The Royal Oak — Restaurant in London

Situated roughly halfway down Ewell Road, not too far off Tolworth Roundabout, overseeing a consistently busy, yellow hatched intersection, this detached grey building with green bricked exterior sticks out among the diverse range of regionally specific convenience stores.

The exterior evokes a particular, arguably unfair, "rough" pub stereotype. Expected stunned silence and outsider status on arrival, instead met with spacious seating, table service and extensive food and drink options. Quite the juxtaposition.

Grand Funk Railroad plays out on the speakers, I opt for a Guinness (excellent pour), take a seat next to the meat fridge, and peruse the menu - steaks, burgers, fish, picky bits - it's a gastro pub menu but looks fancier. A £99 steak sticks out to me, "Has anyone ever finished this?" I ask. The server says "It's meant for 4 people". I've been watching too many BeardMeatsFood videos.

My Richard Holmes history books do extend to Tolworth, and The Royal Oak is rich in history. Dating back to 1861, it had Tolworth Fountain opposite (1903-1936) before being demolished for road widening. In 1931, then Landlady Florence Wedderburn was convicted for selling diluted whisky, a hefty £10 fine was issued. Moving swiftly to the 1990s, and the pub was run by Leila Williams, Miss Great Britain in 1957, and a Blue Peter Presenter from 1958-1962 no less, and her husband was Fred Mudd, former singer of The Mudlarks.

The inferior whisky was only served to those not allowed in the saloon bar, and while the booze quality improved, the divide remained until 1984 when it was then made a single bar. Sold to Scottish & Newcastle in 1998, it's unclear who owns it now, but the current management look to have been there for 6-8 years judging by the socials.

I sent this pub on to a few people, and it seems like I'm the last to discover it. A good reminder to keep an open mind and the joys of just "dipping" into a pub for one. Definitely a case of not judging a book by its cover, but beauty is in the eye of the...

It's a nice pub, but it's in the wrong place, it thinks it's in the heart of yuppy land in London, and even then the prices don't stack up.

Looking at the menu, food is good honest basic food but London prices which makes it significantly over priced for it's location.

Same can be said for the drink prices, one beer and a very tiny bottle of coke is £13.50

Even in Lester square in London a beer and a bottle of pop would not go through the £10 mark.

Which explains why the place is empty even mid evening on a Saturday night.

Others at the next table where doing what we were, popping in for a beer before walking up the road to the restaurant which are plentiful nearby.

Bottom line, it's a place to try for a single beer but you won't go back unless you have deep pockets, can't imagine they get much repeat custom.

Walk five minutes further to the prince of Wales, always busy, nice vibe and reasonable prices.

Sorry Royal Oak, but you need to revisit your...

First impressions never seem to last, first time in this bar tonight Friday 6th July.

Good selection of drinks on offer with limited selection of spirits. Quick service and l was told that they do good food. There is a jukebox but if staff don’t like your choice of music they switch the machine off. I spotted banknotes on the wall and enquired if they where hung up due to being fake, no was the reply we just do not accept Scottish or Irish bank notes, this sounded rather racist I informed her as all Scottish and Irish notes are legal tender all over Britain.

I would have recommended this bar if it was not for this issue of racism.

I would have rated this place 5 stars but the bank notes in the wall was pretty shame-full, shame on you. A bar...