Shown in chronological order

The Royal Oak Retains Michelin Star for the third year!

The Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland is traditionally released in January but this year the angst was brought forward - the 2012 guide was released in October. We are very proud to announce that The Royal Oak has retained its Michelin star for a third year.

Michelin stars are widely considered to be the highest accolade in the restaurant industry. Once a restaurant has gained a star they need to continue to work hard and consistently maintain high standards to retain it. There are no guarantees and there is no room for complacency.

Michelin increased the number of starred pub/restaurants from 10 to 13 this year. The Royal Oak is the only pub in the country to hold a Michelin star, 3 AA Rosettes and a 6/10 Good Food Guide rating.

The Restaurant Magazine's Top 100 Restaurants 2012

The 2012 list was announced on 10th October '11. The Royal Oak very pleased to have achieved 39th position. This is an industry award; restaurant owners, chefs, managers and others in the trade are invited to vote for their favourite restaurants. As you'd suspect the panel is critical and the competition is tough. 39th is a very respectable position and one we are proud to have attained.

The Good Food Guide 2012

The Royal Oak Paley Street achieved a 6/10 rating in The Good Food Guide 2012

The Royal Oak is delighted to have achieved a 6/10 rating and to be listed in the Top 50 restaurants in The Good Food Guide 2012 released August 2011.

"All credit has to go to Dominic and his team in the kitchen and Mo and his front of house team." said Nick. "This is further confirmation of the quality and standards we are achieving at The Royal Oak, which makes me very proud".

"THREE" AA Rosettes

'The Royal Oak Paley Street has been awarded 3 AA Rosettes in the annoucements that were released today ' - 13th January 2011

The AA Award 3 Rosettes to Restaurants that they consider 'Outstanding'. To achieve this award a restaurant must consistently achieve a level that demands recognition well beyond their local area. The standard of food is a very important part of the criteria, Other elements that count towards the rating are the professionalism of service and variety and quality of wines served.

Approximately 10% of the restaurants in the AA Restaurant Guide have Three Rosettes and above.

This awards positions The Royal Oak as one of only 2 pub restaurants in the country to hold three AA Rosettes and a Michelin star.

The Good Pub Guide 2011

'County Dining Pub of the Year - Berkshire'

The Good Pub Guide 2011 Awards have been released today (7th October 2010). We are very pleased to announce that The Royal Oak won 'County Dining Pub of the Year' for Berkshire.

Top 50 Gastropub Awards 2010

'The Royal Oak Paley Street voted one of the Top 10 Gastropubs in the UK' - 15th November 2010

The Top 50 Gastropubs Awards are voted for by the hospitality industry and really are their choice of the best in the country. To gain recognition from your peers is a great achievement. They are professionals and will notice every detail. The Oak was awarded 8th position which is true recognition of the consistent hard work and commitment of all of the team at The Royal Oak.

The Independent

By Tracey MacLeod - Saturday 17th April 2010

For Radio 2 listeners of a certain vintage, Sunday lunchtimes will always belong to Michael Parkinson. So Sunday lunch felt like the right time to visit the Royal Oak, Paley Street; more popularly known as Parky's pub.

Food
Ambience
Service

Read more...........

The Royal Oak Receives Michael Winner's 'Best Restaurant Outside of London' Award

11th November 2009

Michael Winner has just released his new book 'Winner's Dinners; The Restaurant and Hotel Guide; Over 600 places to visit, not to visit, to love, to hate!'. The Royal Oak received the 'Best Restaurant Outside of London' Award which was presented to Nick by actor Tom Conti at the book launch that took place in London.

And here's a couple of examples of what the press had to say:-
The Sunday Times
Hotelier

Royal Oak Chef wins Craft Guild Award

1st June 2009

Dominic Chapman, Head Chef at The Royal Oak Paley Street, has been named Pub Chef of the Year.

The accolade was annouced at the Craft Guild of Chef's Award in London, with Dominic being presented with his award by the Guild's Patron, the Countess of Wessex.

See an article published in The Publican Magazine.

The Royal Oak is named AA Restaurant Of The Year, England 2008/2009

Read the full Press Release here

The Royal Oak's Dominic Chapman and Gherras Mo receiving the award at the AA Centenary Awards

Good Food Guide (Best Pub Chef 2009)

Dominic Chapman, head chef at the Royal Oak in Paley Street, Berkshire has been crowned Best Pub Chef and awarded 5/10 in The Good Food Guide 2009.

What the critics say:

The Independent on Sunday, 26 April 2009

Terry Durack, Restaurant Critic of the Year

“Michael Parkinson's pub may have his greatest chat-show hit all over it's walls, but the real star is out in the kitchen ”

See the full article here

Guardian, March 2008

Matthew Norman awarded The Royal Oak 9.25 out of 10

“Everything about the place is spot on, from the warm and cosy décor to the expert and friendly service and nicely balanced wine list…..the undisputed headline act of this show is chef Dominic Chapman.”

Read the full Guardian article here

The Sunday Telegraph, 10 February 2008

Zoe Williams, The Sunday Telegraph, Stella Magazine rated 8 out of 10 February 2008

“Baked Alaska was individually piped and baked to such a beautiful gold that it looked like a fairytale crown. I really enjoyed it. I shall come back whether I am passing or not.”

See the full Sunday Telegraph article here

The Sunday Times, January 2008

Michael Winner

“I’ve never had a better meal than this in my life. This is what cooking should be. Superb ingredients, simple, done with stratospheric skill. If I was giving out Michelin stars Dominic Chapman would have 5.681”

See the full Sunday Times article here

The Guardian, Guide Magazine, November 2008

Humayun Hussain

“Okay, so the place looks like the quintessential country pub, but Chapman’s spot-on cooking isn’t staid or self-consciously period, rather it sparkles with good British seasonal ingredients with just the right hint of adventure.”

Other Awards

24th in Square Meals' Top 50 Restaurants Outside London 2010
The Royal Oak received an 'Excellence Award' from the Zagat Guide 2009. Out of a maximum of 30 points we achieved 24 for Food, 21 for Service and 22 for Decor! - October 2009
BBC's Olive Magazine - 'The Worlds Best Ever Scotch Egg' - October 2009
Voted Number '5' in Eating Out Magazine's Top 100 Pubs Review - June 2009
Craft Guild Pub Chef of the Year Award 2009
Tatler restaurant awards, Best young Chef 2009