Photo: CAMRA / WhatPub
The Corner Pin: Darts in Tooting, London
The Corner Pin is a proper old-school local on Summerstown, right next to AFC Wimbledon's Cherry Red Records Stadium, and it is the last pub standing on a stretch that once had four. This is a drinks-led boozer, not a bookable darts bar, so the appeal is simple: a free dart board, a pool table at the far end, a pint of Young's London Original, and no fuss. If you want oches with electronic scoring and timed slots, look elsewhere. If you want to chalk up on a pub board, watch the match on the sports TV and stay for Friday karaoke, this is your spot. It suits locals, AFC Wimbledon fans on a matchday, and small groups after a low-key night. Just walk in.
The darts setup
This is pub darts, plain and traditional, not a venue built around the game. The Corner Pin lists darts and pool among its activities, with the pool table sitting at the far end of the long single bar. Expect a standard wall-mounted board rather than booth-style oches or automatic scoring, and bring your own arrows if you are particular. The published listings do not state how many boards there are, so treat it as a casual one-board local. There is no charge to play and nothing to book, which is the whole point of a board like this. Quieter weekday evenings are your best bet for a clear run at it.
Good to know
The Corner Pin is a brick-built pub with one long, beamed and carpeted bar, and it has been pouring for over 100 years. It is drinks-led, so come for the beer and the games rather than a kitchen. Young's London Original is the regular cask, with a Wimbledon brew appearing on AFC Wimbledon home weekends given the stadium next door. There are sports TVs for the football, karaoke on Fridays, a disco on Saturdays and occasional live music on Sundays from the small stage. It opens late: until midnight Monday to Thursday, 1am Friday and Saturday, and midnight on Sunday.
Getting there
The pub sits on Summerstown in the SW17 0AY pocket between Tooting, Earlsfield and Wimbledon Park, hard up against the Cherry Red Records Stadium. The nearest station is Haydons Road on the Thameslink line, about a 10 to 12 minute walk away. Wimbledon Park on the District line is a slightly longer walk to the south. Earlsfield and Tooting Broadway are both within reach for buses and Northern line connections. On AFC Wimbledon matchdays the area gets busy with fans, so it is liveliest then and quieter on a normal weekday.
Common questions
- What is The Corner Pin in Tooting?
- It is a traditional drinks-led local pub on Summerstown, next to AFC Wimbledon's Cherry Red Records Stadium. It has been open for over 100 years and offers a dart board, a pool table, sports TV, karaoke and the occasional live act.
- Is darts free at The Corner Pin?
- Yes. The Corner Pin is a traditional pub with a free-to-play board, so you can walk in and play darts or pool at no charge. There are no timed sessions or booking fees.
- Do you need to book to play darts at The Corner Pin?
- No. This is a normal pub board, not a bookable oche, so you just walk in and play. There is no reservation system or session slot.
- Does The Corner Pin have darts and pool?
- Yes. Listings for the pub confirm both darts and a pool table, with the pool table at the far end of the single bar. The number of dart boards is not published, so treat it as a casual one-board local.
- What are The Corner Pin's opening hours?
- It opens 11:00 to midnight Monday to Thursday, 11:00 to 1am Friday and Saturday, and 12:00 noon to midnight on Sunday, according to its CAMRA WhatPub listing.
- What is the nearest station to The Corner Pin?
- Haydons Road station on the Thameslink line is closest, around a 10 to 12 minute walk. Wimbledon Park on the District line is a slightly longer walk to the south.
Other darts bars nearby
- Prince of Wales (Tooting / Garratt Lane) Tooting
- Little House Tooting
- Slaters City of London / Smithfield
- South Wimbledon Club Wimbledon
- Gravity (Wandsworth & Stratford) Wandsworth
- South London Irish Centre Wimbledon