The Royal Oak Keswick in Allerdale

Warm and welcoming with open fires. Excellent food and beer. Friendly and helpful staff particularly Darryl who went the extra mile to ensure that we had a great time

Called in for lunch. Had fish and chips and hubby had pie and chips. Pie and fish were really nice, however both our chips were mostly rock hard and scrag ends. Very disappointing as was looking forward to some nice thick cut homemade chips

I stayed at this place with a friend and 2 dogs. It cost £125 a night per room with breakfast. We found it easily and parked in Central carpark which was close by. The Royal Oak is situated right in the heart of Keswick, near the market place. It’s got all the shops & restaurants on its doorstep. The lake is just a short walk away. Check in was fast and the dogs got a welcome pack with bath, chews and poo bags. My standard room was small, so I was glad we hadn’t booked a compact room!. It had nice biscuits, tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Fresh milk was available from the bar downstairs. There was a tv, hairdryer and even ear plugs & eye masks were provided. Toiletries were also provided, not ones to take away though. There was some lovely added extras in the room like sweets on the bed and lavender sleep spray. It’s didn’t feel cheap at all, just small. The bed was two single bed pushed together, not that great. The room was very hot and the window only opened a small amount, There was a fan in the room though. There was a small shower room, that definitely did not look like the photos on the website. It was quite old, whereas the pictures showed a very modern shower room. Breakfast was quite nice & was table service, not buffet. The dogs were even provided with chopped up sausage in small dog bowls. They catered amazingly for dogs here, i was very impressed. I think £125 was a reasonable price to stay here, but I wouldn’t pay any more. I saw some nights were £200! Definitely far too pricey for a small room like this, we were in room 5. We didn’t eat here for dinner, because the reviews of food were not great. But we enjoyed our stay and loved all the added extras, which make this place lovely.

We have wanted to stay overnight in Keswick for a while so as it was our anniversary we thought, why not. This hotel, bar is right in the middle of town. The only parking, really, is the pay and display which will cost you £12:50 for 24hrs. The room was a decent size, clean and comfortable,although a bit worn in places. The staff are friendly and the breakfast was really good. We enjoyed our stay but did feel that it was a little expensive.

Having never eaten here before and due to a number of restaurants being closed we decided to give it a go. My wife had the steak pie, which she said was good. I had the vegetarian burger which was described as miso mushroom and halloumi. Unfortunately, the burger was very disappointing, it consisted of a small mushroom and one piece of halloumi. Also, I couldn’t taste miso at all. I did mention my disappointment to two members of staff, who were rather dismissive of my complaint and didn’t feel the need to apologise that I hadn’t had a good experience with my food.

Thoroughly enjoyed our 2 night stay at the Royal Oak. The staff were so helpful and polite that it was simply a joy to stay there. There isn’t any parking but we park nearby in the street. We ate at the hotel the second night and the food was excellent. Would certainly stay here again and recommend it to others.

Usually my go to in Keswick everytime I visit; however, this time didn’t live up to expectations. Was disappointed to find that a number of items were off the menu/unavailable on arriving at the pub. Chose starters: whilst the soup was excellent, hot and served with delicious bread, the prawns were a small portion and quite average for the large price tag. For mains, one member of my party had fish and chips - a safe bet but delicious and well cooked. I myself ordered the gnocchi and chicken breast - I was quite disappointed, not eating much of this meal. The “poached” chicken breast was grilled; the gnocchi and chicken were all covered in the thick tomato sauce making it like an average pasta dish and overpowering any taste of chicken, tarragon (which was in there apparently) and olive. Another member of my party ordered the steak pie - again a classic that I’ve eaten there before and been very impressed with. Unfortunately on this occasion there was very little steak in the pie as it was bulked out with carrots instead. Hopefully an off day and not the new norm at what was one of my top rated pubs for meals in Keswick

This was the second holiday when we’ve eaten at the Royal Oak while holidaying in the Keswick area. For a busy hotel/pub in the town centre the service is very good. The menu has a wide choice and the service was timely. The quality of the food is good – I had a 10oz gammon steak which did not disappoint. The prices were also reasonable – on a par with others for similar meals. The online booking service was also a plus point – we’ve found it’s always best to book ahead in Keswick as places can be busy in the holiday season.

Lovely lady served us, had a nose stud ..(only put that as didn't catch her name )! She was knowledgeable about the menu & friendly without being overbearing, unlike the man who we assume is management, calling everyone 'guys' & making us & other diners a bit uncomfortable & hurried. Seating was rather regimented , all down 1 side & we are sure an extra table has been added so all a bit squashed. My husband said his food was great however my fish was rather greasy . Not as good or relaxed as it used to be.

Just what was needed after climbing Scafell Pike. Burger and fries were very nice and piping hot on arrival. Onion rings were amazing! Proper onion rings! Will definitely visit again on my next trip to Keswick

The Royal Oak was a favourite of ours . The last time we visited it wasn’t as nice as usual and this time it was not good at all. My husband and I had Sunday dinner mains, a glass of wine, a Diet Coke, one desert and one baileys coffee and a doggy sausage and mash dinner and it was £75. The meat was nice but the veg was soggy and unappealing and the roast potatoes were poor. My husband had finished his desert by the time my coffee arrived ( which we had to ask twice for). All of the material is peeling off the furniture which looks awful. Couldn’t quite believe we’d paid £75 for this experience

Arrived to our booking at 1.30 on a Sunday afternoon, very excited for a good old fashioned roast. Seated at our table and immediately asked what we’d like to drink(a bug bearer of ours) so we asked for a few more minutes. We then realised there was no drink menu(another little annoyance of ours). We were then left for quite a while before someone finally took our order. The beef and half chicken from the Sunday roast menu. Which came out about 5 minutes after ordering. The roasts/yorkshire pudding and gravy was unreal. Just what you want from a Sunday dinner. Unfortunately the main attraction on the plate wasn’t up to standard. Both the chicken and Beef were over cooked, with the chicken full of cartilage. A total of £50 for the Sunday dinner we’d expect better service and better cuts of meat.

We booked a table for 8 people for 8pm paid £80 deposit and we arrived the table we had asked for was taken and they showed us to a table for 6 with a chair stick on the end and then said we could squash another chair in. Really poor service and very disappointing- it spoiled our night.

A very quiet off season lunchtime after a morning on a fell. Warm welcome, friendly service, truly dog friendly, good beer and a really good fish sandwich. A real fire and Ella Fitzgerald in the background. Every bit as good as the last visit.

Really nice food,bit of a wait ,but it was Saturday evening.And worth the wait . The lamb was top drawer,as we're all the other meals. Would definitely come back.

This pub was a welcome port in the storm, after a long, rain-lashed drive. We’ve been here before, so knew it had bangin’ Thwaites beers, and a delectable food menu. My wife’s fish and chips were crispy and delicious; hint of turmeric in the batter- very nice! Fish pie and house burger went down very well. I was very tempted by a pork chop tomahawk on the neighbouring table…

Had to write this review as I was disgusted with the treatment I saw of an elderly couple on visiting this establishment, we went in for a drink (first time ) upon sitting down I noticed a very unhappy couple who came and sat next to us, they were staying at the establishment and had been sat at there table from 3:15 pm (it was now nearly 6:30 pm) a group of 12 plus people had came in and asked for a large table. At this point the couple were asked to move from where they were sat as they wanted to make room for the large group !! They were made to move even though they didn’t want to ! No reservations were made on any tables ! The couple asked for the manager to complain who wasn’t there so the person in charge came over to speak to them, all I can describe the conversation they had as was an I don’t care and live with it attitude ! What a disgusting way to treat your guests and paying customers, I don’t write reviews but this was so bad I felt I had to We finished our drink and left, I would certainly never drink in there after witnessing that let alone stay there ! Maybe you need to train your staff how to look after paying guests and treat people.

Very disappointed by the size of the position for the price fish & chips which turned out to be potato wedges l have had bigger fish fingers! @ a cost of £17 definitely not value for money. The chocolate & hazelnut brownie lacking in hazelnuts was very tasty albeit a small portion also.disappointing

Very nice warm atmosphere. Lovely staff. Very nice mulled wine. Food was filling and good pub food. We returned a few days later for more mulled wine!

Great pub food & dog friendly with it . After a long walk in poor weather couldn't ask for more . Attentive staff & great fish + chips.

After walking round the beautiful Keswick, we decided to stop off for a quiet drink and food where we stumbled across the Royal Oak. The place looked lovely and the layout and look of the food drew us in. Unfortunately that’s all I can say about the place as the greeting from one male staff member was very very rude. We still perservered and went to our table. One other reason we were drawn to this establishment was the fact it claimed to be very dog friendly. When shown to our table there wasn’t a lot of room for me my partner and two labradors, we had literally just sat down when the waiter mumbled at us that we need to make sure our dogs weren’t in the way. I initially apologised but then realised the way in which we were being asked was totally unacceptable and when I looked at this chap, he just glared at me with not even as much as a smile. I appreciate it may have been busy but the complete lack of service put me off. I told him we were going to leave as it sounds like we were an inconvenience to him. He just glared at me again and said ok and walked off. Such a shame as the place looked lovely but I won’t stand for terrible customer service.

A lovely dog friendly place with excellent service. We had a fish pie and fish and chips which were both very tasty and hot and served in good time. What let them down was the desert. The Baileys crème brûlée was very nice but you’d be hard pushed to find the Baileys and at nearly £8 I’d have expected more. Also, the whiskey in the Irish Coffee was as elusive as the Baileys. All in all it was a good meal spoilt by short (if at all) measures that left a bit of a bitter taste.

We stayed on a Sunday evening with our dog. The room was tasteful and comfortable with a decent hairdryer , toiletries and a well stocked refreshment tray ( including a mini fridge to store fresh milk!). The bar area was full of dogs and they are made truly welcome. - allowed in all areas. We had a tasty meal served by friendly staff and a comfy and peaceful sleep. The breakfast next morning was absolutely excellent. Beautifully cooked and presented. We left behind a wash bag and after phoning when we got home, they immediately posted it back to us, which we received the day after we got home. Thankyou ! If I wanted to be right in the heart of Keswick town centre , I would definitely stay here again.

Had a very nice meal at the Royal Oak. The menu is good and varied, good choice of beers and all the staff were pleasant and welcoming. The food was good and well cooked and in no way do you feel in anyway hurried. The pub, and hotel, is dog friendly. Would definitely return on our next visit to Keswick.

After a day of hiking, we headed to Keswick for dinner and stumbled upon the Royal Oak. Despite the apparent Wednesday evening rush, we managed to snag the last table in the bar area by the entrance. The interior was tastefully decorated, and the menu's selection of pub classics were wide ranging. For main, I opted for the lamb shank, which was a perfectly cooked with equally as nice accompaniments. My only gripe was that the condiments were served in disposable paper pots. For desert I had the sticky toffee pudding, which was one of the best I've had and delightfully moist. All in all, a pleasant surprise in the heart of Keswick, which I'd definitely book in advance should I return to the Lakes!

Came here as several other nearby venues were full, and managed to get the last free table. We got the bread and oils, fish pie, and the butchers platter. The food was fantastic, worth every penny. I was expecting standard pub grub and was blown away by the care and quality of each dish. Would recommend. 53.70£

Good food and a nice atmosphere. We have eaten here several times on visits to Keswick. Book in advance because it is always really busy.

Highly recommend for great food, drinks and service after a long day of hiking. There was a group of 7 of us. Lamb shanks and sirloin steaks being the tables stand out favourites for main courses. Portion sizes of all the starters and mains were massive which is great to see and also the quality of the meat/ fish was amazing. Service was great and staff super friendly and accommodating considering the large group we had.

Me and some of my friends came for dinner the other night. We came in to hide from the rain and grab a bite to eat. on arrival we were greeted with friendly smiles and a lovely warm atmosphere. All the staff were very helpful because one of my friends has a few allergies, but everyone was quick to help us out and make sure she could eat with the rest of us. Im not entirely sure how to spell her name but I think it was Keris was our server and she was very funny and charismatic and showed our pup lots of love. Overall a great place and will definitely be returning!

Called in today 17/9/23 for drinks, non alcoholic and we’re shown to a table within a couple of minutes. A male member of staff came and took our order for drinks and asked if we were having food when we told him just drinks in a loud and rude manner told us we could only stay for 30minutes when the drinks arrived at our table the bill was also put on the table. The attitude from the young man came across as don’t waste our time just for drinks and when he past our table was looking to see had we finished. Not a nice experience and won’t be calling in again 👎🏻

Booked for the evening when passing during the day, glad we did as it was busy in the evening. Menu had lots of pub classics, and we had a steak and ale pie and a Cumberland sausage and mash. Both meals were a big hit. Lovely food, good portion sizes, and the gravy was divine. Good drinks range and friendly staff topped of a great visit here.

Called in yesterday to see what the surroundings where like and to book a table for Sunday lunch today. I was asked to leave my details and someone would telephone to confirm booking, still waiting! I have phoned 6 times between yesterday and today and the phone keeps ringing. Not very good customer service

You can tell a whole lot about stuff with how well a pub/resaurant do a burger ....... Order ticket didn't get sent correctly to the kitchen so it was delayed..... When it finally arrived Sadly i left about 1/2 of it .... disappointed, simply overcooked small skins-on fries were good though... and lastly the front of house lady (bilingual) was truly excellent , pretty and excellent face to face interaction.

A very nice pub with good pub grub. Service quick and friendly. Ordered two cheeseburgers and a side of onion rings. Non greasy and thin batter. Burger was delicious with a good portion of shin on fries. Proper sized gherkins too on the burger. Recommend here. Dogs welcome too.

The food was nice and the atmosphere pleasant. We had one server who was impeccable and extremely capable and lovely, even understood my daughters strange order (she sounded Eastern European) but the rest of the staff team were lacking, requests had to be made several...

Rude barman tried to rip us off not once but twice . Never have our change had to ask then he tried to give us less change than what our drinks added up too. No apology won’t return

We were always greeted with a smile, the staff were friendly, polite and professional. They looked after us extremely well and took an interest in our holiday plans. The food was excellent, a good choice of traditional English pub meals, always served piping hot and...

The seafood starter was very good, but too much food for my wife to finish. The fish pie was very good.

Great place, great food, good rooms and good value for money. The location is in the centre of Keswick with carparking close by. Certainly on our list of places to return to.

Disappointed this visit. Have been before and ot was lovely. This time few of the meals were quite poor. Pie pastry was undercooked, the beetroot burger was dry. One friend ordered mushroom stroganoff which arrived with chicken in, thankfully she was neither vegetarian or allergic....

Part 1. Our food was fantastic. Went in for lunch and was met by a lovely waitress who showed us to our seat and gave us valuable information re the food and beer….very knowledgeable. Unfortunately that was the last we saw of her. She was...

We saw the menu when walking by and went in - happy we did. Two excellent and filling sandwiches; the fish goujon and the grilled halloumi. The service was fine

First of all food was really good, unfortunately the food waitressing staff not so much. Our mains were forgotten about, approximately 45mins late. Overall an average experience which is a shame and lets down the good food and nice atmosphere.

Het was ontzettend druk in het restaurant vermits het zondag was. Wij waren er naartoe gegaan zonder reserveren en vonden...

We booked to have tea here on bank holiday Monday. I had the steak pie which was delicious, and my husband had the vegetable tagine which he enjoyed. The staff working, although busy, were very friendly and we were made to feel welcome. And although...

We went for Sunday lunch and very expensive and poor quality. Food wasn't hot barely warm. Small portions with half cooked roasters if you could call them that. Meat portion very tight and no taste to anything really. It cost £16 just for the main...

Beautiful food beef pie and fish pie was delicious and the staff were lovely nice place to eat In keswick very clean and dog friendly

Couldn’t believe how fantastic this quiet pub/restaurant was. Plenty of room for our dogs, and THE most wonderful food. Quite honestly the best fish pie I have ever had and a perfectly balanced, perfectly spiced Cumberland sausage and mash with spring onions and caramelised onion...

Poor quality food at a more premium price. Some food severed cold and cheap ingredients severalmotems orders not received/incorrect. Avoid this place and wasting your money and time.

Family of 4, a drizzly Weds. Pub almosh full. Order taken and drinks came quickly. After 30 mins we noticed no food coming out, tables around us starting to get restless. After 40 mins we chased our food to be met with a "yes soon"....

Two of the party had the Sunday roast of beef and a poor selection of vegetables, but two of us had the most wonderful plate (chunk of wood) called ‘Butchers Plate’. Quite possibly the best selection of food I have ever been served. Cannot express...

Comfy pub serving good quality pub food. Often busy in the summer months so booking in advance is a must. Only downside is there is limited space if you just want to pop in for a drink.

We ordered the fish pie and the gammon. The pie was full of great quality fish accompanied by a huge dish of roasted carrots, green beans and peas all cooked to perfection. The gammon was thick and tender with both fresh pineapple and a fried...

What I hate about the gentrification of the Lakes is when establishments that are supposed to be pubs suddenly have an identity crisis. Came in for a drink but unlike a pub where you go to the bar we had to stand at a lectern...

Dog friendly. Not sure that bar and restuarant staff are that friendly in Keswick. But I guess they don’t have to try, captive audience. HOWEVER the Royal Oak was the FRIENDLIEST place we ate in. Staff were friendly and even smiled and were very efficient....

Decided to eat here after an day out on the fells. Seemed nice enough inside, staff were friendly and seated us promptly. The food however, wasn’t that great. They’d run out of Sunday lunches by 4pm so had to order off the main menu. Unfortunately,...

Just want to thank the wonderful friendly staff who helped make our night a memorable one. A lovely roaring fire, good food and beer.

Booked for Sunday lunch, previously visited when in Keswick and thought we would give it the benefit of doubt after the last average visit, however, this was a mistake. Dinner comprised of seasonal vegetables: peas ??? Frozen, about 5 carrots and a lump of something...

We have visited the Royal Oak three times this year and have never been disappointed. The staff are very friendly and helpful, very dog friendly. Food is amazing , atmosphere lovely especially with the fire on my dog loved that. They do not rush you...

This pub is a great dog friendly venue where the staff are friendly and the food is hearty. We visit every year - cannot comment on the majority of the dishes as we absolutely love their steak and ale pie. And the sticky toffee pudding...

Called in at 5.30, hadn’t booked & were shown to a table. Good job we were there early as customers kept coming. Nice staff & very good food.

Service was slow, but the manager came over and took care of us. We really appreciated the attention to service. Food was fresh and plentiful. Drinks were good…loved the Bakewell cherry spritzer. Would go back.

Steak cooked to perfection just how we liked them. Staff friendly and great service, would recommend a visist

Have been here on quite a few occasions. Good selection of dishes, the food is good quality and quite large portions! Nice selection of draught drinks including real ales, cider and lagers. The staff are welcoming and friendly. This is a dog friendly pub too!...

We visited on 1 July and hoped to find something gluten free for my wife who is coeliac. The menu outside made no great promises but the server offered several options including her favourite treat - fish and chips. It was excellent as was my...

Dinner at our final evening on holiday in the North/Western Lakes based in Keswick was here in this well-established and historic inn in the market place. We had reserved a table many weeks before, and it was ready for us when we arrived. Every single...

1st class ! Great room lovely food good choice of ales, staff absolute 1st class couldn’t do enough for us even when the whole town had a power cut we still got our Cumbrian breakfast ! Highly recommended 🍺

just returned from a lovely trip in keswick. the hotel is beautifully clean and totally liove everyones dogs. menu for the dogs and towels in the front porch for their muddy wet paws . will defo be returning. a big shout out for the staff...

We walked in in the afternoon to ask about availability that evening, only to find there was none, so we booked for the following evening. It too was rammed. And to be honest, I can't see why? The food was okay, but no better than...

Popped in here for lunch at the weekend after shopping in Keswick. Ordered the cumin and jalapeno burger and fish & chips. Food was not bad but underwhelming to be honest.

Ordered the fish & chips ! Well what can I say apart from complete rip off! The food came quickly, a plus, however there were around 8 chunky chips laid under a piece of minuscule fish. I have no idea what type of fish as...

We visited as a family of 4. They took our order quickly but only brought 2 of the 4 meals, tried to suggest that was all we has ordered…. and then suddenly remembered what the other 2 meals were which then took another 20 minutes...

Visited this evening for food, always eat here when visiting keswick. Very disappointed with food, not up to usual standard. I would say food was average now compared to previously been excellent. Prices have also rocketed, and doesn't reflect the average food.Wont be rushing back.

I had the thwaites beef pie and my wife had the gluten free option of Salmon with Pineapple. Both were great. Service was good and staff friendly. Happy to recommend.

Booked in for Sunday Lunch as advised by staff. Just as well as people not able to get a table arriving after 1.30.Excellent Roast beef Yorkshire pudding and all extras. Prompt service with drinks and food. £3.90 a pint Thwaites. A lot less than some...

Went for an early dinner after a very long walk, staff were friendly and has a large food menu. Food came quickly and was great. Stayed for a drink afterwards as the atmosphere was so nice. Dog friendly too.

The food was as tasty as pre lock down but unfortunately they have stopped serving the 1/2 chicken on the wooden tray shown in the trip advisor picture (now its on a plate for understandable hygiene reasons). Although a large pub it still felt friendly...

As always, the food is spot on. The staff are friendly, attentive without being intrusive, and never stop working. A lot of places could learn from this example.

The main courses were very good - recommend the steak pies or fish and chips. Don't bother with the starters - not worth it.

My husband and I visited Keswick on a week away, a tip do not visit Keswick on a wet February Monday, most attractions are closed. We could not even get into the Alhambra cinema it was full. On our way back to the car we...

We booked a table for four on a Friday night. Greeted on entry and shown to our table. Very friedly waiter descrbed specials on offer. Excellent service and great food. We will return.

I had fish pie for main which in itself was good, but the ‘Seasonal buttered greens’ was a sad little pot of boiled peas and beans. The blackberry and apple crumble was a watery mix of what looked like diced apple with a bit of...

had to book,,, food quite good, service ok,,,, bacon SOLID in morning,, new years eve had no tables to book, so stood at bar and watched as walk inns were seated in front om us !!!!!

Today was our third visit this week. Previously both food and customer experience were very good. Today that all changed. We arrived at 11.30 and although breakfast had finished we were informed lunch would be served from mid day. We booked a table, and were...

Quick trip into Keswick looking for something to eat late in the day in January, oh and needed to be dog friendly when we found the Royal Oak. Very friendly welcome and nothing too much bother and our lovely dogs were able to get their...

Unexceptional pub grub. The Thwaites beer was excellent, but the food was a little disappointing. In particular, the Classic Burger was hard as was the bacon - clearly not freshly cooked. The salad and fish platter were fine.

This was our third time dining at the Royal Oak. This time we visited on a busy Saturday evening with a party of friends including their dog. The food was excellent, the service first class (despite the Restaurant being fully booked) and this is probably...

This place has never let us down, whether we have stopped for beverages in mid afternoon or drinks in the evening.

Outstanding quality, great service and beautiful place . Love the fact it’s dog friendly and caters for their needs as well

Right in the centre of Keswick and dog friendly. We had a really good meal in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere that wasn't cramped or crowded like some other restaurants. The steak pie that I had was really tasty, yummy.

Food drinks service all excellent! my hubs 50th birthday,they got him a cake,I mistakenly paid a large tip they rang me immediately and it was refunded,can't fault them for anything.Thanks guys for a lovely evening.

We ate here three times while staying in Keswick, very nice food, served by great staff, very pleasant experience Thanks

Tried to book a table for the second week in October. Their website online booking doesn’t work. Tried ringing at all times of the day. The phone rings out with no answer service. Sent them a Facebook message. The response was to send them an...

Following booking a meal three days in advance to ensure we got a table, I am appalled by the welcome we were met with. On finding out that we were not in fact on the paper booking sheet, despite watching the man write my details...

Rang ahead and booked a table with Chris as we know the Royal Oak is always busy and he fitted us in. We were not disappointed, lovely steak and friendly service and as always dog friendly which we appreciate greatly. Book ahead to avoid disappointment.

Popped in for lunch on a visit to Keswick. The restaurant was very busy, but they managed to find a table for us which was much appreciated. However, the table hadn’t been cleaned and we had to do it ourselves! The service was also painfully...

Arrived at 11:45, and discovered that lunch wasn't served until 12pm, which wasn't a problem. We were offered drinks and then did not receive food menus and we were not asked for our order whilst the entire restaurant received theirs at 12. I then asked...

Good menu and food, Friendly service. Good prices. It was full every night - not surprising. It is an old building and there is a real feeling of local history

Good quality food particularly steak and pies. Good service well worth a visit friendly sand helpful staff.

Booked an evening meal as we were staying at the hotel. We both had the pie which was very tasty with lovely pastry and tender meat. Possibly on the pricey side for pub food but it was really good pub food and hearty sized portions...