Children and dogs welcomed by new Royal Oak landlords

Chris Webb, aged 35 and his wife Laura, aged 29, re-opened The Royal Oak pub on August 11 and Mr Webb said that trade had immediately proved brisk and remained so.
“It’s been fantastic,” he said.
The couple previously ran the club house at Southampton City Golf Course, and this is their first venture into running a pub, but they were confident of making it a success.
The couple have plenty of experience between them in the catering industry, with Mr Webb, who runs the kitchen for the 40-seat restaurant notching up 16 years and Mrs Webb, who runs front-of-house, 10 years.
The couple said that they had made few changes, apart from re-decoration.
“We are very much taking it back to being a rural pub, with honest pub food of a high standard,” said Mr Webb.
Children and dogs were very welcome, he continued, and there are plans to create a children’s play area in the extensive rear garden in the summer.
“We are a young family with a young child and understand what parents actually need,” said Mr Webb.
Future plans for the pub include bringing back the Ecchinswell May Day bank holiday celebrations, which traditionally involved a procession through the village, ending at the pub.
The Royal Oak is open on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 3pm, and 5pm to 11pm, Friday and Saturday from noon to 11pm and Sunday noon to 10pm, (closed Wednesday). For more details, telephone (01635) 297355.