The building was the manor house of Earls of Powis and has been a hotel in the centre of the market town and former administrative capital of Montgomeryshire for many years. The hotel part now trades under the Coaching Inn Group name but is still family owned, it offers 25 rooms starting at 60 per room per night. Visit Wales 3 star rated. The hotel has a large function room available for weddings and its own secure car park. The ground floor is multi roomed with the main bar to the left of the main entrance, armchairs and tables are available along with coffee and cakes. There are numerous smaller rooms that can be used for eating in or meeting. Another bar named the Ostlers is to be found to one side of the establishment away form the main reception and hotel customers more pitched at the local market though you won't find the choice of real ale in here. The Oak is most unusual for a 3 star hotel in that it does have a choice of real ales albeit at hotel prices. The whole place is adorned with photographs of old Welshpool and newspapers including the sports section of the Telegraph hung above the urinals!