Time Gentlemen, Please - David Langford and Jim Docking

The Story of Dorking Pubs

Today, Dorking contains 18 public houses. By contrast in 1892, it boasted 46 with one pub for every 238 residents, including children, women and men who didn't drink. This book recounts the history of these pubs using a wide range of sources, including a great deal of previously unpublished material. We cover not only the history of the buildings, but tales about the landlords, the clientele and their behaviour, visits by distinguished guests, the impact of stagecoaches and railways, the efforts of some pubs to fight for their very existence and the background of the town's breweries. 

In reading this book, you will learn not only a great deal about the drinking establishments but also much about the town's history and social life.