please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Atmosphere in here depends on whether the ping pong table is in use. Its a nice touch, plus theres a fairly decent mix of generic lagers and generic craft beer. Its generally open later so when all the pubs around close, you get an influx of drunks and hospo staff.
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I called by here a couple of Saturdays ago, 9pm and there was no Tribute, I settled for the Bombardier and they were out of that by 10pm! I left, what a poor show and the staff appeared disinterested at best. A word of advice to the management, don’t take your customers for granted.
scarr - 15 Jun 2013 23:56 |
Out of all the pubs that surround Clapham North Tube Station this is my favourite. Has a pub feel about it unlike the wine bar across the road, not as busy with City types as the Railway Tavern and has a bit more character.
The clientele can range from Rockabilly, Goths and Rocker types. I have always enjoyed the music, plenty of students frequent this place as do locals, music buffs, Northerners, Aussies, Irish and so on.
Standard range of Lagers, the only Ale on tap here is Tribute, this is a good Cornish Ale and more than acceptable. I was here once when the Ale option was off and was really left scratching my head, and nearly left because of it. The Owners should consider selling Ale, assuming there is a market for it with the current clientele. Mind you this bar is so diverse I am not sure what the clientele is?
Anyway, if you are frequenting this part of town and want a pub with a bit of character, different from your wine bar type, then I suggest your try this here.
scarr - 27 May 2013 13:04 |
This used to be one of my favourites, but it was recently expanded and has suffered considerably because of it. Seriously, the entire pub smells of sewage now. If they could sort that out it would be OK, but it is simply not viable now.
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Love this place, our favourite Sunday afternoon haunt. Relaxed and with friendly bar staff.
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My favourite pub in Clapham, very nice staff, excellent food and a great atmosphere. Can get very busy when the sport's on.
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This place has recently been taken over by a new manager and has regained all the quality that it lost.
The staff are really friendly, the foods good and they;ve just put a table tennis table in the back which is awesome. My new favorite pub!
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I agree with the posts below.
Popped in on the way home. We stood at the bar, one member of staff was chatting to a customer. We were in no rush so did not interrupt. The other member of staff was bringing glasses to the bar (both avoiding any eye contact). On her 3rd visit I asked if they were still serving she said no and walked off. On the way out I pointed out to her that she could have let us know earlier when she saw us walking in and waiting at the bar. She said 'I was clearing glasses'. Arrogant and pretensious (for no reason). I remember this pub before the make over it was well seedy but I was happy to drink there and at least the staff communicated with customers.
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I don't know what on earth has happened to this place. The staff used to be nice, the food was great (especially their infamous Sunday roasts) and it was an all round good pub.
We went for lunch on Sunday and arrived early (about 12.45). There were about ten other people in the pub. At 1.15 we ordered food, including two beef roasts. after forty minutes of waiting for our food we were told they'd run out of beef. Clearly we should have been told this when we ordered. By then it was too late to go anywhere else for lunch so we had to make do with what was available, which turned up stone cold. The table next to us were told they couldn't even order food because the kitchen weren't taking any more orders and they had to lunch on bags of crisps. There can't have been more than forty people in the pub in total ... how difficult is it to cook enough meat and serve up roast dinners? The place used to be rammed and everyone got fed. When we were told they'd also run out of Guinness we gave up and left without paying.
I'm never going back there. There are too many excellent pubs in Clapham to get away with shoddy service, incompetent management of the kitchen and bad stock control. All we can hope is that it gets sold to a team of staff who know what they're doing, and soon.
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The Royal Oak has been my favourite haunt for the last two years. Close to home, great wine and good food - lots of local friends gathered here regularly however something has changed. The former set of staff who were friendly, welcoming and who basically made the pub the success it was, have been replaced - all of them.
It's just not the same anymore which is sad. Some people need a lesson in manners...
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Difficult to assess really, seems like a pub trying to reinvent itself as a bar/restaurant, and failing miserably. There were two Adnams pumps but didn�t feel I could trust them so had a Kronenbourg . The menu included oysters, calamari fritti, wild boar sausages, getting the idea? Good background music but clearly too loud for the size of the place and number of clientele - only a handful at 5pm on a Saturday. Finally, for a place looking to go upmarket the gents toilets were a disgrace.
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I haven't been to the Oak for over a year and what used to be a well cared for pub; looked shabby and in need of some TLC. The tables need a varnish and the ladies toilet could do with tarting up....its a shame! It was my favourite pub in Clapham and at the moment, there are newer pubs in the vicinity that is vying for the Oak's clientele, so it should take note! Food and wine up to standard though.
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By far the best pub in the area, The Guinness is great, the staff are really good; it's got a great atmosphere. Perhaps the TV could spend more time off.
On Sunday's it's rammed with people eating their Sunday roast which smells fantastic, but isn't great if you just want a few beers.
A great pub though.
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Nice pub, never horrifically packed like other pubs in the area.
If you are looking to watch football however, just be aware that they don't play the commentary and to compound your misery, they may only show half a game! Whilst we were there last Saturday the tv was switched over at half time to rugby which had 2 minutes to go of their first half. Bemused, we asked the staff if they were going to show the football or the rugby's second half. Answer was - rugby. Apparently some lads had booked a table to watch the rugby although oddly were only bothered about the second half.
On a positive note, I guess the above must make pleasant reading for rugby fans!
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Nice pub and nice bar staff humoured a first visit of the day for me and a happy colleague...
And yes beer was flat, ale has run out, so this was the let down. Would re-visit and reserve judgement for a second time...
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Pleasant and smart enough hostelry over from Clapham North tube.
Limited range on draught at the bar... neither of the 2 Adnams beers they had were on at the time and I understand the lager was a bit on the flat side.
However, friendly courteous service smoothed things over.
Nothing outstanding but reasonable enough but they want to change the barrels on the beer and sort out the lager.
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As a veteran of 'clahm' for 10+ years this is by far one of the best pubs in the area. Anyone who used to go to the Rose & Crown in Old Town and still disappointed by how downhill it's gone should make their way here. Great food, reasonably priced, good music, friendly staff who will always serve a cold drink. If you like this you should venture into Oval to the Royal Albert.
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Solid pub this. Usual selection of lagers and a couple of ales. Service has always been pretty quick, and I've always managed to find a seat.
Food is good, and I personally think it's reasonably priced, certainly in comparison to everywhere else in Clapham.
I particularly like the way that they don't have a minimum limit for using a card. This small point boosts its score from a 7 to an 8.
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Has improved - but quite often walk out and feel like you have smoked 20 rothmans. bring on the smoking ban. "Conservatory" at the back is not a nice place to be.
Food and service on the other hand are very good.
anonymous - 7 Mar 2007 18:27 |
Most improved pub in clapham when i first started drinking in this pub about 18months ago it was frankly cr*p but decided to give it another chance just after chrimbo and have been a big fan ever since now one of the best pubs in clapham.
juzza - 30 Mar 2006 15:15 |
Fact: The royal Oak is a great bloody pub and any talk of overpriced food or any other derogitory comments should take their custom to rubbish like Rinky Dink et al. Great food, great viewing, great tunes and great staff. And no I don't own it!
Darce - 20 Oct 2005 12:27 |
Not too shabby at all, considering the less than salubrious surroundings. Decent music and ok range of beers. Food looks good, but yet to eat here as I'm always put off by the price. Loses one point for the Adnams being too warm, and another for the drunken Irishman accosting me in the bogs on Sunday night though.
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Are we sure that this pub has a dart board?
anonymous - 28 Jul 2005 15:17 |
I only moned in to Clapham at Christmas but I am very happy to say that I have had nothing but excellent fun and great food at this pub. The staff are great and very welcoming especially the manager and it all appears very clean and just what you would hope for. Great music too. A lovely vibe. Keep it up!
anonymous - 26 Jun 2005 13:04 |
A good pub, and much better since the refurb. Excellent food/sunday roasts, pleasant surroundings and atmosphere, and decent beers. Like a lot of the flavour of the month pubs in Clapham it gets far too busy on weekend nights, so be warned, or avoid it in favour of week nights.
anonymous - 23 May 2005 11:30 |
I dont agree with the last user. Roasts here are bang on. Have been going for months, with loads of mates, and have never had a bad one. Staff do look a bit rough sometimes but their service is all good. Best pub in Clapham by far. Keep up the good work!
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Went on a sunny sunday - roast dinners ran out by 1pm, the staff had been up all night partying, which is very rock and roll but makes for terrible service, and people in the beer garden ended up nipping to the newsagents next door for their soft drinks, rather than face a 20 minute wait at the bar.
It needs some management desperately!
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This is a nice pub. Only thing that lets it down is the food which ain't bad but just very overpriced for what you get.
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I like this place. Sure it is very Clapham, but clean, comfortable, good food and some very tasty men. Great place to meet before a cheesy night out at Inferno's!
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The Royal Oak used to be my favourite pub in Clampham. The atmosphere was amazing, chilled and cool. It has changed a lot over the past three months.
The new manager's unfriendliness and long faces are shocking.
The atmosphere- and the prices- resemble more and more of The Sequel and, honestly, it sucks.
Prices have gone up ridiculously, with service charge added to every bill -it used to be added only to food.
The staff is still friendly but, honestly, there is something rotten in that place.
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great pub! love the staff, love the music, love the atmosphere... only thing is need to watch the prices!
claire - 20 Nov 2003 16:32 |
Good Sunday lunch. Great for groups. Watch out for the service charge (it's expensive enough as it is).
Jimmie - 6 Aug 2003 16:32 |
The Royal Oak has been taken over by the same people that own Sequel and Rapscallion in Clapham. It does the best Sunday roasts in the area and offers a wide range of wines and food. Excellent service and the odd celeb working there! Great place for chilling with your mates!
Kirsty - 18 Jul 2003 13:15 |
Recently been refurbished. Leather sofas (not to be missed!) Great chilled out music and relaxed atmosphere. The staff are friendly and table service is provided. Food is fab - good mix of snacks and mains. Definitely my favourite pub in Clapham - 9/10.
Emma - 3 Jul 2003 09:22 |
