-
Pub info
-
Our pub info section has lots of information about visiting pubs in the UK...
-
This month's top pubs
Our top ten pubs of the month. this month and for previous months over the last few years.
-
Best pubs for...
Our favourite pubs for good beer, live music, best gardens and more
-
Pub visitor guide
Things everyone should know about going to the pub
-
Info for Landlords
Your pub listing on Fancyapint.com and other services we offer for landlords and managers
-
Featured pubs
Featured pubs guide - a collection of our sponsored pub listings organised by feature
-
The Royal Oak, Borough
Our rating: 
User rating: 
(14 reviews)
User rating: (14 reviews)
FancyaPint?'s review...
A wonderful Victorian pub in the heart of Borough, the Royal Oak is a winner in every department - and a recent addition to the Fancyapint.com Hall of Fame! It serves a selection of excellent ales (including Mild, Pale, Best with Christmas Ale and Porter in winter) all by Harvey's of Lewes and also offers a very good menu; on previous visits, we've enjoyed such delights as an excellent steak and ale pie, Lancashire Hotpot and rabbit casserole. The service is friendly and efficient, the shortish wine list is pretty decent and is mostly French (good) and now there's an extensive list of ciders should ale or wine not be to your taste. The pub has the feel of a vibrant local rather than just an after-office drinker, with a good mix of people who are in no hurry to leave. On this evidence, why would they? And nowadays it's open at the weekends - great!
Review: 8 out of 8 people found this review helpful
User reviews
05 May 2012
A potentially great pub sadly ruined by the rather lackadaisical attitude of the bar staff.
On the positive side, the Royal Oak is a traditional back-street London pub with a buzzy atmosphere and a good range of Harvey’s Ales—there is also an attractive pub menu and good choice of wine.
However, it took several minutes to even be noticed by the 3 bar staff who didn’t appear particularly busy but did seem to wander about a lot.
The person appearing to be the Manager primarily performed his supervisory role from in front of the bar rather than behind it.
After a couple of rounds, I was served a 'cloudy' half-pint of Harvey's Best which wasn’t noticed by the barman until I pointed it out.
In response, there was much ‘consultation’ among the staff with various beer samples being held ‘up to the light’ in a manner suggestive of the laboratory procedures in nearby Guy’s Hospital.
Perhaps this is an NHS pub which provides a better service to ‘private’ patients.
After waiting unattended for around 15 minutes, the barrel was apparently changed though the resulting drink was still decidedly cloudy.
Returning to my table, we allowed the drink to settle for 10 minutes but there was no improvement, which was drawn to the attention of a glass-collecting staff member who asked my companion if he wanted to drink it—being told NO, he simply took it away without further comment or action.
It was only when leaving some 20 minutes later that my companion approached the bar and requested a refund which was given without question.
I shan't be going there again as there are plenty of good local alternatives.
On the positive side, the Royal Oak is a traditional back-street London pub with a buzzy atmosphere and a good range of Harvey’s Ales—there is also an attractive pub menu and good choice of wine.
However, it took several minutes to even be noticed by the 3 bar staff who didn’t appear particularly busy but did seem to wander about a lot.
The person appearing to be the Manager primarily performed his supervisory role from in front of the bar rather than behind it.
After a couple of rounds, I was served a 'cloudy' half-pint of Harvey's Best which wasn’t noticed by the barman until I pointed it out.
In response, there was much ‘consultation’ among the staff with various beer samples being held ‘up to the light’ in a manner suggestive of the laboratory procedures in nearby Guy’s Hospital.
Perhaps this is an NHS pub which provides a better service to ‘private’ patients.
After waiting unattended for around 15 minutes, the barrel was apparently changed though the resulting drink was still decidedly cloudy.
Returning to my table, we allowed the drink to settle for 10 minutes but there was no improvement, which was drawn to the attention of a glass-collecting staff member who asked my companion if he wanted to drink it—being told NO, he simply took it away without further comment or action.
It was only when leaving some 20 minutes later that my companion approached the bar and requested a refund which was given without question.
I shan't be going there again as there are plenty of good local alternatives.
05 Mar 2012
Great traditional pub that I admit have not made the most of in terms of number of visits. Welcoming, friendly, and well laid out. Not hard to get to fronm Borough tube stop. Harvey's beers on handpull are kept in top shape. have not tried the food but hear it's real good. A true British pub.
13 Dec 2011
Lovely pub: I go there every week and they are always welcoming with an outstanding selection of beers. It can get crowded and as mentioned the food is basic but good. Guest ales are particularly good and they tend to have a few ciders on too. Top Marks!
04 Dec 2011
Our second visit to this pub on our annual "real pub tour" to London. We are Norwegians. This time we went there as our last stop on a Friday night. It was crowded, but we had a late dinner and the staff was very friendly. The atmosphere was great and the ale was also as last time fantastic. The bell rang and we got back to the hotel and ready for new adventures the next day. We will be back.
01 Dec 2011
Great proper pub. Went for 1st time at Sunday lunch. We dined on Partridge & pheasant very simply cooked in an old school way. But none the worse for that. This isn't fancy gastro pub territory; couldn't see any Guardians knocking around. Beer's excellent. All Harvey's I believe. Two bar pub with definite difference between saloon & public bars. Both cosy. Locals friendly. This is, rightly, a busy pub. The area's firmly in the "up and coming' bracket but, at least daytime, the area feels fine & it's very close Borough Tube.
04 Nov 2011
First visit Friday lunchtime and feared it would be overrun with suits. Couldn't have been further from the truth. Wonderful local pub atmosphere with well kept ales (Star of Eastbourne and Old Suffolk were fantastic). My son had rabbit in mustard sauce and I went for the lamb and apricot pie. Both were exceptional dishes. Can't wait to visit again.
29 Oct 2011
As part of my trip to London, the friends I met up with were All About The Pubs. They had received a list from their hosts of the necessary places to visit, those obscure, off-the-beaten-path pubs and restaurants that the locals know and frequent. The Royal Oak is, from my experience, one of these places, and as it was the first pub I tried in the London area, a great one to start out at.
Tiny and cozy, The Royal Oak gives the best experience: a wrap-around bar, a large selection of drinks, including many ciders 'on tap', rickety chairs, benches and stools, old wood tables, interesting English decorations, and windows through which to enjoy the various London weather happening outside while you're tucked warm inside.
Unfortunately, my time at The Royal Oak was cut short by a date with the Eye, but given it's out-of-the-way location, I'd have no qualms about wandering back for a few more pints, a snack or bag of crisps, and a good evening of calm frivolity. Definitely a top spot on my recommendations list.
Tiny and cozy, The Royal Oak gives the best experience: a wrap-around bar, a large selection of drinks, including many ciders 'on tap', rickety chairs, benches and stools, old wood tables, interesting English decorations, and windows through which to enjoy the various London weather happening outside while you're tucked warm inside.
Unfortunately, my time at The Royal Oak was cut short by a date with the Eye, but given it's out-of-the-way location, I'd have no qualms about wandering back for a few more pints, a snack or bag of crisps, and a good evening of calm frivolity. Definitely a top spot on my recommendations list.
23 Sep 2010
Fanstastic atmosphere and really nice ales. We went there for the first time in the beginning of September. The owner started talking to us after a short while. We are freom Norway and we visited 19 different local pubs througout London during three days. The Royal Oak was the winner among several very good pubs. We will be back next year. The tickets for the airplane are already booked. THe first visit will be The Royal Oak.
08 Aug 2010
The best pint in the neighbourhood. My boyfriend and I still think about the Star of Eastbourne that was on last October. While we wait for October to come round again, we still keep going back for the Sussex Best and other seasonals.
20 Apr 2010
OMG this is so much a 5 pint pub!
Plain outside and a bit of a time warp feeling inside, but as soon as you taste that beer.. Every one of the Harveys beers we tried were in perfect condition, The Best, Pale ale and Armada were especially good. The best ale I have tasted in London in 5 years+. It was fairly quiet when We arrived around 6:30 when central London pubs would be crowded. Ideal as we could order food with no wait. We saw a decent sized menu on the wall- hang on this is just the specials there is another regular menu in addition. Food was excellent, a real home cooked taste and good size portions, no hint of freezer-to-microwave food typical of many pubs it was the real thing. The place really filled up around 8pm but never seemed noisy. Maybe that was just the anesthetic affect of that georgeous beer
Plain outside and a bit of a time warp feeling inside, but as soon as you taste that beer.. Every one of the Harveys beers we tried were in perfect condition, The Best, Pale ale and Armada were especially good. The best ale I have tasted in London in 5 years+. It was fairly quiet when We arrived around 6:30 when central London pubs would be crowded. Ideal as we could order food with no wait. We saw a decent sized menu on the wall- hang on this is just the specials there is another regular menu in addition. Food was excellent, a real home cooked taste and good size portions, no hint of freezer-to-microwave food typical of many pubs it was the real thing. The place really filled up around 8pm but never seemed noisy. Maybe that was just the anesthetic affect of that georgeous beer
10 Mar 2010
I think it is a pity that the comment here revolves around a single incident, albeit a serious one. Let me offer a rounder view.
The Royal Oak is a very old fashioned pub, but a really good one. The furniture and fittings are very ordinary, no comfy sofas here, but the beer is excellent and it is usually served by someone who knows and actually cares about it. The food is wholesome rather than gastro, but it certainly lines the stomach if you are in the pub for a session. In summary, the Royal Oak won't deliver you a knockout party experience, but it does offer you the chance to drink a variety of great beers, in the company of like minded souls.
The Royal Oak is a very old fashioned pub, but a really good one. The furniture and fittings are very ordinary, no comfy sofas here, but the beer is excellent and it is usually served by someone who knows and actually cares about it. The food is wholesome rather than gastro, but it certainly lines the stomach if you are in the pub for a session. In summary, the Royal Oak won't deliver you a knockout party experience, but it does offer you the chance to drink a variety of great beers, in the company of like minded souls.
Contact details
Features:
How to get there
Nearest Stations
Door-to-door journey planner
How to find the The Royal Oak pub
Leaving the tube, cross over Borough High Street and head down Tabard Street, past the church. The pub is just down the street on the right.
Nearby attractions
Is this your pub? Claim this listing to add your pub's web site, more photos or other information about your pub.
History
05 May 12 Updated by moderatedrinker
05 May 12 Updated by moderatedrinker