John Harvey Tavern, Lewes

The John Harvey Tavern is the taproom for Harvey's brewery, which is a short distance from the pub. The entrance is located down a narrow street alongside the river. There are a number of different rooms, which have a nice, traditional feel to them. We sat in the main bar, which was busy, but there were plenty of staff available to provide service. The 4 regular Harvey's beers here were Sussex Best Bitter, IPA, Armada Ale & Dark Mild. In addition, they also the seasonal beer Olympus on cask. A fairly reliable place with a nice drinking environment to sample the town's wares. Although you will find Harvey's pretty much anywhere in Lewes.

Unable to buy fresh beer supplies from the Harvey’s brewery shop, which is unable to open due to Covid distancing rules I thought it would be rude not to try a couple of their beers from the Tap pub opposite. It was quite busy on this sunny afternoon with all the outside seating full and I was lucky to get one of the last remaining internal tables, it obviously being table service only at present. Good to find a couple of the Harvey’s milds from the casks behind the bar and these were in very good condition as you would expect.

The Harvey's tap house is in alleyway on the other side of Cliffe High Street from the Wharf Brewery but close to the original site. As traditional in appearance as you would expect, despite being housed in the stables of the former Bear Hotel, with simple wooden furniture in the Tap Room but a more refined look in the Lewes Room on the other side of the entrance corridor. Also has an upstairs dining room and some picnic benches out front. The beer's the thing of course, with Best and Old Ale (£3.70) dispensed by gravity from a stillage behind the bar, and IPA, Armada, Star of Eastbourne and Bonfire Boy available from the four handpumps on the counter.