Royal OakMarylebone

The Royal Oak has stood on York Street since 1807, when local victualler Richard Bass took it over; it stayed with his family until 1835. It operates today as a free house, choosing its own beers, wines and kitchen suppliers rather than being tied to a brewery. The current operator, known to regulars as Andy, holds the lease on the corner building opposite the old Marylebone Town Hall. Inside, the pub mixes its Georgian-era shell with a contemporary kitchen turning out a seasonal menu, and dogs are welcomed both at the bar and on the outdoor benches. Upstairs rooms are hired out for private dining, functions and small weddings, and the pub positions itself as a neighbourhood local rather than a destination venue, describing its aim as a place 'where everyone's a regular.' Its street-corner site and licensed trading history stretch back more than two centuries.