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“Good food needs an overhaul”
Review of The Royal Oak

The Royal Oak
Ranked #1 of 1 Restaurants in Aubourn
More restaurant details
Restaurant details
Dining options: After-hours, Breakfast, Reservations
Description: A 16th century public house serving traditional home cooked food combined with a special board with a mixture of traditional and modern food from around the globe. we offer an extensive Gluten Free Menu and cater for all dietary needs. We offer 5 real ales, 4 lagers and a range of soft drinks. The pub is traditionally decorated with beams and an open fire. We are not taking part in the Government 50% off scheme- we don’t believe with the projected increase in numbers we can keep both the team and customers safe and following the covid guidelines.
Reviewed 15 October 2018

We enjoy good pub grub and The Royal Oak we found does just that and there are plenty of reviews to support that fact, but if all reviews stuck to that nobody would benefit from feedback, not the owners and staff, not the visitors.
The pub is small and has several oldie worlde rooms reflecting a long history, the place is nice and clean (tables were cleaned using fresh paper towels and antibacterial spray) facilities were spotless too, so what did come to mind?
The rooms have limited space, so decluttering would be a good idea, yet there is a menu for every possible type of food and wine, about six for food and two for wine. I'm sure a blackboard for specials and one menu would cover things adequately.
We ate around one table with not only the menus, but a slender flower vase, a dish full of condiment packets and additional plastic up stand menus swallowing space (Even the wording on them were too elaborate)
A good declutter on menus and space would make the staff and visitors experience more comfortable.
So, the average mark has nothing to do with the quality of food or friendly staff, value for money, which is a shame, but, sometimes being outside looking in can be a helpful critic.

Date of visit: October 2018
    • Value
    • Service
    • Food
4  Thank Brian G
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachael B, Owner at The Royal Oak, responded to this reviewResponded 17 October 2018

Thank you for taking the time to post your kind review. Pleased that you enjoyed the food, service and found the pub value for money. I have passed on all your positive feedback to the team.
Over the years we have decluttered the Oak, removing gaming machines, arcade games, numerous objects from the Oak, replacing tables with thinner onesand slowly thinning out the brass. I will however use you review, to retrain the staff to ensure that all menus and boards are removed after ordering. This will free up space and make the dining experience a little better. Thank you for taking the time to highlight this- it’s only by acting on customers constructive feedback that we can continue to develop the business we are proud of. We hope to welcome you back to the Oak in the near future

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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Reviews (574)
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168 - 172 of 574 reviews

Reviewed 14 October 2018

Lovely pub, amazing food, friendly staff and great value for money. This was our first visit in a long time and we were not disappointed. I liked the fact that you could order standard or small portions and I am so pleased I went with the small portion as the standard warrants a large appetite. Everything was piping hot and tasty. Plenty to choose from.

Date of visit: October 2018
    • Value
    • Service
    • Food
1  Thank Lindy E
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachael B, Owner at The Royal Oak, responded to this reviewResponded 17 October 2018

Thank you for taking the time to post your excellent review. I have passed on all your positive feedback to the team. We listened to customers asking for something smallest. Look forward to welcoming you back to the Oak in the near future- there’s plenty of choices to work your way through!!

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Reviewed 12 October 2018

Originally a party of 9 changed 6 at the last moment when we got there the restaurant was busy but the staff where friendly We had pre ordered but when some of the party saw what was on offer with the pie of the day minds were changed still the staff were friendly Food came and was excellent choice is vast and cooked to a high standard everyone said there food was fantastic.

Date of visit: October 2018
    • Value
    • Service
    • Food
1  Thank GrahamJ27
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachael B, Owner at The Royal Oak, responded to this reviewResponded 14 October 2018

Thank you for taking the time to post your excellent review and positive feedback. Pleased that you were well looked after by the team and enjoyed your evening. The whole team work hard to ensure everyone is well looked after. I have passed on all your comments to the team who looked after you. We hope to welcome you back to the Oak in the near future.

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Reviewed 6 October 2018 via mobile

Hats off to the owners for going the extra mile in facilitating a very extensive gluten free menu along with lots of other menu options. The beef & Stilton pie was excellent.
Great customer service .
Will definitely be back when I’m in the area.

Date of visit: October 2018
1  Thank malbeck3030
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachael B, Owner at The Royal Oak, responded to this reviewResponded 7 October 2018

Thank you for your excellent review and positive feedback. The Chefs work hard to ensure that every customer gets the best possible meal you can. On your next visit you must leave room for the sweets, the chocolate brownie and lemon drizzle are excellent. The lemon drizzle is made with mash potato- it’s so moist- I say it could be one of your five a day.
I have passed on all your comments to the team who looked after you today. Hope to welcome you back when your next in the area.

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Reviewed 4 October 2018 via mobile

My husband and I visited the Royal Oak for lunch. The management and staff were very friendly.
The menu was too big, you can’t keep all this food in stock to serve fresh, some of it must be frozen.
We thought it was overpriced, you would pay these prices in a restaurant, but this is a dingy pub.
My husband had duck breast on a bed of noodles, the duck was over cooked and overpriced.
My meal was good, but again overpriced. You don’t really want to be paying this amount at lunch.
A special lunchtime menu at lower prices would be better. But not for us, we won’t be going back.

Date of visit: October 2018
1  Thank carisma123
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachael B, Owner at The Royal Oak, responded to this reviewResponded 5 October 2018

Thank you for taking the time to post your review and your positive comments regarding the staff.
The menu is large, but cleverly written- one item of food is used on numerous dishes. We have suppliers deliver to us seven days a week so I can assure you we do not serve frozen food. For example the chicken breasts are cut up and put in the curry then on 12 different main menu dishes plus specials snacks and sandwiches. This ensures good stock rotation and with a 7 day delivery from the local butcher fresh quality food.
We do offer a lunch time/ light bite menu with meals from 7.95 per person and snacks from 4.95.- plus gammon steak and pasta dishes from £7.95 to name a few.
I’m at a loss to why your thought the pub dingy- we decorate annually, plus the carpets and furnishings are on a minimum of a bi annual professional cleaning contract. We have just updated all of the lights to brand new led bulbs and new fixtures.
I will speak to the team in detail regarding your feedback and to pass on your praise for the team

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