The Royal Oak in Winchester

Came in for some drinks with friends- the women wouldn’t leave us alone the whole night. Watched us on the CCTV when we weren’t doing anything wrong and asked us to leave when we had bought lots of drinks. The food is sub par and the drinks extortionate . There are so many better pubs in Winchester so go to them.

We visited Winchester for the first time during graduation and decided to stop by The Royal Oak, knowing it’s one of the oldest pubs in England. The atmosphere was fantastic, and the drinks were great. After seeing the appealing food menu, we even cancelled our lunch reservation elsewhere to eat here. Despite being told there would be a 35-minute wait due to how busy it was, we didn’t mind at all. For starters, we both ordered the chicken wings, and I followed up with the house burger while my partner chose the sirloin steak. Unfortunately, the wings were underwhelming—the sauce was simply thrown on top, leaving only one wing properly coated. When the mains arrived, they looked fantastic, but sadly, the taste didn’t live up to the presentation. The burger was extremely dry and tough, with barely any apple BBQ sauce, and a few red onions. It certainly wasn’t “drenched in burger cheese sauce” as the menu promised. The only saving grace was the pork belly. My partner’s steak was over-seasoned with pepper and so chewy that it was difficult to eat. The onion rings we ordered as a side were also disappointing—wet and doughy, making them inedible. It was a huge letdown, especially since the service was excellent. I understand the place was busy, but for a bill over £60, the quality of food should be far better. This was a disappointing end to an otherwise enjoyable trip.

Had a lovely lunch, great food, service was excellent, thanks to the team 😀

It was our first time in The Royal Oak, and we found it to be a wonderfully characteristic pub with extremely interesting and very rich in history. We also found the staff be fantastic and very polite. I would strongly recommend visiting this beautiful pub

Just had a lovely lunch at The Royal Oak today! As a first time customer the atmosphere was fantastic, the staff were unbelievably helpful especially Jordan and Bryony. We will defiantly be returning and recommending to friends and family!! Thanks guy!!

Came in for lunch and was served by Brynee and Jordan. Service was great and both very friendly. Food was amazing, would definitely recommend the steak pie!

One of my regular spots! Me and my friends love the atmosphere on the weekend! Foods always good and we are never kept waiting long! Would always recommend to anyone living or visiting in Winchester

Came here for dinner and a few pints. Always a pleasant atmosphere. The Duck Hash pictured was beautiful. Served by Brynee who was very helpful especially as I have some food intolerance.

Came on a Friday night just for a quick drink. Busy and hectic. Good selection of drinks. I think they could have been kinder to the decor - feels a bit shabby.

I popped in yesterday had 2 lovely pints of royal oak bitter, great historical pub only went there before my local football team playing in Winchester. I would recommend this pub to anyone.

Popped in for a pint, good beer and wine, tempted to try the food after seeing what was being served. Katherine was working hard serving numerous customers. Best chips ever and believe me I have had a few in the past. We will return to have the rest of the venue, further mention to Katherine who is an asset to the experience.

Me and my family came in for dinner and drinks and had a lovely time. We were served by Brynee and Terri who gave us the perfect experience they were so welcoming and friendly and the food was great.

A charming pub in a beautifully old building! I had the mushroom chili stuff (I forgot the exact name 🙃), and it made for a wonderful midday meal. I was served by Kathryn, and she was super kind and welcoming! As an American tourist, I look forward to bragging about eating at such an old and wonderful place once I get home! I would certainly recommend the Royal Oak to all worldly wanderers. 🌳👑👌

So contrary to the previous reviews written this month, my experience at the Royal Oak has always been pleasant. The staff are always accommodating and the food never a let down. Terri, Katherine, and Eliza were amazing and always attentive.

Had a fantastic time at the pub. Fantastic food with friends made all the better by their amazing staff. A lovely girl called Eliza was really helpful and made our meal much better

I have never written a review like this one. I see from their feedback, they have 86 very poor/terrible reviews, from what we had yesterday, I'm not surprised. I ended up having just a main course which was roast chicken, the chicken was very pale in colour and of poor quality. The veg, roast potatoes deep fried ones, that's what they looked like, carrots almost mushy, cabbage burnt and tasted so, I did not eat it. The table was sticky, not cleaned properly, it felt damp where we were and had a damp smell. We eat out quite a bit, we didn't expect Michelin star dining but expected something far better than we received, we won't be back. After reading the reviews, we should have gone elsewhere. Be warned !

Food was good, pub was cool, whoever chose the music should be hanged, drawn and quatered.

Comfortable seating and not loud. Plenty of character and friendly staff, I enjoyed my first visit. Outdoor seating available. It can be very busy at times.

Great Atmosphere on a Thursday evening, very welcoming and friendly team. Two excellent ‘Royal Oak’ burgers (Pork Belly!) and the best Guinness in Winchester - what more could you ask for!

Great place with lots of little corners to sit and eat.

I've been at this pub in relation to this historic status. Service was ok. Did not tried any food. Will not rate atmosphere as it depends what you are looking for. Week days it seams to be quieter and weekends a higher vibe with some louder music.

Great food. Hot and fresh. Thankyou

Good beer and a nice wide range of choices on offer. Outside and inside seating are both lovely, especially with the heaters outside for the colder evenings. Only 4 stars as it is pretty pricey but a good pub regardless

The most expensive pint I've ever had in Winchester at £6.95 for a Level Head 4% IPA. Ridiculous pricing.

Such a pub full of history. Good range of drinks. Service was good. Really worth a visit.

Found it ironic thay the pub have a notice up to day they try to cater for allergies and have 2 containers with peanut behind the counter that when they serve them peanuts go everywhere. This is a huge concern and not allergin friendly. Can I suggest re considering this practice.

Vistied for dinner August 27, 2024 for dinner, reasonably priced food and drinks the food was delicious.

A really nice old pub, serving great beer in a welcoming atmosphere.

Booked a table for a family meal. The staff are friendly and helpful . Thank you for your hospitality Aidan.. great service, amazing food!! Definitely booking our future family get togethers at the Royal Oak.

I haven't eaten here but like to bring people here for drinks when showing them around Winchester due to it's interesting history that you can read on a big board inside.

My wife & I had a lovely lunch on the 27/08/24 with great service in the Royal Oak. On a very hot Tuesday it was nice and cool in the lovely surroundings of the Royal Oak and there were plenty of tables to chose from when we arrived at about 13:00 hours. The food was well presented & served nice and hot, the staff were very friendly and extremely helpful. We were fascinated by the history of the building which dates back to 1002. Having been visiting Winchester regularly for over the last 20 years we can not understand why we have not had a meal at the Royal Oak before but we will now be returning again in the future.

Wouldn’t even take my dog there disgusting people including the manger

Terrible atmosphere, the manger associated us with the wrong group and band us from all pubs around Winchester. We had one beer. Manager was rude and harsh, no reasoning and explanation.

My husband and I had an early lunch at the Royal Oak today. I had the special - soft shell crab burger - a first for me, and if you are a seafood lover like me, I highly recommend it. It was delish!! The service was brilliant and the staff were very courteous and engaging. Will be returning for another soft shell crab burger!

Fairly average pub, stopped by for a couple of drinks with a group of colleagues. Moved on elsewhere.

22nd of August had a drink and pub quiz had started Absolutely horrified at the quiz master who was obviously a misogynist and racist made some very uncomfortable comments which I will not repeat and will therefore not return

Good little pub. Great pub quiz if it's still running. Small beer garden. No on site parking.

Went to the Royal Oak as the quiz started. The quiz master made jokes about fat birds.not nice .Then he said his jokes would make a black guy blush .followed by other racist comments .we left as we were disgust. I did tell him he was racist but he just laughed it off. This’s is not how a pub should be run in this day and age .

Terri was an absolute delight!! Really made my day! So friendly, helpful and had time to chat after what seemed like a busy lunch service! Food was amazing and terri was very helpful in helping me with my dietary requirements as I’m gluten intolerant! Easy to talk to and knew about the history of the building too really! Thank you again Terri!

Pub was very busy but nice to see some of the history. Prices made are eyes water after a round of drinks

Just loved it, once you enter past,present and future is mixed there. See it for yourself. Spent 20£for a good meal and a Sider. Enjoyable

It was fun to watch the quizz night

Always visit the Royal Oak when in Winchester, super consistent and reasonably priced drinks.

Had a really good late lunch. Had the soft shell crab burger. Bloody lovely, went well with there great selection of real ales. Will definitely be back soon

Terrible beer rude staff give this pub a wide berth

Strangely small straws that fell under the surface of our drinks, and the staff weren't very helpful by way of explaining how the ordering process is if you're dining. No outside area

A+ On everything Fantastic staff The burger was amazing Definitely coming back

I had an absolutely delicious pie! With gravy and cabbage. Simple however yet complex. It’s a steak pie with tender meat, ale gravy, caramelized onions, and steamed cabbage sautéed in something wonderful. And since it's a pie, it’s all placed in to a crispy pastry 👌. Pair it with a Guinness and you have a super classic English dish, but taken to a whole new level! ... And also as a cherry on top, the service comes with a friendly smile! 🍒

Average place I was expecting more of a atmosphere for being the oldest pub in England

Simply wonderful. We found it by chance and it was great. Spacious place with various environments. Good food, good beers and very good service.

Seemed cosy and quaint, but it's really quite grubby inside..we ordered one chicken wing starter, but we're served a chicken sharing platter. The tacos were soggy and greasy, the rest was ok . However the very slow service meant we had to leave before our main course arrived.

Lovely and tasty food especially the duck hash. The service was excellent with very friendly and attentive staff. Great selection of drink and an interesting building with several quirky spots to sit in. The music was a bit loud but hey it is a pub on a Saturday evening and the experience was great which makes you appreciate Winchester even more!

Lovely and tasty food especially the duck hash. The service was excellent with very friendly and attentive staff. Great selection of drink and an interesting building with several quirky spots to sit in. The music was a bit loud but hey it is a pub on a Saturday evening and the experience was great which makes you appreciate Winchester even more!

Very poor service. After one half hour, no fish and chips. They served me chicken wings as if it was ok to serve without my husband’s meal. Avoid at all costs. Wish we hadn’t taken the advice of bartender in our hotel. Oldest pub or not, my money is green and I can spend it elsewhere.

It took a half hour to get wings and they never even brought my husband’s fish and chips. We asked for our money back. Avoid at all costs. Poor service and the wings weren’t even good. Will tell my hotel’s bartender not to recommend this place anymore.

A cozy historical pub. Dined today as an early Father's Day treat for my husband. Was probably one of our best pub meals in Winchester. Food was A+++. Served hot and full of flavour. We both had the duck hash. Was worth waiting for. Staff were attentive and gave us a heads up on how long the wait time is but actually came a little early than expected which was good!

Popped in for lunch one Saturday. Service was good and the beer excellent but the meal was underwhelming. Steak and ale pie with chips. Not enough chips and the pie crust was chewy like it had been microwaved.

Fantastic service. I had a query about the mayo on my burger. Phil the manager couldn't do enough to reassure me it was vegan. The food was great.

Great pub with great atmosphere and fab service from all the staff but especially Jess and Aiden who always look after us so well.

Reece, Jess and Aidan were all very welcoming when I visited recently. Couldn’t have asked for a better experience

Fantastic friendly service from Aiden and Jess this evening who both made us feel very welcome and looked after. Great atmosphere with Aiden making us laugh with his jokes.

Aiden and Jess spot on. Aiden tells the best jokes

I recently had the pleasure of dining at The Royal Oak, and I must say, it was an unforgettable experience. The establishment is impeccably maintained, showcasing a level of cleanliness and attention to detail that sets a high standard. The highlight of my meal was undoubtedly the burger, which was perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor, accompanied by some of the best onion rings I've ever had—crispy, golden, and absolutely delicious. Aiden, the talented bartender, crafted an Aperol Spritz that was nothing short of masterful. The balance of flavors was impeccable, making it the perfect refreshing complement to the meal. Overall, my visit to The Royal Oak was exceptional, and I can't wait to return. Kudos to Aiden and the entire team for providing such a pristine and delightful dining experience!

What a Jolly pleasant experience in this public house.. received great service from Aiden and his assistant Jess. Will use this place more often

I absolutely love visiting the Royal Oak whenever I’m in town - the staff are always brilliant and conduct service with smile. This visit was no different. It was great to see some old faces and to drink and be merry whilst being looked after by the dutiful Aiden who recommended some cracking drinks to try, along with his favourite side dish to soak it all up. Will be back soon I’m sure

I was served by Aiden, he was really helpful recommending the best drinks. Would definitely recommend

Visited with the family from the states to Winchester, my hometown. Knew they would love the Royal Oak and they did. We had the BEST food!! Hubs loved the steak and ale with mash. Teens enjoyed their duck hash, mussels and steak ciabatta. Great food and drinks (highly recommend the G & T’s), super friendly service. Well worth a visit!!!

A lovely building ,food was good and cooked well. Service was very good nothing was too much trouble for them,staff were friendly, I found Aiden warm and helpful and what a lovely guy. Overall I will be returning to the Royal Oak in the near future.

Had to send 1 plate of food back but the staff were brilliant about it.

Lovely pub. Great service and staff, particularly Aiden - lovely bloke! Highly recommend.

Great town centre pub, with very nice, mainly covered (from rain) outside seating area

Food was great! Aiden and Reece were very knowledgeable regarding menu suggestions to go with our drinks !! Amazing service, will defo come again :)

Definitely the best chicken kyiv I ever tried in UK til now ! Beautiful pub ! Traditional, classic and warm atmosphere. The guys (Reece and Aiden) are really kind and they pay attention to everything. I’m really happy that I found a good place here in Winchester. I’m going to come back !

Amazing place, just had the crab, such great food, compliments to the kitchen, Reece and Aiden were amazing on the bar as well!

Lovely pub down a narrow lane but does not feel as old as is claimed. I had a very nice steak and ale pie. Good ales.

What a fantastic venue for catching up with friends or family. Great variety on the menu. Staff very professional welcoming and a popular venue

A little slow on service and a little expensive. Call me a killjoy, but the music was too loud.

Great friendly and efficient service. Lots of space both inside and out. Came with our dog and they even have a menu especially for dogs as well ! Definitely can recommend :)

My friend and I met up for lunch on Wednesday 15th at the Royal Osk. The pub had a lovely atmosphere, the staff were friendly and helpful and we will definitely come back. Well done.

I enjoy coming here, staff are always nice. The place is always tidy, clean toilets, kid friendly

First time here, really helpful staff excellent food great value for money

Delicious beer and food! Friendly guys behind the bar. Love the bar and the deco.

Good service and friendly staff. Good traditional pub food and good selection of specials. Great atmosphere and good seating.

Went for a roast dinner on 14th April at 15:00. We ordered the nut roast and the beef. Sadly, it's no exaggeration to say it was the worst roast we had ever been served. The potatoes, cauliflower, carrots were barely cooked and cold; the Yorkshire pudding was stale. There wasn't a nut roast, instead replaced by some sort of spinach quiche that wasn't cooked and basically just mush (nut roast was on the menu and nobody had mentioned a substitution). The beef was so overcooked it resembled slices of leather (see the pictures). The waiter himself told us he wouldn't have eaten it either (which does beg the question why it was served in the first place?). Honestly, it was just disgraceful. To try to end on a high note, I will say that the waiter was a nice guy and did offer us a refund without any trouble.

Lovely food and lovely people. Have eaten there lot's of times , and have never been been disappointed. Complements to the chef and staff. 😋

Great place! Incredible staff! Delicious food and drinks! (Shout out to the young lady that ran down the street to bring back my mother in laws purse to her that she left at the table!) Went back multiple times on our short trip!

Unique bar that we ended up visiting three times during our stay in Winchester. Food was great, atmosphere was superb, staff went above and beyond. Thank you to the wonderful staff who ran down the street to return my mother’s purse that she forgot!! Highly recommend to anyone visiting Winchester!!

Excellent spot for a rainy day dinner and drinks. Delicious food. Amazing friendly staff. Just double check your order before paying, we had a miscommunication. One dish didn't actually come with fries but when ordering we were asked if we want fries or chips. Same with if we wanted onions with the burger which we misunderstood (red onions on the burger vs fries onions side). We ended up with three extra sides that we ordered and paid for :)

Love this place. Delicious food and long history, which they remind you of throughout the place. Definitely check out the cellar seating area, it's cozy and interesting. Try the house burger. Subtracting one star from the food, but it's really because I thought the house bitter ale was watery and lacked flavor.

This is a fantastic old beam pin, with the great atmosphere, the food was amazing, really tasty, well presented and good value. The service was excellent

We were brought here by the Winchester Mystery Guide book, it was lunchtime so we stopped by. What an interesting pub! Old, dark, quirky, full of history. We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch (mac&cheese, sausage and mash, Korean chicken burger and pie). Every dish was cooked perfectly, full of flavour and perfect size. Thank you chef! We'll definitely stop by again when in Winchester.

Had a nice drink with the family in this really old pub full of character

Can get busy but when weather allows, plenty of space outside . Very friendly and for dogs and children too..

Nice ancient pub, drinking where people drank for hundreds and hundreds of years.

Stumbled across this lovely historic pub and ended up going to it twice in one day. Loved the atmosphere, didn't order food but had some bar snacks. Did get very busy but staff try to get to everyone as quickly as they can. Would definitely go back!

Came here in 2022 had the best fish and chip ever and I love fish and chip, just came back April 2024 and had the worst fish and chips, it was tough, couldn’t cut it, had to rip it apart, it was like it had been fried at lunch not eaten and re fried in the evening, Wifecand daughter had good food though .

A must-visit for history lovers. Wonderfully preserved traditional pub with a much older 1000 year history as a very prominent residence! Exquisite burger with belly pork and cheese sauce. Good beers. Great pub.

Great service, good food, ice cold beer.

Been to this pub before when down visiting our family, nice cosy friendly pub, good range of beers and spirits. We had lunch my husband as usual had fish and chips, I went for the steak and ale pie, roasted cabbage wedge which was so good and mash also good. Was disappointed with my pie think it was reheated in microwave a bit too long also noticed man next to me left most of his.

Great quirky pub, parts are supposed to be one of the oldest bars in England, worth visiting