Tooting Newsie Weekly Newsletter
Furzedown Farmers' Market returns, an Eid Bazaar, the lido reopens to the public, a silent disco, food and drink deals, South Asian mango season, new openings, and loads more in Tooting!
It's the biggest Furzedown Farmers' Market yet, THIS SATURDAY 3rd May – with lots of new food & drink stalls, and extended opening hours of 10am-2pm!
The increasingly popular Market is a fantastic place to enjoy a Saturday morning / lunchtime, with over 30 stalls from top quality local businesses selling all sorts of produce, including meat, smoked trout, locally-produced wine, honey, homemade jams & cakes, along with books, plants, coffee & more – and lots of hot food options!
And this Saturday, there'll be face-painting fun too!
The Market takes place on the first Saturday of every month, with the next date being Saturday 7th June.
Furzedown Farmers’ Market is located at Penwortham School, Penwortham Rd, London SW16 6RJ – just down the road from Tooting!
Dogs are very welcome!
See @furzedown_farmers_market (Instagram) for more details!
Eid bazaar in Tooting this Saturday 3rd of May! Join Al Risalah Trust at Tooting Islamic Centre, 10am-6pm, for a fun filled day with activities, stalls and food – everyone welcome!
📍 145 Upper Tooting Road (entrance on Lessingham Avenue) SW17 7TJ.
To enquire about stalls, volunteering, or if you have any other questions, please email admin@alrisalah.co.uk
The Spring Festival at Totterdown Street Market in Tooting was a huge success on Sunday, and organisers Somnium London would like say a massive thank you to everyone who joined the fun and made it such a wonderful celebration!
Highlights included a Punch and Judy show, live music (including from singer Jodie Shankland), a set from DJ Jonesy – and the day raised £150 for St George's Hospital Charity through a fabulous raffle!
Organisers would also like to say a big thanks to Councillor Kemi Akinola, and Juanita, Brian and Lorinda at Wandsworth Council for their support.
Don’t forget – Totterdown Street Market will be back with more fantastic events every 2nd and 4th weekend of the month! Follow @totterdownstreetmarket (Instagram) for info and updates (and watch this space too)!
Tooting Bec Lido is now fully open to the public for the summer!
From 1st May to 30th September this year, the Lido will open every day, with two sessions per day.
For more info and to book (you must register for a free Places Leisure membership to do so), visit the Places Leisure website.
Members of the South London Swimming Club can swim all year round. To find out more about the club and how to join, visit their website.
Thanks to @furzedownsue (Instagram) for sharing her beautiful sketch of the lido!
Silent Disco in aid of Earlsfield Foodbank on Friday 30th May at St Andrew’s Church in Earlsfield!
In association with Home Community Café, St Andrew’s Church at 571 Garratt Lane will host a Silent Disco – a Family Session in the early evening, followed by an Adults Only session later on!
Home Community Café will be serving a licensed bar and food all evening. Please purchase all your drinks and food from the cafe directly.
Family Session ticket prices:
• £15 per adult ticket
• £10 per child 10+ and over
• £5 per child 6-10
• FREE for Under 5s
Adults Only ticket prices: £20 per adult ticket
More info and book your tickets via Eventbrite.
The Fun Dog Show returns to Tooting Common on Sunday 8th June, and organisers Friends of Tooting Common (FOTC) are looking for volunteers to help out on the day!
The event will start setting up from 11am, with registration of dogs starting at 1pm and the show running from 2pm until about 3.30pm.
FOTC would welcome volunteers to help at any stage during that time, and particularly with setting up beforehand. If you'd like to volunteer, or would like more info, please email fotcinformation@gmail.com
‘Just Bowl' returns to Streatham Park Bowling Club on Tuesday 6th May at 2:30pm, and every Tuesday during May and June!
‘Just Bowl’ is a great opportunity to learn to play bowls and make new friends. All you need to bring are weather appropriate clothes and flat shoes (trainers with little tread are ideal).
The first 3 sessions are free, then £2 per week thereafter, with the option to become a club member.
If you're interested, please email streathamparkbowlingclub@gmail.com
Streatham Park Bowling Club is located in Pringle Gardens, (Off Ullathorne Road), SW16 1SH
Local property advisor Chuk (of Homes with Chuk) was overwhelmed with the support from Tooting, Balham and Streatham locals after his post last week!
He says, "Thank you so much to those who reached out following last week's post – you've certainly kept me busy with questions, plus I look forward to visiting the homes that have booked a visit!
"I thought everyone would like to see some examples of local homes that I've sold or let recently. I'm looking forward to perhaps featuring your property as 'Home of The Week' soon...
"Please keep those questions coming through, I'm always happy to help. Looking forward to sharing more soon!"
Chuk Agudosi is an independent local property advisor, in partnership with The Agency UK. For more info, email chuk.agudosi@theagencyuk.com, call 020 8092 0200, or pop into Tooting Works at 89 Bickersteth Road and ask for him at reception!
You can view the example properties via our Facebook and Instagram pages.
It’s Post-Op Awareness Month at Tooting’s Instant Physio – and they’re offering FREE post-op Discovery Visits to the first five people who apply (see below)!
Recovering from surgery like an ACL repair, hip or knee replacement? Instant Physio on Balham High Road offers expert post-op care to help you get back to easy, fearless movement.
Instant Physio’s owner Ed tells us, “We recently worked with a patient recovering from a total knee replacement who came in worried about stiffness and balance. After tailored rehab sessions, they’re now walking comfortably and have returned to gentle workouts without having to think about their knee.”
You can also download Instant Physio’s FREE Post-Op Recovery Report here.
Book your free discovery session at Instant Physio, 261 Balham High Road (opposite the Sewing Shop) in Tooting Bec – call them on 020 3488 2698, or leave an enquiry here.
Open Monday-Thursday 8am–8pm, Friday 8am–4pm and Saturday 8am–12pm.
HALF- PRICE DRY CLEANING at Tooting’s A1 Dry Cleaners on Garratt Lane this Saturday 3rd May, including FREE collection and delivery – see below!
To celebrate 20 years in Tooting, Ahmet and the team at A1 Dry Cleaners are offering half-price dry cleaning this Saturday 3rd May 2025! Just drop off your dry-cleaning from 8am to 7pm on either day OR book online – with FREE collection and delivery in Tooting and surrounding areas, including Balham, Wimbledon, Streatham, Clapham and Battersea!
Owner, Ahmet, says, “we love Tooting, and the community has been so supportive over the years, so we’d like to offer you a great deal to celebrate! And that’s not all – look out for more special offers coming soon…”
Just use code TOOTING on their website or in-store – they also offer 24 hour customer service support (see their website for more details).
A1 Dry Cleaners is located at 919 Garratt Ln, SW17 0LT. Terms & Conditions apply. See their website for eligible postcodes for collection and delivery.
Two "out of control" dogs locked onto each other at the Fountain Road Recreation Ground in Tooting, reports This Is Local London.
The struggle lasted nearly five minutes as the owners repeatedly attempted to get their dogs – believed to be Staffordshire bull terriers – under control, before one of the men collapsed and the other man led one of the dogs away.
Full story, including the video, via This Is Local London.
Who caught Who Do You Think You Are last week? It features actor Andrew Garfield, who begins the episode with a swim in Tooting Bec Lido, before exploring his fascinating family history.
You can view the episode via BBC iPlayer.
Hestia’s Wandsworth Age Activity Centre in Tooting welcomed the High Sheriff of Greater London, Millicent Grant KC (Hon), on 25 April 2025. Her visit recognised the Centre’s vital role in promoting wellbeing and community for older residents across the borough.
The Age Activity Centre is a vibrant drop-in space for local residents aged 60 and over. It offers a wide range of social activities, day trips, and workshops designed to reduce isolation, foster connection, and help older people remain independent, active, and healthy.
The Centre’s programme includes art classes, a choir, salsa and tai chi sessions, IT lessons, and much more. Members can also access advice and information services, befriending and mentoring schemes, support for independent living, and tailored dementia care. Community events such as festive lunches further bring people together throughout the year.
Speaking during her visit, Millicent Grant KC (Hon) said, "I wanted to show my personal appreciation for Hestia’s Age Activity Centre and its members, and to recognise the vital role they play in providing support, friendship, and independence for many older people in the local community.
"This service is particularly close to my heart as my mother attended it for many years. She had been a member of the group meeting at the site in Garratt Lane since the 1990’s and was involved in its development through the decades. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to thank both Hestia and the individuals within the service today, who were such a special part of her life."
Elvio Correira, Manager of the Age Activity Centre, added:
"It was a real pleasure to welcome Millicent to the Centre. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed hearing about her work as High Sheriff, remembering her mother Vinnie, and celebrating the positive community spirit they help create every day.”
The Age Activity Centre is open every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, and is located at 966 Garratt Lane, Tooting, SW17 0ND.
For more information, or if you or someone you know is interested in joining the Centre, please contact Hestia via:
📞 020 8767 8426
📧 aac@hestia.org
South Asian mango season has arrived in Tooting! 🥭🥭🥭
You can now buy Alphonso, Badami and Kesar mangoes from shops and stalls on Upper Tooting Road — why not have an explore in the sunshine to pick some up!
Chaunsa and Sindhri mangoes will follow later in the summer!
SPONSORED CONTENT
Every Sunday throughout May, Sunday Roasts are on offer for just £12 at award-winning Tooting French bistro & steak house, Bordelaise!
This fantastic £12 Sunday Roast offer is available for their chicken, beef & vegetarian options. You must order a beverage per person to claim.
Bookings will fill up fast, so to reserve a table, visit their website.
You’ll find Bordelaise located in Broadway Market Tooting, open Tuesday-Sunday from noon!
Popular Tooting-based Argentinian grill, OK13 Grill 🇦🇷 are coming up to their first birthday this Saturday 3 May, and to celebrate, they're giving away a Meal for two (worth up to £100) to 1 of our followers, over on our Instagram feed!
Owned by Tooting residents and Argentinian natives, Fer & Lau, the food at Ok13 is mainly cooked on a traditional open-fire grill, serving a range of empanadas, wine, and of course, steaks!
To find out more about OK13 Grill – to see the menu, and book a table, visit their website. Private hire: email ok13grill@gmail.com to enquire.
Live Music: OK13 host a monthly night of live music. The next one is taking place on 13 May. Free entry, limited space.
You'll find Ok13 located at 16a Tooting Bec Road, SW17 8BD.
Open Tuesday - Friday, 5pm-10pm; Saturday, 12.30pm-3.30pm & 5pm-11pm.
Sundays: only open on Father's Day & for group bookings - please contact them to book!
Popular Tooting Thai restaurant Kaosarn is now open on BANK HOLIDAYS, including this BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY, 5th May, 1pm-9.30pm!
Owners, Noi and Goo bring the atmosphere and flavours from the famous, lively Khaosan Road in Bangkok, into their restaurant on Tooting High Street!
You'll find a diverse range of Thai dishes, both classic & modern (with lots of vegetarian and vegan options) – from small plates, to street bites, to main meals for social dining! You can 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!
Kaosarn is located at 181 Tooting High Street (a short walk from Tooting Broadway tube). More info via their website.
…and head to our Instagram page for a chance to win a £100 Kaosarn voucher!
Pop in to Oxfam Earlsfield for all sorts of clothing, books, comics, games, vintage tech, jewellery, and so much more – and they're open 7 days a week!
Check out their brilliant Instagram @oxfam_earlsfield to see what they have in store – new arrivals every day (and donations are of course welcome)!
📍535 Garratt Lane, SW18 4SR
Open 10am-6pm Monday to Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday.
Congratulations to Tooting-based arts and crafts re-use charity Work and Play Scrapstore on achieving their Green Mark Level 2 accreditation!
Green Mark provides an internationally-recognised environmental certification for companies that want to assure their clients and employees that they are conducting business to recognised environmental standards.
The Scrapstore says, "We've always known we are a sustainable business and an active part of the circular economy, but now we have the certificate to prove it!
"We are one of only three Scrapstores nationally to have achieved this certification and the only Scrapstore in London to do so. It’s a huge achievement for a small charity such as ours.
"To achieve this, we submitted information about the business, answered questions and provided supporting evidence. Through the process, Green Mark helped us create a framework to make sure we have the correct tools to monitor and reduce our emissions going forward, as well as communicating internally and externally how we are doing this.
"Some of our environmental policies are:
• aiming to continuously improve our environmental performance and integrate recognised environmental management best practice into our business operations.
• measuring and taking action to reduce the carbon footprint of our business activities to meet our objectives and targets.
• managing waste generated from the business operations according to the principals of reduction."
The Scrapstore is located on the Hazelhurst Estate, 13 Blackshaw Road, SW17 0DA. Call 020 8682 4216, email info@workandplayscrapstore.org.uk or visit their website to find out more
You can find out more about Green Mark via their website.
Teaching staff at Tooting's St. Boniface RC Primary School will be embarking on a Pilgrimage Walk this Saturday, 3rd May, to raise funds for specialist classroom equipment to enhance their pupils’ learning experience and overall development.
Nine teachers and staff will be walking the Walsingham Pilgrimage Route in Norfolk – a spokesperson for the school says, "2025 has been declared the Jubilee Year of Hope by Pope Francis. The route we're taking is a place of deep spiritual significance where Our Lady appeared in 1061 to Richeldis de Faverches, a devout Norman widow. In a vision, Our Lady showed her the house where the Annunciation took place, asking her to build a replica at Walsingham. She promised:
"'All who are in any way distressed or in need, let them seek me there in that little house you have made at Walsingham. To all that seek me there shall be given succour. And there at Walsingham, in this little house, shall be held in remembrance the great joy of my salvation when St. Gabriel told me I should, through humility, become the mother of God’s Son.'
"Walsingham remains the Catholic National Shrine of Our Lady in England, and a place of deep prayer and pilgrimage."
Staff will walk 29 miles, and will attend Pilgrim Mass on Sunday at noon. If you are able to contribute in any way, no matter how small, the school would be truly grateful.
To find out more and to donate, visit their Justgiving page.
Urgent donations needed! The RSPCA South London Branch is appealing for donations after an emergency C-section on a cat wiped out their budget. Luckily, mum cat is doing well and four kittens have survived, but they will struggle in the coming weeks without some support.
They tell us, "Last Friday, 7-year-old Roxy went into labour after a long wait. It should have been a straightforward start to a new chapter for her—but things quickly became complicated!
"The first kitten became stuck, and despite immediate action and veterinary advice over the phone, the kitten sadly didn’t survive. Roxy was rushed straight to the vet.
"She delivered three healthy kittens naturally but then needed urgent intervention to deliver the final ginger and white kitten. An emergency C-section was her only option, and now thankfully Roxy is recovering well, along with her four surviving kittens.
"However, the emergency surgery has left us with a bill of £1,921 – on top of what was already an expensive rescue case.
"Roxy didn’t come into our branch alone; she arrived with her four-year-old daughter and her daughter’s five young kittens. That’s 11 cats in one family, each needing boarding, vaccinations, flea and worming treatment, neutering, microchipping, and eventually new homes. We estimate this family will cost around £6,000 to care for and rehome.
"We made the right decision for Roxy, but now we urgently need support to continue caring for all the animals in our branch.”
If you can make a donation to help, please visit their Justgiving page.
COMING SOON TO TOOTING: Vermicelli Restaurants in Tooting Market are taking over the unit recently vacated by Franco Manca to open their own pizzeria!
They plan to open within the next couple of weeks – we’ll keep you posted…
COMING SOON TO TOOTING: Popeyes Chicken is to open at 47 Mitcham Road, where Foxtons was previously located. We'll keep you posted...
COMING SOON TO TOOTING BEC: Branché are to open at 14 Trinity Road (where Mussoorie was previously located), serving French street cuisine and all-day brunch!
The owners, who already have a branch in Leyton, plan to open in the next couple of weeks. We'll keep you posted...
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