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Royal Oak (Harvey's Brewery)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterExcellent2
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)Excellent4
Harvey's - Sussex XX Mild (or Sussex Dark Mild)Good1
Harvey's - Armada AleGood6
Harvey's - Southdown HarvestGood1
Harvey's - PorterGood1
Harvey's - (collaboration With Burning Sky & Brasserie de la Senne)Good1
Harvey's - Wharf IPAGood1
Harvey's - Christmas AleAcceptable1
Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)Not Tried0
Harvey's - Sisters Table BeerNot Tried0
Harvey's - Pells PaleNot Tried0
Harvey's - Bonfire BoyNot Tried0
Picture 1. Royal Oak, Borough, Central London
Picture 2. Royal Oak, Borough, Central London
Picture 3. Royal Oak, Borough, Central London
Stephen Harris

Visits Details

02 Dec 2024 (Magnus Greel)
Lunchtime to early evening and busy throughout with most folk staying for a session. Venue for our December NESW group get together around a dozen of us turned up and good to see a couple of rare appearances also. Sadly HSBC, a former P&B luminary, wasn't amongst us this time.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50GoodRobust full bodied golden ale with a pronounced yet balanced hop character.
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30GoodA soft, sweet, full bodied dark ale with a nutty palate.
Harvey's - Sussex XX Mild (or Sussex Dark Mild)3.00GoodStarted off on a couple of these to ease one into the session.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
27 Nov 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit towards the end of the quiz evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50GoodBordering on a 4 mark. Very florally hopped
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Not Tried
16 Nov 2024 (Hogan Sampling)
Busy for mid-afternoon visit but prompt service and some seating to be had in this fine Harvey's pub with six of their real ales on.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30ExcellentIn very fine form was the head and lacing on this dark old ale. A dry, malty mouthfeel with a touch of flavouring from dried fruits and dates.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Porter4.80Not Tried
Harvey's - Bonfire Boy5.80Not Tried
02 Oct 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close. Seemed like a party in on a big tab from the length of a till roll receipt given to one customer.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentHSBB as it should be
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30ExcellentTop form, as said before a little sweeter than previous year's
Harvey's - Southdown Harvest5.00GoodVery little condition
Harvey's - (collaboration With Burning Sky & Brasserie de la Senne)4.50GoodJust a bit of a sour mess. A Marmite beer for sure. This was flat
Harvey's - Christmas Ale7.50Acceptable2023's ale. Very woody, a slow drinker. Full on flavour but flat
Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
25 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit, even more humid than normal with quiz night in full swing on a night of torrential rain.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30GoodThe new batch for this autumn. Perhaps sweeter and fuller flavoured than of late
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50Not Tried
16 Sep 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit. Low footfall and I found myself whistling along to an Irish fiddle duo even when it was tuning up.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50GoodSomething missing - the floral hop nose
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Pells Pale3.70Not Tried
07 Aug 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until close.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00ExcellentEverything was right for me
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50GoodLacking the floral hop nose
Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Pells Pale3.70Not Tried
31 Jul 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Brief mid evening visit.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Wharf IPA4.20GoodCool, refreshing but poor head and lacing
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50Not Tried
Harvey's - Pells Pale3.70Not Tried
08 Jun 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit until, short stay extended when someone known came in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50GoodStill missing that famed floral hop nose
Harvey's - Porter4.80GoodOn good form, perhaps a tad too chilled
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Sisters Table Beer3.40Not Tried
29 May 2024 (Philip Pirrip)
Evening visit mid-Wednesday quiz and like a sweat box inside.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Armada Ale4.50AcceptableDisappointing, soon went flat and more sour rather than aromatic hop nose and flavours
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Harvey's - XX Dark Mild (or Sussex XX Mild)3.00Not Tried
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Not Tried
Harvey's - Sisters Table Beer3.40Not Tried

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About the Royal Oak

The pub sign. Royal Oak, Borough, Central London

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional11
Excellent138
Good101
Acceptable33
Poor4

Website.

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 162 times, seen 54 different beers and tried 31 of them.

Map location

Postcode: SE1 4JU