The Gorringe Park, Tooting

The Gorringe used to be a bit rough a few years back, but the landlord that took it over a couple of years ago has done wonders with it. This is still a traditional wood-panelled 'local', which is great, but now it is also clean, well-run, and surprisingly friendly and welcoming.

We've lived in walking distance of this pub for many years, and it once was somewhere to avoid. My wife and I noticed a bit of a change so we thought we'd give it a try as somewhere to have a quick glass on the way home after work. I think it only took a couple of visits before we were being included in conversations with people, and we're still amazed at how quickly we've been accepted and welcomed by this highly diverse crowd. It sounds corny, but this really is a place with that Cheers factor: "where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came".

It is very hard for a pub to shake off a bad reputation, but in the Gorringe's case that rep is definitely ancient history. Give it a try, a real one, and be prepared to have a chat with people on both sides of the bar. You'll be very pleasantly surprised.

1 Oct 2009 12:05