May - Royal Oak (Didsbury)
Royal Oak, Didsbury
729 Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6WF
The Stockport & South Manchester CAMRA Pub of the Month award for May 2019 has been won by the Royal Oak on Wilmslow Road in Didsbury. Stuart Ballantyne tells us why.
Over the last four years, since licensee Gary Tillman and senior barman Thomas Cowsill took over the pub, the turnover at the Royal Oak has increased by 10% year on year. Thomas told Opening Times, "We have not finished yet. So far this year turnover is up again, and we are on target to repeat this growth again this year."
So how have Gary and Tom done this in a very competitive market? The answer: "We concentrate on serving good beer at a fair price, we continue to serve our legendary cheese and pâté lunches, feature popular live sports on the TVs and use attentive, chatty staff to serve our customers. Marston's also helped us in September by an impressive refurbishment. The art of convivial conversation is very much alive in the Royal Oak. We serve our community well."
The Royal Oak sells a range of top-quality beers from the Marston's stable. Often these will include Saddle Tank, Pedigree, Banks's Sunbeam, Wainwright and others. All the beers turn over well and, because of Thomas's cellar skills a good pint is guaranteed.
Such is the friendly nature and broad appeal of the pub that it also now attracts a regular group of students who tend to stay there all evening, especially at weekends.
All in all, the Royal Oak is now a very well-run community pub that listens to its customers and sells them top quality beers and lunches at a fair price. That's a winning formula if ever there was one.
If you are a member of CAMRA don't forget to show your membership card at the bar to entitle you to a 10% discount on the price you pay for hand pumped beers.
So why not join CAMRA when we present the award to Gary and Thomas on Thursday 23 May when I am sure that great beer will be served, and the pub will be busy?