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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
John Harvey Tavern, Lewes
Lewes
BN7 2AN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Tris C left this review about John Harvey Tavern
Not realising that this was the Harvey’s brewery tap, I initially thought it may have been named after John Harvey-Jones, but no.
This is a fairly modern conversion and I can’t really add anything more, but agree with Will that the beers here are really no different from those served at Lewes’s other Harvey’s cosa nostra.
I went for the Armada Ale £2.85 a half and very nice.
Worth a visit as part of a crawl, but I couldn’t take a prolonged stay.
On 30th April 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2207 recommendations about 2164 pubs]
Real Ale Ray left this review about John Harvey Tavern
This Tavern became the John Harvey Tavern in 2015 after some extensive refurbishment. The exterior hosts the traditional flint cladding which can be seen throughout Lewes. The pub has a good position on the river Ouse and is a good suntrap in the afternoons, hence so many people opting for the outdoor space.
The interior is traditional in style with flagstone floors and exposed beams. The layout here is the main bar area, a single lounge to the left and a dining room upstairs. The good range of Harveys ales was on handpump across the bar, I went for the Harveys Mild Beer, which was flavourless and didn't hit the spot, in spite of their overpricing for such a basic beer.
On 18th April 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3644 recommendations about 3644 pubs]
Will Larter left this review about John Harvey Tavern
This brewery tap in traditional buildings near Harveys brewery has been well described below. We chose it as our first pub of the day as it was one of a few that were open before midday. Looking back after drinking a few Harvey's beers in Lewes on the day, I can't say the beers on offer here were either particularly better or actually worse than in other pubs in the town.
On 11th April 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
David Walton left this review about John Harvey Tavern
Visited 27/09/24. Visited previously on 11/05/19.
Four cask offerings from the Harvey’s stable, namely the Sisters Table Beer, Armada, Old Ale and the Dark Mild. Harvey's best is poured directly from barrels sitting on the shelf above the wine and soft drink fridges. Their keg offerings were the Wharf IPA, the Pilsner and a new one for me from them called the Pells Pale. The away team keg offerings were Guinness, Stowford Press cider, Amstel and Moretti.
The venue is opposite the brewery site and is a very traditional Lewes boozer. The right-hand side, which proudly displays the John Harvey Tap Room sign over the large window opposite the bar counter against the back wall, is always a pretty busy venue where I have visited previously at weekends with live music ongoing. The floor is stone and there is a fire grate on the right most wall that seems to only offer fire via a candle array these days. The room is dark beamed, and tables and chairs are pretty traditional. A TV to the left of the large window was switched off and indeed I can’t remember ever being here when it was switched on. The left-hand room always seems somewhat more sedate and even the couple of quite large groups sitting at the two big tables in here seemed incredibly well behaved and less raucous than the crowd on the bar servery side.
On 7th April 2025
- rating: 6
[User has posted 631 recommendations about 631 pubs]
Danny O'Revey left this review about John Harvey Tavern
lovely little pub down a side street. Very traditional & stone flag floor is impressive. Harveys pub near the brewery. Not a big fan of their beers but thought I'd give it a good and it was surprisingly nice and the quality was spot on. Nice pub
On 31st August 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1542 recommendations about 1519 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about John Harvey Tavern
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.
On 30th August 2021
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about John Harvey Tavern
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.
On 16th November 2020
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2236 recommendations about 2098 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about John Harvey Tavern
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.
On 13th November 2016
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about John Harvey Tavern
Despite the old appearance, this is a relatively new pub and is a conversion of an old stable block. I can't trace the opening date, but I'm fairly certain it didn't exist twenty five years ago. It's a long narrow building with two interconnecting rooms the one furthest from the brewery having the bar. There js a third room upstairs that I didn't go and look at. There are some large old beams and a tiled floor. Thankfully this is one pub with no television. On a late Saturday afternoon it wasn't packed and I found it comfortable enough.
The bar has only four hand pumps but Old and Best are served straight from cooled casks behind the bar. The other four Harvey's beers were Forward's Choice, Olympia, Armada and South Down Harvest. I went for the South Down Harvest (£3.80) which was in excellent condition.
I found this place a lot more pleasant than other places in town and it was my favourite Lewes pub on the day. I was very tempted to stay for a second pint.
On 1st October 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about John Harvey Tavern
This is the Harvey’s brewery tap and it’s located in a small yard just off the High Street on the opposite side to the brewery shop. It’s a pleasant two room set up sited in the former stables of the old Bear Hotel. The main bar, on the right hand side of the front door, has a flagstone floor with lots of dark wood and ample seating including padded benches around the edge of the room and some high tables and stools in the middle. There’s a fireplace on the end wall with a stove in it and an ancient looking beam above and a couple of the bench seats have backs made from old barrels which creates quite a nice effect. The pub, much like the brewery, is situated alongside the river and one of the pillars in the main bar has a small plaque on it which shows the alarmingly high level the water reached when the river burst its banks back in 2000. To the left of the front entrance, there is a smaller room with several more tables and standard chairs, some etched glass windows bearing the pub and brewery name and a nice fireplace. A sign refers to this as the ‘History Room’, although there wasn’t much information about either the pub or brewery on display except for a few old black and white photos. A few customers were eating and a blackboard in the main bar detailed main meals which were mostly under a tenner. Stairs lead up to a large function room, split into two notional sections, which was being set up for a private party when I visited.
Six casks were racked up behind the bar – four of the ubiquitous Harvey’s Best and two with the seasonal Old Ale. On hand pump, three more Harvey’s ales were available – Bonfire Boy, Armada Ale and Hadlow Bitter. A good range of the brewery’s bottled beers were also on offer. I gave the Armada a try and it was, as you would hope, well kept.
This is a decent enough pub, but its proximity to the brewery means it is a big draw for tourists and casual pub goers, which can make it busy at times and difficult to find a seat. Worth a look for the good range of Harvey’s beer but I have the feeling that this place could do more.
On 1st December 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]