Tooting Newsie Weekly Newsletter
A Tooting pub planning meeting, a new carers' group launches, M&S a step closer to opening in Tooting, early closing for the Bank branch of the Northern Line, new openings, and much more...
Public planning consultation meeting & Q&A for The Gorringe in Tooting this Friday 16 January, 1-2pm, at The Gorringe.
The owner has been granted an extension to the consultation period to address planning reservations for the development of the local pub.
Their architects will present the refreshed plans, and be available to answer the community’s questions.
More info via Project Gorringe – a local group working to protect and revive The Gorringe Park as a pub for the community – on their website or email projectgorringe@gmail.com
📍 29 London Road, SW17 9JR
The next Mega Skip Day takes place from 9am this Saturday 17th January, in seven locations around Wandsworth, including Tooting.
Mega Skip Days are an opportunity for people to dispose of bulky items for free. Large skips are placed in neighbourhoods around the borough for all local residents to use.
The skips are open to residents of the London Borough of Wandsworth only. Proof of address may be required on the day.
The skips will be in the following places:
• Strathdon Drive, SW17 0PN
• Ansell Road, SW17 7LS
• Childebert Road, SW17 8EX
• Clapham Common West Side, SW4 9AT
• Waverton Road, SW18 3BY
• Stockhurst Close, SW15 1NB
• Neville Gill Close, SW18 4BP
More info, including details of what you can bring and when the skips will be open, via Wandsworth Council.
Tooting’s St George’s Hospital currently faces the triple threat of cold weather, winter viruses, and high numbers needing specialist care.
As of Sunday 4 January, 45 beds at St George’s, Epsom and St Helier hospitals were occupied by patients with flu.
Some beds have also had to be closed due to the infection and other illnesses like norovirus.
It comes as the NHS issued a warning that Christmas and New Year gatherings may have caused a bounce back in winter viruses – and that the worst is “far from over”.
Elaine Clancy, Group Chief Nurse for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Group, said: “It’s been a bleak start to the new year as, like other hospitals up and down the country, we’re seeing some very sick patients come to our hospitals – and the cold weather and winter illnesses are having a real impact.
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking flu is just a bad cold – these figures show the infection can make people seriously ill, and I’d urge people to take steps to ensure they and their loved ones don’t suffer.”
The hospital advises getting vaccinated, washing hands, and staying home when displaying symptoms, as these measures can all prevent the spread of flu and other winter illnesses.
People can also take steps to help themselves by keeping warm in the colder weather by heating homes to at least 18°C in key rooms and wrapping up when going outside.
Checking in on vulnerable friends, family and neighbours, and ensuring they have food, medication, and warm clothing, is also recommended.
Meanwhile, people are advised to always use the most appropriate service for their health need – such as NHS 111 online, a 24/7 service for urgent medical problems – to keep emergency departments for the sickest and most seriously injured patients.
Pharmacists can advise on a range of minor illnesses and can advise if a doctor is needed.
Visit the NHS website for more info.
A reminder that Wandsworth Council offers both collection and drop-off services for real Christmas trees throughout January.
More info, including details of collection days and drop-off points, and how to report an abandoned tree, via Wandsworth Council.
Services on the Northern line between Camden Town and Kennington (via Bank) will be ending early on some weekdays from until late spring 2026, enabling Transport for London (TfL) to undertake essential track replacement work.
• After 10pm on Mondays to Thursdays: services will not run on the Bank branch of the Northern line between Camden Town and Kennington
• Trains via Bank will run normally on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings
• Night Tube services will run as normal via Charing Cross
• The rest of the Northern line will close at normal times, and trains will run via Charing Cross as usual
• Normal services will run via Bank on the evening of Thursday 2 April
Full info and updates via TfL.
Tooting-based property advisor, Homes with Chuk, continues his ‘Meet The Neighbours’ series – this time with Kemi and Femi of Mud Café at 141 Mitcham Road!
“Meet The Neighbours reminds – and sometimes introduces – locals to brilliant independent businesses they may have overlooked. Even though I was born and raised in Tooting, this series has made me aware of some amazing people and places, and it only feels right to share that!
“I’m often helping people unfamiliar with the area see how great the neighbourhoods they’re considering calling home really are – and local businesses play a huge part in that.
“Kemi and Femi run Mud in Tooting Broadway, a fantastic café with great food, wonderful coffee and even better people behind it.
*We had a great chat about their business, their background, and the food they serve – including their exciting plans to start serving West African and Caribbean food very soon! Watch the full video on my Instagram!”
Chuk will be sharing ‘Meet The Neighbours’ every week in January, with prizes from each business involved – watch this space!
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!
📷 @square_haus_media (Instagram)
A local tube ad campaign has been launched by Balham dentist Ten Dental to promote their huge January offer: Get £500 OFF Invisalign treatment, plus a free consultation, free whitening, free smile simulation, and a free hygiene appointment. That’s a total value of £1,250!
Their ad at Balham tube station features their dentist & specialist Orthodontist, Dr Dipen Patel!
Ten Dental is an award-winning practice (Referral Practice of the Year 2025), helping locals achieve straighter, whiter teeth with expert care and cutting-edge technology.
There are limited numbers available for this offer, so don’t miss out!
To find out more and book your free consultation, WhatsApp 07907 366 397, call 020 8675 1798, email hello@tendental.com or pop in at 156 Balham High Road. Ten Dental also has a clinic in Clapham.
Visit their website at tendental.com
Sound Bath Sessions are available in Tooting Bec & Tooting Broadway – local sound healer Anna Bojaryn has been offering local Sound Bath sessions for the past few years, creating gentle, welcoming spaces for rest and release.
Anna says, “We’re around people all the time — other people’s emotions, stress, expectations, moods. Even when nothing is said, we feel it. Over time, we start carrying things that aren’t even ours. Sound baths offer a way to gently let go.
“Sound doesn’t ask you to analyse or explain. Through waves of sound — crystal singing bowls, drums, chimes, and voice — vibrations move through the body, helping tension soften and the nervous system settle.
“Many people leave sessions saying they feel:
• calmer for days afterwards
• lighter, as if a heavy weight has lifted
• deeply relaxed — often sleeping better than they have in a long time
• more present, with family and children noticing the difference
“Each Sound Bath begins with a short guided relaxation. Participants lie down comfortably, wrapped in blankets, and simply rest while sound supports deep relaxation and emotional release. Nothing is required — this is a space to receive.
“My work is rooted in grounded spirituality — gentle, embodied healing that supports everyday life. I also offer Reiki, 1:1 healing sessions, workshops, and retreats.”
Sessions take place:
📍 Thursdays at 7:30pm at Tooting & Balham Sea Cadets on Mellison Road, Tooting Broadway.
📍 Fridays at 7:30pm at The Treatment Rooms & Studio on Tooting Bec Road.
All Sound Baths and upcoming sessions can be found via her booking page.
Learn more about Anna’s work via her website, or via email anna@tunewithin.co.uk, or call/text 07752 162727
The Furzedown Project has launched a new Carers’ Group, which meets every Tuesday, 10am-12pm.
Guest speaker Eglionnar Treanor, CEO of Wandsworth Carers, spoke at the first meeting, which was packed with carers from across Wandsworth getting to know each other and enjoying a cream tea.
It’s estimated there are around 18,000 unpaid carers in Wandsworth, and the first meeting included sisters providing full-time support to their elderly father so he could stay in his home, a husband helping his wife recover from a stroke, and a mother who’d been providing full-time care for her two seriously disabled children for over 60 years.
The Project wants to make a difference with this weekly meeting, offering practical peer-group advice, massage & wellness sessions, and other activities – plus it’s a great chance to chat with others facing similar issues.
Everyone who cares for a loved one in Wandsworth is welcome to drop-in, not just Project members.
To find out more, pop into The Furzedown Project at 93 Moyser Road, SW16 6SJ, call them on 020 8677 4283, or visit their website.
Run Talk Run SW17, a free mental health and running community, hosts weekly 5k runs in Tooting and Balham at 7pm, and everyone is welcome!
Run Talk Run aims to make both running and mental health support less intimidating and more accessible. A friendly, free and supportive group, Run Talk Run is a safe and open space to talk about how you are doing: the good times, the not so good times, and everything in between.
Whilst they chat, they run, walk, or jog 5km. Speed or pace isn’t important and nobody is left behind... whether you’re a seasoned ultra marathon runner or coming along for your first bit of exercise in a while, all are welcomed and encouraged.
For more info and to sign up, visit Heylo.
Balham came alive with colour and fun thanks to Balham’s Orleta Polish Folk Song and Dance Group! These fantastic photos capture the group attending Mass at the Polish RC Church of Christ the King on Balham High Road, ahead of performances by all four dance groups for the local community.
Founded in 1973 in Balham’s White Eagle Club / Klub Orła Białego by Basia Klimas-Sawyer, Orleta have performed on national TV, at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, the Royal Festival Hall, in front of Tower Bridge and City Hall, at international festivals across Europe, and even at Wandsworth Library!
For more info, visit the Orleta website.
Marks & Spencer are a step closer to opening a Tooting branch of their Food Hall at 19-21 Mitcham Road (where Wilko was previously located); the company has applied for a Premises Licence to permit the sale of alcohol (more info in images).
The branch should be open sometime later this year. We’ll keep you posted on any developments.
COMING SOON TO FURZEDOWN: Next Door Baker by Kegarmo is to open at 84 Moyser Road (where Life of Fish was previously located). Find out more via Kegarmo.
We’ll keep you posted...
Congratulations to local resident Clare Macnab, who won the Friends Of Tooting Common (FOTC) October-December photo competition with this atmospheric and frosty photo of the common (and there were some fantastic photos from the runners-up which you can see here)!
Find out more about FOTC and their quarterly photo competition via their website.
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