The Royal Oak in Monmouthshire

Old fashioned pub with a pool table. Big garden with lovely views. Good beer. Place looks a little tatty, could do with some tlc.

Not a great atmosphere if you're not a regular 'local'. Bunch of 60+ men staring at you by the bar as you're ordering a pint.

The garden was lovely for children, that is all that is positive about this venue. The food was tasteless and the most disgusting food ever to be served. It was under cooked, with hard vegetables and clear water gravy! How they can charge customers for the slop they served today for Sunday lunch is beyond me. Never in my life have I ever experienced such rudeness from a manger or seen such rubbish food! We won’t be returning, and I’d advise others to not either. Such a shame, with the right chef and proper management, this place could be very popular.

We had a Sunday lunch here which was OK and reasonably priced.

Great pint of Wye Valley Butty Bach beer this evening.

A traditional British country pub . Clean and presentable through out . Nice beers and Guinness. We stayed on the little campsite out back with electric hook up plus water supply but no other facilities when the pub is shut. Overall a nice spot .

Excellent food staff very friendly. Bit of a wait for the food.

The food… don’t expect much. Bit like burger & chips from the chippy. Nice sunny day so peaceful to sit out in the garden and enjoy the views of the forest

Really nice pub. Very homely nice fire going and no loud music that you have to shout over to be heard.

Went passed this location and saw the price for Sunday lunch. So we ventured into this place for lunch. The person behind the bar then charged £4.50 for a black cup of tea which is a tea bag and hot water. The Sunday meals were delivered on small plates again only thinking of how much money they could make by giving very little in the way of food on the plate. The food is not cooked from fresh, at best it came out of packets. Overall the feeling was that we were let down by this place as we expected a meal instead we were given very little for £32.00. The bar was what it looked like from the outside, dated and a letdown.

Tea or just ripped off. Went passed this location and saw the price for Sunday lunch. So we ventured into this place for lunch. The person behind the bar then charged £4.50 for a black cup of tea which is a tea bag and hot water. The Sunday meals were delivered on small plates again only thinking of how much money they could make by giving very little in the way of food on the plate. The food is not cooked from fresh, at best it came out of packets. Overall the feeling was that we were let down by this place as we expected a meal instead we were given very little for £32.00. The bar was what it looked like from the outside, dated and a letdown.

The old lady behind the bar was angry because we didn’t order drinks as soon as we sat down and saying hello to mates, apparently we are to go to the bar first thing terrible experience very rude was planning to order a lot of drinks there.

A really good affordable local.

The pub w busy with lots of young adults and we were sat by the fire where the older woman came over and stood over us and said “ur sat in front of the fire” with very angry tone, we sat where THEY had placed the chairs so we did nothing wrong she then proceeded to say “other customers want the fire” bearing in mind everyone was on the other side of the room and didn’t give a dam about the fire, we said to the group “oh okay let’s go to that table then” and she butted in “or you could go elsewhere” telling us to get out of her pub when we had done nothing wrong. As I was leaving the pub I walked passed a mate and started to tell him what happened starting “no way she-“ in which the woman interrupted me and was extremely angry going “SHE , SHE!!” In which I walked away. For a small town pub the treatment is awful and there is no respect, if u don’t want new 18yrs in ur pub don’t let them in, in the first place instead of treating them like dirt. This pub which cant pull a Guiness for nothing has terrible atmosphere and rude owners, it is very much the worst in pub in Monmouth

If you like a traditional pub you could do worse than the Royal Oak. Comfortable and warm with a good choice of beers. Pool, darts and skittles. Food wasn't available when I visited on NYE.

Cozy pub. Friendly landlady. We called in here for something to eat on a Saturday evening while on a long journey. Pub was busy but we were the only ones eating. Food was typical pub fare. Arrived quickly which suited us

Old fashioned and comfortable with some untidy edges. Locals very friendly and beers good. Enjoyed our visit here more than any other pub in Monmouth due to the down to earth friendliness. Would recommend a visit.

No atmosphere at all, food was bland,scampi was watery ,garlic bread wasn't cooked through butter hadn't melted

Lovely place, with great food, nice atmosphere and the most beautiful views from the beer garden. Highly recommend.

Lovely location and a proper pub not a glorified eatery , however there is food, good old fashioned pub grub not microwaved prepackaged. Thoroughly recommended.

Its very nice ,we had the campsite to our selfs for 2 nites the pub is very friendly

Very little atmosphere in the pub beers not the best needs a spruce up only thing missing when we entered was the tumbleweed

Lovely local pub with good traditional menu with proper vegetarian options. Veggie curry and cottage pie were delicious with generous portions. Great views out over the valley and lovely gardens to sit out in summer.

Real fire, traditional pub, cosy and authentic. Food is average but priced fairly.

A good venue for a 60th party! Catered to and well looked after with a traditional buffet and availability to use sound system.

Lovely lunch. I had the chicken bacon with sauce husband had steak. Yummy

Proper pub with good beer and very reasonable pub food. Quite spacious and plenty of parking. It's a little way out of town up a long hill, but worth the effort.

Very friendly atmosphere. Great garden area in the back suitable for families with young children. Also has camping facilities - 5 spaces with electric hookup.

Lovely friendly pub. Beautiful views!! Food was delicious,loved the chips! Good prices too. A welcome find,would definitely visit again if in the area!

Nice beer after a run. No bar food available after 7pm that evening because of a party booking, but the food has always been good on other occasions.

It's cheap, it's welcoming. Eight of us ate, the lasagne and chicken curry were not great and barely touched. The steak pie, scampi and gammon were okay. The chips were great. For vegetarians there is nothing on the menu bar chips.

Solid old school pub with great views.

Very very poor... rang and booked a table for 15 , as was staying in the area for a family celebration, asked if needed to pre order our meals 2 weeks before the date and was told no it would be OK just turn up. On the day turn up to find 3 tiny tables in the small bar area to which 15 had to sit round and 2 seats being right in front of an open fire. And only one person working knowing we were coming, told had to wait for drinks as was serving a group in the beer garden. We asked if could go in dining room, was seated in there on 3 tables too but was mould on walls and not very nice room. Needless to say he had our drinks and left, if you couldn't cater for us why take the booking, also menu on day totally different to the one on line ... when questioned was told that's only a sample menu.... disgusting and totally out of order..

Very poor meal, food wasn't great. Shame really as it was a lovely setting with great atmosphere. A lot of potential.

Had gammon it was lovely and staff were great

Warm fire, warm welcome, nice food and allows dogs. Loads of parking. Recommended.

Great atmosphere. Very good beer.

Cold cheerless. Poor quality food.

As always, amazing food, and amazing service, would definitely be seen here again!

Stayed in our Motorhome(7.77m) at the rear of the pub, water and ehu on the pitch and elsan emptying point by the back entrance to the pub, great food and ales,staff and locals very freindly and the owner whart a nice helpful chap, we wil return for a stopover when travelling north again from Devon

Excellent heritage pub. Great beer quality. Must visit when in area. Great pub with excellent food. Highly Recommended

Good pub food beer excellent good price

Lovely pub with great views, warm fire and homely atmosphere. Had a nice, simple Sunday lunch of Roast Beef plus trimmings and excellent Rhubarb Crumble with custard. Reasonably priced. Will be back.

Stayed at the caravan site behind the pub. Excellent with tap on each pitch which is always a plus. Had a pub meal which was very nice. Plaice & delicious chips. Good price. Sunday lunch was scrumptious and well worth £7.50. I also had rhubarb crumble which was particularly yummy. Lovely friendly staff. Excellent service. Good country pub. 👍

Great cl, Sunday lunch 7.50 what a bargain lovely meal

Excellent service and good choice of beers

Lovely place to stop for lunch had scampi and chips with peas tasted lovely and the staff where very pleasant, thanks for having me

Superb food and a really cosy friendly atmosphere

Lovely cl great views good pub food and lovely hosts will definitely return

Great views and nice old fashioned pub which is what I like, food was not the best but decent beer. OK pub

Looked lovely for a beer. And standard pub food. Great views in garden. Unfortunately not a single veggie food option apart from chips so 6 people walked away today.

A real local run by locals who were warm and interesting.

Great pace to stay in the campsite.

Great views from the garden and caravan site at the back. We had a very nice ham egg and chips with the house rosé in the pub.

We are camping at the back of pub, really nice people and beautiful views, fantastic stopover on way to gower coast.

Do not go here for food it was very poor and the guy that served us was sticking dirty which made us feel ill our food came we couldn’t eat it made a quick exit .

I had some very nice beer here and nice view from the beer garden

Very limited menu, 5 or 6 meals, we decided not to stay, so just had drinks. Only outside seating but was very nice garden.

Great atmosphere friendly staff good beer & food

Dropped in since we were holidaying locally. Really do wish we hadn’t. The landlord was brusque, unwelcoming and seriously disinterested. It was all he could do to serve us. The choice of ale is really poor - 3 pale ales, only one local brew and the rest is Italian and Spanish lagers. The ambience and atmosphere? I’ve had more fun and a much better welcome in an empty lift!!!! Couldn't even say a polite Thank you when we returned our empty glasses to the bar ... and couldn’t even be bothered to wish us a Happy New Year as we left!!!! In a service industry that is dependent on customers, if you can’t be bothered then neither can I and I have no good word to say about the place except to say that if I were you, I’d find any other place in Monmouth ‘cos any other where is gonna be tons better than this. Never, ever again. Wouldn’t ever go near the place.

Stayed in the campsite at the rear of the pub. A bit basic but lovely views. Pub very pleasant but the food was disappointing.

Lovely homely feel, open fire is very welcoming.

I have had to give it 1 star just so I am able to write a review. THE worst food I have ever had to pay for. Poorly presented, tasteless. Served on what can only describe as hospital crockery. The place is filthy and the kitchen is even worse. The only reason I paid the bill was so that they might have enough money to pay for a cleaner.

Decided to go for a Sunday lunch at 1400hrs. Arrived here and they were happy to still serve us even thou the kitchen shuts at 1430hrs. Lovely friendly staff who were very attentive. Had a cider each and roast beef. All lovely. Food cooked to perfection and plenty of it. Lovely to have proper seasonal veg as well instead of the usual frozen rubbish. Gastro pub it is not, however if you’re looking for good old fashioned honest pub grub served in a relaxed friendly atmosphere, then this is the place for you. We’ll definitely be going back

Fantastic value for money, relaxed atmosphere, older but good playpark and lots of space for kids to run around

Nice quiet Inn with a lovely rural outlook where we parked up overnight. Very friendly landlord and good food and drink, all served up very quickly. I recommend the Royal Oak as a convenient and welcoming stopover for anyone passing through or visiting Monmouth.

I was trying to find the gents toilet, and when I asked a member of bar staff where they were she was very rude. When I left the toilet the man behind the bar almost shouted at me ‘it is polite to say thank you’. I was a little confused did he want me to say thank you twice? I got the impression they decided they didn’t like me the second I walked in and judged me based on my appearance. Not happy.

Had a good cider and a bitter with some pub fare here and was well satisfied. The food was quite good and this place has a lot of character. Would certainly recommend it for a bite to eat and a good night out ..

Fab place! Proper Home made food (including chips!) Love it! Wish I could give 10 stars!

Entered pub 5 mins before 12pm to a lady tapping her phone telling us they were not open yet despite black boards outside saying food served from 11.30. Were told twice more we were too early. Made to feel very unwelcome by the two very unfriendly folk running the business today. could not wait to leave. Only good thing was the service was quick so we could get out of there. Definitely wont be going back.

Just parked up in a small coach seating 25 ppl all sensible and decent folk. Turned down entry for.food and a drink based on our coach status. They just lost over 200 pounds... very backwards thinking . When I asked the elderly gentleman in apron why we couldn't stay. He simply replied I don't have to explain myself to you.

Lovely food, nice and relaxing atmosphere and the owners were great as always.

We stayed for 4 nights in the 'campsite' out back, which has lovely views out towards the Wye Valley. We didn't have to eat or drink in the pub, but we did, and we found it to be very comfortable, warm and friendly. Not many pubs around in the country like this anymore - run by proper landlord/lady, and frequented by locals. This pub has not been taken over by some generic chain, and has not had to become a 'gastropub' in order to survive. Log burning fires, a simple menu, a games room and a beer garden out back, with the same wonderful view.

Lovely friendly pub with good value food

Geat beer, good food and a log fire what more do you want.

Went in December. Lovely, friendly pub. Great home cooked food reasonably priced. Can recommend the chicken curry, very tasty.

Family wedding reception great wellcome food was good and plentiful children were made welcome staff excellent,brilliant value for money

Proper pub, good company, food and drinks.

Love coming here, although not done so for a long time. In same ownership for the past 20+years; Doug always produces good home cooked food in generous amounts and is good value. It is a real pub, good ales, ambience and service with a nice relaxed atmosphere.

Good old fashioned pub struggling to hold their own in the 21st century.

Lovely place!! First time visiting after living in Monmouth 10 years and it’s so quaint, old style pub! Perfect!

Friendly staff. A real pub with pub grub open fire.

Good beer and nice atmosphere, very friendly.

Nice little pub with good garden for kids

I fancied a real pub pie, so I ordered homemade pie, what came out was not good. No meat just what they called kidney and no pastry. Don’t go here.

This pub has delicious food and the staff are friendly. There is a hard stand area for camping and the view over the hills and valleys is beautiful. Apparently they have good quizzes here and we found the people who work here to be really welcoming.

The pub has some fantastic views out the back and is not far from Monmouth town centre. The inside of the pub makes it plain its a locals local and seems quite busy. The carpets are thread bare in many places , parts of the ceiling have peeled away and in the corner damp is penetrating the wall , The menu is a laminated A4 complete with food stains and not wiped clean . The roast was ok , too much gravy hiding not a massive amount of beef , yorkshire was a little flat , veg was nice and potato was well cooked . Only £6.50 for the one course so cant expect too much . Dessert was sticky toffee pudding which was so dry and more like a slice , custard was sucked in to the pudding had to leave half . Service was nice and the people friendly .There are plenty of pub options and if this pub wants to win in the Gastro arena then they have lots to do.

Real pub atmosphere abounds, to put it right simplicity, but it's all about the lack of pretence.

Great location, with super views across a valley inc golf course to hills opposite. Good local ales. Usually busy with good chat going on. Owners Doug and Jude Morris have sponsored leaflet (see pic) covering the 4-mile walk which includes seven of the more historic Monmouth pubs. A worthy cause!

I've been to the Royal Ok on quite a few occasions. The food is good and the beer and lager are really well looked after as well as presented. The Landlord is very welcoming and nothing is too much trouble. Very highly recommended

Friendly owners, family run business, dog friendly

Never mind previous reviews we stayed here in our motorhome for the night last night 17/3/18Food and beers all spot on Lovely family run pub and everyone of them made us feel more than welcome. Even the locals were welcoming and friendly. We had the sunday roast with dessert and was fabulous. Mains looked lovely also and when asked others were told they were also fab Doug his wife and daughter did all they could for us and we will definitely return on route through Monmouth again Thanks guys for everything

Overnight stop in camper van.We had a lovely evening with good beer, proper fire and good food.Made very welcome by the landlord, and great atmosphere in the pub.Food was ridiculously good value and pub classics were good. Best chips I've ever had in a pub too.Campsite basic, but great views.

We stayed at the rear of this old public house in one of the five Motorhome gravel hard stands, which come with EHU & Water for each pitch @ £15 a night, we had great views over the why valley and it was very peaceful other that the sounds of countryside animals & birds. We used it as a base to walk down into Monmouth town and spent our time wandering around seeing beauty that is Old Monmouth Town. It was lovely and relaxing weekend out of season as well as the pitches are open all year around. The pub itself has a very nice owner who was pleasant and very helpful, they do good beers and at reasonable prices for drinks too plus nice food, the pub has a play area for children, a beer garden with great views, a skittles ally, pool table and darts board plus a small restaurant area. We do recommend this plastic to other MH users as well the pitch price might be a little more than some might want to pay but we felt it was worth it.

I am a glass half full kind of person and someone who tries to look for things to be thankful for in all situations. I have also never written a tripadvisor review before.This pub has driven me to buck both those trends in my life. This pub is awful.I’ve been twice in the last year. Both times the beer has tasted very off even after asking for a replacement pint and everyone else drinking draught beer with me agreed. I don’t know whether they need to clean their taps or something but ALL the beers on tap just tasted distinctly off. Most of the food served out of 15 guests was either undercooked ( e.g hard pasta in lasagna, cold-centred chips) or tasted of soap.

The staff were rude and unfriendly to the point that we left earlier than we were planning. Ruined a special occasion. This is the only review I have ever written on trip advisor but felt strongly enough to do so.

Best family pub in Monmouth. Lovely home cooked food and at a very good price and great beer. Staff very helpful. Roast dinner for £6.00 Can't fault it.

Good morning bad very quiet though.

Good honest food. Well priced and very tasty.

We dropped by here for a meal while travelling through. It was well attended, and had a good vibe, albeit it being a bit tired looking and needing a good spruce up. The view to the rear is lovely. Unfortunately the meal was quite poor, and I guess their focus is on being a friendly locals drinking pub. From the limited menu we opted for a beefburger each, and although the pate itself was nicely seasoned, the meal was as basic as it could come; supermarket bun, pate, and chips all on a child sized plate. A bit of salad, coleslaw and or a blob of relish would have made all the difference. Sorry.