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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum

Image posted by Tris C
Submitted on Tuesday, 23rd May 2017
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Requested be closed with reason - Other: Closed according to West London CAMRA. Tripadvisor agrees.
Detail Pages
The Surprise at Pimlico, SW1
SW1
SW1V 2RQ
Served areas
Reviews of The Surprise at Pimlico (Average Rating: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Surprise
The first surprise - given that it is located on the Westminster side of Vauxhall Bridge Road - is that this place is not an upmarket gastro-pub... Instead, you find a rather run-down, old-fashioned, estate-type pub with two bars. The front (where most of the customers can be found) is fairly small, the rear (almost deserted) being a larger space with a pool table, etc. The second surprise is that these two rooms are connected via the gents toilet... Wooden patio benches out front. Hostel upstairs. Two handpumps in the front bar, with either Wandle or Pride (£3.50) usually on (although both were off on my last visit). Instead, I opted for a Guinness (£3.00 during the 5-7 Monday to Friday happy 'hour', and real ale would have been £2.00 had it been on), The final surprise is that the pub is apparently named after HMS Surprise, a vessel which was left to rot (or perhaps burned on the foreshore) after a very undistinguished career - why would you do that?
On 8th September 2012
- rating: 5
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Surprise
This place has a public bar at the front and a larger bar at the rear that houses the pool table and dartboard. There are plasma screens for showing Sky Sports and the music selection was decent.
Whilst enjoying a pleasant pint of Guinness I spotted Greene King IPA and a standard draught selection also available.
The landlady was nice enough, but I was the only customer at midday so I cannot really coment on the atmosphere of the pub. I still thought that it was ok in here and would pop in again if passing.
On 4th November 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5966 recommendations about 5932 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Philip Carter left this review about The Surprise
The name is actually Surprise at Pimlico. A two bar pub, the front bar is like what they used to call the Public bar, the back bar is more comfortable. To move between the bars, you have to go outside or take a trip through the gents. Only had one real ale tap, but I can't remember what it was.
On 23rd July 2008
- rating: 4
[User has posted 759 recommendations about 721 pubs]
No known official website for this pub.
- Facebook - The Surprise at Pimlico
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Surprise at Pimlico - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 08 September 2012 by Moby Duck
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 08 September 2012 by Moby Duck