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Royal Oak (Harvey's Brewery)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)Excellent2
Harvey's - PorterExcellent1
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)Excellent4
Harvey's - Southdown HarvestGood1
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterGood4
Harvey's - Armada AleGood3
Harvey's - OlympiaNot Tried0
Harvey's - Wild HopNot Tried0
Harvey's - Star of EastbourneNot Tried0
Harvey's - IPANot Tried0
Harvey's - KissNot Tried0
Harvey's - Easter AleNot Tried0
Picture 1. Royal Oak, Borough, Central London
Picture 2. Royal Oak, Borough, Central London
Picture 3. Royal Oak, Borough, Central London
Stephen Harris

Visits Details

27 Mar 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit, a sweatbox inside as always on quiz night.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Porter4.80ExcellentTop notch but pricey
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Not Tried
Harvey's - Easter Ale5.60Not TriedThose who tried it found it rather fresh
20 Feb 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Afternoon visit after local chores. In rear room that was populated by a range of dogs wandering good naturedly.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30ExcellentRefreshing
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not TriedRan out
Harvey's - Kiss4.80Not Tried
Harvey's - IPA3.50Not Tried
31 Jan 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit mid quiz night. The higher or lower card draw ended harshly and quickly.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30ExcellentFirst rate in every way and very refreshing in the balmy quiz night ambience of the pub
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
09 Jan 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Problems with double booking of a meeting room resolved with empathy from the other booking party. Poor beer range alleged to be because of some imminent cellar work / changes.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00GoodNew cask on - rather fresh
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00GoodThe price differential between this and the other ales has closed considerably here
Harvey's - IPA3.50Not Tried
04 Dec 2023 (Magnus Greel)
A small group of us arrived and hung around until 12.00 opening upon which we occupied the rear bar with many others joining us until I departed early evening. The sole barman was kept busy with many groups coming and going until 16.00 when reinforcements arrived to help out.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00ExceptionalEverything from temperature, condition and bursting with ripe fruit flavours was perfect.
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30ExcellentA soft but hearty beer with a nutty palate
Harvey's - Southdown Harvest5.00GoodFull bodied rich malty fare
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00AcceptableAll the expected flavours nullified by being served ice cold. Disappointing :(
29 Nov 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Brief evening visit. A balmy atmosphere as packed in both bars with quizzers. Christmas Ale will come on on Friday 1st.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentPerfectly refreshing
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Not Tried
Harvey's - Star of Eastbourne5.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Southdown Harvest5.00Not Tried
07 Oct 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Strictly closed for a private party but a bit of blagging worked. Good chat with a fellow blagger visiting Aussie who had escaped his wife, daughter and mother-in-law for an hour or so.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30ExcellentMore bitter than I expected and very full bodied. Hope it stays like this this winter
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50AcceptableI was disappointed as the expected highly hop floral nose was missing
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
27 Sep 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Brief evening visit, balmy inside with a crowd of quiz people.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50GoodThe hop flavour did not come through fully
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Wild Hop3.70Not Tried
02 Sep 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Afternoon one-pinter visit picking up a supply of London Drinker magazines.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50Excellent4½* Everything this should be - superb hop bittering and floral aftertaste
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Wild Hop3.70Not Tried
06 Aug 2023 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until 9pm close. Just one other customer in who had just had the last of the Armada!
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentAs it should be
Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Olympia4.30Not Tried

[More Visits]

About the Royal Oak

The pub sign. Royal Oak, Borough, Central London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional11
Excellent130
Good85
Acceptable29
Poor3

Website.

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 147 times, seen 51 different beers and tried 29 of them.

Map location

Postcode: SE1 4JU