The Royal Oak

Oh Dear! What in Harvey’s name has happened to this pub? Has it changed hands? It has always been a pleasure to visit this pub and receive a warm welcome from the hospitable landlord, Frank, and swap the occasional story and beer with him.

However shock and horror upon my return here with my wife yesterday (Sunday afternoon at 5pm) for another anticipated pleasurable visit only to be confronted by a surly foul-mouthed man across the bar professing to be the Licensee and repeatedly shouting at us to “f….off, and get out” whilst I was trying to politely explain to the barmaid that the bottom of a glass retains the heat for quite a while after the glass has come out of the glasswasher. My explanation was regrettably necessary as the barmaid (whom I had never seen in here before) had accidentally served me a pint of draught mild in a hot glass despite my request when ordering for her to please make sure that the bottom of the glass was cold – a request which the barmaid unfortunately did not appear to understand.

Apparent attempts by the other barman to calm down “the Licensee” were to no avail and my wife and I accordingly departed amid further tirades of “f….off and get out” from the professed “Licensee” who refused to supply his name or cease swearing. A most unpleasant experience for my wife and I tinged with sadness at the rapid decline in the standard of service at this hitherto much-loved pub.