Pub Of The Season 1999- Ale Cry

Nowadays, there is a tendancy to concentrate on pubs which serve guest beers, or free house with vast ranges of handpumps, when talking about real ale.

Bur Perhaps the unsung heroes are tenants of regional brewers who serve the traditional, and tasty beers, that have been available in the area for many years. It was decided to honour one of these with this winters pub of the season, and the winner chosen was the Royal Oak at Riley Green.

This is a slightly odd choice in one respect, because until 10 years ago or so it was actually a free house. However then Thwaites bought it and under the present landlords, Eric and Trsih Hargreaves it has become an excellent, very reliable outlet for their beers.

Eric and Trish have been tenants at the pub for 4 years, but their links with Thwaites go back much further. They were tenants of the Higher Buck at Waddington near Clitheroe for 17 years. Eric thinks he might just get up to that peroid at the Royal Oak before its time to retire. He stocks Thwaites Mild and Bitter, plus the seasonal beer.

It was built about 1620 apparently as a farm and cottages and the right hand part, now the dining are, was once the barn. The layout of small distinct drinking areas divided by partion walls must reflect the old cottage layout.

The pub is well known for its food, with a wide range of daily specials. However, Eric stresses that the Royal Oak is a pub first and foremost, one which happens to serve food, not a restaraunt.





Source: West Lancs Camra - Ale Cry 1999.