PubsandBeer
Royal Oak (Harvey's Brewery)
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| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) |  | 6 |
| Harvey's - Sussex XX Mild (or Sussex Dark Mild) | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) |  | 2 |
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | | 3 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Nuptial Ale |  | 1 |
| Harvey's - Star of Eastbourne | Not Tried | 0 |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Christmas Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Porter | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Kiss | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Knots of May Light Mild | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Tom Paine | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Lewes Castle Brown Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
04 Sep 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Perhaps the quietest I have ever known it, an evening visit until a prompt 11pm close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | Lovely mild, ideally refreshing |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | I know I bang on about this being the UK's most variable beer but this was very sharply bitter with no floral hop nose or taste. Bad batch? |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Lewes Castle Brown Ale | 4.80 | Not Tried |
25 Jul 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until 11pm close. Many London CAMRA dignitaries quaffing after a regional meeting here.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex XX Mild (or Sussex Dark Mild) | 3.00 | | Really top form for a balmy night |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Tom Paine | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Nuptial Ale | 6.00 | Not Tried |
21 Jun 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit.
| 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 - Knots of May Light Mild | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried |
30 May 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until 11pm close.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Nuptial Ale | 6.00 | | Barley wine type taste which could be confused with being on the turn, several others commented similarly |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Porter | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Knots of May Light Mild | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | Not Tried |
04 May 2018 (Stephen Harris)
Early Friday evening and, unexpectedly, it is very quiet in here. I had the pick of the seats in the front bar.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | 4.70 | | I rather liked this Red Ale which has no sweetness and some nice aroma dry-hopping. |
| 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 | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried |
12 Apr 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | Superb nick, an English mild as it should be |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Porter | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Georgian Dragon | 4.70 | Not Tried |
29 Mar 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until 11pm close. Chance encounter and good chat with one of the brewers at Brasserie de la Senne in Bruxelles. He will be coming over to go to Sussex later this summer for a collaboration brew with Burning Sky.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | Best I've had of this for a very long time |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Porter | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Kiss | 4.80 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | Not Tried | Still hanging on nearly into April! |
31 Jan 2018 (Philip Pirrip)
Late evening visit for London Drinker pick up. I really must eat here one day as the whitebait starter and whitebait main both tempt.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Christmas Ale | 7.50 | Not Tried | Tempting |
09 Dec 2017 (ChrisE)
Very busy in both bars and a function in the upstairs room. Lots of paper hats from Christmas crackers being worn.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | |
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) | 4.30 | | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - IPA | 3.50 | Not Tried |
29 Nov 2017 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening until 11pm close. Lots of top London CAMRA men in for a meeting upstairs.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | |
| Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | |
| Harvey's - Sussex Pale Ale | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Star of Eastbourne | 5.50 | Not Tried | |
| Fuller's (part of Asahi Europe) - Gale's HSB | 4.80 | Not Tried |
About the Royal Oak
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 11 |
| 140 |
| 113 |
| 34 |
 | 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 171 times, seen 55 different beers and tried 31 of them.
Postcode: SE1 4JU