The Royal Oak, Pencelli
+44 1874 665396+ Add websiteImprove this listing
Hours
Sun
12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Mon
12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Tue
12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Wed
12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Thu
12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Fri
12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sat
12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Ratings and reviews
4.5
Travellers' Choice 2024
RATINGS
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Food and ambience
Local cuisine, Bar, British, Pub, Welsh, Vegetarian friendly
Special Occasion Dining, View, Groups
Is this restaurant wheelchair accessible?
Details
About
Canal side pub located in Pencelli village, located in the heart of the Brecon Beacons, approximately 2 miles from Brecon town. Serving traditional home cooked food, with the option of Roast Dinner on Sundays. Family and dog friendly!!
CUISINES
Bar, British, Pub, Welsh
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten free options
Meals
Lunch, Dinner, Drinks
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Television, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
453 reviews
Excellent
297
Very good
89
Average
27
Poor
25
Terrible
15
Inexperienced
Norwich29 contributions
Oct 2024 • couples
We dropped in on Sunday lunchtime after walking along the canal, it was recommended by the owner of our holiday cottage. Although we hadn’t booked we were welcomed alongside our dog and shown where there were tables available.
I was recommended a Welsh cider, delicious but over 6% so just had the one, my husband had a couple of pints of a local beer.
To eat we had the beefburger and falafel burger, both with chips and salad and we both enjoyed our food.
The lady who served us was very friendly and helpful, would definitely visit again if in the area.
Written 22 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KLF95
Arlington77 contributions
Jul 2024 • family
Nice atmosphere, and nice garden. We needed an advance booking for an indoor table, but the garden tables didn't require reservations. Overall we enjoyed our food, but other reviews have mentioned that it is good for vegans, and we did not find that to be the case. There were two options listed as suitable: a curry and a veggie burger. But the veggie burger was supposed to have a brioche bun (not vegan), and they didn't have any vegan bread of any kind. The young people serving and taking orders were very polite and apologetic. Ordered it anyway (sans bun and sans halloumi), and asked for both chips and new potatoes to make up for the lack of bun. When it arrived, there were the chips and naked burger and potatoes ... but not the salad! The vegetarian version (which we also ordered) had salad on the burger and on the side. Too tired at that point to send it back. The people were all pleasant, and the non-vegans all enjoyed their meals, but cannot recommend for vegan folks.
Written 29 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Diane S
Illinois11 contributions
Jul 2024 • family
We stopped at The Royal Oak on our cruise on the Mon & Brec (their beer garden is next to the canal). It had just started to rain, so we pulled over for some lunch. Our lunch was delicious (fish and chips, sausage and mash, and a burger), and as it had started raining harder we decided not to continue down the canal in such heavy rain and booked a table for dinner. Dinner was just as good as lunch (same menu)! We ordered different items and enjoyed the steak and ale pie, the gammon steak, and the sirloin with mushrooms; everything was delicious again. Dessert was the highlight with house-made sticky toffee pudding and boozy bread pudding! The atmosphere at The Royal Oak was warm and welcoming on a cold and rainy day.
Written 22 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Huddersfieldterrier
83 contributions
Jun 2024 • couples
We made a reservation for two evenings as we’d been many times before. Our first evening meal my wife order the chicken and bacon pie but the sauce that the meat was in we assumed was supposed to be creamy but it was like watered down milk and this put my wife off. We took this one on the chin and as we had a second night reserved we went back. After having our gammon which was enjoyable we ordered deserts. We waited and waited and nothing came and after about 20 minutes we asked how long they would be and all we got was that they were busy with outside meals. No sorry or an apology. We sat and waited another 15 minutes and they finally arrived, my wife’s was hot and mine was warm. When I paid all I got was “ you got your desert then” but still no apology. I’m led to believe that if somebody orders a desert after a main meal they should take precedence over those who have started their meals. My wife is adamant that we won’t return but being a Monday and Tuesday night unfortunately many other places are closed.
Written 28 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen O
Oakdale45 contributions
Aug 2024 • family
A very inhospitable establishment - we ordered 4 drinks late afternoon in the lounge bar, all the tables were empty and had reserved signs on them for the evening, however the landlady would not allow us to sit to have our drinks on them as she said they were cleaned. We ended up sitting on a bench against a wall outside in a very full beer garden ....... we were obviously mistaken thinking it was a pub?
On an earlier visit a day or so before, the bar person was more interested in answering the phone between serving me and pouring our drinks. It took over 10 minutes to get served and as others have commented, there is no apology or sociable interaction with visiting customers, where the locals congregate around the bar and get better service and attention from the bar staff.
We won't be returning, which unfortunately means we won't be staying at the excellent Pencelli campsite again, as a close-by friendly pub is what we always look for when booking our motorhome breaks.
Written 28 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gary Young
3 contributions
Jul 2024 • couples
Me and my wife decided to go for dinner, I had chicken curry which was very watery my wife had ham egg and chips which was very nice overall not to bad till it came to the bill. The meals cost £26.50, we had two drinks half a pint of lemonade & half a pint of cider and the bill came to £39.50. £13.00 for the drinks is outrageous will not return
Written 24 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
allison
Chippenham2 contributions
Mar 2024 • friends
We had just finished our yearly mother day walk up Pen y fan, so we were certainly hungry,
The Royal Oak didn’t disappoint either fab atmosphere very friendly and the Sunday lunch was delicious and plenty of it too.
We will be definitely booking for next year!
We wasn’t a small group either 9 of us & dog!
And she absolutely loved her dinner! 🐾
Written 11 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Merrydales
Worcestershire354 contributions
Oct 2022 • couples
Lovely pub by the canal side with outside seating and good menu choice.
My husband ordered fish and chips and it was very good. However, I ordered the pie of the day which was a ham and leek pie. This was very disappointing and we did raise this with staff . There was only 3 small pieces of ham in what was a very watery creamy sauce very much like a soup consistency. The staff was very apologetic and handled my complaints very well taking the price of the pie off the bill.
Written 2 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SusieH476
34 contributions
Jul 2023 • couples
Nice pub in a village location near the canal and the campsite but that is where the good points end. Our food this evening was very disappointing and when we pointed this out to a member of staff she continually said she did not have anything to do with the food.but would return it. The meals were returned and out came the chef to ask what was wrong with it. We explained that the chips were over cooked and the burger was dry plus the pie was lacking in filling. We were asked what we wanted to do to which we requested another meal. The chef also said that the young girl that had handled the complaint regarding the food felt we acted aggressively towards her??
The staff did what they could but the second burger looked undercooked and the chips were still over cooked we felt we could not say anything else as we did feel a tad intimidated by the chef. Would not recommend this pub due to being accused of acting aggressively towards the staff and feeling that we as the customer were in the wrong. We paid the bill in full and left. Such a shame
Written 31 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew Griffiths
In response to you’re review , when you received the second meal , I asked if everything had been resolved personally, and you both assured me that everything was fine now!! So the fact that you thought it appropriate to leave such a negative review , seems extremely perplexing. We live in a strange world where people think it’s they’re god given right to hide behind the keyboard and moan , where as a simple honest answer when asked could of resolved this .
Written 7 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KenDob88
14 contributions
Jul 2023 • couples
On arrival for a pub lunch and seeing all the empty glass cafetieres on the shelf my wife asked for a coffee but the barman said they’re not serving coffee. We both had burger and chips which arrived very quickly (they were quiet) and the burger pate was very good. A thick chunk of ground tasty meat in a soft bun with cheese, gerkin and mayo. However the chips were full of potato eyes and tasted a little over cooked like the oil had been overused. The lack of coffee and unsavoury chips made this meal the first disappointment of our holiday having enjoyed so many great meals so far.
Written 13 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anm53
Stourbridge322 contributions
May 2023 • family
The Royal Oak is a small village pub catering for locals and tourists. The menu is limited,and just listed on a blackboard. But the food is great. Portions were a good size. I had the pork chop special. A lot of places would have decided that they could get away with serving just a single chop so I was very pleased to see two tasty pork chops on my plate. Service was friendly and prompt. Will definitely return when we are back in the area.
Written 7 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jprice
5 contributions
Sept 2023 • couples
Nice looking country pub in a lovely location by the canal. Visited on a Saturday evening while staying at Pencelli Castle Caravan site
Very busy pub with limited staff, kitchen windows and door open, there were 2 young men in the kitchen arguing. I ordered chicken curry when it arrived it was very watery. Later I spent most of the night vomiting. This could only be due to the chicken curry as that is all I had eaten and I had only had water to drink as I do not drink alcohol.
I will not be returning
Written 21 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew Griffiths
I’m sorry to hear this . We do strive to run an establishment that one can be proud of . Did you manage to get the conversion that the two chaps were arguing about ? And by the way 48 chicken curry’s were served that day so maybe it was just a case of a bad tummy or day
Written 24 September 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
wenvoeman
Cardiff730 contributions
Apr 2024 • couples
A classic country pub. We called in for drinks after a bike ride and I enjoyed a cold bottle of Perry made in Wales. Then tonight we booked a table for supper. Scampi and chips followed by the house speciality of ice cream with raisins soused in sherry, which is delicious and highly recommended. The cost was £50 with wine. Good food - great pub.
Written 20 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roundy
Horsham3198 contributions
Sept 2021 • family
Found this pub on TA when heading back to Sussex from hol in Pembrokeshire and looking for somewhere in the Brecon Beacons where we could walk the dog as well as have lunch. This turned out to be the perfect choice. They were only taking orders for food and servong drinks from their front door for garden seating (inside was toilets access only due to Covid presumably) and thankfully it was warm and sunny at lunchtime. The garden is right on the Monmouth and Brecon Canal and is idylically located, with passing boats to watch. We arrived at 1215 and managed to get a table against the tow path.
The menu is fairly standard pub grub but all nicely cooked and good quality. The 3 of us enjoyed a chicken curry complete with mini naan as well as rice, a gammon steak with pineapple (or egg alternatively) and a steak and ale pie with a great puff top which my husband said was full of proper meat chunks. All could be served with chips or new potatoes - even the curry if u didn't want rice!!
Desserts were limited - menu just said choc fudge cake, sticky toffee pud or waffles all at £5.50 and we decided not to order but mains were good value at around £11-13 if I recall.
Our food was brought our quite promptly.
After our lunch we took a lovely walk along the tow path. So peaceful and pretty. Would stop here again if ever in the area. A lovely break from our journey on the A40 which is close by.
Written 15 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
St Emilion
Birmingham50 contributions
Sept 2024 • couples
We visited twice over a couple of days. First time was a walk in during thw afternoon and second time we booked for the evening.
It’s a good offering of pub food, all freshly cooked and a decent selection of specials.
The home made pie of the day was very good. The gammon was also very good. The curry was really tasty but I can see why another review said it was waterly as the sauce was as thick as you would get in a curry house. The puddings were also good and the bread and butter pudding was first class.
The staff were all very friendly and helpful.
Well worth a visit!
Written 28 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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