PubsandBeer
Royal Oak (Harvey's Brewery)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - IPA |  | 1 |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | | 5 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter |  | 4 |
| Harvey's - Tom Paine | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Prince of Denmark | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Olympia | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Wharf IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Royal Oak IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Goose Shoreditch - Harvest Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Forward's Choice | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Bohemian Way | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Christmas Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
27 Jan 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Quick evening in and out to collect supply of latest London Drinker magazine. Not time to dally. Good numbers in both bars.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Christmas Ale | 7.50 | Not Tried | |
| Goose Shoreditch - Harvest Mild | 3.90 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Royal Oak IPA | 3.50 | Not Tried |
17 Jan 2022 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit. Dryanuary and a Monday meant only half a dozen in between the two bars.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | |
| Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | £3 a pint on Mondays apparently, after I had ordered A N Other |
| Harvey's - Christmas Ale | 7.50 | Not Tried | Tempting, another day perhaps |
24 Nov 2021 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. The Wednesday pub quiz is very intrusive for non participants so did not linger after one pint.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | A very refreshing low gravity job - just what I needed |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Royal Oak IPA | 3.50 | Not Tried | Re-badged IPA |
21 Aug 2021 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit until last orders bell. The back room has been denuded of all trinkets and felt depressingly austere and soul-less.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Just a tad too chilled |
| Harvey's - Olympia | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Wharf IPA | 4.80 | Not Tried |
29 Jun 2021 (Philip Pirrip)
A couple of hours or more visit until close. Only 4 handpumps of 8 in use so more limited range than usual. Surprisingly low footfall for a Euros football TV night. A last chance saloon to redeem my amassed 60p Harvey's loyalty card value - the scheme is totally withdrawn at the end of July.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | In fine form |
| Harvey's - IPA | 3.50 | | Another one in fine form |
| Harvey's - Tom Paine | 5.50 | | Good nightcapper |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 |  | Disappointing with a apple like taste. Later told had been an 18 gallon cask on for 5 or so days |
29 Jan 2020 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. With a packed humid house with a quiz in midstream I needed a cooling drink as a foundryman might have in years of yore.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | Most refreshing |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | 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 - IPA | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Christmas Ale | 7.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Prince of Denmark | 7.50 | Not Tried |
20 Jan 2020 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening. Quiet Monday - no way. Front room hosting a rugby club presentation, rear room an Irish fiddle quartet, upstairs Miles Jenner and meet the brewer session.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | Gloriously refreshing in a hot sweaty packed pub |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | 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 - IPA | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Christmas Ale | 7.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Prince of Denmark | 7.50 | Not Tried |
02 Dec 2019 (Magnus Greel)
Mid evening visit - a necessary stop to break up the long journey from SW19, fairly quiet I sat at the rear bar where there were a couple of chaps playing violins. I've only listed what I had..
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | Rather bland and watery also too chilled for my liking lost another star.. |
27 Nov 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. No Best and no Old on a night of a CAMRA regional meeting and a fully packed quiz. Wassup? Did not dally as it was sweatingly hot in here and the noisy quiz using a PA system to boot.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | Refreshing indeed in a sweatbox |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - IPA | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Christmas Ale | 7.50 | Not Tried |
26 Sep 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. Wot! No Mild. Back to try the Old, sold here before the official seasonal launch.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | First rate. Sweeter and creamier than I recall in the past |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Forward's Choice | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Bohemian Way | 3.70 | Not Tried |
About the Royal Oak
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 11 |
| 133 |
| 85 |
| 29 |
 | 3 |
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 having been runner-up in 2022.
We have visited this pub 149 times, seen 51 different beers and tried 29 of them.
Postcode: SE1 4JU