Tooting Newsie Weekly Newsletter
Events galore, food & drink deals, a rescued fox, sports grants available, Tooting discounts, community heroes celebrated, new openings, and much more!
Our weekly newsletter is sponsored by Tooting’s family-run Lahore Karahi – a local institution since 1995! – who are currently offering 20% OFF all collection orders when you order direct via their website at lahorekarahi.co.uk. Ts & Cs apply.
Here’s what’s coming up at Tooting’s House of Ora!
FRIDAY 24th JULY | 6pm-late
🇻🇪 LA FIESTA DE SAN JUAN IS BACK! 💃
Experience the spirit of Venezuela with an unforgettable night of Latin music, live Afro-Venezuelan drums led by Orlando Poleo and Baldo Verdu, delicious food, and non-stop dancing. The fundraising event is to support the victims of the recent devastating double earthquake in Venezuela. Tickets via Liqui Liqui.
SATURDAY 25th JULY | 3pm-6pm
⚡ WATT NOW – Next Generation 3 ⚡
🎶 An afternoon dedicated to developing young talent through music, culture and community. Expect DJ workshops, hands-on learning, live performances, dubplate showcases, and networking opportunities.
Whether you’re an aspiring DJ, a music lover or just looking to be part of something positive, WATT NOW is all about inspiring the next wave of talent in South London.
SUNDAY 2ND AUGUST | from 6.30pm
Soul Sessions LIVE: Where Soul Lives. Where the Groove Begins
Join legendary Brian Henry (The Jacksons, Soul II Soul) & Nadine Caesar (Soul II Soul), backed by The Syndicate Band, for an unforgettable evening celebrating the very best of Soul, R&B, Neo Soul, Funk & Rare Groove.
Tickets via Ticket Tailor.
SATURDAY 15TH AUGUST | 🕙10pm–late
IKON, a brand-new queer nightlife event 🪩🌈 with a mission to create a welcoming, inclusive space for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies in South West London. Expect incredible DJs, unforgettable music and a dancefloor where everyone belongs.
Use exclusive discount code FRIENDSOFIKON for £10 entry, including a welcome drink. 🎟️ Tickets via Outsavvy.
Enquiries: info@wearehouseofora.co.uk
📍 House of ORA, 48A Mitcham Rd, Tooting, SW17 9NA
TOOTING WINE FEST 2026 IS BACK for its 2nd year at Indie Wine Club in Tooting Market, on Saturday 8th August, 4pm-6pm...and this year it’s EVEN bigger!! 🍷🍇
Join Indie Wine Club for their biggest Summer wine tasting – 40 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. Indie Wine Club will tell you all about them – no prior wine knowledge necessary!
Get your tickets now for just £30 per person (and don’t forget to tell your friends)!
For more info and to book, visit Indie Wine Club.
📍Indie Wine Club, Tooting Market, 21-23 Tooting High Street, SW17 0SN
THIS SATURDAY IN TOOTING! The final Tooting Farmers Market is back before it goes on a month’s break for the summer!
Come along and join them on 25th July, 9am-2pm, at St Nicholas Church and expect an amazing mix of lovely stalls offering some of the best in food, drinks, crafts, condiments and more!
This month features local business and beer masters Br3wery sponsoring the market with their delicious craft beer for you to enjoy and take home, or perhaps gift to someone special.
Local collective South London Vinyl Experience will be there as usual to soundtrack the day with their eclectic mix of tunes and vibes.
Come along and soak up the atmosphere and support the many local makers and producers!
📍 St Nicholas Church, corner of Mitcham Road and Church Lane, SW17 9PP
🚨 TUFF NUTTERZ IS BACK ON TOOTING COMMON 24TH–27TH JULY! 🚨
Take on the UK’s biggest inflatable obstacle course, race your friends and family, conquer the giant slide... and don’t miss the brand NEW activities that are making their Tooting debut! 🎉
Whether you’ve bounced with Tuff Nutterz before or it’s your first visit, this is one event you won’t want to miss.
🎟️ Book your tickets now before sessions sell out via their website.
📍 Tooting Common (just by the lido)
📅 24th–27th July
Tooting-based property advisor Homes with Chuk rounds up the last few weeks...
“There has been activity in the market. Swipe for how Tooting, Balham and Streatham are looking right now. See my full Instagram post and swipe → to find out more.
“🔑 I handed over keys to a really cool first-time buyer as he completed on his new home. That beaming smile says it all. I’m looking forward to my housewarming invite pal. 😂
“💌 Got the loveliest thank-you card (and a generous gift) from a set of sellers I’ve enjoyed working with. Not going to lie, I’ll miss our WhatsApp group, although I’m sure we’ll stay in touch.
“🏡 A gorgeous 2-bed maisonette with a garden just landed on Glasford Street... fresh photos, fresh video, the lot. Take a peek at the full walkthrough on my Instagram page (yes, that tiny dot on the drone shot is me).
“☕ Sat down with Krish and Joey from arêvery for the latest Meet The Neighbours...the full chat is live on my page; go give it a watch if you missed it.
“🎉 And then there was the brilliant Tooting Works Summer Party...good food, better company, and confirmation that face paint and grown adults are always a winning combination.
“Born and raised in Tooting. Looking after a small handful of homes across Tooting, Balham & Streatham, personally.”
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!
Looking to transform your outdoor space this summer? Meet Leo, local garden designer & founder of London Garden – who has been creating beautiful gardens across south west London for over 15 years!
Leo and the London Garden team work on spaces of all shapes and sizes – from large gardens with outdoor kitchens and garden offices, to terraces, balconies and even indoor planting schemes. Whatever your space, they can bring it to life – check out these recent local projects in Tooting & Balham!
But London Garden is about more than just beautiful design. Leo tells us, “I started London Garden because I believe that gardens are more than just beautiful places – they can heal, inspire, and bring balance into our lives. Even the smallest touch of greenery – a balcony plant, an indoor corner, a carefully designed garden – can reduce stress, spark joy, and make people feel at home in their own space.
“As a father of two and someone who has always loved the outdoors, I understand how vital it is to have places where families, children, and individuals can find peace, recharge, and connect with nature.”
London Garden offer a full range of services including design and planting, building and landscaping, and ongoing maintenance – so your space continues to thrive long after the work is done.
To find out more or get in touch, visit london-garden.co.uk, email contact@london-garden.co.uk, or call Leo on 07789 186 610.
Whatever your fitness starting point, Enhance Fitness in Earlsfield are here to help you get fitter, stronger and more confident!
Whether you’ve had a previous injury, feel out of shape, low in confidence, unsure where to begin, or just frustrated with stopping and starting – Enhance are here to help, with expert coaches, a genuinely personal approach, and a brilliant community behind you every step of the way.
One of the ways to get started is through their 6 Week Transformation Trial*, which gives you everything you need to see real results:
⭐ 12 Small Group PT sessions (capped at 4:1 ratio)
⭐ 12 Group classes (METCON, Hybrid, Hyrox, Pre/Post Natal, ZONE)
⭐ Nutrition pack
⭐ Movement & body composition assessment
⭐ Your own personal accountability coach
⭐ Weekly check-ins throughout
To find out more about all the options offered by Enhance Fitness, visit enhance-fitness.com, email info@enhance-fitness.com or call 07716 506 009.
📍 Enhance Fitness: 593 Garratt Lane, Earlsfield, SW18 4ST. Also in Clapham Old Town!
*new members only
Every child that takes part in a pottery session (whether painting or handbuilding) at Social Pottery in Balham over the summer holidays will get a FREE ‘Pip’ juice!
Social Pottery offer all sorts of fantastic courses for their little customers - and their teachers are excited to welcome all ages to their beautiful studio!
❄️ Air-conditioned studio
🧋 Refreshing iced drinks
🎨 Relax, paint, and make something beautiful.
To find out more and book a class, call 020 3859 2951, email balham@socialpottery.com or pop in! You can also visit their website.
Social Pottery is located at 7, Station Parade, Balham High Road, SW12 9AZ.
*T’s & C’s apply - FREE Pip juice available over summer holidays only, at Balham branch only.
There are lots of business offering discounts for NHS, emergency service workers and students in Tooting, Earlsfield and Furzedown!
We’ve created a list of businesses offering discounts – visit bit.ly/tootingdiscounts to find out more. And don’t forget to check back as we update the page!
Congratulations to local author, Laura Baggaley, on the publication of Nourish, her new dystopian thriller for young adults!
Published this week by Habitat Press, Nourish has been longlisted for the Yeovil Literary Prize.
About Nourish: Cal lives in a post-food world. People don’t eat. They have Nutritional Provision.
When Cal is enrolled in a fancy boarding school after the death of his father, he discovers a rare edible substance that forces him to question everything he’s been told about nourishment.
Determined to discover more, he joins forces with classmate Andi, heiress to the Nutritional Provision Corporation. But as their investigations lead to trouble and a friend’s life is in danger, will they dare risk everything to expose the truth?
Laura was also been awarded the gold medal for ‘Best Book for Teenagers’ in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards for her previous novel Dirt, also published by Habitat Press.
To find out more and to purchase a copy, visit Habitat Press.
Tooting Fire Brigade came to the rescue of a baby fox trapped on the roof above shops & houses on Balham High Road last week – helping it safely back down to the ground. You can watch videos of the incident on our Instagram.
The team from Charlotte Cave, along with other store owners and residents were also on the scene to try and help! Thanks to local resident @jesslltaylor (Instagram) for sharing!
Thames Water has become the latest water company to announce a hosepipe ban, officially beginning today, Thursday 23rd July.
Five other water companies have already imposed bans; about 23 million people will be banned from using hosepipes by this weekend, as England and Wales moves closer to drought status. Full story via The Guardian.
The Furzedown Project’s Summer Fayre raised a fantastic £1,244.50 on Saturday! The money will go towards a new awning for the reception/computer area, which is getting unbearably hot in the summer months. If you’d like to donate, you can do so HERE.
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 on their website.
SPONSORED CONTENT
🇮🇹 20% OFF all food at newly-opened L’Assaggino al Mercato in Broadway Market!
Looking for authentic Italian & Sardinian flavours? You’ll find fresh homemade pasta, traditional Sardinian dishes, delicious Italian cheeses, cured meats, and carefully selected ingredients imported from Italy at L’Assaggino al Mercato.
Every dish is freshly prepared with passion, bringing the authentic taste of Italy to the heart of Tooting.
To celebrate their opening, they’re treating you to 20% OFF all food throughout August. Whether you’re stopping by for a quick lunch, enjoying their Lunch Menu for £15.90 or meeting friends for an aperitivo with 2 Spritzes for just £14, there’s something for everyone.
Visit L’Assaggino al Mercato at Broadway Market, bring your friends, and experience the true flavours of Italy. Buon Appetito! ❤️🍝
Vegetarian, vegan, halal and gluten-free options available. Open 12pm-3pm, 6pm-10pm Tuesday to Saturday, and 12pm-5pm Sunday.
Info and booking via their website.
📍 L’Assaggino al Mercato at Broadway Market, 29 Tooting High St, SW17 0SP
🍖 Enjoy UNLIMITED baby back Ribs served with fries & slaw for 1 hour for ONLY £15 EVERY Saturday, 12-6pm & Sunday, 12-10pm at the brilliant Dell Boyz Bar in Broadway Market!
Dell Boyz’ mouthwatering ribs are hickory baby back pork ribs – the 1 hour starts when the first dish arrives at the table and customers can ask for as many ribs as they like throughout the hour!
There’s also Happy Hour on cocktails all night, EVERY Saturday & Sunday too - with 2 Cocktails for just £14.95.
To claim this fantastic offer, you MUST book a table in advance. To do so, either:
• Visit their website at dellboyz.com
• DM @dellboyzbar (Instagram)
• Call / text 07789 502 421
📍 Unit 2-10, 29 Tooting High Street, Broadway Market Tooting, SW17 0RJ, open Tuesday to Sunday, 12 Noon - 11pm.
🌞 KIDS EAT FREE THIS SUMMER at Vermicelli in Tooting Market! 🍕🍝
Vermicelli are offering FREE meals for all children aged 12 and under with every paying adult.
Enjoy their fresh, homemade pasta and artisan sourdough pizzas, lovingly made at Vermicelli since 2022.
So bring your little ones, bring your appetite, and let the kids enjoy a delicious meal on Vermicelli!
Vegetarian, vegan and halal options available. Eat-in only. Ts and Cs apply.
Booking via their website.
📍 Vermicelli, Tooting Market, 21-23 Tooting High Street, SW17 0SN
🍕 Fresh sourdough pizza
🍝 Homemade pasta
☀️ Available throughout the summer
Juicy steaks, mixed grills, loaded fries, chicken wings and more at The Butcher Grill in Tooting Market!
The Butchers Grill uses only fresh, premium-quality halal meat, grilled over real charcoal for that perfect smoky flavour.
Enjoy succulent steak with fries, mixed grills, loaded fries, charcoal-grilled chicken wings, their famous chimichurri sauce, and much more – all freshly prepared!
Open every day, 12pm-10:30pm at Tooting Market, 21-23 Tooting High Street, SW17 0SN
Spain won the World Cup – and, as a result, three local residents won something even better! Congratulations to the winners of Earlsfield Thai restaurant, Phakoon’s World Cup Prediction Giveaway! 🏆
Phakoon would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who dined there during the tournament and took part – the response was brilliant!
And if you didn’t win this time, don’t worry – Phakoon’s incredible authentic Thai food is worth a visit any time!
Located right by Earlsfield station, family-run Phakoon have been earning rave reviews since they opened in 2023, serving authentic Thai food that’s full of heart and flavour. Tuck into their fantastic sharing platters, small plates, soups, stir-fries, curries, signature dishes and more – available for lunch and dinner.
You’ll find Phakoon at 346-348 Garratt Lane, SW18 4ES, open 7 days a week from Noon. They also have a branch in Balham!
To book a table or order takeaway, visit phakoonthai.com
Howden Insurance Tooting is proud to continue to support local reading charity Learn to love to read by helping to provide books for children in our local community.
Smallwood Primary in Tooting is a partner school with Learn to Love to Read, and when they said they needed board books for their resource base, which is expanding this September, they turned to Howden Tooting to support the school and charity.
Marian Dowling, Office Manager at Howden said: “When Learn to Love to Read approached us about a project at Smallwood Primary School, we were delighted to help.
“The school’s Early Years provision needed board books for its youngest readers but was facing challenges in funding their purchase.
“Thanks to our donation, a collection of new children’s books has now been provided to support early literacy and encourage a love of reading from the very start of a child’s educational journey.
“We know that reading plays a vital role in a child’s development, and we’re pleased to work alongside organisations like Learn to Love to Read that make such a positive difference to children and families across our community. A huge thank you to the team at Learn to Love to Read for the incredible work they do.”
Tara Coffin, Director of Learn to Love to Read, said, “We would like to thank Howden Tooting for their ongoing support to us and to our local schools. This donation of books is going to make such a difference to so many children and provide hours of enjoyment and support for speech and language and reading development.”
As part of their commitment to promoting reading within the community, Howden Tooting also offers a free Book Exchange initiative from their branch. Whether you’d like to swap a book, donate a book, or simply browse for your next read, you’re always welcome to visit them at 149–155 Mitcham Road, Tooting, SW17 9PG.
Find out more about Learn to Love to Read on their website.
Furzedown got together on Saturday night to celebrate their community heroes!
Dawn Thomas, chair of Furzedown Community Network (FCN) introduced author Marcel Theroux (brother of Louis Theroux), and crime court judge & crime writer, Nicola Williams.
Together they presented over 30 awards to local people of all ages who make the Furzedown community such a vibrant place to live – from guerilla gardeners on the roundabouts and green fingered Furzedown FACE fundraisers, to musicians, writers and artists who have volunteered their skills.
Awards were also presented to the volunteers and teams from the Furzedown Project and Furzedown Youth Centre as well as everyone behind events like the FCN Fun Day, Jazz on the Lawn, Furzedown Litfest, Furzedown and Tooting Pride, and many other community activities.
The hall was packed and everyone was entertained by local singers, dancers and musicians, followed by celebratory bubbles!
Find out more about FCN via furzedown.net
A very happy retirement to Tooting resident Ulis, who’s been Fircroft School’s Lollipop Lady for the last 11 years!
Ulis, a familiar and much-loved face around Tooting, tells us, “I am retiring and so this is the end of my lollipopping! I have had such a wonderful time working with the families and staff at Fircroft School and the wider community.
“I want to say a huge thank you to every person who has said hello, waved, tooted and stopped for a little chat, commented on my earrings and footwear, and told me how brave I am to be out in all weathers.
“I have met so many lovely people and dogs on my walks & bus rides to & from work as well as on my corners.
“It has been real privilege to have this job. Thank you.”
We’d like to wish Ulis all the very best for the future!
Got a great idea for how to improve access to sports and physical activity for residents across Wandsworth? Your initiative could benefit from a cash boost of up to £5,000 through the latest round of Wandsworth Council’s sports development grant fund.
The grants are split into two categories, covering community access as well as grants specifically designed to boost opportunities for inclusive access for women and girls.
Grants for new sports programmes and activities are worth up to £5,000 each, while grants to pay for infrastructure projects and work that improves physical facilities or equipment have no maximum amount.
Applications must be made by 25 August 2026; decisions will be made within six weeks of the closing date. Full info, including how to apply, via Wandsworth Council.
COMING SOON TO TOOTING: Traid (who have around a dozen charity shops across London) have installed new signage at their soon-to-open premises at 57-59 Tooting High Street (previously half of the premises occupied by Bargain Town).
We’ll keep you posted...
Gadgets Hive has opened at 1 Selkirk Road (where The Printing Place was previously located), selling (and buying) mobile phones, accessories, tablets, laptops and more. They also offer a repair service.
Open 10am-8pm Monday to Sunday. More info via gadgetshive.co.uk
Congratulations and good luck to the team!
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