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John Harvey Tavern, Lewes

1 Bear Yard, Cliffe High Street
Lewes
BN7 2AN
Phone: 01273479880

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Reviews (Current Rating Average: of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


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 2442 recommendations about 2441 pubs]


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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 2094 recommendations about 1985 pubs]


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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 8066 recommendations about 8066 pubs]


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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]


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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 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


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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]


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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 567 recommendations about 559 pubs]


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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 3322 recommendations about 3259 pubs]


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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]


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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 5043 recommendations about 5026 pubs]

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