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The Royal Oak

The Royal Oak

Someone from this business manages this listing.
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+44 1297 560277+ Add website
Hours
Sun
12:00 - 23:00
Mon
12:00 - 23:00
Tue
12:00 - 23:00
Wed
12:00 - 23:00
Thu
12:00 - 23:00
Fri
12:00 - 23:00
Sat
12:00 - 23:00
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What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles
Travellers' Choice 2024

RATINGS
Food
4.4 of 5 bubbles
Service
4.5 of 5 bubbles
Value
4.3 of 5 bubbles
Atmosphere
4.2 of 5 bubbles
Does this restaurant have tables with seating?
CUISINES
Bar, British, Pub
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Television, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Dog Friendly, Gift Cards Available
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles544 reviews
Excellent
358
Very good
112
Average
41
Poor
7
Terrible
26

MarkLondon2015
London63 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 none
Small pub with restaurant section also small. Can feel a little intimidating as we are obviously not local.However once drinks orders have been placed you become part of the pub. Great selection of beers,ales and ciders. Excellent menu for dinner - food ordered was delicious and portions generous. Average main course costs £12.00. Service very good and aim to please. You need to ask for the menu and dinner is only served between 6pm and 8pm. (Times I am assuming are different for summer). Dog friendly pub - but not in restaurant. Toilet facilities available. Limited seating in pub and restaurant, outdoor seating available but not set up for winter usage. Vegan option on menu - limited Would recommend
Written 2 January 2020
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.

Julie R
Bromsgrove39 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 none
We had a fab Monday night meal, phoned ahead at 5pm to check for a table (as we have a dog) and were offered a 6pm or 7pm table in the bar for food. So glad we called ahead as pub was super busy (and on a Monday) and a fair few like us had dogs with them (all very well behaved). But don’t be put off if you don’t like dogs as the upstairs tables look great too and are humans only. Food was 5star a little on the pricey side ( we had a drink and main courses only and worked out ~£20-£22/head hence the overall 4 star review). We had the steak, the ham & eggs and the scampi all were excellent, will return
Written 4 October 2021
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.
RoyalOakCharmouth
Hi there, Thank you so much for your kind comments about our pub and food. We are sorry you thought that your bill was a bit pricey - we pride ourselves on fresh local produce so our prices are sometimes premium however for the standard of food we feel is justified. We are pleased you enjoyed your overall experience and hope to welcome you back again soon!
Written 23 October 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Penny271
Poole74 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021 friends
This lovely pub just been taken over by a very sweet hard working young couple. We ordered scampi and the mother clucker chicken burger from the large plate menu and a tuna mayo jacket potato and a mozzarella & pesto panini. The food was delicious and servings generous. The chips were incredible, no chance of running out of jacket potato topping and the Panini was very tasty no skimping on the pesto either! All accompanied by a lovely fresh and well dressed salad. Excellent value!
Written 25 April 2021
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.

GGsaxplayer28
Orpington16 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 family
After reading such wonderful reviews we were delighted to be able to have the opportunity to have our first holiday meal here. Sunday roast for table of 6 Unfortunately our first impressions were not good, very unwelcoming attitude to our early arrival ( we hoped to have a pre dinner drink before sitting at our table) Once sat at our table we were left there for some time. i managed to catch the attention of a member of staff who then cane over to take our order, her attitude was abrupt and unfriendly. Our food arrived and looked lovely so we hoped that all would be ok now...unfortunately the meat was cold on all of our plates, and the food was way too salty. We did raise the cold meat issue and those of us that wanted it heated were offered the option and took it, Those that had sent theirs back to be heated seemed even saltier! So much so that a whole meal was taken back barely eaten. The roast potatoes were good but again very salty... The red cabbage was dry and the parsnips were very burnt. We eat out lots and like good food and would love nothing more than to have been able to add yet another 5 star review for this couple. Our feedback would be, hold off the salt on the food, and let people add their own if they feel they need more, and look at a smarter professional looking attire for all staff. First impressions are important.
Written 6 June 2021
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.
RoyalOakCharmouth
Hi there, Really disappointed to read this review you have left us. The staff you’ve described as blunt are all new and working in extremely difficult times. All staff wear all black as uniform so am unsure the comment on professional attire is fair. It is a shame the issues you’ve raised here were not communicated to us on the day and even with a refund of two items you still felt the need to leave us a bad review. Lastly. All tables are limited to 2 hour bookings and although you arrived early and someone was just finishing up on your table we did manage to squeeze you on another table and get a drink to you before you’re table was ready. I apologise the experience wasn’t what you had expected & hope you give us another go next time you’re in the area so we can make a better impression.
Written 7 June 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tony M
Redhill221 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2021 none
We visited last week during our short visit to Dorset, had not been a pub we had visited before during 30 0dd years of holidays in Dorset. The service was ok but the food was average at best, my starter Nachos consisted of some soggy Nachos chips covered in melted cheese and relish, my burger was tasteless and appeared to be of the sort one can by at Tescos or Morrisons, the chips were soggy and very undercooked, my wife's Scampi was a bit tasteless and she was unwell the next day. We skipped desert. My wife uses a wheelchair and we checked on the access before visiting. They said they would provide a ramp but this was pretty precarious given the steepness of the entrance, probably need to look at improving that if they want to cater for everybody. The ambiance was of a somewhat faded local pub and could also do with some updating to make it a more pleasant experience.
Written 6 November 2021
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.
RoyalOakCharmouth
Hi there, I am so sorry to read of your disappointment after visiting us. We are glad you received good service on your visit. I can assure you that the burger you ate is from an established local butcher and not from tesco or morrisons and the "relish" you have described was in fact salsa. If you were dissatisfied with your meals we always welcome these comments when you are with us so that reviews such as these can be avoided and you can leave feeling happy. The comments relating to the disabled access we are genuinely apologetic for. We do not advertise anywhere that we are wheelchair accessible as we do not have accessible toilets and as you mentioned you were told over the phone we can only provide a ramp for a very small door way. We are trying to change this so our pub is accessible for everyone however this is down to the brewery that own the listed building not us as tenants. We are very sorry you have had a negative experience but can assure you this one bad experience does not reflect our businesses accurately and we welcome you to try us again for a more positive visit.
Written 2 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Zo
2 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 couples
We'd booked a table in advance (highly advised, this is quite a small place and in high season is very busy) and were able to sit at our table slightly earlier than our booking time. We ordered drinks at our table and perused the menus. Our drinks arrived pretty quickly but after that we were left with our menus for at least 30-40mins before a member of staff approached to take our order - it seemed like the table near us had waited a similar time too. Our starters arrived in good time and were delicious, really fabulous quality. We'd ordered a bottle of wine when ordering our food and I had to ask for it after we'd finished our starters, and the wrong bottle was brought out. The mains took a while to arrive after the starters but the food was great so we didn't mind so much. After we'd finished we headed to the bar to pay (it seemed like others were doing the same) and it took my husband a long time to be acknowledged by the staff - three people were behind the bar. They were clearly busy with other tasks, however not one acknowledged his presence. When we were eventually able to pay, he attempted to engage the staff by saying how lovely the food was, the response was pretty lacklustre to say the least. Generally, great food and drink, apathetic staff. On a Wednesday night too.
Written 4 August 2022
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.

stellamitch
Southampton3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021 none
Due to travel restrictions we had to rearrange our plans for my daughters 40th birthday. Chloe responded quickly to my email and although couldn't accommodate our party of 8 for dinner she suggested we come for a late lunch. We were so pleased we did. The staff were very friendly and attentive and the food was excellent. At the end of our meal the chef came out with a chocolate brownie with a birthday candle in it and everyone joined in singing happy birthday. This young couple deserve to succeed. Highly recommend this excellent pub.
Written 5 June 2021
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.

southdownboy1
Bath328 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 none
Chloe was extremely helpful when i e-mailed and phoned her concerning booking seats for meals. We visited for 1 week from 19th June and with Chloe's assistance managed to book tables for evening meals in advance which is highly advisable at present. They don't serve food on a Tuesday. Really lovely food served by so friendly staff. Dog friendly. A small area at front of pub for drinks. Well worth a visit if visiting Charmouth village.
Written 27 June 2021
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.
RoyalOakCharmouth
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We are so glad that you enjoyed your time here with us!
Written 22 July 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Charli W
Northampton11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 family
We’ve been here a few times now as family have a caravan near by. We always book for food as we have dogs so need to have a table in the area where dogs are allowed. Food is a bit pricer than usual pub food BUT it’s far superior than usual pub food. The specials board always has amazing choices, the childrens meals are as delicious as the main dishes. We’ve always received good service and we love playing the board games, of which there is a big selection.
Written 28 August 2022
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.

Laylakatie
Devon345 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022 friends
Visisted here for a surprise birthday party for one of my friends recently for dinner. I had never been here before and I was really satisfied with my visit. The owners were really friendly and welcoming and they allowed a big group of us to have a birthday meal here with decorations as well. The pub is beautifully decorated with fairy lights and low lighting which makes it feel very cosy and relaxing. Everyone is very friendly and nothing seemed to much trouble to ask. The menu was good, it had lots of variety and a wide selection of local suppliers. The drinks menu was great with a good selection of flavoured gins and cocktails named after local areas! I ordered the whitebait to start followed by the king prawn linguine and WOW… the portions are incredible, so worth paying the money when you get good size portions. Everything was cooked perfectly and the flavours from the linguine were amazing with a good amount of king prawns too. We weren’t rushed at all and the servers came to check on us to see how our food was and to see if we needed a drinks top up. They also had a lovely selection of condiments too. I would definitely recommend this pub to anyone who is passing/wanting a nice dinner. The food, atmosphere and staff were incredible. Great new owners! Thank you.
Written 13 March 2022
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.

Jay_Veja88
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 family
Fantastic service and above and beyond service I asked if they had garlic butter but not to worry if they don’t and the chef had prepared made sone just for my meal (steak) which was absolutely gorgeous cooked perfectly exactly how I asked! quality location with an amazing view from their patio. Food for the seven of us could not be faulted. All in all the food was outstanding, the starter arancini was so fresh and the flavour unparalleled. By far the best version of this dish I have had ever!!!! Honestly thank you to the chef and waiters for an unbelievable evening meal!!!!!
Written 29 August 2021
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.

ABSX53
Portsmouth5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2021 none
We arrived late afternoon after travelling. We received a warm welcome and were able to order as the kitchen person was happy to stay on a bit longer which was greatly appreciated. Lovely halloumi fries. Just the job. We liked that the able was cleaned for us as we sat down and that dogs were only allowed in one part - not where we sat. Really super for us to find at the time we did.
Written 29 October 2021
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.
RoyalOakCharmouth
Thank you so much for taking time to write us such a lovely review. I will be sure to pass on your comments to the rest of the team
Written 2 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Helen P
Bristol2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021 couples
We have a caravan in Charmouth and have visited the pub on a number of occasions, the food is great, the staff are very friendly and the landlord and landlady are brilliant. They always make us feel welcome and even saved a couple of sausages for our dog (Harvey) who loves them even more now. Great place for a relaxing drink and lovely food.
Written 13 August 2021
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.
RoyalOakCharmouth
Thank you so much for this glowing review! We love Harvey so much. Can’t wait to welcome you back again soon!
Written 25 August 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Timothy Burston
12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022 couples
My wife and I ate at this pub on Tuesday evening and popped back for a drinks stop today. My wife had fish from the "specials board" whilst I tried the scampi which was a simple pub classic meal done properly with wonderfully tasty mushy peas, lovely chunky chips and excellent tartar sauce. The service was friendly and prompt and with 4 local ales from Palmer's on draft what's not to like?....well possibly the noise from the fairly busy road traffic as we were sat outside on what is quite a cramped seating area but you can't have everything!!
Written 21 April 2022
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.

Margaret05
Tiverton11 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 none
Lovely friendly pub with a fantastic menu. My daughter had the ribs and I had the pork tenderloin generous portions and really beautifully cooked and presented. Even my four year old grandson said his chicken was the best he had ever tasted !
Written 29 May 2022
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.
RoyalOakCharmouth
Hi Margaret, Thank you very much for your kind review. We are so pleased you enjoyed your visit with us and hope to see you again in the future!
Written 9 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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