The Surprise in Kensington and Chelsea - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

As you approach the Surprise the first thought is an appreciation of the stunning exterior. We attended on a Saturday eveining so there was a real buzz and energy from the patrons in the roped-off paved area outside. Once inside you can see there has been real thought put into the interior, it really is extremely welcoming and the staff added to this when we advised of our reservation. We were seated upstairs at a wonderful light window table with a great view over the classy Christchurch Terrace. The service from then on was very attentive without being intrusive. We were given a great seasonal menu that I was advised is changed quarterly and we were walked-through the specials. Wine list had a great choice for all tastes and there were some excellent beer and ale choices including the delicious "Surprise" lager. Then followed the food. I have to say, throughout the meal my partner and I were utterly impressed by the quality of each dish. This really is a level up from Gastro Pub fare, I would expect this level of food in a fine dining restaurant. The evening experience was just delightful from start to finish. This place really is a gem. I have also heard there is a legendary roast dinner available on a Sunday so I will definately be heading back very soon to try it. I really can't recommend The Surprise highly enough, there surely cannot be many pubs of it's ilk in the capital.

I'm absolutely amazed by all the favourable reviews for the food. We went for Sunday lunch because I saw in a recent article somebody saying they adore Sunday lunch roasts, and always go either to the Surprise, or the Pelican in Notting Hill. Since I know the Pelican, and the food is terrific, I had high hopes. It would have been perfect for me, I have lived in Chelsea for many years, and it would have been an easy walk. The starters were mediocre but fine, we were looking forward to the roast beef, which they say is sirloin aged for 38 days (usually an excellent sign). They confirmed it was medium rare, which suited us fine. The beef arrived in thickish slices (no problem there), but curiously they were all grey on one side and pink on the other. I said "have these been reheated", and although the waiter assured us they had not, there could have been no other explanation. The beef was in fact tasteless - I would in fact strongly doubt that it is the beef they describe. The roast potatoes had zero crunch, and the root vegetables and red cabbage were mediocre but OK. There was nothing green. The yorkshire puddings were fine, and the gravy was OK. What a disappointment. There is a reason that the price is comparatively low. I did check, just in case, that the chef in the kitchen is the normal chef, and it was confirmed. Oh dear.

A fabulous place for a meal. I love the service and ambiance at this place. The waiting staff always go the extra mile and Freddie the cockapoo benefits from treats and a bowl of water too.

Fun local Chelsea pub, relaxed vibes.

Very hot inside, so we all had to stand in the street...Food was excellent

How this lovely local pub became watherspoons in Essex

A wonderful pub hidden away there in Chelsea. We dined at the recommendation of a friend of ours and made a booking upstairs in the quaint dining room. Had a great seat by the window and was able to enjoy the view of Chelsea below while we ate. Wine selection was excellent and the food was scrumptious. Especially the beef carpaccio special, it was absolutely delicious. Only complaint was the added 12.5% discretionary service charge, this is London not the US, put that cost in the prices on the menu instead of hiding it in the tab at the end of the night...

Superb! I recommend it for delicious food and a purely English atmosphere!

Celebrated a small wedding lunch in the private room. Beautiful venue and food was excellent. Service was also impeccable. I don't often give 5 stars. Good job.

I booked a table at The Surprise for lunch with friends. I hadn't been there in years. The moment I walked through the door it looked even lovelier than I'd remembered. We were greeted warmly by smiling staff and taken to our table. The first thing that caught my eye were the various prints and paintings beautifully arranged on every wall. A fascinating collection of artwork. When the delicious food and wine arrived I was well and truly smitten. Looking forward to visiting again sooner rather than later. Long live The Surprise.

If you expect hospitality look somewhere else! Rude, disgruntled staff - never seen anything like it! Not sure they have read up on the meaning of hospitality. Avoid - so many more superior places in Chelsea.

Nice enough pub but honestly all the staff are miserable gits. After spending a couple hours there i didn’t get a single smile from the 4 bar people who served or the floor staff who acted like I just kicked their cat when I asked them to clear and wipe a table which had about 20 glasses on it.

Excellent food with delightful wine pairings. Superb flavourful deserts. Lovely ambience. We look forward to our next visit.

Rally lovely pub, lots of character. We sat in the upstairs dining room which is a quiet escape from the buzz of the main bar downstairs. Food was excellent and deserving of the gastropub label. Friendly service. Priced a little on the high side but to be expected in this neighbourhood

Great lunch in Chelsea. A wide range of tasty beers and balanced menu with some gems. Staff was super friendly and positive. The place has got some good surprises for you!

Be sure to book upstairs if you want to avoid the crowded downstairs when eating. The atmosphere is nice upstairs. The sunday roast is okay and service wasn’t the fastest.

Great place to meet with friends for lunch or brunch

One of the best traditional English pubs in SW. Great dishes on the menu and a different line up of beers to other pubs in the area. Great pub!

Had so much hope after they were featured in secretlondon but unfortunately didn't live up to the expectations. Food lacking any sort of depth or flavours, very underwhelming without any noticeable seasoning. Service was not up to par, staff was overwhelmed with 6 tables so I cannot imagine what would happen with a full house. Best thing was the decor and the sticky toffee pudding. Overall I don't think I will be back which is a shame considering the location and the overall ambiance.

What a nice surprise this pub was. The roast dinner was delicious and the sticky toffee pudding was unbelievably good. Fantastic service as well. Can’t wait to visit again soon.

Had the weirdest experience here the other day. Arrived for drinks, and I admit it was very busy outside, but I and my friends were told 'bookings only'. I suppose that's fine for a restaurant, but for a PUB? Seriously guys, get it sorted out. Also, incredibly busy pretty much every other time I've been and the staff are disorganised and slow!

The quintessential Chelsea summer pub.

I have been to the Surprise a number of times now, and it really is one of the best out there. The service is exceptional, the staff are quick to get you a drink and a table. The burgers are epic, as is the wine list. I'll be back soon!

The best pub in London! You must go.

Used to be a great pub up until Summer 2023 - overcrowded and security are very skittish and rude. Avg wait time for a drink 15-20 minutes

It was a great surprise on an unplanned visit. Good quality food and very attentive service.

Loved this pub! Had a Scottish egg and it was amazing. Also enjoyed beautiful interior and calm streets nearby so that when you stand outside with your drink it is peaceful and quiet

Great drinks. Slow service. Too many people outside and security gets very nervous making the experience not so good

One of my favourite pubs in Chelsea. Fantastic staff and good place for a pint after work!

Truly awful service and the food was poor.

Incredible Sunday roast, in this best kept secret Chelsea pub.

Popped in for a quick post work/ pre-supper drink with my wife. Good atmosphere in a cosy little pub but staff seemed disinterested at best and not very welcoming or friendly. A smile or a few words of conversation would have been good but…. So, could do better.

Had a lovely Sunday roast today but the best part of our experience was definitely the super customer service from our waiter Rafael. He was wonderful - personable, attentive and extremely professional. Thank you Rafael, we will be back!

Great old pub. Good staff and a good selection of drinks

Absolute gem of a pub! Would especially recommend it for a Sunday roast. Make sure you book as it gets busy.

Excellent pub. Best in West London.

We enjoyed a fabulous Christmas dinner in the upstairs room, all for a reasonable price. The service was friendly and mostly professional- a few people had to wait a long time for their dishes to be served, but staff can be stretched during the busy pre-Christmas period, so I am inclined to leniency. Very tasty food. We

I love this cozy pup. It’s my go-to when I’m here. It’s stepped it up with food and the Guinness hits the spot.

Beautiful country style pub buried in the heart of London. It does get very busy so make sure you book.

Great place, my main man Sammy paid for everything - taitt everywhere, highly recommended.

Nice pub but food bland and ordinary and service disinterested and not particularly friendly. Very expensive for what it was. Far better gastropubs around in the locality.

Brilliant service from Senkhara. Couldn’t have been more hospitable and charming. Absolutely made our experience at The Surprise. Wanted to leave a tip but his shift ended before we paid!

The security guy told us “bookings only” in a very rude manner at 8 on a Sunday. Bookings for a PUB? Lol. Someone needs to tell this guy to relax

Comical service. They obviously make their money from food as not many places to sit and just have a pint. I would recommend it as the clientele are nice and it’s a warm atmosphere.

Great Pub and Staff to match hidden gem

Très bon gastro-pub avec une salle et une ambiance très agréable Seul bémol, service un peu long et pas d'iris cider en pression...

Consistently excellent, great food service and atmosphere.

Brilliant dinner at The Surprise! A really nice roast with some lovely wine and fantastic service, highly recommend

Solid 4 stars for The Surprise in Chelsea. Drinks and 3 course dinner for the 3 of us came to £150, which is very good value for the area. Service was very good and the atmosphere was lively. A great spot to end the working week. Will definitely one here again.

Great food . Brilliant staff who you can have good converstion with. Lovely atmosphere especially when there's live music.

I just love this pub. It is everything you wish for in a pub. It’s cosy, beautifully decorated and the detail is fantastic. The food is fabulous, not fussy, and really tasty. A great variety, and one of those menus you just want everything. We will return! Thank you

I have been to The Surprise for dinner and lunch a number of times and celebrated my birthday in the private dining room this year. Every time I go I have the best experience! The staff are always lovely and the food is consistently delicious. The interior is beautifully decorated. The best pub in London

This is my favourite pub in London! The staff are friendly, welcoming and helpful. The food is delicious. I love the way it has been decorated. No more to say, it is wonderful….you really must go and try it yourselves. Can not recommend it highly enough!

I left my hat in the pub. I phoned up and it was confirmed that my hat was put behind the bar for safekeeping. On arranging to pick it up four days later, the hat has since disappeared.

Delicious food and great atmosphere. It’s the best pub in London!

Exceptional pub, from the warm welcome, to the wonderful service and the beautiful interiors. Having eaten here a couple of times, the seasonal changing menu is always a delight, as are the wide range of cocktails!

Haven’t had the food, only crisps but you can tell the pub is filled with well-off people

First time at The Surprise and can't wait to go back. Popped in for a late lunch this past Saturday. Could not fault service or food. Wait staff looking after the upstairs section were friendly and attentive - refreshingly delightful! Would highly recommend

I would not recommend it. We had a burger around 16 pounds and first thought I had is Five guys. The manger has no experience. He suddenly decides not to allow other people enter which means if you are waiting your girlfriend he will not allowed her to get in. In conclusion, much better places to go in London with better food quality and you do not have to wonder if your girlfriend/ boyfriend will get in.

Great pub in Chelsea. Good vibe and crowd. And excellent drinks!

Lovely staff, great location. Didn't eat. Had drinks only.

Gigha Halibut worthy of a Michelin star

A fabulous gastro pub tucked away in residential Chelsea. Great service and really good selection of drinks and food. The 1936 lager is well worth a try!

Excellent free house with a great selection of beers and cider

Friendly staff, amazing food and great atmosphere. All dishes ordered were on point!

Wow, what a buzz. The place was full including the pavement outside. They found a great table, for us and the dog 🐕. Great food with great service. Absolutely nailed it.

The food was amazing! The service was speedy and staffs were friendly! definitely would come back xo

Popped in after a visit to The Physic garden for a drink and a snack. We were made welcome as soon as we stepped in. After a discussion about the various specials, we opted for a couple of starters. We had a crispy duck salad and a beef carpaccio. They were both excellent dishes, the right size for a starter and just what we wanted. Pleasant atmosphere in an interesting venue, and the name says it all.

Our foursome was put in a back room, which was fine. The room was small and intimate when we settled in. Fine until a party of 8 was brought in to the small room. And they had a party. That room should be limited to parties and intimate groups or couples should not have to share their evenings with a large and loud group.

Dropped by to check it out. Tucked away in old Chelsea where I recently moved. Delightful, traditional, friendly proper solid British pub! Excellent drinks list ! Whatever your preference, it’s here! Extensive wine list. Cocktails, spirits . Ordered a hibiscus raspberry martini, cod bites as snack. Both delicious! Free bottled tap water. Finished with a Cosmopolitan! I’ll be back .. Will probably become my local ☺️.

Food was meh, service was too. Overpriced.

We found this local pub after the Chelsea Flower Show. Lovely logical pub down side streets with good beer. Served food (and was busy one a Friday afternoon) but we only had drinks

It is a really nice play to drink something. People are really nice and also the service.

🚇 Sloane Square 🍺 £6.95 Birra Moretti ❤️ A superb Chelsea Gastro. . The Surprise freehouse is located in a tranquil backstreet in the heart of swish Chelsea. The nearest tube is Sloane Square which is about a ten minute walk away. . This beautiful pub was built in 1853 and is named after the frigate that brought Napoleon's body from St Helena to France. The Surprise was refurbished and opened under new management in 2021. . The decor here is traditional and has a touch of class about it. On the ground floor is the main bar, upstairs is the Hamilton Room which is set aside for dining. Throughout the pub are some lovely features like comfy handmade leather chairs, an extensive collection of artwork by British artists and an elegant stained glass partition. The overall vibe is a relaxing homely feel, this place feels like an upscale village pub. . There beer selection was diverse and featured a number of London breweries. I had a pint of Birra Moretti. My pint was good and price point was to be expected at just under seven quid. I visited with my daughter specifically to try out the roast as I read a number of rave reviews. To start we shared a pint of prawns and some tasty cocktail sausages. Then on to the main event, our roasts. We both had the roast pork belly which was delicious, the meat was juicy and crackling crispy. To finish we had sticky toffee pudding which was just great. I must mention the chap who served our food, he was personable, charismatic and really looked after us. . We arrived around 3.30pm and the pub was packed and the vibe upbeat. The crowd was predominantly well healed locals who were in the know about the pub. Throughout the month there are live music evenings and interesting guest speakers to entertain you. . This is one of the best gastropubs I have visited this year, I couldn’t fault it. Yes, @thesurprisechelsea is a posh pub serving posh nosh but there was no snobbery or pontificating here. The beer, food and service were excellent, price point a little pricey but worth every penny. A must visit London pub. . ℹ️ Info correct on visiting 05.03.23

Cristina is an amazing lady and Rafael an amazing gentleman! They serve the best margaritas in England. I would definitely recommend this pub to anyone in or visiting the area.

They offer an average dining experience with decent food and an okay ambiance. While it may not be exceptional, it provides a satisfactory option for a casual meal. There is room for improvement, but it's still worth considering for a simple dining outing.

We didn't really have food as the kitchen was closed at the time but we did get their marinated olive snack to go with our pints which were absolutely tops and can imagine their menu would be quite nice. Pedro was a gem in serving us and even indulging us with a bit of local history of the establishment and Chelsea area.

Located on the Chelsea green, this is a great place to meet up with friands. I went for the sticky toffee pudding, but apparently it is a autumn and winter season specialty.

Came to this very atmospheric gastropub during Chelsea Flower Show week for a lovely meal in the private dining room. The place is great as was the food. I'd happily come back.

Came across this lovely pub after leaving the flower show. Popped in and had a quick drink. Nice atmosphere, good prices for Chelsea. Thank you

I like the Surprise - interior not too ‘overdone’ - excellent professional bar staff - good beer - ‘local feel’ - food apparently good too, although haven’t eaten there.

Classic pub - cask ales, great hidden gem

The nicest pub in the area, having crept up the rankings in recent years. Excellent decor and feel to the pub. Lots of beautiful and interesting features. Worth seeking out. Great bar staff too and outstanding food. Top marks. Definitely beats the Coopers and Phoenix now. A proper boozer, as my husband says.

A nice pub but £9.80 for a pint and pack of pork scratchings is excessive! I've flown to Geneva for less than that...

Beautiful pub with top service. I never experienced such a customer service in any pub in England before. We didn't try any dish as we just came for a drink but the table next to us had some food and the dishes looked yummy. Definitely we will come back to try

Haven’t been to The Surprise Chelsea in a few years. I ordered fish and chips which can be risky at a pub. I was pleasantly surprised 😮 how delicious and perfectly prepared the fish was, not to mention how fresh. I’ll definitely return just for this dish.

It appears that everyone has found out about this little gem of a pub. This pub has the most amazing traditional setting, but everything about it oozes a bit of class. The drinks are great, well-kept beers, and I've been told a pretty impressive wine list. The food is exceptional, a little pricier than your average pub, but this is reflected in the quality.

Beautiful pub, nestled down a sidestreet. I was wandering around, wasting an hour before an appointment and found it entirely by accident. Stepped inside, ordered a pint and sat down. I was told I couldn't sit down at any of the empty tables because they were all booked. I was a bit bewildered. I've never walked in a pub in my life, ordered a drink and been told I can't sit down anywhere. My only option was to stand in the middle of the pub, in the thoroughfare and just sort of stand there. This isn't a pub so much as a restaurant so just keep that in mind.

Love the atmosphere and the staff is friendly and efficient

Cosy pub with good selection of beers and wines. Food was pretty good.

Nice cozy pub with friendly staff and good service

Pricey IMO, but great service food and drinks.

Dropped in on a Saturday to enjoy a pork loin and all the trimmings. Washed down with Tattinger and enjoyed with potato three ways, the Surprise delivered in spades. Kids friendly.

Such a cute and cozy restaurant. We went on a rainy night and the fire was lit to create the perfect atmosphere. We all enjoyed our meals. I highly recommend visiting this restaurant if you are in the area. The only negative thing about the evening was the service. It’s a good thing we weren’t in a hurry!

Really good roast beef meal, reasonable price for the area. Nice old fashioned pub feel.

Great local pub - and institution.

The food was nice but the service was really bad - especially for the price you are paying! We booked but it took them over 20 minutes to have us sit down at the table. They kept telling us it would only be a few more minutes however feel that its better to just be honest and tell us how long it will be straight up. We were told to wait at the bar but felt a bit in the way . Then they offered to sit us at the door and squeeze us onto a table for 2 when there was 3 of us which as the table clearly wasn’t ready. Just overall felt pretty forgotten about even before the meal had begun. Once we finally got to our table, service was very slow to take order and for drinks to come. Only bought 2 drinks out and had to remind of the other drink. Felt that we kept having to remind them about things we had asked for - didnt feel easy. At the end of the meal they were rearranging the tables and we’re literally asking guests to get up and move whilst they were dining to rearrange - felt very hectic! Hard to get the attention of the servers/ had to remind to bring desert menu and just overall everything felt very chaotic and not attentive. Food was nice but quite a small portion when you are paying 25 pound for a roast! Decor and ambience nice.

I was looking for somewhere to eat locally and came across The Surprise. The food was excellent and there was a good choice of wines. The pub was very well presented and clean. We visited as a couple and were looked after by Pedro. The service was spot on - enough to identify if there was a problem and everything was ok but not over bearing. We’ll definitely be returning!

I enjoy stopping off for a glass or two of red here on a Sunday evening. Never chosen to eat here until today as it’s usually booked up. I ordered the terrine starter and the roast chicken. The starter was ok but the roast was shocking. The chicken was a wing, quite dry and not something I recognised akin to a Sunday roast. Three roast potatoes and some kale. But no vegetables. All for £22 for the main only. I had to refuse to pay and would ideally of returned it and found somewhere else. I’ve seen so many incredible roasts being served today down in Blackheath and Greenwich but I was saving myself. Incredibly disappointed. I love the pub and the staff are great. So disappointing and only just stopped shaking my head.

Fantastic is all I can say. Possibly the freshest pint of ale I’ve had in a very long time! The fish and chips 10/10.