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Detail Pages
John Harvey Tavern, Lewes
Lewes
BN7 2AN
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Mark Davey left this review about John Harvey Tavern
Surprised by the fact that this wasn't actually the best kept pint of Harveys Best in town! The pub was rammed with punters on a wet saturday afternoon and we had to stand at the bar to drink our brews. I had been looking forward to the JHT all day as Harveys is one of my favourite brown beers and I came away feeling a little short changed.
On 30th August 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 292 recommendations about 276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nick Davies left this review about John Harvey Tavern
Harvey's brewery tap so as you would expect a showcase for their beers and way of doing things: and like many Harvey's pubs you've got to find it first. Many would expect it to be where the shop is to go round the back but in fact it's in a lane across the road. Once inside there's a lounge to the left, they call it the 'History Room' and the traditional style bar is to your right. Best on stillage plus Hadlow, Armada and Olympia on the handle when we called. All or them of course drinking well.
It's not really a locals pub, but it isn't there for that and most of its trade seems to come from visitors and shoppers. There's plenty of amusement to be had watching those asking for a "pint of Harveys". Whatever, it does what it does perfectly well and is well worth a session if you're in town
On 8th April 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 578 recommendations about 570 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about John Harvey Tavern
Splendid if slightly contrived pub close to brewery. Feels a little bit too designed, rather than evolved, if you know what I mean. However keeps a good selection of Harveys ales, including Best out of the barrel and pleasant enough. Certainly worth dropping to sample Harveys beers at their best.
On 14th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3641 recommendations about 3576 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BARRY TAYLOR left this review about John Harvey Tavern
A friendly welcome awaited the 'Brothers Mafia' and I at The John Harvey Tavern on our 'Xmas shopping trip' to Lewes. The town lies in a great amphitheatre of the surrounding chalk hills in a gap in the South downs cut by the river Ouse. On 27 December 1836, an avalanche occurred in Lewes, the worst ever recorded in Britain. In October 2000 the town suffered major flooding which affected the brewery and the John Harvey. There is a History Room with pictures of Cliffe High Street dating back to c1800. The town was home in the 1960s to Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones as it is now to other musicians, notably Herbie Flowers, Arthur Brown and Tim Rice-Oxley from Keane. It has it's own local currency 'The Lewes Pound'. The 'Harvey' is a traditional pub with a rustic feel in the heart of the historic town of Lewes it is situated opposite Harveys Brewery and the Brewery shop (well worth a visit) and next to the River Ouse. A restored flint and brick building on the site of the stables of the old Bear Hotel, which burnt down in 1918. Next door was the Bear Brewery, where John Harvey first brewed in the 1820s. In effect it's the brewery tap, just a stone's throw from the Bridge Wharf Brewery itself. You can go alfresco on the pavement and look at the river across the road, but we declined that as the temperature was approaching freezing and a log burner and cosy wine Vat seating beaconed inside. The bar boasts wooden beams. The 'Harvey' seemed to attract a mixed bag of customers with 'ladies who lunch' and students sampling the fine cuisine. There is regular live entertainment with Folk, Jazz (Wednesday) and various bands or for something more traditional look out for Morris Dancing throughout the summer months and of course Remember, Remember the Fifth of November when The John Harvey Tavern is the perfect place to soak up the Bonfire Night fun, arguably the town's most important annual event. Homemade food is available at lunchtimes and evenings. Food Service Times are: Monday to Saturday Lunch Time 1200 to 1430. Evening 1800 to 2130. Sunday Full Menu plus Sunday Roast 1200 to 1630. Monday to Saturdays a selection of sandwiches are also available. We had the 'Harveys ale sausage and onion with salad garnish' served in a French stick and at just £4.50 excellent value. So good in fact that the very helpful serving girl got us details of the 'Snorkers' origins and we later paid a visit to Holmansbridge farm shop Barcombe and purchased some. As would be expected from it's location Harveys Ales served from the 'wood' including the Championship winning Best Bitter and a host of seasonal ales, cider, wines and spirits. I tried the Christmas Ale (ABV 8.1%) which is the strongest beer I have seen on handpump in the UK and at £4.50 the most expensive (I suppose you have to pay for your pleasures). Harveys say "This brew's popularity made it difficult to restrict its availability to the Festive Season. Fortunately the high alcohol level enables us to brew enough to last most of the year so enthusiasts can be kept happy all year round. It is heavily hopped, dark and strong" they do not lie. Winner of Sweden's Dagens Nyheter Christmas Beer Competions and Finlands 'Paivyri' it has also been a recipient of Finland's Olutseura Olvirtki award for 'excellently' fulfilling "The Christmas Beer regulations of the seven Brothers" described in Aleksis Kivi's novel'Seven Brother's' which was called a "ridiculous work and a blot on the name of Finnish literature". This beer has no such blemish on the face of East Sussex and my friends the 'Two Brother's' gave this sweet 'Barley wine' style ale their seal of approval. The excellent bar staff did ask if I knew how strong this 'Kamikaze' brew was? and I applaud this responsible attitude to serving alcohol. Next up I had a go at the Sussex Old Ale (aka XXXX ABV 4.3%) A Victorian style dark winter brew produced from higher proportions of crystal malt. XXXX is extremely popular and eagerly anticipated in October when it returns from summer recess. It was Harveys first beer to win a National Award in 1952 and has won many other accolades since. The only problem with these ales is that they keep getting in your mouth! As to the facilities, they have an upstairs restaurant/function room with projector and screen which can cater for up to 70 people and the tidiest toilets I've seen with some rather nice framed pictures of young ladies lounging around in their lingerie. The staff are credited with being the most helpful (but most of all, the cutest!) in Lewes and I agree! I hope I won't have to wait a year to return to this excellent establishment. http://www.johnharveytavern.co.uk/food_drink.html
On 31st December 2010
- rating: 8
[User has posted 42 recommendations about 35 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about John Harvey Tavern
Harveys brewery tap. Converted from the old stables of the Bear Hotel overlooking (just) the River Ouse. The ground floor is set over two rooms and the interior is long and rectangular, as is the upstairs room. The lower bar has stone flagged flooring and a beamed ceiling. Olympia, Hadlow and Armada plus six(!) Sussex Best on stillage. My Hadlow was as good a drop as you’d expect given the location. Surprised to only see four of Harveys range actually available though, I was expecting more. Extremely busy on my visit, so we made use of the outside drinking space (most of it unofficial) but it worked for us on a summer’s day. Big on food and a lot of it was being served, a notch above pub grub judging by what I saw. As noted elsewhere, the brewery and shop are located at the end of the street by the bridge.
A decent venue if you like Harveys beer but I felt strangely unmoved by it as I usually expect a brewery tap to be a flagship for the ale, especially so in Lewes where it isn’t exactly tough finding the beers that were served here elsewhere. Room for improvement?
On 4th September 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about John Harvey Tavern
I enjoyed a decent pint in here sitting at some of the seating made from old wine vats that straddle a log burner at the far end of the pub. To be honest the rest of the pub is a little bare and the history room has no more pictures on the wall than a normal pub does.
There is a function room upstairs, but I'm not sure if the jazz nights on Wednesdays or the folk nights on Tuesdays are held here or in the bar area.
There were three hand pumps on during my visit along with three gravity fed barrels at the back of the bar, which I think were all Harveys beers.
I liked it here, but I'm not sure that I'd make a special trip to visit again.
On 4th November 2009
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5965 recommendations about 5931 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Clive Thompson left this review about John Harvey Tavern
A must visit if in Lewes I'd say, the problem is so does everyone else so it can get busy. They do have plenty of staff though and they all seem to want to be there serving you which makes for a nice experience. Three Harvey's beers on plus a line of the flagship Sussex Best on stillage. Does it taste better here? Well I‘m not a great fan but I thought so.
On 14th June 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 780 recommendations about 697 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about John Harvey Tavern
Being the brewery tap this pub seemed a good spot to start the day. Pretty busy even just before 12, with a mix of people drinking, chatting and ordering food. Stone flagged floor, beamed ceiling, a few brasses and nic-nacs, wood panelling and a fireplace to one end with a portrait over of whom I imagine is the original John Harvey. Two booths either side formed of barrel surrounds. The smaller "History Room" has a couple of sofas and a few tables.
Hadlow, Armada and Mild on handpump, plus Addlestone's cider. Sussex Best on stillage behind. The brewery and shop are located at the end of the street by the bridge.
Second visit early evening found the pub just as busy meaning we sat outside until the chill sent us on to The Gardeners.
On 5th April 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Sheppard left this review about John Harvey Tavern
Just off the high street down a quiet road this pub is easily missed. During the summer there is a nice outdoor seating area were you can sit and enjoy hearty food. This is a Harveys pub as the brewery is across the river and yes you can go round on a tour. there are several beers from the Harveys brewery and a couple of guests all in great condition. Well worth a visit.
On 8th October 2007
- rating: 8
[User has posted 192 recommendations about 192 pubs]