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Chat about:
Lancaster crawl 17th July 2026 with Pangolin
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Old Boots
Submitted on Monday, 22nd September 2025
With picture contributions to 4053 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (7 more images)
Detail Pages
Royal Oak, Lyndhurst
Fritham
Postal town: Lyndhurst
SO43 7HJ
Served areas
Reviews of Royal Oak (Average Rating: 8 of 10) see review guidelines
E TA left this review about Royal Oak
As described by PubSignMan, below. There were no grockles around when we visited, just a couple of locals arguing passionately with the young barman about association football, though it wasn’t clear exactly which clubs were under discussion. Eight barrels on stillage behind the bar, those being dispensed were Toll House and Sea Wall from Monkey Brewery in nearby Lymington, plus GFB and Stone Daisy IPA. There was an array of 10 keg taps, we couldn’t determine what all of them had on but we did note Hyde’s Cider, Dorset Cider, Estrella and Guinness. An excellent little country pub, well worth the detour to find.
On 19th June 2026
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3783 recommendations about 3742 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Royal Oak
This is a cosy, two-room rural pub found at the end of a country road in the northern part of the New Forest National Park. Entry leads into a bare boarded room with half-height tongue and groove panelling and plain painted walls above, with a small servery tucked away in the rear left corner. Limited tables and chairs are arranged down either side of the room, with a large, lit stone fireplace providing a warm focal point on the back wall. The bar itself is a very basic wood-panelled affair with a whitewashed brick bar back, dominated by a stillage full of casks. Traditional rural-themed paintings line the walls, including a particularly large piece above the fireplace, and there’s a nice timber-framed arch in the centre of the room with dark wood beams. Steps lead down to a small overspill room to the rear offering a few additional seats, although signs make clear that this is a small pub where sharing tables is often necessary, much like in a micropub. A large marquee outside provides further overspill space during busy periods.
The beer range was extensive, served straight from the stillage, and included Cerne Abbas Tiger Tom, Flowerpots Cheriton Porter, options from Bowman and Flack Manor, and at least four other local breweries, although not all were easy to identify without pump clips or a beer board. The Tiger Tom was in fine shape and slipped down easily after a bit of a trek out here across the Forest. The sign wasn't wrong and it looked like we were going to have to share a table with someone until a couple upped and left just as our drinks were served.
I thought this was a very cosy little refuge that provided a welcome sight after yomping out here from some distant part of the National Park. It's not the easiest pub to reach, even by car, but the effort seems well worth it and I was impressed with the quality of their stillage ales - a format of dispense where top quality isn't always assured. I've generally been a bit underwhelmed by pubs that I've tried in the New Forest, but I thought this was a cracker and the sort of place you will be well rewarded for seeking out.
Date of visit – 29th December 2024
On 28th April 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3387 recommendations about 3387 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Royal Oak
Tiny country pub hidden away in the northern New Forest, but in a popular walking / cycling area so it needs a huge (partly covered) bee garden. Indoors, just a compact bar and snug-sized dining room to the rear, with a kitchen squeezed somewhere at the back. Modern toilets now in a separate wooden building to one side. Six real ales from eight casks on stillage, including several local beers such as Red Cat's Mosaic Pale (£4.60) and Sea Wall from Monkey (£2.30, half).
On 31st July 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 9175 recommendations about 9175 pubs]
View more reviews of Royal Oak (9)
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- Official site of Royal Oak - royaloakfritham.co.uk
- Facebook page of Royal Oak - www.facebook.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: Royal Oak - whatpub.com
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 : Yes last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Beer Festivals : Yes last updated 07 August 2013 by Quinno _
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 04 August 2020 by Blue Scrumpy
- Car Park : No last updated 04 August 2020 by Blue Scrumpy
- Child Friendly : Yes last updated 04 August 2020 by Blue Scrumpy
- Darts : No last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 18 August 2011 by hondo .
- Function Room : No last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 07 August 2013 by Quinno _
- Jukebox : No last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Karaoke : No last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Live Music : Yes last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Micropub : No last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Pinball : No last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Pool Table : No last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Quiz Night : Yes last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Real Cider : No last updated 04 August 2020 by Blue Scrumpy
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
- WiFi : No last updated 28 April 2025 by Pub SignMan
