The Royal Oak, Mellor, is a thriving gem

At a time when the hospitality sector is facing mounting challenges, it’s as refreshing as a pint of Unicorn, a chilled Sauvignon Blanc, or an ice-cold soda and lime to see a local village pub not only surviving, but thriving, and winning awards along the way!

Tucked away on the outskirts of Stockport, under the watchful gaze of the Mellor Cross and the rugged beauty of Kinder Scout, lies the picturesque village of Mellor. At its heart stands The Royal Oak pub, a Robinsons pub and now a vibrant hub for the community, thanks to the passion and energy of landlady Beth Jones and her partner Matthew. For Beth, who grew up just 100 metres from the pub, taking over The Royal Oak isn’t just a job, it’s the fulfilment of a lifelong dream to run her own pub.

The Royal Oak has been a cherished part of the village since 1790. Originally within Derbyshire’s borders, it transferred to Cheshire in 1936 and later became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport in 1974. Regardless of which county the locals claim, one thing has remained constant: The Royal Oak’s reputation as a welcoming stop for walkers, known for its friendly atmosphere, roaring open fire, and large garden.

Following a full refurbishment in October 2024, coinciding with Beth and Matthew taking the reins, the pub now boasts one of the most picturesque beer gardens in the region, if not the UK. And earlier this month, their hard work paid off when they were crowned “Pub of the Month” by What’s on Stockport.

With their one-year anniversary on the horizon, we dropped in to meet Beth and Matthew, soak up the atmosphere, and find out more about their journey so far.

You’ve been here for nine months. What’s been the most daunting part so far?
Beth: The lifestyle change. I came from a corporate background, where there was structure and support. Now, it’s all on us, seven days a week. But I wouldn’t change it for the world. We’ve had incredible support from Olivia, our BDM at Robinsons. If I ever have doubts, I just call Liv, she always finds a solution.
Matthew: Predicting demand is tricky. You’d think the weather dictates what sells, but it’s not always that simple. Ales tend to be steady, but one week everyone wants Guinness and cider, the next it’s lager. We’ve learned to always stay prepared.

You’ve introduced Sky Sports as part of your community-focused plans. How’s that working out?
Beth: It’s been great! The pub naturally divides into two sides, so on match days—especially during local derbies—people choose their side based on their team. It can get loud, but the banter is brilliant and always good-natured.

You’ve recently started offering food. How is that going?
Matthew: It’s going really well, and we’re taking it step by step. We want The Royal Oak to remain a proper local, somewhere you can grab a drink and enjoy quality pub grub. These days, people aren’t always after a big meal, so we’ve introduced a range of small plates, which are proving popular.

Traditionally, pubs were male-dominated spaces. Have you seen more women and families coming through the doors?
Beth: Absolutely. As a young feminist, I love seeing more women feeling comfortable coming in alone or with friends. Fridays at 3:15pm during term time are one of my favourite times, it’s like I’ve rung the school bell! Mums, dads, kids, and grandparents all come in to kickstart the weekend. The garden turns into a playground, and it really makes me smile.
Matthew: We also host a monthly quiz night on the first Tuesday, it’s always a sellout. Plus, we’ve done loads of private events and some live music, though we’re always respectful of our neighbours and everything winds down by 10pm.

You clearly love running The Royal Oak. What’s next? Any chance of a holiday?
Matthew: We’ll probably expand the food offering, but we want to do it properly and at the right pace. We’re lucky to have good relationships with nearby pubs, and we all try to offer something different; there’s no point in competing for the same thing.
Beth: Yes, we’ve got big plans! Last Christmas, we opened for a few hours on Christmas Day and gave all our regulars a free drink. This year, we’d love to do more for the kids, maybe Breakfast with Santa. And being big music fans, we’d love to host a mini music festival. The setting is perfect for it.
As for a holiday, we’re planning to take a proper break with our family in the New Year, when the pub will close for a short while. But until then, it’s heads down and full steam ahead with making The Royal Oak the heart of our community.

Though it’s no longer a requirement to display the landlord or landlady’s name above the door, we’re pretty sure Beth wouldn’t mind seeing hers up there. Because The Royal Oak isn’t just a business, it’s a home, a dream, and a thriving gem of a village pub.