Royal Oak, Ambleside

About us

The Royal Oak is an old fashion social pub where all are welcome. We have a wide range of ciders, largers, wines and a excellent selection of local cask ales. With strong links to the Keswick Brewery and Winster Valley brewery there is a story to tell behind many of our beers. Our menu is filled with traditional pub food, perfect for filling you up after a day on the hills. From mid day till the sun goes down our beer is bathed in the warm Lakeland sun. If you are in Ambleside come and say hello, have a chat with our team and make yourself a home from home.

Facilities

Beer gardenDisabled facilitiesDogs allowedFamily friendlyFoodReal aleReal fireWiFi freeLive musicCask Marque

Something wrong with this listing?
I'm the licensee - claim my pub

Reviews

1,470 reviews

4.4/5

Caroline Findlay

3 months ago

Royal Oak is a lovely little pub, and the staff are fantastic, but I’m afraid the Vegetarian Goulash I ordered was abysmal. When I saw their speciality was Goulash, and that they did a vegetarian version I was sold and I was really looking forward to getting stuck in. It arrived pretty quickly, and I have to admit that visually it wasn’t very appealing - but I know that looks aren’t everything and it’s all about the taste - except there wasn’t any. Firstly, it was so hot it burned my mouth. So I took to blowing on each spoonful to cool it down, but there was literally no flavour or substance to their “Goulash”. It was just a few large chunks of vegetables, and what I assumed was a dumpling, in a vat of tomato sauce. There was no garlic bread either. I finished it because I was hungry, but I felt really dissatisfied - and still hungry. So much so that afterwards I ended up in the supermarket next door buying crisps and biscuits. Before I turned vegetarian I had eaten Goulash in Hungary, and various Hungarian restaurants in the UK - so I know what Goulash tastes like. What I had at the Royal Oak was nothing like Goulash. I’m sorry to leave such a negative review but I do feel that vegetarians often get overlooked, are served substandard dishes, and are then expected to be grateful for it. In all seriousness I would much rather establishments omitted vegetarian options from their menu, so I can then go find a restaurant that recognises vegetarian customers also have tastebuds.

Andrew Wilkinson

3 months ago

Good food, beer and service. Very busy pub, just after the new year. Would recommend.

Raluca Prisacariu

3 months ago

Great pub, great food, friendly staff, and very quick service. It's definitely a place which you should not skip if going to Ambleside.

James Hotchkiss

5 months ago

Lovely pub to dry off next to the roaring fire, especially as it's now got the Christmas decorations up! Serves the wonderful Goulash that has made the Dog & Gun a must visit location when in Keswick. When we discovered that pub was closed for refurbishment we had to make a trip to Ambleside to get our fix of Goulash. Nice selection of local beers.