The Oak in Mid Suffolk

Nice pub called in for refreshing drink Nice welcome from a man called James Good selection of beers Well done and very clean

My Dad was stationed at Wattisham in the Sixties, and the Royal Oak was his local. We stayed in Stowmarket for a night and went for dinner and a few pints. Although it has changed markedly since he was last there, the food, the landlord, his staff, the banter and the atmosphere were all great. We mentioned to the landlord if he knew a nice place for breakfast the next morning and he invited Dad an I back for our breakfast. We had a bacon & a sausage sandwich with a nice cuppa. Really nice friendly local pub any town would be proud of. The new landlord is going to do well with this gem. Thank you. Jim & Jamie

Door and bar staff ban everyone for laughing/ dancing if you do either they stop serving you! Say you're to drunk it's ridiculous a total fun sponge.

Visited with friends. Lovely atmosphere and friendly service. Quick service on food. Definitely visit again

Lovely to have the pub open again (and back to its original name Royal Oak). The decor is much improved and the atmosphere is nice. However, the menu is not as good as it was before and the quality of food left much to be desired and is expensive e.g. a few strips of halloumi and some sort of tasteless tomato salad in a tiny bowl cost £4.99. Way over-priced for what it is. Get the menu/ food sorted and this place could be back to Stow's best pub.

Good location in centre of town and has been nicely refurbished. However food offered is very limited and the Burger I had was very basic, no garnish and hardly anything in the cold untoasted roll except the actual patty. Beer range is extremely basic for a pub these days, just standard beers available everywhere. Prices are somewhat high compared to what is available locally and for a newly opened place the service was nothing more than average, no asking if everything was ok. Hopefully things will improve as it is early days but I really had very high hopes considering how much has been invested in the pub by Greene King.

Service was perfect, the pub was packed but the service was impeccable. The staff where so kind and helpful food was amazing. The managers really changed the place for the better.

Brilliant service, only been reopened for 3 days, definitely hasn't disappointed! Fab staff, fab service, clean and better than ever before!

My family and I used to visit the Royal Oak prior to its closure and refurbishment and therefore we were keen to try it out and expected it would become our new local. The new manager didn’t know how to make a shandy and upon ordering food we were made aware they had no eggs, a key component of several menu items. How can a pub run out of eggs!! Asda is up the road! We ordered food at the bar and waited eagerly, suffice to say all three meals were incorrect, my son had salad but asked for none, my husband had no Cheese and my rump steak toastie didn’t arrive, getting steak and chips and a burger instead. There was no Alabama BBQ SAUCE! I had also ordered drinks on the App which were not forthcoming even though the pub was not overly busy. I asked for a refund which was given without argument but generally poor show and not good for day two! I forgot to mention the ambience, a member of staff installing fire extinguisher signs with a drill. I won’t be going there again!

It’s always busy in the afternoons but other then that it’s a great place to eat and have a drink to …. I would advise you to go after 3pm or before 12pm weekdays as it gets so busy in there even the bar is rammed I fully do recommend this place ….you find the oak pub not far from Halifax bank in the centre of stowmarket town …. Only place I don’t ever RECOMMEND IS THE VAPE STORE IN STOWMARKET AS THEY HACK INTO YOUR PHONE BY USING THERE PC SO IF YOU NEED A VAPE ERC GO TO ARGOS IN STOWMARKET….

Food always good, hot plates, friendly staff I had the senior all day breakfast,very tasty and plenty of it.

Fanatic food friendly staff clean and tidy toilets were clean steak was cooked perfectly by the chef

Best pub in Stowmarket. The staff are very friendly and the food is great. Locals are also friendly creating a great atmosphere

Although this pub is not quite up to the normal Greene King standard for decor and atmosphere, the staff were very friendly, service and food were good. Have been twice, once midweek and last on Sunday. On both occasions were greeted warmly and felt our custom was welcomed. Inside could do with a refurb. So far this place has given us the best value for money meals in Stowmarket. Will definitely go again when in that area.

The oak recently had a Rock DJ and a great night was had by all . The music and sound were spot on . Jo and the staff were very friendly as usual . 10/10 Keep up the good work

We actually wanted to eat in another pub but it was busy so thought we would try here. The first thing I noticed when we walked in was the smell of old dirty carpets. We found a table and it was so sticky and grimy. The whole place needs a really deep clean.The food was ok except our veggie burgers were very under cooked. We definitely won't be going back in any hurry. We have eaten at the same chain but in Ipswich and the food was far better.

I have never been in a worse place in all my life . It is full of kids and that's just the staff . The place is dirty and as for the manager lady I have never meet anyone so rude . The food took ages to come out and was cooked by someone who just wanting to sit about and smoke and flirt with all the bar staff she did look like she needed clean herself . I will never set foot in there again.

Used to be a good place but after seeing management reduce a staff member to tears never again will I go in there ! Needs new management and several new staff members ! What a lot of bullies ! Good pub ruined !

Went to the oak for lunch today . Recieved fantastic customer service they catered to all my needs ans dietry reqirements. I highly recommend trying the signiture stack if you have a hearty appertite. Will 100% be coming back on a regular basis. The pub is a bit shabby bit the staff are fantastic.

I wouldn’t bother going here, staff are rude and unfriendly, you could see they were talking about the customers and being rude. It was a horrible place to eat and drink It needs a good clean

My cousin and I called in for lunch for the second time in a few weeks as we think this represents such good value for money. The fish and chips is excellent and desserts are good too.

Amazing service friendly and the food was top notch all staff are amazing could not recommend this amazing pub enough

When for lunch wihth the ladies and we all had steak. Fantastic value for money not forgetting it was cooked to perfection. Great experience drinks were fairly priced

Great food good service. Food was very nice.staff very friendly Toilets could do with redecorating but very nice.

The oak is a lovely place to go for a couple of drinks or a bite to eat. food is cooked beautifully and is great value for money, the pub is well presented and clean and all staff are friendly and very efficient as well. would reccomend for a nice bit of time out any day of the week.

Pub has great food and value drinks. The pub is improving every time i go. Family friendly the staff are brilliant and cater to our diety requirements

Best pub in stowmarket jo is doing a wonderful job since she has been in charge . It is so much cleaner now at always a good atmosphere. Very friendly locals and always a good laugh to be had

I don't normally leave reviews for pubs that serve food in small buckets

I rely do not know what Christopher A is no about to say Prezzo is a good choice, it may be fit you are happy with pizza at a high price and as far as The Willow Tree goes do not bother

Had a really enjoyable time here lovely staff and great atmosphere, I also managed to meet a dobby whilst I was here was a once in a lifetime opportunity

Friendly service. Food is really nuce. So tasty. Gorgeous sunday roasts. My steak is always cooked spot on. Great value for money.

In the area so stop for lunch with my wife both have fish and chips and drinks well cook and lovely place to eat ice warm feeling place on a cold near year eve great staff well happy thanks ever one

This place is great! Typical pub grub bit served without fault. Super friendly staff, nice atmosphere, large outside area and cheap drinks with good deals always available!

As always good service, excellent food and friendly welcoming staff. Very comprehensive menu good prices.

Dined here with wife middle of the afternoon. Impressed with the Senior meals we were served I had the breakfast which was excellent and plentiful Wife had Ham Egg and Chips we both had sweets loverly Two courses only £4.99 each

Good location in centre of town, but how can Greene King allow one of their managed pubs to be so filthy and worn out. Toilets filthy, furniture worn out and whole place dying for a coat of paint at least. Friendly service at least but that’s it.

The pub is on the town's high street. It's traditional look is attractive at first sight.

Excellent food. generous portions. we did compliment the chef. Would certainly visit again when shopping in Stowmarket

A nice pub, friendly atmosphere. Okay drinks available. But why do they feel like they have to such an extensive menu for what it is. It try’s to hard. It’s a pub with inexperienced chefs. They should go over their menu and filter out the all the unnecessary meals.

good prices lots of offers ,quite busy good service ,a tad noisy but friendly near shopping area passing trade

Decent menu Shabby decor, peeling wall paper, dark lighting and atmosphere. Staff could do with painting a smile on their faces, or maybe just new friendly staff?

This is traditional pub with a very original layout and a mix of characters. Good choice of budget and premium branded beers and very cheap compared to competitors. Sky sports, darts, jukebox, quiz machines etc, all the traditional pub things. Nicely located in the centre of town Overall a good experience on our visit however we did get the feeling that this could be a bit of a rough and ready venue later into the evening.

This place is a dump, which when entering smells of someones smelly feet, It was so bad we went straight to the beer garden. Never have I encountered such a smell it was awful

Great service, friendly staff. Probably wouldn't go in the evening because it has a rowdy reputation. Wish that it would be refurbished, floor, seats and toilets a rather grimey. (don't look at the floor or the edges whilst you are eating and you will be...

Visited here last Sunday night for a few drinks with friends and decided to have some food aswell, we went for the sharer platter and a couple of buckets of chicken. The quality of the food was exceptional and served really quickly. Friendly staff and...

Service and food was absolutely excellent. The pub was busy but the staff were friendly and very helpful.

He utilizado el Roble y bajar durante muchos años. Servicio amable, la única queja es la típica variedad estándar de cerveza de barril, pero eso es controlado por Greene King. Pubs estaban un poco estos días, actualmente a la venta, esperemos que sigue como el único otro pub, un Jdw principal, es horrible.

El roble es un maravilloso pub, el personal siempre dispuesto y amable, la comida y la bebida es genial y los precios son muy buenos! Si quieres una tarde relajada con amigos, entonces el Roble es para ti!

We have travelled to Stowmarket on many occasions but had never had a proper meal there, Tricia spotted the oak on the old Ipswich Road and we gave it a try.In a nutshell, mac n cheese, full English breakfast for £9.49, add on the tea and coffee and its £12.85. Excellent value very quick service and excellent food. Give it a try.

Came here for a quick lunchtime pint on a weekday. Old type pub with wooden floors and tables. Beer garden at the rear. Service was good and a pint of Stella costed me £3.25 which was reasonable. Didn't try the food but the menu looked ok.

Having lived in Stowmarket since 1994 I have had the pleasure of seeing Stowmarket develop over the years, after moving to London now only see Stowmarket when visiting family. This pub has always been terrible due to lack of selection of beers and ales, poor food and general up keep. On recent visits it has still not improved, never renovated and I am sure still dirt left from visits made 8 or 10 years ago.I can only assume this pub will close now there is a decent restaurant to eat at (Prezzo) and a fairly high quality pub (The Willow Tree) offering a great selection of drinks for a great price. The end of The Oak is in sight.

Must say the food wasn't bad when we visited on the one occasion however although the steak was cooked to perfection it didn't need all the seasoning which I scraped off. It was full of youngsters who had just learnt what a pint was and thought it was etiquette to throw a glass quite close to us smashing it all over the place as per usual footie brings out the mental in people. Wouldn't go again as the crowd always seems the same in here.

the food was really really good, they do a good oie and very big portion of scampi. its a darkish pub mainly a sports typ bar as theyve a big tv and a dart board. The main criticium would be the 40 minute waot for our food, with an apology but it doesnt take that long to do what we ate!

BE WARNED family dinner my son and wife ordered mixed grill,rancid steak that was covered in seasoning to hide smell chef had finished work so money returned I had steak and ale pie with mash disgusting my grandson had burger was sick and spent most of night in bathroom we were in Stowmarket for grandaughters wedding needless to say spoilt by upset tums

Come here a lot and never disappointed, the atmosphere is great, lots to do such play pool and use the games machine, as well as weekly karaoke. Staff are friendly and outgoing, food is always served quickly and of good quality.

nice atmosphere with areas for chatting, watching sports etc. Staff very friendly and good ale. Not too sure when looking at the menu outside but glad we went in and would definitely eat there again

Ordered more snacky meals off the menu, staff were very friendly good service food was good and not bad value for money

I have been coming to this pub for many years. Avoid meal times when any sporting events are on as it can get very loud.... Nothing wrong with that of course but if you are a family dining with small children it may not be quite the appropriate environment for you all. Had some brilliant Saturday nights in here often with live music or a disco which can be very popular. The food isn't fussy or pretentious ... It is simply what you would expect from a town centre pub. Lovely staff and a really lively place to visit.

We visited this pub with our grandchildren who told us that they had been here before. As we are not local and did not have any other recommendations we decided to eat here. My husband is gluten intolerant so is limited to what he can and cannot eat. We both decided on the steak and instead of chips my husband chose a jacket potato. The grandchildren had a curry and a children's meal. It was average pub grub but we would go again.

Very friendly place, food was lovely only down full was the chips as they were to oily. Only pub ill eat in around stow. Good prices too. Staff were very polite too. Definitely go again soon!!

Great place to socialise However for food don't expect the world from a chain typed eateryGarden needs a revamp very run down

Took my Grandchildren here for Lunch after the cinema. Service was excellent however the food was appalling.,even the baked potato was burnt

A typical pub meal with choices, nothing special on the food front, found the staff were friendly but less than enthusiastic, not a busy place so there were tables about. Prices were reasonable, you got what you paid for.

The Oak is a local pub to me and is handy for a meal when not wanting to cook at home or wanting to treat the grandchildren to a meal out.The Oak is rarely crowded so there's always a good chance of getting a table. The menu is fairly typical of most pubs with a good selection of meals including a couple of vegetarian dishes.Service has always been good and the food is always piping hot as it is freshly cooked by the in-house chef. Excellent value for money, friendly staff and a good selection from the menu make this an 'OK' place to eat.Just bear in mind that this is a pub and not a restaurant, hence the old tables may be a bit worse for wear and the decor could do with a spruce up...but beyond that I would recommend this pub above the larger one down the road....

We were visiting elderly relatives in Stowmarket and they took us out for a pub lunch. This was just that, a pub lunch, reasonable food at a reasonable price especially for a group of senior citizens. The service was really good and the food just what we wanted. It was washed down with a very pleasant cider. If you don't expect 5 a star lunch you could do a lot worse than The Oak.

By Sheer chance our little boy needed the loo, so as we were outside the Oak and saw the sign all day Breakfast £5.95, so we thought we would kill 2 birds with one stone, to be honest not expecting much, well how wrong was I the breakfast that came was top notch lovely large portions of crispy bacon, beautiful tangy sausage fresh fried egg, nothing was cheap it was all quality food, washed down with a lovely large good quality Coffee.the Staff were Friendly and full of smiles, this is certainly not the last time we will be going there, and if you are in Stowmarket, I advise you go there as well.