Tooting Newsie Weekly Newsletter
Host a free street party, Poppy's hold an Open Day, food & drink offers, local charity news, M&S opens in Tooting (& more new business openings), a non-alcoholic spicy margarita launches, & 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. PLUS you can vote for your favourite Lahore Karahi dish this weekend (see below)!
Friends of Streatham Cemetery invite you to a FREE guided walk looking at deciduous trees, led by local tree enthusiast Andrew Graver, this Sunday 31 May.
Meet at the Chapel near the main entrance on Garratt Lane, SW17 0LT at 12.30pm. Tea & homemade cakes and jars of delicious Dead Good Honey will be available after the walk (please bring cash!).
The London Festival of Architecture (LFA) is back for a month long celebration of architecture and city-making next month, with Wandsworth Town and the Wandle Delta (just down the road from Tooting) joining as a new LFA neighbourhood.
There are all sorts of walks, talks, workshops and more for all ages planned, and many of them are free! For more info and to book, visit Welcome to Wandsworth.
Tooting-based funeral directors, Poppy’s, are welcoming the local community into their offices and mortuary on Wednesday 3 June, 2pm-3pm for their free Open Afternoon.
Visitors are invited to meet the team, learn more about Poppy’s approach to death care and see their beautiful mortuary space (a converted chapel).
“Death affects each and every one of us – but too often, what happens around a funeral is shrouded in mystery,” says Poppy’s CEO, Clare Montagu. “This often means that when we find ourselves organising one, we have no idea where to start.
“Through our Open Afternoons, we invite the public in to find out how we offer outstanding care to the living and the dead – and to demystify death and funerals a little in the process.”
The Open Afternoon starts with an introductory talk from Clare, after which members of the Poppy’s team will answer visitors’ questions - from how a person is brought into Poppy’s care, to why you can be sure the ashes you receive back after someone is cremated belong to your person.
After the formal session has closed at 3pm, attendees are invited to stay for tea, coffee and more conversation.
This event is open to the public and free to attend, but registration is required. Book your place here.
Please email marketing@poppysfunerals.co.uk with any questions.
📍 The Gatehouse, Lambeth Cemetery, Blackshaw Rd, London SW17 0BY
Congratulations to Tooting resident Ralph on the launch of One Night, a non-alcoholic, ready-to-drink, spicy margarita!
Ralph tells us, “One Night is a non-alcoholic spicy margarita with a proper cocktail burn, made with lime, chilli, agave and Himalayan rock salt, lifted by Yerba mate and mood-enhancing botanicals, and served in a 200ml can.”
“I spent months looking for something worth having as an alcohol alternative at bars, festivals or to bring to a dinner or summer party, when you just want to have a good time with your friends. Something fiery and interesting that actually tastes like a proper drink.
“One Night is the drink I couldn’t find. Fiery, sophisticated, layered, uplifting. A proper cocktail with no compromise on flavour, no sacrifice on the night and no bill to pay in the morning.”
One Night launches with a limited first run, available to pre-order now at onenightdrinks.com with free shipping on all 12-pack orders. First batch ships w/c 8th June to UK addresses only. Pre-order now to secure your cans!
One Night will also be available at festivals and venues across the country this summer, including Wellnergy Festival in Wimbledon on the 12th and 13th June.
If you’re a bar or pub who’d like to stock One Night, please contact Ralph at hello@onenightdrinks.com
And follow @onenight.drinks on Instagram for info and updates!
Tooting-based property advisor Homes with Chuk continues his ‘Meet The Neighbours’ series, this time with Royal Mahal Tooting at 32-36 Upper Tooting Road!
“For the latest episode of Meet The Neighbours, I spent time with Adil, co-owner of Royal Mahal — one of Tooting’s best-loved restaurants.
We spoke about:
👀 how it all began
🍛 the dishes locals love most
❤️ the importance of community
…and why people keep coming back again and again! 😄
This episode had so many great moments that we’ve given you 3 videos over this week.”
Part 1 — How Royal Mahal Began — is now live on Chuk’s Instagram!
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!
Howden Insurance Tooting is encouraging local homeowners to review their insurance cover, as recent data suggests that as many as 76% of buildings in the UK may be underinsured*. This could leave many facing unexpected financial shortfalls if you need to make a claim, or worse, unable to undertake repairs or a rebuild entirely. As such, Howden Tooting’s mission is to help ensure clients’ policies accurately reflect the true value of both their property and belongings.
Catherine Smith, Home Insurance Specialist at Howden Tooting, comments: “Underinsurance is particularly concerning due to the ‘average clause’, which insurers may apply when calculating claims. If a property is not insured for its full value, any payout may be reduced accordingly. For many people, their home is their most valuable asset, so ensuring it is fully protected is essential.”
Home insurance should not be treated as a one-off arrangement. Changes in property values, home improvements, and simply building up more belongings over time can all affect whether your cover is still adequate. Without regular reviews, homeowners may unknowingly pay for policies that don’t provide the level of protection expected.
Howden Tooting advises that whether choosing buildings insurance, contents insurance, or a combined policy, it is important to keep valuations up to date and ensure higher-value items are appropriately specified.
Catherine also adds: “Home insurance is designed to provide reassurance during unexpected and often costly situations. Regularly reviewing your policy, updating valuations, and ensuring the right level of cover is in place can make a significant difference when it matters most. The last thing anyone wants is to find their cover hasn’t kept pace at the point it’s needed.”
For more information, or to arrange a review of your home insurance, visit Howden Tooting at 149/155 Mitcham Road, SW17 9PG, contact the team directly on 0208 672 3375 or visit their website.
*Source: rebuildcostassessment
If you’d love a brighter, whiter smile in time for summer, 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 07308716397, call 020 8672 7766, email hello@tendental.com or pop in!.
📍 156 Balham High Road, open Monday-Saturday (including up to 8pm, Monday to Thursday), with a branch also at 154 Clapham High Street, SW4 7UQ.
You can also visit their website.
Congratulations to local runner Hannah on completing the London Marathon last month – with every step raising money for Wandsworth Foodbank!
Hannah says, “I chose to raise money for Wandsworth Foodbank because I wanted to support people in my local community who are facing difficult circumstances in a way that was practical, direct and could make an immediate difference.
“The day of the marathon itself was tough (and much hotter than my winter training), with the seemingly endless streets of Canary Wharf nearly bringing me to tears, but crossing the finish line made it all worth it. I’m incredibly proud this challenge helped raise over £1000 for the foodbank and I hope it’s gone some way towards making a small difference to a few people’s days.”
If you’d like to donate, please visit Hannah’s Justgiving page.
Award-winning South London food charity Be Enriched has been using food to bring people together by turning surplus food into nutritious three-course meals and offering spaces of connection to those who need it most. They’ve been helping to reduce waste and tackle social isolation for people facing socio-economic inequality for over a decade.
Tooting was their flagship canteen, the place where Be Enriched first began back in 2013. What started as a small community dining project has grown into three Community Canteens, a Food Bus and a Food Float across South London.
To find out more, or to volunteer or donate, visit their website.
The Be Enriched Tooting Canteen takes place every Friday, 1pm-2.30pm at Tooting United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, SW17 9NQ
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Celebrate World Gin Day on Saturday 13th June with a tour of Balham’s beautiful Hayman’s Gin Distillery! Hayman’s is offering our readers £5 OFF a ticket (making a ticket only £20pp) if you use code NEWSIE at the checkout when booking via their website.
There are 3 different gin tours to choose from on that day: 12 Noon, 3pm and 5.30pm.
What’s more, any visitor to the Distillery on the day (regardless of whether they do the Tour) will also receive 2 free G&T glasses when they purchase a 70cl bottle of Hayman’s gin!
Hayman’s Distillery Tour is a great way to enjoy a behind-the-scenes look into how Hayman’s make The Original Gin, distilled in the same way since 1863. The Tour includes a G&T on arrival, an opportunity to hear their story and a guided tasting of three award-winning gins!
Tours are available on Saturday 13th June at either Noon, 3pm, or 5.30pm.
To book a Distillery Tour for World Gin Day on Saturday 13th June, visit their website.
📍8 Weir Road, Balham, SW12 0GT - just 8 minutes walk from Balham town centre!
Flora’s Paint n’ Bubbles in Tooting Market is BACK on Saturday 6th June! The events are proving a massive success, with budding painters turning up every month to create an artistic masterpiece, and enjoying bottomless drinks & tapas! 🎨🥂
What’s included:
🍽️ Bottomless Tapas (2 tapas per person — a special menu will be available on the day)
🥂 90 minutes of free-flowing drinks, including:
• Prosecco
• Bottled beer
• Wine (red, white & rosé)
🎨 All painting materials included:
• Canvas
• Paint brushes
• Home frame
• Plastic apron
✨ Paint, sip, and enjoy an afternoon filled with great food, drinks, music, and creativity – and take home your masterpiece afterwards! 🌸
🎟️ Tickets are £39.99 – pre-booking only here.
📍Flora at Tooting Market, 21-23 Tooting High Street, SW17 0SN
Eid Family Feast at Fat Phill’s in Broadway Market, Wednesday 27th to Friday 29th May!
The huge feast includes:
🍔 Any 2 Single / Double Premium Burgers or Sandwich
🍟 Any 2 Loaded Fries
🍗 Any 5 tenders or wings
🥤 Any 2 drinks
All for just £39.99!
All food is halal and veggie options are available. Deal available for takeaway or eat-in only on Wednesday 27th, Thursday 28th & Friday 29th May 2026.
📍 Fat Phill’s in Broadway Market, near the Longmead Road entrance.
🔥Tooting’s Lahore Karahi wants to know YOUR favourite dish 🔥 – and the winning dish will sell for only £1 for ONE DAY ONLY! 🚀 🤩
Keep an eye on our social media feeds this Saturday 30th May for more details!
Congratulations to Professor Asma Khalil - a Consultant in Obstetrics and Maternal Fetal Medicine at Tooting’s St George’s Hospital - who won an accolade at the British Muslim Awards 🏆️
Professor Khalil received the Outstanding Achievement Award in the Noor Inayat Khan Muslim Woman of the Year category for her outstanding work in maternal and fetal medicine.
The category is named after Noor-un-Nisa Inayat Khan GC, a Special Operations Executive agent who became the first female wireless operator sent from Britain into occupied France during the Second World War. She was later captured and executed at Dachau in 1944 before being posthumously awarded the George Cross for her extraordinary bravery and service.
Professor Khalil said: “I am absolutely honoured to receive this award. To receiving recognition associated with Noor Inayat Khan was deeply meaningful, particularly as it recognised my work in maternal and fetal medicine and in my opinion really speaks to the wider contributions of our fantastic team at St George’s.”
The awards, sponsored by GDK and powered by Oceanic Awards, celebrate excellence and positive impact across British Muslim communities, recognising contributions in healthcare, education, charity, business, media, and public service.
South Asian mango season is in full swing in Tooting! 🥭🥭🥭
You can now buy Alphonso, Badami and Kesar mangoes from shops and stalls on Upper Tooting Road — Chaunsa and Sindhri mangoes will follow in June!
Host a FREE street party in Tooting & around Wandsworth for Clean Air Day! 🌍
Clean Air Day on 18 June is an annual event which aims to bring families, residents, and communities together in a safe space without motor vehicles, reducing air pollution.
Applications to host a Clean Air Day event over the weekend of 20-21 June are open until Friday 5th June.
Street parties usually cost £64 but those held to mark Clean Air Day in June and Car Free Day in September are free of charge, to encourage residents to come together.
Any street can apply to take part, providing it isn’t a main road, bus route or emergency vehicle route.
More info and details on how to apply via Wandsworth Council.
COMING SOON TO TOOTING: 3BIS Gelateria is to open a branch at 41 Upper Tooting Road (where one half of Afters was previously located).
They’re planning to open next month. Stay tuned for updates...
Marks and Spencer Food has opened at 19-21 Mitcham Road (where Wilko was previously located), selling groceries, fruit & veg, meat & fish, confectionery, alcohol and soft drinks, flowers and more.
Open 7am-9pm Monday to Saturday, 11am-5pm Sunday (open for browsing from 10.45am).
More info via Marks and Spencer.
Tooting couple, Arabella and Harry, have launched Stone & Peacock, an online homeware brand selling handmade Indian block print table linen and cushions!
The business sells hand-printed napkins, tablecloths, and cushions, all made by artisans in Jaipur using traditional block printing techniques. Every piece is full of colour and craft, and no two are exactly alike.
As well as their ready-made collection, Stone & Peacock also offer fully bespoke orders for weddings and events, working to design custom prints, colour palettes, and sizing. Find out more and shop the collection at stoneandpeacock.co.uk.
Modernism in Metro-Land has a fascinating article on Charles Holden (who designed Balham, Tooting Bec and Tooting Broadway tube stations, amongst many others on the tube network), and his collaboration with Frank Pick, Chief Executive of London Transport.
Together – and with a host of architects, designers, builders, tradesmen and bureaucrats – they created what Pick termed “medieval modernism”, comparing the extension of the underground network to the creation of a great cathedral, many hands and years in the making.
Full article via Modernism in Metro-Land.
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