About Us
We are a beautiful, traditional village pub. Friendliness and a cosy atmosphere are key to the pub’s success.
Our excellent homemade food, cask ales and eclectic wine list attracts customers from all over the country as well as the locals. There are no fruit machines, juke boxes or pool tables (although darts, skittles and other traditional pub games are a big part of the pub’s weekly life). The quality of its beers has seen the Royal Oak at the top of the Campaign for Real Ale’s Good Beer Guide for over 30 years.
We’re very family-friendly both inside and out. We have a separate room to some of the dining areas, catering especially for children. These can include high chair and colouring books available to entertain little ones. Outside, we have a beer garden and children’s play area with swings and a slide.
We are wheelchair accessible, and we have a disabled toilet facility.
Outside we have a beer garden for those lovely warm summer evenings. There’s a pretty, cobbled covered seating area at the front of the pub.
Our ‘Roots Room’, seating up to 80 people, hosts a multitude of events throughout the year from live music to theatre, big band concerts to parties. And we have smaller rooms too for smaller events and get-togethers.
Every year we hold larger events too, like our October and May Day Bank Holiday anniversary beer festivals or the Boxing Day Steam Rally. Outside live music events are always popular too. Not to mention Skittles Nights. See our events calendar for what’s going on in any month.
Call in for details and directions and to pick up your guides and maps for one of the many lovely country walks in the area.
We always have a selection of award-winning cask ales (as well as one permanent Bass pump and three guest beers) and draught ciders.
We also serve delicious hot food at lunchtime and most evenings.
We have a variety of rooms available for hire, including our large function room. Our small rooms cater for approx 20 people, and our function room can cater for approx 80 people. It is available for: Private Parties, Birthday Parties, Anniversary Parties, Discos, Dinner Parties, Celebration Nights, Weddings, Skittle Nights, Sports Nights, Film and Slide Nights, Charity Nights, Christenings and any other Celebrations.
Contact us about availability and to find out more about our catering facility – we can cater for up to 80 people.
Our History
Since built in 1762, it has remained a public house. The Royal Oak has been run by the Wilson family since the coronation year of 1953, and as a free house since 1989.
1762
William Peat, a weaver from the village of Ockbrook, bought the house and turned it into a public house in 1762. It remained in the Peat family for 130 years. He choose the name ‘Royal Oak’ as it commemorated the flight of King Charles I when he hid in an Oak tree to avoid Cromwell’s soldiers. Although that was in 1651 and in the County of Shropshire, it was a good strong royal name.
1814
The 'Ockbrook Male Friendly Society' was established in 1814. They held their annual feast day on Whit Tuesday at the Royal Oak, During the Peat’s family ownership.
1898
In 1898 the Peat family sold the business to Offilers Brewery for £3920.
1910
The first Landlord under Offilers was William Lambert. In 1910, during his tenancy, a new clubroom was built where annual dinners were held for the newly formed ‘Ockbrook Shaving and Swearing Club’
1914-1918
During the first World War the Clubroom was home to German Prisoners.
The Lamberts were followed by the Dolman Family, then the Simms Family.
1953
In 1953, Coronation year of Queen Elizabeth II, Olive Wilson took over the licence at the Royal Oak. Offilers Brewery were still the owners, but they sold out to Charrington in 1965. Subsequently merged with Bass in 1967. More recently Bass have been taken over by Coors.
1989
The Wilson family bought the Royal Oak in 1989, making it a free-house.
2023
Platinum anniversary 70 years in the family.