PubsandBeer
Royal Oak (Harvey's Brewery)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - IPA |  | 1 |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | | 7 |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Tom Paine |  | 1 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter |  | 3 |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Knots of May Light Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Olympia | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Bohemian Way | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Lewes Castle Brown Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Forward's Choice | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Christmas Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Prince of Denmark | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Wharf IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
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 A last chance saloon to redeem my amassed 60p Harvey's loyalty card value - the scheme is totally withdrawn at the end of July.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 - XX 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 - XX 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 - XX 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 - XX 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 |
25 Sep 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. Forgot Wednesday was quiz night and I have never known a louder quiz master and participants, especially when the jackpot stage was played out (unsuccessfully). For the first time ever, in my memory, the ale prices are not shown on the beer blackboard - poor show for trading honesty.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | In lovely cool nick |
| 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 | My first sighting of 2019 |
| Harvey's - Lewes Castle Brown Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Forward's Choice | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Bohemian Way | 3.70 | Not Tried |
31 Jul 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. Rather noise intrusive quiz evening in rear room in this normally conversational pub.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Tom Paine | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Olympia | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - IPA | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Bohemian Way | 3.70 | Not Tried |
29 May 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. Feels less and less like it was under the previous tenanted regime with every visit. No Harvey's Best tonight - sacrilege.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | Tasty and nutty. getting dear at £3.90pp for such low gravity however |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Knots of May Light Mild | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Olympia | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried | After a hiatus Fuller's guests are back |
| Harvey's - IPA | 3.50 | Not Tried |
About the Royal Oak
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 11 |
| 139 |
| 108 |
| 33 |
 | 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 166 times, seen 54 different beers and tried 31 of them.
Postcode: SE1 4JU