The Royal Oak - Pub in Ulverston — Restaurant in England

Updated review 2019: What a difference 2 years (and a new land lady) can make, and I don't mean this in a good way. To start with there are no menus, just a limited number of options on a number of black boards (which aren't next to each other). There were a couple of options which weren't ready - one of which wouldn't be ready for over an hour and a half. Once we'd ordered and the food had arrived, it was average at best. To be honest, it was all pretty bland. Wetherspoons or McDonald's may have been a better option, which is not something I find myself saying very often. There were also no dessert options, although the kids did get ice cream.

The real 'fun' began when we came to pay. The iPhone used to handle card payments appeared to have run out of charge, so we were asked if we could pay cash. We didn't have any cash on us, so we had to wait until the land lady sorted the iPhone out. We were also told the place is cash only and that it says so on the website - which it does not. The barman offered to make the payment for us later if we transferred the money to his bank account - very odd. Obviously we declined the offer. We ended up having to wait around for at least 30 minutes while the payment situation was sorted, during which time at no point did the land lady apologise or offer us drinks while waited. In fact she didn't even speak to us at all. When were able to make the payment it was all handled by the barman, who was very helpful but said he was only there helping out for a couple of more weeks. The land lady simply glared at me as though the situation had been my fault, then she stormed off.

On top of all that, there were no games for the kids to play, like there had been in 2017. And there was no toilet paper in the men's toilets.

All in all a very disappointing experience, especially given how nice it was a couple of years ago. Sadly we won't be back in the future.

Original review from 2017 (4 stars): The best pub grub we found in our week staying in Lowick. The staff were very welcoming and there were board games available for the kids to play with while we waited for the food. The only negative thing is there was some confusion with the dessert order which then took quite a while to arrive. Other than that, I'd thoroughly recommend this pub for food - especially The...

We were visiting for the first time and can definitely say will never be going back! The whole experience from arriving to leaving was atrocious- we booked for 7.15pm and eventually received our meals nearly 1 1/2:hours later .... this after sitting there for 45 minutes before the lady (we presume was the manager) apologised for us being ignored + had presumed our order had been taken! The meals arrived and one was completely wrong resulting in family almost finishing theirs before the last one arrived .... in the midst of this there was a massive leak from the ceiling to the side of our table which poured down the wall soaking our table + splashing us! We reported this to various members of staff and to say their appreciation of the situation was bewildering + shocking (they literally ignored the severity of the situation) The owner apologised to us on several occasions and offered free pudding as an apology for (in her words) a terrible night but this was now approaching 10pm and after everything we had endured + given the late timing who in the right mind wants to be eating that do late! The bill came (which came to over £100 + we were told that just the 2 puddings for the children wouldn't be charged (the adults couldn't eat anything else so late) we asked if there would be an offer for the inconvenience + maybe reduction of the bill - we were told no just the children's pudding + were offered another drink! We just wanted to leave as soon as we could + feel appalled with the whole experience! We are a very easy going family but tonight was a really disgusting experience we wish to never have...

Appalling Service! Took my partner tonight for his birthday, we had tempura prawns and chicken wings to start which we couldn't fault, the mains I chose beef and potatoe pie which came with mash but I asked for chips instead, my partner chose dry aged duck. When the meals came out the pie still had mash so she took it back to the kitchen to change, in the mean time my partners duck at £35 was going cold so I said for him to start his meal, but the waitress hadn't given us forks, when I mentioned this to her she argued the fact that she had given us forks, I said that was for the starters you took them away, once my meal was eventually ready the duck was stone cold and ruined, we had no salt, pepper, vinegar on the table I had to ask for that as well, the place was freezing cold the plug socket was hanging off the wall with wires hanging out, and when we went to pay they asked if we'd had gins we said no, didn't ask if we'd enjoyed our meal or anything just took our money, didn't say thanks, goodbye just turned and spoke to someone else at the bar, very very rude! For the price of £79.90 we expected far better service, very dissapointing for a birthday meal out, and not sure why you wouldn't have the fire lit on a cold night. We definitely won't be...