Tooting Newsie Weekly Newsletter
Book, nature and upcycyling events, the heavy horses return, parkrun primary launches, free life support training, a new opening (and a couple of big closures) and more this week...
Sandra Newman, celebrated author of Julia: A Retelling of Orwell’s 1984, will be joining Furzedown LitFest for a special evening this Friday 19th September at Mitcham Lane Baptist Church at 7:30pm.
Sandra is the author of several highly acclaimed novels, including the Baileys Prize longlisted The Country of Ice Cream Star, The Only Good Thing Anyone Has Ever Done (shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award), Cake, The Heavens, and The Men. A graduate of UEA’s world-renowned Creative Writing programme, she now lives in London.
She will be in conversation with local author Marni Appleton, whose debut novel I Hope You’re Happy was published earlier this year by The Indigo Press. Marni also holds a PhD in creative-critical writing from UEA, and her short stories have appeared in The Tangerine, Banshee, The London Magazine, and more.
This event is made possible thanks to support from the Eccles Institute at the British Library, which promotes cultural exchange between the USA and the UK. The Institute has strong local ties: Mary Eccles acquired the Thrales of Streatham Park’s library, part of which now resides at the British Library.
Tickets are available at www.furzedownlitfest.com
Friends of Streatham Cemetery (which is actually in Tooting!) hold their annual Open Day this Sunday 21st September, 2-4 pm.
Everyone is welcome to come along and explore this green space on Garratt Lane. Try out a craft, join a walk, look at the displays or just have a cup of tea with delicious homemade cake, and chat to members. There will also be honey from the apiary to taste.
More info via friendsofstreathamcemetery.org.uk
📍Garratt Lane, SW17 0LT (also an entrance on Broadwater Road).
FREE Community Stitching Upcycled Fashion Show in Tooting this Saturday 20th September, 12pm-4pm, at United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, SW17 9NQ!
The fashion show will feature the upcycled work of Sewing and Sanctuary (a weekly Transition Town Tooting event based at Oxfam Tooting).
You can also learn and share new stitching skills and upcycling techniques, helping you to ditch fast fashion and love the clothes you have. There’ll also be activity tables, each led by a local sewing group or textile artist, including a display of indigo dyed Shibori and sashiko work, displays of work with natural dyes, and a stall selling haberdashery saved from landfill.
Meet fellow makers over freshly prepared food. Everyone can join in at the end of the show, so don’t forget to wear your best work!
More info via Transition Town Tooting.
This event celebrates Wandsworth Council’s Sustainable September and Oxfam’s Secondhand September.
The heavy horses return to Wandsworth (including Tooting Common) this month!
The horses use traditional methods to mow wildflower meadows, which:
✨ Is gentler on the soil
🌸 Encourages wildflowers
🐝 Supports pollinators and wildlife
🌍 Is low-carbon & traditional
Catch them at:
🐴 Wandsworth Park: 19th September and 24th September from 10am
🐴 King George's Park: 19th September and 24th September from 1pm
🐴Tooting Commons: 26th September and 30th September from 10am
🐴 Wandsworth Common: 25th September and 29th September from 10am
If you’d like more information or you would like to volunteer to help collect bales, please email biodiversity@enablelc.org
Chuk, of Tooting-based Homes With Chuk, has two new homes for first-time buyers! He tells us more (plus, get a closer look at the properties on Instagram and Facebook)…
“First Time Buyers – what does £325,000 get you in Tooting Broadway?
“Tooting has become increasingly popular over the last few years, but are you aware of the entry level (price-wise) if you’re considering purchasing a home in SW17?
“I’m launching two homes next week which are fabulous purchases for a first time buyer, someone downsizing, or even a ‘pied a terre’!
“What’s so special about both these homes, I hear you ask? Both are well presented, have outside space, and are priced competitively at £325,000…
“Upper Tooting Road – This home is pretty large for a 1 bed flat (circa 530 sqft) and has the added bonus of a particularly large storage area/room which the current seller utilises as a study/office. It also has a huge roof terrace and is less than 3 minutes walk from Tooting Broadway tube (as well as all the restaurants, shops and markets that makes Tooting so appealing!).
“Trevelyan Road – I’d describe this home as cute! Trevelyan is such a lovely residential location, and the building is both handsome and double fronted detached. The outside space with this home comes in the shape of a large communal garden.
“The full ‘Take A Peek’ videos are available on my Instagram, and these homes will be available on the usual property portals later next week.
“Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to arrange a viewing."
Chuk Agudosi is a personal local property advisor. For more info, contact Chuk on 07940 546 190, drop him a DM at Homes with Chuk, or pop into Tooting Works at 89 Bickersteth Road and ask for him at reception!
RELAUNCHED IN MITCHAM! Much-loved local venue Vestry Hall has recently undergone a major refurbishment, and is now ready for bookings!
Julie Noel, Vestry Hall Manager, tells us, “Vestry Hall is a beautiful Victorian building with deep roots in the community. Originally built in the late 19th century, it has long served as a space for civic events, celebrations, and local gatherings. The recent refurbishment has preserved its historic charm while modernising the interiors to create a warm, flexible space suitable for a wide range of uses.
"Vestry Hall has already begun offering wedding services, and the response has been fantastic. The venue’s elegant architecture and versatile rooms make it an ideal setting for ceremonies, receptions, and other special occasions.
“We’re also hosting a FREE Wedding Fair on Thursday 25th September, 6pm-8pm! Visit HERE to book.
“A variety of events are planned at Vestry Hall, making it a vibrant hub for the community, including:
• Film nights
• Health and wellbeing days
• Comedy evenings
• Live music and band performances
• Cultural and family-friendly activities
“Our goal is to create a welcoming space where people from all walks of life can come together, connect, and enjoy meaningful experiences.”
Find Vestry Hall at 336-338 London Road, Mitcham CR4 3UD. See vestryhall.co.uk (where you can take a virtual tour of the venue) or call 020 8274 5200 for more info.
Children from the local Anglo-Spanish School were introduced to the world of dentistry this week at Ten Dental on Balham High Road. The Ten Dental team took the youngsters through the basics of looking after their smiles, and made their first steps into dental care fun & exciting!
Ten Dental co-founder, Dr Nik Sisodia tells us: “We really wanted our young visitors to learn to enjoy their trips to the dentist and to help them nurture good oral hygiene habits from an early age, so that they develop healthy and beautiful teeth as they grow up! Our team would like to say a big thank you to our guests for their curiosity and bright smiles!”
If you're looking for a local dentist to look after your children's teeth, the team at Ten Dental are here to help, providing a full range of dental and orthodontic treatment for children and adolescents.
To find out about more and to book an appointment for your child, WhatsApp 07907366397, call 020 8672 7766, email hello@tendental.com or pop in and see them at 156 Balham High Road.
You can also visit their website at tendental.com
Just one month before his IRONMAN race, Paul came to Tooting’s Instant Physio with a knee injury that was affecting his training. With limited time, they focused on reducing his pain, optimising movement patterns, and getting him race-ready.
Four weeks later, Paul not only completed the full IRONMAN — he achieved a Personal Best!
Paul tells us, “After my first session I was really reassured – more than that, it was the confidence to keep going and not give up. I went and did the race and was very successful. I got a PB so I was delighted!
“One of my favourite treatments has been shockwave therapy, which delivers low energy pressure waves into damaged tissues to increase blood flow, stimulate repair and reduce pain. After one treatment it was a substantial improvement, after two it was amazing, and after three it was pretty much resolved!”
“I would 100% recommend Instant Physio, I just love it. It is like my personal physiotherapy service.”
If you're preparing for an event and managing an injury, Instant Physio can help you make informed decisions about your rehab and performance.
To find out more, 📞 020 3488 2698 or enquire via instantphysio.co.uk
📍Instant Physio, 261 Balham High Road (opposite The Sewing Shop), Tooting Bec
🕘 Mon-Thurs: 8am-8pm | Fri: 8am-4pm | Sat: 8am - 12pm
Wandsworth Council has launched three new mobile CCTV vans.
The council say on their website: “The state-of-the-art mobile units can be rapidly deployed across Wandsworth, allowing for a flexible and targeted approach to crime prevention.
“The extra funding for the CCTV vans has been made possible from the council’s £9m Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, which is investing in a wide range of neighbourhood improvements - all part of our Decade of Renewal being paid for by property developers.”
The Council also recently announced that the extra funding will increase CCTV monitoring by an extra 150 hours each month in the Joint Control Centre (JCC).
More info via Wandsworth Council.
Transport for London (TfL) has released some details of the cost of adding step-free access to five more Northern Line stations – including Tooting Broadway and Colliers Wood – reports IanVisits.
The Tooting branch of Poundland at 57-63 Tooting High Street has permanently closed. We'll keep you posted as to who'll be taking over the space...
A mum of two who spent weeks gravely unwell in intensive care has hailed the “world-class” teams (including those at Tooting’s St George’s Hospital) that saved her life – and has urged others to nominate their NHS heroes for a public choice award.
Full story via St George's Trust.
Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters attended a fire on Bedford Hill in Balham/Tooting on Monday 15th September.
Half of a flat on the fourth floor of a sheltered accommodation block was damaged by fire. One man was rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus via an internal staircase. He was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service to be treated for smoke inhalation.
The Brigade was called at 1626 and Control Officers mobilised crews from Tooting, Clapham and Norbury fire stations to the scene. The fire was extinguished by 1831.
The cause of the fire is being treated as accidental and believed to have been caused by combustible items stored too close to a convection heater.
An LFB spokesperson said: “The rise in energy costs means there’s a very real risk of heating-related fires. We know that people will turn to alternative ways to keep themselves and those they live with warm overnight without turning on the heating, but we just want to make sure that people are staying safe at the same time.
“It’s absolutely vital that heaters are kept well away from curtains, furniture, paperwork and are never used to dry clothes. Always sit at least a metre away from the heater as it could set fire to your clothes or your chair, supervise children carefully and position a heater where it won’t be knocked over and away from pets.
"It’s also important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and ensure these items are safety registered and in good working order. If you’re using these items around children always supervise them carefully and place heaters somewhere where they won’t be accidentally knocked over and away from anything that could catch fire.
"Firefighters recommend that you have a look at our online Home Fire Safety Checker to make sure there are no hidden hazards in your home. The online tool will ask you a series of questions that will help us work out the level of risk in your home, or the home of someone you care for. It only takes a few minutes to get tailored advice to keep yourself and loved ones safe from fire.”
Map © OpenStreetMap contributors
Aldi Local at 35 Tooting High Street will permanently close this Sunday 21st September at 5pm.
An Aldi Spokesperson said, "Our Tooting Store will close in September 2025 when its current lease ends. Our valued customers will still be able to shop and save close to home at our Wimbledon, Colliers Wood and Balham sites, and our amazing colleagues will be relocated to local stores.
"Aldi is a growing business and its investment of £650m in Britain in 2025 reiterates its commitment to expanding its store estate."
We'll keep you posted as to what will be replacing the store.
There was a fantastic fruit-pressing event outside The Furzedown Project on Thursday 11th September – volunteers had collected over 200kg of apples from local gardens and allotments!
Lots of people came along and enjoyed helping to make fresh fruit juices using traditional methods, including a scratter and apple press. And everyone loved the apple juice - the freshest ever!
Local jam makers shared their recipes and ideas of other ways to use garden fruits, including making preserves – and there was even a poetry reading in praise of apples!
The event was part of Wandsworth’s Sustainable September Events, with lots more going on this month. Visit Wandsworth Council for more info.
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.
People came from across South London to All Saints Church in Tooting this weekend, with grapes from their gardens and allotments to contribute to the next batch of ‘Chateau’ Tooting sparkling and still pink and white wines!
It’s been a bumper year, so the harvest was split, with the first collection at the end of August collecting over a ton of beautiful grapes, with another busy second collection at the weekend.
Richard, the founder of Urban Wine Company, is hoping to arrange a trip for members (and wine enthusiasts) to the vineyard in Sussex where the grapes are processed.
Find out more via The Urban Wine Company!
parkrun primary is a brand-new initiative linking primary schools in the UK with their local junior parkrun – including Tooting Common and Figges Marsh – to boost children’s activity, confidence, and wellbeing.
parkrun primary is designed to help children be more active, confident, and connected to their local community. By pairing schools with local junior parkrun events, children can enjoy free, fun, and inclusive opportunities to run, walk, and volunteer, while reducing screen time and building lifelong healthy habits.
Local schools can find out more and sign up here to connect with local park runs (including Tooting Common and Figges Marsh).
Good luck to Tooting Run Club (TRC), who’ve been shortlisted again by England Athletics for the prestigious London ‘Club of the Year’ Award! TRC previously won this award in 2024 and now has the chance to retain the title when winners are announced on 27 September.
Tahir, who launched TRC in partnership with Herne Hill Harriers, tells us: “Being shortlisted again is a huge honour. It recognises the dedication of our volunteers, runners and supporters, and the impact our club has in making running accessible to everyone.
"TRC is a free community open to everyone aged 18 and over. The club removes barriers such as financial limitations, lack of confidence and safety concerns, creating a welcoming environment for all, particularly women and other underrepresented groups. Its aim is to help local people stay active, healthy and empowered."
TRC offers a wide range of sessions for all abilities: interval training to boost fitness and speed, midweek social runs, yoga and strength classes, as well as social events, walking groups and even dog runs. Free tickets for these activities can be booked via Eventbrite by searching “Tooting Run Club.”
TRC officially became a UK-registered charity this summer. Entirely volunteer-led, the club relies on fundraising to keep all activities free. Local businesses and individuals can help support the club via sponsorship or donations through their JustGiving page (search “Tooting Run Club” on JustGiving).
FREE basic life support training at Mitcham Lane Baptist Church in Furzedown!
Training is provided by the Paul Alan Project – join their certified trainers in small, friendly groups of 10 or less to learn how to save a life. Sessions are a mix of theory and practice, where you'll learn:
• how to spot the signs of a cardiac arrest
• how to manage a cardiac arrest emergency
• how to perform CPR
• how to use a defibrillator
• the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest
• baby and child CPR
• how to help someone who is choking
All ages welcome, but please note that children and young people under the age of 16 will require a parent/carer present at all times.
The training is free, but charitable donations are encouraged. Donations go back into community access defibrillators and bleed control kits that save lives in medical emergencies.
Training takes place, 7.30pm-9pm, on the following Thursdays:
• 25th September 2025
• 27th November 2025
• 29th January 2026
• 26th March 2026
• 28th May 2026
• 23rd July 2026
Booking via The Paul Alan Project.
Blend Gin & Tequila Bar has opened in Broadway Market Tooting (where Bad Ass Liquor was previously located), serving cocktails and more (with 2 cocktails for £15 all weekend) – and they're sharing their lounge space with Burger Nine (just opposite the bar), so you can order a fantastic burger to enjoy with a cocktail (or two)!
Congratulations and good luck to the Blend Bar and Burger Nine teams!
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