Royal Oak Reviews Summary

Atmosphere & Ambience

Pros:

• "Fantastic pub with great food, beer and atmosphere."
• "The small quirky building, friendly staff, smell of the fire, selection of drinks created just the right atmosphere."
• "It’s the lively atmosphere that’s attractive."
• "A cracking pub in the heart of Ambleside. Well kept real ales, very clean and tasteful interior design."
• "Great atmosphere, friendly staff."
• "Lovely atmosphere at this dog friendly traditional pub, cosy furniture and good choice of drinks."
• "A warm welcoming pub."

Cons:

• "Interior is in run down state, with light taped to ceiling, damp visible on corners on the walls."
• "It’s the present phase of this pandemic that is off putting."
• "Always so busy, crowded and noisy."
• "The place smells a bit either of wet dog or mould."
• "I understand being dog friendly is popular these days but tripping over leads and eating where there are smelly dogs barking at each other not nice."

Service

Pros:

• "Staff were super friendly, food came out fast and hot."
• "The young lady named Sarah was in particularly very helpful and well organized and so professional."
• "Really friendly staff, nice welcome, despite covid."
• "Great staff, very welcoming and friendly throughout a busy day/evening."
• "Staff very nice & polite."
• "The staff were friendly and the drinks were reasonably priced."
• "Staff very friendly."

Cons:

• "Made the mistake of phoning today to make a table reservation, not knowing they don't do table reservation, response was a surly 'WE DONT RESERVE TABLES' and the phoned slammed down on me."
• "Terrible service today, I have been here many times over the years, not sure if the ownership has changed but the service was shocking. Staff were unbelievably rude and unaccommodating."
• "Service was really slow."
• "Disappointed with the limited ale selection and miserable bar lady."
• "Made to feel very uncomfortable when ordering a mild and bitter, in fact the bar staff refused to serve it."
• "Refused to take a food order because they had too many! Appalling service."
• "Very snotty person behind the bar sold my wife and cold coffee and refused to change it."

Food & Drink

Pros:

• "Good selection of beers and real ales, along with spirits and wine, good food."
• "The food here is very tasty and good value."
• "Serves a variety of real ales and gins amongst other things."
• "Had the chicken and mushroom pie, fantastic! My hubby had the goulash equally fantastic and the prices are really reasonable."
• "Absolutely the best pie around, thank you for a #proper pie# will be back it was the chicken and ham pie and my friend had the beef pie amazing, we will be back x."
• "The food was delicious, generous, hot and beautifully served."
• "Food is very good for pub standards particularly the fish and chips."

Cons:

• "The goulash was not good. My husband eats anything and he struggled to finish it and was glad he ordered the small."
• "Ordered fish n chips batter was stodgy uncooked fish was barely cooked."
• "Food is exceptionally bad (frozen reheated meals)."
• "Just had the Sunday roast…it was rotten. Not one to complain although I should have Potatoes were horrible and cold. Stuffing disgusting."
• "Had the beef and ale pie but it was minging, never tasted beef like it, chewy and fatty, just horrible."
• "The quality of the food provided was poor."
• "Avoid Hungarian Goulash: tasted like made with canned tomato soup, leaving bizarre aftertaste."

Pet-Friendliness

Pros:

• "Also very dog friendly! Perfect for the lakes."
• "Dog friendly to the point they do a dog of the month comp."
• "Lovely pub, very dog friendly so fantastic for any walkers with 4 legged friends, they sell a good assortment for dogs to keep them content while at your feet."
• "The pub is very dog friendly with a water keg and bowl for the dog."
• "A really lovely dog friendly pub in the heart of Ambleside town. Really friendly staff and delicious well priced food."
• "Staff were welcoming. Though we don’t have a dog ourselves they were welcome in the pub."

Cons:

• "I understand being dog friendly is popular these days but tripping over leads and eating where there are smelly dogs barking at each other not nice."