Tooting Newsie Weekly Newsletter
Country on the Common line-up announced, Easter services, changes to Wandsworth recycling, food & drink offers, new openings and more...Happy Easter, Tooting!
Our weekly newsletter is sponsored by Tooting’s family-run Lahore Karahi – a local institution since 1995! – who are currently offering 20% OFF all collection orders when you order direct via their website at lahorekarahi.co.uk. Ts & Cs apply.
Country on the Common returns to Tooting in 2026 with the line-up now announced – and there are some big names coming to Tooting Common! 🤠🎶
Saturday will see Seasick Steve headlining, bringing his foot stompin’ Mississippi blues to the stage. He’ll be joined by Kezia Gill, Twinnie, and the crowd-favourite One Night in Nashville, plus plenty more incredible artists throughout the day.
On Sunday, don’t miss Nashville’s own Cody Pennington headlining, alongside powerhouse vocalist Elles Bailey. The day will also feature very special guest Vernon Kay presenting his Country Jukebox DJ set for the very first time, making for the perfect close to an incredible weekend of live country music.
Head to Tooting Common on 4th and 5th of July for two unforgettable summer days filled with live music, line-dancing, axe-throwing, delicious Americana-inspired street food, craft beer, whiskey & cocktails, kids activities and plenty more.
🎟 Tickets on sale now – see countryonthecommon.com to book!
Meet the traders at the fantastic Furzedown Farmers Market, which returns THIS SATURDAY 4th April, 9.30am–1.30pm, with a special Easter edition!
The popular monthly market take places at Penwortham Primary School, and will feature a brilliant mix of local food, produce, plants, crafts, gifts, and children’s items - all your favourite traders, and a few new ones too – including one selling chocolate-topped strawberries!
The much-loved, diverse market is a fantastic place to enjoy a Saturday morning / lunchtime. Grab a coffee, something delicious for brunch / lunch, pick up fresh bits for the home, and enjoy browsing and shopping!
Dogs are very welcome – and there’ll be live music & vibes throughout from South London Vinyl!
As well as this Saturday, the Market takes place on the first Saturday of every month, with the next date being Saturday 2nd May.
Furzedown Farmers’ Market is located at Penwortham School, Penwortham Road, SW16 6RJ – just down the road from Tooting!
There are Good Friday and Easter church services all around Tooting this weekend, including (see links or contact churches directly for more info):
St Nicholas Church on Church Lane.
All Saints Church on Brudenell Road.
Holy Trinity Church on Trinity Road.
New Testament Assembly on Beechcroft Road.
St Augustine’s Church in Broadwater Road.
St Boniface RC Church on Mitcham Road.
After 21 years at the helm, Magda and her team are leaving the White Eagle Club on Balham High Road. The lease has come to an end and their last day of trading was Saturday, 28th March – the club has now closed and the future of the venue is currently unknown.
The much-loved club opened in 1969 and has been a cornerstone of the community for 57 years – not only as a social hub for the local Polish community and countless social occasions for local residents, but in recent years playing an enormous part in the local humanitarian relief effort for Ukrainian refugees in London and for people in Ukraine affected by the war.
Magda tells us, “I would like to say a huge THANK YOU to all our customers during my time at the club – people who enjoyed socialising, eating and drinking at the Club, who held and attended events, and all the local community groups and charities who made the venue their home.
“I’d also like to thank the hundreds of volunteers who contributed to the White Eagle’s support for those affected by the war in Ukraine. They have all made a significant difference to people’s lives, which has been recognised through receiving a BBC ‘Make a Difference’ Award in the ‘Together’ category.”
Some of the White Eagle’s most popular events will be moving to the new House of ORA venue in Tooting Broadway (where Tooting Tram & Social was previously located). The new arts & music cultural hub venue (with restaurant & spaces available for private hire), will open in mid-April at 46-48 Mitcham Road, Tooting, SW17 9NA.
We’d like to wish Magda and the team the very best for the future.
We’re sad to share the news that Clarkes Florist at 72 Moyser Road in Furzedown will permanently close at the end of May.
The Clarkes family have been trading there for over 50 years, with Wendy (pictured) having run the business for the last 30 years. The family also ran the greengrocers which used to trade at number 70.
Wendy tells us, “A significant rent increase means that we can no longer afford to rent the property.”
Wendy has plans to start a mobile pop-up florists later this year, and has launched a Crowdfunder to help fund the new business. You can find out more HERE.
There will also be a farewell party with Wendy in April, for neighbours and customers to mark the closure of this much loved local shop – Wendy will confirm the date in due course.
📍 72 Moyser Rd, SW16 6SQ
A reminder that changes to household waste collections in Tooting and Wandsworth have changed from 31 March 2026, with the following materials added to the range of items that can be recycled:
♻️ Aluminium foil and food trays (clean and free from food)
♻️ Empty squeezy metal tubes - such as tomato puree packaging
♻️ Empty squeezy plastic tubes - such as toothpaste packaging
♻️ Empty aerosol cans
Full info via Wandsworth Council.
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
Tooting-based property advisor Homes with Chuk re-introduces himself to the local community!
“👋🏾Hi, I’m Chuk, a personal property advisor covering Tooting, Balham and Streatham – areas I know really well, as I was born and bred in Tooting (and still live here)!
Over the years (14 of which were on the high street) I’ve helped literally hundreds of people buy and sell their homes — and I do things a little differently, working with just a few homes at any one time, so my clients get my full attention.
I of course couldn’t do it without a few brilliant people who help me achieve great results – visit my Instagram post to meet them!
Need some property advice? Email Chuk at hello@homeswithchuk.co.uk, call 07940 546 190, or pop into Tooting Works at 89 Bickersteth Road and ask for him at reception!
New sound bath & breathwork studio Humm London has opened just down the road from Tooting in Merton Abbey Mills, launched by local resident Jade – with free sessions available when you bring a friend (see below).
Jade, a mum of two, tells us, “I created this space to pause, rest, and reset, after years of feeling disconnected from my body through health anxiety, tension, and chronic headaches. Sound baths were the first thing that allowed me to properly slow down, to actually feel what was going on underneath it all, and from there, rebuild balance.
“This space is an extension of that. There’s no pressure or expectations, just come as you are, lie down, breathe, and let your body do what it needs to do.
“I run small, boutique sessions with tea before or after, and no rushing off. People often come alone but end up chatting and connecting. You walk in and immediately feel calm from the grounding colours and the sound of water trickling.”
Sessions run 4 days a week, and if you join the mailing list you can bring a friend for free. Info and booking via her website.
📍 Unit 1, The Long Shop, Merton Abbey Mills (3 mins walk from Colliers Wood tube), SW19 2RD
Dental implants are just one of the many treatments offered by local dentist, Ten Dental on Balham High Road.
Ten Dental co-founder, Nik Sisodia takes us through what they are and the many benefits that they provide – see our Instagram for the full video.
Ten Dental’s team of dental implant surgeons are experts in their field and have placed hundreds of implants with local residents.
To book in a free consultation or to find out more, visit tendental.com, WhatsApp 07907366397, call 020 8672 7766, email hello@tendental.com or pop in and see them at 156 Balham High Road.
Tooting’s First Touch, St George’s neonatal unit’s charity, has launched a very special book called Sian’s Big Swim!
Written and illustrated by Megan O’Hanlon, proud big sister to neonatal patient Sian, the book is a gentle, child-friendly story designed to help siblings understand their baby brother or sister’s journey in the neonatal unit.
Through Megan’s illustrations and storytelling, it encourages children to explore their feelings, ask questions and feel part of their family’s experience.
To mark the launch, every family with a baby on the neonatal unit was given a free copy.
The event also marked the opening of Louise’s Library, a tribute to Louise Williams, who served as First Touch Co-ordinator for 12 years and believed strongly in the power of books to help families connect and bond.
Learn more about the First Touch charity and their work via their website.
SPONSORED CONTENT
Popular Tooting Thai 🇹🇭 restaurant Kaosarn is open over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, including Good Friday and Easter Monday – plus, they have some fantastic new dishes on the menu (see below)!
You’ll find a diverse range of classic and modern Thai dishes (with lots of veggie and vegan options available) – from small plates, to street bites, to main meals for social dining!
And try their new dishes, such as:
🍴 Kao Soi-Chiangmai noodles, a famous Northern Thai yellow curry noodle soup, (chicken, beef or vegan options available), balancing sweet, savoury, and spicy flavours. The rich, aromatic curry broth is poured over soft egg noodles, topped with crispy fried noodles and served with a variety of condiments, including shallots, lemon, pickled mustard and chilli oil.
🍴Spicy Southern turmeric curry with tender pork ribs in chilli, black pepper, lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves, served in a crispy basket and topped with Thai style runny egg with steamed jasmine rice – punchy and delicious!
🍴Tender Beef Short Ribs with chilli jam, lemon grass, exotic Thai herbs and roasted peanuts – rich, melt-in-the-mouth beef, balanced with sweet heat and aromatic citrus. Sticky, spicy and very tasty!
You can also BYOB (bring your own booze) or order from the bar.
To book a table at Kao Sarn, call 0208 672 8811, email kaosarn@kaosarntooting.co.uk, or just walk in if there’s room!
📍181 Tooting High Street (a short walk from Tooting Broadway tube). More info via their website.
Open:
Good Friday and Saturday 12pm-3.30pm, 5.30pm-10pm
Sunday 12.00pm-3.30pm, 5.30pm-9.30pm
Easter Monday 1pm-9.30pm
To celebrate the Easter bank holiday, popular local Italian restaurant, La Doc have a VERY generous offer for Tooting Newsie followers, running throughout the bank holiday weekend in their venue on Balham High Road!
Dine with them on Good Friday, Easter Saturday. Easter Sunday or Easter Monday - either for lunch or dinner - post a photo on Instagram or Instagram Stories tagging them @ladoc.balham, email them your receipt and you’ll receive a gift card for the SAME VALUE as your TOTAL FOOD SPEND, which you can then use any Monday -Thursday (as well as Friday lunchtime & Saturday lunchtime) until the end of July 2026!
The team at La Doc have been welcoming local residents to enjoy their authentic Italian food and extensive wine list ever since they opened in 2023, with excellent Google reviews.
✨ EASTER BANK HOLIDAY OFFER: How to participate:
1️⃣ Reserve your table at La Doc (see details below👇 ) for Good Friday, Easter Saturday. Easter Sunday or Easter Monday - either for lunch or dinner. Mention Tooting Newsie when you book (in the notes, if doing so online).
2️⃣ Dine with them, capture and post a photo of your meal on either Instagram or Instagram Stories tagging @ladoc.balham. Please note: if your Instagram account is private, you’ll need to make it public for a short time when you post, so they see the tag.
3️⃣ Email your receipt to ladoc.balham@gmail.com and include your Instagram ID in the email (so they can see you posted) and they’ll email you a gift card for the same value as your total food spend!
💳 Gift Card Terms:
📅 Valid for use on any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (as well as Friday lunchtime & Saturday lunchtime) until 31st July 2026, in one visit.
🍴 Redeemable on everything on the menu
🥂 No limits – the more you dine, the more you earn!
🎈 Not in conjunction with any other offer or Eatclub card payers
To book a table, please visit their website, call Gaetano on 07865 034 118, email ladoc.balham@gmail.com or just walk-in if there’s room!
You’ll find La Doc located at 205 Balham High Road, open Monday-Thursday, 5.30-10pm; Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 12.30-10pm.
Steak & Fries + a pint of Corona for just £15.50 at Flora in Tooting Market, every Thursday – perfect for kicking off the 4-day Easter weekend! 🥩🍟🍻
Enjoy perfectly cooked steak, crispy fries, zesty chimichurri sauce, and an ice-cold Corona. Whether you’re meeting friends after work or treating yourself to a Thursday feast, Flora’s got you covered!
Every Thursday from 6pm. Book HERE (walk-ins also welcome, subject to availability).
📍 Flora, Tooting Market, 21-23 Tooting High Street, SW17 0SN
The Furzedown Project is looking for a friendly and reliable minibus driver to support their community services! 🚐
🕒 3 hours per week (Mondays)
➕ Extra Friday trips (ad hoc)
🔁 Opportunity to cover additional shifts
You’ll be helping transport their members to activities and making a real difference in the local community.
☀️ You must have a full UK driving licence - D1 entitlement preferred
☀️ You are over 21 and happy to have a DBS check and MiDas training
☀️ You must be dependable and people-focused
Perfect for someone looking for flexible, meaningful part-time work.
📩 Interested?
Email: services@furzedownproject.org
Or call 0208 677 4283
Closing date for applications 26th April 2026.
This is a paid position as The Project is in urgent need, but they are always looking for more volunteer drivers and escorts to support their work - please share with your neighbours.
The Furzedown Project at 91-93 Moyser Road, SW16 6SJ, is an activity centre and social hub for people aged 50 and over, whose mission is to increase people’s sense of wellbeing and reduce social isolation. More info, including how to volunteer, on their website.
Howden Insurance Tooting are celebrating their partners Tooting Bec FC, after the local football club won the 2024/2025 London FA Senior Trophy, with the trophy now proudly displayed in the branch on Mitcham Road! 🎉
Matt Hillier, Centre Manager at Howden Tooting, says, “we work alongside local grassroots sports clubs whose values reflect our own - community, commitment, and genuine partnership.
“Tooting Bec FC’s achievement is a testament not only to the players’ hard work but also to the strength of long‑lasting relationships within our community. As an amateur club run by dedicated volunteers for over 20 years, Tooting Bec FC truly embodies the spirit and passion of local sport.
“There’s no better way to support our community than by championing local sports clubs, where generations meet, cheer together, and celebrate the spirit of competition and resilience. It’s about connection, belonging, and being proudly local.”
Steffan Wells, Tooting Bec FC joint owner adds, “We wanted to partner with Howden as they are so community focused and have a love for the game, which ultimately made us the perfect match. Their support is invaluable and we hope the Howden 7’s – the annual 7-a-side 2 day football tournament, including men’s, women’s & vets teams – becomes a fixture in the local calendar for many years to come.”
As one of the club’s sponsors, Howden Tooting is delighted to support the team and cheer on their continued success.
📍 You can find Howden Tooting at 149/155 Mitcham Road. If you’d like to speak to their friendly team about your insurance needs, pop into the branch, give them a call on 0208 672 3375, or visit their website.
Good luck to Tooting resident Will, who’s taking on his first London Marathon this month – with Instant Physio’s Angus supporting him along the way!
Will is running the Marathon to fundraise for Prostate Cancer UK, after his dad, Rod, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December 2024. You can find out more and donate via his Justgiving page.
Angus tells us, “Will’s been putting in the miles over the past few months, so we’ve been helping him with strength and conditioning, recovery, and injury management before the big day.”
Knee pain, shin pain and tendon problems are very common during marathon training.
Instant Physio has been helping people get ready for the London Marathon since 2015 – and they’re expecting this year to be their busiest yet.
If you’re running the London Marathon and need help or advice, you can book a free taster session via https://instantphysio.co.uk/free-taster-session
📍Instant Physio, 261 Balham High Road, Tooting Bec (opposite The Sewing Shop) + Inside Balham Fitness First
📞 020 3488 2698
🕘 Mon–Thurs: 8am–8pm | Fri: 8am–4pm | Sat: 8am–12pm
Khan’s Chicken & Rice has opened at 159 Upper Tooting Road, serving rotisserie, peri peri and tandoori style chicken, rice, wraps, loaded fries, drinks and more.
All food is halal. Open 11am to midnight every day. See images for menu.
Congratulations and good luck to Hamza, Farhad, and the team!
Tooting resident Ajeet has launched By Ajeet Jugnauth, a local interior design studio helping people reimagine the homes they already love!
Ajeet tells us, “Working with families and homeowners across South London, my approach is rooted in storytelling, creating spaces that feel calm, considered, and truly personal.
“Whether you’re reworking a single room or rethinking how your home flows, my services range from mood boards to spatial design studies. Feel free to get in touch for a free consultation!”
🔗 For more info and to book a free consultation, visit ajeetjugnauth.com
Milo and the Bull AND Revive Recovery have opened at 25-27 Summerstown. Milo and the Bull provides a class-based gym, whilst Revive Recovery offers wellness and sports recovery, including saunas, ice baths, a Zero G massage chair, cryotherapy chambers, hyperbaric oxygen chamber and much more!
See miloandthebull.com and revive-recovery.co.uk for more info and opening times.
COMING SOON TO TOOTING: Kushi Kitchen & Bar, serving Hyderabad insprired food, is to open in Broadway Market in the next couple of weeks.
We’ll keep you posted…
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