The Royal Oak Exmoor

If you’re tired of the original gastropub concept of a tarted-up boozer then this ancient thatched inn in the Exmoor National Park is for you. Set in a picture perfect village, the traditional, warm interior puts the emphasis on comfort. As for the food the ethos is simple: fresh ingredients & constantly evolving food & wine menus. Starters might include duck liver parfait with red onion marmalade or French onion soup; mains might be Devon Ruby rib-eye steak, or pork chop with bubble and squeak. Game is a speciality – the inn hosts shoot lunches in winter – & Exmoor game pie or cold roast partridge with beetroot salad and Cumberland sauce are typical choices. Puds range from the light (banana parfait) to the full on (sticky toffee pudding). As one might expect from a country pub, the drinks list is all-encompassing, with real ales from the local Exmoor Ale brewery & a good choice of wines.

Tucked away in the heart of Winsford village, within the stunning landscape of Exmoor National Park, The Royal Oak occupies a Grade II-listed thatched 12th-century farmhouse and operates as a country inn serving classic pub food.

This traditional country inn features ten individually styled en-suite superior rooms - including king, twin and a four-poster super-king suite - and welcomes well-behaved dogs in most of its bedrooms and public areas. Accompanied by a well-stocked bar with Exmoor ales, wines and whiskeys, the setting - complete with exposed beams, open fires and cosy lounges - offers a genuinely warm, quintessentially Exmoor dining experience.

The cuisine reflects a hearty, home-cooked ethos, with menus that evolve seasonally and draw heavily on locally-sourced produce. Starters on the sample dinner menu include Devon crab and crayfish stack, chicken liver, wild mushroom & brandy pâté, baked Portobello mushroom with goat’s cheese or a Mediterranean salad with toasted pine nuts. Main courses are equally robust and refined, spanning 34-day dry-aged Devon sirloin, harissa-roasted Exmoor lamb rump, grilled venison haunch, confit duck leg, sea bass fillet and a vegan Mediterranean vegetable stack.

Signature pub classics feature too: Exmoor venison burger, Exmoor-ale steak pie, beer-battered cod, honey-mustard glazed ham and a wild-mushroom risotto. Homemade pies - from steak & Exmoor ale to chicken curry and vegetarian options - are served with your choice of mash or triple-cooked chips. Desserts range from woodland berries Eton mess and sticky toffee pudding to chocolate brownie, elderflower posset, homemade ice creams and artisan cheeses.The inn also offers Sunday lunch, lighter bar-menu options, pizzas on Friday to Sunday evenings, and themed dining events.

Whether you’re after a relaxing stay or a comforting lunch, The Royal Oak is a firm local favourite for families, walkers and rural-chic diners alike.