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The Royal Oak, Whatcote, Warwickshire
Award-winning

The Royal Oak

4.9 (130)
£41 and over
Farm-to-table
The Orchard, Whatcote, Warwickshire CV36 5EF

Make a reservation

2 people
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Innovative
Solanche, Richard, and the team at The Royal Oak are proud to offer Michelin-starred dining at our village pub, between Shipston on Stour and Stratford upon Avon, on the edge of the Cotswolds. Since 2019, we’ve been dedicated to exceptional food in a community-focused setting.

Alongside our Michelin-starred dining room, we have a relaxed bar with a pool table and darts, creating a space for everyone. Our menu celebrates terroir-driven, ‘proper country food,’ focusing on wild, seasonal ingredients. Our aim is simple: to tell the story of our community and the local producers we work with.

The menu changes with the seasons, with some dishes lasting six weeks to highlight the peak of their season, while others may be available for just a week or even a single service—a fleeting, micro-seasonal snapshot. This approach supports sustainable land and woodland management, honours the natural balance of the land, and reflects our commitment to preserving it for future generations.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    £41 and over
  • Cuisines
    Farm-to-table, Modern European, Contemporary British
  • Hours of operation
    Wed–Sat 6:00 pm–11:00 pm Thu–Sat 12:00 pm–4:00 pm
  • Phone number
    01295 688100
  • Website
    http://www.theroyaloakwhatcote.co.uk/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Richard Craven
  • Catering
    Richard, Solanche, and The Royal Oak team are proud to offer Michelin-starred dining on the edge of the Cotswolds, between Shipston on Stour and Stratford upon Avon. Our seasonally driven menu focuses on wild, foraged ingredients. We strive to offer an exceptional dining experience that celebrates both nature and our community of producers.<br />
  • Location
    The Orchard, Whatcote, Warwickshire CV36 5EF
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2024
  • Neighborhood
    Shipston-On-Stour
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Public transit
    Although rurally located, we are highly accessible from the M40 (Junction 12) and we are a 25 minute drive/taxi (Castle Cars) from Banbury Train Station (Chiltern/Cross Country).
  • Additional
    Beer, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 130 people are saying

The Royal Oak reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 5.0Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.6Value

Noise • Energetic

Loved For

  • Warwickshire

    Best Overall

  • Warwickshire

    Best Food

  • Warwickshire

    Best Service

  • Warwickshire

    Best Ambiance

  • Warwickshire

    Best Value

  • Warwickshire

    Innovative

  • Warwickshire

    Great for fine wines

  • Warwickshire

    Romantic

  • Warwickshire

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Royal Oak delights with "exceptional cooking" and a "cosy friendly atmosphere." Diners rave about the "amazing food" and "fantastic service." The tasting menu is a "superb choice," showcasing "brilliant seasonal ingredients." The staff's warmth and attentiveness create a welcoming experience, making it "highly recommended" for fine dining.
130 Reviews

  1. Kevin

    Worcestershire2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic little pub/restaurant. food is of exceptional quality and locally sourced. Well worth a trip out to visit

    Is this helpful?

  2. Phil

    London6 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 16, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Excellent. Service efficient and friendly. Food beautifully cooked and presented, some imaginative dishes but not overly fussy. Perhaps dessert could have had more flavour.

    Is this helpful?

  3. Lynne

    Leicestershire3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 14, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fabulous people. Tasting menu had fabulous individual dishes but they did not really flow together. Everything was beautifully made and presented and price was good. Wine chosen by glass as both driving but "glass" rather small. Overall super nice kind people but tasting menu needs more thought.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Helena

    London11 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Beautifully presented and delicious food, served with charming personal service.

    Is this helpful?

  5. LeightonH

    London4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great pub with food better than some of the best restaurants we have been too. Great to have a real pub, with great local ale, pool table, great landlords serving this quality eating experience.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Rob

    Oxford1 review

    2.0

    Dined on April 25, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Food beautifully prepared but to a standard expected of a London restaurant rather than a village location and priced accordingly. Lovely wine list but the restaurant lacked atmosphere and limited amount of diners while we were there on a Friday evening. The crew try very hard but pushy on service at times. Sometime felt a little rushed towards the end of the meal. Quite expensive for the whole experience.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Ginny

    Birmingham2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 18, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely cosy village pub. We had the 5 course tasting menu and added in the cheese course. Every course was delicious and where possible, local ingredients are used. Great service, very friendly team. Well worth a visit, you won't be disappointed.

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  8. Nicky

    Warwickshire1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This was the most delicious meal I have ever eaten! In addition the restaurant was beautiful and all staff were a pleasure to talk to. We had the à la carte meal and tried various wines, all served with friendly information. A wonderful relaxed lunch which I am still thinking about weeks later.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Matt

    Richmond10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of the best dining experiences that I have ever had! The service was personable and attentive and the food was out of this world. The staff took time to explain the philosophy behind the food and the co-owners were active participants in the service and were so incredibly kind.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Robert

    Oxford3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on April 4, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Lovely lunchtime meal with a stunning array of deserts! Warm ambience and attentive service.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Royal Oak is rated 4.9 stars by 130 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United Kingdom
  3. Warwickshire
  4. Shipston-On-Stour
  5. Shipston-On-Stour

Make a reservation

Google Map for The Royal Oak

The Orchard, Whatcote, Warwickshire CV36 5EF

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2024
  • Neighborhood
    Shipston-On-Stour
  • Hours of operation
    Wed–Sat 6:00 pm–11:00 pm Thu–Sat 12:00 pm–4:00 pm
  • Price
    £41 and over
  • Cuisines
    Farm-to-table, Modern European, Contemporary British
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Public transit
    Although rurally located, we are highly accessible from the M40 (Junction 12) and we are a 25 minute drive/taxi (Castle Cars) from Banbury Train Station (Chiltern/Cross Country).
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Richard Craven
  • Additional
    Beer, Full Bar, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.theroyaloakwhatcote.co.uk/
  • Phone number
    01295 688100
  • Catering
    Richard, Solanche, and The Royal Oak team are proud to offer Michelin-starred dining on the edge of the Cotswolds, between Shipston on Stour and Stratford upon Avon. Our seasonally driven menu focuses on wild, foraged ingredients. We strive to offer an exceptional dining experience that celebrates both nature and our community of producers.<br />
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