PubsandBeer
Royal Oak (Harvey's Brewery)
| Beer (sort) | Average Score (sort) | No. Samples (sort) |
|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale) |  | 1 |
| Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | | 7 |
| Harvey's - Porter | | 1 |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter |  | 2 |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - IPA | Not Tried | 0 |
| Harvey's - Sussex XXXX Old 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 |
| Harvey's - Tom Paine | 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 |
Stephen Harris
Visits Details
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 |
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 - 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 - 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 - 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 |
27 Mar 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Mid evening visit. Subtle and sledgehammer changes taking place. Large blackboard now shows beer range and Chef's food recommendation, daily menu sheets placed on all tables. Harvey's fizz beers fonts are now evident.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Porter | 4.80 | | In lovely nourishing nick |
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Armada Ale | 4.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - IPA | 3.50 | Not Tried | |
| Harvey's - Sussex XXXX Old Ale | 4.30 | Not Tried |
30 Jan 2019 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit, my first since the new managed house regime took over from long term tenant licensees Frank and John now retired. All pumpclips replaced with the new style and the long term labelling of Harvey's IPA as Harvey's Sussex Pale Ale has been swept away. No distress purchase Fuller's beer on sale. Subtle changes so far, let's hope no more than a few more take place. Seems to have become a managed house, sensible for what must be a money spinner for the owners.
| Beer | ABV | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter | 4.00 | | |
| Harvey's - Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild) | 3.00 | | Drank without really noticing |
| 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 |
About the Royal Oak
Summary of Beer Scores
| Total | |
|---|---|
 | 10 |
| 101 |
| 68 |
| 23 |
 | 3 |
The pub is found in Borough, Central London, SE1 4JU.
Harvey's first tied pub in the capital. Corner pub 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. Lots of dark wood and cream walls. 4 handpulls 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. Upstairs function room freely available.
We have visited this pub 114 times, seen 45 different beers and tried 28 of them.
Postcode: SE1 4JU