The locals are getting quite excited about a new Royal Oak too. As Brenda has already said, the last time the pub was a success was the best part of 20 years ago when Ray and Penny ran it. They worked their socks off to make it work as a local and Ray had takings down to a fine art on Saturdays. He had great bar staff and a system working to optimise serving. The staff all got a hot meal during the game and they were on point ready from 4.30pm to meet the post-match rush. The pub could be busy until 9pm when the locals began to arrive. Ray could take £7,000 on a good match day. Pretty sure they haven't had a sniff of that since but then again, they have had a succession of clueless or lazy tenants as we all know. I live less than 50 yards away and the local trade started to die off 15 years ago with the inconsistent beer selection, dirty glasses and poor bar staff. Licks of paint in the meantime haven't disguised the neglect, so it will be great if Kevin manages a decent refurb - it certainly looks like it so far. The bar menu looks decent (burgers, chicken and wings) and is well priced and available 12-9pm.
I remember getting a lift home from Lisa, one of the bar staff, after one game and just before the new owner took over from Ray & Penny. She’d met him and he’d obviously said all the right things. All the staff would be there at the reopening and all would be good.
When the day came, all the old staff had gone and the place was a shambles in comparison. It was chaos getting served and we gave up quite a few times. Gave it a wide berth after that which was a shame as it had always been so good.
The locals are getting quite excited about a new Royal Oak too. As Brenda has already said, the last time the pub was a success was the best part of 20 years ago when Ray and Penny ran it. They worked their socks off to make it work as a local and Ray had takings down to a fine art on Saturdays. He had great bar staff and a system working to optimise serving. The staff all got a hot meal during the game and they were on point ready from 4.30pm to meet the post-match rush. The pub could be busy until 9pm when the locals began to arrive. Ray could take £7,000 on a good match day. Pretty sure they haven't had a sniff of that since but then again, they have had a succession of clueless or lazy tenants as we all know. I live less than 50 yards away and the local trade started to die off 15 years ago with the inconsistent beer selection, dirty glasses and poor bar staff. Licks of paint in the meantime haven't disguised the neglect, so it will be great if Kevin manages a decent refurb - it certainly looks like it so far. The bar menu looks decent (burgers, chicken and wings) and is well priced and available 12-9pm.
I remember getting a lift home from Lisa, one of the bar staff, after one game and just before the new owner took over from Ray & Penny. She’d met him and he’d obviously said all the right things. All the staff would be there at the reopening and all would be good.
When the day came, all the old staff had gone and the place was a shambles in comparison. It was chaos getting served and we gave up quite a few times. Gave it a wide berth after that which was a shame as it had always been so good.
As soon as Lisa saw you entering the pub, the Guinness was being poured.
The locals are getting quite excited about a new Royal Oak too. As Brenda has already said, the last time the pub was a success was the best part of 20 years ago when Ray and Penny ran it. They worked their socks off to make it work as a local and Ray had takings down to a fine art on Saturdays. He had great bar staff and a system working to optimise serving. The staff all got a hot meal during the game and they were on point ready from 4.30pm to meet the post-match rush. The pub could be busy until 9pm when the locals began to arrive. Ray could take £7,000 on a good match day. Pretty sure they haven't had a sniff of that since but then again, they have had a succession of clueless or lazy tenants as we all know. I live less than 50 yards away and the local trade started to die off 15 years ago with the inconsistent beer selection, dirty glasses and poor bar staff. Licks of paint in the meantime haven't disguised the neglect, so it will be great if Kevin manages a decent refurb - it certainly looks like it so far. The bar menu looks decent (burgers, chicken and wings) and is well priced and available 12-9pm.
I remember getting a lift home from Lisa, one of the bar staff, after one game and just before the new owner took over from Ray & Penny. She’d met him and he’d obviously said all the right things. All the staff would be there at the reopening and all would be good.
When the day came, all the old staff had gone and the place was a shambles in comparison. It was chaos getting served and we gave up quite a few times. Gave it a wide berth after that which was a shame as it had always been so good.
Tel - the bloke who took it on was a regular. He talked the talk and we all thought the pub was in safe hands. Ray and Penny were good friends of mine (they have just moved up to Suffolk) and Ray warned me off buying it as I was quite interested. He said it was increasingly difficult to make a living. He worked his nuts off 7 days a week and was making less than £50k a year. That was with Premiership full houses. Once the novelty wore off for the new landlord (about a month), he hardly did a shift. He used to come downstairs at 10.40pm for a pint and then ring the bell. The pub went down the pan rapidly and has yet to recover. Kevin Latta clearly has the experience needed and the revamp looks a lot more than the usual tosh-up. All the carpets were out today as well as furniture and fridges etc. I will be very interested to see what he's managed to do with the place. I know we all hope it can get back to it's hey-day.
I know you’re not a FB user CS but get Nicki to show you the vids on their fb group. Does look promising.
God do you remember he took on the Horse while he was doing up the Oak, ie turning it in to a dentist waiting room. Right mistake all that was. Disaster.
The locals are getting quite excited about a new Royal Oak too. As Brenda has already said, the last time the pub was a success was the best part of 20 years ago when Ray and Penny ran it. They worked their socks off to make it work as a local and Ray had takings down to a fine art on Saturdays. He had great bar staff and a system working to optimise serving. The staff all got a hot meal during the game and they were on point ready from 4.30pm to meet the post-match rush. The pub could be busy until 9pm when the locals began to arrive. Ray could take £7,000 on a good match day. Pretty sure they haven't had a sniff of that since but then again, they have had a succession of clueless or lazy tenants as we all know. I live less than 50 yards away and the local trade started to die off 15 years ago with the inconsistent beer selection, dirty glasses and poor bar staff. Licks of paint in the meantime haven't disguised the neglect, so it will be great if Kevin manages a decent refurb - it certainly looks like it so far. The bar menu looks decent (burgers, chicken and wings) and is well priced and available 12-9pm.
I remember getting a lift home from Lisa, one of the bar staff, after one game and just before the new owner took over from Ray & Penny. She’d met him and he’d obviously said all the right things. All the staff would be there at the reopening and all would be good.
When the day came, all the old staff had gone and the place was a shambles in comparison. It was chaos getting served and we gave up quite a few times. Gave it a wide berth after that which was a shame as it had always been so good.
Tel - the bloke who took it on was a regular. He talked the talk and we all thought the pub was in safe hands. Ray and Penny were good friends of mine (they have just moved up to Suffolk) and Ray warned me off buying it as I was quite interested. He said it was increasingly difficult to make a living. He worked his nuts off 7 days a week and was making less than £50k a year. That was with Premiership full houses. Once the novelty wore off for the new landlord (about a month), he hardly did a shift. He used to come downstairs at 10.40pm for a pint and then ring the bell. The pub went down the pan rapidly and has yet to recover. Kevin Latta clearly has the experience needed and the revamp looks a lot more than the usual tosh-up. All the carpets were out today as well as furniture and fridges etc. I will be very interested to see what he's managed to do with the place. I know we all hope it can get back to it's hey-day.
Cheers @Cardinal Sin - It was such a shame as Ray, Penny and the staff had it all down to a fine art, albeit with a lot of hard work. People don't appreciate exactly how much you have to do to run a successful pub and it sounds like we ended up with someone who really didn't have a clue and then didn't like the idea of making an effort. Kevin obviously has the background and knows what's needed. Will be looking forward to getting back there when we all can. And hope that Ray & Penny are enjoying life in Suffolk.
Thanks a lot for all the support on here guys. Looking forward to finally getting open and meeting you all. Sorry I don’t get on here much but please do pop in and say hello if you’re ever passing The Oak and you see us in there working. Refurb is still ongoing, we’ve ripped out every single thing both upstairs and downstairs so very busy with that but we are looking to be fully completed all works by early April, so hopefully we won’t be too much longer after that until we are allowed to open! 🙏
I spy.............Where there's blame, there's a claim
Amtico floor going down in the main bar as I understand it Ray. Carpet in the extension which will have seating for eating. Got to hope Kev makes a success of this. He deserves to having been bold enough to take this risk during the pandemic.
There's the rumours of outdoor opening in April but I don't think we'll see that happen and just fully open indoors & out from sometime in May all being well.
Only 12 CAFC cash for a Signature Burger. Bloody bargain that.
plus £1.50 transaction fee....
For us as a new business trying to start up in the middle of a pandemic I find this comment quite condescending and not very helpful to be honest. My mother always taught me, if you haven’t got anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all.
PS we won’t be charging any transaction fee, but we will insist that if you wish to join us at The Royal Oak when we finally open again that you please be polite and respect the staff and other customers in the venue.
Only 12 CAFC cash for a Signature Burger. Bloody bargain that.
plus £1.50 transaction fee....
For us as a new business trying to start up in the middle of a pandemic I find this comment quite condescending and not very helpful to be honest. My mother always taught me, if you haven’t got anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all.
PS we won’t be charging any transaction fee, but we will insist that if you wish to join us at The Royal Oak when we finally open again that you please be polite and respect the staff and other customers in the venue.
Only 12 CAFC cash for a Signature Burger. Bloody bargain that.
plus £1.50 transaction fee....
For us as a new business trying to start up in the middle of a pandemic I find this comment quite condescending and not very helpful to be honest. My mother always taught me, if you haven’t got anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all.
PS we won’t be charging any transaction fee, but we will insist that if you wish to join us at The Royal Oak when we finally open again that you please be polite and respect the staff and other customers in the venue.
I’m not sure if I know for sure that it was my Charlton related quip about his non-existent transaction fee or the original posters highlight of the burger price that has upset him. Oh well...
Comments
As soon as Lisa saw you entering the pub, the Guinness was being poured.
There's the rumours of outdoor opening in April but I don't think we'll see that happen and just fully open indoors & out from sometime in May all being well.
Do you know you've got a floorboard missing, Kev?