The Royal Oak

Good riddance to the supercilous idiot who ran it — Simon.

I’m undecided what to write about this pub.
We were recommended it by a friend and so the lover and his family and I went for Sunday lunch here.
It was okaaaay.
I think that I would have given it a 3 star, but everyone else was raving about how wonderful their beef was.
The pub itself is great… clearly an old old pub that has seen many a pint of ale go through it! There was just something rankling me about the atmosphere in the pub. You know that atmosphere you have when you walk into a room when an argument has clearly just finished? It was quiet, especially for a Sunday. All the customers were in hushed conversations and well I don’t know. couldn’t put my finger on it. you see, i shouldn’t have felt that… they had a dog bowl of water outside, so dogs must be allowed in, which usually gets a 5* from me immediately!
So anyway, the food was fine in my opinion. as I said everyone else loved their food I found the nut roast a bit dull and potatoes not crispy enough, but adequate.
Not sure i’d go back for sunday lunch, but certainly for a pint of cyder!

Great pub, used to love popping in when I was in Bristol, especially for the rugby. If you visit look for Big Bri, one of the locals normally sat at the bar! Great friend of mine, superb knowledge of the local history of Bristol!

What a lovely little local pub, with thoroughly friendly staff. It’s not the most stylish, the most chic, of establishments, but it’s got the hang of being a pub, and that’s all it really has to do. This is clearly not a student hotspot; it’s the choice for a quiet ale on a Sunday.
The reason this pub stayed in my mind after my visit was the welcome I received from the bartender. She evidently knew all the people in there as I’m sure it’s the sort of pub that has its handful or regulars, and she chatted to me in just the same, familiar way. You don’t get that sort of warm atmosphere in every shabby old pub. If I lived in this neighbourhood I would definitely give them my regular custom.
Another thing I noticed was their lovely ladies’ loos! Well maintained, and warmed by a little radiator, the bathroom reflected the slightly old-​fashioned care that goes into this humble British pub.

Marvellous pub in Clifton, well kept beers and the most wonderfully well kept Thatchers Heritage. Nice bar food and excellent Sunday roasts with tables for dining at the rear. Love it.

The Royal Oak is a real rugby pub and opens to show all the matches and to serve lager and ales. Its a small pub and only gets really busy at the weekends or when the Rugby is on.