The Royal Oak in Cheshire West and Chester

Booked as a last minute food and service was excellent. Rooms very clean and comfortable dogs welcome as well. Good base to visit the local area.

Myself and my husband had a meal at the Royal Oak and not only was the meal in tiny portions, it was so over priced, they are trying to charge 5 star hotel prices in a little country pub. The land lady is very offish and the bar man just talks a load of rubbish to steer you away from the small portions. We have been coming to the Royal Oak for many years now and I can only say we will not be returning. Avoid this place at all costs. If I could rate this 0 stars I would.

Evening meal was fabulous & service was excellent! New owner Jayne is a very welcoming lady 😊

Great weekend spent at this fabulous pub everything was perfect and great friendly hosts Highly recommend a stay here 💕

A truly outstanding pub in the heart of Exmoor National Park. Fantastic food and friendly staff service. We didn't stay here as we live in West Somerset and often have a meal here.

Excellent choice of food and drink, the staff are all very friendly and efficient, nothing too much trouble. Lunch on the first day lunch and dinner on the second day. Weekly specials board. Did not stay as in motorhome but would definitely have no doubts as to quality of rooms . Good walking around the area. 10/10.

We stayed there for two nights to celebrate our wedding anniversary. It's a lovely pub in a beautiful location. Jane and the staff, especially Ollie, made us feel very welcome during our stay. The food was superb and the portions were generous. Our dog Lexi is missing the attention from Ollie and is desperate for us to return there soon. We will without a doubt!

We ate here . Great food. . lovely staff and service

We had a thoroughly lovely meal with a large group of friends here, one of our party was dairy free and we had a large group of children both Jane and her son Oliver were excellent hosts and went above and beyond to ensure we all had a nice evening. The food was really tasty and all home cooked!

We had such a lovely, home cooked meal and welcome from Jane and her son Oliver, they were the perfect hosts. One of our party was dairy free and every accommodation was made for him to enjoy his meal and Jane was so sweet with our large rabble of children! We would highly recommend a meal there. Beautiful setting too!

Delicious food and we were stuck for choice , great service , professional and friendly. Sticky toffee pudding was amazing. We will be back again!

Very comfortable overnight stay here - our room had everything we needed and the bed was super comfy ! Dinner was very tasty - we highly recommend the venison - and breakfast plentiful, with hot food cooked to personal order!

A wonderful unexpected surprise in the heart of Exmoor. We stopped here for the night and it surpassed all expectations. A very warm welcome, wonderful service, great room with enormous bed and very comfortable, amazing food (dinner and breakfast). Thank you Jane and team, top job! We will be back :)

Warm welcome , excellent service and fantastic food , good choice of menu .make sure you leave room for a delightful pudding.Would certainly recommend and return to this great pub .

Genuinely one of the best pubs I’ve ever been to. We booked and were told told they were going to be busy so we’d likely be sat in the bar area-which was still very lovely. My partner ordered a steak and ale pie, which was perfect. I myself had a duck parfait dish, which was very well balanced. A member of staff made a great recommendation for a local cider, he was very friendly. The lady who I think was the owner, (I’m not too sure) was very friendly and did a superb job. I wish this pub was closer to us as I’d want to visit everyday.

Staff are lovely, very welcoming and food was top notch

Unfortunately we only had the chance to stay for one night but I must say the staff were very friendly food excellent rooms clean and very tidy breakfast first class would definitely stay there again

The most exceptional warm welcome you could ever imagine! My partner and I (along with our little dog) stayed for two nights in a very well facilitated room, and had two wonderful dinners and breakfasts. The Royal Oak is very well located for the beauty of Exmoor and its superb walks on offer. Highly recommend and cannot wait to visit in the very near future.

Stumbled on this pub today while travelling round Exmoor. Service atmosphere beer all wonderful. It was the landlords 2 year anniversary of moving in and lots of locals in there so we did feel we were gate crashing but we were made very welcome by one and all. Just a beer no food but will definitely be back.

We had a warm welcome, great service and wonderful food. Just perfect in every way. We will go,again? As soon as we can arrange it. (Good selection of beers and wines also helps) Really great experience, totally recommended!

Whilst visiting the North Devon area we decided to take a detour off our planned route to revisit this lovely inn. Last time we visited was pre- Covid on a very wet and cold Autumn day -we were greeted by roaring fires, cosy seating areas and a warm welcome by both the owner and some of the locals. Since Covid there has been a change of ownership but we were made to feel really welcome and at home by Jane, the new owner. She was absolutely lovely and really looked after us. Nothing was too much trouble and a great choice of drinks etc. at reasonable prices. We didn’t eat on this occasion but were very impressed by what has been done since we last visited including opening up a separate quieter lounge with an open fire away from the main bar, a private dining area and some lovely rooms. Dogs are welcome, including overnight stays as some rooms designated for them ( and their well-behaved owners!) . We plan to visit again in the Autumn, only this time staying at the inn. The village of Winsford and surrounding areas are beautiful. A great base for exploring the area .

Beautiful pub, made very welcome but very disappointed with the food. Food itself was great and good quality but they def skimp on portions. My husband had a ham roll (£8.45) and there was only one slice of ham (about 3mm thick) in a circa 4” roll and at points it didn’t cover the whole roll. Ham itself was tasty and well cooked but let us taste the ham through the roll. Quality whole grain mustard, apple & cider chutney with my cheese scone, really good gauge heave nickel cutlery but value for money is a killer here.

Excellent food and service. I had a wonderful steak and ale pie and chips

Lovely pub I visited as I was staying in the area. Very welcoming and I had 2 small dogs with me, not a problem. I went twice as the food was delicious and offered local meat (venison and lamb) my favourites. Sat outside the first time, lovely evening sun and attractive garden, 2nd visit I sat in the bar area with the dogs and everyone was so friendly (locals and staff alike) I had cider which was delieicous and wine the second visit also good. Unfortunately I was too full to try desert. Not an extensive menu - which is what I look for as it generally means food is cooked fresh, they also had a specials board. Excellent value for money. Definately recommend and would return.

We had an excellent lunch here. Thoroughly recommend.

Very welcoming staff, great food and warm atmosphere. The pub is set in a small but beautiful village with lovely outlooks. We had great food, slow roast lamb, home made beef pie, and a freshly made pizza. All very delicious. The landlord is friendly and helpful. Highly recommended.

Just been taken over, but new owners working hard to bridge the gaps in difficult times. The food and beer selection is good, but staffing needs a little more training which I'm sure will come soon. We'll worth going, as a great historical pub and good atmosphere. Just been back again this week and the new owners go from strength to strength. The food is consistently very good and service still great. I'll keep on visiting again and again

Our local pub. Always welcoming and friendly.

Super friendly, great rooms and quality food. Couldn't be more helpful.

Lovely old pub in the beautiful Somerset village of Winsford.

Had roast beef (topside) but meat was soooo tough had great difficulty cutting it impossible to chew it there were three of has who had it.when complained it was poo pooed and was told 36 had been served that day as seemed ours was the only tough one.I think.no.one else didn't like to complain.our son and daughter in law are locals took us there as a treat but was disapointed but will not be going there again no apology or a coffee as compensation. Think on Royal Oke (customer friendly) ,goes along way

Stopped at this beautiful inn on Exmoor while on a road ramble, ample parking and bikers welcome. The landlord and Landlady are so lovely, they make this inn warm and friendly, the food is 5-star, and the sausage roll is absolutely to die for, chef made. Lovely rooms for having a meal and a cosy bar with a real fire. This really is a beautiful inn well worth a stop for either refreshments or a full meal, definitely recommend the food, awesome menu catering for everyone. I will definitely be coming back for some more of the sausage roll and to sample more of the amazing food served here...

Just like to say 9 of us had lunch today at the Royal Oak Winsford it was FABULOUS Can’t Recommend it Enough 👌

Wow . What an incredible Pub and hotel in an incredible location on Exmoor . We managed to secure the last table of four on a busy Saturday night and we were made to feel welcome from the moment we walked through the door . The selection of real ales was superb and the Exmoor gold was amazing and I highly recommend if you enjoy a real ale . The food was amazing along with the service . I had the 34 day aged sirloin which was the best steak I have had for a very long time . The others in the party opted for steak and ale pies and vegetable wellington and were equally pleased with their choices . May I make a special mention to Darren who really stood out with his service and knowledge and thank you to all who made it a very special night . We will definetly return in the future .

Have been visiting The Royal Oak for 25 years. Its had a couple of bad owners in that time and we stopped going for several years. But it's been taken over again and we are visiting again now as a result. Nice family atmosphere and the locals are great to chat with too in the evenings. Dogs are allowed.

We were made so welcome. Delicious Sunday roast was served quickly and with a smile in this relaxed and friendly country pub. Will definitely visit again!

In the middle of nowhere and ofcourse we found this cosy pub.Was fully booked for lunch so we stayed for a drink in a very classic leather and comfy chair darkened lounge..awesome

If you Desire very very well prepared, presented and perfectly cooked food accompanied with well kept Beers and wine combined with excellent service LOOK NO FURTHER. The host Jane pays attention to detail and is very welcoming, if you want to engage in conversation with her she will give you the time. The atmosphere /ambience in this hostelry is very friendly, both to dogs and humans, nothing seems to be to much trouble for the team. The staff are exceptional and again pay attention to detail. We found the food, drink and service at the Royal Oak outstanding. We shall make regular visits you can never have to much of a good thing. And many thanks to Steve for taking the time to tell us about the property.

Wonderful to go back to The Royal Oak after many years. Beautiful cosy decor, great service and amazing freshly looked food. Landlady, and bar staff were so friendly and welcoming, and we loved the new decor, snug and large party entertainment space that has been created. We will visit again when we are in Exmoor next year.

Lovely country public house. Super friendly staff. Food delicious and plentiful, shame I couldn't manage a pudding

Disappointed. Room temperature in the restaurant was cold. No atmosphere, asked to mask up on arrival and shown directly to table.Food was good. At the end of our meal my husband went to the bar to pay the bill. However, as we left our table we were followed out of the restaurant by a member of staff saying we hadn’t paid our bill !!!

We have been visiting the Royal Oak, Winsford for a number of years, usually when camping nearby. Having booked a cottage for a long weekend in Dulverton, we phoned and made a booking for 5 adult family members for Sunday and were pleased to find a table available.When we arrived, the door was indeed locked but soon opened by Mark who greeted us and showed us to our table. Covid procedures were still in place which we welcomed and felt comfortable with. There was one other table in use and we learned of the landlord and lady's closed to walk in policy. As a previous reviewer said, its a bold move but as one of our party is very sensitive to covid, it was appreciated. You ideally have to be in business to understand this policy.We had a combination of starters (me only), mains and desserts. The menu was a bit more limited than usual but we asked if there were any other options and Mark and Sally went out of their way to accommodate with the result 3 of us had their superb steak and ale pie, one other had the game pie and the last choice was a pasta dish. All served hot and perfectly cooked. Service was impeccable and we were treated really well. Prices very fair considering what the hospitality trade has had to weather the past 18 months and I'd rather pay a little more to know we are doing out best to help out so we can visit again next time and they will still be open!Thanks guys and hope to see you next year.

First time visit when we booked for an evening meal, and very impressed by the village, the building and the welcome received from staff. Waiter immediately asked which of us had the dairy allergy (which had been mentioned when I booked one month earlier) and that put my Wife's mind at rest for the remainder of the evening. Attentive and knowledgeable staff, and great food - the double lamb chop was huge and so tender! A very enjoyable meal and excellent service throughout. Thank you

My partner chose The Royal Oak for our weekend escape and what a little treasure he found. On our arrival we were greeted by Mark who showed us to our room. Our room was beautiful. Lovely bed. Tastefully decorated room and we had the best shower ever. We were given the choice as to whether we wanted our room serviced during our stay to which we agreed and everything was replenished i.e tea, toiletries, bed making. We had two evening meals and two breakfasts during our stay! The food was delicious, beautifully presented and filling but not to the point of feeling uncomfortable! The second morning I had scrambled eggs and smoke salmon which was the most delicious breakfast I have ever had! Mark and his team couldn’t have been more helpful. It felt incredibly Covid safe as only the guests use the facilities and the restaurant. We are avid walkers and were able to take a 10 mile loop walk within the local area to visit the Tarr steps and the Devils Punchbowl. Breathtaking scenery! On our second day we visited the Dunkery Beacon and Dunster Castle which again must be visited! The Royal Oak was a very special find and I cannot wait to return again in the future. Thank you Mark and team for making our weekend such a lovely experience.

We had a four night stay in exmoor and one of our places to eat was at the Royal Oak . This was booked for the 31st Aug weeks in advance to ensure we had a table . On our arrival to out surprise it was closed with a sign on the door closed Monday and Tuesday . As we left a contact number on booking it would have been nice to have had a call to let us know and we could have made other arrangements.Top tip if you are going here ring to confirm

Our first visit to this Inn.....We absolutely enjoyed our time here.Our room ( 7 ) was super. Clean, comfortable & a very good size.The host was welcoming, friendly & very helpful.We had dinner for the both evenings we were there and ( me being a fussy Italian foodie ) in my/our opinion it was EXCELLENT both evenings. As for the breakfasts...Again EXCELLENT.Covid protocols throughout the Inn are Superb & we felt comfortable.The Inn is closed to the walk-in public & in my opinion i think this is a brave, wise & an astute decision as it obviously keeps their guests, the employees & the hosts as safe as possible in these times, but it caters for its staying guests fully.As for the latest/last negative review.....REALLY?...We were there???? so unfair ( in our opinion ).All in all we so enjoyed the hospitality, and the area is STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL.Thank you to you all.

This is the first bad review I have ever written. My partner and I went to the Royal Oak in Winford, exmoor after reviewing their menu on their website. The menu looked good and above average at £15-£20 per main. The food was nothing special, with over cooked veg, dry meat and terrible presentation. I did have a delicious local beer, but that was about it. With their price point I would expect excellent food, excellent service, professional staff and to walk away feeling good about the experience. We left feeling robbed and a bit sad. It’s a shame as Winmouth is a beautiful location and all the other pubs were fully booked, so there is clearly the demand but the Royal Oak was virtually empty.

The Royal Oak for wonderful pub grub, super friendly service and great beer. The 'ploughman's' is the best i have had in a lifetime.

After almost two years enforced absence due to the lockdown it was lovely to return to the Royal Oak for a weekend stay. We always receive a warm welcome from Mark, Sally and the team. The pub is looking great with its stripped down new look and new flooring.This time we stayed in the four poster suite which is absolutely huge with its own dressing room and spacious bathroom with waterfall shower and lovely outlook over the village green and would recommend this for anyone seeking a romantic weekend.Food as always was delicious and with generous portions all washed down by well kept ale. Breakfasts are also delicious with a good list of options. The full english kept us going all day on a 10 mile hike up the Lyn valley.Thanks Mark , Sally and staff for another relaxing weekend, just what we needed. We look forward to seeing you again soon

Mark and Sally are doing a fantastic job despite the difficulties caused by covid rules. Yes, if you’re not booked in you can’t get in, but that’s not their fault that’s a result of social distancing requirements. Lovely food and wine, comfy rooms and fabulous, friendly service. The perfect base from which to explore Exmoor.

Stayed in Winsford for Whit week.... Called at the Inn to see if we could book a meal take away and was told we should have thought about this 3 weeks ago as they were so busyFunny though all week the place never seemed exactly busy Mark didn't tell us that we could get food at the cafe across the village in sight of the pub till 8.00 pm..... A very peculiar experience..... So don't be expecting any room at this Inn if you bother to call in

Thanks again to sally mark and the team. Another special weekend and the perfect end to lock down. Your care and attention kept us all safe and well, but we still managed to have so much fun and laughter. As always we ate well, the food never disappoints. Can’t wait to come back if you will have us., the royal,oak feels like our home from home.

Situated in the centre of the delightful village of Winsford this attractive thatched Inn is excellent. We were staying for a week nearby and visited the Inn every day. They fully complied with Covid 19 precautions and social distancing. The Landlord was both friendly, polite, amusing and efficient as were the staff.The food and wine were also very good and excellent value for money. We were so fortunate to have found this great Inn as it really made our holiday on Exmoor rather special.

Dinner was booked by my husband to celebrate 31st wedding anniversary. The day was spent on visiting Dunster Castle and village followed by special dinner in beautiful Exmoor surroundings . The restaurant is immaculately clean with an inviting log fire. The choice of menu very good. The landlord very friendly & laid back. The evening experience is so memorable. I highly recommend the venue if you want to experience personalised service.

Three courses most evenings with bottles of fine wine evidence my satisfaction and appreciation of the food served. The atmosphere was great too, especially important to a solo traveller.

Booked a family meal went for drink day before the landlord was so rude to my father we cancel our table next day. Shame on you I'm a caterer and the way you spoke to my father was unacceptable and on professionional. It seemed locals were welcome but outsiders who would have spent hundreds were unwelcome.

Arrived in a party of 4, to our horror you were not expecting us. Still to this day we do not know where my sister in law phoned. Mark went all out during this Covid & russled us a table. Mark & his staff were so attentive & made us welcome .The food as I had been told was out of this world, I could not disagree the Lamb was succulent and oh so tasty. You all made this a night to remember. Thank you.

We stayed three nights and were very impressed by the way in which Mark and his team were able to operate so successfully in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. There were clear guidelines in place, an allocated dining table throughout our stay, full social distancing and cleansing equipment on hand. The fact that for the time being the Royal Oak is open only to residents also reinforced the sense of security. Breakfast was excellent, as was dinner at which there is a wide menu catering for all tastes. Staff and management were welcoming and professional. Winsford has hardly changed over many years and is well placed for enjoying Exmoor and its surroundings. Overall a very enjoyable visit!

Our hosts, Mark and Sally, coped with the COVID restrictions in a very organised way.Having to deal with residents and non residents, bar and restaurant separations , the different areas were clearly defined and the staff ensured that all customers were served efficiently by Mark and his team in a very friendly manner.

Chose to visit this pub restaurant during the Eat Out To Help Out scheme and what a good choice we made.The menu was superb with something for everyone.The staff and owner made us feel welcome and we all had a great time.Would definitely recommend this place to others.Thanks for making our visit a memorable one.

We have just spent 2 nights at this lovely inn. The host Mark was so welcoming and every care was taken for our security re Covid. Lots of hand sanitisers which staff use every time they pass one and a fallow day between guests for each room. It was so well organised without being intrusive. The cooked breakfasts were top class (items ticked on the list the night before) and we had a spacious en suite room with a very comfortable bed. It was so good to get away after lockdown and we felt very secure there. The evening meal (very well spaced out) was excellent. So I am very happy to recommend the Royal Oak, a top notch Exmoor inn.

We booked this for a three day break. Upon arrival we were greeted by Mark who was very polite and welcoming, gave us all of the required information in regards to Covid 19 safety and service during our stay. There are lots of sanitiser points, social distancing has been very well thought out, no tableIs re used and you will need to book your tableEach night of you wish to dine here. The room was a very good size with ample seating area, large four poster bed, plenty of storage space for your clothes and belongings. The bathroom is also a good size. Room was very clean with tea and coffee making facilities. Plenty of good lighting and power points. The shower was amazing, fresh towels and complimentary toiletries. There is a TV in the room also and a hairdryer supplied in the drawer. We have a lovely view overlooking the village square. There is also a rear garden for residents to sit in. The village itself is a stunning little hamlet with a lovely picnic area and benches, there is a tearoom opposite that is open from 10-4pm daily. Plenty of walks of you like that kind of thing. Beautiful surroundings and very quiet if you are looking for a relaxing stay away from the Hussle and bustle. Now to the food and service. Mark and sally are great hosts who ensure they do all they can to make your stay a pleasant one. They were very attentive and made us feel right at home. The food was stunning!!! I had the home made fish cake starter served with a light salad followed by vis fillet encrusted with a pesto crunch, vegetables and potatoes. Easily the tastiest meal I have had for a very long time. The food does not disappoint. Prepared and cooked with great attention to detail. Also the pate starter and the lamb shank was delightful. You have a choice of breakfast menu, we had the full English which again was lovely. I would not hesitate to stay here again and would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a quiet getaway in beautiful surroundings with excellent service and attention to detail. I would say this isn’t ideal for families with small children as there isn’t much close by that would interest them if they don’t like quiet country walks. But ideal for couples or those of the older generation wanting a quiet escape. There is a lovely walk about 3 miles away or you can drive part way and park up to view the Tarr Steps and circular walk!! Stunning views and river walk where you are also able to have a dip or swim great picnic location. Lynton and Lynmouth is a short drive away or a little over an hour away you can drive to ilfacombe or woolacombe which has a stunning beach!! I would like to thank Mark & Sally for a fabulous 3 days and also their staff who worked so hard to ensure everyone was happy and well looked after. We hope to see you again in the near future. Thank you Jeannie & Simon.

Another wonderful weekend. Great hosts, great food and Covid safe environment.As usual we enjoyed our stay. Mark and sally made us very welcome as usual and as always the food was amazing. Thank you for making our stay with you so much fun. Hope to come back soonEverything has been put in place to keep us safe but at the same time it felt almost back to normal plenty of sanitizers around and only booked tables welcomed which created a safe social Space.

My wife and I stayed at the Royal Oak for her birthday as we had done a number of times before albeit some years earlier. In the time that we had been absented, the hotel had changed owners and had clearly had a makeover in at least some of the main areas. Despite the change in ownership, the hotel has maintained (and improved) its charm and we would certainly visit again.I have read with interest some of the negative comments about the Landlord (fortunately only a few) and our opinion of the attitudes of the Landlord and all of the staff that we had interaction with is nothing but favourable.

After a lovely walk in the area, we arrived at this pub with the view to eat some lunch. The member of staff at the bar was super lovely - he was friendly, helpful and provided me with some chat and menus. However, the landlord! The landlord: Whilst my friend was enquiring about the menu with the landlord, he rude and talked down to her from the first instance. We decided to leave the pub as we did not want to provide business to this landlord. Before I left, I went to the bar (on my own as everyone else has left) and advised the landlord that due to rude service we will now be taking our business elsewhere. He replied (and I quote) "I think that suits everyone" and secondly "write a review on trip advisor". Therefore, I'm writing a review.Now, this was my first interaction with the landlord, so I was confused why he was being so mean. During the interaction, he was abrupt, blunt and raised his voice as if he thought he was better then me. I was calm, collected and was not being rude. I'm glad to say I did not rise to his childish behaviour and left the building glad to not have given him any further business. We have since read multiple reviews which state similar behaviour from the landlord, which often have responses (from the royal oak inn) which are dismissive/rude. I presume that the landlord is not okay but this is not an excuse to take it out on others.

Our second time staying here and Mark, Sally and the team were very welcoming. Food is excellent, my wife had ravioli with homemade garlic breadand I had steak on the first night, both excellent. On the second night despite getting back late evening they were happy to do is a snack of scampi and chips to share. Excellent wine list and well kept real ale. Rooms are to a very high standard and a good night's sleep is guaranteed. Breakfast is also of a very high quality and plenty of choice. We will definitely be back again. Thanks again for a great weekend to the whole team.Karen and John

We stayed here for one night having found it on the RedLetter Day gift experience website. The pub is in a beautiful part of Somerset meaning it is great for those who love the outdoors. A charming thatched village pub in an exceptionally quiet location. We were met by a very cheerful lady who lives in the village, she explained about the pub and took us to our room. In winter the pub opens at 6 but for guests we were able to get drinks and sit in the very cosy bar in front of a lovely fire. The building is very old and is simply lovely. There are 12 rooms, ours had a four poster bed, it was well appointed , very clean with a great powerful over the bath shower. The furnishings complimented the building, the bed was very comfy , the pillows a little to hard for me, but, a great nights sleep due to how quiet the area is. We booked for dinner , all guests have a table automatically. It was quiet in the bar but we got chatting to Mark the owner, his wife and locals. There are normally ‘specials’ available but as it is a quiet month only the main menu was available. Not a problem it was still difficult to choose. For a starter we shared a mackerel and prawn platter, beautiful fresh and tasty, nothing was wasted delicious. For main course we both had steak which was cooked to perfection , it was delicious, melt in the mouth. The homemade sauces were lovely , wild mushroom and blue cheese (made with Bath Blue cheese), we had a bottle of wine (each) well why not? Good choice of house wine options which are very reasonable at £17 a bottle , and a good wider choice from the wine list. We had a nice evening chatting and finding out about village life. Breakfast the next morning offered excellent choices , we couldn’t do justice as we had eaten so well the night before. A great stay with great food and great people.

Friendly staff and very good food. Menu offers a wide choice in addition to Specials board. Good portions and value for money. Small but good atmosphere. Booking essential.

Visited for Sunday lunch - fire was blazing & food was spot on, staff were very friendly & helpful & service was excellent. If I had to nit pick I would suggest a bigger plate for the fish & chips as it's a large portion & perhaps allow a slightly longer gap between courses arriving.

Popped in here for lunch half way round a walk in Exmoor. We were first in the in pub at 1230hrs which I thought might be the reason for the barman’s tepid welcome, but sadly he was equally rude to other customers which made me feel happier that it wasn’t personal. We enjoyed lunch which was delicious and the service from the waitress was excellent. Well worth despite the barman!

On holiday in Exmoor this month (November 2019), we had not visited the Royal Oak for many years. In the past food quality and value for money has been questionable, but we took a look at its menu while visiting the craft fair in Winsford Village Hall. The menu is interesting and we decided to try it for lunch. We were not disappointed!The manager, who tended bar for us and served our food, was very convivial and happy to chat about local and food related matters. The Royal Oak has a very nice atmosphere inside, and is very picturesque on the outside.I had the Smoked Mackerel Spinach and Salmon Roulade to start. This had a delicious mackerel pate rolled in a spinach and smoked salmon skin "swiss roll" style. My wife started with the Pressed Confit Duck 5 Orange Terrine, which came with an interesting Rhubarb Chutney which complemented the duck flavour very nicely. Starters are a uniform price of £7 each. Both were super.Main course was from the specials board, we both had the Guinea Fowl, £15 per serving. This was excellent, with fine flavour in the meat, and a selection of root vegetables and greens with a smooth gravy over all. Delicious!There were many tempting desserts to choose from. I had the Sticky Toffee Pudding, which was a high quality of its type, accompanied by very flavourful caramel sauce, and ice cream. My wife's Dark Chocolate Mousse came with Raspberry Compote, and was also delicious. All desserts were £7.Along with a half of Exmoor Ale and a glass of good quality Malbec, the bill came to £65.30.We shall return next time we are in the area! Highly recommended.

My wife and I with our two children visited today for a spontaneous birthday lunch... we were made very welcome by the landlord and the other staff who were really friendly and helpful. The waitress who looked after us was great with the kids, really bubbly and friendly.Good range of beers and a couple of excellent local Ales on tap that were perfectly kept as well as a decent selection of lovely red wine! Lunch was top drawer... lamb shank for me was perfectly cooked and the skate wings my wife had were also delicious! Good value at £16 for each from the specials board.The children were well catered for as well... the child’s fish and chips was a generous portion and the fish was good quality and chunky. Excellent value as well at only £6! The kids sticky toffee pudding was particularly good too! The pub itself is very Exmoor.. wood burners crackling and locals chattering in the bar with a good atmosphere throughout. I would definitely recommend and we certainly will be going back; it was well worth the 40 minute drive out onto beautiful Exmoor.Thanks from the Burtons!

Stopped here to pass the time. Lovely and clean. Beautiful setting in a quiet village. Dog friendly. Which is a bonus.

Went with friends while on holiday in the area. Lamb rump was out of this world and fish and chips equally as good. Went back couple of days later, not disappointed Booked to go again on last day of holiday. Lovely food , service and staff.

This was our 3rd visit, visiting again over a year later.

I spent 3 nights here at the end of July. The accommodation is 1st class, the food, excellent, and the service is friendly and attentive. There is no mobile signal in the village but there is first class WiFi throughout the hotel and you are allowed to use the phone in your room, free of charge so it is not really an issue.

We have just returned from a weekend in Somerset, had a great time at The Royal Oak, from the minute we walked in everybody was so friendly and accommodating. Thank you to Mark and your team for making our stay so memorable, great food, stunning views, friendly staff and the hotel not only looks brilliant it is brilliant. We will be back soon.

Really nice pub in a lovely village. Food was good and prices were what you’d expect from the local area. Service was good, just needed to smile more! G

We stayed here many years ago whilst house hunting in north Devon, and having been successful we occasionally stop by when we are on Exmoor. The food here really cannot be faulted and what is particularly good is the well thought out menu which contains many twists on basic pub grub. My husband informs me that the hand pulled beer is a testament to the owners.

Visited while on holiday. The service was really friendly. The food was excellent, I had the liver and bacon and my husband had lamb. Both were cooked really well and the portions were huge. Very good value for money. Would recommend.

We called in for an evening meal, and could not fault a thing. The beer garden is behind the pub, se away from traffic noise. It catches the afternoon sun very nicely. Beer and wine was great and the food was outstanding. I had the seafood linguine which was excellent, and my wife had the steak and ale pie with chips - which was also excellent. Service was friendly and efficient - well worth seeking this place out. Be careful though, as there is another Royal Oak about 5 miles away.

We ate in this pub twice during our stay in the area. It's in a lovely spot, very pretty. The food was very good and the service and staff were both very good and very friendly.

I had eaten here before and the food was excellent, but never stayed here until this month (May 2019). What a delightful team, delicious food, extremely comfortable room and bed and very welcoming hosts in Mark and Sally. I shall be back!

This pub was most welcoming. Very friendly staff. The meal was excellent one of the best pub meals we have ever had. Thank you

We stayed over the Easter weekend for three nights at a cost of £130 per night. We had a large room with four poster bed as well as a large ensuite room. The whole place was immaculately clean. Well kept ales are served in the quaint bar and residents automatically have tables reserved in the dining area. There aren't really many eating options in this village as there is one pub and one tearoom. This all lends itself to a very relaxing stay. The Inn is across the road from the beautiful village green and at the heart of Exmoor. It couldn't be a better location. The breakfast and meals were of a very good standard.

Have been coming here for several years. Picturesque and the staff including the owners make you so welcome Lovely food good value

WE were staying nearby and decided to visit for a Sunday meal. One member of staff was really helpful as she got our table ready and sorted out some toys for our Grandson. Food was fine although slightly limited options but the Pie of the Day was amazing - loved it. Only two lagers offered and toilets were fine. Wifi available. Enjoyable experience.

We had our dinner plans changed today and so we decided to pay a visit to The Royal Oak today unexpectedly. We were pleased to did. We had a very helpful and friendly waitress who made us comfortable. We had our 16 month old boy with us who doesn’t like to sit around for long and so it was a great pub to visit with some swings and the river opposite for him to explore whilst waiting for his dinner. Everyone had lovely meals and we were pleased with the very good experience overall.

We visited the Royal Oak Thursday evening and was warmly greeted.

Brilliant village pub, lovely friendly helpful staff, dog friendly, rooms warm and comfortable, nothing was too much trouble, my dairy intolerance was catered for without any fuss and the chef and Sally and Mark went the extra mile to keep me informed of the ingredients. The chef even prepared a special desert for me, excellent service. Myself , husband and friends had a fantastic stay leaving us with some great memories and we will definitely go back. It's a must place to go. Cheryl John

Myself and a small group of friends decided to go to The Royal Oak for a drink and food as it was at the beginning of our NYE walk. However, after a hello and politely asking if they had any tables available all we got was a grunt. One of the party asked if it was possible just to have a couple of bowls of chips and to get some drinks to which the response was ‘I can’t help you’ he turned his back and walked off. Due to this rude and unprofessional comment we decided to leave and go for a lovely and welcoming meal at a pub just down the road. If the response had been more welcoming then the pub would of done a handsome trade in Beer, Gin and Chrips.

Lovely village pub with excellent food picturesque surroundings.Would recommend booking in high season.

I had some local business to attend to and had some time on my hands so I decided to pop into the Royal Oak for lunch. On entering I found the place to be VERRY warm and welcoming with a roaring fire, the Landlord was a cross between,John Cleese and Rudolf Hess,absolutely brilliant chap who couldn’t be more helpful. I ordered Beef with crispy Noodles, the beef was just perfect however trying to eat crispy noodles with a fork is impossible, so be prepared to get tucked in with your digits.

We are currently staying in a cottage up the road from the pub on a family vacation.

Have a caravan around 20 miles away and previously tried to visit, but it had always been fully booked. We found out why! The food was spot on. The barman/owner went out of his way to call us by name and make us feel like old friends in his cosy country pub.

wonderful experience here...great food, great beer...and other drinks...lovely open fire...would return when I have lost weight ;)

Having stayed in Withypool many times just down the road from Winsford we had never eaten here until this year. We made an unplanned visit mid week and had a fantastic meal. Bar staff were very friendly and welcomed 6 of us and our dog. We enjoyed it so much we booked and 4 of us returned for a wonderful Sunday lunch and a few pints of very well kept and served beer before heading home. Very glad we stumbled across this pub and will most definitely visit again next time we holiday in Exmoor.

We zijn hier 2 dagen geweest gegeten en geslapen. T was werkelijk perfect! Mark is een hele goeie ‘landlord’. We kwamen hier avonds laat aan doordat een ander hotel plotseling gesloten was. Alles werd geregeld door Mark, zelf een hapje eten terwijl de keuken dicht was.

Had 2 meals at this great pub and both were excellent washed down with some excellent ale. Will definitely come back

Was interesting to read 'Unfriendly Landlord' comments above! We had previously stayed in Winsford a few years ago and enjoyed a nice meal at the Royal Oak; so whilst visiting Exmoor again last week, we decided to go back to the pub on Tuesday evening (25th) for another meal. However, on entering and making some enquiries as to the bringing in our border collie dog, we found the barman most grumpy and unfriendly, so we too did an 'about-turn' and left without even sitting down or spending a penny! Obviously not interested in passing trade or showing friendly welcome to visitors to the area!!