Surprise, London SW3

About us

Five minutes from the Royal Hospital, home of the Chelsea Flower Show, three minutes from the National Army Museum and the Chelsea Physic Garden, Christchurch St seems a million miles from the Kings Road but is only a three minute stroll.

Facilities

FoodReal aleLive musicQuiz nights

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Reviews

607 reviews

4.4/5

Phene Wardlaw

3 months ago

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.

Ammar Ali

5 months ago

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.

Roger Elkins

7 months ago

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.

London Pub Map

9 months ago

🚇 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

scott green

1 year ago

Deceptive place this one, Nestled in the back whacks of Chelsea a 2 minute stroll from the kings road,What looks like just a local pub is actually much more than that, beautifully decorated with a great mixture of eclectic art, we sat upstairs in the lovely cosy dining room with about 35 covers, A great Selection on the Sunday Menu, Honey Mustard Sausage’s with mustard Mayo Excellent 👌🏽Then a choice of roast, I went for the beef perfectly cooked finished of with Sticky Toffee Pudding, As good as it gets ⭐️ A very extensive wine list and reasonably priced. Around £50 a head with a glass of wine, not pub prices but way above pub grub quality with superb service, would definitely recommend.