Built in 1818, a full 10 years before JW Lees was founded, the Royal Oak is a historic alehouse with plenty of stories to tell. Originally built by Joshua Shepley, the pub was once a working stop for travellers heading over the Snake Pass, with stables and a blacksmith’s shop providing fresh horses for the journey into the Peak District. Over its 200-year history, the Royal Oak has passed through the hands of local licensees, Gartside’s Brewery, Bass and Mercury Taverns, with the building evolving along the way. Now, JW Lees is giving this much-loved Glossop pub a new chapter, with an investment of more than £500,000 transforming it into a modern, fit-for-purpose family dining pub. Set in the scenic town of Glossop on the edge of the Peak District.