The Royal Oak in Stowmarket receives visit from Suffolk News’ Secret Drinker on Halloween for food and drink

Welcome back to a fresh series of pub reviews by SuffolkNews’ own Secret Drinker, who will make their way round the county’s watering holes and give you their honest opinion.

I had been meaning to make my Secret Drinker debut in Stowmarket for quite some time and what better time to do it then on the scariest night of the year. Supposedly.

Stepping into The Royal Oak on Ipswich Street, I was immediately quite impressed and I’m not talking George Michael when I say it gave me a lot of faith… that this could be a great experience.

The pub had a handful of people in it and I really liked the lighting and decor of the place. I’m not sure why, but it just really struck me (not literally).

After settling down into my seat, I felt toasty and immediately noticed there was sport on the TV.

Being a big sports fan, that will always go down well with me, unless the football team I support are losing and I can’t bear to be tortured anymore. I’ve had enough of that already this season.

Arguably my favourite aspect of The Royal Oak was the decor. The number of picture frames and varying objects on display made a big difference to the setting and made it really enjoyable to look at while enjoying my drink.

In this case, I opted for an Ice Breaker Pale Ale, costing me £5.20. It seemed to me a touch on the expensive side, but I must say I thought it was worth it.

Golden with a small bubbly head, the fruity aroma was lovely, the bitterness was excellent, and it’s one of the most refreshing pints I’ve had in a while.

Turning to the menu, there was a good range of options on offer, including four burgers that all appealed to me; however, I instead decided to take a chance on the beef and ale pie (£10.29).

As said on the menu, it was a British beef and Ruddles Ale gravy in a shortcrust pastry, served with broccoli and gravy.

Perhaps an unpopular decision, but I went for buttered mash instead of chips. Call me a madman, but mashed potato is clear of chips.

Those of you who don’t agree with me - I hope both sides of your pillow are warm tonight.

After a short wait (under 15 minutes), I dug in. The mashed potato tasted great but could’ve been creamier as that’s how I like it and the broccoli was good too.

It was the pie that underwhelmed me ever so slightly.

Maybe I set my expectations too high, but it just didn’t hit the spot for me. The pastry on a pie is normally my favourite part of a meal yet it failed to deliver.

Additionally, the beef was not tasty and after finishing my plate I was left feeling slightly disappointed.

On the other hand, the music in the pub was brilliant.

Readers of my previous multiple Secret Drinker articles will know my love for music and it was not only at a good volume but there was a good range too.

A female staff member on the night was very helpful and kind, and she was also very pleasant to talk to. As I’ve said before, a smile goes a long way for a customer’s experience.

Regarding the rest of the pub, although the summer has passed I could guess the beer garden would be very popular during the warmer months and the toilets were also pretty good I must say.

Always got to give nice toilets a shout out – you should never keep a lid on it.

The scores out of five:

Decor: The highlight of my pub trip. Loved the whole aesthetic with the lighting and wall art. It may be one of the best pubs I’ve seen for this. 4.5/5

Drink: I only had the one pint on the night - the Icebreaker was served well and I’ve got to say it may have now become one of my favourites. 4/5

Price: The price for my drink was acceptable and although I did not love my meal, it was a good price. 3/5

Atmosphere: I liked that it was not too busy but also enough people in there to give a bit of a buzz. I can imagine during the summer or even Christmas, the general feel and vibes of the place would be fantastic. The music also gives the pub a boost. 3.5/5

Staff: No problems here and I appreciated everything they did. Again, shout out to the female member of staff working that night who did an all-round great job. 4/5