A proper pour
Great pubs have always been about more than simply what is on the menu. The bar matters too, and at The Royal Oak there is plenty worth raising a glass to.
There is a particular pleasure in walking into a country pub and seeing a line of hand pumps waiting at the bar. Before a menu has been opened or a table chosen, they tell you something about the place. What it likes, what it values and, perhaps most importantly, what sort of pint you can expect.
At The Royal Oak, the answer is a reassuringly broad one. Traditional English cask ale sits comfortably alongside modern pale ales, crisp lagers, proper cider, stout and a carefully chosen collection of spirits. Some names will be immediately familiar, while others offer the opportunity to discover something a little different.
It is an approach that suits North Gorley rather well. There is no need to reinvent the country pub. Far better to look after the things that make it special, then bring in enough variety to keep the bar interesting.
The pleasure of a proper pint
Cask ale remains at the heart of a good country pub bar, and the current line up brings together some of the best known names in British brewing with smaller producers from closer to home.
Timothy Taylor's Landlord
There are beers that need very little introduction, and Landlord is one of them. Timothy Taylor's celebrated Yorkshire pale ale has become a benchmark for the style, balancing citrus and hop character with a smooth malt body and a gently bitter finish. Its many awards include four Supreme Champion Beer of Britain titles, but perhaps its greatest achievement is that it remains a wonderfully satisfying pint.
Harvey's Sussex Best
A pint with a very definite sense of place. Harvey's has been brewing in Lewes for generations, and Sussex Best remains one of those classic beers that demonstrates why traditional bitter has endured. Malt, caramel and hops come together in a beautifully balanced pint, with enough bitterness to give it character without ever overwhelming the glass.
Otter Bitter
Devon's Otter Brewery has long understood that lower strength need not mean lower flavour. Its flagship Bitter is a golden brown, beautifully balanced session ale with a fruity nose, gentle spice, soft malt sweetness and a clean, dry finish. It is exactly the sort of beer a pub can confidently pour another pint of.
Otter Amber
A little richer and more contemporary in character, Otter Amber bridges the gap between the traditional English pint and the brighter flavours associated with modern craft beer. Citrus, pineapple and gentle spice sit over a rounded malt base, with American Willamette hops bringing a pleasantly fruity and floral character.
Downton QuadHop
Coming from Downton Brewery in neighbouring Wiltshire, QuadHop feels particularly at home on the bar. Pale, floral and citrus led, it delivers plenty of hop character without losing the easy drinking nature of a proper session beer. The result is fresh, bright and very moreish.
SALT Alpaca Lypse
For anyone whose tastes lean towards modern craft beer, Alpaca Lypse brings a distinctly different character to the line up. Lightly hazy, citrus scented and gently tropical, it has the flavour of an IPA without becoming heavy or aggressively bitter. It is an easy step into craft beer for the curious, while still offering enough interest for seasoned IPA drinkers.
A gin with local character
Beer may command much of the attention at a country pub, but the shelves behind the bar deserve exploring too.
Downton Distillery's Explorer's Gin is a particularly fitting choice. Produced just across the Wiltshire border, it is a contemporary London Dry with juniper and cedar at its heart, followed by bright citrus, verbena and the warming lift of pink and Szechuan pepper.
Paired with Fever Tree Mediterranean Tonic, with its lighter quinine character and fragrant rosemary and lemon thyme notes, it makes for a crisp, aromatic serve that feels as appropriate beside the fire as it does outside on a warmer afternoon.
There is plenty more behind the bar
Not every visit calls for a pint of cask. The wider draught selection has been chosen to give familiar favourites their place alongside drinks with a little more individual character.
Come and see what is pouring
Ultimately, the best way to discover the bar is not by reading about it. Call in, find a table, ask what is on the pumps and let the first pint make the introduction.
The selection will continue to evolve, with changing casks and seasonal choices joining the regular favourites. That is part of the pleasure. There should always be something worth coming back for.
Book a tableDraught ales, guest beers and individual products are subject to availability and may change.