PubsAndBeer.co.uk - Royal Oak, Borough, Central London

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Royal Oak (Harvey's Brewery)

Beer (sort)	Average Score (sort)	No. Samples (sort)
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)		1
Harvey's - Porter		1
Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale		1
Harvey's - Armada Ale		1
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter		1
Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)	Not Tried	0

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

26 Jan 2007 (Ian)

I have never seen this pub so full. Absolutely heaving, standing room only. This was partly because it was Friday around 6 in the evening and partly because the Burgundian Babble Belt had taken over one half of the pub. Joris Pattyn was there too, one of the foremost writers and drinkers of Belgian beer.

Beer	ABV	Score	Notes
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)	4.30		I really love this beer and this slipped down within seconds. Lovely roasted malts.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter	4.00		Good nutty bitter, with distinctive Harvey's yeast.
Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)	3.00	Not Tried
Harvey's - Armada Ale	4.50	Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale	3.50	Not Tried

29 Nov 2006 (Ian)

I came here with some friends from Ratebeer.com. It was about 16.15 when I arrived and there were a handfull of locals in, but as 17.00 ticked round, it got quite full with after work customers. Friendly pub with the feel that time has stopped inside. An oasis from the hustle and bustle of nearby Borough High Street.

Beer	ABV	Score	Notes
Harvey's - Armada Ale	4.50		One of my favourite pints to have. Emminently suppable and has that usual Harvey's yeast with a sweetish marmalade fruit and then dry hoppy finish.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter	4.00	Not Tried
Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)	3.00	Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale	3.50	Not Tried
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)	4.30	Not Tried

31 Mar 2006 (Ian)

I had been on a course over lunch by Green Park and I took the train/my push bike to get to here. Mid afternoon and this was my first hit on an extended pub crawl through the city

Beer	ABV	Score	Notes
Harvey's - Porter	4.80		I was really pleased to find this on cask. Black beer with lasting bubbly beige head. Good aroma of dark malts, choc/coffee and toffee. Full in mouth, touch of sourness before more toffee/choc/grainy coffee. Some juicyness too. Certainly one of my favourite porters. Tad sweeter maybe than most, but with a dry finish
Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale	3.50		Red copper colour with bubbly beige head. Distinctive Harvey's yeast aroma. Some caramel. Good in mouth with yeasty, hoppy (biting) finish. Good flavour for a 3.5% beer. Just very interesting to drink
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

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About the Royal Oak

The pub sign. Royal Oak, Borough, Central London

Summary of Beer Scores

	Total
	11
	140
	113
	35
	4

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 and 2025, having been runner-up in 2022.

We have visited this pub 173 times, seen 55 different beers and tried 31 of them.

Map location

Postcode: SE1 4JU