The Royal Oak in Derbyshire Dales

We visited for a family lunch and were not disappointed. The pub was busy but staff were attentive and welcoming as soon as we arrived. Tables are quite close together so there is not loads of room but we were still comfortable. Our meals were all lovely, myself and my husband would highly recommend one of their pies. I did have an unwanted garlic clove in my pie but a glass of wine was removed from our bill which wasn’t request or expected but very much appreciated. We couldn’t fit puddings in the the banoffee delivered to the table beside us looked delicious. We will definitely return if we are back in the area

We have been coming here for years, and always tell people they must go. However, really disappointed with our last visit, first the service was poor, we arrived and I went to the bar, the lad behind the bar purposely ignored me until I had to ask if I was getting served, he said sorry I would have got to.you,but he wasn't serving anyone else just chatting to one of the locals. I opted for the stilton pie, what a let down the chips were sparing and the pie well I've had better from Marks and spencer. It used to be meat in a dish with a flaky pastry topping (I know that's not a pie more of a stew with pastrytopping) but it used to be good. Would we go again? Doubtful probably the to look elsewhere, real shame we've passed a lot of custom your way.

Great Easter roast dinner this evening. Fantastic food, roasts were delicious and huge...including the kids portion. Service was great and clearly a great team working here. Highly recommend!

Not a great experience. Everyone was friendly, but the person serving us got our order wrong on two occasions, firstly with drinks and then with our food order. Which was vaguely annoying but we managed to sort out the drinks with the help of an extremely efficient, quick acting member of staff, and we just shrugged and accepted the wrong food as the person serving genuinely believed they'd got it right and it wasn't worth the argument (we were ravenous!). Two of us had ordered toasties. What we got was two slices of cold toast with some barely melted cheese and a slice of ham in the middle. It was ok, it wasn't nasty, it just lacked flair and flavour. The accompanying salad was really good, though.

What a fab find! We stumbled upon this lovely pub during a walk on the Tissington Trail. Decided to go in for a coffee, we were welcomed at the door and shown to a table in the cosy lounge...then we smelt the food so asked for a menu! So a coffee turned into lunch. Wow, the food was delicious and value for money and the service was top notch. Food came out quickly and was well presented. Our 2 collies were made welcome and given water. Enjoyed it so much we went back the next day...and once again were highly satisfied. 10 out of 10.

Fantastic pub absolutely delicious food, we had a great range of food all with friendly service. Lovely atmosphere definitely would visit. Great selection of beers and cocktails also!

My recent visit to The Royal Oak left me with mixed emotions. The bar staff, waiters, and chefs were outstanding, creating a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. The food offerings were generally satisfying. The chicken strip starter, although tasty, seemed overpriced at £8.50 for its modest size. The roast sirloin Sunday dinner, however, impressed with perfectly cooked meat and an adequate portion size, though the inclusion of mash would have been a welcome addition. The Bakewell tart rounded off the meal nicely. However, my experience was marred by overhearing what appeared to be the shift manager's disheartening conversation with his staff. His blunt refusal to acknowledge their hard work with Christmas parties or bonuses was disconcerting, telling them that they shouldn’t be asking for them or mentioning them like they aren’t deserving of their own break from serving people. These dedicated employees, who sacrifice their holidays and work tirelessly throughout the year, are the backbone of this establishment. They deserve recognition and fair compensation, especially considering the significant income they generate for the business – evident from our own bill totaling £200 for a four-person meal and drinks. Confronting the manager about his remarks, I expressed my disappointment in his attitude. It's unacceptable for staff, who contribute immensely to the success of the restaurant, to be denied reasonable requests for pay raises and bonuses. It’s quite concerning that this is even a conversation, as it’s clearly quite an important matter to the staff. Does this mean that this business is running off of the goodwill of staff who work there? I find it extremely disheartening to overhear that these employees are not receiving even simple Christmas parties for their hard work, let alone no bonuses or pay rises which should be first and foremost to share in the success of the business, they are the ones serving the drinks and putting food on the table. This incident left a sour note on an otherwise pleasant dining experience, casting a shadow on the manager's leadership and empathy towards his team. It's a shame to witness such a disregard for the hardworking staff who are the true pillars of The Royal Oaks's success. And how brazen to have such a conversation in front of paying customers, I can only suspect he thought we would agree and he was sorely mistaken. Without this issue the rating would have been 4/5 stars.

Visited the Royal Oak on Saturday 16 December 2023 for our annual Christmas friends and family meal (19 of us) for the 4th year running. We’ve tried a number of Derbyshire pubs over the years and the Royal Oak is definitely our favourite. The food, drinks, service and atmosphere are fantastic. Nothing is too much trouble for the great staff/chefs who are all very accommodating. The pub is in a lovely setting and is a perfect setting for such an event. We can’t wait to go back next year (already booked!)

Visited for Sunday lunch after having the place recommended by a friend. Arrived at 5pm & I think they had been busy & were clearing late lunch diners out. There was 4 of us & we ordered lasagne, which was lovely. A steak pie which was nice with a wonderful puff pastry top But the Sunday roast beef was nothing special. Big plate with a slice of beef in the middle, 1 Yorkshire pudding, 2 tiny roast pots, 1 small roast parsnip, 3 slices of carrot, a tiny portion of cabbage & gravy for £20. I’ve had much better roasts at other places, for half that price. It was presented in a posh style but simply not enough food. The pub itself was clean & the drinks were good & the waitresses were lovely.

We had had The Royal Oak recommended to us by the owners of the property we were renting at Hurdlow Grange and what a god recommendation. Everything about the evening was fantastic. Good atmosphere, good beer - and wine!! - good service and quality food. What more do you want?? Definitely going back.

Homemade pie was delicious in fact all 3 dishes were beautiful the service was great too! We will be back and would recommend

My wife and I were given a table in a far corner which was okay at first. There was a smal dog on a seat at the next table which was unhygenic to say the least. I would not want to sit there after that dog. But that dog and its owners left quiet soon but only to be replaced by a couple with a much larger dog. This was a shaggy dog that stood between the tables and had its fur rubbed and fluffed by its owner. The waitress was so imressed by this that she also fluffed up the dog's fir releasing more dog smell and particles into the small dining room. The waitress may have washed her hands afterwards but maybe not - she certainly enjoyed getting dog smells on her hands. Eat at the Cheshire Cheese Hurdlow only if you can tolerate kennel condistions.

We were on holiday in the Peak District and visited The Royal Oak on 3 occasions to eat . On every visit we had a great experience - welcoming friendly staff, very enjoyable meals ( 2 lunches and an evening meal ) - plenty of choice from a sensible sized menu along with some meals from the specials boards. We very much look forward to visiting again when we are back in the area next year

Service, staff, ambience and food amazing. Great choice of menu. We chose the Oak Burger and Sea Bass (special). Very tasty and decent portions.

As this is one of our favourite places my son organised this meal to celebrate a family reunion. Unfortunately it was such a disappointment I just don't know what went wrong. My Belly pork was ruined by having gravy slopped all over the dish and particularly the crackling. My sisters prawn salad was served with no dressing plus the black spotted avocado was hidden (it really was passed it sell by date) My husbands liver was cooked perfectly but spoilt by the gravy swamped all over the plate in a sloppy mess. You might wonder why we didn't make a serious complaint at the time, well we didn't because it would have caused too much distress to the person who booked it. Not to mention the white wine which was awful it could not be drunk. I certainly hope this was a one off because previous meals had been delicious and perfectly presented as we were hoping to hold a big family celebration in December at this lovely place.

On our family tour of pub dining in the peak national park, we returned to our regular haunt. You just can’t go wrong. Really happy to see that the children menu has been extended to include lasagne both meat and vegetarian. In the past we have had an adult meal split, ( which the pub was happy to do) but now the kids get their own.

We like to visit at least once a month. Unfortunately we missed July as I was in US. The welcome is always warm and its nice to be recognised. I had the lamb kofta on flat bread with pulled lamb and Greek salad. It was a massive portion of some of the nicest food I’ve eaten in a long time. My husband had bangers and mash. It was good to hear that some of our favourites may be returning to the menu! The staff were amazing as always. Booked the September visit before we left.

Excellent food, the blue cheese sauce in particular was amazing. Staff were very friendly - just an all round nice place to eat.

me. my partner and two children aged 13 and 4 came here to camp for the night, we loved the site, close to everything, had tea inside the pub. excellent friendly staff, food was spot on. adam who runs the camping area, lovely bloke, good sence of humour. i did see a review recently said wasnt anywhere to just sit and have a beer ( i am assuming they didnt see the huge beer garden outside). would defo return

We visited this restaurant last Monday, being in the area for a helicopter experience happening locally. I always check out Tripadvisor prior to visiting a new area, to find recommended eateries, liked the menu, thought we had found a local gem, and made a lunchtime...

Average grub, no frills, the price does not reflect this. It isnt really a pub mainly food only. There isnt any area to just relax and have a beer. The atmosphere is busy and the staff very accommodating.

The food and atmosphere was amazing. The staff are fantastic and so friendly. We will definitely be going back

Absolutely some of the best pub food I’ve ever had . Friendly atmosphere. Beautiful setting. You will not be disappointed

We were staying in a cottage 3.5 km from this excellent pub. We walked there, had an absolutely delicious meal - the beef and stilton pie plus veg and chips(!) was huge and so good. My husband even had a hot fudge sundae, which he...

Outstanding venue and mouth watering meals were provided by the staff at The Royal Oak yesterday lunchtime (23rd June) for my sister Sue and her husband for as we celebrated their wedding. The staff were so delightful and friendly. Considering we booked so late, the...

Wow! What a find!! Tucked away off the main Buxton road this was one of the loveliest places to eat we have found. Even though we arrived late (through taking the wrong road), our friends had already been seated at our table. We were then...

Lovely rustic atmosphere. Friendly and accommodating staff. Popular and rightly so. Good food generous amounts. Lovely for a Sunday lunch after a long walk!

Visited as it had been recommended to us. I had lasagna it was dry and burnt, chips warmed up. Staff spent more time talking to locals. Although it was removed from the bill it spoilt my birthday meal.

We have dined a number of times at the Royal Oak in the last year. We normally do a Friday or Saturday evening. This trip was for Sunday Lunch. We were so looking forward to the meal as always. We were delighted by the food...

My wife and I visited the royal oak on Sunday with our little doggo and both had the pork belly roast and sticky toffee pudding and cheese cake to finish, one of the best roast dinners we've had in a very long time, and same...

Lovely pub, excellent food and good service. We were a group of 15 and they accommodated us on a single table. Delightful Sunday roast!

When you first walk in to a country pub, the one thing you want, especially on colder days, is an inviting and warm environment, and ideally the crackle of an open fire. When we recently called in to the The Royal Oak for an impromptu...

Really great pub food, you can taste everything is homemade. The beef and Stilton pie was huge and so fresh. Good beer selection, the bao bun starter was amazing too. Would 100% recommend

Had a lovely meal here. Fire was going and we got a table by it, staff were really friendly, beer was great and the grub was spot on. Came back the next afternoon after walking Lathkill Dale just for a pint by the fire and...

We received a warm welcome and enjoyed delicious food. There were seven of us, all ordering different meals yet the service was perfect and efficient. The portions were generous. Will definitely return

Fantastic! Lovely pies, great staff and cosy surroundings. I also really appreciated that they had a 0% gin on the menu!

Came here last night and the food and service was lovely but was prompted to write a review after being reminded about the sharer ploughman's we had here in the summer. The best one we have ever had. I do hope it returns to the...

This was my third visit to the pub but the first for a Sunday lunch as we were so impressed with the service and food on our weekday visits thought we must give it go! We were not disappointed inspite of being extremely busy (fortunately...

And yes it was a treat. Four friends out for lunch all had different meals. Every one of them was very good. Great value for money. Good service. Unfortunately couldn’t manage a pudding however they looked fabulous. Need to leave some room next time. I...

Steak and Stilton pie was excellent as usual but felt the veg let it down a bit, sweet potato mash was tasteless. Love this pub and will come back but not on a cold day. Heating wasn’t on and it was absolutely freezing, we had...

Visited for midweek lunch. I had the Pulled Lamb Moussaka, it was more like a lamb hotpot but with no lamb! My partner had Chicken Tika Masala but did not like the strange flavour. Will not return.

Family get together at the the Royal Oak certainly didnt disappoint. Excellent food with top service staff in a great rural location.Beer also superb. Good selection of main courses all sampled by our group were first class and well presented. First time visit but certainly...

We haven't been for some years and am glad we came back. Main reason was that the kitchen is open all day so could eat around 4pm. As someone else pointed out the menu had changed but I was very impressed with the Millionaire Fish...

What a wonderful pub this is After a friendly greeting a discussion about a change to the the menus to accommodate a dietary requirement the lunch was a resounding success Following a number of visits over the years the quality of the home cooking never...

We have been visiting this pub for a number of years and we’re sadly disappointed to see the menu has now changed beyond recognition. Gone is the sea bass or the game pie. Even the classics are no longer classic e.g. lasagna with chorizo and...

Early evening meal on Christmas Eve after a walk - Royal Oak never disappoints, food was delicious, and the chefs clearly don't want you leaving hungry as the portions are huge! The Royal Oak remains a must drop by whenever we're in the area -...

Cosy pub, amazing food, good value and great service, what more could you want? We can't wait to return again

My husband and I (and our dog!) visited for our anniversary today. Absolutely delicious, homemade food, huge portions at reasonable prices, friendly staff and cosy atmosphere. What's not to love? Will definitely be returning!

We visited as a family of seven for Sunday lunch. We reserved a table online; the process was really easy. It is a nice, cosy, traditional pub in a beautiful setting. We all enjoyed our main courses, the portions are big, the food is tasty,...

We had the best lunch out in a very long time. Really friendly staff. We moved from the front of the pub onto the Oak Room. My husband’s lamb and rosemary pie was the best pie he’d injoyed in years and his green vegetables were...

I’ve been coming to the Royal Oak for nearly ten years. This weekend, eight of us visited. Unfortunately, the menu has been stripped back so much it’s unrecognisable. Gone is the Pie Board Gone is the Burger Board It was a Sunday evening and I...

We were a party of 17 and visited during half term without booking. The staff were very friendly and we enjoyed drinks whilst we waited for our table. We received excellent service and all of our meals were served at the same time without issue....

Wonderful olde world type pub with superb food and very pleasant atmosphere. Open fires, very reasonably priced and all in all a ni e experience.

Had a lovely meal at this fabulous pub in a delightful setting. The service was excellent and very friendly, despite being so busy. There was a good range on the menu and the food was well presented. The only negative was that the tables are...

Stayed near the Royal Oak and visited several times for food and drinks - Service was great and was made to feel welcome. The food was very good and reasonably priced - will definitely go back if we are in the area again

If you like walking with a great pub at the end of it, look no further than this place. We visited on a Sunday - beef and lamb were cooked well, tasted great.. Staff most efficient - can highly recommend,

Pre booked for a table of 17 ‘hens’. Friendly and attentive staff who did everything they could to accommodate us on a busy Saturday afternoon. Fast service on both drink and food. Cocktails were amazing as was the food. Everyone in the group enjoyed there...

My lasagne was unctuous, obviously homemade, and absolutely delicious. It came with a very tasty salad drizzled with a yummy balsamic dressing, and a mountain of chips. We visited on a very cold Monday evening - and the place was packed ! That says it...

We came here to meet friends ,pub was very busy , staff were friendly and helpful , but our party we were all disappointed with what we had , basic pub food , my partner had a coffee and the cup had two big chips...

Been visiting this pub for over 7 years. Have to say the waitress where lovely but the food has gone down hill. Clearly this place has been taken over and me and my husband won't be visiting again.

Do not eat here.... if you want to be able to walk the next day. The portions are big and the food is just too good to leave, add to this a very friendly, attentive staff and a good selection of ales and you have...

Very simple....fantastic pub and location, excellent campsite attached. Chef is top draw and food hits amazing standards.... Staff are friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and do everything to give great experience. 10 out of 10 every vist... Marshall does a fantastic job as all staff do, but...

Called for food, and weren’t disappointed slight mistake with order but Marshal sorted everything out thanks.

Limited menu for GF pescadarian! But choose the Roast dinner and enjoyed the veggies... ham taken for snack later by non GF and meat eater 😋. Friendly service, good location and has a field yo camp in if wanted..would keep this place on the radar...

After a long walk around this village we had booked to eat at this pub in the evening. We found everyone locally very friendly and welcoming. The food was delicious with hearty helpings. We will return!

Macaroni was obviously over microwaved , chips greasy and just not nice , shame as this was once a great place , gone down hill massively

The millionaires fish pie must have made the millions from peas. A quarter of the dish was peas with about a table spoon of fish and the rest a tasteless white sauce. This was accompanied by some greasy, soggy chips that were not properly fried....

We booked a table here for 1 pm. As we were travelling up from Kent, we got stuck in loads of traffic and wouldn't make the reservation in time. Phoned through and they couldn't of been more helpful. Moved our booking to 2pm with no...

We prebooked (Saturday 5.15pm) and glad we did as every table was taken. There's a  large menu choice. Certainly something there for everyone.  They also had a specials board which we ordered from,  sharing beef nachos as a starter.  Very nice plenty of chilli beef...

We stopped for lunch at this pub which is conveniently situated just off the high peak walking and cycling trail. The staff were very welcoming and helpful, they served a good range of beers with plenty of choice. The menu and specials board are fairly...

We booked a last minute dinner reservation whilst we were staying at a nearby campsite. The food was delicious with my daughter describing her choice as the best dinner she’s ever had! The Thai green curry was so nice and my husband was equally impressed...

Myself and my boyfriend spent 5 days at the Longnor wood holiday park (which was also amazing) and we popped to the Royal Oak for an evening meal. We were so very impressed the staff were so friendly the food was incredible and the outside...

Cycling the Tissingtpn trail from Ashbourne, the Royal Oak served as a very welcome rest stop before our return trip. Delicious food, friendly staff and great outdoor and indoor spaces.

My party of 4 adults enjoyed our leisurely afternoon and were pleased with menu selection, fish dishes were tasty, steaks were moist and cooked as requested. However, sirloin a bit pricey at £24 and it lacked sufficient accompaniment veg, potatoes etc .Puddings were delicious and...

Been here so many times over the years and never had a bad meal and today was the same. Food is always delicious, the staff are great and very walker and dog friendly... I've recommended it to friends and they've all enjoyed themselves and revisited...

Went here as part of a large group for a birthday/retirement celebration. Being gluten-free I ordered a 10oz sirloin steak. £26! I’ve had nicer steaks from Aldi! I’ve also been to nicer pubs and paid no where near that. It arrived with quite a bit...

We thought this would be a lot better than it was as we’d tried to dine there a while back and couldn’t get in.However we got a table next to a screaming baby whose noise was only drowned out by the shouting chef..he needs to...

From the young couple smoking weed in the car park on our way in, to us downing our drinks to leave, this was not a good visit. At the mid-point of our family bike ride, we stopped as planned at the Royal Oak pub in...

I've been here loads of times over the last 8 years. I've never had a bad meal. When friends visit us from around the country they all want to go to the Royal Oak for a meal. Great portions!

Hi never really leave reviews however when something is good you have to say so. Food was to die for and the pub was just a nice place to be after a 2 mile walk from the campsite. Best of all the girls running the...

After a couple of postponements due to COVID in the last 2 years, over Easter the whole family got together for a delayed break in Monyash. We tried a couple of places to book Easter Sunday lunch but found that they had no availability, but...

Went there for a family lunch and was and was very impressed with it. Lovely and plentiful food along with friendly and efficient staff and well kept beer. It is in a seriously rural setting not far off the A151 and has ample parking space....

Fantastic food with a warm welcome made even warmer by the real fire which was perfect aftercour bracing walk! We had the game pie and the pigeon risotto and would come here again as it was a real pleasure and well worth it! Thanks so...

Arrived to a warm welcome from staff, shown to a table which was comfortable and spacious. Family arrived and drinks were ordered while we read the menu, again order taken at the table all very nice and efficient. When the food arrived I was amazed...

Had lunch at The Royal Oak Sunday and it was excellent. Service was friendly and prompt. Was able to serve Gluten Free Roast Beef lunch with great gravy. Never had a bad meal here. Vert dog friendly.

Visited with our two girls (2.5 yrs and 9 months) for lunch midweek. We used the tapas menu for our starters, we had the mac'n'cheese bites with buffalo dip and the belly pork. Both excellent, really enjoyed the buffalo dip. We then had the bbq...

Fantastic service . Lovely roaring fire . Fantastic food great choice. Lovely atmosphere . Friendly staff . Excellent . Highly recommend . Lots of parking . Beautiful countryside . Dog friendly

Visited here on Wednesday for my mums 50th birthday and the staff were so accommodating! They let us decorate the room which we had to ourselves.. the food was brilliant and the service was great! Thank you guys!! X

We booked for 17 of us, during the Christmas week, as we were holidaying in the peak district. We were all seated in a separate room which was warm and cosy with the log fire burning. Even little Stanley our border terrier was welcome. Very...

I visited with my wife and father-in-law for lunch last week. Staff were very attentive and friendly. I ordered a mixed grill with the steak cooked ‘blue’. It was perfect, well rested and tender. The rest of the meal was superb. Washed down with a...

We had a really super Sunday lunch here yesterday with our daughter and grandchildren. The staff were very welcoming and the food was as usual beyond reproach. Cannot fault this inn, many others will just not come up to their standard.

We visited the Royal Oak for lunch on two occasions during our stay in the Peak District. Over our two visits I had fish pie and sea bass, my partner had liver and smoked haddock along with starters and drinks.All meals were very tasty and...

We have eaten here a number of times whilst staying in the Peak District. Have to say it never fails to impress. Great menu I had the lambs liver which I nearly always have here and it was cooked to perfection. There is not one...

Not quite sure what's happening at the Royal Oak. Its been our local, go-to pub/restaurant for years and has always delivered the best of British pub grub. Tonight the food was, well, ordinary... A 'real beef' burger that could've come from Iceland, a steak and...

Had to book our table for 8pm, which is a little late for us but we only booked the day before and we were keen to visit as the pub has such good reviews! Our table wasn't ready as the previous visitors hadn't finished their meals. We were asked to wait in a tiny area on bar stools facing a wall! Not a good start .... . After waiting about 15 minutes, our table was ready for us, we were then rushed to order, starters arrived and were whisked away as soon as we had finished! Main course then arrived within a few minutes, and again, the plates were whisked away once we had finished. We didn't order desserts but once again, as soon as we had finished our drinks, the empty glasses were collected, it felt as though we were being asked to leave, within an hour of ordering and it was only 9.30pm! The menu and food were certainly excellent, but it felt very much like a cafe atmosphere, not at all like an enjoyable evening out at the pub!

We enjoyed our lunch under the large tent outside. We felt very safe and it was fun. The food was up to the standard that we expect here. Very good.

Had a wonderful meal here. The staff were friendly and professional, and we’ll definitely return here before our holiday is at an end.

Had a walk along the Tissington Trail, from Parsley Hay, and stopped for lunch at our favourite pub. This is the first time we have done this post Covid. Thank goodness it survived!Meal as ever was faultless (Beer Battered Haddock, Chips and Mushy Peas) plus they now have Doom Bar Ale on tap (HEAVEN!!)Staff could not have been more friendly and efficient but I must say it was harder walking the two miles back to the car.

The restaurant was well spaced out and the staff very pleasant and friendly. Quite quick service and the meal was not long in appearing. Would recommend anything on the menu as we saw a few different meals served up. We had game pie and ghe woodpigeo. Couldn't fault the meal. It was delicious and big enough for us without dessert. Saw some desserts dished up and they looked generous portions. Well worth the money for a quality meal.

What a gem of a pub! We were visiting the area and booked a table for lunch. Friendly and attentive staff. Food quality was excellent and good value for money. The rack of lamb was delicious and the fondant potato was epic. The burger was juicy and the coleslaw tasty. I would argue that the chocolate brownie was more of a chocolate sponge but we didn't care because it tasted so good. Our dog was very happy laid out in front of the open fire. We only wished that we lived closer so that we could visit more often!