The Castle, Surbiton

I was a bit concerned when I walked up to this pub and saw an A board outside advertising the “Castle Tea Rooms”, offering stuff like paninis. But it is still a pub – just. The pub still has two rooms. The room on the left looks more like a public bar to me. There was a fire on the go (not really needed on a fine sunny day), and the only other customers in there were were a mum and kids. Obviously after gretting my beer I made my escape through a door into the other (saloon bar?) room. This room is reasonably furnished with banquettes and normal tables and chairs, and has a small stage in a corner. I saw an advert for a forthcoming 70s & 80s disco. This pub is unusual in that the saloon bar had stands for wrapping paper and greeting cards for sale, an advert for eggs for sale (half-dozen for £1) on a wall in the public bar, as well as the “tea rooms”, indicating thay they are diversifying into other income streams. But if that allows the pub to keep going then good for them. There’s a nice little garden to the left hand side of the pub. There was just the one ale on – GKIPA, plus another handpump apparently unused. There was a lunch burger menu on all the tables, with the basic burger being £3.90 rising to £4.90 for a chicken fillet plus bacon burger. Chips were an extra £1.50. This is rather a strange pub – a bit like a cross between a corner shop and a pub. But I’m not a great fan of Green King ales so probably won’t be making a return visit.