The Oaks, Rickmansworth

Corner pub not far from the HS2 route, where construction is underway. The pub has a reasonable sized car park and is set up mainly for dining. The landlady and other staff were very friendly and we tried the Turkish food that is now on offer. The large sharing platter we had was filling, but good value. Just 3 ales were on - Sharp's Doom Bar & Doom Bar Extra Chilled & Fuller's London Pride. I tried the Doom Bar Extra Chilled for the first time and found it to be quite pleasant. Inside may be for diners only, as most drinkers appeared to be inside. But we had reserved a table to eat on this occasion. So, all worked well. Not a destination pub, but recommended as a food venue that serves real ale.

Official site of The Oaks - www.theoakspub.co.uk

Official site of The Oaks - www.theoakspub.co.uk

This pub changed hands about 8 weeks ago. It is now owned / managed by a new guy who has a lot of credibility in the area for the quality of food served in the establishments he has previously managed. Just eaten there tonight - food was excellent and reasonably priced for the quality. At the moment it is quite quiet ..... a genuine hidden gem, but the word I am sure will quickly get out. I found the contact details hard to find on Google, so here they are Phone number is 01895822118. Website www.theoakspub.co.uk

The Oaks public house is visible from the A412 Denham to Ricky route, which is a common cut through for those of us who have to suffer the vagaries of the parallel section of the M25 and from afar it looks like a picturesque country pub. So when traversing the route again yesterday on what proved to be the hottest day of the year I decided to take the small detour for a pint. The pub is on a sharp bend at the corner of the Old Uxbridge Road and Coppermill Lane. Unfortunately reality is that it is more community estate pub than quaint country inn, but it seemed to be functioning well as one with plenty in (or I should say outside on this hot evening). Internally it is now one large open-plan layout that may once have looked very different in a former guise. Plenty of seating around the different areas and also large plazma teles dotted around tuned to the horseracing. There is no real outside area except for bench tables to the front and side adjoining the tarmacked car park. The usual chrome lager and cider options were available and although there are three ale hand pumps on the bar only two are operational and one (London Pride) was reversed clipped. This left Flowers Original, which, however well it is kept, it is still a poor shadow of its former self. The service was friendly and efficient, but this will be one I will be leaving to the locals.