The Royal Oak in Swindon - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Very strange menu nothing really to my liking and nothing for children either so it’s not somewhere to go with family…… ok ale but the menu needs to be bigger & nothing for a vegetarian my wife has recently become vegetarian for health reasons so we couldn’t eat here & don’t think we will return

£26 for beef Sunday lunch - quite disappointing. Luke warm, watery gravy, leeks undercooked and broccoli like it had been on the boil for hours. Clearly the place has no competition.

We stayed two nights and had a lovely time. The room was spacious and clean with a nice sized bathroom. The pub was very welcoming and the staff were great. The landlord has an epic sense of humour which we loved. As for the food you could see it was prepared with care and it was delicious. The rooms are set away from the pub so there is a short walk (including down some steps) but if you wanted, you could use the lovely community space which was just opposite our room where there is an honesty bar. We went there after dinner and played Scrabble. When we arrived our room was very warm to the point that we had to turn radiators off and open the window. There wasn’t milk in the room but there was a flask which you could fill with fresh milk from the community lounge. Also only decaff or herbal tea bags were in the room but we had our own anyway. An absolutely lovely stay and we are so glad that the other two places we tried were fully booked leading us to discover this gem.

Had a fantastic time with the family. Simply can't have enough praise for the tireless and humble work being done at 'Helen Browning's' Royal Oak. Can i also recommend a visit to 'Helen Browning's' organic farm shop. :)

Family Sunday Roast. Overpriced. Beef was gristly, Roast potatoes sad and dry, Curly, Kale was uncooked and other vegetables barely cooked, Yorkshire's dry and overcooked. Nowhere near enough food was brought out at the begining, so many had to wait ages for further supplies, by which time the plates of food were cold.

...if you can find it...?! but well worth the journey. I stayed the night before going to Swindon the following morning and it was truly delightful, weather excepting... Whilst the rooms are some distance from the main pub building, mine was warm and comfortable and I had a good night's sleep; a helpful member of staff even escorted me across the car park at the end of a long and enjoyable evening with a delicious Buffet accompanied by quality wines. Breakfast is also an interesting experience with an ample choice of organic products. Great atmosphere with friendly and helpful staff; a proper Pub serving good honest grub.

Wow what an amazing last minute find! Spoke to a lovely girl on the phone (sorry I’ve forgotten your name but Richard’s partner) who managed to sort out a dog friendly room for us! Arrived to a warm welcome from staff and was shown to our room which was bijou but comfortable. Richard & Lucy put the rugby on for my husband in the bar where we had a delicious meal. Breakfast was lovely, fresh & varied and the dog got a sausage. Tim the landlord was there to brighten up our Sunday morning. It was lovely to meet all the friendly staff thank you - we’ll definitely be back.

We stayed 2 nights at the Royal Oak for a family occasion close by. What a find. Food was great, rooms are great, guest lounge is awesome and the staff are just brilliant. We had 20+ people for dinner on the Friday night and they nailed it. Nothing was too much trouble. Good breakfast too. If you have your nose pushed up in the air, you may not enjoy the sense of humour this place has in abundance. For everyone else, it’s marvellous. Will definitely return.

Once the parents in-law had arrived, we were looking for somewhere nice and up market to take them for a nice meal. On searching Trip Advisor we found this place, coming in with loads of good reviews we had to go and try it ourselves. Having a seven week old baby, at the time, we need to be able to have a table which allowed the pram to be close to the table but not block any other patrons. Firstly, we parked in the available car park (of which there is plenty of space) to then find we had to travel down some very steep stairs in order to get to the restaurant. Without realising it, or being told, there was another entry point which would have been far easier - this was used to exist once we had eaten. First encounter of the staff was they were great! Really welcoming and tried to help with the pram and coming down the steep steps. It wasnt overly busy, the pub, but the food seemed to come out slowly, making the staff really have to be on form with some difficult customers. After waiting over an hour for our food, having bread and olives to tied us over, the burgers finally arrived. They are larger than you would expect from other places, but this is shown in the pricing. All that being said the food was really good and we were impressed with how attentive the staff were with all the tables. There was only about 4 staff members on, covering circa 35 people, but with the delay in the food from the kitchen they dealt really well. The ale was good and there was a wide variety on offer, of which the American Pale Ale was recommended and a good choice. We would return here, be aware however, the limiting factors to this place are: 1. Quirky - not for everyone as it gives off 'Organic' feelings, 2. Location - not only the pub geographically but also the fact you have to go down to enter the restaurant, 3. Price - its not cheap to eat or drink in this establishment, 4. Time - You dont get the feeling things will ever be done quickly here as everything takes its time. So don't be in a rush when visiting.

Booked a 3 night stay as a birthday present. From the minute we arrived, we felt welcomed and cared for. We loved the relaxed vibe and all the staff we interacted with were positive, friendly, welcoming, would do anything to make your stay enjoyable. When the people cleaning your room know your name, you know the team are amazing. We felt like part of one giant extended family. We had a lovely room and all rooms are arranged around a communal lounge and kitchen (the wallow) with an honesty bar and away from the main pub. It was quiet and relaxing. The breakfasts were generous. The pub food is tasty and seasonal and the drinks are good too. There is so much going on here from the farm shop to weddings and cookery courses, from the beautiful farmland that you can wander around to a safari if you fancy it! A very short walk to the Ridgeway and some stunning countryside, it was perfect for walks with our dog and lots of other guests has brought their dogs too. There is lots of information about local walk options which are all very clearly signed. A lovely village, within easy reach of the Cotswolds and the beautiful Wiltshire countryside. We had a wonderful stay and would highly recommend this slightly quirky, definitely individual and full of personality, little gem.

Service very friendly. The owner served us for breakfast and he was super friendly, nothing was too much for him. Food was first class, very fresh and organic, I understand a lot comes from their farm. Best spare ribs I have had for a long time and the sharing platter was a meal in itself!

We adore the hotel and the staff. This was our second trip here and we were so happy to be back. The staff and attention to detail really is exceptional! We were disappointed with the evening dinner menu however. Last time we remembered hearty, organic lovely evening meals and we were looking forward to dinner after a long journey. The ‘vegetable wellington’ was actually quite bad. Extremely disappointed because this one area affected what would other wise have been a flawless experience overall

Lovely location, nice staff, and food is good. But turning up at 7 to discover 2 of the main courses had sold out meant there was only 2 choices - excluding pizza and vegan options and an expensive lobster choice. It was chicken and chips or burger and chips. I’ve been before and know the menu is seasonal and limited but this was the most limited I’ve ever seen it. So be aware - they don’t carry much stock. They even sold out some of the pudding choices. It was a little busy so getting service was tricky. Had to walk about to find a waiter on occasion. I do really like this pub and appreciate the hard work but a warning if you have fussy eaters or kids you might be out of luck.

What a wonderful venue, so relaxed and friendly. We went for a friend’s 50th . The food and service were both 5* and the location is lovely too.

This place is fantastic. I cannot believe the food or the rooms which were a wow and the owners were unbelievably generous in making our stay so welcoming. I love your place and with Michael portillo walking in last night was unbelievable and very enjoyable xxx

Lunch for 8 family members for a 60th birthday celebration. Very welcoming right from the start and the pub has a lovely atmosphere with very friendly staff. Water was placed on the table before we even sat down, which may seem like a small thing, but have been to a lot of places where you have to ask several times. Service was excellent and staff were very attentive but not intrusive. We had charcuterie sharing plates, salmon, soup and an aubergine dish for starters, which were all delicious. There was a good choice of dishes for mains, but the pulled pork sounded so good most of us plumped for that and again it was really, really good. And the onion rings were stunning. Good value for such quality food, very nice, relaxed atmosphere with excellent service. Have previously visited for a Sunday lunch which was also lovely, must try the breakfast next! Really relaxing, pleasant afternoon, thank you very much!

We came here for a family lunch. Quick and easy to book, staff welcoming and good service. The mains we had had mixed responses. Fish and chips very good, the pork belly a little disappointing, roast beef very good. Similar to the puddings chocolate brownie very good, sticky toffee OK.

Lovely stay at The Royal Oak. Comfortable room, great food, super friendly, efficient staff, good beer. An interesting pub with character, we really enjoyed our dinner, overnight stay and breakfast.

oh where to begin. we had booked a ground floor bedroom which turned out to be at the high end og boutique.I suffer from lung trouble so I have trouble with stairs. we arrived to find access to the bar restaurant was by a steep flight of steps. so we worried about not being able to go for drinks and dinner which is why we were there. Helen browning herself overheard my wifes conversation and remarked dont worry we can sort this. well.... sort it out they did. A young woman called lynn and a young man called richard looked after us he drove us from our room to the front of the restaurant and back again i spotted i had a damaged tyre Lynn called a mobile tyre fitter who was there in 30 minutes. The beer is 1st class the wine carefully chosen and very tasty and not overpriced. As for the food its pure quality, my wife had lamb cutlets which were perfect and i had the pigs cheek ragu that was probably the best ragu i have ever tasted. breakfast was as good as everything else and before leaving we visited their shop to buy her own bacon and sausages and a few organic veg all from the farm. Helen and her husband tim deserve all the plaudits they recieve and so do thie young staff every one of them absolutely delightful. I am sorry if this seems a bit gushing but thts how the royal oak makes you feel

Absolutely incredible all round The room - absolutely stunning, incredible utilities from a free standing bath, flat screen tv and even down to your own dyson fan and hair dryer ! There is even a communal room with table football a mini kitchen and a mini bar you can use to your hearts content (you pay for everything at the end of your stay)The staff - lovely, warm and welcoming ! Continuous attentive service 10/10 The food - absolutely mouth watering , would highly recommend the steak and the ribs ! Best stay I have ever had and definitely will be returning ASAP

We stayed last weekend at the Royal Oak, I’ve split the reviewRoomsThe room we had was absolutely perfect. We I did not find a single thing wrong. The bed was comfortable, the floor extremely clean. The bathroom was fantastic and the toiletries of a very high standard. Pro tip - go get your milk the night before from the wallows for early morning tea and coffee.FoodThe breakfast was fantastic and I recommend the apple or grapple juice, as a diabetic there was no sugar in this. The evening meal changes every day and the Beef Ragu was wonderful. Tip, unless you have massive appetite careful what you choose (as in the number of courses)AmbianceThe whole visit was underpinned by the staff, every person was friendly, knowledgeable and nothing was too difficult.It was an absolute pleasure to stay here.

Have only eaten here once in the past and food was nice, though hugely overpriced. This visit was booked by the birthday boy so we headed over again. Once again the food was nice - but overpriced- and (especially in the garden) the shabby chic has the emphasis on shabby (there is a difference between ‘rustic’ and ‘broken’) so we decided to have our drinks inside before ordering our food The staff were all friendly - though not built for speed - one young lady however was very chatty & friendly. Sadly being ‘eccentric’ seems to make having an abrupt manner acceptable from the (manager/owner?) and not really setting a good example to other staff A lovely location but not sure I would rush to eat there again

We were a large family group, of wide ranging ages and both carnivores and vegetarians and we all loved it. We rented 9 of the the room and made full use of the communal lounge, which is well stocked with free tea and coffee and an honestly fridge for alcohol and soft drinks. There was even a record player for vinyl music, which was fun. We were able to take over the upstairs bar for dinner and had chosen sharing board. Both meat eaters and vegetarians were very happy with these, and portions were huge. Breakfast also looked great, but lots of use were too stuffed from the night before to take full advantage!The staff, without exception were friendly and helpful, special thanks to Jo who made the booking process easy despite my many changes!I can thoroughly recommend The Royal Oak and hope to stay again in the not too distant future.

A large group of us stayed at the Royal Oak using most of the wonderful rooms and facilities. We were very well cared for by all of the staff and nothing was too much trouble. The atmosphere is very friendly, apparently casual but with great attention to quality of service. The food is excellent and generous. Some of us were taken in a very informative tour of the organic farm and we all learned a lot, even those of us with farming backgrounds. Well worth booking the tour. Opinions on the value of organic farming were enhanced. Thank you Tim and the team.

We stayed in this hotel for a weekend and found the rooms charming and the front-of-house and housekeeping staff all enthusiastic, efficient and delightful. However, it was the kitchen that let the place down. I had been assured that, despite a heavily meat-based menu, they could cope with vegetarians. Not so. It is quite difficult to go wrong with soup but I was served an inedible soup that I sent back virtually untouched, without being offered an alternative. The great disappointment was the main course. The menu gave the ubiquitous promise of a 'Super Salad'. What was served for £18 - the price including a few tiny, overcooked and rubbery slices of halloumi - was merely a supersized and lacklustre side salad containing no protein apart from the extra cheese (add £4). The salad comprised leaves, grated carrot and sliced onion. A main course salad should surely be just that? One would expect protein such as seeds, nuts, and quinoa with perhaps some hummus or a falafel. These were entirely absent. It was a shame that a venue supposedly taking pride in local produce couldn't cater for what is hardly an unusual dietary need.Even some meat-eaters had a - literally - hard time. My dog was the beneficiary of a rock solid piece of pork that another guest simply could not slice. For dessert I asked for a fruit salad or piece of fruit: 'not possible' was the response. Breakfast was better: edible and with protein... and of course, it included the option of a fruit salad!

Wonderful food, good surroundings, marvellous staff - what’s not to like.Every place has its ups and downs but the Royal Oak is on its way up! I love the changing menu, the pizza oven, which is used for much more than just pizza, has really added to the food menu - its creative, it’s interesting and it’s delicious.

We were made to feel welcome right away by the young lady who greeted us and showed us to our table. During the evening we were served by a number of staff members, all of whom were friendly and helpful. One lady in particular had a lovely chat with us about the village and the pub owner; it sounds like the staff are a very happy bunch and well looked after by their employer. The food and drinks were delicious. We’ve been a few times over the years and this place never disappoints.

Stayed here as part of our Ridgeway walk. Good beer and food and rooms are well equipped and thoughtfully designed. Breakfast particularly good. Evening meal also excellent with meat supplied from their own farm. Steaks were particularly enjoyable. Service was friendly and Tim couldn’t do enough to accommodate us. Would definitely recommend.

All of the staff were delightful - bright, happy, energetic, polite and efficient. The facilities were mostly excellent. We had a large room with a large bathroom; a coffee machine, tea facilities and access to fresh milk. Dinner was delicious, if a bit expensive, but the quality of the food speaks for itself. Breakfast is a bit quirky but good food was served. However, nowhere is perfect and this place was let down by very dirty net curtains and a dirty sink plughole.

This used to be amusing and part of the charm of dealing with the landlord, but for the price charged and the “shabby chic” (with the emphasis on shabby) appearance it’s not really a pleasant environment to be in anymore.The pub weathered COVID well, and we did our best to support the business through those particularly hard times.Unfortunately rude, abrasive service seems to be the modus operandi for all but one or two of the staff, and that change in attitude after years of supporting the business has at least encouraged me to go hunting for other establishments for which I am sure they will thank the current management.This review is based on 3-4 visits over September for business and pleasure, not just a one off. The food is great, but a bit overpriced for the environment and when it is attached to a staff member who clearly doesn’t want to be there it detracts from the “experience”.Sorry guys, up your game and the reviews will improve again.

Came here for lunch and, as ever, the food was delicious, and the service was great.I had burger (it's my go-to here!) - topped with stilton and served with chips. beautifully cooked and really tasty - it had clearly been cooked on the new outside grill. Himself had the pork belly - a big piece of meat, topped with great crackling (a bonus for me, as he doesn't like it!). Again served with chips.So glad to be back!

We went for lunch recently after seeing the website and reviews. The location is lovely.It was probably averagely busy. Service was friendly and welcoming but it did seem a bit chaotic and despite booking we had to wait to order. The food was mixed. I had pork secretos, which were lovely. The children had pizzas. They were rustic and home made, both good things. They weren't that nice though, with soft chewy bases and uninspired toppings for quite a high price.Overall we thought it was OK here but not as good as we had hoped and a little pridey- eg £14 for a small and relatively unappetising pizza.

We had a wonderful 1-night stay here as we were traveling around the country. Our room was clean, spacious and cosy, the bathroom was well equipped and large. Breakfast was a real treat - the food was delicious and the portions were large. We definitely didn't leave hungry! The staff were all so warm and welcoming. My partner left a valuable item in our room after we checked out. The staff found it and could not have been more kind in sending it to us in London. The place is a real treasure - we would definitely stay here again and recommend it highly to everyone!

Bank Holiday Sunday 29th August 2021Helen Browning’s Organic Royal Oak BishopstoneDaughter down from London for August Bank Holiday weekend and choose Royal Oak for Sunday lunch. A dry breezy day although booked for indoors we accepted outdoor table upstairs to enjoy fresh country air. Before any order taken a bottle of water and two glasses placed on out table. This simple act typified the friendly, cheerful service recieved on this first visit.Starters looked almost like main meals so straight to Sunday roasts. Hope photos work. Helen selected Eastbrook saddleback pork belly Dariusdave couldn’t resist Eastbrook topside beef roast. Both described as served with roast potatoes, veg & Yorkshire puddings.What delights arrived on our plates. Clearly a hand-crafted Yorkshire Pudding. Veggies white cauliflower, fresh kale, tasty carrots, parsnips and crisp full flavour roast potatoes. I enjoyed several slices of beef great texture and flavour. Adish of organic horseraddish was brought on request lovely sharp flavour. Helen had a mighty “slab” of tasty belly pork. Our waitress warned the gravy was hot, but this was real meat gravy not tinned granules had entered this creation. I am not a parsnip person (except Christmas Day) Helen is not a carrot person we swapped. I also enjoyed a pint of Arkell's Gold Ale with this feast.Normal diet rules don’t apply on a Bank Holiday so arms lightly twisted for puddings. Helen ordered Organic Coffee Ice Cream Scoops. I choose Sticky Toffee with raspberry ripple ice cream both were delicious. Dariusdave loves real coffee so after discussion with our helpful waitress ordered a large black (modern language calls it Americano) coffee made with organic Peruvian beans. The aroma was heavenly and taste supreme.Will Dariusdave return? You bet, down windy country lanes, past thatched cottages, to this organic gem.

As a contractor I spend a fair amount of time visiting different places, and often end up eating out. The Royal Oak is one of the best locations I have been to in a long time. Just outside of Swindon it is well worth the drive to a quiet secluded location with plenty of indoor and outdoor space. The staff are welcoming and supportive, going out of their way to help when the electric vehicle charge point was blocked by mistake.Food was served promptly yet freshly cooked, and the steak and chips were delicious, with a generous portion size and tender meat. The puddings are just as good and well worth indulging on - the lemon posset is highly recommended.Overall it is hard to fault the Royal Oak in any area - an all round good experience and I will be revisiting where possible.

We came here on the 20th August. First time out as a couple in 2 years since having children. We had eaten at the Old Town location a few times which we really enjoyed and this didn't disappoint.A really warm, friendly atmosphere, absolutely superb food and really attentive staff.Our main waiters were a lady who we didn't catch the name of and Tim who were both brilliant. Stopped to have a chat and seemed genuinely interested in us, took the time to explain the menu and various different items and they made sure our needs were seen to instantly.Last night made us want to come to the family day on the 11th Sept and we are now also doing some shopping on the website.We will definitely be back for food too! Thank you for making our first evening out an enjoyable one!

Absolutely tremendous food, excellent huge pork chop. Great surroundings and very attentive staff. Can't praise this place High enough As for the hotel, the rooms are stunning.

I stayed three nights here and loved every minute. It's a one-off, quirky old pub - only in England... The rooms were comfortable and the staff excellent, giving friendly and attentive service. Nothing was too much trouble. Meals were hearty to say the least, though a little less meat, excellent though it was, and a few more veggies would have aided my digestion! Superb informative programme of activities on organic farming and British wildlife. Beautiful place. I'll be back.

My daughter and I booked the first night of our walking trip along the Ridgeway at this pub and were not disappointed. The welcome was very warm and the owners and their staff were most accommodating. I cannot stress enough how friendly tAll of the staff were during our stay - a real asset for the pub. The dinner was of exceptional quality. I had the pork secretos and my daughter had a bean burger. The food was very tasty, excellent value for money, the staff polite and attentive and the accompanying American pale ale went down very well. I would highly recommend this as a stop along the route.

I stayed for three nights here. The rooms weren't huge but extremely comfortable. It was ensuite which was very nice and the room had everything I needed. The room was warm - as the weather was fairly pleasant - but there was a nice fan provided that kept me cool at night. AS mentioned the pub is cozy with seating inside and in their big garden. The bar had a good selection of beer, wines and soft drinks. The staff were very pleasant and cheerful and were always around if we need anything. We were a party of 6. Tim, the owner and front of house, couldn't do enough for us which I appreciated. The food was plentiful and very nice. Maybe a little too much on the meat side for me. I would have liked a few more veggies besides a salad - fantastic though it was. Their kitchen is in the garden under cover and all the food is made from scratch - local pig and beef , both organic, yummy chips and fabulous pizza. Breakfast was the full Monty and you couldn't want for more. They can cater for any dietary preferences as well. All in all a super stay and I'll be back.

Recently stayed at the Royal Oak as part of a 3 day British Wildlife safari learning about the wildlife that supports an organic farm and the eco cycle that makes the farm work. Accommodation and food were excellent although was definitely hankering after a vegetable after three days of superb meet dishes:). All staff were welcoming and friendly which all added to a very enjoyable 3 days

So glad I finally made it to The Royal Oak after sampling the Chop House in Swindon. The location is beautiful, garden was in full bloom and divine, and the service was friendly and personable. As expected the food was amazing - sampled the beef, pork chops and ribs - all cooked to perfection. I mentioned my Gluten and Dairy intolerance which was catered for without trouble. Organic food at its absolute best.Thank you!

Always good & friendly service, great locally produced food & a great ambience to match Thank you !!!!

What a fabulously unpretentious village gem! We’re regular customers here and can fully recommend. There’s now an outdoor kitchen with woodfired pizza oven and woodfired bbq! The taste is just awesome. Service can be “laid back” at busy times but the wait is worth it. All the staff work super hard to make sure that everyone is well looked after. An excellent place

We went out for a birthday meal, it all started well, although there wasn't any lemonade, coke, or soda water, infact the waitress didn't even know what soda water was! After there was an extremely long wait for the main course, when it arrived there wasn'tany cutlery, so we sat with our food for nearly 10 minuteswhilst cutlerywas washed up for us, when we finished eating and I have to say the rump steak was over cooked and tough and inappropriate cutlery was given for the lobster and nowhere to put the shell, no one came over to ask how the food was and there wasn't anyonearound to ask, when we had finished we then waited for 30 minutes for our plates to be cleared and this was only after we asked for the table to be cleared, when the table was cleared we were told our service was slow because of an accident everyone arrived at the same time, so our service suffered the apology was not heart felt and we felt as if we were an inconvenience for turning up on time, if someone had bothered to come and tell us what was going on we would have been more understanding we were inside and had no idea how many people arrived at the same time, we left our house early because of the accident we were offered our desserts for free but we weren't interested in that we just wanted good service we gave our dessert order they then came back and told me that they didn't have what we choose, if our order had been taken earlier we may have had the correct dessert, we spent nearly £200 so expected better service and food, very disappointed when we left the woman who had cleared our table completely ignored us infact she was more interested in where her dog was!

Excellent service food and atmosphere already planning our next visit .Thank you Tim and your lovely tesm

We absolutely loved this quirky little camping site. So much to explore and experience such as the heated bath, shower in the hedge and compost loos - our kids were kept happy all day exploring and playing. To top is all, the lovely Royal Oak pub is just a 20 min walk away across a field or two. A great experience and we'll certainly be back!

We love this place. We love everything about it, from the fantastic organic food, to the ethos, the staff and the witty sarcasm! It’s our second visit - we would have been back sooner if it weren’t for lockdown. We can recommend the farm safari with James, fascinations, informative and really interesting. We mow know what a corn bunting is! We saw a stoat, a fox, several buzzards, corn buntings as well as all the livestock. Just brilliant! They do so much here and we will be back that’s for sure.

Great way to spend a couple of hours looking around he farm with expert guide James. Highly recommended

I stayed here with 6 friends using the hotel's campsite as a base for a cycling weekend in the surrounding area and we were very impressed on all fronts. The campsite was extremely comfortable with all basic amenities and more. The staff couldn't do more for us at both the pub and in the 'village shop', making very helpful suggestions for our travels around and our barbecue on the second night. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone looking for a bit of respite and a low-key weekend away with friends. Thanks to all of the team, hope to see you again soon

We were a party of four. i had the pork Souvliaki, which was beautifully tender, my wife had the steak full of flavour and verytender. For dessert others had the organic ice cream made on the farm gorgeous. There is an outside grill and pizza oven, all food made to order .This is warm and friendly pub which captures the essence of the beautiful village of Bishopstone.Unpretentious excellent organic food straight from the farm, what's not to like. Oh and the beers good too 'Wiltshire Gold"

Found this little gem on line. Beautiful surroundings, lovely food and very friendly staff, will definitely visit again.

We had a great lunch in the garden. It was my partner's birthday and we received complimentary glass of Prosecco. food was super delicious and service very attentive. Thank you so much , we will be back.

Totally unique, amazing place where we were made to feel truly welcome. The accommodation was absolutely perfect - a place that I will be talking about for many years to come. The food is fresh, wholesome and delicious - perfect.

Absolutely amazing weekend. Thankyou so much for such an amazingly quirky site. All 8 of us loved the heated outside bath.. Absolutely loved food in your pub. Tim you are an amazing host and all your staff are a credit to your business and the food spectacular

The food was delicious but the service was average at best. Manger had a real attitude. They couldn’t find our reservation and the manager came and said ‘my bad’. The table was wobbly and she stood and watched us trying to fix it. Service was slow. Took at least 45 mins to bring our hamburgers. The food was very tasty so a real shame when the staff let it down.

Stayed for 4 nights during lockdown. I cannot rate this place highly enough. The rooms are beautifully presented and comfortable, with everything you will need. You will get an amazing nights sleep on the excellent mattresses here. The food which is all produced on the farm here is delicious, well cooked and the portion size is great after a long day. The local area is stunning with lots of walks and is incredibly peaceful. Most importantly the team working here cannot do enough to make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Rarely do I stay somewhere with a team that are so dedicated to great service. I cannot wait to come back once lockdown is over and enjoy what the pub has to offer. Thank you all for a wonderful stay

We stayed for 3 nights due to a military move during lockdown and from start to finish the team put us at ease. No request was too much. We stayed in a dog friendly room with our puppy, the room was beautiful and the location is gorgeous. We used the option of meals in our room and everything we tried was delicious - great portion sizes and very reasonably priced. We bought a few items from the farm shop onsite and they even stock great quality dog treats which was a nice bonus. I couldn't recommend this place enough, so helpful at a very stressful time - special shout out to Tim. We'll be back as soon as restrictions are lifted for some more delicious grub and great customer service!

We found this little gem whilst browsing through a hotel booking site but once found, booked direct through Helen Browning's Royal Oak Website as this means more money goes direct to the business and they all need help during this pandemic.We went for the full experience.Firstly the Jeep Safari around the farm was awesome. For townies like us it was great to be out in the middle off this fantastic farm. We experienced dairy cows, horses and our favourite the beautiful pigs. Our guide James was a great host and gave us so much knowledge of how the farm operated and also gave us loads off information on all the local wildlife. We got up close to the animals and the experience was amazing and well worth the 2 hours we spent on the farm.We checked into the rooms that were both fitted out to a great spec. They were barn style and had everything you needed and the roll top baths gave them an added luxury. There was a communal room too which was great for meeting up with family. We ate lunch, dinner and breakfast in the adjacent pub, which is owned by the farm and hotel and the great experience continued. Every member off staff was so welcoming and made us feel so at home. We felt totally safe with the social distancing and covid measures.The food was fab, served pub style but to a very high standard. The rib off beef was to die for as were the speedy sausages which I had for breakfast.The village setting is also awesome with some great walks that were recommended by James.We finished off our trip by visiting the onsite farm shop to top up with some off Helen Browning's great range off organic produce.The beauty off this place is, that once you have parked up, you have so many things to do in one place. Awsome experience, keep up the good work. We will be back.

Booked two rooms for a 50th birthday meet up. All social distance rules in place they made is amazingWe stayed in cuckoo pen stunning room.Loved the bouns of chill out room which was done out for christmas. Staff so nice manager/owner came round to check all was ok.Meal was amazing we all had ribs. Breakfast just as good

My first time here 14 July 2020, with a friend who wanted to treat me after Lockdown1, greeted by Tim who's quite a character, very welcoming place, with an eclectic range of contemporary furniture and wall art. Peroni on draught and the most fantastic food! I can't wait to go back there again one day soon, hopefully...

Have always been avid fans of the chophouse in old town but unfortunately this is now closed. So we thought we would try where it all began. Lovely quaint place. Within 5 minutes of sitting down we all had a drink. Great start. As this was a Sunday evening we had missed out on the roast so we were looking at the supper menu. 3 people went for the pie and one went for the burger (me). I added cheese and bacon. The serving sizes are amazing! Burger had to be eaten with knife and fork and fell apart as it was so tender. Fries perfectly crispy on outside and fluffy in middle. Homemade slaw and pickles had a great crunch and cut through all other textures. Will definitely be back. Thanks for a great evening.

This was a fantastic 3 night stay at the Royal Oak. The room was small but not cramped. Inside the room were tea and coffee facilities inclusive of a Nespresso machine and pods. The room was well heated and there was also a Dyson Fan provided in case it got too toasty! Another fantastic feature for the room was a guide to local walking routes and maps. This also contained a step by step explanation, which we found very handy. The Hotel itself is located at the rear of the pub, separated by about 50-100 yards of car park,(You do not hear the pub at all).There is also 'the wallow', this was a brilliant feature that offered snacks and additional drinks with an honesty box to pay for the items or keep the tags to pay for after. Inside 'the wallow', was a fussball table a record player with records, books, multiple places to sit, a sink and additional tea and coffee for your room. This overlooked the rooms court yard with beautiful bifolding doors. The check in is completed at the farm shop located in the car park, and this was staffed by very friendly staff. You could also purchase farm shop items, branded cups and their own Apple juice which is fantastic, a very floral apple juice that complimented breakfast well. The pub itself is a beautiful, dog friendly place. The food while expensive was incredibly well cooked and presented. Breakfast was very nice every morning and I cannot fault this at all, I was offered as much or as little as I wanted and tried most of the menu during my stay and I enjoyed this, however the porridge in my opinion was a little stodgy. We really enjoyed our time here, it is about 15 minutes from Swindon where we did some local museums and where we ate the two nights we did not eat on the farm. The local walks were beautiful and we indulged in a 7 mile route which was just gorgeous. The members of staff here, are all very familiar with each other and as a people watcher it was nice to see them engage with each other and act like a family unit.Tim the owner is a very funny, charismatic man. This is evident in his self deprecating notices around the buildings or in his news updates. I found everyone polite, friendly and pleasant.This establishment obviously serves the local community very well. Additionally we took part in the farm safari, toying with the idea for quite a while due to the £30 pp, price tag. However found doing this to be very beneficial as you do see the entire farm and have everything wonderfully explained by James. Anna (for lack of a better word) the barmaid was very polite and poured perfect pints. There was also a very nice lady who made fantastic coffee for us one morning inclusive of Barista shapes! Overall I truly enjoyed the stay here, it was almost perfect. The lack of street lighting at night added to the beauty and we was lucky enough to catch a shooting star whilst walking over to the pub from the rooms. We both look forward to our return here soon.

We had a fantastic couple of nights at the start of half term. The kids loved exploring the various areas in and around the pub. The food and hospitality were first class, perfectly set in a warm pub environment and a beautiful rural village. The farm tour comes highly recommended—great for adults and children and a really informative and interactive experience. Thanks Tim and staff!

Stayed here for one night with the family - lovely room, delicious food and an option of a fun farm safari where you can learn loads about the importance of organic farming and meet all the happy pigs. The staff are so welcoming and the whole place has such a warm feeling. Thank you Tim, Helen and everyone! Great stay.

We have just enjoyed a 2 night stay in the gorgeous Kate’s Folly. The staff couldn’t have made us feel more welcome and the food was just fantastic. So much so, we have booked to come back in December to work our way through more of the mouthwatering food and drinks available!

I would highly recommend this outstanding place - Got taken here a surprise birthday treat by my other half, expecting an upscale “pub with rooms” (quote from the website) and boy does this undersell itself. From the moment we arrived, it felt like we were part of their family. Very knowledgeable staff, clearly passionate about organic farming and the way the Royal Oak is run. Very well-trained by expert landlord Tim – very friendly, approachable and entertaining. The whole estate feels like a village in itself with a huge offering for guests – from country walks to farm safaris, organic meals (pub or take away), farm shop, hotel and games room, this place has it all!We made the most of the pub/hotel’s proximity to The Ridgeway with walking maps provided on request with varying walk duration and difficulty. We welcomed the hearty dinner after a long walk and then a very relaxing staying by the pub’s log fire nursing our post-dinner whiskeys and couldn’t have asked for more.The food was hearty, wholesome and changed even over the course of our 2-night stay reflecting produce availability, chef creativity and a kitchen that clearly has a great understanding of how to make the most of their excellent local produce. Decent portion sizes and high quality ingredients that focus on organic and local, all made a difference in the taste. Great to see a completely organic wine selection and lots of local booze on offer. The hotel was an absolute hidden gem – unique rooms (ours was open plan with a roll top bath and separate sofa/TV area), clean and well-appointed with everything you could need. Warm, comfy bed and a Dyson hairdryer was a real treat. There was also a “Snug” with fresh milk, books and games for a change of scenery if you didn’t fancy the pub.For a small tight-knit establishment in an industry adapting to change, they have approached the Covid-19 challenges with aplomb. Would highly recommend and wish other hotels and restaurants could rise to the ethical, organic and morally correct heights of the Royal Oak.

Stayed here whilst walking The Ridgeway. Received an upgrade to a fabulous room with a terrific shower and roll top bath to make the visit extra special. The steak frites is a great choice if your having an evening meal. Breakfast great also.

We’ve just spent one night at The Royal Oak after 2 weeks on the move but we really wish we could have stayed longer. As soon as we arrived we felt we’d found somewhere very special indeed.As some of the reviews point out this is not a cheap place to eat or stay, which can then leave one feeling disappointed if something isn’t 5* as expected. Our over all experience however was one of feeling welcomed, being well looked after, nothing was too much trouble and we have a huge hankering to return. The positives (of which there are many) far outweighed any little disappointments (cold bacon at breakfast). Our stay in the Cuckoo Pen was wonderful, as was the homemade sausage roll mid-afternoon.We loved it; the ethos, atmosphere, staff, the sarcasm and wit of the hosting literature, the farm shop and pub. We will definitely return, and soon we hope!

Good food and choices with very friendly welcoming staff. Lovely pate starter with a home made fruit chutney. Fish and chips, ham egg and chips and a welsh rarebit all ample portions. Good choice of desserts but we were too full! Good selection of wines.

We came here for dinner to celebrate a birthday. The food was delicious - especially the ribs and the pie and the spaghetti dish. The atmosphere was fantastic with low music and nice lighting and very well socially distanced tables, however the staff were not too attentive- we had to ask to order dessert and to order extra drinks. We thought that this is because they were understaffed but when we walked out we saw a staff member sat at the cashier having a bowl of spaghetti! Also, the staff members took their masks down when they were talking to you at the table which is surely less affective than taking them down whilst walking around as they were in close proximity!

WOW - what a gem. We came for date night this evening and had such an amazing time. The food was unbelievably good (we weren’t surprised as The Chop House was always amazing). We only came out for a main but ended having a 3-course meal, and it was so worth it. The atmosphere is lovely - I felt like I was in a cosy cottage relaxing. The two lovely ladies who served us were kind and friendly too. Thank you so much for an amazing evening and we will 100% be returning!!

Stopped here on our way back to London. Would have loved to try the rooms but due to time constraints could only stop for dinner in the pub. Excellent intelligent wait staff from interesting backgrounds. Went out of their way to accommodate my husbands dietary requirements, even altering items on the menu. Both meals delicious. Superb setting and perfect balance of COVID precautions while maintaining the character of the place. Will definitely be back.

I get the organic thing and appreciate it, but it's no excuse for being just a bit sloppy. The wait staff were pleasant enough, but could be better briefed. I expect the waiter to know what beer is available (it seems to be an issue with Arkell's pubs at the moment that they have very little choice). I don't expect an upmarket (as far as price is concerned) pub to run out of sparkling wine. I expect empty glasses to be removed from the table. I get the eclectic vibe with mismatched plates and cutlery, but I don't expect chipped starter plates. Lots of hand sanitiser around on the table, but in random unlabelled bottles.Perhaps I'm simply too fussy and my expectations were too high. Perhaps I should forgive all this as "quirky" and rave about the superb local organic food, but actually food was fine but unspectacular for the price. Overall, if I'm spending this money, I'll go to Rick Stein's in Marlborough and have some decent tableware.

One night stay in eastbrook valley room with dinner (not incl. In price) and breakfast (incl.): Loved the unique and cozy style of the room and the setting of the pub/hotel. Lots of lovely walks nearby! Staff was very nice. Slight issue with cleanliness in the room in some areas (minor things like some hair in the shower, mirror shelf which hadn't been cleaned or dirty teaspoon). Lovely bathtub but would recommend having some bath salts or foam available as well... All seems a bit pedantic but if you pay £155 for one night, we expect very high standards. We had high hopes for organic farm food there but we're disappointed overall. Mixed feedback there with some lovely pie but very standard veggie burger. The farmhouse breakfast was good but the pancakes very plain and dry (would recommend offering some fruit or chocolate sauce with that). Sad to have to criticize this place as it's very unique and you can see that heart and soul has gone into every part of it - just needs some final touches and (even more) eye to detail to make it fab...

We've had lunch here twice a couple of years ago, and had a wonderful time, so coming back to meet friends here for a walk and lunch sounded like a good idea. We started with a really enjoyable walk up on the Ridgeway using the excellent guide downloaded from the pub website. What was great were the two young staff who we were very helpful and friendly when we sat down at our table for lunch, there was a wide variety of local brews and the menu, although fairly limited, looked fine. Unfortunately the fish and chips had rock-hard batter, was surprisingly tasteless, and served with a 'salad' that consisted of two small lettuce leaves and an over-ripe tomato wedge - for £18, this was over-priced. The bbq pulled pork was not well seasoned, and accompanied by coleslaw that was stale. For balance, my friend's burger was excellent. I'm really disappointed to write this, as I report far more positive reviews generally, and we have had such good times previously, but on today's experience, it seems as though the Royal Oak has got complacent.

Didn’t feel welcome , no apologies, really poor experience all round, don’t think they care . Never been treated so badly as at this location . Will never go back ! Advise to stay away !

We booked a night here for a change of scenery and some quality food as we knew the meat came from an organic farm.The room was lovely with quality furnishings and a roll top bath. There was a good selection of Clipper organic teas, and a coffee maker in the room. There was a Dyson hair drier. There’s a shared rest room with fresh milk and seating, it’s shared with other guests although this was mainly occupied by another family.We had our evening meal in what we discovered to be the overflow restaurant rather than the pub. It was nice but if we go back we’d prefer the cosy pub downstairs. We were also seated by a family of kids listening to their tech, but I’d booked a ‘trip to the country‘ to get away from my own tech so that was disappointing! Even quiet gadgets are not that quiet when you’re sitting next to it for 90 minutes.The meal was really good, I had pork ribs and chips my husband had a burger. We started with a charcuterie board. The pork was delicious and the home made bbq sauce was really tasty.We sat in pub/proper restaurant after which was a nice change. We just about managed to fit in some breakfast the next day which was also lovely.On Sunday morning we did the Farm Safari with James which I thoroughly recommend. He takes you in the Land Rover around the farm telling you about birds, about wildlife and teaching you how the farm works. Seeing all the pigs was great.There are some lovely walks and I printed off the PDFs from the website and we did a few of these including walking to the Ridgeway. The village and surrounding area is very picturesque. There’s a well stocked shop with organic meat, veg and honey.We had a great stay and feel like we’ve had a lovely break. The staff are all really friendly and helpful and it’s got a quirky (in a good way) feeling about it. We definitely plan to visit again.

My family and I ate Sunday lunch here with friends. It’s a perfectly nice pub and the staff were fine but the prices were really over the top. Bread and butter was £4 and constituted a small, thin slice and a half of bread. The roast dinners were £18 with an additional 10% service. They stressed that the food is local and organic, which I’m happy to pay a premium for but not to that extent. I had a small amount of breast meat and a small leg, two roast potatoes and a small portion of veg. It tasted fine but nothing outstanding, which I had hoped given the price. It felt like decent kids meal. I was still hungry after eating it. I want to stress that it was fine but was left feeling slightly robbed and wanted folks to be aware

We recently stayed at Helen Browning’s Organic Farm @The Royal Oak Rooms and had the absolute pleasure of using the restaurant for 2 nights and 2 breakfast sittings. The food is amazing. The produce is top drawer as befits an organic farm but what really makes this such a special place is the friendly ambience and amazing service from the first rate front of house staff led expertly by Tim. They went out of their way to make our stay simply unforgettable and even with the spectre of Covid still looming large they deliver service with a smile as it should be done effortlessly and professionally. I cannot recommend this place highly enough it is simply second to none. We will be coming back for many more visits here without question. Keep up the good work guys and gals - 5 stars all round.

The service was good but the menu was dreadful. There was so little choice and everything other than one salad was really stodgy and totally unsuitable for a summer lunch. There were no light meals without consuming loads of carbs. s Where was a fish (other than fish and chips), chicken or veg dish?The pub was not doing the Eat Out to Help Out scheme which was a great shame as so many other pubs are doing the scheme and so the meal was very expensive for what it was.

Stayed here with family and friends for two nights in July 2020.Rooms were of high quality and bed was very comfortable.Food at the pub was good and hearty with great fresh ingredients Staff were friendly and knowledgable Took the farm tour which was fun and informative, a friendly guide who was knowledgable and passionate about farming and the local wildlifeSome incredible walks to be had in the local and surrounding areaWould recommend anyone to stay here

We went post lockdown and from ringing up to book the table to the minute we left nothing was too much. We had a gift voucher for Helen Browning Chop House in Swindon, which unfortunately didn't survive the pandemic. On ringing to see if the voucher could be transferred we were told absolutely yes. When I then rang back to book the table Tim the landlord sounded so pleased that we were going. On arrival we were met with the lady who served us for the rest of the evening and she was delightful, nothing was too much. My husband had the ribs and I had steak frites with garlic butter. The portions were huge. Both of our meals were amazing, we had to ask for a doggy bag each as the portions were so large. Obviously with social distancing there were fewer tables than there would normally be but this didn't take anything away from the wonderful atmosphere. Will definately return

We wondered whether arriving as early as 17th July may have been a little adventurous for a post-lockdown break, but such fears were groundless. The Royal Oak (or, more precisely, its management and staff) appears to have weathered the pandemic with pragmatism innovation and fortitude.We stayed here two nights and had breakfast and dinner here. Ours was a characterful, spacious room. Plenty of free parking. Appropriate Covid measures in place, but not in a way that detracted from the charm of the establishment and its staff.OK, so you are starting to get the impression that we really enjoyed our time here and you'd be right. Our short break here was a real tonic for the soul, as the review's title suggested.For those wanting to know about the food, I think it was great (particularly given than Covid restrictions don't make life easy in a kitchen). Breakfast was magnificent (bacon & poached egg on sourdough with maple syrup is my recommendation). Dinner portions are more than satisfying, taking my BBQ ribs, winter slaw and fries as an example.We booked here largely based on the convenience of its location without the foggiest idea of who Helen Browning is and anything of the organic backstory to this place. So those of you with better organic and environmental credentials than me, it should be your first choice! There are a couple of copies of the book 'Pig' available to browse at breakfast. (I recommend it, and have now bought my own copy to continue with the well-written and compelling story).

Back in the days when we were allowed to go to the pub i stayed at the royal oak for two nights and can't think of a bad word to say about it! Had gorgeous food two nights in a row, lovely breakfasts (the pancakes were amazing), great booze and a welcoming atmosphere. It was the wk before lockdown and the bar area was still packed every night. The b&b rooms were spotlessly clean, a good size and good amenities including a room downstairs to make drinks/ socialise if you wished. The icing on the cake for me was 3 electric car chargers - 2 Tesla and one pod point i think. Overall I'll be back once shutdown is over!

We arrived just as Coronavirus chaos was kicking off around us, and what a great place to land to get away from it all and enjoy some of the best food, walks and a laugh with the landlord Tim.The rooms are clean and fresh, with the most comfortable beds I have ever experienced in a hotel. They are beautifully styled with interesting object that give them a unique twist. We didn't want to get out of bed and leave the rooms!The food is locally sourced (mostly from their own farm), and it's amazing and well priced. I can highly recommend the pie and mash, which wasn't too rich but packed with meat! The local ale ain't bad either (thanks Arkells!).But in all honesty, Tim made the stay a joy. He was warm, funny and great with our kids. We felt like he was an old friend by the end of our stay. Thank you Tim for going the extra mile and getting my weekend papers!

I booked in a large group of adults and children for a 50th birthday meal and most of us stayed over in the charming hotel rooms. The food was locally-produced, tasty, beautifully presented and, of course, organic. The "sharing platter" worked well for our group of 18 and the Royal Oak team willingly adapted the menu for children and vegetarians. After a good night's sleep in comfy beds, the breakfasts the following morning were also lovely.Hospitality was their strongest point - nothing too much trouble - and the kids even got an impromptu tour of the farm with calves and pigs to keep them interested!

We booked for a Friday Lunch at the pub after several excellent lunches at the restaurant in Wood Street, Swindon and weren't disappointed. There was a lovely atmosphere and ambience, very pleasant staff and a log fire to cheer up a cold day. The lunch menu was small but suited us and an excellent glass of NZ sav blanc.

Sadly the Chop House was closed, it being a Monday, but the Main Menu was Scrumptious. Charming staff.

we have eaten here loads of time’s and it’s always brilliant. Lovely village location, great staff, excellent food which is locality sourced, ethically reared, organic and cooked to perfection. Vegetarian missus always well catered for and really loves the Sunday nut roast. Only one minor tweak for the wife would be a vegetarian gravy to go with the nut roast

Annual friends meet up, looking for food, drink and decent accommodation and this totally delivered.The rooms are separate from the pub, in fact they are in an abandoned former pub, the other side of the car park. Each room has been beautifully decorated with thought and care, bathrooms fitted to a high standard. There is a den with refreshment possibilities and a small courtyard which should be lovely in good weather. Good just to stroll over for to the pub for the evening...

Could not be more impressed by our entire experience at the Royal Oak. On a very wet Sunday, as soon as we walked in the door ( 15 minutes earlier than booked) we were warmly greeted and shown to our table which had been selected to cater for two young babies with ample space for a stroller without annoying other customers. Service was excellent and the premium you pay for the local nature of the produce is worth every penny. Will definitely be visiting again and recommending to anyone passing. Thank you for making a meal out with young babies such a treat!

A lovely place. It’s all about high quality organic produce served by delightful people who obviously care passionately about how they breed, rear, and eventually serve it. We stayed over as it was going to be a beery sort of night. The room (Kate’s Folly) was superb. Huge, and with lovely fittings very stylishly decorated. The shower was immensely powerful, steamy and hot. Everything was utterly spotless. You get a sense of what kind of a place the Royal Oak is when you see the little guest longue they’ve created with its honesty bar, games and books. I guess they could have squeezed another bedroom in, but instead chose to enhance the guest experience with this cosy little den. The little record players with vinyl records in the rooms was a lovely touch, as were the high quality bath products. We then drank the night away with Craft lager, Wiltshire Gold and Stout in front of a roaring fire. We paused for amazing food, with most of us choosing the sticky ribs to kick off and the burger for main. Delicious. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a burger that much.The cheese board was generous (no ‘four smears and a grape here!) and for served at the right temperature - hallelujah.The ice creams were first rate. More stout, more wine & bed. A crisp bright blue Wiltshire day dawned. A stroll around the village (lovely). Breakfast was perfect, the coffee hot and strong. The jams and juices organic. The eggs, sausage and bacon were very high quality.It’s the feeling of the place that just sets it fitted apart though. The chat, the conviviality, the friendliness. There’s lovely artwork and gentle political satire on the walls (if you can’t see it in that context you need a word with yourself, or another pint of stout) and the feeling of a slightly bygone age of English eccentricity. In the words of Austria’s finest acting export “I’ll be back”. Thanks for the stay team.

Nice rooms, good food and friendly, efficient and knowledgeable staff all added up to a lovely weekend.The dinner menu was short - not too many options, but all the food we had was lovely and I'd rather a kitchen got a few things right than did lots of things badly. The choice of drinks - good beer wine, interesting soft drinks and (by the look of things) cider was also good). Breakfast was lovely and I'd go back for that alone.The rooms are comfortable, stylish, quiet and well-equipped (lovely bathrooms!). You do have to go outside to move between most of the rooms - just across a small courtyard and it's a short walk across the car park between the rooms and pub, but that won't put us off returning.All the staff we met were friendly, knew their jobs and did them well. We felt relaxed and welcome throughout and that's all too rare. Recommended, and we'll be going back.

We met 2 friends here on their way back to London and I must say I was quite embarrassed. The pub is lovely. The staff were friendly, even though it was very busy. We had a table, right in front of the bar so for the majority of our meal, we had people stood right beside us. The service was quite slow, but we were eventually shown to our table, where the staff were very attentive. I ordered the "generously filled open cheese sandwich." When it came, I was very disappointed. It was a piece of cheese on toast. One, what looked like, shop brought granary bread, with cheese melted on the top. I was starving afterwards. 2 people had the beef burger, which hey said was very nice and that the burger itself was meaty and delicious. But another friend choose the omlette, which again was disappointing. It looked like something from a cafe, which is fine, although you are paying £14 for this. I will not be returning. Although, thank you to the staff who were very friendly

I am almost vegetarian but i love meat that is well reared and expertly prepared and cooked. We stayed over on NYE and ate dinner in the restaurant before celebrating the arrival of the new year. We enjoyed the relaxed family atmosphere and the attentive service. The food was excellent. Two of us enjoyed huge pork chops and another, the most amazing chicken and mushroom pie I have ever tasted- encased in crisp, shiny, seedy pastry. A joy. I had the veggie option with squash and a side of cauliflower cheese. Dessert choice was good but the simple afogato, with a decent espresso to pour, is always a winner. The rooms are well appointed and tasteful with a quality coffee maker and nice china. The bed was comfortable and the decor interestingly quirky but not weird.Breakfast was very good and it had to be full English with bacon and sausage from the pigs. The bread was a bit bland -no distinctive sour dough tang. Coffee was excellent.

We came here on a Sunday for my Dad’s 60th birthday and I could not fault a thing, the service was very friendly and attentive without being over bearing and the food was just exceptional. Tender beef, well cooked vegetables and the most delicious gravy I have ever tasted. Just absolutely wonderful, thank you to all.

We had a family Sunday lunch at Browning’s Bishopstone pub and I have to say I found the whole experience bizarre. I would happily give the food a one star, but their saving grace was a friendly girl waiting on our table so I have awarded them two stars. A quick scan through the issues are as follows: tiny slices of chewy beef, the pork was ‘okay’ but again a very measly portion; the veg was mostly red and green cabbage that was overwhelming sweet; the gravy had the viscosity of water; the custard that was served with one of the the puddings was split, like scrambled egg. Comparably, I can have a five course Sunday lunch at the Ritz for £69 per person, and this represents good value and great quality at Michelin level. Considering just the roast beef at Browning’s is £22, I really can’t see how they can justify this high cost. Since I have mention this to customers and colleagues I have heard similarly grave comments. One account was from a neighbouring business owner who said that Browning’s Old Town restaurant verbally rebuffed him when he complained about the size of the breakfast. Apparently he “didn’t know quality”. Anyway, I hope Browning’s pull it together as I can’t see how long customer loyalty will last.

The Royal Oak is in a fantastic location, quiet and secluded in a small village with a picturesque village pond and quaint local houses with thatched roofs. The Royal Oak is a lovely pub with a fine selection of beers. It has a lovely rustic village feel to it and the hosts are absolutely superb. All the staff were very polite, pleasant and helpful. Ample parking is provided at the rear of the pub for both the pub and the accommodation. This place is an absolute delight and the food is fantastic too. Local produce of a very high standard. The rooms are spacious, clean and modern with quirky decor with a farm/ barn type theme. The bathroom was again clean and very modern with a great stand alone bath featuring, along with a separate glass walled shower which was nice and powerful and loads of nice warm water. A king size bed was in my room and it was clean and very comfortable. I would thoroughly recommend this hotel for a quirky night away or as a nice base for exploring the local area.

we were a party of 7 and came for the 70th birthday of one of our lot. had the best time, felt so much at home and really didn't want to leave. thank God for no piped music at any time - will def. return. rooms are fabulous, do not pay attention to some of the stupid negative reviews on this site....