The Royal Oak, Stevenage

Bucking Fastard left this review about The Royal Oak

Quite a large McMullens tied house off the shopping area of Old Stevenage in a residential area.The pub has two quite seperate rooms,to the right a rather uninspiring restraurant with pine furniture ,little wall decoration and a servery with keg taps.Around the left side with an entrance from the carpark is the sports bar where the drinkers gather.A pool table to the left with a corner stage for DJ's and bands.Furniture here mainly high tables while in the rest of the room bench seating fitted into window recesses,both high and low.The screens above the bar and elsewhere were on mute,there is still some stained glass in the bench seating ends dating back to a Macs refurb in the 80's.
The barmaid was friendly but her partner ,probably the guv'nor ,and some of his mates were sweary,one pacing about felt menacing and I was on my guard.They were keeping an eye on me.
The one handpump was hidden and reversed,the keg selection mainstream crap apart from Macs Rivertown SIPA which went down ok.
There is a distinct feeling about this pub being a local pub for local people ,so a revisit is most unlikely.

On 12^th October 2025 - rating: 4
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