Royal Oak

No longer «The Royal Oak», renamed. «Shortts» and on. this visit, quie the mixed bag.
On the plus side, the staff are lovely, welcoming, warm and very Irish, which us no bad thing.
The décor is simple, but with an interesting ceiling! ‘
But, the roast I had was pretty dire. Tough beef, raw veg, and not a full plate. But the gravy was good and how wrong can you go with Aunt Bessies roast potatoes (!!!)
So, not a bad pub, just a bad roast. Come for one, avoid the other.

Since being taken over this pub has become really nice. The interior is pleasantly decorated, the drinks selection is great and the food is yummitastic. I ate there two nights in a row last week it was so good. The staff are really friendly too.

Having since been taken over by The Basketmakers in North Laine, this place has much improved. Offers a good atmosphere and super MASSIVE meals at a reasonable price. Highly recommended !

Since it’s refurbishment last summer, this place has become a great modern pub with a vintage European feel. The ceiling at the front is adorned with old jazz posters — Ella, Cole, Sinatra, Miles — but still has a light airy atmosphere thanks to the big windows and high ceilings.
Let’s face it though, I come here for the best roast dinner in Brighton! The nut roast and pork belly are to die for — but even without those you’d still be drooling over the veg. Cheesy leaks, roasted beefwood and squash, carrot crisps, Yorkshire puds… I can’t get over how food this dinner is — and I typically hate the English roast! Sold and converted here. A disciple to the chef.
Also give the bloody mary’s a try — they’re not half bad either and make a great appetiser.

I don’t think that the Oak deserves the previous ratings. Yes, it’s a bit scruffy, and I count myself among those who can’t stand football. But in most other pubs a large screen showing the lates premiership league match would have probably made me feel very uncomfortable (probably because of the kind of crowd such a piece of high tech displaying a bunch of loonies running after a ball often seems to attract) whereas in here it didn’t.
It’s the kind of place which you can walk past for years (over six years, in my case) without actually noticing it, but last week I went there for the first time with a few friends. Seeing the ceiling plastered with posters of some of my favourite punk bands from my teenage years actually caused me some nostalgic feelings, although it also made me painfully aware of how old I had become. The imortant thing though about any pub is how friendly the staff and other customers are, and it is one of the reasons why I felt very comfortable here. The food was also good, and the other people in our group seemed to think the same.
The only downside are the toilets I found them so disgusting that I almost feel inclined to just give them three stars, but because the Oak made me feel very welcome, I’m feeilng generous and I’m sure I’ll be returning.

The Oak is a riot, without the placards and general meaning. This is a traditional live music pub, with lots of guitar bands thrashing their strings wildly and drummers trying to beat their way through your ear drums. On a band night in the summer, this place is packed and feels a bit like the 70’s, except with more Fred Perry. Prepare to get your elbows wet with beer on the bar, dance by tables and go home with a stranger. Good wholesome fun.

This is a nice pub to go if you’re just looking to just have a pint and chat with a few friends. It’s not especially busy, and it’s quite the cozy place, and the older clientele give this pub a different feeling from the rest.
Most of the people inside were just looking to wind down and relax, talk about Football, or just vent their life’s frustrations. As the tables are close together, it’s easy to pick-​up on a conversation people are having next to you, and, as it’s a friendly atmosphere, it’s even easier to just jump right in and make small talk. Out of all the pubs I’ve been to, this was the one that gave me the most comforting feel, which is something I look for after a stressful day at work. No nonsense, no loud noise, just you, a few friends, kind strangers, and a lot of beer.

The Oak ca easily be missed with such stylish competitors near by and to be honest I didn’t notice it until a year after I moved in up the road. Although some people might find its tradtionalness refreshing in the middle of all the gay bars and groovy hangouts
Its a little bit of an old man’s pub, particularly as its the only place to watch sport in Kemptown. Its does have a fairly nice beer garden over two levels, with palms and shrubbery.
Its you’re looking to watch a match its your only choice in the area, but I would advise it for food for prolonged drinking session.

The Oak is a nice, friendly local pub, with a mixed clientele.
It’s not the flashest place in the world, and St James St certainly has posher places to offer. However, if you want a pint and a chat with the friendly bar staff, this is the place to go.
It’s a long, thin place. The main seating area is at the front, and although traditional in feel is still light and airy. The primary attraction for me though is the sheltered, sunny garden at the back. The high walls keep out the sea breezes, and in summer there is often a barbeque.
The annual ‘Oakfest’ also takes place here.

I don’t know why I hadn’t noticed the Royal Oak in a year of living in Kemptown, perhaps because its not exactly a hot spot for the young and fabulous but its still a reasonable Brighton local.
With it’s brightly coloured exterior fits in with the fun shops and bars along St James Street. The interior is pretty traditional ad it has a big outside garden with benches which is fab in the summer months. Its a refreshingly traditional Brit pub in the midst of ail the über trendy bars & restaurants.
As a self confessed sports pub most major sporting events can be seen advertised on the boards outside, its one of the only places in Kemptown you can watch a game on the big screen.,

Ok, seeing as it’s the only place in Kemp Town that actually shows the football on Sky, if you actually like watching football you might give this place more stars. I, however, do not and there was nothing about this pub which made up for the fact that I had been dragged there to watch some ‘important’ match. Bland, unremarkable and there’s no reason to go here (apart from the big screen) over the many, lovely drinking establishments in the vicinity.

This pub is really crap to be honest. But you can watch the football here. And it has passable London Pride on tap. Ugh.