The London pub will now be independently run by hotelier and restauranteur Jack Greenall, having previously been part of the Youngs Group.
Following a complete refurbishment, the pub will reopen on 17 May pending the lifting of lockdown restrictions on indoor hospitality.
Pedro Costa, formerly head chef of Rabbit in Chelsea, will oversee the kitchen at The Surprise; while Andres Cabrera, previously of The Harwood Arms, will serve as general manager.
The pub will feature a 'characterful' bar and 28-cover restaurant area, as well as a private dining room.
Greenall, who also owns The Pheasant Inn in Berkshire, hopes that the pub will build a reputation for 'exceptional seasonal dishes, world class wines and spirits'.
"I hope that The Surprise will play its tiny part in revitalising London hospitality post-Covid," he says.
"It’s vital that we get our vibrant pubs, restaurant, bars and hotels open and back at the centre of our lives. They play such an important role in society- from simply unwinding, first dates, celebrations, proposals and more.”
The Surprise was built in the 1800s and named after a Napoleonic warship captured and used by the British to sneak up on and capture unsuspecting French ships.
