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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
Royal Oak, York
York
YO1 7LG
Pub Type
Punch TavernsReviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about Royal Oak
A good pub, benefitting from being on the outer fringe of the tourist area so not too infested. It retains a good selection of rooms: main bar to the front, a plain snug the other side, a nice little lounge behind and a larger lounge-type room upstairs. Cask ales on were TT Landlord, Theakstons Best, Rudgate Ghostly Pale and a very lovely Yorkshire Heart Blackheart.
On 15th November 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about Royal Oak
The Royal Oak has a central corridor that runs from front to rear allowing access to the bar areas to the left and seating to the right. The bar counter to the left serves the corridor, front Oak Room and the Lounge behind. The Oak Room has banquette seating under the front windows and a fireplace on the left-hand wall with a television above, which was off during my recent Thursday evening visit. More banquette seating runs across the rear wall to the bar counter in the right rear corner. The four hand pumps were drawing Ainsty Ales’ Flummoxed Farmer and Theakston’s Best alongside TT Landlord and Dark Mild. The keg options were Madri, Beavertown’s Neck Oil, Old Mout Cider and Guinness. There was some background music playing and there were two other customers, one of whom was dressed as Captain Hook, or maybe Guy Fawkes. The parquet floored split-level lounge bar in the left rear has some more banquette seating and there’s a burner in a tiled fireplace in the left-hand wall. The three hand pumps offered no new cask, but there was the addition of more keg in the form of Stella, Pravha and Orchard Thieves Cider.
To the right of the entrance is a snug with yet more banquette seating and another burner in a tiled fireplace on the right-hand wall. This area was empty, but it had a strong smell of wet dog. The toilets are upstairs, as is the Parlour, which is a seating area that is also available for hire. Out the back is a small grim enclosed smoking area. I found the service to be polite and the traditional surroundings are a talking point, but there was no atmosphere. Maybe I’d try again if walking past on a weekend evening.
On 11th June 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about Royal Oak
Called in this pub while visiting York last month. Another decent well kept old multi roomed pub. We chose Treboom Orion's Best from the ales available which was fine.
On 12th August 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about Royal Oak
Another lovely pub in this area of York, this one does have the feeling of a pubco operation but it remains clean, cosy and friendly in all of its many rooms. A few good guest ales on including Hop Studio Vanilla Porter. Well worth visiting along with next door.
On 21st April 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1174 recommendations about 1136 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alex Conway left this review about The Royal Oak Inn
Located directly next to the golden slipper is another great real ale pub down goodrungate. There is a main bar to the front with bench seating and a classier seating area with tables to the back but be warned drinkers will be askeed to move in busier times to make way for diners which annoys me a little. The pub is nicely decorated with good wallpaper and lighting. on the bar you will always find Rev James (£3.60), Old perculier(£3.70), Theakston XB (£3.40) and Abbot ale plus three rotating guests with one of them on my visit being Exmoor dark another Daleside blonde and one i failed to note. The prices are defiantly on the steep side but a 20p CAMRA discount is offered to soothe the sting. An all round good pub with very nicely kept beers. if you can grab a seat in the back its worth keeping but this pub gets very busy in the evenings and at weekends.
On 1st May 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 459 recommendations about 459 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Royal Oak Inn
Traditional styled pub dating from the 17th century but the interior has been remodelled probably in the 19th century. Two rooms at front, the left hand one with a corner counter and there's a split level room at rear which appears to be for dining, although there's a counter with the better choices of beer. The foody smells in here at mealtimes do make it less than perfect for enjoying beer.
The front bar had Brains, Theakstons, and Greene King while the three back bar pulls had beers from Orkney, Ridgeside and a local newby Ainsty Ales. Needless to say I missed the board with all the choices and the be-clipped wicket on the front counter end, before spotting the different shaped pump clips next door, thus avoiding a disappointing choice. It's friendly and comfortable with leather benches, a Victorian floor and William Morris wallpaper, a nice place to relax with a decent ale so I thoroughly agree with Real Ale Ray - well worth a visit if in Goodramgate.
On 29th November 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Royal Oak Inn
Well worth a visit this one, mainly used by friendly locals. The pub consists of a separate small lounge on the right, with the bar area on the left serving both the front and back room. The rear lounge area had traditionally patterned colourful wallpaper and upholstered seating to match. Up a few more steps to a glass covered seating area, which displayed a wall tapestry. Two ales tried were Salamander Swathe and Hop Studio Gold. Friendly and chatty staff.
On 12th August 2013
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3644 recommendations about 3644 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Royal Oak Inn
6 real ales and food served from a 2 sided bar that serves the 3 rooms that make up the pub.
On 18th May 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2933 recommendations about 2866 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Peter Rydings left this review about The Royal Oak Inn
Nice pub clean and staff friendly worth a visit
On 30th November 2012
- rating: 8
[User has posted 948 recommendations about 917 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Royal Oak Inn
I went in the Oak bar which is on the left on entering from the street. It seems to have been recently refurbished, with plush covers on the stools and new leather on the bench seating. The wallpaper is in a very old-fashioned style and there are reproductions of old paintings, including a rather lovely one of Elizabeth of York, who became the wife of Henry VII and therefore one of the few members of the House of York not to be murdered by the Tudors.
Four hand pumps were serving Theakstons Old Peculier, Greene King Abbot, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Westons Old Rosie cider. Chuck Berry was playing on the CD player - I wonder what Elizabeth of York would have made of that?
On 29th April 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]