Pub spy: The Surrey Pub, Grey Lynn

You'll get great service at The Surrey. Photo / Doug Sherring

Address: 465 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn
Ph: (09) 378 9059
Website: thesurreyhotel.co.nz
Open: Seven days 11am-late.

Well, I have to say that I've been in odder pubs, but not many.

To get into the Surrey, you walk along a gangway as if you're boarding a cruiser and when you get inside you are confronted with what looks like a deserted streetscape.

Walking in, we were the only people in the place apart from the bartender, who looked a bit shocked to see three brawny beefcake blokes swagger in on a Sunday afternoon.

And fair enough, it's the bar of the Surrey Hotel, so it's always more likely to be busy during the week.

What we found, though, we liked, very much indeed. The interior of the bar resembles a classic English pub, except for the fact that it contains the outer facades of Tudor-style houses.

So, in effect, you're sitting in a hotel bar looking up at the outside of old buildings.

It's the first time I've sat in a chair at a table on a carpeted floor and still thought I was outdoors.

Don't let this put you off, though. It might be odd, but that doesn't mean it's bad; far from it, actually.

The service was excellent.

Once she had recovered from her shock, our bartender couldn't do enough for us, even offering table service and the opportunity to change the channel on the telly.

The menu looked lovely and what we ate was more than adequate, although it needs to offer more than two uninspiring beers on tap.

The wines were similarly "meh", but everything else was fine. I think I'll head back soon for a Sunday roast, if only for the reason that we'll have the place to ourselves for a few hours on a lazy Sunday arvo.

Scores

Service: 4/5
Drink: 3/5
Food: 3.5/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Overall: 3.5/5