+44 (0)20 8161 0100
or enquiries@epicurean.club

The Royal Oak

Pub with rooms in East Lavant, West Sussex

From £90 per night

Curator's notes:

  • Glorious village location below South Downs
  • Creative food; field-to-fork menu
  • Country-house style rooms
  • Cosy cottages; ideal for families
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The Royal Oak

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Overview

Tucked away in a sleepy village below the South Downs, with Goodwood's many delights close by, the Royal Oak has been providing sustenance for over 200 years and is still a magnet for families, foodies and those looking for a taste of the good life.

Set above a lane that runs through the village, it looks like the quintessential local watering hole with its white-painted brickwork, central door, sash windows and wall creepers. From the pretty raised terrace, step into the open-plan bar and dining area to find a buzzy atmosphere and a rustic chic feel, with crackling log fires, fat cream candles on scrubbed tables, leather sofas, and local ales tapped from the cask.

Food reflects kitchen's passion for seasonal, contemporary British food, and every dish is crafted a unique twist to enhance its flavour. There are also five en suite bedrooms and three cottages, mostly looking out over farmland or the Sussex Downs.

Rooms from

6 doubles: £90; 2 Cottages: £130


Good to know

  • Accepts Visa and Mastercard
  • Alfresco dining
  • Parking available
  • Dogs allowed in a few rooms

Outdoor adventures
Located in a classic Sussex downland village at the foot of the South Downs, The Royal Oak is a great base for sailing, race-going, motorsport enthusiasts and walking all on offer in the surrounding area.

A touch of culture
For those interested in cultural sight-seeing, the Roman city of Chichester, Arundel Castle, Boxgrove Priory, and the Weald and Downland Living Museum are all to be found nearby.

Rooms

There are six bedrooms in the pub itself, each individually decorated with pastel colours and tasteful furnishings. Most have good views over the South Downs and they are fully equipped with fridges and other helpful extras befitting a stay in the country (wellies, anyone?).

Across the lane are a trio of smart self-catering cottages - one one-bedroom and two two-bedroom - perfect for families and longer lets. Authentic cottagey interiors, simple decor and classic style set the tone, with peaceful rooms and spotless contemporary bathrooms featuring power showers and local aromatherapy toiletries. When slumber calls you can slip between Egyptian cotton sheets for a refreshing night's sleep.

Restaurant & bar

Everything on the menu is dedicated to seasonal, contemporary British food. Field-to-fork is very much the kitchen's ethos and every dish has its own unique twist to allow the natural flavours to shine through.

Using local suppliers wherever possible - think fresh fish landed on the South Coast, smoked salmon and Selsey crab, venison and pheasant, ice-cream and cheese, even the ale is brewed locally near Arundel. Expect interesting modern dishes with big flavours and bags of interest, perhaps St James' Scottish smoked Salmon, watercress and shaved fennel, whole roasted partridge, braised red cabbage, celeriac dauphinoise and port jus, and chicken & ham hock pie with mash and seasonal greens.

The wine list features more than 100 wines from both the Old and New Worlds, including a sparkler from nearby Tinwood Vineyard, and you'll find local Arundel ales and a good choice of spirits, notably boutique gins at the bar.

Experiences
Things to do

The Royal Oak lies in East Lavant, a pretty village with flint-walled thatched cottages and a 13th century church, at the foot of the South Downs National Park which provides fantastic opportunities for walking, mountain-biking, riding and other outdoor pursuits.

The South Downs Way, which stretches for more than 100 miles between Winchester and Eastbourne, passes just a few miles north of the inn. The coast, including Wittering Beach and Chichester Harbour, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are also close by.

For golfing, horse racing and motorsport events head to Goodwood, which is a short drive away, but if culture and heritage is more your thing the Roman city of Chichester, Arundel Castle, Boxgrove Priory and the Weald and Downland Living Museum are all within striking distance.

Getting here

Directions

Nearest train station: Chichester
Taxi from station: 10min
Drive: Southampton 50min; Brighton 1hr; London 1hr 40min

Address

Pook Lane, East Lavant, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0AX

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