The Royal Oak

Once again an absolutely stunning Sunday lunch from Matt and the team. Truely superb 👏👏👏

Sat in The Royal Oak after an amazing meal. The flavours were beautifully put together and both the Pork Belly and Sea Bass(Catch of the day) were absolutely delicious and well presented. Well worth the walk into South Cerney. 10/10.

Had Sunday lunch here, undoubtedly the best vegetarian roast I’ve ever had. I was told the meat versions and the burger were also splendid.

Lovely warm welcome, didn't book for Sunday lunch but found a table for us. Sunday roast was amazing, 4 different meats plenty of vegetables and the gravy was homemade thick full of flavour.

We visited the Royal Oak after a lovely hike around this beautiful village. We spotted this pub on the main street and thought let’s give it a go! We were greeted by the lovely Sophie who managed to fit us in even though it was Sunday lunchtime and we hadn’t booked. The place is very well decorated inside and we could see from our table there was also a well maintained garden with plenty of tables which would be perfect for sunny days. Sophie was an amazing hostess, so friendly and helpful! All the other staff were lovely too. Service was attentive but not overwhelming, we felt looked after even though they were busy. Our food looked stunning and tasted unbelievable! I had the king prawns and lobster bisque linguine and oh boy, my mouth was in heaven! The prawns were really tender and there were lots of them, enough to have one with every single forkful of pasta. The bisque was one of the best ones I’ve ever tasted and the pasta was perfectly cooked for my liking but if you like it aldente I think you probably better off asking for it as it wasn’t cooked that way. Unfortunately I couldn’t fit dessert in but the dessert menu looked spot on! I realise my feedback my look like they’ve paid me to do it because I’m so complimentary but they’re honestly that good Hahaha! Already planning on coming back for my birthday next week 😃 Big compliments to the chefs 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Had a lovely pub lunch after a swim in the local lakes. Staff we very good with our little one, they had high chairs available and a large toilet for baby changing. The food was delicious - I was very jealous of the fish & chips my partner had but was sated by my own dish of gnocchi :D Children's menu was a decent sized portion (which is reflected in the price) so be prepared for potential leftovers! Cosy pub -- will definitely be stopping by again!

Great food and very reassuring regarding food allergies. Very cleaned. Staff were polite and welcoming. Ambient was warm and welcoming with a few cute dogs around. Music was awe!

Recommended by a friend, first time diner at The Royal Oak. Good atmosphere even on a Tuesday evening. Sun was shining so we enjoyed the lovely beer garden. The food was delicious. I had the 8oz sirloin and cleared my plate. A friend had the Chef’s special pie, lots of lovely fresh veg and creamy mash. Pub was clean and tidy. The toilets were nicely decorated, modern and clean and the hand cream was amazing! Highly recommend a visit if you’re visiting the Cotswolds/Swindon area.

Staying locally for a short family trip and came across this pub/restaurant when researching good places to have a quality meal. Definitely left fully satisfied. The food was fresh and full of flavour, we ordered the chicken, leak and ham pie special with mash and the trio of wild garlic sausages with mash and gravy, the service impeccable too. Thank you Royal Oak!

Popped into this local pub for lunch after reading glowing reviews since new management. Really impressed!! Service, food and atmosphere all excellent. Great to have such a marvellous pub right on our doorstep at last! We had risotto and fish and chips in the lovely sunny garden - both were very well presented and tasted great. Priced quite reasonably as well. Plan to come here regularly !!!

Wonderful Pub a must visit if you are staying at the Cotswold Water Park or worth the journey if not. Booked for midweek Lunch, food was excellent, reasonably priced and very very tasty, beautiful interior, exactly what you would hope for in a village pub and the attentive staff were amazing and so welcoming, chocolate tart was a definite hit, well worth the calories! Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend and would definitely return when next back in the area, well worth a visit.

We had a lovely Sunday lunch. The roast beef was delicious and the staff were friendly and attentive..

We were staying local so thought we'd try the Royal Oak for a Sunday Roast lunch. It didn't disappoint, great food, I had the pork which I can highly recommend and my wife had the beef of which she said was lovely. The service was great, really friendly staff and the pub has a great warm atmosphere. A must go if you're looking for quality food.

We visited on Christmas Eve, fantastic atmosphere, great food and beer. The pub was very busy, as we were with family and friends the landlord (John) kindly made space for us in a snug that had a dartboard. Would absolutely visit again and would highly recommend.

Had a delicious roast dinner here today. Food was plentiful, very tasty, hot and very reasonably priced. The staff were very welcoming and friendly! Great atmosphere and lovely and warm, with a log fire going in the restaurant. Highly recommend this lovely local pub.

My husband and I moved to South Cerney 3 years ago and have always loved the village pub vibe, taking many visitors for food and or a drink. The Royal Oak was not really the place we took people to, for a number of good reasons. The place then came under new management and I can honestly say, it is now the place we always bring people to. It is such a nice pub for many reasons. Friendly with a great atmosphere Efficient service Excellent food Plenty of staff to prevent you waiting too long for your food and drinks. Entertainment Nice garden during the good weather. The biggest compliment to the Royal Oak, is that we have decided to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary there.

Really enjoyed your first Bottomless Brunch, thank you! Fab platters of food, Prosecco and atmosphere….it really was a great Saturday afternoon! Can’t wait for the next one!

Celebrated our golden wedding anniversary here with our family and it felt like we were visiting a family member who had pulled out all the stops to make it special The food was fantastic and best meal I have had in a long time. Service and atmosphere were great and Jon was so helpful and attention to detail from the moment we booked to the moment we left. Would highly recommend

Such a lovely village pub and really welcoming environment. The staff were all so friendly, as were the locals. Something we loved is that the pub clearly does loads for the community including a men’s mental health evening, pub quiz and after school specials on a Friday. Really great to see in such a lovely cosy place.

The Royal Oak is an absolute gem! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was welcoming and relaxed — and being dog friendly was a huge bonus for us. We came for the Sunday roast and it was honestly one of the best we’ve ever had — perfectly cooked, generous portions, and all the trimmings done to perfection. The food throughout was incredible, and you can tell there’s real care in the kitchen. A special mention to Janette, who made the whole experience even better with her friendly, attentive service. She made us feel right at home. If you’re looking for a proper pub with amazing food, great service, and a place your dog can join you, The Royal Oak is a must-visit.

Delicious food, excellent service and lovely atmosphere. Dined here as a family of 7 adults and 4 children, we were given a lovely private area upstairs. The staff were so attentive and the food was yummy.

Very nice local pub, good friendly service & fantastic food. We went on a Sunday & had the roast, huge selection & perfectly cooked.

We had a fantastic experience at The Royal Oak! The food was absolutely outstanding. A special thank you to Jonathan and the chef, who went above and beyond to accommodate our group of 13. Their willingness to meet our needs really stood out. All of the staff were incredibly helpful, warm, and friendly, making the whole evening feel relaxed and enjoyable. Highly recommend for anyone looking for great food and exceptional service

12 adults and 4 children went for Sunday lunch to celebrate a 40th birthday, we had a great room all to ourselves, delicious food and the staff could not have been more attentive and welcoming. Thank you for a lovely time

Great food and excellent service. Also easily accommodated our 2 German Shepherds without any fuss. Highly recommended

The new owners have really turned this place around. Probably now the best pub food in the area and have a great entertainment schedule at the weekend which makes it great to pop along for a drink. Definitely would recommend

Pop in last night for our first evening meal out in a while - what fantastic food and service. Well done Jon and team. We can highly recommend.

A lovely afternoon at the first bottomless brunch. Great entertainment, atmosphere , service and food. Will definitely be going back!!

What a great welcome by Jon and his team! Thank you. Having never been to The Royal Oak before, and having booked a table for 10 (my wife and myself, sons, wives and grandchildren) for Sunday lunch I was a little anxious before arrival that it would all go well. I need not have worried at all! Jon had allocated a private room upstairs with games for the grandchildren and complimentary sharing nibbles were provided as soon as we sat down. We were all delighted with our food and the friendly staff could not have been more attentive, and at the end I went to thank the chef and his team because the food was truly excellent. There is a 12.5% DISCRETIONARY service charge and I was very happy to pay that because we had a wonderful time . Thank you to everyone at The Royal Oak.

We visited Royal Oak on Saturday as we were staying in the local area. The pub has a fantastic room located on the 1st floor called the Hideaway, we were a group of 20 including adults and children, the space was perfect for our party, with darts and games for the children to play. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. As we enjoyed the first evening there, I emailed the following day to see if we could return for the next evening, and I had a quick confirmation. All of our party had nothing but praise for it. Great venue!

Had a brilliant visit here recently! The food was absolutely gorgeous - fresh, full of flavour, and really well presented. The atmosphere was spot on too: warm, welcoming, and exactly what you want from a great pub. The service was excellent - friendly, attentive, and nothing was too much trouble. You can tell the staff genuinely care about making sure everyone has a good time. Will definitely be back again soon. Highly recommend!

We visited today after seeing the good reviews of the roast dinner and it certainly didn’t disappoint! Every part of the dinner was delicious, the roast potatoes were also proper roast potatoes, actually crispy on the outside! The puddings were lovely as well! Service from each of the wait staff was to a very high standard and the setting of the pub is nice and cosy! Will definitely be revisiting and recommending to friends and family!

We just have had a Sunday lunch at the Royal Oak with our family of 5. The service was brilliant, the food was incredible, with the roast being one of the nicest we have ever had. They had some good choice of drinks and toys for the kids. The fires were on and the seats were just perfect to add to the welcoming atmosphere.

Lovely pub, great atmosphere, the live band were brilliant! The 19 year old waiter whose mum was the singer in the band, provided excellent service with a really friendly manner. The food was wonderful.

A True Christmas Miracle! 🎄 If you’re looking to dive headfirst into the holiday spirit, look no further! My wife and I popped in on the off-chance they’d have a table for us this Christmas 2025, and oh my goodness—what an absolute treat it was! From the moment we walked in, we were blown away. The atmosphere was magical and the service was truly second to none. I was lucky enough to snag the Chicken Kiev off the specials board, and it was nothing short of spectacular! Keep your eyes peeled for it, because you do not want to miss out. The real magic, however, comes from the people. Huge credit to the talented chef and the vibrant young staff who made our visit so special. It’s all led by John, the manager—and honestly, his leadership is inspiring. You can tell the whole team loves being there; they are such a happy, driven group of people. I almost hate to give away my new favorite "hidden gem," but I couldn’t keep this to myself. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed! Merry Christmas Everyone...❄️☃️

I booked for a large group and we all had an enjoyable meal. We did have several fussy eaters with nothing on the main menu suiting them. The Chef catered for them and was able to provide a burger. It would be nice to see this option on the menu though. The staff were great and the service was quick.

Visited on Valentine's Day. Great food, service not so great (long wait to order, long wait for food, bill wrong twice and was overcharged for a food item but even when it was corrected the waitress gave the wrong change) but the staff were nice and the atmosphere was good.

Was super excited to visit here for my belated birthday meal with family after reading the reviews, sadly left disappointed. Half the starters were not available, no mussels or fish at all, I know things happen and it was explained to us they hadn’t had a fish delivery - which we were fine about. But then, only after ordering, a waiter came back to tell us that there was no scotch egg either! So we decided to cancel starters and just order a main course. The server, a tall chap in an apron was a sweetheart and friendly, a credit to the establishment. It was busy “ish” for a Saturday night. Seemed to feel like forever before the mains came with no feedback (50 min wait, but ok we don’t mind). My brother and I had the pies - one venison and one beef shin. For £25 each, it was what both of us decided was like a posh Cornish pasty - barely any meat mixed in with celery, carrot and onions with only a small layer of mashed potato underneath. It tasted ok, but not quite what you think of in ordering a pie at a nice restaurant and very disappointing - no we didn’t say anything f because by then we were so hungry we just wanted to eat. My other brother had nice fish and chips and my husband the steak, they were fine. What was slightly embarrassing was that my husband had a side of purple sprouting that looked decidedly like standard broccoli, he was assured by the waiter (different man) that it was definitely spring greens - husband was happy enough with the answer and thanked him but then the waiter decided to go get the box of fresh spring greens to prove it, whereas I understand he was more than likely just trying to be friendly it came across a little uncomfortable and husband was a bit upset about it as he’d been fine with the original answer. Didn't bother with desserts as by then we all had decided we couldn’t be bothered. I’m sure it’s a lovely experience on other nights and we just unlucky.

Really disappointed we went for an evening meal to celebrate our anniversary. We ordered our food. After a long wait we were given someone else’s order. So then had to wait almost 40 minutes for our food to arrive. There was only another couple and ourselves in the restaurant. And a couple in the bar area. After finishing we then had another wait to be offered the pudding menu. We paid the bill and on checking it. We found we had been overcharged by £9. The service was very slow. The staff did not seem to pay attention to the customers waiting for food. The food was good. But wont be coming back

Really disappointing, reading all the good reviews was hoping for a lovely Sunday dinner but was up there with worst I've had and over £20 with service charge applied to the bill. Tiny portion and poor quality.