The Royal Oak

Featured reviews

• G

  Google user

  ·1 month ago

  “One of my favourite in the chain. This pub is regularly busy but maintains its level of service and they seem to employ polite, helpful staff. It can get VERY busy at peak times when obviously service levels and wait times may be affected. Definitely an ‘eating’ pub, but there is enough room if you’re just in for a drink. All good.”

• G

  Google user

  ·1 month ago

  “Popped in for a quick pint while shopping. It never ceases to amaze me how low the price of a pint of bitter is. Ruddles was advertised as £2.79, when I came to pay it was only £2.29! I think the girl behind the bar would have rather have been somewhere else and it was not the clearest or fullest pint I have ever had, but at these prices I’ll put up with it. The place itself is a typical Wetherspoons, that’s not a bad thing, plenty of room with a variety of seating including outside area.”

• G

  Google user

  ·1 month ago

  “Food was genuinely nice and reasonably priced, so no complaints there. Unfortunately, the pub appeared to be operating with roughly the staffing levels of a lighthouse. Nobody seemed to be clearing the tables, which meant finding somewhere to sit became a small exercise in hospitality archaeology. We eventually had to move other people's abandoned plates and glasses around ourselves just to create enough table space to eat. It wasn't disastrous, and the food itself was good, but the whole place felt noticeably understaffed. When customers start involuntarily joining the cleaning rota, it is probably a sign that another member of staff might be useful.”

• G

  Google user

  ·2 months ago

  “I have avoided all Wetherspoons establishments up until now but, having difficulty finding a pub that served both food and real ale, I gave this one a try. Took a while to get the barmaid's attention and, when I did, the service was not friendly. I had looked at the busy and confusing menu and I asked for a burger. She said nothing about the burger + drink offer so I had to prompt her to mention it. I ordered a 'classic' burger and a pint of Doom Bar. The burger arrived almost immediately and it soon became clear why. It was about as basic as you can get and the chips were a little undercooked. Clearly, the food is prepared in advance and it waits for you rather than the other way round. I didn't enjoy what I ate of it, which was probably less than half. The beer was OK but not the fab pint Doom Bar is at its best. I paid something like £8.75 for my burger + pint. As they sell Doom Bar for £2.35 a pint, that means my 'classic' burger & chips cost around £6.40. Cheap, yes, but not enjoyable. And the beer did not taste like a premium Cornish ale should taste.* I accept that the Wetherspoons chain of pubs are not aimed at the likes of me and many people, who put buying cheaply above buying taste and quality, rate it highly. It was an interesting experience to try a Wetherspoons but wild horses wouldn't drag me into one again. A business cannot sell food and drink as cheaply as this without cutting a few corners and I'd rather pay more for better quality and the atmosphere of a proper pub. It's sad that so many of our venerable old pubs have been 'spooned' and are now little more than drinking dens. *I've since learned that the production of Doom Bar has been switched from Cornwall to Burton, which might explain the difference in taste.”

• G

  Google user

  ·2 months ago

  “This is your average Wetherspoons pub. It has no real historical features like some so is unremarkable in that way. Usual good quality, low priced food, drinks and speedy service. Outside area, wheelchair access and helpful, friendly staff (holding doors open, we went with one in a wheelchair). This is a town centre pub with no car park but car parking is close by.”

• G

  Google user

  ·7 months ago

  “First time visit. Good choice of Ales and busy, but let down by dirty tables when the staff did clean them it was not really done with care and attention. Chips on the floor paper on the floor all missed and the toilets smell awful 😖 Perhaps I caught them on a bad day but certainly not 1 of the best Witherspoons I've been in.”

• G

  Google user

  ·1 year ago

  “The interior is clean, modern enough and spacious, lots of seating and the layout is good. Staff are friendly and kind, and provide good levels of customer services. The food itself is actually pretty good for the price you pay and it makes eating out a lot more affordable. Toilets were clean, WiFi works well and the unlimited coffee is a huge bonus. Definitely a good place to eat in Dorchester.”

• G

  Google user

  ·1 year ago

  “Very good and quick service. Always very busy depending on times. You know what you are getting at weatherspoons and value for money. Free WiFi and toilets were pretty clean. The only problem I had was that it was so cold in there.”

• G

  Google user

  ·1 year ago

  “Another visit to this very pleasant Spoons. I really liked this branch. Staff were very helpful, food was ok. There wasn't time to read the usual wall hangings to celebrate the local area and people. It's often the best way to get to know the history of an area. But there was plenty of it. I loved the finish of the place. Great to hang out, eat and drink.”

• G

  Google user

  ·2 years ago

  “The manager, 24 yeah old boy, with a couldn’t care less attitude. These pictures are from the second time I requested edible salad on my meal and clean, free from limescale cutlery (a little would’ve been acceptable but it was absolutely coated, these pictures are from when we tried to wipe them after we got a second set from the manager). He thought this standard was acceptable, said the rocket was out of a fresh packet except the rocket I got was only slightly less slimy and rotten. Most of the leaves have rotted and wilted away. It’s all kids running this place now so there’s not even a standard to abide by. I’d be thought at least serving edible food would be rock bottom but it appears the bar is lower.”