Tooting Newsie Weekly Newsletter
Just one week until Christmas! Here's what's happening in Tooting...
Entries for The Wandsworth Business Awards are now OPEN!
Hosted by the Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce, the awards are the biggest annual event in their calendar. They encourage all businesses within the borough to enter the awards – it’s free to enter, and there are 14 categories to choose from (each business can select up to 3 categories).
Entries are open until 13th March 2026. You can enter the awards here.
Wandsworth Chamber is also hosting a Mix & Mingle Tooting & Balham event at Howden Insurance Tooting on Tuesday 20th January – more info and booking via Eventbrite.
Last week, a fire started in one of Wandsworth Council’s recycling trucks because batteries were thrown in a household bin. Their team acted quickly, and no injuries occurred, but it could have been much worse.
Please help keep everyone safe:
❌ Never put batteries in your rubbish or recycling bins
✅ Please use local battery recycling points or return them to shops that sell batteries
There are battery recycling points across the borough, including in Tooting and Balham. Find out more about how and where to recycle your batteries via Wandsworth Council.
Wandsworth Council has started issuing speeding fines to cyclists on Tooting Common, after deploying staff with a speed gun to monitor a popular commuter route from South West London, reports London Centric.
Resident doctors from Tooting’s St George’s Hospital are striking until 7am on Monday 22nd December, joining a national five days of industrial action over a long-running pay and jobs dispute.
The Guardian has a report on the strike here.
While many appointments will need to be rescheduled due to the strikes, patients should still attend unless they hear otherwise – and should always go to hospital in an emergency. More info via St George’s.
Police officers attended Colliers Wood Underground station following reports at 10.30am on Wednesday 17 December of a fight between three young men involving knives. A man in his 20s was arrested at the station on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon. He has been taken to hospital with injuries that are not thought to be life-threatening or life-changing.
Enquiries are ongoing, and anyone who has information or witnessed the incident is asked to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 211 of 17 December.
📷 Google Maps
Tooting-based property advisor Homes With Chuk, explains why Boxing Day isn’t always the best time to launch your property…
“As expected, there haven’t been as many new properties new to the market this month compared with last – mainly because people are holding off for the so-called Boxing Day Boom the portals love to hype.
“After 14 years on the high street, I can honestly say: it’s more marketing than meaningful advantage, as most agents are closed over Christmas – including Boxing Day – or running on very limited staff. So while your property might go live on Boxing Day and attract clicks, it’s highly unlikely anyone will be there to deal with those enquiries in real time.
“Therefore, what’s the real benefit? In reality, the first proper viewings usually won’t happen until the first week of January 2026 – so why rush to be listed in December 2025 when potential buyers won’t be able to have meaningful conversations until January?
“For me, the best time to launch is:
✅ When you’re ready
✅ When your home looks its best (Christmas decorations down, fresh photos)
✅ In that first week or so of January, when people are back, and agents are actually open (unless your agent is ‘teasing’ your home on social media over that period as I’ll be doing)
“One more stat for you – there are currently 686+ homes in SW17, SW16 & SW12 that have been on the market for 12 weeks or more. That’s a lot of sellers who deserve a fresh start and a better strategy in 2026.
“If your home has been on the market longer than you’d hoped, or you’re thinking of selling in 2026, feel free to contact me for a chat. No pressure, just honest advice (with coffee and biscuits) and a strategy that makes sense.”
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!
🎄Only a week until Christmas! Have you got your tree yet? Tooting’s SW17 Premier Trees have trees of all shapes and sizes at 882 Garratt Lane (just by Tooting Leisure Centre)! Trees start at just £25, and as always, they’re offering FREE local delivery!
Pop in to see them Monday-Friday 9.30am-8pm, Saturday 9am-7pm and Sunday 9am-6.30pm, or DM @sw17premiertrees (Instagram) for orders and enquiries. 🎄🎄🎄
Planning a home improvement project for 2026? Local construction company M Asllani Constructions are now taking bookings for January onwards – and whether you’re dreaming of a bespoke kitchen designed around your style, a loft conversion for a bright new living space, or a fresh new look for your business or studio, Manthi and his highly-experienced team are here to bring it all to life.
Manthi tells us more about his business:
“Every space tells a story, and we combine traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques to help you get your home or business exactly as you want it, delivering results that last.
“We specialise in the following construction work:
• Bespoke Kitchens & Furniture: tailored designs built around your style and needs
• Carpentry & Joinery: precision woodwork for doors, wardrobes, and interiors
• Flooring & Tiling: durable, stylish installations
• Painting & Decorating: seamless finishes that refresh and elevate
• Renovations, Extensions & Repairs: complete home improvements from start to finish
“No project is too small, no vision is too big. We create custom-made solutions for every client, and all of our work is built on detail, quality, and care.”
To find out more and to book in a free quote, call or text Manthi at 07903 208 450 or email manthos09@icloud.com
Run an independent high street business in Tooting? Join Burdi, the rewards network your neighbours are talking about! Burdi gives small businesses a fast, easy way to offer rewards without loyalty cards, extra hardware or complicated set-ups — and it helps local independents support one another through a shared rewards community.
Burdi’s co-founder, Chun, tells us, “Tooting is full of brilliant independent businesses, and many of them are now using Burdi to reward their customers.
“We’ve been meeting local businesses across SW17 this month, and the response has been amazing. From cafés to dry cleaners to sushi spots, Tooting’s venues are joining the Burdi network to make rewarding their regular customers simple.
“Across London, Burdi supports a wide range of independents – from bookshops to grocers, salons to cafés – helping customers earn and spend rewards wherever they shop local.
“If you run a small business in Tooting and want to keep customers coming back, we’d love to chat!”
Email hello@burdi.app with the message “TOOTING” to get started!
Tooting’s Royal Mahal has undergone a complete refurb, and the new space looks amazing!
Director, Arfan, tells us: “The ambience has been uplifted with elegant detailing, warm lighting and a premium dining feel that creates a memorable experience from the moment you walk in.
“Alongside this, we’ve introduced exciting new dishes such as our signature Kohinoor Platter, is a grand mixed meat feast that celebrates the best of our popular chargrills. We also continue to serve customer favourites such as dynamite chicken, masala fish, fresh karahis, sizzling grills and irresistible desserts which continue to be crowd pleasers!
“Come and visit our visit our glamorous new space and find out why we were awarded ‘Best Restaurant 2025’ at this year’s Asian Food & Restaurant Awards!”
Royal Mahal is located at 32-36 Upper Tooting Rd, SW17 7PD. To find out more and to book, visit their website.
Urgent adoption appeal! RSPCA South London are searching for a home for the lovely Nova! 🐾🖤🐾
Nova originally came to the charity in the summer and was adopted quickly. However, she did not get along with the owner’s other cat and came back to the RSPCA last month. She’s doing well in foster and has become so affectionate, but they’d love to get her a home of her own! 🏡
Nova is a chatty girl and loves to be near her foster mum. She likes to stomp all over her, looking for the purrfect warm patch, before settling down for a nap resting her head on her fosterer’s lap.
She has the deepest purr and has become known as the Barry White of cats! She also loves hanging out in the bath! 🛁
Nova is 2 years old, neutered, vaccinated, chipped, and ready to go! She’d prefer to be the only pet in the house, and would be happy with older kids. If you can give Nova the only Christmas present she wants and invite her into your family, please email enquiries@rspcasouthlondon.org.uk
Blood donations urgently needed in Tooting this Christmas! 🎄🩸🦌
Donations of blood, plasma and platelets often drop during bank holidays, including Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, with that challenge multiplied by the illness, cold weather, and busy social calendar that winter can bring.
Platelet donations last for just 7 days, meaning they’re needed every day throughout the year, but especially during bank holidays.
Platelets are tiny gold-coloured cells in your blood which help it clot and stop bleeding. Often used in cancer treatment, one platelet donation can help up to 3 adults or 12 children.
Although blood donations are separated out into component parts, including lifesaving platelets, platelet donations are given via a machine that separates them from blood meaning more can be given. The rest of platelet donors’ blood is returned back to them in the process, so donations can be made as often as every two weeks.
Donors are also needed with A negative, A positive and AB negative blood types, as these are safe to give to almost everyone and are constantly needed for patients in hospitals.
Do find out more and to book a blood or platelet donation (including at the blood donation centre at St George’s Hospital in Tooting), please visit blood.co.uk
Local charity Share (who have a garden – with a garden centre – in Tooting) are running a fundraising campaign to help open up employment opportunities for disabled adults.
Share tells us, “Only 5% of adults with a learning disability in London are in paid work. For autistic adults, it’s just 30%. Sadly, barriers such as limited opportunities, negative attitudes, communication challenges, and a lack of understanding about what disabled people can do with the right support, too often get in the way.
“Share aims to tackle this through their ‘Steps into Employment’ programmes, including ‘Steps into Horticulture’ where students learn skills for working life at the Share Garden in Tooting. Through these programmes Share supports adults with a learning disability and autistic adults to build skills, grow confidence, and connect with supported employment specialists and inclusive employers. Students also have the opportunity to learn valuable customer service skills working in Share’s on-site social enterprise garden centre.”
They’re hoping to raise £5,000 – enough to fund one student’s place on their Steps programme for a full year.
You can find out more about their campaign and donate via their Justgiving page.
What a fantastic Christmas display at this house on Burntwood Lane! 🎄🎅🏼🦌
A special day at Tooting’s St George’s Hospital, with members of AFC Wimbledon Men’s and Women’s first-teams joining Haydon the Womble and AFC Wimbledon Foundation staff on a visit to the children’s wards to spread Christmas cheer and deliver gifts last week! 🎁 🎄
The Club and Foundation would like to thank everyone who supported the Foundation’s Christmas appeal – your donations made this all possible.
They now turn their focus to the Club Together Bursary, ensuring children across the local community can take part in the Foundation programmes, keeping them active and supported. More info via their Justgiving page.
The Big Issue seller Polina is in the Christmas spirit outside Sainsbury’s at 71-77 Tooting High Street! You’ll find her there every day, 9am-4pm in the run-up to Christmas – swing by to see her for your Christmas copy (cash and card payments available)! 🎄🦌
Furzedown Project members recently celebrated Christmas with a fantastic party at Mitcham Lane Baptist Church, with a festive sing-a-long led by the Connaught Opera performers, along with food, prize-winning games, and Christmas presents.
It was all made possible thanks to the amazing volunteers who helped set everything up, preparing the food and helping transport members with mobility issues – and Howden Insurance Tooting who helped towards costs and prizes.
The Project offers all sorts of activities to tackle isolation and support well-being for older people in Wandsworth – new members and new volunteers in the New Year are very welcome!
The Furzedown Project is located at 91-93 Moyser Road, SW16 6SJ. More info, including how to volunteer, on their website.
Social Pottery, offering all sorts of pottery painting and clay handbuilding classes, workshops & events, has opened a beautiful studio at 7 Station Parade, Balham High Road (opposite St Mary’s Church) – with daytime & evening pottery experiences galore!
Social Pottery, the biggest brand of its kind in the UK, have existing locations in Camden Town, White City and Milton Keynes, and a local family have taken a franchise to open one in Balham.
Owners Anna & Eric tell us:
“Step into our Balham studio and discover a space where creativity flows, hands get muddy, and every piece tells a story. Here, you can explore the full world of ceramics: throw your first bowl on the wheel, shape clay by hand, or paint ready-made pieces with your own design.
“Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, planning a memorable date, or just craving a creative escape, we’ll craft the perfect setting to slow down and make something meaningful.
“All sessions are beginner-friendly and guided by our experienced team – just bring your curiosity and we’ll take care of the rest!!
Social Pottery Balham have listed their initial events (including both daytime & evening pottery painting experiences) on their website – with many more to follow over the coming weeks!
They’re also looking for a pottery hand-building teacher – and a pottery wheel-throwing teacher – to add to their growing team! If you’re interested - or know someone who might be - please send a message to 07730774158.
Congratulations and good luck to Anna, Eric & the team!
Mitcham Road in 1925! The view looks northwest to the junction with Tooting High Street and Garratt Lane. The Broadway Cinematograph Palace on the left and the Methodist Central Hall on the right are of course long gone, but the domed building on the corner (in the middle of the picture) still stands today.
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