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Royal Oak (Harvey's Brewery)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) |  | 2 |
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy | | 2 |
| Harvey's - Sussex XX Mild (or Sussex Dark Mild) | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter |  | 1 |
| Harvey's - Porter | | 3 |
| Harvey's - Wharf IPA | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | | 6 |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) |  | 1 |
| Harvey's - Kiss | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Easter Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Sisters Table Beer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Pells Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
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 |
07 May 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Long evening session until an earlier close due to light business.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | Initial promise soon dissipated with lost head, no lacing and sour backtaste. Not a good sign for a relaunched product |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | | None of the expected flowery hop nose and associated taste. No off flavours |
| Harvey's - Porter | 4.80 |  | Poor show. Really rather sour tasting that lingered in the mouth |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | 4.70 | Not Tried |
13 Apr 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit. No one in front room, half a dozen in back one.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy | 5.80 | | Pity so pricey for such a superbly kept seasonal ale |
| 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 - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | 4.70 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - IPA | 3.50 | Not Tried |
06 Apr 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit. Wot no Harvey's Best on - no, pub having had some problems of late with it.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | | Smooth and as it should be |
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy | 5.80 | | 4½* Possibly as good as it can be - an addictively flavoursome ale with lingering lip smacking bitterness |
| 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 - Georgian Dragon | 4.70 | Not Tried |
27 Mar 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit, a sweatbox inside as always on quiz night.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Porter | 4.80 | | Top notch but pricey |
| 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 - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Easter Ale | 5.60 | Not Tried | Those 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | Refreshing |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Harvey's - Kiss | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - IPA | 3.50 | Not Tried |
About the Royal Oak
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 11 |
| 138 |
| 107 |
| 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 and 2025, having been runner-up in 2022.
We have visited this pub 165 times, seen 54 different beers and tried 31 of them.
Postcode: SE1 4JU