PubsandBeer
Royal Oak (Harvey's Brewery)
[Back to most recent] [Previous Visits] [More Visits]
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Bonfire Boy |  | 2 |
| Harvey's - Sussex XX Mild (or Sussex Dark Mild) | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | | 4 |
| Harvey's - Porter |  | 2 |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | | 4 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | | 3 |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | | 3 |
| Harvey's - Southdown Harvest Ale | | 1 |
| Harvey's - IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Kiss | 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 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
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 |
31 Jan 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit mid quiz night. The higher or lower card draw ended harshly and quickly.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | First rate in every way and very refreshing in the balmy quiz night ambience of the pub |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | New cask on - rather fresh |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | The price differential between this and the other ales has closed considerably here |
| Harvey's - IPA | 3.50 | Not 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.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 |  | Everything from temperature, condition and bursting with ripe fruit flavours was perfect. |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | A soft but hearty beer with a nutty palate |
| Harvey's - Southdown Harvest Ale | 5.00 | | Full bodied rich malty fare |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | All the expected flavours nullified by being served ice cold. Disappointing :( |
About the Royal Oak
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
| 11 |
| 142 |
| 121 |
| 38 |
| 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 182 times, seen 54 different beers and tried 30 of them.
Postcode: SE1 4JU