The Royal Oak, Cheltenham

In the village of Prestbury, a mile or so outside Cheltenham, is The Royal Oak, an attractive looking Cotswold stone building. The pub apparently dates back to 1849. Outside, we see the now familiar “West Country Ales 1760 – Best in the West “ ceramic tiled logo and, on the right hand side, some attractive etched windows. It’s a 2 bar pub with a drinkers snug bar on the left and a dedicated dining room on the right. The bar features a parquet floor, honey coloured walls, an open fire and plenty of horse brasses on the dark oak beams. Reflecting the proximity of Cheltenham racecourse – it’s apparently the nearest pub – there’s several horse racing prints. Note also the photograph of the famous former cricketer, Tom Graveney, being presented to Prince Philip and the Queen before a Test Match. Tom Graveney was, apparently, once the landlord here and is still a regular, although there was no sign of him on my recent Sunday afternoon visit. The Burgage – the street in which the pub is situated – is reputedly one of the most haunted streets in England. One small area of the pub is named as Prestbury Ghost Corner, the home of Prestbury Independent State Society, whose highlighted initials act as a timely reminder not to take them seriously. In summary, it’s a pleasant traditional interior with no music or other distractions and something of a slightly upmarket feel to it. The restaurant is highly regarded. Food is a definite step up from normal pub food and prices reflect this. At the back, a pleasant garden leads to an annexed building – “The Pavilion” – which is used for live music and various functions. On my visit, a post christening party was in progress and the baby concerned was bawling and screeching for all it was worth, making sure that everyone was in no doubt that this was his day. 4 pumps ( one for cider ) were serving TT Landlord, Youngs Ordinary and Purity Mad Goose Pale Ale, the latter being in splendid form - £ 3.30p. A blackboard lists forthcoming beers. The pub is a CAMRA Good Beer Guide regular. This pub is well worth seeking out – it’s a short bus ride from Cheltenham

Official site of the Royal Oak, includes a menu, accommodation details and current real ale list - www.royal-oak-prestbury.co.uk

Official site of the Royal Oak, includes a menu, accommodation details and current real ale list - www.royal-oak-prestbury.co.uk