PubsandBeer
Royal Oak (Harvey's Brewery)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Armada Ale |  | 6 |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) |  | 4 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | | 3 |
| Harvey's - Sussex XX Mild (or Sussex Dark Mild) | | 1 |
| Harvey's - (collaboration With Burning Sky & Brasserie de la Senne) | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Porter | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Southdown Harvest | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Wharf IPA | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Christmas Ale |  | 1 |
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Pells Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Sisters Table Beer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
16 Nov 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for mid-afternoon visit but prompt service and some seating to be had in this fine Harvey's pub with six of their real ales on.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | In very fine form was the head and lacing on this dark old ale. A dry, malty mouthfeel with a touch of flavouring from dried fruits and dates. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Porter | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy | 5.80 | Not Tried |
02 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Seemed like a party in on a big tab from the length of a till roll receipt given to one customer.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | HSBB as it should be |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | Top form, as said before a little sweeter than previous year's |
| Harvey's - Southdown Harvest | 5.00 | | Very little condition |
| Harvey's - (collaboration With Burning Sky & Brasserie de la Senne) | 4.50 | | Just a bit of a sour mess. A Marmite beer for sure. This was flat |
| Harvey's - Christmas Ale | 7.50 | | 2023's ale. Very woody, a slow drinker. Full on flavour but flat |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried |
25 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit, even more humid than normal with quiz night in full swing on a night of torrential rain.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | The new batch for this autumn. Perhaps sweeter and fuller flavoured than of late |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried |
16 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit. Low footfall and I found myself whistling along to an Irish fiddle duo even when it was tuning up.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | | Something missing - the floral hop nose |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Pells Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried |
07 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Everything was right for me |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | | Lacking the floral hop nose |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Pells Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried |
31 Jul 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Brief mid evening visit.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Wharf IPA | 4.20 | | Cool, refreshing but poor head and lacing |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Pells Pale | 3.70 | Not Tried |
08 Jun 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until, short stay extended when someone known came in.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | | Still missing that famed floral hop nose |
| Harvey's - Porter | 4.80 | | On good form, perhaps a tad too chilled |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Sisters Table Beer | 3.40 | Not Tried |
29 May 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit mid-Wednesday quiz and like a sweat box inside.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | | Disappointing, soon went flat and more sour rather than aromatic hop nose and flavours |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Sisters Table Beer | 3.40 | Not Tried |
20 May 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. One of two customers berated for trying the short cut route through the bar which was at one time acceptable.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Freshest of the ales tried here tonight |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | | Good floral hopping |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | Probably last cask of the season here |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Sisters Table Beer | 3.40 | Not Tried |
11 May 2024 (Wittenden)
Mid afternoon on a sunny Saturday. A group of us convened here, some of our number not having been seen for fiftyish years.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex XX Mild (or Sussex Dark Mild) | 3.00 | | Reassuring. |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | | Suave. |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Porter | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | 4.70 | Not Tried |
About the Royal Oak
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 11 |
| 138 |
| 97 |
| 33 |
 | 4 |
The pub is found in Borough, Central London, SE1 4JU.
Harvey's first tied pub in the capital. Corner pub in Tabard Street, near Borough Underground station. Feels like an oasis from the bustle of London Bridge / Borough High Street. Two bare-boarded rooms in a pub with a central bar and an off-sales hatch. Superb John Harvey Room upstairs may be used for meetings and functions and is freely available. Lots of dark wood and cream walls. 4 handpumps on each bar counter so 8 in all. Comfortable atmosphere. Also has comprehensive selection of Harvey's beer in bottles. Became a managed house after the departure, to retirement, of long term tenant licensees in January 2019. Local CAMRA branch Overall Pub of the Year 2023 having been runner-up in 2022.
We have visited this pub 160 times, seen 54 different beers and tried 31 of them.
Postcode: SE1 4JU