The Royal Oak, Aberaeron

The Royal Oak is one of two Felinfoel pubs just about hanging on in Aberaeron. But this one, despite a regular turnover of landlords, seems to be making a better fist of it that the back street Prince of Wales, presumably because of its main road location in town. It's a bit of a time warp pub and you get the impression of stepping back into the seventies as you walk in with its old wood panelling and largely brown colour scheme. There are three distinct areas around the central rectangular bar. You enter into a lounge area with some settee seating in the front, then a small middle section where the current tenants sat with a few locals on our visits and then at the back a games area with pool table, dart board and fruit machines. The pub is dog friendly and a large one was lolling behind the bar. The toilets are in an outhouse out the back of the pub and we were initially a bit confused by a “Beware of the Dog” sign on the fence by the entrance to the ladies. However the reason became clear when someone goes to use the ladies as the act of opening the toilet door initiates the large Alsatian on the other side of the fence to suddenly appear at head level over the fence. A pretty scary event first time round, but then a source of fun thereafter. Two Felinfoel brews were available on the bar for our visits and as well as the usual Double Dragon there was an unremarkable Nut Brown Ale was available. There is a standard pub grub menu advertised as available but can't pass comment on that as we only utilised it for a quick pint due to its location next door to our digs before moving on.

Clean pub does good food. However sadly lacks atmosphere it is just like sitting in your front room.

A pub that looks like it hasn't seen an upgrade since 1977, pine clad walls and a carpet that's older than me. Sells a manky pint of Felinfoel ale, serves basic food and appears to provide employment to a wide range of local barmaids. It ticks a lot of perfunctory boxes but isn't worth the effort if you aren't an extra from Gavin and Stacey.

Royal Oak review at Quinnos Aberystwyth Pubs Guide - aberpubs.blogspot.com

Royal Oak review at Quinnos Aberystwyth Pubs Guide - aberpubs.blogspot.com