About The Royal Oak Shipton-on-Stour
An ancient stone-built pub in the middle of the village, a typically English Country pub. Visitors can expect a warm welcome, whether there to sup Hooky ale or sample the menu of home-cooked delights. The Royal Oak, or ‘Ronnie's’ as it is known affectionately, is a wonderful warm hearted place.
For many people it is the perfect English pub, a chance find on a quiet rural road, which offers a warm welcome, good food and the added bonus of fabulous Hook Norton beers. You will also find a delicious buffet curry night every Wednesday and a carvery every Sunday.
Situated on two former secondary Roman roads, the pub might not be the easiest to find but the journey is always worth it. With an ample car park the pub is the perfect place to stop when exploring the surrounding countryside.
The building dates back to 1168 and was originally built to house masons building the nearby church. A lot of the churches were built by the Knights Templar. The pub was not named as the Royal Oak until after the restoration of Charles II.
The extensive inglenook contains rungs leading to a hideaway. The Royal Oak is named after the story of Charles II avoiding capture, following his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, by hiding in the hollow trunk of an oak tree. Whatcote is just a few miles away from Edgehill where the English civil war started in 1642. It was used by Cromwell's officers after the nearby Battle of Edgehill in 1642.