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The Famous Royal Oak, Muswell Hill, N10
N10
N10 3QY
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
David Walton left this review about The Famous Royal Oak
Visited 15/01/25
Two beers on hand pump, Doom Bar and a very enjoyable pint of Bass (can't remember the last time I had a pint of Bass in a London pub leave alone a very fine pint of Bass). Keg offerings were Moretti, Guinness, K1664, Gamma Ray, Carling, Inch's, Cruz, Amstel and Neck Oil.
This venue was centred around the bar counter and its congregation of punters on tall stools. Otherwise, quirky interior with a few nooks and crannies and a variety of seating options on an evening packed with footy watching customers. Lots of bric a brac, quite a nautical theme with model ships, shelves housing books and miniature bottles and jugs on shelves just under the boarded roof. On my visit the entire venue was turned over to showing the Arsenal v Spurs game with commentary and everyone here was tuned into watching the game. Quite a few gaming machines seemed out of place here and the colonial era ceiling fan felt very in-needed albeit on now suddenly a very mild January evening, tropical it still was not! Plenty of seating options, including some red leather banquettes, on a carpeted interior and tall backed stools at the bar counter. There is some seating at the front and side of the pub on a paved area, with good cover for many of the tables.
On 20th July 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 777 recommendations about 774 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Famous Royal Oak
Dating from the late 18th century, this was probably once a coaching inn, quite possibly rebuilt as an estate-style pub in 1965 and as mentioned, Dennis Nilsen’s local – I walked past 23 Cranley Gardens on the way – though his nefarious activities took place in the Golden Lion (W1) and Black Cap (NW1).
With an empty Taylor Walker/Meux sign bracket outside, it’s not the most attractive pub, though the flowers to the raised beer patio were well tended. However, inside this is really something of a time warp pub, with a very ‘60s’ interior: an attractive bar array with stained glass leaded pot shelf, carpeted and furnished with traditional furniture, oxblood banquettes to part of the hexagonal periphery with exposed rafters above. Framed photos of the area from yesteryear sit alongside much bric-à-brac and nautical knickknacks, with a grandfather clock; to the rear is an upright piano for live singalongs, the silent unwatched televised sport an unwelcome distraction. Customers were locals, though not the more prosperous residents of Muswell Hill Central, everyone outside on my balmy Friday evening visit. The cask selection still amounted to an unused pump, then Doom and Bass, tasting well…like Bass, served by a friendly barman.
This is a surprisingly good pub which I would like to have seen when the customers were in to generate some ambience; an improvement in the ale lineup would have got the score up an extra point; where’s the Ghost Ship?
On 20th July 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2266 recommendations about 2218 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Famous Royal Oak
Round the corner from Dennis Nilsen's old gaff is this purpose-built estate pub from 1965. Don't be put off by that, it's really nice inside with seemingly little (if any) changes in the last 40 years and has been kept to a high standard. We have dark varnished wood, pub carpet, wine coloured leather banquettes, original baffled windows and original bar. Plenty of maritime ephemera once you get your eye in, including a very nice collection of model ships on the upper shelves by the semi-hexagonal banquette. Three pumps with just Doom Bar on (there's often Bass but no delivery this week). My Doom was passable (NBSS 2.5), lacking turnover but then again I was the only person in on a grey and sodden Bank Holiday Monday afternoon. I’d be happy to see this one again with a pint of Bass in my paws.
On 11th June 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5657 recommendations about 5638 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Famous Royal Oak
There was only one ale on in here - predictably Doom Bar, with a further three handpumps unclipped. I saw no sign of food on a Monday evening, but there again I wasn't looking for any.
This is a relatively new build pub (by pub standards anyway) built in 1965 to replace a really old wooden pub on the site. It does have some character about it. You enter into a fairly low-ceilinged area facing the servery; on the left is a fairly small area with a high vaulted ceiling and a green marble fireplace; on the right it opens out into a much larger room also with a vaulted and wood-panelled ceiling complete with beams, and clerestory windows below ceiling level. There's maritime themed decor all over the place, including many model ships, and a pool table in the centre of the room. The windows to the outside world are also attractive features in their own right, with oak tree designs etched into them.
I found this to be a comfortable community based pub, away from the main thoroughfares of Muswell Hill. It's certainly not worth the effort of travelling a great distance to Muswell Hill just to visit this pub, but worth a punt if you're in the area. A better real ale would be a big plus in my opinion, but I realise that not everybody cares about that sort of thing.
On 10th November 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2607 recommendations about 2521 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Famous Royal Oak
The exterior appearance is unpromising,but internally it's much better and has the vibe of an authentic suburban boozer.The bar runs along a rear wall,with a seating area in front with some red leather bench seating.To the right side is a comfortable banquette also in red leather and then a dedicated area for a pool table.What marks out the interior is the vast amount of ephemera which these days has disappeared from the pub scene;model ships,small library of books,a vast collection of minatures,photos of the area from ages past .It's all very old school as are the bar stools with wooden backs which prove popular with the more elderly regulars.If the juke box isn't fed a random song will play,and there are 4 flatscreen dotted about sensibly on mute awaiting World Cup soccer.
There are 3 handpumps offering just two ales on my trip in Doom Bar and Adnams Ghost Ship (£4,beyond it's best).Comfortable and one of only three proper pubs in central Muswell Hill so it does serve a purpose.
On 23rd June 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2997 recommendations about 2997 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Johnny Laten left this review about The Famous Royal Oak
Lovely family run pub, friendly Irish Landlord and a proper pub!
I moved into the area recently and stumbled across this pub, and had a thoroughly great afternoon.
Great beer and best pint of Guiness I've had in years. Kids and dogs welcome. Lovely atmosphere and great patio area with outside screens.
Highly recommended!
On 10th October 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Famous Royal Oak
A recent return found a lively crowd watching Arsenal's annual departure from the Champions League, interspersed with loud interruptions from the jukebox, which had evidently been primed to play a random track if not fed pennies for ten minutes. All the eccentric models and pictures are still very much in evidence, but I suspect there may have been a change of management here, or the beer quality has declined for other reasons. The cask beer offering still consisted of London Pride and Bombardier, as on my previous visits, but the latter had clearly been on the bar for a long time and was well past its best.
On 30th March 2015
- rating: 5
[User has posted 4391 recommendations about 4036 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Famous Royal Oak
The pub's unpromising exterior conceals an interior of eccentricity and interest. The bar looks like it may have been salvaged from elsewhere, with three hand pumps serving just London Pride and Bombardier. Several walls have bookcases, and where there are no books there are collections of ornaments and pictures everywhere. These vary from simple nicknacks to model sailing ships, sculptures of Indian warriors and birds, golfers and display cases of miniature cricket bats, plus photos of local scenes including the nearby and now disused railway line and station. It's hard to tell how much of this has just accumulated over the years and how much is a conscious effort to make something interesting out of what could otherwise have been a very so-so pub. Definitely worth a return visit.
On 9th May 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4391 recommendations about 4036 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Famous Royal Oak
A quick update on my review three and a half years ago – Nothing much has changed and the barman was still the friendly chap I encountered then and every time I have been in since. Pride and Greene King IPA, which is available at £2.50 a pint, were the two ale options on my last visit a couple of weeks ago and the usual draught suspects are all also available. Three screens for showing all the sports are up on the walls in amongst the various clocks that chime or cuckoo on the hour and the pool table with not much queuing space is still heavily used. Not mentioned before is the large raised paved area out the front that has plenty of seating and a jumbrella for inclement days. There is an hour extension until midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and I’m glad to report that the staff still come round and inform people that the bar is about to close rather than just ringing the bell. There is no food served, but all of the locals would rather have a bar snack and eat when they get home.
This isn’t the most attractive pub, but after midday a decent pint in friendly surroundings can be had by all.
On 31st October 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 6168 recommendations about 6131 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alesonly . left this review about The Famous Royal Oak
This is a good old school traditional Pub its now about the only decent Pub left in Muswell hill that has not been wreaked by the foodie brigade. I would always recommend anyone a walk down to here if your in Muswell Hill area Rather than going in any of the Restaurant/Pubs around the Broadway
On 24th February 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 132 recommendations about 105 pubs]