The Royal Oak, Leatherhead

One of those panicky moments when the pub seems to be in darkness with front doors firmly closed. However peering through a window showed life within, and the door did open. The aged main bar features a heavily beamed ceiling, a part flagstoned floor and an inglenook fireplace, although that is a bit hidden behind a tall table. The separate side bar is a bit more spartan, while the extended dining room behind is now billed as the' Hidden Restaurant' and includes a large tabled patio. Still just Harveys Best and Tribute on handpump but condition was good.

Located on the High Street in Great Bookham, the presence of a car park with paid parking and cameras to enforce it was a unwelcome first sight. We decided not to use the car park and park on the street instead. The welcome wasn't particularly warm either. However, this local pub has a number of rooms with some character. The real ale range was somewhat disappointing with just Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter & St Austell Tribute on cask.

Facebook page of The Royal Oak - www.facebook.com

Facebook page of The Royal Oak - www.facebook.com

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

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

Still much the same as described below by Malden man,three beers available on my visit,Youngs Bitter,Clapham Town Ale and wadsworth Horizon, which was a decent pint. A nice pub.

There are three separate rooms in this traditional high street pub, I popped my head briefly into the public bar which has darts and a TV plus a number of barrel tables. The bar parlour is probably the main room where most customers were located, stone flagged floor although boarded at the far end, low beamed ceilings and a large fireplace with a musket and a clock on the breast above. The small squint ended bar is to one side, next to the latched front door which is marked STFD, I think most of us can guess what that stands for. Mostly traditional seating in here albeit with one sofa, there were a couple of local scenes on the walls plus a framed collection of banknotes. Through to the rear a newer area has a mainly featureless dining room but there were no customers in here, in fact despite advertising food, no one was eating and there was no tell tale odour on Sunday afternoon. Roasts were listed served from 12-5 and a chalkboard offered other options including a worryingly cheap portion of double egg with chips for the princely sum of £2.95! Four handpumps, Theakston Best Bitter, Deuchers IPA, Adnam's Southwold Bitter with Caledonian Golden XPA reverse clipped. The pub reminded me in some ways of places I remember from 20 years or more ago, functional and no frills and distinctly a locals' spot but I couldn't help but feel that the most is not being made of the place, exactly why however I'm struggling to describe.