Tooting Newsie Weekly Newsletter
Christmas, comedy, and history events, a prestigious award for Be Enriched, food & drink deals, Jamaica donations, Tooting history, and lots more...
Tooting History Group (THG) will be at Tooting Library this Saturday 22nd November, 2pm-4pm, to talk about their “Tooting Bec Asylum Remembered” exhibition, which opened this week at the library.
The exhibition follows their unveiling of a Green Plaque at The Heritage Park Estate in September to remember Tooting Bec Asylum, and their publication on the Asylum’s history.
At the event, you’ll be able to meet THG members and buy copies of the book for £5 (card payments accepted). There’ll be photos and other items on show which have been donated to the THG in the course of their research. You’ll also be able to see the reinstated galleon and plaque in the library, which was unveiled in July.
More info via their website.
Comedy fundraiser for local charities on Friday 28 November 2025 at Wandsworth Civic Suite!
Get ready for a night of non-stop laughter and community spirit at the Wandsworth Mayoral Charities’ Comedy Night – a special fundraising event in support of the Mayor’s three chosen charities: Mindworks UK, Wandsworth Oasis, and Wandsworth Welcomes Refugees.
🗓 Date: Friday 28 November 2025
🕢 Time: 7:30pm
📍 Venue: Wandsworth Civic Suite, SW18 2PU
There’s an incredible line-up of comedians on the night, including Tiff Stevenson, Stella Graham, Kyle Wallace, Nick Bain and Mister Naif!
🎟 Tickets: £25 + booking fee (individual seats in rows)
🍸 Limited food and drink options will be available for purchase during the performance
🎁 Raffle prizes to be won!
Book via TicketTailor.
FREE ‘Prelude to Christmas’ Churches Together concert in Tooting this Sunday 23rd November, 3pm, at All Saints Church!
There’ll be choral music from past and present centuries, poetry, instrumental solos and poetry, readings and prayer.
CHanTOns!, Churches Together’s choir, will sing items by Parry, Berlioz, and modern composers Will Todd and Philip Stopford.
There’ll be hot drinks and mince pies afterwards.
Everyone welcome!
📍All Saints Church, Brudenell Road, SW17 8DQ
Struggling to sell your home? Tooting-based property advisor Chuk, of Homes With Chuk, explains why rethinking your strategy might work better than dropping the price…
“If your home has been on the market for 16 weeks (or more) with no sale, it’s worth rethinking the strategy rather than instantly cutting the price.
“Yes, the asking price might need tweaking — but even if you reduce it, buyers can still see how long you’ve been listed, and that often encourages lower offers because they think you’re getting desperate.
“A fresh approach can be far more effective. Think new energy, new agent, new photography, proper video marketing and real social media exposure.
“Even professional staging (if required) can make a huge difference — and it’s far cheaper than dropping the price by tens of thousands. A reduction like that is a major hit for you as a seller… but in truth, to an agent it might only mean a few hundred pounds difference in their fee.
“This time of year is crucial: updated photos before the Christmas decorations go up, a new strategy, and a quality video that people can watch over the holidays will put you in a far better position than the old ‘list on Boxing Day’ myth. If you’re feeling stuck, you don’t have to be — the right plan can completely change your outcome.”
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!
🎄🎄🎄RETURNING TO TOOTING THIS SATURDAY 22ND NOVEMBER – SW17 Premier Trees will be BACK on the corner of Garratt Lane and Greaves Place with Christmas trees of all shapes and sizes! Follow them on Instagram or Facebook for more info!
Meet Hollie, a new expert hygienist at Ten Dental on Balham High Road! If you’ve not visited the hygienist for a while, it’s important to book in, so that they can check for any gum disease & remove stains, and make your teeth sparkle again – perfect in time for Christmas!
Regular visits to a dental hygienist are an important part of oral healthcare, and can keep your teeth and gums in better condition for longer.
Ten Dental Facial is an award-winning practice, offering general, family, cosmetic & implant dentistry. Their expert hygienists (including Hollie) can:
• Remove harmful plaque and calculus
• Prevent gum disease and tooth decay
• Give you oral health tips for the festive period
• Remove stains and make your teeth sparkle
To find out more and to book to see a hygienist, WhatsApp 07907 366 397, call 020 8675 1798, email hello@tendental.com or pop in!
Ten Dental is located at 156 Balham High Road, with a clinic in Clapham too.
You can also visit their website.
Wandsworth residents are once again being offered free bags of grit and rock salt as part of the Council’s annual winter initiative to tackle snow and ice.
With temperatures falling over the winter months, the council is once more offering borough residents up to 50 kilos of grit, free-of-charge, to help them clear frozen footpaths.
Residents who want to take advantage of the offer should visit the council depot in Dormay Street (SW18 1EY) between 9am and 12pm on Saturday 15 November and Saturday 22 November.
The council is also supplying sacks of grit to Wandsworth’s 200 neighbourhood watch co-ordinators and filling up grit bins across the borough so that local people have an immediate stock close at hand.
More info, including the location of your nearest salt bin, via Wandsworth Council.
There’s a HUGE CLOSING DOWN SALE at I & A Fashions on Mitcham Road in Tooting. The store, which has been located there since 1993, is closing on 31st December – and in preparation, owner, Mohammed is having a massive stock clearance – with the vast majority of men’s, women’s & children’s clothing items priced at either £1, £2, £5, £10 or £15.
You’ll find a huge array of dresses, skirts, shirts, ties, trousers, jogging bottoms, trainers, children’s clothes & formal wear – and much, much more – all at those bargain prices.
Please note, that school uniform is not included in the sale.
I & A Fashions is located at 84 Mitcham Road, Tooting, open 7 days a week from 10am (11am Sunday).
Tooting resident Alexia and business partner Troy have launched a new community-driven service, EasyClick, to help older adults feel confident and capable using everyday technology. From mobile phones and tablets to video calling and email, EasyClick offers patient, one-on-one support — online or in person — designed specifically for older users.
“We’re not just fixing devices — we’re building confidence,” says Alexia, “Our goal is to make sure no one feels left behind just because technology keeps changing.”
Services include:
• Personalised tech support for phones, tablets, laptops
• Help with video calling, email, apps, and online safety
• In-home visits for customers in South London
• Remote sessions available for customers in the United Kingdom
The service also aims to help concerned family members ensure their loved ones can stay connected, safely and confidently.
To find out more and to book a session:
Mobile: 07352960226 / 07407443813
Email: support@easyclicktech.co.uk
Web: www.easyclicktech.co.uk
The CS7 cycle superhighway, which runs through Tooting, Balham and Clapham, has been named as the most dangerous place in London for cyclists for the third successive year, reports The Standard:
“The Upper Tooting Road section of the CS7 blue-painted route, which is largely unsegregated from vehicles, has repeatedly been highlighted by the London Cycling Campaign as a risk to cyclists and pedestrians.
“This is because of the number of “rat running” motorists who cut across the cycleway, in particular at the junctions with Ansell Road, Lessingham Avenue and Derinton Road. An average of two cyclists a year are seriously injured and four report minor injuries.
“Cyclists using CS7 also face further danger further north at the junction of Clapham High Street and Gauden Road and at the junction of Balham High Road and Ramsden Road, according to LCC.”
Full story via The Standard.
Tooting French restaurant Bordelaise are holding a ‘Raclette Night’ on Thursday 11th December, offering unlimited raclette (served with a selection of cured meats, potatoes & gherkins, with veggie options available) for 1 hour 30 mins for just £25pp! There’s also Live Music throughout the evening!
To book a table at Bordelaise for Raclette Night on Thursday 11th December, visit their website or email reservations.bordelaise@gmail.com
You’ll find Bordelaise located in Broadway Market Tooting, open from 5pm, Tuesday-Thursday and from 12 Noon, Friday-Sunday.
Celebrate the Christmas period with friends, family & colleagues at award-winning Tooting Thai restaurant Kaosarn!
Kaosarn has a special Christmas set menu (£28pp) – and if you book and pay a deposit by 30th November, they’ll give you a FREE bottle of red or white wine per 6 people.
Located on Tooting High Street, the family-run Kaosarn serves a diverse range of authentic Thai dishes, both classic & modern, in their recently redecorated, cosy, open-plan kitchen / restaurant.
The special Christmas set menu (£28pp - based on 4 people sharing), consists of all of the following:
Mixed Starters Platter (vegetarian options available) with prawn crackers – chicken satay, vegetable spring rolls, and chicken wings, served with sweet chilli sauce, peanut sauce, and spicy Jeaw chilli sauce.
Mains (vegetarian options available): Chicken green curry, Fish with red (chu chee) curry sauce, Duck with tamarind sauce, Stir-fry egg noodles, Mixed vegetables in garlic sauce, Steamed jasmine rice.
You’ll find Kaosarn located at 181 Tooting High Street (a short walk from Tooting Broadway tube). To book, please call 0208 672 8811, email kaosarn@kaosarntooting.co.uk or visit their booking page.
สุขสันต์วันคริสต์มาสและสวัสดีปีใหม่!
Please note: the restaurant is cash-only.
Tooting’s rooftop cocktail bar, AND THEN, is ready for winter! The venue is fully covered with its retractable roof, plus heating throughout, and they’re stocked with cosy blankets – so you can enjoy cocktails, food, games and great times!
The rooftop bar serves cocktails, wine and beer, AND you can order food from Honest Burgers and Yard Sale Pizza direct to your table!
You can also enjoy their Happy Hour, with cocktails at £7.50 every Tuesday to Saturday (5pm to 9pm) and Sunday (2pm to 7pm)!
Happy hour cocktails include Mojitos, Tommy’s Margaritas, Palomas and Espresso Martinis, with bottles of Prosecco for just £30, and Peroni Rossa beer for a fiver!
📍54a Tooting High Street, just over the road from Tooting Broadway tube.
Book your table via their website – walk-ins also welcome!
And head over to our Instagram for a chance to win one of THREE £100 bar tabs!
£1 COFFEES AT CUP COFFEE IN TOOTING THIS WEEKEND!
Recently opened Cup Coffee (50 Trinity Road, near Tooting Bec station) have joined new local rewards app, Burdi, and to celebrate they’re offering £1 coffees for the first 300 people who pay using the app from this Friday to Sunday (21st-23rd November)!
It takes less than a minute to download and set up Burdi, so be sure to have it ready before you head down! Once you’re in the café, simply open the app and follow the on-screen steps to pay for your £1 coffee.
Burdi gives you instant reward points every time you shop at independent local spots. Points can be spent like cash at Cup Coffee and other partner venues in Tooting on discounts or freebies – a nice little bonus for regulars and anyone who shops locally. Other independents include Squeezed, Oh My Deli, Molten Toffee and Coffee Max, with more joining every week.
Cup Coffee is a new independent coffee shop serving specialty Assembly coffee, deli sandwiches, pastries and snacks. They’re passionate about minimising their environmental impact and creating a welcoming community space.
Opening hours: Monday–Friday 6:30am–3pm, Saturday–Sunday 8am–4pm.
T&Cs apply. 300 £1 coffees available Friday 21st-Sunday 23rd November 2025 at Cup Coffee, 50 Trinity Road, SW17 7RH. One standard sized coffee per customer who pays with the fully downloaded Burdi app.
More info about Burdi on their website.
Congratulations to South London food charity Be Enriched (who run a Community Canteen in Tooting) on being awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service for 2025! This is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK, and is equivalent to an MBE.
Be Enriched has been using food to bring people together, reduce waste and tackle social isolation for people facing socio-economic inequality for over a decade. In 2024, they worked with more than 1,200 volunteers to run Community Canteens in Tooting, Clapham and Elephant & Castle, turning surplus food into nutritious three-course meals, offering spaces of connection to those who need it most.
Volunteers also help operate a double-decker Food Bus and a Food Float, bringing affordable, fresh and culturally appropriate groceries directly to housing estates, schools and hospitals. Alongside this, Be Enriched delivers cooking clubs and school-holiday food provision so children who rely on free school meals stay fed, active and supported outside of term time.
Be Enriched CEO Kemi Akinola said: “We are incredibly honoured that Be Enriched’s work has been recognised with The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. Our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. This award belongs to every person who gives their time, kindness and energy to make sure our neighbours and friends can eat well, feel connected and be part of a community. We are immensely proud of them.”
Be Enriched are currently fundraising to provide Christmas meals and vital winter food to communities across London from December to January. Do donate, visit their Crowdfunder.
Want to join Be Enriched? You can sign up to volunteer via their website.
Ronald McDonald House Tooting, which provides free ‘home away from home’ accommodation for families with critically ill children at St George’s Hospital, is marking World Prematurity Day (17 November) by sharing the incredible story of one of their longest-staying families — Jacob’s family, who spent 308 days at the house!
Jacob was born in February 2024 at just 28 weeks (12 weeks early). At 11 days old, his breathing deteriorated, prompting an urgent transfer to St George’s Hospital. His condition was critical, with dangerously high CO2 levels and collapsed lungs. For the following week, Jacob and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) consultants fought tirelessly to save his life.
His family were offered a room at Ronald McDonald House Tooting, which would be their home for more than 300 days.
In March 2025, after 13 months in both the NICU and Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), they were discharged home. It took a couple of weeks to settle in, but they slowly got into a routine and Jacob continued to thrive. It’s now November and Jacob has come off half of the medications he returned home with. Day to day, Jacob is fully engaged in activities.
Jacob’s parents said, “One of the biggest worries over the course of the 13 months was leaving Jacob each evening and not being close enough if he needed us. Ronald McDonald House played a huge role in alleviating that concern and being less than five minutes away made a world of difference, easing our anxieties about leaving him. Being so close to Jacob made a huge difference in his recovery as it allowed us to spend more time with him, making him smile and entertaining him, giving him even more reasons to keep fighting.”
Read more of Jacob’s story here.
You can find out more about Ronald McDonald House Tooting on their website.
Over the past two and a half weeks, Tooting Works has been overwhelmed with donations to support Jamaica in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa.
Tooting Works are temporarily pausing donations while they organise and dispatch the contributions already received, with plans to reopen in the coming weeks. CEO Felicia Mattis-Rome and the Tooting Works team would like to extend heartfelt thanks to everyone who has donated and to the community for coming together to support families in need.
Donations are going to Jamaican charity Crisis Support Charity, who are working on the ground to rebuild communities.
Tooting Works is located at 89 Bickersteth Road, SW17 9SH.
A stunning photo of daybreak over Tooting Bec Lido, captured by Simon Townsend (Instagram: @droning_on_in_london) – thanks for sharing!
The Ladz has opened at 229 Upper Tooting Road (where Raheem Stores was previously located), serving peri peri chicken, pizza, burgers, wraps fries, salads, sides, and more.
All food is halal and veggie options are available. Open 11am-1am Monday to Thursday, 11am-2am Friday to Sunday for eat-in and takeaway, plus delivery via Uber Eats. More info via The Ladz website.
Congratulations and good luck to Asad, Arsalan, Zeeshan and the team!
The great storm of 1914 was a series of severe thunderstorms over south-west London that caused serious damage to Tooting, other parts of London and the surrounding areas.
More info, including newspaper reports from the time, via Wanstead Meteo.
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