8th visit of the outing to Kingston and its evirons: This elegant Victorian street-corner pub at 90 Coombe Road, New Malden, dates from 1897 and was frequented by the area’s noblemen and gentry. It was named The Royal Oak Hotel as still seen in stonework outside its front entrance door on the left and with Public Bar marked immediately above. The building replaced an earlier pub dating to only 1867 and so surprisingly only 30 years old when demolished. The current pub retains much of its original two bars separated by an open top wooden partition. There is a flagstone floor in the smaller former public bar, while the large lounge has kept its curved bar. Former ownership can be traced care of several Benskins of Watford mirrors. This name belongs to a major British brewing company based at the Cannon Brewery in Watford, Hertfordshire, which operated from the 18th century until it ceased local production in 1972. Its headquarters, a Georgian mansion built in 1775, survived and now houses the Watford Museum. Still in evidence is the etched lounge bar windows with ‘public bar’ on two of them. At the rear is a sizeable garden and upstairs a function room. The changing beers include local brews and there are also keg beers from the group's own Battersea Brewery. It has been accredited for beer quality during 2023. On a visit in February 2026 there were three cask ales on, including one from nearby Wimbledon. It is believed the current building could have been built by Benskins of Watford, as their owners at the time. Busy for our early evening arrival and met up with some more of the others on the heritage pub crawl having gone slightly off their list for the two in Surbiton itself. This was the finale pub of the tour and indeed one of the grandest and most spacious to behold on this outing. Comfortable seating afforded around a sizeable table meant there were about 8 of us during our visit. Three appealing real ales to choose from was a welcome addition.

15:15 Reasonably busy. Staff very welcoming. The low door screen is a remarkable survivor.