Tooting is the new Shoreditch. Lonely Planet even declared Tooting “one of the coolest neighbours to visit right now” in August 2017, though Lonely Planet are arrivistes in noticing this; Soho House’s Nick Jones opened a branch of his trendy Chicken Shop in Tooting in 2013, and more than a score of other cutting-edge bars and eateries have opened in the suburb in the last five years.
Tooting’s rise as a destination for a night out hasn’t escaped the attention of hotel groups either, in particular the London Hotel Group (LHG), which has submitted a planning application for a 221-room “apart-hotel” on Tooting High Street (opposite the excellent Chadwick’s organic butcher’s shop, for those fashionable enough to be already acquainted with SW17).
Christian Desira, the director of LHG, said “Tooting is a lively and growing area, attracting residents and tourists alike. Our new apart-hotel development responds to the needs of the local community by creating a purpose-built community hub, as well as meeting a currently unfulfilled need for hotel accommodation for leisure visitors, in and around the Tooting area.”
The attractions of Tooting have been attracting millennials in their droves. It’s the most affordable part of a desirable London borough (Wandsworth); it has good connections to central London via the Northern Line; it has a lively multicultural feel; there are now scores of affordable and good bars to choose from.
First-time buyers and have been flocking to the area for more than a decade, and this new apart-hotel is the next logical step as young professionals who might only need a short-term let look to explore the area.