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Spirit Bar Cafe, Tooting

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user reviews of the Spirit Bar Cafe, Tooting

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

Why don't the stupid BITE team mark this as closed? It's not like it's going to take a whole hour of their time, more like a whole minute.
Groovehound - 28 Jul 2008 23:28
Signs on the door saying something about the premesis being re-entered. Met one of the barmaids who used to work there when i was in the Tram. She said it didn't make enough money. How can this be true!it was always busy!! Hope it opens up. I used to go in here for a smoothy in the morning and miss it when i needed good food or a nice sunday place to relax, have a beer and read my book. Bring it back
noggintnog - 20 Apr 2008 13:07
i cant believe this place has closed down - why ?

it always seems busy and had the right ingredients for a good local bar - there arent any other 'bars' in tooting

shame !
quirky45 - 16 Apr 2008 11:59
Oh and it will be another bar/eatery but with different foods not already around in Tooting and much more funky interior and selction of drinks.
EJS - 1 Apr 2008 14:54
Lets just say I (Cheekages' alter ego!)know who has bought it and really its' only competition is the Tram. It will be fab believe me. And re the old clientele...please! I have seen deals done in the loos, round the back and on the street and some of them are notorious as they are now trying it in other bars now it has closed. Also the old trouble makers will be weeded out. Agree The Tram is very cool now so this is gonna try hard to rival it! WhooP!

Seriously, its gonna be great!
EJS - 1 Apr 2008 14:53
You could try the local park bench.
tipsy_nion - 29 Mar 2008 23:17
i worked for john in 2001 and i am desperately trying to track him down cause i am returning to the uk and i would love to catch up with him. does anyone know how i can get hold of him???????? ralph
yllier - 29 Mar 2008 20:04
Cheekage - "re opening soon, something much better" So whats going to replace this now defunct s***hole

Too small for any thing decent, IMHO

Bring back the Tooting Tavern.


tipsy_nion - 27 Mar 2008 23:14
Cheekage that's one helluva thing to say about the previous customers of Spirit bar. Why so coy about the future of the Spirit Bar?
Upferret - 25 Mar 2008 16:48
Closed for good due to going bankrupt - thank god! NOw the drug dealers have to go some place else.

Will be re opening soon tho as something much better...watch this space
Cheekage - 17 Mar 2008 15:03
GET A GRIP - REOPEN!!!!!! We loved it!
Adam1974 - 7 Mar 2008 01:04
Sadly it closed down in the v.early part of January. A sad loss for Tooting.
Upferret - 30 Jan 2008 11:01
the bar staff were polite, helpful,and in some cases, very entertaining! the prices seem quite fair compared to other pubs/bars in the area. the other customers were friendly and funloving. the more popular football games are really something to behold in there, especially the england games. all in all we highly recommend spirit bar. find out for yourself.......!!
flurrob - 24 Nov 2007 20:22
No fear he's left the Trafalgar now and disappeared off out of London apparently. More importantly the Spirit bar is going from strength to strength - love the new decor it's really nice. Still a great crowd in Spirit always a good night out - Thanks
anonymous - 14 Aug 2007 09:38
Brave man is all i can say
southernbound - 17 May 2007 08:50
He is indeed on his way to the Trafalgar
anonymous - 3 May 2007 15:48
is it true the manager from here will be leaving next week to start in the trav ?????????????????
jasonmac - 2 May 2007 19:55
Great place, always a great atmosphere. Very friendly efficient staff. The outside tables are the traditional pub tables now. Great venue for catching sport on the tv and having a good laugh with the locals.
anitas - 23 Apr 2007 13:22
This used to be a nice venue for a few drinks with friends with a good for value food menu. But no more. I went in the other night to find the menu changed and the prices increased. You can't even order a burger without having to pay extra for the chips! This bar is neither posh enough nor funky enough to host the prices they have raised it to. Please put it under new management and get rid of those tacky outdoor tin tables and chairs and the falling apart old school chairs! Maybe they could use the extra cash earned from the high priced menu to pay for a much needed redecoration!!!
sueljones - 24 Nov 2006 18:08
Solid, Continental-style bar/brassiere. Only nitro-keg beers (and the nitro-keg bitters they had � John Smith�s and Flowers � are usually not worth bothering with they are so vile) so went for this Becks Vier stuff, which was surprisingly bearable for fizzy lager. The menu looked interesting, and reasonably priced, and the place is a bit more spacious than the Hoochi Mamas a few doors up.

Not the sort of place I would tend to go regularly although it is alright to pop in as it is nicer than most of the establishments around Tooting Broadway and you don�t fancy going down as far as The Trafalgar.
AleKing - 16 Oct 2006 12:35
This is actually one of Tootings finest hangouts, as local drinker I do look forward to my trips there. The staff do try their best, and the place has a small local feel. Last night I had a couple of cracking pints of Flowers Best Bitter. The only downside is it's gets hot without the doors open and it's VERY smokey - apart from that it's great.
Flawed - 1 Sep 2006 13:09
Good and bad. There's a cosy back room with nice wooden tables and big screens that are great for watching sport, especially on a Sunday. Really nice cocktails and good food at decent enough prices. But the drinks are too pricey, the house white sucks and half of the bar staff are far too far up their own backsides, as are half the clientele. The pumping house music that's too loud for anyone to talk over is too much for a place that's too small for dancing. Really great for food during the day but souless after 8pm.
Gloria - 18 Aug 2006 13:51
I've rated Spirit a 5 purely on the basis of the value for money for the food. They won't win awards but they do make good satisfyingly cheap food! The service is about as average as Hoochimamas up the road which is a shame. If they made the extra effort (and had barmaids who knew a) how to hold a corkscrew and b) when the kitchens REALLY is closed) it would be a fine etablishment. Given that all they need to do is raise their game a little and they could be stars I'd recommend people to go, as it may be just me and the few times I've been.
SilverBullet - 16 Aug 2006 17:50
Excellent and friendly little bar just off the broadway. You can easily spend a night in here and next door (hoochie) and not feel guilty about not going into town.
Nice continental lagers and nice people, and if you dont fancy booze the tea and coffee aint bad either.
propertyking - 26 Apr 2006 16:12
Wish people would realise - Tooting isn't Hoxton and sitting outside breathing in the smog on Tooting High Street isn't pleasant or cool......... Disappointed with the cocktails, and think both the customers and staff have an attitude
anonymous - 31 Mar 2006 18:57
Does John still own this place?
JohnWallace - 20 Feb 2006 00:28
I have only been here at the weekends but have been impressed. It is a cosy 2 room bar which shows sport on plasma screens, serves a range of tap beers (Artois Bock, Hoegaarden, etc.) and also does decent food. I have not been disappointed. The 'bife ana' (steak sandwich in ciabatta) is my favourite and makes for a very filling lunch. The roast is great value at �5.95 and better than others served locally that cost 8 or 9 quid. The service is also excellent. Staff bring drinks to your table and enquire if you are ok. Recommended.
djburns - 18 Feb 2006 12:41
When I first moved to Tooting 8 months ago, i had a meal at hoochi mamas, very dissapointing. so tried spirit bar, had a good time, the food was good, the barman was very friendly, so decided to go back, what a mistake, had an extremely rude girl serve us(or not) the sunday roast was appalling, as if it had been scrapped out the bin, but then again that would of looked and tatsed better, the waitress made out as if it was our fault the food was bad. A dogs dinneer would be better. there is no way I will recommend this place to anyone of my mates. To the management/owner sort it out. 0/10
anonymous - 14 Feb 2006 19:17
This place is, without doubt, the best drinking hole near Tooting Broadway tube. Pro's: friendly staff, promotions, big open spaces, football/sports, outside seating, 400yrds to Broadway tube. Cons: beer is a bit pricey for tooting. Overall 8/10, worth a visit for a couple of pints.
Dr.T - 9 Dec 2005 12:52
Probably about the best place to drink at the Broadway end of Tooting. Friendly staff and a good spot to watch the football.
primalpete - 1 Nov 2005 14:03
Just returned to the area again and got a great surprise when I re-visited Spirit. Music is still really good and food has improved from the stuff they used to do. I tried their home made Thai Chicken burger on one night and the Sunday Roast with friends last week. It rocks! Good value and great quality for Tooting. Staff seemed really friendly and made me feel like I'd been a regular for years!! Decor has improved but needs updating although it has a good relaxed feel about it. Will definitely be visiting here more often. My only wish is that they make it non smoking.
anonymous - 22 Sep 2005 22:09
Even though this place is tiny, it's a real gem. Friendly staff and good beers and spirits on offer, plus plenty of seating. Not much standing room, and can get very hot & smokey at night. Plenty of room to chill out back, and good views of plasma screens for the sport.
My only complaint is that they'd turn the ruddy music down in the back room so you don't have to shout to communicate.
Flawed - 20 Sep 2005 14:51
a fantastic bar with very friendly bar staff. probably the best place you will get in tooting for drinking. grub is fab and really good pricing on drinks and meals make it perfect for everyone. kids are welcome too. very very trendy and the plasma screens make watching the footie great. keep up the good work spirit!
LouisBT - 22 Jan 2005 23:26
A nice bar if you want to watch sport. The plasma screens are distracting and spoil a nice atmosphere in the evenings. Friendly bar staff, and the service is rapid even when it's busy. Very smokey though.... They keep changing the look of the bar and consequently the place always looks like it's unfinished. The ceiling's still unpainted a year later.... Good for a New Year's bash (tickets only), but don't expect an announcement at midnight....
If you're after a quiet drink away from footie, suggest Hoochimama's a few doors down - good tunes and sport-free!
adam74 - 20 Nov 2004 11:10
They have definately improved the ventilation since going last time. Great food,vibe and Star!!!
Dj's have started again on fri/Sat. Only place in tooting.
John - 14 Oct 2004 18:43
About as good as it gets in Tooting! Quite small but friendly, quite relaxed and a young clientele. If you're drinking in Tooting, then drink in The Spirit Bar
James S - 12 Aug 2004 10:50
Great atmosphere even if it is small. I used to go here often in 99' and it appears that they still dont have a late licence - they need it !
Aaron - 13 May 2004 04:21
Good bar with a good range of drinks. The two large plasma screens are excellent if you're there to watch a sporting event but distracting if you're there to chat with friends.
Daniel - 30 Apr 2004 17:09
I'd also agree with the other comment.The only place currently worth going into Tooting Broadway for.Very trendy.Good choice of Belgian beers.Leff and Hoegarden on draft.The only down side is not very good ventilation, so it gets very smokey.
Ben Bishop - 13 Nov 2003 16:24
Good pub to make friends in.
Two large Plasma TV's (plus various others) make sure you never miss a football / rugby match.
Great Food & Good Beer - get there early for a good table.
Steve - 6 Oct 2003 17:11
relaxed and friendly, good selection of beers, spirits, wine, etc. foot excellent. only place currently worth going to in tooting broadway.
jeffrey bernard - 19 Sep 2003 15:29
I had my birthday party here. It was good! Wish it had a late licence though!
Buns - 29 Aug 2003 16:07
Lively, trendy bar/ cafe excellent, cocktails, music and food (buy one get one free Monday nights). One of only 3 cine-bars in London. (Also monday nights)
Phil Tristram - [email protected] - 24 May 2002 14:28

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