Royal Inn on the Park

The Royal is my local, and I go in there very often just for a drink and when me and my partner feel lazy we go there for food as well. We both work in the same industry and the Royal is possibly one of the most consistent and delightful places to visit. It's perfect on a hot summer day (great beer garden on the park), and it is also fantastic on a cold winter day (sitting by the fire with a hearty homemade stew).

The food is fantastic, it changes every day and only uses seasonal ingredients, of the finest quality too, which is perfect for us locals as it means that we never get bored of the menu. The selection of beers is also very classy with a lot of local ales. The wine list is perfect and certainly not overpriced considering the quality of some of the wines.

The staff are always smiling and very very helpful, and genuinely feels like they are always looking forward to seeing you. Sundays get very busy so I reccomend you get there early.

It is a true PUB in the real sense of the world (what most other pubs have lost), fantastic seasonal food, friendly service and good drinks, with the best relaxed atmosphere!! Definitely worth a trip.
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Marina and John
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, June 10, 2008

This is a great pub with in the main very friendly and helpful staff, they serve some excellent real ales (Fullers and Adnams) and good continental beers, if you are looking for Carling and Fosters you have come to the wrong place so go away. Food is great great sandwiches at lunchtimes, good soup and sides, they know how to cook their meat and you get it the way you order it. Be prepared for a longer wait on Sundays especially if the weather is good as it gets rammed. There is a downside, not really the pubs fault but that of some of the customers, too many kids running around and leaving a mess behind for the staff to clean up please take more responsibility for your kids not everyone wants to spend time with them. Wish they would bring back the BBQ's they used to have sure they would make loads of cash and maybe upgrade the toilets to more suitable standard. Good to spot the odd local celeb in for a quiet drink as well if your that way inclined.
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Johnny
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 7
Tuesday, June 03, 2008

My nearest local and lucky me for that. Unfailingly delish food. Service is also unfailingly nice and friendly. It can get rammed on a Sunday a lunchtime when - guess what - service can slow down. But have a heart, don't slate them for it! The one time our food was really delayed, they gave us free puddings. Can't say fairer than that. Lovely beer garden out the back with BBQs during the summer. Pretty close to perfect.
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Rach
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, March 05, 2008

I've been here before for drinks and always had a good time. We went here yesterday for an early Christmas dinner with family as we are going abroad this month. It's the only time I've eaten here.

I booked a table for ten at 3pm three weeks ago. We arrived at 3.04pm to find they had "given our table to another group as we were late"! The manager was nice enough about it but we did have to sit outside with two kids until a table became free half an hour later. What is the point of booking except to avoid waiting??

The starters were good but our main courses took over an hour to arrive - the kids got hungry and aggravated. As the kitchen closed at 4pm the manager had told us we could still order desserts. We asked one of the bar staff about it and she said bluntly "kitchen's closed - you can't have any dessert" so I suggested she check with the manager. She needs to learn some basic customer service as she was rude more than once. The manager promised two complimentary desserts but then only one came. We asked after the other and were told that "the chef dropped it on the floor".

In short, the food was tasty but the service was appalling. Hopefully it was a one-off but looking at the other reviews maybe not... it's a great pub for a drink though.
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Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 5
Monday, December 03, 2007

I found this pub to have a fantastic juke box, and a lively atmosphere, the sun was shining so everyone in high spirits.. Staff seemed pleasant enough. Suprised by previous review!
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Craig
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 6
Thursday, June 14, 2007

Our company go out once a week to a gastro pub for lunch, this one seems to hold its own with the best of them. We normally are a group of 8, so menu variety and service quality is fairly important to us, we don't want to be out all afternoon.

The prices are reasonable, the service can be a little slower on hot days, when the pub gets busier with trade from the adjacent park. Eating inside is OK, but when the weather warms, we can't wait to eat outside in the garden facility, sitting next to one of the great lungs of london is indeed a pleasure. The beer selection of draught and bottled is superb, the wines are nearly as good. Sunday lunch is fine but chaotic, just like evrywhere else that serves good food on a sunny sunday afternoon - defintely recommended
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phil baldwin
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Rude and unfriendly. It could be lovely but the atmosphere just doesnt quite gel. The bar staff seem to be watching your every move which doesnt make it a relaxing pub to spend some time in. Shame. Change of management needed os something.
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eleanor
Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 4
Friday, June 01, 2007

Its tough one. We had a function here last year, it was great. This years booking was completely different. Poor food undercooked, served by the grubbiest chef I have seen in ages.. Even arranging the evening was hard work. No one returned calls or sent menu's as promised. Sorry, I wont be going back. Phone call to the pub chain owner to talk in through. Completely underwhelmed.
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rick
Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, September 12, 2006

This is a very nice pub. It has a non-smoking family room off of the main dining room. It has a large outside seating area. The food is very good and the staff are friendly and professional. It's a great place to go for Sunday lunch, to the point where I almost don't want to write this review because I want to keep it for myself!
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Jen
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, May 08, 2006

Ok recently this restaurant has been shaken up - new food which is just what it needed - i used to go there a lot but it got a bit lazy - weak food and lack lustre staff - but its back - i went a few weekends ago and they have managed to poach the chef form a nearby organic pub along with some of its quirky staff - so when i went back here i was sceptical - BUT its brilliant food is amazing really good quality gastro pub food - no chicken in a basket or scampi here - its great and right on the best park ever - go try it again - its real;ly good - just be patient in the bar - they do need to look aqt getting peopel with a litytle more urgency - but its worth the wait

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kate harrison
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Monday, April 24, 2006