Royal couple

Their 27 year reign ends on Monday. And so too does their proud record of being the longest serving licensees at a single York city centre pub.

As the big day approaches, Dave and Sally have pinned up a lot of photographs showing pub events down the years. Who could forget the Royal Oak Marine Corps paintballers, or the Sealed Knot meetings?

Last Monday and Tuesday they had leaving dos, and regulars, former regulars, friends and well-wishers have toasted these perfect hosts.

Their York story may never have happened if the coin had landed on its other side. Sally is from Somerset originally. She had been working in London with her friend Maureen, but Maureen wanted to go home. At Paddington Station they tossed a coin and the call went Sally's way: instead of Somerset she chose York.

Why here? Because Maureen had relatives in the Army in the city. But the girls struggled to find jobs and decamped to Scarborough where work in the hotel industry was readily available.

Dave is from Scarborough and he met Sally in a town nightclub. One night they were due to go on a date, but Sally was called in to work so Dave joined her at The Crescent Hotel.

"He had to come and help me behind the bar," Sally recalled. "At that time he was working in a factory.

"Standing behind the bar, all these people he had known for years were coming in and buying him drinks."

Dave had such a good time he decided they should go into the trade together (not to mention get married - they have been wed 32 years). Their first pub was Ye Olde Starre Inn on Stonegate, then a Cameron's outlet, which they took over in 1974.

Very few pubs did much in the way of food in York at that time, but Dave and Sally started serving delicious pub grub. "I like to think we were on the cutting edge," she said.

The Starre was unusual, because at that time the front section was a wine bar, and it was soon packed every night.

One day, when Dave had some time off, he wandered round the corner and into the Royal Oak. Unlike the Starre it was practically deserted. He thought they would be perfect to take it over - as tenants, not managers. Cameron's agreed, and when the opportunity arose in 1977, they moved in.

Their renowned pub grub was soon being cooked in the Goodramgate kitchens (steak & kidney pie 50p, soup 19p). "Our very first trading day wasn't good," remembered Sally.

"We had moved in without any crockery and we did a round of cheese sandwiches for 25p.

"Unfortunately the plate got broken. It had been a wedding present, and it cost £1 to replace."

Since that slightly shaky start, things have gone from strength to strength.

Their food is legendary. Their beer is good enough to have kept the Royal Oak in the Good Beer Guide for more than 20 years. Their warm welcome has made them friends throughout York and around the world.

Under their stewardship the Oak has picked up several awards, including Pub Of The Year in the York Tourism Awards 2001.

But now it is time to call it a day. After this hectic, St Nicholas Fayre weekend, they're moving on. They will enjoy their first full Christmas off together for more than 30 years with the family, including 18-year-old daughter Lucy, then see what the future holds.

The couple are glad to say goodbye to the burgeoning red tape wrapping up the licensed trade.

What will they miss? "The people," said Sally. "We have got some brilliant staff here."

Many of their customers are also friends. Some first came in as students and have returned with tales of their high-flying careers and families.

"Everything's changed so much," said Dave. "When we came here it was darts and doms, now its primarily food.

"The whole scene in York has changed."

A young, enthusiastic couple are taking it over, who remind Dave, 57, of him and Sally when they first started.

Sally said: "We probably deserve a rest."

You certainly do. Have a good one. Bar Talk - and York - will miss you.

Updated: 08:44 Saturday, November 27, 2004