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Home > Hertfordshire > Hemel Hempstead > Royal Oak

Royal Oak

 

 


 
The Royal Oak was situated at 107 High Street.  This building prior to being a public house was used as a lockup probably around the 18th century,records show it was a public house between 1882 till early 1970’s. The Royal Oak gained a reputation of notoriety in its latter days. Having being refused any further deliveries from the brewery but still having a licence to operate as a pub, the landlady would purchase alcohol from other sources i.e. supermarkets, off licence etc. Then resell across the bar at a small profit. The pub was adopted by students and young adults, some of whom had been refused further admission to The Kings Arms further down the High St. As the financial problems with the Royal Oak began to become apparent, lighting was provided by candles and entertainment from people playing guitars and percussion. The pub was scorned by the local community because of its hippy image and the pub was also subject to exaggerated claims of heavy drug taking.
The pub closed in the early 70s , the landlady was refused another licence from the local magistrates due to objections, the brewery took possession but never appointed any further landlords or managers. The pub remained derelict for some years until it was converted alongside other adjacent derelict buildings in Cherry Bounce to residential.
 

Source: William O'Brien

 

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Name Dates Comments
Steve Pereira 1970s