From Staines to Surbiton

Saturday, October 24th , 2026

The Swan at Staines is a pleasant pub inside a hotel, with a particularly pretty riverside location and plenty of outside seating. We went there on one of the last warm days of the early autumn and had a very pleasant meal there. An Eton mess dessert was a highlight; this could have been served at a much grander restaurant. 

Koyal, with its rather out of the way location in Surbiton, does not get the same level of media attention as flashier Indian restaurants in centra London. However, the talented Nand Kishor (former head chef of Gymkhana) cooks food of a higher standard than just about any of the Michelin starred Indian restaurants in central London. At this latest visit, wild boar vindaloo was a delight, as were the tandoori dishes. Even seemingly simple snacks like a clever take on an onion bhajia, or a spinach and mushroom side dish, are quite remarkable in their depth of flavour. I encourage you to make the excursion to Surbiton if you can.