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

A fine traditional pub, close to Borough underground station. The Royal Oak offers a select range of beers both from the keg and the cask including a rarely seen. Dark Mild ready for pulling! Lovely service and a very pleasant atmosphere made this a very enjoyable stop on a busy schedule.

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.

Had some time to kill between errands the other week so paid a visit to a pub I've walked past only a handful of times but never popped into. A reoccurring theme with these posts. I've been to Lewes more times this year than I have to this pub, no better than the source for @harveysbrewery but this is just as good. Baffling it's taken me this long to go, maybe coincided with my growing re-appreciation of traditional styles (along with relative affordability), but simply, I didn't know this place existed until I took a wrong turn a month ago. This is the first pub purchased in London by Harvey's back around 2010(?), but the history dates back *way* before that to 1898. Good bones, split bar, and ample wooden seating, it's cosy yet spacious at the same time. 7-8 real ales on, I opted for the Bonfire Boy, a superb ESB that brought smokiness and a warmth to a dreary December day. I think the kitchen has just changed over, no longer sandwiches and pub grub, it's Lebanese menu from @lilwatan_ will have me coming back for sure. If not that, then £3 pints of Mild on Mondays should be the clincher. Friendly service, nice and quiet (aside from the bloke eating crisps the loudest I've ever heard in my life), and the corner positioning with the vast windows, proximity to a very busy area make it a prime people watching spot. The very excellent Gladstone Arms is up the street from here too, so I won't begrudge you if that's your preferred venue, but next time you're in the area you should save space for a pint of Harvey's at The Royal Oak. Make it a Monday, a #MildMonday and you're on for a winner.

Superb beer from Harvey’s, enjoyed the Mild, in particular. Good buzz on a Monday evening. The pies were very good, team at the bar very friendly. Will return

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.

Quiet and traditional pub a few minutes walk from Borough tube station. The staff were friendly and the beer was good, looks to have a decent selection of traditional pub food on the menu that would be good to try on the next visit. Worth a visit if you are in the local area and seeking something out the way and a bit more traditional.

Love this pub. Unpretentious and cozy with a local vibe. Big portions of good food, nothing groundbreaking, just solid pub grub. Great beer and well priced. Wish I lived nearer, it would be a perfect local.

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.

A lovely historic pub. These days it is a bit sterile and more of an eatery than a pub. Prices are high.

Slightly audible music (which pub has a good acoustics tell me please) Sweet and classic interior Amazing and delicious Lebanese cuisine Limited beer selection Regular/ok prices

This little gem of a pub is such a treat, I could easily spend hours here sampling the glorious range of Harvey's beer. The food is terrific, I had the fish and chips and my wife had sausage and mash. Both were cooked to perfection. I hear the owner is a big fan of board games too. Overall a very relaxed atmosphere, I'll be coming here again soon.

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!

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!

A good little pub and a nice find given it’s quite some way from the Harvey’s part of the world. They have a great selection of Harvey’s ales all at reasonable prices too. The pub can get quite cramped and busy as it’s quite small and tight. The main thing I’d change is the harsh lighting. Something softer would be nicer. You can’t complain in having something a bit different though that’s not part of the usual central and inner London chains. Solid 4/5.

Good selection of Stouts ! The Old Ale was my favorite. A little bit sweet with tones of cherry . The Sussex best was also great ( no a stout though)

I find the beer well kept, the atmosphere cosy and traditional and the staff are friendly and efficient. It is one of my favourite pubs in the world. I only wish I lived closer to it.

This is probably the best pub in central London at the moment. The cask ale (Harvey’s) is properly looked after and served in fine form - the best pint of cask ale I have had in London for many years. Staff are friendly and efficient. Food is available but takes a back seat - this is a drinkers’ pub. Screen-based entertainment and piped music are conspicuously absent. As a result there is a lively and convivial atmosphere during the evening and a good mix of different types of people. If you want to know what a proper pub is like, there is currently no better example in London. Very well done to all involved.

Super pub near Borough tube from Harvey’s, the Lewes based brewery. Beer is well kept, service friendly and it has a great atmosphere - not TV and no music! Particularly good for lovers of a good pint of mild.

A right classy pub, fab atmosphere, esp on a winter’s eve, lovely windows framed by the soft internal lighting. Brilliantly kept beer, Harvey’s dark mild a stand-out and at 3% a good choice for a lengthy session. Oh, and great staff behind the bar🙂

Dog friendliest pub in this part of town! The superstar staff welcomed us and showered Alba 🐶 with cuddles. Not sure who had most fun…! It’s also a lovely pub with loads of original features and a great range of Harvey’s beers. Highly recommend and will be back 😉

Welcoming pub owned by Harvey's Brewery. Four cask ales, tried all four between us and all excellent quality. Great to see a dark mild on. Very good selection of bottled Harvey's ales too.

Traditional london pub with great cask beer. Harvey's Brewery and some great seasonal beers. Pub classics foodwise, great prices.

Lovely pub, lovely staff, great hearty food and lots of it, and fantastic Harveys beer! Would definitely recommend reserving a table at the weekend. It's a 5 min walk from Borough market station and definitely worth it

Very disappointing. Was really excited about coming here after researching pubs near London Bridge to meet a friend from Zurich I hadn’t seen in years. 45 minutes after ordering we were brought two meals that we hadn’t ordered nor did the calamari starter we had ordered arrive. We were refunded but the staff were unapologetic or interested in finding a way of remediating a situation which was clearly very unsatisfactory. Might be good for a beer but don’t come for food.

I’m surprised I haven’t left a review already! My favourite pub in London by a long shot. As a Harvey’s fan I would say that - tho it’s not just the beer but the great atmosphere and friendly service. Wonderful.

Food was nice. Happy to have found a table without reservation on a Sunday afternoon. Place is a bit too expensive but it's Central London so it's expected. Dogs allowed, always appreciated.

We haven't been to The Royal Oak for a while but after yesterday's positive experience, we'll be back again soon. The drinks remain appealing and the new management has revived the food offering. We had two excellent meals - fish and chips, and chicken pie. Well done!

We really wanted to enjoy this place given the excellent reviews from others but found the bar staff less than friendly. My wife asked what wines they had. The unsmiling answer was “red, white and pink”. There were a few other subtle signs that made us not feel welcome. Not sure what caused the bar staff to behave like this although I’m sure they disapproved of us having a baby with us.

A lovely old pub with a circular bar. Not heaving with people and not dead - the right level of atmosphere. A good pint of best for less than a fiver, which is a rare find in central London.

This was an amazing trip to London. London is very special you gotta try the pubs, the beer is amazing however french food is still the most swag

One of the few Harvey's pubs outside Sussex. Excellent well kept beers from the Lewes brewery with lots of unusual brews, including mild, IPA and seasonal specials. Good, well-made traditional pub food with pies, fish and chips and burgers. Good atmosphere and friendly staff. One of my favourite London pubs.

Really enjoy going to this pub. Great beers and ales, a nice vibe in a proper old pub. The food seems really good too. Had a veggie 'fake' chicken burger. It was the best I've ever had. We'll be back