Is there anywhere quite as festive as London at Christmas? We think not, and cosy, traditional-yet-stylish pubs like The Surprise, lead the charge on where to celebrate, whether it be with your friends, family or colleagues.
If you're not already familiar with The Surprise, while the freehouse has stood since the mid-1800s, in 2021 Jack Greenall, of the Greenall Whitley brewing dynasty, re-freshed, re-designed and re-opened the place, sporting a new menu of seasonal British dishes and a snazzy make-over thanks to designer Isabella Worsley.
Sitting just behind the Kings Road on a beautiful residential street, The Surprise is quintessentially charming and thanks to its new look, boasts special touches like naval-inspired artworks and hand-painted murals. On the ground floor, you'll find rustic, leather-upholstered stools and a classic, wooden bar rubbing up next to rose-tinted walls and linen cafe curtains. While, upstairs is the private dining space, The Hamilton Room, with capacity for 35 people seated for a lunch or dinner, or 50 people for canapes and drinks. The Hamilton Room has welcoming, cosy feel but still makes a design splash, with patterned wallpaper and bright wall panelling.
The team at The Surprise are just as excited about Christmas as you are and have already released the 2024 menu. Across the three courses you can expect starters like baked goat's cheese tartlet with red onion, balsamic glaze, mixed leaf and walnut salad, as well as cured chalk stream trout with clementine, buckwheat, trout roe, coriander and herb crostini.
Mains sound delicious, with options like roast Creedy Carver turkey crown served with all the trimmings like pigs in blankets, chestnuts, cranberries, Brussels sprouts, roast carrots, rosemary roast new potatoes and thyme jus. For something less traditional, there's baked fillet of cod with potato and leek fondue, brown shrimps and dashi velouté. And, to top it off, Christmas pudding with brandy butter and cranberries, or sticky toffee pudding with salted caramel ice cream.