The Royal Oak, South Ockenden, South Ockendon

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The Royal Oak is a Grade II listed 15th century former coaching inn that overlooks the village green of South Ockenden, that is mentioned in the 1066 Domesday book. This large standalone pub isn’t much to look at from the outside, but it gets better inside where the age of the pub is obvious from black painted columns and equally black low wooden beams that sit against the white painted walls and ceiling. There is a car park at the rear, up the right-hand side of the pub rather than the left that is a private lane. This is a private car park so car registrations must be entered into a tablet on the bar. There is a beer garden with seating out the back and the rear entrance to the left opens to a couple of high tables on a tiled floor adjacent to the toilets. The bar area is found across the front of the pub where a long stool lined marble topped serving counter faces tables and chairs across the windowed front wall. At the far end is a lounge area with some leather sofas under a high vaulted ceiling which is probably the most interesting part of the pub. There is a modern restaurant extension in the left rear where a birthday party was in progress, so I didn’t venture in for a proper look. A standard keg range is available alongside two hand pumps, the Abbot Ale was off, so the lone cask option was GK Old Speckled Hen. Everyone was drinking Stella, so I decided to join them. It was comfortably busy for a Saturday early afternoon, most were taking advantage of the decent quality and very reasonably priced food. The next time I’m up this way I’ll probably try a different pub, but it’s good to know somewhere that I can get some decent food.

On 21^st October 2026 - rating: 6
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