Royal Oak Inn, Bongate, Appleby-In-Westmorland

The front of this classic roadside pub, on the now bypassed A66, has been spoilt somewhat by the roof added to the sitting out area, presumably prompted by the Covid regulations. Inside it was strange to see a table plonked exactly in front of the bar (another Covid thing?), but it soon became apparent that this is the dining room and the main drinking area is the Tap Room at the far left of the building. There are three hand pumps here, with two beers on: Black Sheep Blonde and Hawkshead Bitter. (The same beers were on display in the other room, but poured from in here.) The Bitter was in excellent condition, an easy NBSS 4, and I complimented the bar manager on my way out. I wish I could have also complimented her on the background music, but the only adjective I could find for it at the time was "annoying" - I'm still too traumatised to be more specific.