Tooting Newsie Weekly Newsletter
A Table Top Sale, planning application submitted for the old Gorringe Park Pub, half-price burgers & cocktails, Winter Wine-derland, new openings, the Queen Mother in Tooting, and lots more!
TABLE TOP SALE in Tooting this Saturday, 15th November, 10am-2pm, at the Aboyne Community Clubroom!
There’ll be clothing, secondhand goods, books, toys, and a variety of handicrafts. Refreshments will also be available. Cash payments only.
For more info, email aboyneestatera@gmail.com
📍Aboyne Community Clubroom, Deeside Road, Aboyne Estate, Tooting, SW17 0PL
OPEN EVENING at Ernest Bevin Academy Sixth Form in Tooting on Thursday 20th November from 4.30pm – open to young men & women from across London!
Ernest Bevin offers A Levels & BTECs, unique leadership opportunities, an Oxbridge admissions programme & outstanding pastoral care in a close, supportive & ambitious community.
Where could your ambition take you? Come and find out more – book your free place via their website.
The next Mega Skip Day takes place from 9am this Saturday 15th November, 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:
• 64 Fishponds Road, SW17 7LF
• 15 West Hill Road, SW18 1LN
• 34 Malwood Road, SW12 8EN
• 4 Disraeli Road, SW15 2DS
• 59 Clapham Common, West Side, SW4 9AT
• Fitzhugh estate, SW18 3SG
• Savona estate, SW8 4DY
More info, including details of what you can bring and when the skips will be open, via Wandsworth Council.
Tooting-based property advisor Chuk, of Homes With Chuk, has been talking to independent mortgage advisor, Katy Eatenton, about how the mortgage market is shaping up.
Chuks tells us, “As we approach the year end, the property market traditionally begins to slow down as the festive season begins to occupy both minds and time!
“On top of that, there’s the Budget due to be unveiled on 26th November, and it’ll be interesting to see if and how it affects the housing market.
“That being said, there are still a number of motivated buyers and sellers keen to find/sell a home, and some major lenders have lowered mortgage rates recently, which is a welcome boost if you’re keen to secure a new home.
“I caught up with Katy this week for an update on what’s been happening in the world of mortgages, including what’s available to assist first time buyers.”
Katy says, “Lenders really want to lend. They’re introducing innovative products, including mortgages for first-time buyers, which allow you to delay your first few mortgage repayments. This helps first-time owners adjust from renting to owning their own home.
“Mortgages are very low – in fact they’re the lowest they have been since pre-budget 2022. While caution is in the air with the Budget approaching, lenders appear undeterred as rates continue to drop.
“If you can prove that you have paid rent at least 12 of the last 18 months, then there are some lenders who will take that into consideration when assessing your affordability. This was introduced earlier this year.”
To find out more, email Chuk at hello@homeswithchuk.co.uk, call 07940 546 190, DM him at Homes with Chuk, or pop into Tooting Works at 89 Bickersteth Road and ask for him at reception!
Local Insurance broker Howden Insurance Tooting on Mitcham Road is proud to work alongside valued clients and business partners like Switched on London on Garratt Lane, whose commitment to the local community reflects Howden’s own mission to build strong, lasting relationships.
Sarah Barrett, Commercial Operations Lead at Howden Tooting, says, “Supporting local businesses like Switched On London is central to what we do. We first connected through the Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce, and since then, it’s been a pleasure to celebrate their success – from winning SME Business of the Year twice to becoming a valued client. It’s all about building lasting relationships and being there for each other.”
Since partnering last year, Howden has helped Switched On London secure essential insurance protection for their operations. They were also recognised as August’s Business of the Month, with in-branch advertising showcasing their contribution to the local economy.
David from Switched On London adds: “We’re really pleased to be working with Howden Insurance. It’s refreshing to deal with a team that’s professional, responsive, and genuinely understands our plumbing, gas, and electrical business.
“Howden provides a reliable, local service – exactly what we were looking for. We’re genuinely happy with how the relationship is shaping up and look forward to a long-standing partnership.”
Howden Tooting continues to seek opportunities to collaborate with local enterprises and charitable organisations, believing that strong community ties are the foundation of mutual success.
Find out more about Switched On London on their website, or get in touch by calling 020 8715 4058 or emailing info@switchedon.london
Howden Insurance Tooting is located at 149/155 Mitcham Road, SW17 9PG. Pop in, call 0208 672 3375, or visit their website.
FREE Marathon Discovery Sessions at Tooting’s Instant Physio! Instant Physio’s Ed tells us more:
“If you know the feeling of disappointment from not being able to complete your marathon due to pain or not getting the results that you’d hoped for, we can help.”
“For runners, the default is to self-manage – using Dr Google and other online resources often fails and wastes valuable time.
“One patient, Lizzie, was able to run two pain-free marathons after Instant Physio’s help. She says, ‘Working with Instant Physio over the past few months has enabled me to strengthen my hamstring and improved the pace I can run at without pain. I’ve still got some work to do before I’m back to PB shape but I was able to run Berlin and Chicago 3 weeks apart in 3:21 and 3:19 – which is really moving in the right direction after a more painful 3:28 in Boston in April!’”
Sign up to your FREE Marathon Strategy session now to learn about how Instant Physio can help you. Sessions are specially designed for:
• Marathon runners starting their next training block
• Runners who have had to pull out of events due to pain
• Runners who struggle with shin pain, knee pain or hip pain that stops them from running
• Runners interested in finding out how to make significant improvements in their performance
• People who have signed up to a marathon and want to make sure they achieve their goal with minimal stress
To sign up, complete the MARATHON STRATEGY SESSION form (limited spaces!).
📞 020 3488 2698
📍 Instant Physio, 261 Balham High Road, Tooting Bec (opposite The Sewing Shop)
🕘 Mon–Thurs: 8am–8pm | Fri: 8am–4pm | Sat: 8am–12pm
If you’d love a brighter, whiter smile in time for Christmas, local dentist Ten Dental on Balham High Road offer the very popular Enlighten Teeth Whitening treatment to help you achieve this – and they offer FREE consultations!
Enlighten Teeth Whitening is the only teeth whitening system that promises VITA B1 (the whitest natural shade) – no compromises needed – you can carry on enjoying your favourites and living life to the full!
To find out more about Enlighten Teeth Whitening at Ten Dental and to book a free consultation, WhatsApp 07308 716 397, call 020 8672 7766, email hello@tendental.com or pop in!.
You’ll find Ten Dental located at 156 Balham High Road, open Monday-Saturday (including up to 8pm, Monday to Thursday).
You can also visit their website.
Wandsworth Council is proposing 116 new on-street bike hangars across the borough, adding to the 346 on-street bike hangars that have already been installed.
Residents have been sent letters inviting feedback on the new suggested locations. The consultation closes on 20 November, and residents can also have their say on the council website.
In addition, the council will be installing 14 bike hangars across estates in the borough.
Residents across Wandsworth can also request a bike hangar to be installed near their home or workplace, even if there’s already one on their street.
In addition, eligible residents can get 50% off annual bike hangar memberships through Wandsworth Council’s Access for All programme.
Full info via Wandsworth Council.
A planning application has been submitted to Merton Council to redevelop 29 London Road in Tooting, the site that the Roohin restaurant and pub currently occupies (formerly the Gorringe Park Pub).
The application (Number 25/P2275) states:
“CONSTRUCTION OF 4 STOREY REAR AND SIDE EXTENSION (TO INCLUDE EXTENSION TO EXISTING BASEMENT), TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESTAURANT SPACE AND 6 FLATS, FOLLOWING DEMOLITION OF EXISTING REAR EXTENSION. ASSOCIATED CYCLE STORAGE AND REFUSE STORES ALSO PROPOSED.”
Full details and plans (comments close on 25/11/2025), via Merton Council.
Send your comments by email to: planning.representations@merton.gov.uk
Include the following:
• Application reference number 25/P2275
• Your name and address
• A brief description of the application
• Your comments
Please note: Comments are not confidential and will be part of the public record.
Tooting’s ToKova Restaurant in Broadway Market will be permanently closing this Saturday, 15 November.
Owner, Cristina, tells us, “After seven and a half wonderful years, we’ll be closing our doors. We’ll be open Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm–11pm. Come by for one last taste of the Basque Country and a final toast together.
“Thank you for all the love and support!🥂”
For more info and to book, visit tokovarestaurant.co.uk
Good luck for the future, Cristina!
Members of an organised crime group have been jailed for total of more than 55 years following a Met Police investigation into a series of robberies at mobile phone shops across London, including in Tooting and Balham.
Between September and November 2024, detectives from the Met’s Flying Squad worked to identify and arrest members of an organised crime group responsible for at least 13 offences.
The group targeted mostly EE stores, using threats of violence to force staff to open secure stock rooms before making off with high-value mobile phones and other devices. In total, they stole items with a total value of £240,000.
The investigation involved analysis of CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and mobile phone data.
Officers were able to link suspects to the scenes of the crimes through DNA evidence, as well as call data and vehicle records.
They observed the group as they prepared for further offences, and on 19 November 2024, officers moved in to arrest four of the men in the act at an EE shop in Kilburn.
Searches at addresses linked to the suspects led to the recovery of stolen devices and further evidence connecting the group to the robberies. All ten men were later charged. They were sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, 7 November.
More info via the Met Police website.
The first ever TOOTING WINTER WINE-DERLAND at Indie Wine Club in Tooting Market takes place on Saturday 29 November, 4pm-6pm!
Join Indie Wine Club for their biggest EVER winter wine tasting – over 35 wines to try & 2 hours to try them in!
Taste as many or as few as you want, & find your new fave, with lots of different grapes & countries to try from. A perfect time for trying out some bottles for Xmas! Indie Wine Club will tell you all about them – no prior wine knowledge necessary!
If you loved WINE FEST back in August (or you missed out on tickets), now’s your chance to come along to one of Indie Wine Club’s awesome walk around tastings!
Get your tickets now for just £25 per person (and don’t forget to tell your friends)!
For more info and to book, visit their website.
HALF PRICE burgers & cocktails every Tuesday in November at Burger Nine & The Blend Bar in Broadway Market Tooting!
Burger Nine and Blend Bar serve brilliant burgers and cracking cocktails – and they’re all half-price every Tuesday in November! Pop in for one of Burger Nine’s signature smash burgers, paired with a fantastic cocktail (or two!) at Blend Bar just round the corner.
Tuesday opening times: Burger Nine 12pm-10.30pm, The Blend Bar 6pm-11pm. Eat-in only.Ts and Cs apply.
Find Burger Nine and Blend Bar near the Longmead Rd entrance of Broadway Market, 29 Tooting High Street, SW17 0SP. Halal burgers available. Offer valid every Tuesday during the month of November 2025. Ts and Cs apply. More info via their instagram.com/itsburgernine and instagram.com/_theblendbar
Volunteering opportunities! Due to the success of their one-off volunteering sessions, local baby bank charity Little Village HQ have added more days and flexible hours for volunteers at their Wandsworth warehouse!
They are now hosting weekly evening and weekend sessions on the following days and times:
• Tuesdays and Thursdays: 6–9pm
• Saturdays: 10am–3pm
For more information or to sign up, visit their website.
Tooting Fire Station at 91 Trinity Road is accepting donations of men’s, women’s and children’s coats until 7th December, as part of their annual collaboration with HandsOn London’s Wrap Up London initiative to supply warm coats to those in need.
The fire station is just one of many drop-off locations across London. Visit handsonlondon.org.uk/wrap-uplondon for more info.
Congratulations to volunteers from Tooting Community Kitchen (TCK) on completing Saturday’s Big Sleep Out at AFC Wimbledon, raising money for Dons Local Action Group DLAG!
DLAG provides essential items such as food, technology, and furniture to those in need – working alongside schools, councils, charities and other partners to make sure help gets to where it’s needed most.
You can still donate to TCK’s fundraiser here.
Congratulations to Tooting author Stuart R. Fleming on his new novel, Greek Odyssey of the Heart, a sweeping tale set against the sunlit shores, villages, and myth-laden hillsides of Greece!
Stuart tells us, “Although rooted in the traditions and landscapes of Greece, Greek Odyssey of the Heart also carries a deeply personal connection to Tooting, where I’ve made my home since 2020.
“Tooting has been the place where I’ve gathered my thoughts, written through the long evenings, and dreamed up the characters who walk the olive groves and harbours of my novels. It feels fitting that this story, though born in Greece, carries London in its heart as well. Much of the research was done in Tooting library, although I had to imagine the sea and sun!”
Greek Odyssey of the Heart is the latest in Stuart’s growing body of work celebrating Greece’s people, myths, and landscapes while remaining rooted in the author’s life in the UK.
The novel is available in print and digital formats via stuartflemingbooks.com or through Waterstones, Foyles, Amazon, and other major retailers. ISBN 978-1918122022
Furzedown Board Games Night takes place every Monday, 7pm-10pm, at Mitcham Lane Baptist Church!
Local resident Dan Chapman, who started Furzedown Board Games Night, tells us, “If you love love modern board games such as Catan, Ticket to Ride, Viticulture, Clank!, Codenames, Flip 7 etc, then join our fun, friendly and relaxed evening. Don’t worry if you don’t know the games yet, I’ll be there to explain everything. Everyone is welcome – come and give it a go!
Local resident Laurie says: “I’ve already learned a half dozen new games and met some great people - plus there’s tea and biscuits! It’s a great way to spend these quiet (and increasingly gloomy) Monday evenings and a real example of what makes Furzedown such a great place.”
There are no entry fees, and tea, coffee and biscuits are available (and feel free to bring your own drinks and snacks). There’ll be a selection of games, but please also feel free to bring your own – the more the merrier!
Please contact Dan with any queries via furzedownboardgames@gmail.com or follow Furzedown Board Games Night via their Instagram.
📍Mitcham Lane Baptist Church, 230 Mitcham Lane, SW16 6NT
The Butcher Grill has opened in Tooting Market (where Ding Ding was previously located), serving steak, beef ribs, chicken, lamb, salads, sides and more, all cooked on a charcoal grill! AND you can get steak & fries for only £7 (usually £9) when you mention Tooting Newsie until 10pm this Sunday!
The Butcher Grill was originally located near the Tooting High Street, so owner Marlon is excited to re-open, and looks forward to serving the Tooting community!
All food is halal. Open 12pm-10pm Sunday to Thursday, 12pm-11pm Friday and Saturday. Delivery via Uber Eats (with a 40% discount on orders over £20 until 15th December). More info via @butchers_grill (Instagram).
Congratulations and good luck to Marlon and the team!
COMING SOON TO TOOTING: Bargain Town is to open at 57-63 Tooting High Street, where Poundland was previously located. We’ll keep you posted...
Following our recent post about Tooting Police Station, ex-Tooting resident Jan Slimming sent us some fantastic photos of the Queen Mother visiting the station in 1980 (complete with a report from the Local Guardian)!
Jan’s mother Daisy Moore (nee Lawrence) was a Tooting resident and a codebreaker at Bletchley Park during World War II. Jan’s mother and father also both worked at Tooting Co-op, where they met!
Jan has written several books about her mother, as well as her father’s experience as a prisoner of war – visit her website to find out more.
View all the photos via our Instagram or Facebook pages.
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