Royal Oak, Wiganback to pub details please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Quiet on our recent sunday visit, [tried on saturday but so crowded did not bother] comfortable pub, efficient barman. I had Black Edge 'Hop Pale Ale' , a smooth palatable ale.
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On our recent visit I indulged in Reedley Hallows 'Pendleside', a tasty ale.
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A bit boring really. Nice enough inside but the beer garden is actually more interesting than the pub with a curious array of knick-knacks. A few reasonable ales on and food served all week.
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Still a good comfortable pub, efficient barman, quite busy on our visit; it has a very good beer garden. 3 ales on, I had Brewhouse 'Kicker' [a decent ale].
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On our recent visit to Wigan we were pleased to see that the Royal Oak had re-opened, it has undergone a major refurbishment inside, the bar being relocated to the centre of the pub [rather than along the inside of the front wall], the inerior decor is attractive. The range of ales available is smaller than before [4 ales were on] but the pints of Lancaster Brewery 'American IPA' & Wily Fox Brewery 'Black Pearl' were both very nice/tasty. The barstaff were friendly & efficient and the regulars/locals were friendly & enjoying themselves; overall I was quite impressed.
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On a recent weekend visit to Wigan I was sorry to see that this pub was closed down. A shame because they always had a good range of ales on.
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Good beer, well-priced, decent choice, friendly service, band playing. As the saying goes, what's not to like?
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Good real ale pub just outside the town centre. We were impressed with the range and quality of the beers on offer - Weetwood Cheshire Cat, Blakemere Freshly Squeezed & Snowy Owl, Prospect Silver Tally, Northern Brown Ale & Tetleys. The interior is cosy. Pictures on the walls show race horsing and rugby. It would appear that a pub syndicate owned a racehorse at one time. The locals were friendly and the toilets were fine, apart from some sort of strange transaction occurring! Would definitely return here next time I'm in Wigan, as it's a viable alternative to the Anvil.
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Not much else one can say about this place that hasn't already been said. At the time of my visit (17/6/11) the pub was undergoing an external "face lift" and the front of the building was totally adorned by scaffolding.
Despite the obvious external limitations, internally you can always rely on the Oak to serve up some interesting beers, locally sourced offerings in particular being prevalent. On tap were; Blakemere~Navajo, Weetwood~Cheshire Cat, Deuchars~IPA, Prospect~Silver Talley and another local who's name escapes me? The quality of all the beers was as good as it gets and the temperature spot on, they are more than happy to provide you with a taster too, so don't be shy to ask.
The pub itself is open plan, which is separated by participations in to three main areas. The interior is a little dull & on the drab side, but seating is mixed & comfortable with a number of strategically placed leather sofas, so it is possible to stretch out & relax.
This pub has always been quiet on my visits (usually Sat afternoons) The client�le by enlarge being "the real drinker" type, but I understand it can get very busy & noisy in the evenings and in particular on band nights, so time your visit accordingly.
The weak point for me are the toilets (Gents) It's like going back 30 years, they are very basic & look tatty, with holes in and no locks on the doors and one small sink with an almost useless hand dryer. It's a shame really, as for me it reflects badly on an otherwise good all round working boozer.
My overall opinion? It's well worth a visit, the ales have always been in good condition & the selection is usually excellent. A nice Saturday afternoon venue where you can relax in solace and enjoy. It's just a shame about the loo's.
LW
Pub/Beer critic
(BeerNorthWestUK) - twitter
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Along with The Anvil and Hartleys this is the last of the top 3 Wigan hostelries. A real must on any visitors list. Local live music on various nights and always a friendly welcome. My usual travels are Anvil, Hartleys, then Oak for a good evening.. with an occasional stop across the road if the Oak is late opening for some reason...
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Excellent beer choice served by very helpful and friendly staff. Recommended!
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This brewpub has been transformed into one of Wigan's premier real ale outlets in the last few years. It's just outside the town centre but is worth the extra 5 minute walk- usually a selection of 6 real ales, including Tetley, Deuchars, the house Mayflower beer (very good) and guests, usually from Northern microbreweries. Also real cider and lots of bottled and draught European beers. It's pretty standard and modern inside, with 2 main rooms, one of which features comfy seating and a dartboard. The bar room has a small library with GBGs. A large, leafy beer garden is very pleasant in summer and the pub frequently hosts live local bands and beer festivals with pies and other bar snacks. A late licence if you fancy a late pint. One of the few must visit pubs in Wigan.
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