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location:
address:
107 Upper Shirley Road, CR0 5HF
phone:
020 8656 6820
nearest station:
Coombe Lane 
(970m)
bus route:
466 
how to find it:
15 minutes on the 466 bus from East Croydon
click for directions to The Surprise from wherever you areclick here for a larger map
The most surprising thing about this pub is the name and logo - what think you, a naval vessel of some sort? Nay, 'tis a butterfly, avast! FAP is indebted to the London footprints web site for revealing that the title of this hostelry actually commemorates the rare Camberwell Beauty butterfly. Hang on, though, does that really explain why it's a surprise? Anyway if you venture inside, you'll find a low-beamed traditional pub, albeit with a large restaurant/function room, strung with tankards and serving IPA, Wadworth 6X and the like. Most apposite description from the by now slightly befuddled party was 'Jugged up in the kiln sense of the word'. There were no TVs, but bizarrely inappropriate Europop (think Vengaboys) was a consistent irritation.
30/01/2006
pub features:(click on an icon to see an explanation)
real ales
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