The Royal Pub and Restaurant in Cheltenham

Lovely little pub, 1st time being there, & I would say a very nice pub.

Have reduced my rating from 5 stars to 4 stars. Still a good local with a good ale selection. Food has taken a downward turn since change of ownership a few month ago. Prices have increased, which is ok, but quality and portion sizes have reduced. The food just doesn’t seem to have the same impact it used to. Service remains great. Great new menu and lovely to see Halloumi burgers are back. Food is good quality, staff are very friendly and the service is first class.

I attended a wake for a dear friend, the staff were efficient and respectful, lovely spread of delicious food. Thank you.

Great Sunday lunch. Good service from Zoe. Good atmosphere and value for money.

Good food, great service. Pork belly was lovely. Passion fruit posset was delicious. Would recommend.

Nice place could bring beer price down

Seriously don't know what's happened with the food... Took mum for lunch, we've always enjoyed basic pub food (I loved the mint & pea ravioli) unfortunately removed from the menu. Seemed very reduced so opted for the Goats Cheese & Vegetable Ciabatta with Fries, sounded fine, light lunch. Meal arrived too soon...underwhelming .. cold fries and the most disgusting vegetable filling: Overcooked browned, tough Aubergines, no other vegetables ...we actually needed to remove as the skin was so tough you couldn't bite through it. Did the Chef have the day off as a Monday? Just close the kitchen on Mondays if you can't produce editable food, it really destroys The Royals reputation. Mentioned to the staff, surely vegetables mean peppers, onion mushrooms, mushroom, and not just overcooked aubergine?? She was young and charming and asked did I want the food taken away.... I actually wanted a senior member to view our disgusting plates of food and address our genuine complaint. Two plates of food left and felt very disappointed with our lunchtime experience.

Ah, The Royal Charlton Kings – where the food is so good, I considered moving in permanently! The atmosphere? It’s like eating in your stylish friend's living room, with just the right balance of cozy and classy. The staff are friendly enough to make you feel like royalty, without the awkward bowing. And the parking? Let’s just say, it's decent – if parallel parking was a competitive sport, I'd have a trophy. Overall, a great spot to indulge, unwind, and enjoy knowing you won’t have to do laps around the block to park!

A perfectly acceptable pub in a surprisingly original Victorian village with an interesting church opposite the pub. Some particularly curious grave markers to be found from early 18th to 20th century.

Went for Sunday lunch for a friend’s birthday. Without doubt one of the best Sunday lunches I have eaten in a long time! Super friendly staff, great venue and the food is amazing (especially the bone marrow mashed potatoes). If you are in Cheltenham on a Sunday and are hungry get yourself down there…you won’t be disappointed! (I am sure their food is great the rest of the week too!!!)

Had really high hopes for this place after hearing it is being run by the same people behind the excellent Five Alls, but unfortunately it was way off the mark. Burgers on the menu all sounded great, but for premium burger prices they really weren't very good at all. Bacon was incinerated (black), fried chicken was very dry and hard like it was cooked hours ago. The chips and onion rings were decent, but for £50+ for two burgers still not good enough overall. Tap beer was nice and the staff were friendly, hopefully they can get it right next time.

We have been customers of the Royal for years and under its previous ownership the quality of the food was always consistent and to a great standard. Having been for a family meal today, this has clearly changed where the food can only be described as dire.Sadly, this will be our last visit having given it a number of chances since the change of ownership where we had hoped it would simply be teething problems. Obviously not the case. For a Saturday night we hadn’t seen it so quiet and we now know why. Sadly a business now in decline

Disappointed as booking was made for our wedding anniversary. Starters were lovely and we both chose the belly pork for our mains. I feel that if garlic mayo is going to be served with belly pork it should be in a separate pot not drizzled all over the meat. It totally ruined the meal for me and quite put me off choosing anything else. What a shame as we have always enjoyed this venue.

I really wanted to say a big thank you to all the team who were working at the Royal on 4th September at lunchtime. My family went for lunch to celebrate my Auntie's 95th birthday. It is an annual tradition! The service and the food was excellent. The young lady and young man serving front of house were so kind, helpful and friendly and this added to my Auntie's enjoyment of her big day. They kindly took her birthday cake and brought it out later with the candles alight and took delivery of a bouquet sent by her neice who was unable to attend and presented it to my Auntie at the table. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the celebration made extra special by the staff at the Royal. Massive thank you to all concerned.

We have given the new Royal 2 chances now and it’s just isn’t coming up to scratch, especially considering the prices. Sunday roast today was at best disappointing. Service was indifferent and absent, we had to ask to order twice as nobody came to the table. Our table was sticky and we had to ask for it to be cleaned. Food was ok but most of the veg sides are too fancy and the swede was so salty it was inedible. I did mention this to the waitress but she was disinterested and just grunted. Sorry Royal, we used to come here a lot but unless you up your game we won’t be returning. A responsible adult in charge would be a good idea too.

Excellent menu to choose from, and the food was very well prepared. The service was quick, and the pub has events most nights. Highly recommend it if you’re in the area.

Historic pub in centre of village with great view of church from gardens. Brilliant tasty food and good menu choices., We enjoyed a steak today for my birthday. Excellent friendly staff, spacious restaurant and bar areas. Have visited this pub many times over last 5 years. Highly recommended.

Very friendly with a good choice of food. Everyone including dogs made welcome.

We went for an early dinner. The bar drinks were well received & we had good service. My partner ordered the Paprika Chicken - said it was tasty but there were far too many chickpeas in the dish. I ordered the Duck stir-fry - it was tasteless & bland. The only flavour was the chillis & spring onions. The dishes were well presented, however, for the price we paid we were very disappointed with our meal & didn't feel the cost reflected the quality. Thank you to the Royal for over 20 years but it is now GOODBYE.

Yet again we had trouble ordering and getting the right drinks, trying to sell us a different drink rather than checking if they had what we wanted(which they did) also confused the with/without ice - different staff so can only assume its a training (lack of) issue. Food, starters and mains were great.

Our second visit in 2 weeks. First for my birthday, second for work as staying nearby. Charlie & the whole team are great. Fabulous service, great food and a lovely outdoor space. Define our go to place in Cheltenham. Our recommendations are the chicken wings starter and the crispy pork belly and mushroom linguine mains. Delicious!

Pub with good beer and food. Guest pop up pizza merchant a couple times a week (delish, crispy and hot). Busy at weekends with families. Enclosed garden, dog friendly. Small car park

Hooray for the new owners! At last a varied, affordable menu. There's a great choice of wine and a pint of larger is what it should be £5. The pizza's are excellent and if the sun's out you can enjoy them in the lovely garden. The burgers are great too. We will be back!

The menu looked good and we ordered what sounded light and tasty (Chicken and crispy bacon Ciabatta). So mental image of a toasted bun with warm grilled chicken slices and a couple of rashers of crispy bacon had us really looking forward to lunch. But, what appeared was lumps of chicken and soggy bacon chunks in a very heavy creamy sauce wrapped in an un-toasted roll (coronation chicken style). Really disappointing (both in look and taste) and ended up leaving half of it untouched (only ate the other half because I was very hungry). The Tripadvisor introduction to the Royal currently says: ‘Our philosophy is all about simple fresh food expertly prepared and many of our dishes are cooked on our chargrill with grilled steaks, meat and fish a speciality.’ On my limted experience, only if you like it engulfed in a heavy cream sauce! Under new ownership so this was a first try at what is my local - but sadly I think I need to find a new local (as does the person I was with).

Good food at reasonable prices there were 9 of us and all the food came out at the same time. Would definitely recommend.

Lovely atmosphere, friendly staff, food was good and reasonably priced

Fantastic food, but the wine seemed rather expensive, given the cost of the food.

linguini dressed with indigestible quantities of cream and cheese and occasional mushroom. No garnish let alone salad. Poor and unimaginative.

Blown away by the fabulous food and amazing service. This is a superb independent pub and restaurant situated opposite a beautiful church. My wife suffers from coeliac disease and we found this little gem as they have a gluten free (GF) menu. The first night we had rump steak, which was honestly the best most tender rump steak I have ever had. It was so good we went back the following night. But on the second night we were tempted by the Sunday roast my wife had roast beef and I had roast lamb. The roasts came with GF gravy, GF cauliflower cheese, GF roast potatoes and a selection of GF veggies. I had a Yorkshire pudding too (Not GF but delicious) I should add the guys and girls that work here are super friendly and gave us fantastic service. You won't be disappointed with a visit here.

Been going to the Royal for 15 years even had my 60th there never had a bad meal until recently, we received emails to say the pub has new owners booked for 25th a Thursday really any time was available which was odd, normally rammed. Arrived car park has maybe 8 places normally rammed, bar not many people in you guessed normally rammed, restaurant maybe had 30 covers available. Placed order 40 minutes later steak arrived med rare, cooked med rare but dry on top and almost cold I didn’t complain because I wanted to eat with my wife not on my own, in hindsight I should have sent it back. There seems to have been a few changes, new chef, new wine list and new beers but overall the place seems to have lost its soul general things like cutlery, napkins all very basic I used to go to this restaurant maybe 9 or 10 times a year now it’s just like going to any other ordinary pub restaurant. Sorry I should have complained at the time bit late for both of us.

Friendly staff, lovely atmosphere, delicious food

Busy lunchtime visit, with a good lunch menu.

Really friendly, greeted us as we walked through the door , barman served us promptly, we had a cosy table with our dog , ordered food that was delicious, well priced and a great atmosphere, certainly recommend it .

Greasy food and gloomy dark atmosphere

We stopped by for a quick lunch. Great tasty meal choices, good drinks. You can see the kitchen working, which is reassuring. Great view of the church too.

Loved the place. Nice stuff, good food, clean place. Definitely recommend.

We were in the area and decided we needed a break from the rain, so we popped in here. Its lovely inside and the bar staff was super freindly. We didn't eat, but the restaurant was pretty full at lunchtime and the food going by on the way to customers looked delicious. We sat in the bar on two comfy chairs and promised ourselves a lunch or dinner when we're next in the area. Update; A recent visit shows how things can change. The food this time was below average and the service cold and unfriendly. The pub was very busy with mums and babies, so was incredibly noisy with lots of children screaming. We may have been there at the wrong time 4:45 as it was school run time. Also the price of the beer was excessive compared to others nearby. Things may settle down with the new owners over time.

Haven't been to the Royal for over a year now due to the decline of the food quantity. So my wife and I decided to give it another go today. We found out that it had been taking over by new owners. What can I say! Excellent food! Excellent service! Thank you. 100% recommend you go there.

The pub looks nice but the service is poor, we didn’t feel welcome perhaps because we were younger than the average quests here. We ordered the royal platter which was nothing short of a disappointment, obscure mix of food, very bland and greasy. This place would make a good trip for the kitchen nightmares film crew.

Great pub however a cold an lacking in atmosphere. That said on special nights such as burger night things are completely different. We shared the 20oz steak which was fabulous

Great pub offering good quality pub food at a very reasonable price. Staff are very friendly and welcoming. Nice atmosphere inside. Book in advance if you can

Lovely Sunday Roast today..great service too!

Absolutely great atmosphere and delicious food, friendly and professional staff, thanks a lot ❤️❤️❤️

Very lovely place and staff very nice , friendly and welcoming. Thank you

Went for Sunday roast with family. Delicious food, kind staff, very clean and modern.

Gastropub, good beer, live music often. Sunday night pub quiz night is good fun.

Excellent lunch provided for our walking group. Staff friendly efficient & welcoming. Food delicious.

Only had a few drinks with family but it was good

Had a great family lunch on saturday, everyone loved it. Good food

Only had sandwiches for lunch, with chips! Nice choice of fillings.

We had a great family meal in a lovely setting. The tram were attentive and the food and wine were fantastic.

Had an excellent meal here. The food was hot, tasty and well presented. The service was attentive and prompt. A good atmosphere in the pub.

The Best , great atmosphere, people, staff are wonderful comfortable, tidy and looks beautiful !!

Friendly place with superior pub food.

Had a great night. Sunday quiz. Lovely people and atmosphere

Great pub and restaurant . Food price well and plenty of it . Staff very attentive

Nice food , friendly staff , was not warm enough for me. - a few cobwebs around the corners & in a window

Great service and wonderful selection of food.

Excellent Sunday lunch with options for our vegan guest. Indoor or outdoor seating. Car park soon fills up but more free parking is available in the Church Piece car park a couple of minutes walk away.

The food was OK. Service good. Atmosphere was a bit noisy with three unruly children behind us. ( but not the royals fault). Made it difficult to have a conversation. Both starters were amazing. Vegetables and yorkshire puddings were overcooked.

Busy but well controlled pub and I hear the food is good. Great indoor and out and has live music occasionally.

They had a boaard inviting families for Halloween Breakfast but when we walked in they told us that we have to book in advance but in the board where they advertised the Breakfast didn't say that the booking was required. My children where very disappointed.

Reasonable food, attentive service. Inside was a bit cold, one of our meals should have been hotter.

Walked into a mostly empty pub asking for a table for one to be told that they couldn’t serve me as I didn’t have a booking. Place looked lovely and I’m sure the food was delicious - they offered me nuts or crisps instead.

Not the most extensive menu, but enough choice and good quality, lovely food. Nice family atmosphere, not too formal but just formal enough to make it a special evening.

We went for dinner. All the staff members we dealt with has been brilliant. They are superb!! I will not hesitate to recommend The Royal. We will come back. My Venison steak cooked perfectly. It is lovely inside but also has a beer garden. I will not hesitate to recommend The Royal. We will come back!

It was ok. Squid over cooked, bata brittle. Not nice. Half chicken very generous portions and well cooked. Beer is always good. Otter and Landlord. So nearly!

Food was absolutely amazing. Steaks cooked perfectly. Desserts lush especially the mint and chocolate cheesecake. Complete meal was outstanding and the service first class

Nice pub for a business meeting

I recently had a special birthday dinner - there were 26 adults in my party. From when I first made the booking the service and care has been nothing short of exceptional. It was so easy communicating with them throughout and I felt so confident that the evening would be a success. It was more than that! I had friends who travelled from all over the country to join me and every one said the same thing - they were all highly impressed with the slick, attentive service, the outstanding quality of the food and the fact there were no issues or complaints. Every single staff member I have dealt with has been brilliant but I really do want to highlight how fantastic Josh , particularly on the night. I will not hesitate to recommend The Royal going forward, indeed it’s been a favourite of mine in recent years. The Royal really does demon how a good, local pub/restaurant should be.

Always a great visit to The Royal!

Nice place for a business lunch

This is a great pub! We stopped for an evening meal and it was amazing.

The Best 8oz burger i've had in years, We were aloud to take our dog in and it was just right for us. i would recommend. and the onion rings were amazing. Simple things done well.

It feels like your local, even though you only visit it a few times a year. The staff are very friendly. The food excellent at a reasonable price. The rump steak was superb.

Beautiful pub, nice balance of being a place either for drinking or for eating

Tried calling multiple times for a table for food, arrived, many tables available but told to go away. Staff didn't take time to respond or speak properly either.

Excellent place to eat and drink. Staff polite and very helpful. Definitely return when in the area.

Was fine, & cod fillet should have been bigger, but I blame the shrink economy.

Smashing place smashing ale smashing staff

Fantastic pub and it's amazing inside and outside and beer is not high cost. I'm visiting Cheltenham this weekend with friends and would definitely recommend for people to visit tge great pub 👏👏👏

First time here, lovely pub, lots of space, great service and the food looks lovely (didn't eat). Great pub, if I'm ever in town I'll be back to sample the food.

A really friendly village pub with excellent food and a great choice of real ales. We went both nights that we stayed in the village.

Decent enough pub! Has a parking area and a large garden which always has plenty of seating(although I'm only ever there on a weeknight)! Staff are polite and they serve fast.

Good local pub, good selection of beer and food. The drinks are not cheap and the food is just good.

Great meals , very good service

Great crowd, efficient and friendly staff, very relaxing atmosphere.

Great meal and hospitality at the Royal. We have lived in Charlton Kings for 16yr and visited local pubs on lots of different occasions. This is a cracking place with great staff who really care about giving a great customer experience. Food and drink today were fantastic with staff knowing the menu (food+drink) inside out. Thanks to managers who act on feedback in the right way. Great place- strongly recommend!

Reasonable/good food, slightly more expensive than I would have liked/expected, but I guess everyone including businesses are struggling with costs/prices. The crowd/atmosphere was lovely. I'd definitely come back. Nice local gastro pub for the local community.

Had lunch with a friend and was pleasantly surprised. Service was good and so was the food. Will definitely return

loved my meal Service was great and the guy who severed us was lovely

Came for burger night. Fast and good service! Worth the money apart from 8 crisp nachos for £9!!

Decided to pop in on a whim this evening and so glad we did. The food was absolutely delicious. Two steaks, both cooked to absolute perfection! The staff were super friendly and accommodating. We will definitely be back again.

Lovely place for a meal. Good service and friendly staff.

Tasty food and great men with a relaxed atmosphere, which was great when you're meeting up with an old friend 🙏🙂

Amazing food. Have been to The Royal on a few occasions and it’s always great (whether your having a Sunday lunch or not!) Would 100% recommend and will continue to come back. Thanks!

What a Sunday lunch!! Brilliant! Service great too. Book to get a table as is deservedly busy.

I enjoyed a lovely meal with family to celebrate a birthday. The food was delicious and the service given by Josh was exceptional. Well done to the Royal.

Very clean and friendly staff, lovely beer battered fish and chips and apple crumble

Nice place, beers are a little boring and it feels a touch sterile but nice to see some comfy seating, would be good for a Sunday paper