The Royal Oak in Winchester

What a fantastic place to come on a Saturday. The food and service were fantastic. All very pub like. I recommend!

Lovely old pub. Decent food but I would say a little pricey. Can order on app and good for gluten free

Great pub with a friendly atmosphere and nice staff. Be great if they had a few more proper ales to choose from.

Came here with a couple of mates while it was absolutely hammering it down outside! The sign outside caught our eye stating it was the England’s oldest pub! We were warmly welcomed by Jess, Terri & Amalia who explained to us that we were welcome to sit anywhere and order at the bar when we were ready! We ordered 3 Vintage Cheddar & Bacon Burger (£14.25) and when I tell you it was easily one of the best burgers I had this year so far! The cheddar and beef were just delightful to devour! The fries and sauce which I think was BBQ was an added taste that I wasn’t expecting, but was happy to also demolish! The head chef Jordan is a master at his craft and guarantee me and the boys will be coming back try more of the menu! The staff make one of the oldest pubs in England feel so welcoming, a home away from home, the fire on, lots of life left in this old building! If you’re Winchester it’s a must visit! Thank you The Royal Oak for looking after us and I look forward to seeing you all again soon! Thanks again to Jess, Terri, Amalia & Jordan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of the oldest pubs in the country apparently and what a fantastic atmosphere great staff very friendly,great food I had the steak sandwich it was delicious, great choice of ale . Will definitely visit again.

We arrived into Winchester at the end of a road trip in the late afternoon and we planned to have a look around the town, but stopped in to the Royal Oak for a drink first. We were very impressed with the history and atmosphere of the pub. Charmed by it actually. After a couple of drinks we thought we would have something to eat before heading out to have a look at what Winchester had to offer. The potted Devon Crab was a standout. It was divine! There wasn’t much bread with it, but our chips make for a very good dipping alternative, and the chips were cooked to perfection. After our quick nibble, we left, and were off to see Winchester. I think we made it around the block before circling back and sat back down at the same table we had left maybe 5 minutes before! We had more drinks, and more food. The pub was getting full, but the service was quick and friendly. Luckily, we were also able to get a quick look in downstairs to the original foundations. I also loved the fact that there wasn’t much bread a dog menu. How fabulous is that! I’m the end, our entire experience in Winchester was at the Royal Oak, and I can’t say I’m sorry. We will be back one day, to see the city, but the Royal Oak will be our first stop, surely. Thank You for a great night!

Last few times we've been it's not been the same as it used to be. We only go there for a few lemonades but we people watch and the clientele has changed and there's an odd vibe.

Just had drinks, but great atmosphere & Dog friendly 😄

Excellent ! Great atmosphere, service and food!

Stumbled across this place by accident, wow, what great food. Had the vegan burger, blew me away, very well presented and very tasty. Will definitely be back.

food s d service was firstclass, really enjoyed the whole experiences

Hired out event area for our Christmas Party. Really good experience and great service!

This is an amazing pub hidden down a small ally off the main shopping street, really old with lots of wooden beams. Very busy but as it is a big pub seats become available if you wait, you can order at the bar or QR code from your table.

Great pub excellent service. The Steak and Ale pie was fantastic

Slow service. Food was tasty. Tastefully decorated for Christmas.

Stopped off for a drink during the crazy busy Christmas Market. Bought drinks for all 5 and sat down drinking. Bar staff member approached and told us off because our 12 year old was eating some fudge that we’d just bought him from the market. Really rude and obnoxious and didn’t even bother about clearing the table that was full of glasses from our predecessors. Completely unwelcoming and rude.

The Wetherspoon standard never disappoints and is always the same.

Visited Winchesters Christmas market! But before we hit the market popped into the royal Royal Oak for a quick drink . 3 hrs later we were still in there after the best fish and chips south of Yorkshire ! Thank goodness we were on a coach trip and didn’t have to drive home. Staff behind the bar were very polite and welcoming also the ambiance was warm and friendly! No doubt if we return one day the oak will be on our lunch time destination! ! Thank you all for a very enjoyable afternoon x

First visit to this lovely pub whilst visiting our daughter (Uni student). Staff were so friendly and we loved the quirkiness of the pub. Very clean. Will definitely return

Lovely old style pub down a little lane in Winchester , about 50 metres from spoons ....where it's half the price ...but not as nice .

Great atmosphere, good food and beer 🍻

Proper boozer with an excellent buzz

Loved the location and the service very friendly

Well done, what a great place, well staffed, friendly and historic, what more could you ask for! I had the steak and ale pie, fantastic. 100% Recommend. Keep up the good work ;)

Quaint little bar in the middle of Winchester with a long history

Lovely, vibrant pub. Lots of outdoor space.

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 didn't eat here, we visited for the fact its the oldest pub in Emgland. To see the old part you need to go downstairs. Its pretty cool! Lovely atmosphere too.

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

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.

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!!

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 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!

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.

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 !

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. 🌳👑👌

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 place with lots of little corners to sit and eat.

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Aiden and Jess spot on. Aiden tells the best jokes

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.

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!!!

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 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

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.

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

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

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 !