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Detail Pages
Brave New World, Berrylands, Surbiton
Surbiton
KT6 8QX
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about Brave New World
Despite being a bit tucked away on the periphery of Surbiton, there has been a pub here for several centuries although the current building is Victorian. It initially doubled up as a bakery hence it’s original name of the Bun Shop but was renamed the Brave New World in the mid-90’s although it seems to just get by these days just being called the Brave. The pub has for many years revolved around live music, initially as a jazz stronghold but latterly hosting an assortment of gigs, jams open mic nights and comedy.
The interior is quite spacious with a rough, basic feel thanks to exposed brickwork and stripped back furnishings. The main bar is split into 2 by part of a dividing wall and has a darts area in the right hand section whilst to the left of the entrance is a separate games room containing a pool table and a few chesterfield sofas. At the rear is the appropriately named “back bar” which is used for the music / comedy evenings. There is also a small courtyard beer garden out the back.
The beer selection is quite generic and of the 6 hand pumps, just Doom Bar was available although the quality was better than I would have expected and prices reasonable.
The place was quiet on my early Saturday evening visit although live football ws being shown and it was difficult to gauge what the ambiance would be like or what sort of crowds it generally attracts. It was a decent enough place for what it is but I can’t see it being particularly enticing to anyone beyond the entertainment side and other than that, there isn't really much here to warrant going out of the way for.
On 26th February 2013
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about Brave New World
This is a large Victorian pub, once known many years ago as "The Bun Shop" which had a reputation for serving a good selection of real ales in the days when such choice was a rarity. The modern day makeover occured in the 90's, but although not my style of bar has remained open and viable. There are three separate areas still, the long metalled top bar runs through two of them. As suggested by the name the decor is not traditional, with various hues of orange, turquoise and green, wood floors, lots of exposed brickwork and scrubbed tables. A side room has a pool table and there is a usable dartboard in the main room. There are newspapers available on a shelf. There is a small outdoor courtyard to the year.
My visit post work showed an unusual client base, considering the ambience, being mainly older blokes sipping pints but perhaps it is different later on. Possibly people displaced by the closed Angel around the corner. Signs advertise bands, open mic nights and barbecues.
Three banks of handpumps on the bar but just the one on, Doom Bar. ok at £1.50 for a quick half.
On 4th May 2011
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1707 recommendations about 1681 pubs]