PubsandBeer
Royal Oak (Harvey's Brewery)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex XX Mild (or Sussex Dark Mild) |  | 1 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | | 2 |
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale |  | 7 |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | | 2 |
| Harvey's - Wharf IPA | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Porter |  | 2 |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Sisters Table Beer | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Pells Pale | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
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 | 4.80 | | 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 |
About the Royal Oak
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 11 |
| 141 |
| 118 |
| 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 178 times, seen 54 different beers and tried 30 of them.
Postcode: SE1 4JU