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The Royal Oak (Free House)

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Beer (sort)Average Score (sort)No. Samples (sort)
Larkins - PorterExceptional2
Harvey's - Copperwheat BeerExceptional1
Dartford Wobbler (re-named from Millis) - Kentish Red AleExcellent1
Cottage - Wicked HoundExcellent1
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Goodness Gracious Me!Excellent1
Tonbridge - Alsace GoldExcellent1
Dark Star - Over The MoonExcellent1
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)Excellent2
Hop Fuzz - 1914 Lest We ForgetExcellent1
Pig & Porter - Rye Green SpiderExcellent1
Blue Monkey - 100 Red BaboonsExcellent1
Pig & Porter - Neither NorExcellent1
Harvey's - Lewes Castle Brown AleExcellent1
Harvey's - Sussex Best BitterExcellent1
Larkins - TraditionalExcellent2
Rockin Robin - Blizzard of OzExcellent1
Isfield - Straw BlondExcellent3
Harvey's - Tom PaineExcellent1
Pig & Porter - Ashburnham Pale AleExcellent1
Cottage - Big BenGood1
Tonbridge - CoppernobGood1
Hop Fuzz - Martello (superseded by 4.4% then 4.5% versions)Good1
Rockin Robin - Reliant Robin (superseded by 3.7% version)Good1
Harvey's - IPAGood1
Whitstable - Bohemium LagerNot Tried0
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)Not Tried0
Weltons - Deep Crisp & EvenNot Tried0

Visits Details

07 Oct 2016 (Magnus Greel)
Reunion with the Friday Evening Group after nearly 4 years absence. 20+ years since I've been here and hasn't changed a bit, cosy, calm and peaceful atmosphere compared to the hubbub of the town centre pubs.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Isfield - Straw Blond4.10ExcellentIn top form tonight
Pig & Porter - Rye Green Spider4.80ExcellentRich full bodied addition to the current craze beer nomenclature
Rockin Robin - Reliant Robin (superseded by 3.7% version)4.20GoodEast Kent Goldings give traditional notes on the palate and a fresh spicy finish
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
19 Jan 2016 (thebrewingman)
A quiet Tuesday evening for a wash up meeting for the Spa Valley Railway Beer Festival.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30Excellent
Pig & Porter - Ashburnham Pale Ale3.80Excellent
Goody Ales - Bleangate Brewery - Goodness Gracious Me!4.80Excellent
Whitstable - East India Pale Ale (or EIPA)4.10Not TriedWent off during the evening
Weltons - Deep Crisp & Even4.80Not TriedI don't do Christmas Beers
10 Mar 2015 (thebrewingman)
Busy Tuesday evening with several groups in. I was here for the first planning meeting for the 2015 SVR Beer and Cider Festival. There was also a Whitstable Single Hop beer but I can't remember the variety along with a Cottage beer which went off during the evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Larkins - Traditional3.40Excellent
Pig & Porter - Neither Nor5.00Excellent
Rockin Robin - Blizzard of Oz4.50Excellent
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
04 Feb 2015 (thebrewingman)
Decide on a different route around TW which brought us here. A few in.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Old Ale (or Sussex XXXX Old Ale)4.30ExcellentSo good we had to have another just to check
Larkins - Traditional3.40Not Tried
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
Whitstable - Bohemium Lager4.90Not Tried
16 Dec 2014 (thebrewingman)
Evening. A few in. The SVR Beer Festival Wash Up meeting added to the cliental.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Larkins - Porter5.20ExceptionalOn excellent form.
Tonbridge - Coppernob3.80Good
Isfield - Straw Blond4.10GoodGetting near the end of the barrel.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
16 Sep 2014 (thebrewingman)
Evening for a Spa Valley Railway Beer Festival Meeting. Barman apologised for reduced numbers of beers as they were preparing for a beer and music festival this weekend.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Lewes Castle Brown Ale4.80Excellent
Isfield - Straw Blond4.10ExcellentQuite hoppy.
Cottage - Big Ben4.90GoodA brown bitterish beer.
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
15 Jul 2014 (thebrewingman)
Evening. Fairly busy with the patio full of drinkers and a ukelele group taking several tables.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Excellent
Harvey's - Tom Paine5.50Excellent
Dartford Wobbler (re-named from Millis) - Kentish Red Ale4.30Excellent
Tonbridge - Alsace Gold4.00Excellent
Hop Fuzz - 1914 Lest We Forget4.50Excellent
08 Oct 2013 (thebrewingman)
Quietish Tuesday evening.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Hop Fuzz - Martello (superseded by 4.4% then 4.5% versions)3.80GoodRan out during the evening.
Harvey's - IPA3.50Good
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
01 Jun 2011 (thebrewingman)
Quietish Wednesday lunchtime.
BeerABVScoreNotes
Harvey's - Copperwheat Beer4.80ExceptionalMy other half thought this was a superb beer.
Larkins - Traditional3.40Excellent
Cottage - Wicked Hound4.70Excellent
Harvey's - Sussex Best Bitter4.00Not Tried
26 Feb 2011 (Pedro)
Afternoon visit to last day of festival
BeerABVScoreNotes
Larkins - Porter5.20Excellent
Dark Star - Over The Moon3.80Excellent
Blue Monkey - 100 Red Baboons4.90Excellent

[More Visits]

About The Royal Oak

The pub sign. The Royal Oak, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Summary of Beer Scores

 Total
Exceptional6
Excellent29
Good7
Acceptable1
Poor1

Website.

The pub is found in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4SY.

Just outside the town centre in Prospect Road, this is not the typical Tunbridge Wells pub in that it has some good ales! Carpeted throughout with warm feel it has an active darts team, book swap, quiz on Thursdays and jazz on Sunday lunchtimes. Friendly welcome and a keen interest in real beers and likely to be in future Good Beer Guides. 6 handpumps.

We have visited this pub 18 times, seen 38 different beers and tried 32 of them.

Map location

Postcode: TN2 4SY