The Royal Oak — Restaurant in East Staffordshire

From the outside this looks like a nice pub - especially in the sunshine. We thought we’d give it a try given how lovely the other pubs in Barton are. Unfortunately, upon entry you are hit with a cloying, musty smell, like mould and stale cigarettes. It doesn’t get much better from there as the welcome you get from staff is tepid at the very best. Given it was a beautiful day, we asked where the beer garden was. This was a mistake, as it was the most depressing one we’ve ever sat in; akin to a prison yard in appearance and completely devoid of atmosphere. Sitting in the car park out front is definitely preferable, particularly given the bar is full of staring blokes who don’t like to move even an inch to let people through the middle of the room. Would avoid and head into the village if you fancy a nice drink and...

Visited The Royal Oak on Sunday 04 August 2019 after calling in at a local open NGS garden in Barton . The Royal Oak is a traditional local pub with a car park at the front and right-hand side. The bar serving area is unusually sunken lower than the two public rooms .

There were three handpulled real ales on sale and I sampled a good drink of Wychwood Hobgoblin Gold ( on sale for £3.80 a pint). The Royal Oak is in the Camra Good Beer Guide at present and has been included for a number of years.

A outdoor shelter is on the left hand side of the pub facing the car park. Behind that accessed from inside the pub is a large conservatory and a lawned...

A great local pub in a great village, we come here often for a few beers, its great in the summer out in the sun and great in the winter in front of the fire, owners are friendly with great service, they also do regular food pop ups in the car park which is also great, definitely worth the visit, not many of these proper local pubs...