The Royal Oak

The Royal Oak pub is one of the most delightful I have ever visited.
It is in Painswick, a village of enormous charm constructed almost entirely of local Cotswold stone. The stone has a soft, beautiful beige cast which sets off the darker stone shakes that make the roofs.
The Royal Oak is a perfect example of this lovely architecture.
Due to some rather odd bureaucratic nonsense one can enter the pub to the right of the main entrance or the left. This oddity makes one wonder which is the best side to alight on. If one enters right you will see a fireplace festooned with chalkboard dining options, a small bar, and a piano. We choose to enter right and ordered the excellent local beer (Gold) and got our bearing from the owner/​chef, Michael who helped by making helpful item suggestions.
If one follows the British Telly series «Pie in the Sky», one is bound to be reminded of the late Richard Griffiths for Michael is indeed a man who has created a family in his pub and a pub in his family. The atmosphere is just wonderful and Michael’s staff are clearly part of the act.
I liked the pub instantly and was now curious about Michael’s food. It was all good. I ordered a huge pork rib, so sweet and tender it melted in my mouth. It was surrounded by baby peas and thick chips. My partner ordered battered cod and chips. The fish was fresh, perfectly combined with a light batter, and cooked to perfection. Pudding was a wonderful Spotted Dick so plentiful that we needed to share. During and after our meal we chatted with other patrons, one of whom took to the piano.
Michael is a native of Bristol and allowed me to pick his brain for some local lore at the bar after our meal. He suggested I look in his courtyard and see the way it protects patrons from unwanted breezes. I found it a comfortable place to sit if one wanted quiet. I peeked in the window of the «other» side of the pub and found several patrons watching a game and gossiping. I wanted to go in, but Michael said with a twinkle, «That’s where I put the naughty patrons.» It’s a week bit smaller than the piano side, but just as warm and friendly.
Michael has created an atmosphere that is hard to find almost anywhere and deserves six stars in the pub category.

One of the three pubs in Painswick, and our favorite pub in town! We had such a lovely time here, and spent almost an entire chilly day inside this place! We visited Painswick over easter break. Many establishments and restaurants closed early, but this pub was alive and thriving well into the night! We ate lunch here (which was delicious and well priced) and love the environment so much that we decided we would come back later at night for a couple drinks. This pub is extremely old and cosy, and it really feels like you have stepped back in time!
There is a huge roaring fireplace in the middle of the pub, which was so luxurious for the cold, windy day! The owner and all the waitstaff were extremely friendly and cheerful, and made us feel right at home :) The pub is well sized so that you don’t feel overcrowded, but still has its nooks and crannies and enough room for private conversations. When we returned at night for a couple drinks, two elder couples began playing the old piano by the door and singing to Mary Poppins songs. This is the first time I have ever seen anyone spontaneously play an old piano at a pub, and a lady who said she had grown up in Painswick all her life had never seen anyone play the piano and sing until that day! It was wonderful and delightful, and all the patrons in the pub gathered around and was singing along to mary poppins songs for at least a good half hour! It was the best and most unique Easter celebration I had ever encountered!
This is a great gem of a place and has true character. If you’re ever in Painswick, stop in here you’ll feel right at home!