Not already a member?
Join our community and
- Rate & review pubs
- Upload pictures
- Add events
JOIN for free NOW
Chat about:
Random news of the day with Tris39
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Royal Standard of England, Beaconsfield
Forty Green
Postal town: Beaconsfield
HP9 1XT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 9 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Royal Standard of England
Rightly on CAMRA's historic pub interios register,this pub is accessed by narrow Chiltern lanes, has elements from the 13th century and a wealth of features. It's on a large L shaped plot carefully extended over the centuries to create a large interior.The entrance from the large carpark through the pub garden has a magnificent feature to one side of a vast curved barrel devide with a small door set into the barrel shape giving access to a charming snug.The quarry tiled corridor winds to the bar,wood panelled and traditional.Low beams abound,there are small dining tables,some in pew design before reaching the King Charles room which extends to the right.This has a barn style vaulted roof but also lots of nooks and crannies with some alcove dining tables.High in the rafters are stuffed animals ,standards and other old ephemera,just dialled back enough to avoid looking touristy.Due to Covid restrictions I couldnt explore the left sided candle room sadly.
There is extensive external seating around the whole exterior and the overall Jacobian feel is very authentic.Although there is a hamlet surrounding the pub and the housing of Forty Green isnt far away,most punters arrive by car and will be looking to dine.The menu is not overlong with pies and sausages prepared on the premises and proper cooking takes place.Prices are at a premium due to the surroundings with a median main £18 and nothing under £13,quality was good.Similarly all real ale £5 with what appears to be a permanent range of Chiltern Pale (NBSS 3).Brakspear Gravity,Windsor & Eton Conqueror Black IPA,Rebellion IPA and Roasted Nuts.A decent selection of Locales,there are also artisan ciders,and some interesting bottles including Owd Rodger which used to feature on draught.
For history this is a must visit,choose a quiet time and explore.Make sure you have charged your wallet beforehand!
On 18th July 2021
- rating: 9
[User has posted 2727 recommendations about 2727 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about The Royal Standard of England
One of those "must visits". Steve's description below still stands, and it seems another extension is being built out the back. Service was a bit corporate, the Chiltern Pale top notch. We doubled the number of customers on a Thursday afternoon, though after-work types soon started arriving. Judging by the size of the car park I suspect it's a nightmare at popular times.
Do make the effort to visit this Camra heritage pub - and it makes a much better stop than the nearby services on the M40.
On 5th May 2018
- rating: 9
[User has posted 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Royal Standard of England
We visited here on the 5th of January, so there was definitely no worries about the pub being overwhelmed by tourists. We got here for lunch and have to say what a treat that was, our meals were outstanding. Mrs A went for the Fish Pie and I went for the daily special, which was the Cottage Pie.
There were six ales on handpump, Chiltern Pale Ale, Marlow IPA, Windsor & Eaton Guardsman, Windsor & Eaton Conqueror, Britannia Amber Ale and Marston's Owd Roger. We went for the Chiltern Pale Ale, which was in excellent shape and deserved a second pint.
We found a nice spot near the bar area, which was a very cosy snug area with a roaring log fire. It's a good walk from the station to get here or if you're feeling flush, you can get a taxi at the station, which only cost £5. Press the free call button at the train station and your taxi is there in a few minutes.
On 19th January 2018
- rating: 10
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Royal Standard Of England
I was first introduced to the Royal Standard of England quite a few years ago whilst working in High Wycombe. Being taken to it down the winding country lane was an adventure in itself but then entering this ancient pub for the first time via the large old barrel set the scene for the quaintness and history beyond.
I am a bit loath to review the Royal Standard, as I would rather avoid drawing attention to it, because the only thing that spoils it as a pub is that it cannot cope during the busy periods with the hoards of visitors it attracts and both the beer and especially the food quality have been known to suffer on my infrequent visits back.
But I guess it’s too late for that as its regular appearance in the GBG’s and restaurant review sites and its claim by the owners of being haunted and the oldest ale houses in Britain attracts locals and tourists alike in significant numbers.
There is some dispute to the actual age of The Royal Standard, and the owners would have you believe it has been an ale house for over 950 years. This is disputed by local historians, but frankly who cares as it a fantastic historic building in its own right and worth visiting just for this.
Internally it is difficult to describe and do it justice, but here goes. It’s quite a large internal space, but divided into several different rooms, each with its own character with plenty of snug areas and nooks and crannies to find a seat in. I paricularily like the candle room with no lighting except for candles that get lit when it gets dark. Plenty of original Oak beams, wood panelling , stone floors all at different levels and angles, and several stone fireplaces in most of the rooms. There is also several what looks like genuine stained glass windows to some of the seating areas.
There’s plenty of period artefacts dotted around to add to the ambience, although these run the risk of descending into period tat, as these include a collection of stuffed animal heads and a skeleton dressed in civil war armour.
There are also decent areas for outside drinking with a nice garden area and plenty of bench seating out front. And once you have found it down the country lanes it benefits from one of the largest car parks you are ever likely to come across for a pub, more resembling those you find for a NT stately home.
The beer has varied over the years in both quantity and quality, but the quantity is back to being at the better end. There are currently five hand pumps available which dispense beers from regional and local breweries During my recent couple of visit beers from The Rebellion and Chiltern breweries have been on and also Guardsman from the new brewery in Windsor. Unfortunately quality still seems to be an issue and frankly at well over £3.00 a pint I would expect better. Last time in I went for TT Landlord which was a good pint but at £3.60 I would have bloody well hoped so.
Despite its faults on the service front, it’s still a must visit if you are in the area of Beaconsfield and I would recommend trying to go at a quieter period and definatly avoiding sunny weekends, when you stand more chance of a decent experience on the beer and food front.
On 9th October 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Owd Rodger left this review about The Royal Standard Of England
Beaconsfield's hidden gem. An historical alehouse that has survived over the centuries. Real fires, real food, real ale and real atmosphere. Every one wants a pub like this on their doorstep. Must be one of the top ten pubs in the country.
On 17th January 2008
- rating: 10
[User has posted 1 recommendations about 1 pubs]