The Surprise in Kensington and Chelsea

Had booked a table for ten and reached late and would have understood if our table was no longer available but was not okay with the manager’s incredibly racist response. To be asked repeatedly whether I’ve ever visited this country before was offensive, to put it mildly. When a few more friends dropped in they were told the empty table next to us was “reserved” even though it was empty for the remainder of the evening. Was appalled, will definitely not be going back.

Very sad experience. The team here were awful to my friend who booked our table. They made targeted comments based on her race and accent about our group arriving late. I’ve lived in London for over a decade and to see casual racism take place in a Chelsea pub in 2025 is so upsetting. I won’t be going back.

One staff member was rude and casually racist towards my friend. I will be complaining to the manager.

Wonderful time! A lovely young gentleman, Dylan, served us last week and I couldn’t have wished for better service. He was attentive to our needs, charming and a great laugh. Thank you for a lovely evening!

5/5 for drinks and setting, 1/5 garbanzo food. Gorgeous pub - but big shame about the food, I’d recommend going elsewhere. The gnocchi was terrible and the pork was ok.

Very quaint pub that is amazing for a nice Sunday roast in the side streets. Highly recommend, great quality and atmosphere.

Had the beef burger and it was genuinely one of the best burgers I've ever had, would strongly recommend! The vibe was great and the place was quite full, so maybe book beforehand. The staff was lovely and welcoming. Overall, a place worth going to!

Took an important family call from the other side of the street as the pub was rammed and was aggressively challenged by one of the bouncers. Lovely pub but my advice would be to properly vet the temperament of your staff.

10th Feb at 12:20 me and my lovely client went this pub the opening is is 12:00 and we are here at 12:06pm pub door was opened and nobody is inside we are waiting for 30mins and called the pub no but unfortunately no one pick the call. Very very disappointed with this service. Thanks R.A

Lovely Sunday lunch and the waitress was so friendly and helpful.

Nice local pub, would recommend

El mejor pub de Londres sin duda. Se adapta a todas las partes del día, desde el almuerzo hasta la cena o simplemente bebe los fines de semana. La comida es increíble y tiene un hermoso comedor en el primer piso

Todo de principio a fin fue perfecto. Un ambiente cálido y acogedor, personal amable que era atento y eficiente. La comida era 10 / 10. Lo recomiendo encarecidamente si estás en la zona!

El mejor pub de Londres - el equipo no podía hacer más para hacer nuestra visita especial, una señora encantadora cuidando de nosotros. Comida fuera de este mundo y el bar es tan acogedor, que queríamos quedarnos para siempre!

We were looking to have a Christmas Eve lunch and my husband remembered this place he used to go to almost 45 years ago! We were all pleasantly surprised at the quality of food as well as it being very tasty. It was a set 3 course menu that we pre ordered and we loved each and every one of them. For our main we opted for the traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings, delicious! The service was excellent, they even gave me a complimentary soft drink and mince pies at the end of our meal. All in all an excellent experience. We shall come again for a Sunday Roast. Highly recommend it!

Nunca escribo reseñas porque sé cómo puede afectar a un negocio. Esto es muy necesario porque la sorpresa en Chelsea es hermosa, sin embargo, la persona con la que interactué ayer fue horrible y grosero. Era la persona que saludaba y sentaba a la gente. No solo fue muy grosero conmigo mismo, sino que cuando me senté me quedé tan sorprendido, las damas a mi lado comentaron y dijeron que era grosero con ellos. Estaba tan alterada que mi almuerzo de Navidad fue arruinado por él.

I spent a couple of months liaising with the events and marketing manager, booking a table for 15 people. I made sure to confirm that we’d all be sat on one table. When we arrived the staff sat us at a table for 11 people. When we explained we needed more room the staff were unhelpful. I showed the email correspondence id had with the events manager and with some persuasion they moved our table. The rest of the service was disappointing.

A favourite - with the sweetest Christmas carols evening and great service!

It’s no surprise The Surprise is truly magical! The perfect pub for a festive feast or a summer spritz. Tucked away in a cosy corner of Chelsea this pub has the old charm of a country village matched with city sparkle. Beyond the food and drinks, the team are all so friendly, providing a welcoming experience from arriving to leaving. Couldn’t recommend enough!!

Delicious food, excellent service and fine alcohol. Certainly worth a visit

Great pub with wonderful staff - I would especially recommend for any celebrations given that their first floor room is perfect! Mimi, Lalou and the team made my birthday so special and turned the room into a very special place with candles and white tablecloth for a dinner for 38 people! The service was fantastic, food delicious and atmosphere great!

I booked The Surprise for a short notice birthday dinner and boy am I glad I did! Despite being heavily booked they found us a nice cosy table in the back room. The food and atmosphere were absolutely perfect and Gregory and the team could not have been more attentive. They went above and beyond and couldn’t have made my night more special. Thank you again! We’ll definitely be back soon!

Me and my friends had a lovely evening at this place! I have to recommend the lamb, it was one of the best dishes I ever had.

Rude and uninterested staff. A shocking pour of Guinness. Much better pubs nearby.

A lovely pub which provides great food. It has more of a pub atmosphere downstairs and is more restaurant upstairs. We came for a family celebration and all thoroughly enjoyed our food. It was a chilly wet night but we had a very warm welcome which included the roaring fire too

Proud to have this as our local, if you’re looking for a serious weekend tuck in 🍺 look no further 5*

Lovely staff, amazing Sunday Roast. Visited with my friend and we had the best time, staff were so friendly, def coming back.

We had a small wedding celebration at the Surprise and they were amazing! Food was superb! Everyone said how lovely the food was, the staff were attentive and kind, they decorated the room beautifully for us before we arrived and made us feel very welcome and special. Thank you so much!

Lovely place for a pint or two. Great vibes, fantastic service. Manager Martynas was great! 🙏 also, the bar team makes great margaritas!

Wow. I was blown away when I had dinner at The Surprise this past Wednesday 23 October. I arrived feeling awful after wearing very uncomfortable shoes, and the staff could not have been more kind and helpful. My friend and I both had our small dogs. We were absolutely shattered after a long day, but felt fully restored by our dinner. The decor is so cosy, and truly tastefully done at the same time. A lot of thought has gone into making it so warm. It feels like home. The refurbishment has been done brilliantly. The food was absolutely gorgeous (we both had the chicken), as was the wine; we also had the cheese. We felt thoroughly spoiled, and while it was more than we would usually spend, it was worth every penny. Henry and Zak were our waiters and they were top notch: both of them. I cannot recommend the restaurant, and Henry and Zak highly enough. Thank you so, so much. We will be back soon.

More restaurant than pub. Not especially friendly to the quiet drinker. Pretentious and cold.

We had an excellent meal in this lovely pub. Our table was near a roaring fire. Zac looked after us so well. We are planning to return soon.

A local pub with good food and live entertainment on Monday evening.

Last year I would have given them a five star rating, but based on my Sunday roast lunch today, I can only give them two stars and that is being generous. This place used to be vibrant with great food. It is now half empty with average unflavorful food. Thin gravy and all the food was barely warm. Perhaps they have changed chefs? Big disappointment.

Spontaneous visit one year ago for Sunday lunch and loved it so this time we booked a table and came back looking forward to it. The service was efficient, the drinks were good but sadly the food didn't meet our expectations. We had the leg of lamb and the vegetarian Wellington. The overall plate and the food in it wasn't really hot. The meat was tender, the veggies were good but the roasted potatoes were hard and dry. The Wellington had a good flaky crust but the filling was mostly pearl barley and the promised mushrooms were hard to find. The honeycomb ice cream was tasteless. We sat near the back door leading to the alley where there noise of returning garbage bins entertained is for a few minutes. When someone finally closed a door we had to live with it "clonking" every time someone went through it. Overall, we agree with other reviews mentioning the lack of taste in general. Is there a new chef in the house ? Not sure that we will visit again...

Always good to go back to The Surprise.

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

We had a delightful dinner totally unplanned. Highly recommended

The Surprise team organised a Brilliant & Special 70th Birthday Lunch for me for 10 family & friends. The Birthday Lunch menu the Chef organised was superb with excellent choices and the wines we chose for the event were excellent too. I liked the English Sparkling Wine to greet our friends on arrival. I particularly liked the delicious chicken liver pate starter too and lemon posset Pud. The Surprise team helped me decorate the table & Birthday cake along with a balloon and Happy Birthday Banners and this beautiful historic Pub looked warm and inviting on a sunny September day. The Team were a delight especially Mimi and Jemima who looked after us all wonderfully. The Surprise is a gem and a delight in a charming and quiet corner of Old Chelsea. It was the best Birthday I have ever had as the support system and organisation were harmonious and smooth running and everything worked well and our friends and family had the most delightful day. The vibe at The Surprise is right. The Team have got it right. We will be back for my next Birthday 2025 at The Surprise for another wonderful celebration of delicious food and wines and Birthday cake as we ALWAYS choose the Surprise Pub way and above anywhere else for my Birthday AGM! It is a gem and superb. Thank you everybody for making the day so special and happy. 10 stars and counting. Roll on 2025 Birthday!.

Great atmosphere, great space and fabulous food.... especially the Sunday roast.

No Persian Flaw! Persian weavers, so the story goes, were required to intentionally include a minor flaw in their work, as human perfection could be considered an affront against God. The Surprise, a superb pub in Chelsea, based on my experience today, would fail this test, as it is utterly and completely flawless. There is literally nothing to improve. Every dish was pitch perfect: soup, dip, spread, beer- battered fish and chips, and pudding. The decor iand setting are welcoming. The waitstaff seemed only concerned with ensuring that we had the best experience possible. Without question, the best pub experience I've ever had.

Very tasty food with very nice service. I highly recommend it 👌

Don’t take cash, no good, no right, unfair and unjust

Best pub in Chelsea, mainly attended by people living in the area 🍻

The tuna was cooked to perfection, I’d suggest to bring it with with olive oil on a the side.

Food was amazing, wine was great, staff were super kind! Beef Filet was perfectly cooked.

Modern pub, excellent service and even better food. Cosy area without many cars. They have fresh beer from the cask.

Let’s start with the positives. The pub is tucked away from the main road and the decor and atmosphere is really lovely. The staff were decent, even though I never received a reply to an email I’d sent them, and they tried to move us from our table well over 45 minutes before the time they had confirmed we had it booked until. We were looking forward to the Sunday roast - the food looks nice but has absolutely no depth of flavour at all. I thought it was just mine but my friends felt the same, and this carried on with the desserts too. Don’t get me wrong - it’s not terrible at all, but it was one of the blandest meals I’ve had in a long time. Would I go back? For a drink, yes. For food, absolutely not.

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.

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.

Nice pub, the crowd is a bit posh (as expected)

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.

Left disappointed and frustrated. Popped in for Sunday lunch without booking. Grabbed a table as the atmosphere felt really nice along with good reviews. We ordered roast lamb, and both were inedible, they were clearly inedible and shouldn’t have been served! We raised it with the manager who apologised, gave us a roast chicken to share (which is just odd why would you only replace one of the meals abd leave me with disgusting lamb to filter through) and then a round of drinks. It should have just been resolved more effectively, roast lambs removed as they were really off putting and each of us to have roast chicken meals to replace the lamb to share! Would I pop back, in truth yes for a drink as the front is a nice sun trap but not for food.

Quite possibly the best fish and chips I’ve ever had in a pub! A lovely little hidden gem in Chelsea. The staff were lovely and the food excellent.

The service has declined a bit… bar staff purposefully looked through me pretending I wasn’t there… manager was great asking about feedback on the Yorkshire puddings… but over all service has declined… I’d go back but I wouldn’t rush

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.

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...

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

Consistently excellent, great food service and atmosphere.