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Picture of The Surprise
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Submitted on Monday, 4th April 2011
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The Surprise, South Lambeth, SW8

16 Southville
SW8
SW8 2PP
Phone: 02076224623
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Reviews of The Surprise (Average Rating: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines

Tris C left this review about The Surprise

Dating from the mid-19th century, this is a Young’s pub (or is it, given the lack of a website?) situated right on the edge of Larkhall Park, which came into existence as a result of World War II bombing.
I had thought that this was going to be some sort of gastrofied affair, but apart from the pale grey wood cladding to the front room, it’s really quite traditional, right down to the wrought iron and glass pot shelf (probably 1930s’) and L-shaped multi-room layout. There are no obvious TVs though there’s a games machine, with further entertainment in the form of darts (with trophies) and possibly pool to the rear. Furniture is traditional with mixed framed prints, some of which appear to be of something looking like a power station; a decent soundtrack played.
Despite the putative brand, a friendly landlady presided over a solitary London Original clip and although I don’t mind Special, LO is one of my safe words, so it was a half of Stella at £2.60.
This is an unexpectedly pleasant and traditional little place; Proper Job on offer would have resulted in a proper score, but it deserves support.

On 31st August 2023 - rating: 6
[User has posted 1955 recommendations about 1922 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Pub SignMan left this review about The Surprise

This is a two-bar side-street Youngs pub that has seemingly avoided the attention of their design team to retain the feel of a proper local’s boozer. The pub’s multiple room layout has been partly opened out, but enough of the old format remains that this is easily overlooked. You enter into the front bar area, which comprises a small L-shaped space with a similarly shaped servery in the rear right corner. The room is bare boarded and has a drinking ledge under the front windows and a banquette in a small section to the right, but otherwise limits seating options to stools along the bar. The servery has a nice traditional counter and bar back with an impressive old iron and glass gantry. Moving further into the pub, you reach a mid-section with a single table served by comfortable seating to the right and a small bit of standing room to the left. Diamond patterned walls give way to a conservatory-style space full of garden furniture that has been tacked onto one side of the pub. Continuing on, you reach the rear lounge, which I would argue is the nicest part of the pub, albeit much quieter than the front bar. Here you fin a tartan carpeted room with very comfortable button backed banquettes around two of the walls and smart chairs in support. There’s a nice fireplace with an attractive tiled surround and intricately carved mantle to the left with the pub’s trophy collection above. The walls have modern wood panels, but these have almost entirely been covered with a vast collection of caricatures, seemingly of pub regulars(?). A dartboard can be found on the rear wall and there were pop tunes playing quietly in the background through the course of my visit.
No surprises at the bar, with just Young’s Ordinary and Special available and a third pump unclipped. The Ordinary was £3.90 and despite not being a particular favourite of mine, went down pretty well as I relaxed and read my paper in the lounge. The landlady seemed like a stern but friendly old-school type and the locals were a mixed bunch, including plenty of old boys and a few dolled-up young ladies clearly enjoying a few quiet drinks before a big night out.
I had absolutely no expectations going into this one, but found it was a cracking little local’s boozer with plenty of character, a friendly welcome and some well-kept, if unadventurous, beer. Places like this are becoming increasingly difficult to find as vast swathes of South London get swept-up in the gentrification process, so it was nice to find this place and enjoy a bit of quality time here.

On 11th February 2020 - rating: 7
[User has posted 3102 recommendations about 3102 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Philip Carter left this review about The Surprise

A Youngs pub, so only Youngs ale on sale, no hardship there. Has had a refurb, the seating area at the side, which was open to the elements, has now been converted to a conservatory. The bar area has been done up, all the mugs & things hanging behind the bar have gone. The drawings in the back area are still there. The gents toilet has been refurbed as well. Whole place looks good.

On 19th December 2018 - rating: 8
[User has posted 757 recommendations about 720 pubs]


View more reviews of The Surprise (7)
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Pub location see interactive map of local area
Map location corrected by Rex Rattus
Wandsworth Road, 0.55 miles, 10 min walk (show)
Clapham High Street, 0.94 miles, 18 min walk (show)
Queenstown Road (Battersea), 1.13 miles, 21 min walk (show)
Latest updates View all updates for The Surprise, SW8
31st Aug 2023, 18:08
Review submitted by Tris C
 
11th Feb 2020, 18:40
Review submitted by Pub SignMan

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.

  • Accommodation : No last updated 11 February 2020 by Pub SignMan
  • Bar Billiards : No last updated 11 February 2020 by Pub SignMan
  • Beer Festivals : No last updated 31 August 2023 by Tris C
  • Beer Garden : Yes last updated 11 February 2020 by Pub SignMan
  • CAMRA Discount : No last updated 31 August 2023 by Tris C
  • Car Park : No last updated 11 February 2020 by Pub SignMan
  • Child Friendly : Yes last updated 11 February 2020 by Pub SignMan
  • Darts : Yes last updated 11 February 2020 by Pub SignMan
  • Dog Friendly : Yes last updated 11 February 2020 by Pub SignMan
  • Function Room : Yes last updated 11 February 2020 by Pub SignMan
  • Jukebox : No last updated 31 August 2023 by Tris C
  • Karaoke : No last updated 31 August 2023 by Tris C
  • Live Music : No last updated 31 August 2023 by Tris C
  • Live TV Sports : No last updated 31 August 2023 by Tris C
  • Micropub : No last updated 11 February 2020 by Pub SignMan
  • Pinball : No last updated 11 February 2020 by Pub SignMan
  • Pool Table : No last updated 11 February 2020 by Pub SignMan
  • Quiz Night : No last updated 31 August 2023 by Tris C
  • Real Ale : Yes last updated 31 January 2010 by Will Larter
  • Real Cider : No last updated 11 February 2020 by Pub SignMan
  • WiFi : No last updated 31 August 2023 by Tris C
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