The Lamb, Surbiton

A bit of an odd one this. Situated on the Brighton Road in the centre of Surbiton is The Lamb, a small pub which, according to a plaque outside, dates back to 1850 and was the home of the Lamb Brewery. Nostalgia addicts will note the old Skol advertising sign on the outside wall. Following a short period of closure, the pub re-opened several years ago. It’s a small pub with a central horseshoe bar and a low ceiling. The interior is decorated in what might be described as an eclectic style. Bunting and balloons were hanging down from one corner, but there was no indication that there was a party planned. What could be original beams have been painted in a lightish colour. Heavy duty wooden tables down one side have small candles, but there’s no indication of any food, apart from a large display of cheeses. We learn that “Homage de Fromage” evenings are held monthly on Mondays. On my recent Saturday afternoon visit, the pub had an atmosphere that felt like a cross between a kindergarten and a drop in social centre for the underprivileged / unemployed. One small family group, who appeared to be related to or friends of the barman, were sitting round drinking coffee in a rather listless manner and, in the garden, several youngsters were busy painting some kind of mural. Posters dotted around the pub invited me to “come along and help build and play Giant Hungry Hippos” next weekend, ( so you’ve probably missed it now ) which gives you a feel of their target customer base, although I ought to add that it is all in aid of good charitable causes. Occupying a stool by the bar, I kept having to move to let pushchair-pushing parents and their offspring through. There didn’t appear to be any what I would regard as normal pub type customers, nor did there seem to be anyone else drinking alcohol. Rather surprisingly against this background, 3 real ales were offered – Itchen Valley Hampshire Rose, Surrey Hills Ranmore Ale plus one other. My beer was OK and the pub is listed in the 2011 CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Not really my cup of tea – I haven’t felt as out of place in a pub for a long time – and I very much doubt that I’ll be calling in again.

Great cheese. Great beer. Great atmosphere. What more do you want?