One of my favourite pubs in Britain!
Great food -excellent menu at good prices. Friendly, efficient service even when it is busy. The main plaudits however must go to the beer. Full range of Harveys, Mild, Pale, Best & a strong one and a seasonal or special, plus draught ciders. I usually drink the Mild as it is so rare in London, and it is usually in tip-top condition.

High expectations,extremely disappointed.

Arrived hungry 9pm, 1 1/2 hours later - asking for our mains, told they weren’t coming - due to a party upstairs (I saw 15 people) ‘so what were we to expect!’.

When we first arrived our waitress had said, apologetically, our mains should be around 25 minutes, and we assured her lightheartedly that that was fine, we could do with our starters + wine + conversation for at least half an hour. Started to feel concerned moving into our first hour.

An hour passes.

Then arrives the manager, who proceeds to tell us off (I believe) for upsetting the waitress (for asking about our mains - she was visibly distressed, apparently they were overbooked not enough chefs, couldn’t cope and had started to cry).

Thanks to the manager for giving us that bottle of wine for free... Still had a forty pound bill for some anchovies and bruschetta.

Nice one, an evening to remember and thanks for the apology.

nb my friends and I have worked in hospitality for a number of years, and never have experienced such poor management and service,

I loved The Royal Oak! I travelled all the way from New Jersey to find some fabulous real ale in London. It was a rainy Monday afternoon and I found some of the locals enjoying a pint or two. The food was great and the Harvey's Mild was my favourite.


The bartender and staff were friendly. The Royal Oak is a memory in my mind that I frequent from time to time on a rainy Monday in the States.

The Royal Oak is an old Victorian pub in the heart of Borough serving a selection of excellent ales (including Mild, Pale, Best and Christmas Ale) by Harvey's of Lewes and the wine list isn't bad either. The food is great; I recommend the home made steak pie. The Royal Oak has got all the right things happening and is a really good pub, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy!!!