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Beer of the Week (w/e 14th September 2025) with Thuck Phat
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Detail Pages
The Royal Oak, Harlesden, NW10
NW10
NW10 4TS
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about The Royal Oak
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.
On 17th August 2025
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2277 recommendations about 2227 pubs]
David Walton left this review about The Royal Oak
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.
On 15th July 2025
- rating: 5
[User has posted 816 recommendations about 811 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Royal Oak
under new management
On 11th May 2017
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2999 recommendations about 2933 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Royal Oak
Now opened by Urban Pubs & Bars as a gastropub.
On 9th March 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Royal Oak
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.
On 12th April 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2608 recommendations about 2522 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Royal Oak
Rather grand building, with plenty of interesting features on both facades. The interior has mostly basic furniture and decor, but there is some splendid tiling in the side corridor. Indeed, it must have been quite something in its heyday, given the imposing nature of the island bar. Darts. No draught ale, but bottled Bombardier available (£3.30). Overall, it's former glory has definitely faded, but there's enough here for somebody to really make something of the place in the future.
On 29th October 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8868 recommendations about 8868 pubs]