Branding a town

Our first step was to speak to the people who know the town best: local businesses, retailers and residents. We wanted to know how they see Dorking in the present and in the future. It became apparent that there were three recurring themes; heritage, culture and spirit.

The town is blessed with a rich and hugely interesting heritage. Appearing in the Domesday Book of 1086, its streets are packed with buildings with fascinating stories to tell. From St Martin’s Church spire (the second largest in the UK) to the White Horse, where Charles Dickens is said to have written Pickwick Papers.

But there is much more to Dorking than its past. There is a thriving arts and cultural scene, centred around its art-deco theatre; an array of restaurants, pubs, independent shops and artisan businesses and its enviable position in the heart of the Surrey Hills. Overlooked by Ranmore and Box Hill, the town even boasts the UK’s largest vineyard.

But what makes Dorking unique is its spirit. Whether it’s the warm, friendly welcome you’ll receive, the feeling of the outdoors, or the creative, independent personality of many of the town’s retailers: there is a spirit and vibrancy in the town that demands to be discovered.