of the beer and indeed the service was good befitting its plethora of CAMRA certificates etc, West Berkshire and Wadworths were well represented but the collection of pump clips over the bar shows the range of guests. The public bar is said in the GBG to be more popular with younger drinkers, it also has table football. Décor is traditional “pub” although the wainscotting is a natural light colour rather than thick old brown, the white walls are decorated with old photos, an architects drawing of the pub and the many award certificates.

Official site of the Royal Oak in Wantage, includes beer list - www.royaloakwantage.2ya.com

Official site of the Royal Oak in Wantage, includes beer list - www.royaloakwantage.2ya.com