Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Graham Coombs
Submitted on Saturday, 17th June 2023
With picture contributions to 5503 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (25 more images)
Detail Pages
The Royal Oak, Guildford
Guildford
GU1 3RR
Reviews of The Royal Oak (Average Rating: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Royal Oak
This is a nice little Fullers pub that is well located for the castle and backs onto the Holy Trinity Church. Entering from the castle side, you pass through a cosy little, split-level front garden area with some nice, secluded seating options. From here, you enter into a compact single room with the servery down the left-hand wall and the remains of a former partitioning wall through the centre just about visible, suggesting a previous two bar layout. The room has a mixture of carpet, bare floorboards, and some attractive patterned tiles, mainly around the bar area, whilst the walls are mainly painted in neutral shades, but also have some fancy modern wallpaper here and there plus a little exposed brickwork, mainly around the right-hand side fireplace. High tables and stools stand opposite the bar, with comfy banquettes and standard chairs to the rear and some decent sofas and armchairs around the fireplace. The bar has a traditional dark wood counter and contrasting modern white tiled bar back, whilst the walls are decorated with lots of small portraits and paintings, with a mounted stag’s head above the fire. The cosy feel is topped off by the obligatory dark beams that cross the ceiling and give the place a bit of a country pub feel. A door to the rear leads out to a passageway behind the pub, where a few more seats can be found with views across the adjacent cemetery.
On the bar, five from the wider Fullers portfolio could be found on handpull – London Pride, HSB, Oliver’s Island plus Dark Star Pacific Dawn IPA and APA. I opted for the Pacific Dawn IPA, served to me by a very chipper barman and in very good condition. Having walked here from Farnham on a very hot day, I was in no state to sit in the pub, so I took my beer out the back and perched on a bench next to the church yard, from where I could watch a surprising amount of people coming and going.
Despite not getting to spend that much time inside this fine little pub, I still saw enough to convince me that it’s one of the better boozers in the town centre. A decent selection of well-kept Fullers ales, comfy furnishings and cheery staff made this a successful visit and I’d say it’s as good a bet as anywhere in town.
Date of visit - 24th June 2023
On 11th December 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Royal Oak
As others have mentioned, this is tucked away in a quiet corner in a world removed from the nearby High St . The historic, dark, slightly over-the-top interior has beams, fake library wallpaper and various furniture including armchairs. The only slight jarring notes are the racks of snacks hanging on the front of the bar and the naff music. Beers are from the Fuller's range plus a guest (Butcombe Rare Breeds on this visit). Rather pleasant on the whole.
On 17th June 2023
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Royal Oak
Nice old pub, hidden behind the church, a bit locally, but decent
On 18th September 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1542 recommendations about 1519 pubs]
View more reviews of The Royal Oak (12)
Pubs Galore is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
- The Royal Oak page at the official Fullers brewery site - www.fullers.co.uk
- Facebook - The Royal Oak - Guildford
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Royal Oak - whatpub.com
Guildford, 0.83 miles, 15 min walk (show)
Shalford (Surrey), 1.69 miles, 32 min walk (show)
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 25 August 2014 by Malden man
- Bar Billiards : Yes last updated 28 October 2011 by Quinno _
- Beer Festivals : Yes - August - last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Beer Garden : No - Very small rear patio - last updated 15 April 2014 by Quinno _
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 15 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Car Park : No last updated 25 August 2014 by Malden man
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 11 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Darts : Yes last updated 15 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 25 August 2014 by Malden man
- Function Room : No last updated 11 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 25 August 2014 by Malden man
- Jukebox : No last updated 11 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : Yes last updated 13 June 2015 by Dave McNally
- Live Music : Yes last updated 15 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 15 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Micropub : No last updated 11 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
- Pinball : No last updated 15 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Pool Table : No last updated 25 August 2014 by Malden man
- Quiz Night : Yes last updated 25 August 2014 by Malden man
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 15 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Real Cider : No last updated 15 April 2014 by Quinno _
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 25 August 2014 by Malden man
- WiFi : Yes last updated 11 December 2023 by Pub SignMan
The Three Pigeons
The Alley Bar- The March Hare
- Turtle Bay
- Growlers & Cans
- Kerrera
- The Guildford Tup
- The Keep
Recently Viewed:
