WHY I LOVE TOOTING
WHY I LOVE TOOTING
Rudolph Diesel is the head of London interior design company Rudolph Diesel Interiors. In this article, he describes areas of London and the Home Counties that have earned a special place in his heart.
Love to look at
Tooting Bec Lido is one of the oldest and largest open-air swimming pools in the UK, dating back to 1906 and enjoying a Grade II listing. This Art Deco facility has been extensively improved since opening as a bathing lake, with a pavilion, café, showers, a sunbathing area and colourful changing cubicles added over the years. The lido is set to reopen in late 2024 after the latest set of improvement works is completed. Tooting Bec Common is another area highlight. The focal point is a beautiful lake – grab a coffee from the on-site café and take a stroll. If you’re feeling active, you can book one of the Common’s tennis courts. Luxurious interiors and bingo are not common bedfellows but it’s quite a different story in Tooting. The current Buzz Bingo is actually the former Granada cinema and music hall. The ornate interior was created by Russian stage set designer, Theodore Komisarjevsky, and earned the building Grade I listed status. The lavish design remains intact but if bingo isn’t your thing, the venue is sometimes included in the Open House Weekend initiative.
Love to shop
Cycle Culture ticks so many boxes but I’ve included this venue in the shopping section. It’s an indoor cycle studio and a coffee shop with a cool Scandi luxury interior design but its holistic approach to living means the owners have also added an in-house plant shop. Drop in and buy your next dragon plant! Tooting has not one but two indoor markets and they have allowed weird, wonderful and less mainstream businesses to thrive. Find specialist record stalls, an art gallery, haberdashery stockists and a myriad of pop-up street food stalls at Broadway Market and Tooting Market.
Love to eat
The interior designer has done a fantastic job at The Little Taperia on Tooting High Street, replicating the feel of an authentic Spanish tapas bar. Expect to eat delicious small dishes sitting on stools at a long bar. Daddy Bao is another great Tooting spot for light bites and unusual cocktails. The prized seats are set around the bespoke golden bar – don’t be surprised if you’re sitting next to an interior designer who’s eyeing up the pretty lanterns with a Japanese Slipper in hand. At the other end of the spectrum is the beautiful simplicity of Rick’s Dining Room – owned and run by Rick Gibbs, former Head Chef at the Chelsea Arts Club. Head here for modern European cuisine and the best fish dishes in town.