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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Royal Oak, Lewes
Lewes
BN7 2DA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Will Larter left this review about The Royal Oak
The description of this pub on the CAMRA website as being "sports led" doesn't match our mid_afternoon experience, when we found the local Long Man brewery's Old Man an interesting comparison to the recently drunk Harvey's Old Ale at the Rights of Man, and in just as good condition. This was one of four beers on hand pump, including from local Hand Brewery and more distant Siren, as well as the ubiquitous Harvey's Sussex Best. Probably our beer of the day.
On 13th April 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
David Walton left this review about The Royal Oak
Visited 02/01/25. Visited previously on 01/09/18.
Pretty good cask offering of La Ble Transatlantique, a golden ale from Golden Triangle, Two Horses, a pale ale from Firebird, Market Porter from Thornbridge plus Harvey's Sussex Best and Old Rosie cider. Keg offering of Guinness, Inch's, Amstel, Moretti, Level Head, Neck Oil, Lucky Saint.
Bit further up the hill from the station, this is a pub that has a few TV's and is a good stop to watch footy near the station. Old school bar counter directly opposite the frontage on the hill. Tiled floor at the front with a long leather studded banquette in the windows prior to some conventional tables and chairs in the front corner away from the door, then boarded before reverting to tiles again in the area to the left of the servery. A ledge along the left-hand wall houses a pile of board games and provides some standing drinking space. Bar stools along the bar counter were nicely placed to ensure you didn't have to study the pumps over seated drinkers' shoulders until you notice the chalk board above the bar listing current and coming next cask beers. A central column provides some further ledge drinking via some tall stools on a couple of the sides thereof. A large ceiling fan was not in play on what felt like the coldest evening of the winter thus far. There is a garden out the back that I didn't pop out to check on this visit, indeed having been here many times over the last decade this was the first time I even noticed they had a garden out the back! Having readily often passed this over in favour of other Lewes town centre venues in more recent times, coming round to thinking this is a pretty decent venue here.
On 7th April 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Moby Duck left this review about The Royal Oak
A kind of loungey dining vibe to this pub, not the sort of place I warm to.However there were just three of the usual beers for this pub according to previous reviews, Tribute, Harveys Sussex and the house bitter, the guest beer Hop Art American Blonde was wearing a coming soon necklace, I went with the Harveys not a regular tipple for me, and found it in good condition. The pub itself leaves me a little cold.
On 8th September 2022
- rating: 5
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Royal Oak
The Royal Oak is the second pub you get to when you trudge up the hill from the station. It's a Greene King pub, but other than the Royal Oak house beer from them, the other beers were from other breweries. The ubiquitous Harvey's Sussex Best Bitter & St Austell Tribute are regular ales. I opted for the guest beer, which was Bedlam Amagansett and was nothing to write home about.
The pub had not long opened when we arrived for our Saturday lunchtime visit to Lewes. The interior is one single room, which is fairly plain.
On 30th August 2021
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Royal Oak
Looks like a routine Greene King town centre pub, and in many ways this impression is correct with the expected refurbished, semi-traditional furniture and decor. What did surprise me though, was the selection from four of the five handpumps: yes, a re-badged 'house's beer, and the ubiquitous Harvey's as a guest (bowing to the inevitable here), but also Tribute and an excellent Bedlam Porter (£4.40).
On 8th November 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about The Royal Oak
First stop out of the station, however no guest on and not prepared to lower ourselves to GK so didn't stop, hence no rating.
On 30th August 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Royal Oak
Old pub on the hill up from the station. On first entrance it didn't feel especially wonderful, with a sort of open plan, vaguely modernised-a-while-back feel, but having settled down with a pint the place grew on me a bit. Certainly wouldn't object to going back, but wouldn't make a special trip. Still as below - beers from GK range, food, occasional music, outdoor area etc.
On 19th July 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Royal Oak
Although this is a Greene King pub and the layout and décor is pretty basic I still enjoyed my visit and supped a nice couple of pints of Guinness. There were also four standard GK ales available along with Davenport's Highland Whisky Ale and a standard draught selection. As has been mentioned in previous posts, food is served at very reasonable prices and although I didn't eat I saw some being served and it looked good value for money.
My visit was very early afternoon so it wasn't that busy, but there were a few aged locals smoking away in the small paved beer garden that has some covered seating for wetter days.
There are no TVs, but the background music was ok and played at a nice volume. I spotted a sign in the toilet for folk nights every Thursday evening in the large function room that is available for hire.
The maid was very friendly and I would go back in here if passing again.
On 4th November 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]