Bar/ PubYe Royal Oak

[tange, 03.10.2007] WHERE CAN I FIND THIS LITTLE GEM?

The Royal Oak can be found in an area of Chesterfield known as The Shambles. This place was once part of Chesterfield Market and was originally called The Flesh Shambles the quarter of the market where the butchers plied their trade. Flesh Shambles is named after the place the butchers laid out their meat for sale outside their shops the old word for this surface was Fleshamols.

This part of town consists of a few little streets, once lined with butchers shops, where you will find a few little shops cafes and one pub. The Shambles is on a street called Irongate you can see the pub sign (an oak tree) from the streets surrounding so you should find it ok!

Please note that the pub doesnt open at all on a Sunday and only serves meals at lunchtime plan your visit accordingly!

CONTINUING THE HISTORY LESSON.

The Royal Oak is supposedly one of the towns oldest pubs. If the sign outside is to be believed it was originally a rest house for the Knights Templar during the time of the Crusades The Templars DID have a base at South Normanton, not too far away, but no documentary evidence exists as to whether they rested in Chesterfield. The present building is Tudor, timber framed and was built in the 16th Century. The sign also states that the building first became an Inn in 1722, although the present pub is made up of two distinct buildings from different eras.

Until recently the pub was known as The Royale Oake thankfully it has just dropped the uneccessary Es.

ONCE INSIDE.

The pub has two bars a small one accessible via the top door and a larger bottom bar through the second door.

The small bar has real WOW factor! It is a very narrow room (only wide enough for one row of seats, a row of tables and standing space at the bar; if you put stools at the other side of the tables you have to ask people to move to get past!) but it has a really high timber ceiling and a real smell of history about it. This bar used to be the non smoking area prior to the ban! The only down side is that this bar has no toilet and you have to go outside and through the door into the bigger bar to use that one not bad in summer, but a bit of a pain in winter or if its pouring it down outside.

The larger bottom bar has its own share of history. The whole place has just been sensitively refurbished and they have left some of the original wood in the walls. This bar has toilets as its main selling point. We tend to meet in this room for a drink because there is more room, but when we have a branch meeting me use the quieter, smaller room to be a bit more private.

Both areas are served by the same central bar and you can shout to friends from one to the other if you feel like it. The downside to both is that there is no real access for those with limited mobility. The small bar is very narrow and doesnt give much room for wheelchairs and the bottom bar, although bigger and will allow space, has no disabled toilet.

FOOD & DRINK - THE IMPORTANT STUFF!


There are eight different Real Ales available all priced differently according to strength (from under two quid to £2.40 for the stronger Old Peculier). These beers seem to be quite varied and offer a good choice of styles and strengths to suit most palates. They also have a well stocked array of spirits, soft drinks and other beverages. All the beers we have had so far have been in good shape a few teething troubles to start with (the beer was a bit too warm) seem to have been sorted out.

Food consists of a few daily specials and a nice selection of main meals, snacks, sandwiches and desserts. Snacks range from £1.20 for a portion of chips to £2.10 for soup and a roll. Sandwiches (hot and cold) start at £2.25 up to £2.95 for the chicken, cheese and bacon melt (yum!). Jacket potatoes are a similar price to the sandwiches and also come with a range of fillings. Main courses (including the specials and salads) range from £3.45 up to £4.25 so a meal isnt going to cost the earth and everything is freshly cooked. I can recommend the steak, ale and mushroom pudding and the Cumberland sausages are great (Im reliably informed). There are quite a few vegetarian options too!

ATMOSPHERE & CLIENTELLE.

The pub gets pleasantly full, without being to noisy and has a really friendly atmosphere. The landlord and landlady, even when not working, maintain a presence and are chatty and always on hand. The staff are pretty attentive keeping an eye on people waiting at two bars. They are efficient at clearing tables and top up drinks without being asked a bonus!

Lunchtimes and evenings see a range of people enjoying food (not at night of course), drinks and a chat. There is a good mix of age ranges and people drink comfortably alongside each other whether they are in suits or work clothes. The only concession to loudness is one fruit machine in the corner the atmosphere is created by the hum of conversation and a bit of music from the juke box (if you come in on a Saturday night you may even see the landlord dance!).


SUMMING UP.

Good Points

Reasonably priced good food.
Great selection of drinks varied styles, prices.
Good atmosphere nice client mix, friendly staff.
Lots of history old building with a lot of character.
Town centre location easy to find.
Not too busy.

Bad Points
Disabled access not too good no disabled toilet and top bar very narrow.
Still finding its feet could be busier.
No toilets in the top bar you have to go out and into the other bar (bad weather a problem).
Doesn't open on Sundays.