Royal Oak Hotel, Ballarat Pub
About Us
We are Gigi & Dean, proud owners of the Royal Oak Hotel in Ballarat.
Gigi, from London, met Dean, from Malsmbury Victoria, in a bar in 2011 in Clapham whilst both working in hospitality. We quickly realised we shared a passion for hospitality (and each other) and immersed ourselves in the pub culture of London. Finding a real joy in the old, traditional pubs we both saw the pubs we visited as important parts of local history that should be protected and passed on to future generations. We have always seen pubs as more than just bricks and mortar, pubs are a rich tapestry of its history and, most importantly, the people who have and continue, to fill them.
After a few attempts at securing a pub in London we decided to make the move back to Dean’s original home of Australia and found ourselves lucky enough to call Apollo Bay our home for a number of years. There, we collectively ran the Great Ocean Road Brewhouse before Gigi moved across the road to run the Apollo Bay Distillery. Whilst there we immersed ourselves in the fantastic Aussie pub culture, and whilst different to the UK, it is still a culture of great enjoyment of local pubs.
This takes us to 2020
After a lengthy search we stumbled across the Royal Oak Hotel online. We didn’t hesitate to come to see it. The moment we walked in we knew she was something special.
Perfectly preserved and looked after by previous owners, John & Karen Turner, the Oak was the perfect backdrop for the kind of hospitality we wanted to offer. A relic of the years gone by, the floors still proudly display “Custers” as it once was at least 30 years before, old photos of Ballarat over the years proudly hang in the dining room, planes adorn the bar in a nod to John’s ability as a pilot, you will see the proud face of Ballarat’s own cellar-man Ballarat Bertie displayed on a beautiful mural commissioned by John & Karen, many old beer cans and bar mats have been added to the bar always sparking a reminiscent memory for someone who comes through our doors.
Our beer garden is large and green with use of our fully covered stables meaning anyone coming with their puppy pals can enjoy a meal or drinks out with their pups (even in our ferocious Ballarat winter) and stay warm and dry!
Classic Pub Fare at the Royal Oak Hotel, Ballarat.
Our menu is strewn with pub classics that you may remember from growing up; rissoles, lamb cutlets, prawn cocktail along with the ever-faithful selection of Parmas and not to forget our fabulous selection of steaks supplied by outstanding local butchers Midvale Meats.
Since January 2021 we have been honoured to be the new custodians of the Royal Oak Hotel, and whilst the hotel is our home, we know that truly she belongs to the community and patrons who visit. The Royal Oak Hotel has been serving drinks to local patrons, and travelers from further afield since 1866 and we are so proud to have taken the baton to keep this lovely hotel alive and thriving.
We hope to be able to welcome you through our doors soon!
From Gigi, Dean & Hank and Meg the Pub Dogs!
Copyright 2023 Royal Oak Hotel Ballarat
site by giddyup