PubsandBeer
Royal Oak (Harvey's Brewery)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Elizabethan Ale |  | 1 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Wild Hop | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Primus Ale | | 1 |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale |  | 9 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | | 5 |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Knots of May Light Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Copperwheat Beer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Tom Paine | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Lewes Castle Brown Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Two Halves | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - St Richard's Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Southdown Harvest Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Wild River | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Star of Eastbourne | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Kiss | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
03 Nov 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Rarely for me early enough (just) to see some diners eating.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | | |
| 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 - Star of Eastbourne | 5.50 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Wild River | 4.50 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Harvey's - St Richard's Ale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
07 Oct 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | | Top notch |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Southdown Harvest Ale | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Wild River | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - St Richard's Ale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
25 Sep 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Primus Ale | 5.00 | | Interesting new branding. Small roundel on the pumpclip says "Sussex's Heritage County Town Beers from Harvey's Georgian Micro Brewery" |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 |  | Poor head and lack of carbonation |
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 |  | Rather sour and quite unpleasant aftertaste. Not right or near the very end of cask perhaps |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Harvey's - Southdown Harvest Ale | 5.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Wild Hop | 3.70 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Two Halves | 3.50 | Not Tried | Ran out |
14 Aug 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. SPBW's second in command Alistair was quiet in the corner until disturbed!
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | | Disappointing. It quickly lost its edge as the pint went down |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Lewes Castle Brown Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Two Halves | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - St Richard's Ale | 5.00 | Not Tried |
30 Jul 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Early evening. Numbers swelled by diners and a London Regional CAMRA meeting.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | | Tad fresh I thought |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Copperwheat Beer | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Tom Paine | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Harvey's - Sussex Wild Hop | 3.70 | Not Tried |
11 Jun 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close. Some Irish fiddle players were entertaining us. Unusually depleted beer range - oh the heat does it, the heat.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Moreish |
| Harvey's - Sussex Wild Hop | 3.70 | | |
| Harvey's - Knots of May Light Mild | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | 4.70 | Not Tried |
28 May 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | | |
| Harvey's - Elizabethan Ale | 7.50 | | Lovely nightcap |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Knots of May Light Mild | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Harvey's - Sussex Wild Hop | 3.70 | Not Tried |
12 Apr 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Afternoon. Rare daylight visit - just not the same as at night.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | | Fresh, yeasty and 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 - Porter | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | 4.70 | Not Tried |
26 Mar 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening. Guv John was in fine form reminiscing about his hotel trade career and the characters who formed the dynasties in those days.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | | Fuller bodied, perhaps, than usual |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Harvey's - Porter | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | Ran out |
12 Feb 2014 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | | Can knock Best into a cocked hat - did tonight |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | Ran out |
| Harvey's - Kiss | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | Ran out |
About the Royal Oak
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 11 |
| 141 |
| 120 |
| 37 |
| 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 179 times, seen 54 different beers and tried 30 of them.
Postcode: SE1 4JU