Yahoo News Historic London pub reopens overlooking common perfect for a weekend Spring walk
A pub dating back to the 1800s has reopened after a four-week refurbishment. The Hope in Upper Tooting, which overlooks Wandsworth Common on Bellevue Road, now sports a vibrant blue façade, as well as new heated giant parasols outside, for comfort in the colder spring days.
The outside has also expanded into a garden room with a retractable roof and heating which can be used for parties in cold and warm weather. The pub also serves people strolling down the common, and it has added a newly upgraded bar and barbecue area for those working from home in the garden or those popping in from the green.
The pub has always been a hit with the locals, many Google reviews shouting out various members of staff, from General Manager John France, to front of house staff Larry and Connor being thanked many-a-time for looking after the patrons.
One customer complimented the pub on having “staff on top of everything, service quick, no dramas”. Others were very happy with the place being dog-friendly and making their dog feel like a “posh pooch” or having a great vegetarian range, even from the eyes of a self-declared “carnivore.”
For those looking to host important days at The Hope, the pub now has a snug area which can be booked for private parties of up to 35, and private dining of up to 25 people, with curtains for privacy. The pub has been complimented by some patrons for its accessibility. It now has had an accessible lift and portable ramp to make it easier for those that need the support to get to the bar level and inside the building respectively.
A local hub, The Hope prides itself in its service to the community, there for regulars to bring their children, visitors to pop in for a pint, dogs to bring their owners, romantic dinners and the following engagements, or special birthday parties. The refurbishment also led to new jobs for the local area.
What to expect on the new menu
The new food menu includes many pub classics such as a steak accompanied by a pale ale pie, or haddock and chips, as well as more modern meals such as the avocado and mango salad or the seafood linguine. Alongside the beers on tap and the wide selection of wines, The Hope now serves cocktails too, ranging from a classic Espresso Martini to one of the signature Pineapple Mezcalitas.
Reflecting on the changes, general manager Mr France said: “The refurbishment has brought a whole new feel to the pub. It reflects the modern requirement of our guests and local community of Wandsworth Common, we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back old and new.”
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