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Beer of the Week (w/e 15th June 2025) with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Ian Mapp
Submitted on Tuesday, 25th June 2024
With picture contributions to 1331 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (3 more images)
Detail Pages
The Royal Oak, Dorchester
Cerne Abbas
Postal town: Dorchester
DT2 7JG
Served areas
Reviews of The Royal Oak (Average Rating: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Ian Mapp left this review about The Royal Oak
Stumbled into the village, after a walk under the giant and through the abbey grounds. This was the first pub I noticed and it looked too enticing to pass by. Built 1540 on the sign. Detached and covered in Ivy at the front. Warm day, so most were outside, including a spare table that I soon gobbled up. Inside, low ceilings, long bar, dark. Just the way I like my pubs.
Two ales on and I went for a half of Legless Jest from the Cerne Abbey brewery. Shame the brewery is closed on a Sunday, otherwise I would have added the tap room onto the intinery.
On 24th June 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1607 recommendations about 1584 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Royal Oak
A small town pub with a well-deserved GBG entry. The building is 16th Century and thatched, and reportedly built from stone and timber robbed from the nearby abbey when it was sacked by Henry VIII. There is a small private garden at the rear, but no car park. The traditional interior is as described by BF, below. The barman was friendly, and there was a chatty cadre of locals; indeed the locals outnumbered the tourists on this occasion, but I can imagine that this isn’t always the case. Ales on were Fine Tuned Sunshine Reggae, Landlord, Bath Gem and a local wheat beer, plus a boxed cider on the bar. The pint of Sunshine Reggae I had was one of the bets beers I’ve had in a long time, in perfect condition. Being on the tourist trail affects their food and beer prices, though, and the overall VFM is questionable. I’d still be happy to come here for their ale.
On 8th November 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3547 recommendations about 3511 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Royal Oak
The oldest of the three pubs in the village ,there is a beautiful interior with flag stone floors,wood panelling ,comfortable settles,benches ,tables and upright chairs and a bar which is in the middle of the pub along the left hand wall.Hall and Woodhouse ales,Badger Bitter and Tangelfoot and a standard pubco menu which doesnt quite live up to the ornate interior,although there are seafood specials like local crab and oysters.There is a small,suntrap courtyard at the rear for outside drinking.Friendly welcome but more popular with tourists than locals,yet well worth having a look around this old inn.
On 26th September 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2971 recommendations about 2971 pubs]
No known official website for this pub.
- Facebook - The Royal Oak
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Royal Oak - whatpub.com
Chetnole, 6.73 miles, 2 hr 9 min walk (show)
Dorchester West, 8.35 miles, 2 hr 41 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 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Beer Festivals : Yes - September - last updated 29 July 2013 by Dave McNally
- Beer Garden : Yes last updated 26 September 2010 by hondo .
- CAMRA Discount : No last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Car Park : No last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Darts : No last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 26 September 2010 by hondo .
- Jukebox : No last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Karaoke : No last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Live Music : No last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Live TV Sports : No last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Micropub : No last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Pinball : No last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Pool Table : No last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 26 September 2010 by hondo .
- Real Cider : Yes last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
- Wheelchair Access : No last updated 15 August 2019 by E TA
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