Reviews of The Royal Oak. (Pub) in London (London).

The Royal Oak

608 Reviews

356 Comments

Pub

Pub

44 Tabard St, London SE1 4JU, United Kingdom

Description

Information of The Royal Oak, Pub in London (London)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

Map

Open hours of The Royal Oak

Popular times

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Reviews of The Royal Oak

M.

Excellent London pub a short walk off the main road. Central bar serving excellent Harvey's beer to the front and back seating areas. I learnt to drink on Harvey's so great find for me.

I. M.

Traditional two-bar atmospheric pub with friendly staff and a great range of beers mostly from Harvey's Brewery in Sussex. Limited menu but the food served is good including excellent Sunday roasts. Visited here numerous times - it is consistently good. Located in Tabard Street a quiet side road near Borough tube. Love it!

L. A.

Visited today for the first time and will certainly be back. It's a no nonsense pub that serves great beer and excellent food. I absolutely detest the endless array of revolting IPA's and craft lagers that have taken over so many pubs in the last few years. None of that rubbish here - I tried the dark Mild and black stout and both were excellent. I can also recommend the steak and ale pie which was full of tender meat in a rich gravy.

I. H.

Came in here last in Jan 2020 when I was walking around trying to find a reasonably priced real ale pub that was not showing the football match that was on at the time. Ended up having an amazing meal and trying some decent beers. Fast forward to July 2021, just got a new job at guys hospital and so decided to make bypass all the pubs in London Bridge and make a beeline here. I did not eat here tonight but the food looked just good as my last visit, the beers are kept extremely well, the bar staff are very knowledgeable and friendly and the price is the same as I paid previously. Not to mention the beers are very local heading up from Hove. Tables are socially distanced and there is hand sanitiser on the table. When a customer leaves their table the staff come and sanitise the table and I found the toilets very clean. I would definitely recommend even though a change of staff. The standards of this brewary company are very high

I. G.

Probably the best pub in London. Relatively unspoilt serving some of the best kept Harvey's ales you're likely to find. Great pub grub too!

M. P. C.

The Royal Oak is a must visit pub. A real gem in the heart of Borough. Very well preserved victorian style pub with a good selection of Harvey's beers and delicious traditional English pub food.

C. B.

Another excellent pub you wished you found years ago! Small, late Victorian pub on a corner spot , 3 mins from Borough tube station. Two separate rooms with the bar in the middle. On my visit on. Thursday evening around 8 o’clock, a nice , quiet crowd sitting with their drinks, some eating, one at the bar. Beers on draft are mostly from the Harvey brewery of Lewes. My dark ale was a winner! I didn’t have any food, but the people who were eating seemed to be well catered for.

J. K.

A very nice pub with great real ale on tap .. If I’d known before I visitedI would have have the Sunday roast , it looked& smelt divine ..

J. M.

Food from fresh produce. Well presented and really tasty. Local brew of beer also very tasty. Friendly staff and customers. Great experience for a proper traditional British Sunday roast. We'll worth a visit.

M. W.

There are two things that really stood out to me: the staff know how to look after their beer and they know how to look after their customers. Good selection of ales, and all of the staff were more than happy to help. Nice mix of customers and a very relaxed vibe. Thoroughly recommend.

F. V.

Great corner pub, wasn’t too busy but that suited me during this pandemic. The staff are friendly, attentive & excellent customer service. Toilets are clean with lovely bottled soap & hand moisturiser which normally found in high end hotels. Great airy decor. Definitely would come back. Recommended.

J. S.

We went to a private Christmas party here. The staff and food were excellent as was the service. We will definitely be returning for the excellent pies and their Sunday roast dinner, can't wait!

N. B.

I just love it and the beer is top notch and the food is imaginative! A proper pub, and a treat!

E. D.

Absolutely loved their sticky toffee pudding!! Very quaint and nice pub, friendly staff, and excellent service. Would highly recommend! only £5.50

S. E.

If you want great beers from a craft brewer in Sussex, superb food, incredibly friendy staff and above all a traditional historic pub atmosphere in the heart of London this is it!!

S. K. G. W.

Great pub, with a good atmosphere and excellent Harvey's beer. The food is good too

B. W.

Nice old pub. Great Staff , good food at reasonnable price. Hardly tourists .

T. K.

Always a convivial atmosphere in this Harvey's house where chatter over old school ales dominates. Takeaway draft beer also available.

B. D.

Great pub with exceptional beer.

J. C. (. a. J.

One of the best pubs in London particularly for those who are fond of great cask ales. Beers are from Harvey's of Lewes Sussex and there were four available when I visited. Very friendly staff and clients. A proper traditional pub.

S. B.

Cozy, old school pub that doubles up as the London tap house for Harvey’s Brewery. Some delicious beers on offer with core rea he and seasonal specials served on cask and keg. Easy to get to via london transport (Borough tube station 2/3 mins walk, bus stops nearby). Would recommend a visit.

A. E.

This is a great pub, just off the beaten track, but such a good find when you do. It is less busy than the main Borough Market area, but so much more than just that. The food is excellent, drinks are great and this a real English pub and hopefully long will it remain so. I used to live and work in the area so used to visit quite often, but now I have moved away I shall certainly return when I am in the area again.

P. D.

Friendly staff and excellent beer. The pub is well kept and roomy.

J. J.

This is the perfect pub, unlike a lot of the high street pubs. It's quiet unless you're lucky enough to enjoy some singing from the back room and the Harvey's cask ales are incredible. The pies and the Sunday roast are both solid as well. I want to give a bad review so that you won't come ruin it, but I can't do that. Looking forward to the post-lockdown reopen!

A. K.

Very classical English local pub. With locals having regular pints, and reasonable food. Reasonable beer selection. The outline of the place is pretty interesting, with two parts of pub being divided by the bar. One of the parts is for drinking, one for eating. They have a collection of books, and I think a few board games. Old graphics on the wall are very interesting.

A. S.

A lovely Harvey's pub with all their ales being very well kept. We didn't eat but the menu looked good and the food delivered to other tables certainly looked nice.

t. h.

Great pub with a historic feel. Very near the Borough Market.

R. B.

A change of hands has not harmed this great pub. The well-kept Harveys ale was delicious. I look forward to trying the food on my next visit.

M. F.

Great Harvey's pub. Bar staff very good in whole but one was quite surly and detracted from the experience

R. B.

Greatly enjoyed a lunchtime pint here. Great selection of ales. Haven't tried food but menu looked interesting. Located in old Southwark just away from busy Borough. Looking forward to return visit.

J. T.

Okay spot, came here for a typical british sunday roast. Food was good and service was alright - took sometime to get our food but I reckon that was because it was being made from scratch. The patrons didnt seem too approachable/up for a chat, so that was a bit unfortuanate

R. H.

Really a great place for some proper cask ale. The quality of the beer is impeccable, every time. Not going to find an american mango grapefruit IPA here, but hundreds of years of beer history done well.

J. V.

Lovely old pub with well kept Harvey's beers. Will return to sample food.

R. H.

Excellent traditional pub. Harvey's beer which is usually well kept.

M.

Nice tied pub with pretty decent food. Not a lot of space and can get very crowded

S. B.

Very friendly traditional pub. Good food

a. j.

Amazing beer and friendly staff in a nice traditional style pub

T. S.

Very hospitable pub, no airs and graces, and no pretentiousness, just a lovely atmosphere, nice beer and friendly staff.

T. H.

Comfortable pub with a good beer selection and great food. We stopped in for a Sunday Roast dinner with family and were not disappointed. Plentiful portions of tasty roast beef, and vegetables. A nice pudding to finish and plenty of good beer, in a welcoming local. Shall be back for lunch on our next trip. It is a smallish pub so a reservation is a good idea.

N. B.

Great beer. The service was excellent this evening.

K. W.

Always a good place for a pint, with superb beers.

A. B.

Cozy pub with a great atmosphere! Nice beer selection. Trivia on Wednesday evenings!

D. W.

The Royal Oak has long been my favourite pub in the World. The Harvey's Beers are always top quality. I haven't often eaten here but when I have it has been lovely well cooked food. The building is really like stepping back to a bygone era - in the best possible way. Highly recommended.

S. B.

My favourite pub. Since recent change of management however they seem to be perpetually understaffed leading to long waits at the bar even on a Monday or Tuesday, and barrel changes seem to take a lot longer. Would be nice if the seasonal beer was more reliably available. Also I liked it better when there were curtains and when one of the walls hadn't been turned anachronistically into a blackboard.

S. K.

Had the Sunday roast, healthy portions, lovely food 🙂

D. H.

Very nice little pub selling Harvey's beer and others. We were in the main bar which was a bit crowded and noisy but I think there is another bar, on the other side. The beer was good quality. Didn't try the food, but it looked nice. Apparently the Sunday roast is very good. I understand that there is new management, who are working very hard to raise standards. They shut quite early on a Sunday (9.30 pm?).

J. W.

Visited some time ago and really enjoyed the place but wanted to go along for a proper night out so I could come up with a proper review. Did so, and the Royal Oak is fast becoming my favourite pub despite the 15 minute walk to get there from the office. Extensive range of Harvey's ales and each is perfectly kept and served by really friendly and knowledgeable staff. Also a number of their bottled beers. It's a wonderfully preserved Victorian pub complete with ceiling roses and tiled bathrooms! Worth a visit for the fantastic interior alone, the beer keeps me coming back for more!

J. M.

Well kept beer and good service in a traditional pub. Go to try a few pints of Harvey’s, great beer.

J. K.

Nice little pub. The grub isn't bad. Staff are excellent - very friendly and on it with the table service.

R. V.

Great fish and chips! Also nice selection of beers with a wide variety. Homey pub with nice service. Downstairs is suitable for smaller groups but good for 6 or less and they also have an upstairs room for larger groups that can be used free of charge. Great old pub and not quite as busy as some of th other pubs closer to Borough Market.

R. S.

Nice Victorian pub, with the full range of Harvey's Beers. Just down the road from Borough on the Northern Line or a walk down the high street from London Bridge.

e. b.

I've always loved the Royal Oak but hadn't visited for a while. It looks a bit slicker than before (new livery on the pumps?!) But it's still a great range of Harvey's beer. Lovely old pub, good atmosphere - best for beer in the Borough and London Bridge area...

W. R. A.

Dropped by yesterday for a quick pint of Old Ale after work and was very impressed by what the new manager (James) has managed to do in the time he's been here (7 months apparently). The menu now much better than when the pub first changed hands, with something for everyone from halloumi fries to steak and ale pie, nice candles on the tables giving everything a soft look, and of course the finest beer in England beautifully kept. The windows perhaps could do with a rethink as they're a bit stark (some tasteful blinds perhaps), but this is to be picky. My favourite pub in town. Ps - and contrary to the absurd claim below, the area isn't 'unsafe'. Yes, it's a tad off the beaten track (although only 10 minutes from London Bridge), but I've visited this place literally hundreds of times and whilst you do get a fair few homeless people sauntering around (not the only area of course) I've never encountered any hostility from anyone, ever.

J.

It's just old school as hell, and that's why it's great. If only more pubs were like this, then London would have more of a soul. I loathe the day this place is lost to history.

C. W.

Lovely pub, friendly staff, foods reasonably priced and tasty. The beer is well kept and clearly thought about. Would recommend for a quick pie or burger accompanied by a pint! 5 stars.

T. G.

Within 10 minutes, I could already feel like this was a homely place. This English pub has all of what you would expect from a traditional pub; fish & chips with mushy peas, tons of ale selections, lovely bartenders as well as no TV's. Compared to many pubs in Canada I have found this place to be far more relaxing and welcoming. The Royal Oak has a specific beer line brewed by Harvey's brewery which is quite amazing and although the beer temperature is warmer than expected, the taste and feeling is still there. From a Canadian visiting across the pond, well done.

A. G.

The Royal Oak's manager James' attention to customer service, quality food and the well stocked bar make The Royal Oak my 'go to' pub. Great atmosphere, with the pianist playing classics on a Friday night and the quiz on Wednesday being well worth a visit. Don't forget to try the vegan sausage rolls!

J. S.

Welcoming historic pub with a cozy interior and friendly staff. Great selection of Harvey’s ales on cask. Surprising neighborhood boozer feel considering the area. If you live in the area, this should be your regular spot, and if you don’t it is definitely worth the trip.

G. B.

Brilliant boozer within easy walking distance of London Bridge. Lovely bar serving two rooms with cheerful and friendly staff, great range of well kept Harvey's ales, including on this visit, a delicious Dark Ale.

S. H.

A truly excellent pub, and despite being a stones throw from London bridge, manages to retain a real local charm. Very well kept Harvey's beers matches reliable home made food; comforting traditional interior and lovely staff result in a classic british pub experience. 5 stars.

J. P.

Seem's to be in a nice quiet area not to far from the Northern line underground station beer and food seemed a bit over priced compared to other pubs that I've been to. But that you have to expect from a pub in London tucked away. Staff are friendly and are very good at explaining stuff.

R. S.

After wandering around for an hour going in to pubs where half the tables sat empty but "reserved" we ended up back almost where we started and in the Royal Oak. There were 8 of us and the pub was busy but we had gotten a space at the bar and a couple of stools. Were we delighted when the barman allowed us to use an upstairs room. We had it all to ourselves, it was fantastic! Beer is very well kept Harvey's from Sussex and; compared to the scary prices in some other pubs in the area; cheap. The pub itself is small but perfectly formed and although we only snacked on some chips and a couple of sandwiches, the food looked good. Will certainly go back there again.

J.

Absolute oasis of a pub. Still the best place to get Harvey's in London, and one of the few places to get a decent mild. No drop in quality since the new management, just a bit of a tidy up. Great stuff, just wish I lived/worked closer!

P. D.

One of very few unspoiled pubs in the area. An excellent range of ales; really friendly staff and a straightforward English menu. The latter incorporates roasts, pies and game, with no signs (including smells) of the ubiquitous, and dreaded, deep fat fryer. The ale is well kept, and the food comes from a cook who well understands the basic traditions of wholesome traditional dishes, made with solid ingredients. Faultless.

E. F.

Good old fashioned style pub with a good beer range from Harveys of Lewes plus guests. Sparse interior with wooden floors tables, chairs and stools. Good food I particularly enjoyed a salt beef sandwich. Very much a hang out for real ale types but the beer is well kept I haven't had a bad pint on any of my visits.

M. B.

Traditional pub. I liked it very much, the personnel was adorable and the food was great. We had pie and yorkshire pudding, it was delicious. However, one of my friends didn't enjoy it as much, hence the 4 out of 5 stars, but I would recommend it anyway.

J. B.

Best and cheapest London pub for a winter's meal I've been to this Pub twice so far over the past four years with friends who live in Sussex and Ireland. They've been going their once a year around November for about ten years ever since the guy who lives in Sussex was recommended to it by a work colleague. The staff are friendly and the pub sells real ale; something which the friends I go with appreciate. I'm not keen on that and usually only have a commercially produced lager like Carling or Fosters, etc, which they also sell.. The food is exquisite. My friends have the Steak & Kidney Pudding, which overflows with huge chunks of meat; something I'm not familiar with from a pudding or pie, as I'm only used to eating those sold by Sainsbury, Tesco and the like where the main ingredient in these is air! I usually have normal pub grub like Ham, Egg with chips. The last restaurant I had that in, the egg was hard and the chips over fried but not at this pub. There, the eggs have always been cooked just right, as have the thick chunky chips and the price has never make a huge hole in my wallet as it does when I eat out in any other London pub or restaurant. I can't fault this pub and would gladly recommend it to everyone. I asked one of my friends for the address today because tomorrow I intend taking a lady friend their for her birthday treat.

A. L.

Staff are great here and let me try any beer before buying a pint. Prices are also very good.

V. P.

BEST PUB FOOD IN LONDON. I've been coming since CAMRA recommended the place when I arrived in London in 2004 and it's been reliably excellent ever since. Partridge was amazing and my friend's Game Pie was wonderful. The veg is always dreamed to perfection. Gravy tasted homemade with intense flavours. I've had Beef Wellington, Pheasant and Roast Duck in the past. It's a beautiful pub full of original period features. It's remarkable that it's not always rammed. The Harvey's beer is fantastic. Old ale when you've got no plans or 3% Mild when you have to be up early.

V. L.

The pub has faded a bit over time with service and food not being as good as it used to. However, this still remains an above average pub for central London and a bit of hidden gem. It's size can mean that it's often impossible to get a seat but that's no reflection on the pub itself.

T. H.

A great pint of Harvey's Best in a proper pub atmosphere. Mix of local characters and office escapees. No obvious pseudo beards and pretention. People come for the food... Maybe next time (I'm off to Simply Indian)

B. Y.

This is my favourite pub in London. When you walk in you are transported back to the fifties. Something you now only see in television or movies. The best thing about the Royal Oak is that selection of beers which are excellent. Beers are from Harveys an independent brewery in Sussex. If you want to try good English beer ales and beers this is the place! Great place to chill out in the afternoon or weekend. No fruit machines or music which is a pleasant change. Friendly staff who always happy to recommend an ale or beer to try. Food menu is decent but you come here to enjoy to the beer.

J. T.

This is a classic British pub serving great Harvey's beer. And it's going to start a pub quiz on Wednesday evenings from early July so another good reason to chill out there. Close to Borough tube too.

C. W.

A great place for a quiet pint by yourself or with a couple of friends. Mostly full of people content to have a chat with a mate or a read of the paper. Really nice beer--it's a Harvey's pub after all. I've not tried the food, but I hear great things. And the menu on the chalkboard promises good stuff. I'll certainly be back.

M. P.

A very excellent pork roast (lamb was good as well, so was the steak and ale pie). Completely unpretentious in the best possible way. Took two friends from America here and it was the most perfect London pub experience.

J. L.

Small, quaint pub, walking distance from Borough Market yet not overrun by tourists. Friendly, caring staff and good beer. Wish I'd stayed there longer!. We visited London for four days and this was easily my favourite pub.

G. H.

One of my favourite pubs in London. If you like Harvey's beer (which you should) you won't be disappointed. Food is reliable and reasonably priced

S. P. J.

Really good Sunday roast (both roast beef and roast duck), with good price. They serve Sunday roast until late afternoon/early evening, which might be difficult to find sometimes. Kind staff too. And cosy and warm pub, with a nice atmosphere. I'd recommend it.

P. L.

Perfect old-style London boozer! Lovely proper pub atmosphere, and good range of 'proper' beers......plus some fizzy-pop lagers for those who prefer the colder beers! Cosy....you can sit all evening and read a paper or chat.....no rush......and no TV!!

A. W.

They don't make them like this any more... Classic corner boozer, with a good range of Harvey's beers (on cask, no less), wood panels, glass privacy panels splitting the place into two (think public / private bar, but less formal). We came on a Friday night, and there was a live pianist playing classic sing-along tunes (think Queen, Bon Jovi, etc) - apparently a regular fixture.

D. G.

A true local pub with lovely specialist beers on the pumps (Harvey &Son - 1790). We didn't try the food, but the bar girl was very friendly & helpful. Very relaxed, mostly locals enjoying a pint with friends.

J. W.

This was our first dining experience in London. The food was excellent, as was the service. Best sticky toffee pudding during our trip! Would highly recommend.

A. G.

Great English boozer with mix of locals & lost tourists. Had one of the best pub meals I've ever had here. Simple food but delicious. Good beers on the pumps & very friendly bar staff

D. R.

Recently visited this pub when I was seeing friends in the area and totally loved it. Will definitely be looking out for Harveys pubs in the future, lovely food really friendly staff and Harveys beers are some of the nicest cask ales I’ve had.

J.

A pub that doesn't look like it's trying too hard and yet serves exceptional beers and good quality food for the price. The Sussex Old beer on in winter time is one of the best pints I've had.

N. T.

Went there for Sunday lunch. Fantastic. Food was great and it was the quintessential English pub. Exactly what I was looking for. But the best part about the place was the staff. Just as we were about to eat, an odd fella sat down beside us. On two occasions the bar staff came to get rid of him as he was bothering us. Honest, genuine and warm service. A must-see pub.

C. S.

Recently under new management but still on the Cask Marque Ale Trail - although the certificate not issued under the new name yet. The beer however is in noble condition. An old traditional inner city Corner house pub, that becomes a bit of a Tardis. Seemingly small from the outside, just goes on and on with different levels, once inside.

S. H.

A quiet shrine to Harvey's Sussex bitter and a fine pub to boot! Tucked away behind the busy intersection of Borough High Street and the A2, this laudable stalwart serves excellent ale and classic pub grub in a comforting gloom. It's not exactly a riot in here and there's no music or razzmatazz, but who needs this when you can enjoy a good session with friends before staggering out into the filthy London night.

B. B.

Cracking place. Unpretentious, straightforward, well kept Harvey's ale. Friendly and efficient staff. Lovely old building and good atmosphere, no TV or music. Solid Sunday lunch, plenty of it, good flavour, no unnecessary frills.

A. C.

Local in Central London. Lovely atmosphere, great company, brilliant staff - world's best beer - Harvey's! Not posh, not smart, no music, no fruit machines, no telly. A pub done proper.

m. s.

Can never fault this unspoilt gem. Don't bother if you don't like Harvey's beers. Full range of their ales available. Best pub grub in. London in my opinion, great quality and cheap

S. C.

What a great place, feel the history though a bit bright. Just been at the Roebuck and although different prefer the former. Bar staff on phones on arrival and that's never great but, maybe a one off. Issue is that unless the beet is off the scale good, I'm back to the Roebuck. Not faulting just comparing.

j. v.

Unfortunately as always seems to happen after a change of ownership this one's not quite the same as it was, as while the beer is still top notch, with a great full range of Harvey's ales, the food has distinctly changed for the worst, with the traditional pub food gone and replaced by a more 'up market' (for which read: stuff no one wants at outrageous prices) selection of food with nowhere near the choice as before. Gone are the great value beef and ale pies with chips and veg, scampi, sausage sarnies etc etc - with the inevitable result that it was totally deserted last Sunday lunchtime with just a handful of drinkers. Such a pity, and I hope the resulting loss of revenue doesn't lead to trouble.

C. L.

My favourite pub in London and certainly right up there when it comes to traditional style pubs. It helps that they serve Harvey's, but they also have some great English pub food too.

B. F.

Lovely drinkers pub (although the food looks really nice too). Excellent selection of ales on tap. Never gets too packed. Traditional and all the better for that.

E. H.

Went there for Sunday lunch with my choir after a service at nearby St. George's church. The staff were so friendly and accommodating - they rearranged the whole upstairs room so we fitted in! And the food - what a feast! Between us we had everything from duck to game pie, all freshly cooked with tons of vegetables. The food was served very quickly, and we washed it down with a few bottles of great value South African red wine. The whole meal was astonishingly well priced, working out at only £15 a head. I can't imagine getting anything better value or more filling within a mile radius! We will definitely be returning for another wonderful lunch next time we sing a Sunday morning at St. George's - thoroughly recommended.

I. F.

This place has bags of character. Good for ale drinkers, limited selection for lager drinkers. Off the beaten track means it's mainly a local crowd and after-workers. Well worth a visit.

r. m.

Great traditional English pub. Much quieter than the pubs on the main street (and much better). Great Harvey's ale. It feels very festive at Christmas and has carol singing.

D. E.

Just might be the best pub in London. Love the array of Harvey’s available rare to find at least in my experience.

A. C.

Classic old school British pub. If you want a real pub experience and some very decent real ale you need to come here. There are some more exciting places around but if you want authenticity this is the pub for you. Get a pint and pie and soak it up.

P. S.

Good atmosphere and good Harveys beers!

H. “. A. G.

A proper pub selling proper beer, in this case Harvey's of Lewes, East Sussex. Tied pub and kept simple like a 70s pub - there for the enjoyment of beer, and very good traditional pub food. No electronic gizmos anywhere, just chat.

M. D.

The best of the (currently) three London Harvey's pubs with exemplary beer in a traditional Victorian pub building. Has a good selection of different styles of beer including a spectacular dark mild as a standard beer.

b. r.

All round excellent pub. Some people post negative comments about the food. It is A PUB, that is a PLACE TO DRINK BEER!! If you foodies want food the way you want it, cook at home. Don't complain about the Royal Oak.

R. D.

Absolutely back to its best. Beer in great condition, friendly atmosphere and good service. The perfect London pub.

A. S.

Best pub in Borough and maybe even London as a whole! Beer is well kept, service is spot on and the food’s amazing

G. R.

Harvey's of Sussex pub. Prince of Denmark in the fridge. Loses one star for not having it on pumps but to be fair that is for special occasions only and only seen it once. Great staff and atmosphere.

A. B.

from first impressions this pub looks like a cross between the queen vic and a pub straight out of wartime britain. but this is where the pubs charm is. the pub is stocked with Harveys beers which might i say are very good. all the ales are well kept and its not often you find a pub with a decent pickled egg too! well worth a visit if your an avid ale drinker

A. E.

Great pub that a local friend took me too when I was visiting. Really liked the beers from Harvey's! The pale ale was a favourite. Will return when in the area.

M. L.

The only failing of the Royal Oak is that it could probably do with a lick of paint - not as a modernising makeover but something tasteful to suit its Victorian heritage, a bit like the Wenlock Arms in Islington did. This is a Harvey's pub that serves all the seasonal ales in perfect condition. Food is hearty and comes in good-sized portions, it's not gastropub but is nonetheless very nice and traditional. Sunday roasts are very popular and in all the years I've spent eating Sunday roasts in pubs, this is the only place that ever served me good, crispy roast potatoes, but I can't vouch for the chef's consistency. Few places match the Royal Oak on a winter's day albeit that there is no fire. One aspect of quirkiness is that you will occasionally find Xmas decorations up well beyond Twelfth Night as they have a tendency to keep them up until Candlemas in keeping with tradition to do so if they are not down by the Twelfth Night. One of my 'Inns of Distinction.'

G. I.

Lovely cosy pub, attentive staff, reasonably priced for London serving a variety of good food. Would def recommend a visit if in the Borough/London Bridge area.

M. P.

Proper Pub, some of the best-kept beer in London. Recent change of landlord hasn't changed anything as far as I can tell. Brilliant Pub!

V. W.

Nice atmosphere, and really good beers. Except one (over three) that tastes like soap and is just disgusting. Fortunately the staff replaced it for another one immedialtey

d. b.

Nice place to visit,not been here for many years.Made a point of visiting again as we needed Sunday lunch,we were lucky,they do serve them.We opted for traditional roast beef with all the usual trimmings We were not disappointed excellent,and not a long wait.Staff very nice and friendly,plus they actually sell two types of brown ale.Splendid.A nice clean pub,but not been best served by road layouts Southwark Councils finest at work again.Sad but true a common problem round here

S. D.

Quick drink before going on elsewhere. Pub was quiet as early evening. No piped music etc. Good range of beers.

R. S.

Nice stout, staff and food.

D. S.

Tucked away in the back streets near Borough underground, this old school pub serves up a massive selection of meals on Sunday that are simply awesome. The roast lamb is especially good.

M. G.

Excellent quality Harveys ales and really good food. Nice traditional pub atmosphere and friendly service. Very highly recommended, especially for ale drinkers.

D. C.

Great pub. Fantastic selection of ales and beers. Very traditional looking. No music, fruit machines, etc. Just a great place to enjoy a pint or two!

J. H.

A great pub for fans of Harveys, which really is a spectacular beer and is in consistently good condition here. Attractive interior and exterior, and food was pretty good too.

B. B.

Since the new management have taken over there as been a big improvement in The Royal Oak....it's become more popular, the foods to a high standard and the best beer served in the area.

F. F.

Best pub food within 5 miles. Lots of unusual game pies and feasant stews. Proper old man pub. Brillant beer selection. I'm in love with this pub.

D. G.

just best down to earth pub. Full Range of Harvey's beer in good condition. Recommend highly.

S. C.

Nice enough, decent beer but an extremely shabby interior lowers my rating - that sort of thing may have been ok thirty years ago but not these days when pubs are fighting for their lives.

A. H.

Quite a small pub. Drinks are decent and pricey. The food is good. Could have TVs for sports events or any matches on the day.

P. C.

Unspoilt traditional pub serving Harvey's Sussex beers. Great decor, great atmosphere, friendly landlord and staff.

J. F.

Lovely traditional style pub. Serving an excellent range of Harvey's beer. Great food too

A. B.

Traditional pub off the tourist radar! Serving good beer - Only Harvey's Brewery of Lewes owned pub in London.

W. W.

So lovely, warm staff and great ambience!

T. E.

Perfect little pub with a nice buzzy atmosphere. Hard to imagine Harvey's better served anywhere else. Mine's a Best!

P. S.

What a perfect pub. Gorgeous beer, lovely food...and no TV screens or gambling machines. If this was my local, I think I'd be in heaven.

j. h. b.

Nice traditional pub..

M. O.

Would rate this 4/5 if they played music. Lack of atmosphere. But food is great, staff are friendly, and the serve Harveys of Lewes. Good place to meet friends.

D. P.

Genuinely love this pub - an oasis of beer in a non-beer world! A must visit IMHO.

A. R.

No frills, quiet, friendly, smallish local. Standard fare in large portions. Wooden panels, but windows on 2 sides make it light and airy. A modest treasure.

M. F.

Very much for the beer aficionados. Good beer, good food and no distractions like tv's or fruit machines. A proper pub!

R. E.

Lovely, old-fashioned pub. Amazingly quiet - no intrusive music. Very good beer.

R. S.

A nice, old fashioned pub. Good beer (Harvey's of Sussex) and not too crowded.

I. B.

Brilliant Harvey's pub. Excellent beer & good atmosphere. No lousy music!!!

G. A.

Thursday 7th December Christmas Lunch - Great Food - Great Beer and Best of all The Staff who looked after us worth the trip from Manchester.

M. A.

Unusual for this part of London a back street pub with original features and a great choice of Harvey's Beer well worth a visit

A. S.

Traditional pub, comfy with okay prices. Staff aren't setting the world on fire, and little options for snacks

B. M.

A real proper old pub, not many of them about any more. If you want to see what pubs used to be like then you need to get down there before it disappears.

B. D. N.

Good beers from indipendent brewery and Friday piano live, and you can ask for songs the guy knows them all.

P. F.

A must visit if you are in the Borough. And if you a feeling peckish, you can't go wrong with the Salt Beef sandwich. It's cured on the premises and every bit as good as Bloom's.

M. m.

Great beer with a very nice Victorian interior. Well worth a visit. A rare outlet for Harvey’s beer.

J. R.

Proper pub excellent beer and good service

T. D.

We had an enjoyable Sunday drink and stroll to shard. Good car parking and it's free.

s. b.

A proper old school boozer , Harveys ales available all the time, carpet on floor and stools at the bar. Not many proper pubs left in this part of the world

W. P.

Great pub, by far the best in Southwark - certainly the best beers

M. P.

Fabulous old school pub with proper, well kept, beer and the only place I could find that was celebrating St.George's day

P. H.

Great pub tucked out of the way near Borough Market and a great pint of mild! A proper pub.

A. W.

Nice pub but can get quite busy. The beer selection is good and the staff are friendly.

B. M.

Great traditional local pub. Fantastic Harvey's beer and hearty fare

J. W.

My favourite London tradition pub simple real ales and food & great landlord & staff. One of London's little gems.

G. B.

Brilliant Harvey's pub near Borough station. Beer is great and food very good

N. M.

Great quieter spot for a pint and sunday roast! Felt right at home. Roast was a little tough but all in all a cracking little meal

R. W.

Very good pub. Excellent location. Good drinks and food choice.

D. O.

A mecca for fans of Harvey's Ale. Feels like you could be in the countryside inside...a great little back street pub.

R. R.

Nice busy pub but not to over crowded, very friendly staff, food looked very appetising.

J. B.

Good beer menu looks interesting but I wasn't eating. Nice relaxing place.

V. W.

Awesome beer in a great relaxed environment. Lovely way to spend a Thursday night!

C. E. (.

A proper pub if ever there was one. Excellent quality Harvey's ales.

A. W.

Enjoyed the pub quiz, friendly atmosphere, nice selection of drinks and helpful staff!

P. A.

One of the best pubs in London, for both beer and food....proper pub!

L. B.

The quintessential London pub experience with excellent beer, a friendly proprietor, and a pub dog.

A. S.

Great quiet pub away from the bustle of Borough High Street. Grotty but never too busy nor full of Aussie backpackers.

P. D.

Great Beer, a place for people to talk. An old fashioned proper pub. No music!

J. P. M.

Recently changed hands with a different food offer but still a great selection of Harvey's beers

D. T.

Proper old-fashioned pub, although busy aftereork.

E. C.

Excellent beer and cider selection. Great food too. Good quiet place.

D. B.

Old school, traditional pub. Good beer and wine. Mixed crowd. Wholesome food.

B. E.

Good British boozer a short walk from Borough station - selection of Harvey's beer

W. S.

Nice pub. I don't drink though, so take my review with a grain of salt and lime.

K. M.

Great traditional pub. No Juke box. No fruit machines. Just good beer and good food.

M. B.

Brilliant place. Friendly staff, great food and good and cheap beer. Highly recommend it.

B. M.

Proper old (traditional) Harveys pub with good pub menu, Harveys beer (from a good cellar) and great prices.

M. V. G.

Great pub, great beer and friendly knowledgeable staff go and try it!

c. l.

Lovely pub, but bring a jumper! Brrrrrr! (Also Do not come on Sunday evenings - doubles up as a crèche D: )

S. N.

Good choice of beer. Food is good with large portions. Typical inner London local.

P. T.

Still too cold to stay any length of time, doors need to be replaced and heating turned on in back bar. And stop moving the furniture around...

P. J.

Cosy little pub with friendly staff and good ales. Less busy than those on Borough High Street...

P. B.

Good old fashioned honest pub. Not many of these left. Good home cooked food.

M. P.

Excellent beer, food and ambience. Everything a "proper pub" should be!

R. H.

Pip is a sweet pub dog. Nice and quiet too. Very relaxing.

C. P.

Really delicious food and great atmosphere in a traditional pub.

R. C.

Lovely Harveys beers good home cooked food, reasonable prices, lovely bar staff

J. N.

Very friendly staff, excellent beer, comfortable local pub

C. D.

Back street traditional bar, great for Sunday roast. Close to borough underground

R. R.

My favourite pub in London. Harvey's brewery is the best.

T. W.

Great ye old pub with some good beer and ale selections

T. S.

A friendly pub with a good buzz. Well priced ales are always available.

M. O.

Lovely corner of the street boozer with fantastic beer and excellent pub grub. Go.

L. T.

Harvey's sole London bolt hole could be bigger but beer is well kept

M. S.

Great little pub.

L. B.

Packed on a Thursday and it's easy to see why. Lovely beer and piping hit chips 👌🏻

D. J.

Great food and great beer. A good friendly pub.

S. B.

Wonderful real old proper pub with fantastic beers and better prices

A. S.

A quiet, little local pub with very friendly staff and supposedly good food. I love how unassuming and unpretentious it is.

P. K.

A great pub for fans very attractive interior and exterior, and food was delicious good too!!!

I. C.

Proper London pub with nice grub. Generous ploughman's with cheese the size of a slab!

B. S.

Great little pub. Owner needs to buy a new card machine though - sick of trapsing to a cash machine every time the machine is broken...

M. C.

Best selection of Harvey's ales in London, proper pub shhh!

J. C.

Nice little pub with friendly staff, good drinks, and decent food

M. R.

Don’t tell anyone about this place ... our secret ok? It’s awesome - great beer, food and nice staff.

D. B.

Lovely old pub. Great atmosphere. Really worth a visit

k. H.

Excellent old style pub full of character and great beer.

M. P.

Lovely pub, not too busy. Good food.

P. D.

Great old pub. Superb beer and friendly service

C. S.

Proper London pub, albeit a Sussex brewery. If you are looking for a real pub and real beer, this is where you go. That is all.

S. S.

Great selection of well kept Harvey's ales served in a delightfully relaxing atmosphere.

S. K.

Lovely traditional pub, great ales.

G. H.

Spot on Ales, good British based cuisine at a reasonable price. Well worth a visit.

A. S.

Good - and storied - pub, docked a star for running out of draught cider.

R. W.

A proper beer pub with enough space to have one of those wonderful long, random conversations with friends. Long may it prosper.

L. M.

Wow what a difference a week can make.Out with the old in with the new.Great new team and lots of improvements made already. I look forward to seeing all the new changes coming.

D. A.

Just a great pub with an atmosphere that's seems lost to most drinking establishments. Go there!

L. E.

£7:50 for two pints in central London!

M. B.

Great Harvey's ale and the fish and chips were great

S. W.

A really good pub with a great family atmosphere and the staff were great. 👌

A. W.

Proper pub Harvey (Lewes) brewery with great beers and honest pub food. Certainly not upmarket.

E. G.

Authentic London Pub. Highly recommended. Nice pub food also.

B. J.

Cracking pub serving awesome Harvey's beer. Game pie is a favourite too

R. W.

Very good real ale pub in central London.

A. S.

Wow, a real traditional pub with good traditional food.

R. R.

Nice pub. Very quaint. Good selection of beers

b. w.

Good home cooked food. Beers are well kept and there is always a mild on

D. C.

Feels local but is 10 mins from London Bridge. Not too busy, good service, good food.

G. E.

Very pleasant old world corner pub. Enjoy a time warp in nice surroundings.

B. H.

Great Beer and good food. Recommend the ham, egg and chips

D. H.

Proper local pub serving decent food and quality ales.

T. d. S.

Perfect, old school boozer with lovely food at decent prices and good beer

B. J.

Nice old man pub with good beer and nice range of food.

a. w.

My favorite pub in London, got the rugby shirt yesterday..

K. O.

Local pub, homely food, friendly staff

P. H.

Fantastic Food great ale!

G. P.

Friendly local, old-style pub, tasty beer!

D. C.

Beautiful beer. A classic proper pub.

C. D.

Proper pub, with proper beer & proper people. If you can't like this you're plain wrong.

P. D.

Beer to live and die for!

J. D.

Good pub. Well kept Harvey's range.

R. P.

Decent food & drink, and encourages friendly little groups to meet here too.

J.

Friendly. Great beer. Well worth a visit.

A. C.

Excellent food and service. Can be very busy early evening.

J. D.

Great atmosphere, really nice staff. Good selection of ales

T. M.

Nice quiet pub in the daytime to read a book and have a pint!

S. W.

Harveys Sussex Best Bitter is the best beer in London

G. T.

Lovely old fashioned London Boozer with reasonably priced beer

M. B.

Decent beers and ok food. Nice environment and nice people.

В. Я.

Cool and quite place

r. c.

Excellent beer and charming Victorian atmosphere.

M. B.

Harvey's Old Ale excellent as was the food

B. B.

Excellent beer, friendly staff

P. Y.

Very atmospheric and good selection be of drinks.

D. W.

Excellent Sunday Roast in a nice pub.

M. W.

Blinding pub, but where did they find this staff?! Like kids our for work experience.

D. O.

Great Harvey's pub in London, proper pub.

J. d. G. S.

Roast beef quite hard but place and personnel very nice

D. I.

It's OK

L. J.

Classic London boozer. Serves great cask ale

I. D.

great pub with good hearty grub

B. N.

Good pub food and a proper pub atmosphere

U. B. T.

Hidden gem with great selection of Harvey's.

N. G.

Traditional Pub reasonable selection of beers

G. C.

Great beer, great sing along

C.

Proper pub. Great ale and friendly.

R. C.

Excellent public house. Good food and drink.

D. H.

Traditionaĺ pub with good food and beer

m. j.

One of the best pubs in the area.

C. L.

Very busy. Great ales from Sussex.

N. C.

Harveys and a good atmosphere - what is not to like

A. W.

Excellent Lamb hot pot! Yum

r. r.

Great place, but no Gary sparrow

T. C.

Amazing pub loved the goth looking girl

J. D.

Was looking for a barber shop but found this instead. FANTASTIC

m.

Very quiet and good beer

D. B.

Harvey's in London. Great, great pub.

P. S.

A Good service at the Bar and restaurant and Good value.

S. 8.

Harvey’s beer and board games. What not to like?

I. T.

Harvey's beers in great condition.

D. G.

Good beer - well managed

N. N.

Nice traditional feel, nice crowd of regulars

J. D.

Good food and friendly staff.

M. E.

Fantastic beer, beautiful environment

C. C.

A proper boozer with very nice staff

J. A.

Old fashioned pub off the beaten track.

B. E.

Possibly the best pub in London

P. P.

Friendly staff and good Real Ales

E. j.

Amazing all around, lovely staff.

r. a.

Excellent lovely jubbly

R. K.

The world's best pub, hopefully

A. P.

Yummy Sunday dinner. Quite a wait for it

R. D.

Good pub

t. d.

Cozy pub.

J.

Great food, drinks and company

R. M.

Really lovely bar staff

A. S.

Great place to hang out with friends

J. M.

great grub very friendly

p. c.

Watch out for the local guy eating scotch eggs.

m. z.

Amazing place

T. A.

Best pie and chips ever

L. H.

Nice local vibe and food.

F. T.

Good experience of Sunday roast

A. W.

Good old-fashioned pub

S. H.

Best pub in London

D. I.

Real old fashioned pub

W. B.

Best pub in London

J.

Harvey's

A. B.

Brilliant Sunday Roast

D. G.

Local for a few drinks

R. F.

Nice old school pub

K. A.

Best roast in se1

D.

Quirky!

m. s.

Good beer!

M.

Brilliant full stop .

L. P.

Superb pub.

P. S.

Not the same as it used to be.

P. F.

A proper boozer.

J. S.

Frank's a legend.

D. D.

Proper old school pub

C. M.

Proper old school pub

M. S.

solid Sunday roast.

H. G.

Very homely

G. C.

Typical

A. M.

Great staff

C. F.

Class

d. A.

Nice barmaids

B. P.

Nice atmosphere

J. T.

It's a pub

I. P.

It was okay

D. H.

Proper pub

D. B.

nice place

M. “. J.

(Translated) Traditional English pub to immerse yourself in the reality of London, appreciate good beer and find English dishes without spending a fortune as normally happens in London. Recommended for everyone but especially for beer lovers. Open staff is helpful, a tip Tina is recommended. (Original) Pub tradizionale inglese per immergersi nella realtà Londinese apprezzare la buona birra e trovare piatti inglesi senza spendere una fortuna come normalmente accade a Londra. Raccomandato a tutti ma soprattutto agli amanti della birra. Personale aperto è disponibile, una punta Tina è raccomandata.

A. A.

(Translated) Place very out of the ordinary, typical dishes and little tourist, craft beers and we also found a meeting of hipster fan of the combed beard! (Original) Posto molto fuori dal comune, piatti tipici e poco turistici, birre artigianali e abbiamo trovato anche una riunione di hipster fan della barbetta pettinata!

F. S.

(Translated) Very nice and quiet. For a great beer in a less chaotic environment than the usual pub (Original) Molto carino e tranquillo. Per un'ottima birra in un ambiente meno caotico del solito pub

E. A.

(Translated) A typical British bar, a pleasant place and good service (Original) בר בריטי תיפוסי, מקום נעים ושירות אחלה

M. R. d. B.

(Translated) A good British pub :) (Original) Un bon pub bien british :)

s. m.

D. D.

👍

C. M.

(Translated) Historic London Pub (Original) Pub storico di Londra

D. O.

R. L.

O. T.

T. J.

E. B.

T. M.

Y. Y.

L. S.

s. H.

J. S.

O. W.

M. Y.

I. S.

R. H.

D. T.

K. M. P.

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