The Open Guide to London: the free London guide - Differences between Version 14 and Version 13 of Royal Oak, SE1 4JU

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Smallish, cozy, excellent beer and friendly owner/staff. The bar area is divided into two by the bar itself, with seating for about 60 people. It can get a little crowded at the end of a working day, but mostly it's fairly easy to get a seat. The regulars are also friendly.

The beer is very good. Five Harvey's beers and a seasonal are on tap, and the selection included two Milds when we visited. All are well-kept. They also have Stowford Press cider. Beer prices ranged from �2.30 (Mild) to �2.70(Armada). Though when its on Christmas Ale(8.2%) is �4.00/pint.[Prices as of December 2005.]

The pub food is pretty good and reasonably priced. The sauasage and mash (£4.95) consisted of good quality sausages and real mash, and came with gravy containing properly caramelised onions. Steak and chips (£7.95) was rather less impressive - "rare" steak was not even slightly pink. The chips that came with it were quite good, albeit a little fatty. Steak and ale pie was full of meat, but lacked gravy slightly. All meals came with bonus winter vegetables - the cabbage was perfect, tasty and not overcooked. The various sandwich options are rumoured to be both generous and good, too. Vegetarians are very poorly provided-for: apart from sandwiches and chips, there is only one veggie meal on the menu (battered mushrooms with garlic bread and salad - it's pricey, too, for what it is, at £4.95). [Prices as of June 2004.]

The pub is opposite Simply Indian, which is also rather good. Usefully, the Royal Oak are happy to sell you a jug of beer to take across to the restaurant (in an actual glass jug, so make sure you take it back afterwards), which is in my opinion a truly great thing.

The pub was voted CAMRA London Pub Of The Year in December 2003, SPBW Greater London Pub of The Year 2003 and fancyapint Best London Pub 2004.

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What's Brewing would suggest there is a Function Room upstairs available for hire. This needs investigating -- bob

Yep, it appears there is, & there isn't a charge. They will do you food if you want. Further information available when the function in question has occurred, but apparently the room is very nice. -- Juliet

Just been in the function room for a CAMRA meeting, a Buffet was put on. However the room is relatively small, only holding about 20 people -- mattblack


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