Tooting Newsie Weekly Newsletter
A new gaming night (& lots more events), Tooting-born singer Raye gets a blue plaque, blood donors needed, local trees planted, new openings, and lots more!
Our weekly newsletter is sponsored by Tooting’s family-run Lahore Karahi – a local institution since 1995! – who are offering 20% OFF all collection orders until the end of March, when you order direct via their website at lahorekarahi.co.uk. Discount applied automatically at checkout.
NEW Gaming Night in Tooting, hosted by Ben’s Game Club at And Then, every Wednesday, 7pm-10pm!
Ben tells us, “We’ve joined the roster of And Then’s Tooting IRL social events – designed to foster community and bring people together!
“Our Social Gaming night includes everything from clever social deduction games to hilarious party games – designed to get you playing, laughing, and socialising fast.
“Come discover a new favourite game, meet some new people, and enjoy one of Tooting’s finest venues. Tickets available here – stickers included with every ticket! Walk-ins, solo’s, and large groups are more than welcome. We hope to see you there!”
📍And Then, 54a Tooting High St, SW17 0RN
More info via Ben’s Game Club.
Furzedown Farmers Market takes place on the first Saturday of each month, 9.30am–1.30pm – and the next market is THIS SATURDAY 7th March!
Furzedown’s favourite market returns at Penwortham Primary School with a brilliant mix of local food, produce, crafts, gifts, and children’s items.
Grab something delicious for lunch, pick up fresh bits for the home, and enjoy browsing their fantastic local traders.
Dogs are very welcome!
Furzedown Farmers’ Market is located at Penwortham School, Penwortham Road, SW16 6RJ – just down the road from Tooting!
NEW Lesbian South West London (LSW) meet-up at Joy Café in Tooting Bec this Sunday!
LSW is a lesbian (FLINTA) queer meet-up group based in Tooting, bringing together queer women and non-binary folks across South West London. They host regular socials in Tooting, Clapham, Balham, Colliers Wood, and beyond, all south of the river.
At LSW, the belief is simple: you shouldn’t have to travel miles to find your people. Community and connection are at the heart of everything they do, so whether you’re new to London, freshly moved to SW, or a long-time local looking for your crew, there’s a place for you.
Their next meet-up is at 11am, Sunday 8th March at Joy Café, 9 Upper Tooting Road, Tooting Bec. Tickets are required (but do include a hot or cold drink!) – visit here to book.
☘️ Tooting Irish Ceilidh Night hosted by St Boniface Primary School and Downs South London! ☘️
Expect big tunes, lots of laughter and easy-to-follow dances – no experience required, just come ready to have fun. It’s a brilliant way to bring the community together while raising money for the school and Downs South London.
Bring your friends, neighbours and family to fill the hall and make it a night to remember.
📍 St Boniface Church Hall, 185 Mitcham Road, Tooting
📅 Saturday 21st March, 7pm
🎻 Live music from Fiddle Paradiddle
💃 Professional caller – no experience needed
🍲 Your ticket includes a hearty beef & Guinness stew freshly prepared and served by Tooting’s The Southern Kitchen
🍻 Bar available
🌍 Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day
Raye, the Tooting-born singer-songwriter, has put a local street in the spotlight with her newest single, Nightingale Lane, even inspiring a commemorative plaque at the Nightingale Pub in Balham!
The song opens with the heartfelt lines: “This is a song about the greatest heartbreak I have ever known / This song is called Nightingale Lane / On a street in the South London suburbs / Where my first love kissed me goodbye.”
The single was released on Friday 27th February, putting Nightingale Lane firmly on the musical map!
Fares on the London Underground, Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and the Elizabeth line have risen by 5.8% as of the 1st March, reports the BBC.
“Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said he had frozen the price of Travelcards and pay-as-you-go caps until 2027, and bus and tram fares were frozen until 5 July 2026, in an “emergency cost-of-living measure”.
“As part of the fare changes, TfL said no single pay-as-you-go Tube fare within Zones 1 to 6 would increase by more than 20p, and many would rise by 10p. Elizabeth line fares from Zone 1 to Heathrow will rise from £13.90 to £15.50.
“TfL said the fare rise - equivalent to one percentage point above the RPI rate of inflation - was a condition of the £2.2bn capital funding deal the transport organisation agreed with central government in the spending review in June.
“Pay-as-you-go fares on Tube and TfL rail services within Zone 1 will rise from £2.90 to £3.10 in the peak, and from £2.80 to £3.00 during off-peak hours and weekends.”
Full story via the BBC.
Burger Nine have unfortunately permanently closed their unit in Broadway Market...but fear not, as they’re soon opening in another London venue! Follow @itsburgernine on Instagram for info and updates!
Farewell Munir and the team...you’ll be much missed in Tooting!
Tooting-based Homes With Chuk wants to know your favourite Tooting Broadway street (more info via our Instagram ⬇️)!
Looking for 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!
🧘♂️ FREE YOGA at Hotpod Yoga South Wimbledon every Saturday in March! 🧘♀️
Never tried Hotpod, or just want to check out a local studio? Enjoy a free morning of yoga in their signature 37°C heated pod – calming scents, music, and expert teachers. All levels welcome!
✨ What’s on offer:
• Free classes for new customers
• Friendly, inclusive vibe
• Mats provided – just bring yourself, water & a towel!
Available Saturdays:
• 7th March: 1.30pm–2.30pm
• 14th March: 1.30pm–2.30pm
• 21th March: 1.30pm–2.30pm
• 28th March: 1.30pm–2.30pm
Book your spot HERE (£2 refundable deposit required).
📍8 Morden Road, SW19 3BH – right opposite South Wimbledon tube (just a couple of stops from Tooting).
More info about the studio on their website.
How confident are you that your home is properly protected? 🏡 Howden Insurance Tooting knows how important your home is and with the rising cost of living, they’re doing their best to support you.
Michelle Baldwin of Howden Tooting tells us, “Insurance isn’t just about policies and premiums – it’s about people. That’s why we focus on understanding what matters most to you.
“At Howden Tooting, we’ve been proudly supporting our local and wider community with great insurance options for many years. Our friendly advisors are here to help with all your insurance needs.
“Whether it’s help finding the right protection for your needs, navigating complex risks, or simply feeling seen and heard, at Howden we go the extra mile to make sure you never feel like just another number.”
Pop into their Tooting branch at 149/155 Mitcham Road to meet their friendly home insurance team, call 0208 672 3375, or visit their website to get in touch today and ask about the Home Challenge!
Good luck to Craig, Ko, Ali, Myles and Kam who’ll be taking on the iconic Barcelona Marathon to fundraise for Tooting’s St George’s Hospital Charity!
Craig recently opened up about the team’s heartfelt motivation for running for Team George’s. After their friends’ experience at St George’s, where their daughter was treated following a cancer diagnosis, they were deeply moved by how the hospital “really changed everything for them and an incredible place supporting so many young children and their families.”
Having all grown up not too far from St George’s, the team felt it was right to dedicate their marathon challenge to the hospital that means so much to their community. And once Craig mentioned he was thinking about signing up, Ko, Ali, Myles and Kam didn’t hesitate - they jumped straight in to take on this incredible challenge together.
If you’d like to donate, visit their JustGiving page.
🌸🐑 Spring Appeal at Deen City Farm & Riding School! 🐴🌼
Spring has arrived at Deen City Farm and Riding School, bringing new life to the farm — from playful lambs to chicks enjoying brighter days.
For so many local families, they’re more than a farm. They’re the heart of the community — a welcoming green space where children take their first riding lesson, volunteers build confidence, and children learn about animals in the middle of the city. And thanks to your support, entry to the farm remains free, so everyone can visit and enjoy time with the animals.
But rising costs are putting pressure on them. Feed, hay, bedding, farrier visits, veterinary care and essential supplies are all increasing, and every animal here depends on them for their wellbeing.
As a charity, they’re committed to keeping the farm free to enter and their activities accessible and affordable. To continue caring for their animals and supporting the community, they need your help this spring.
💛 Your donation will help:
• Provide nutritious feed and comfortable bedding
• Cover vital veterinary and farrier care
• Maintain safe stables and paddocks
• Keep riding lessons and educational sessions accessible
Every gift — big or small — helps keep their animals healthy and thriving.
If you are able, please consider making a donation today. Your donation will help the farm to continue to be here for generations to come. You can donate by visiting their JustGiving page.
Deen City Farm, at 39 Windsor Avenue, Merton Abbey, SW19 2RR, is an urban farm with an educational focus in Merton. They teach the local community about the rural environment and where their food comes from. They have an active volunteering programme as well as a Riding School offering affordable lessons to the local community. More info via their website.
People with B negative blood type in London (including in Tooting and Wandsworth) are urged to donate as the NHS warns that supplies of this much-needed blood type are running low.
NHS Blood and Transplant is contacting all B negative donors asking them to book in to donate. Existing B negative donors will be given priority access to appointments and are urged to call 0300 123 23 23 they are struggling to find availability.
Alternatively, they can just walk in for an appointment at one of the permanent donor centres in Tooting, the West End, Brixton, Edgware, Shepherd’s Bush, or Twickenham.
Only two percent of the population have B negative blood, making it one of the rarest types. And patients with the B negative blood type can only receive B negative or O negative blood, meaning that low stocks of B negative can also impact emergency O negative supplies.
Those with B negative blood are also asked to encourage family members to register and book an appointment to donate as they are 30 percent more likely to have this blood type than the general population.
Hospitals across England need more than 5,000 blood donations every day to ensure they have the blood they need to treat patients for a wide variety of reasons, including traumatic injuries or accidents, cancer treatments, sickle cell and childbirth.
As well as B negative, there is also an ongoing need for more donors with O negative and RO blood types.
Donating a unit of blood takes just an hour and each donation can save up to three lives. Men can give blood every three months and women every four months.
Book an appointment today at www.blood.co.uk, use the GiveBlood app or call 0300 123 23 23.
Furzedown came out in force on Saturday for the Furzedown FACE community quiz night for local charities, which raised over £2,500!
It was a special joint celebration as it’s Furzedown Community Network’s 25th anniversary – their volunteers have run amazing fun days, music events, pantos, street fairs, Christmas celebrations and much more over the years.
It is also 15 years since FACE, a group of friends and neighbours, ran their first fundraising event. They have since raised over £100,00, helping create a chill-out room for young people with cancer at Tooting’s St George’s Hospital, as well as being one of the main fundraisers of South London MNDA and lots of other local charities.
The quiz night was opened by Jeremy Ambache, the Mayor of Wandsworth, who started the fun with a prize-winning Heads & Tails game! There were lots of quirky questions, including a live music round, and the quiz was one by ‘Parking Is Such Sweet Sorrow’!
SPONSORED CONTENT
🌸 Celebrate Mum on Mother’s Day, Sunday 15th March, at Flora in Tooting Market! 🌸
When you book a table and Mum orders a main, she’ll receive a glass of complimentary Prosecco or coffee! 🥂☕
Flora’s Lorena tells us, “Because your Mum deserves a little extra love this Mother’s Day, why not join us a lovely and memorable day with great food and drinks in our cozy and charming bar and restaurant!
📅 Open 9am-4pm on Mother’s Day, Sunday 15th March
🔗 Book your table HERE.
📍Flora, Tooting Market, 21-23 Tooting High Street, SW17 0SN
The Friends of Tooting Common have donated an extremely rare tree – the True Service tree (Cormus domestica) – to the Woodfield Community Orchard! The tree was planted on Sunday 22 February by volunteers, helping to preserve the species in the UK. It brings the total number of trees in the orchard to 29.
The True Service produces a small pear-like fruit, two to three centimetres long, variously green, yellow and red, which needs to blet, or rot, to become sweet. The True Service used to be grown in monastery orchards in mediaeval times and monks produced a type of cider from it. These days, in the UK, the tree can only be found in isolated pockets in Cornwall, Gloucestershire and outside Bristol. It can live for up to 500 years.
The new tree is very small, but could grow to 20 metres. A protective guard will keep it safe and volunteers will water it over the summer.
Four elm trees, selected to be Dutch elm disease resistant, were also planted. They have been generously donated by Elms4London, an initiative of the Metropolitan Public Gardens Association (MPGA), a charity which has played a vital role in the preservation and improvement of gardens, neglected sites and green open spaces across London.
As we move into the warmer months, Woodfield are looking for volunteers to help water the saplings. Please email woodfieldcommunityorchard@gmail.com or for more info, visit their website.
📍Woodfield Pavilion, 16A Abbotswood Road, SW16 1AP
Accessible from Tooting Bec Common. Walk down Bleak Hall Lane and look for the sports Pavilion to the east of the field, through the trees. Woodfield is also accessible via a path on Abbotswood Road between houses 16 and 18.
Tooting-based rugby teams Bec Belles and Tooting Bec Old Boys are looking for new players! 🏉
With three men’s squads, competitive 1XV and development 2XV women’s sides, and a veterans team, the club welcomes everyone – whether you’re a seasoned pro or have never picked up a ball before. They’re also as much of a community off the pitch as on it, with regular club-wide socials and events allowing everyone to come together as a community and celebrate the game.
The Belles are also a fully integrated team of deaf and hearing players, with all training and games accessible to deaf British Sign Language users thanks to voluntary Communication Support Workers.
Contact them via their website if you’re interested in signing up.
The club will also be supporting Tooting Common parkrun this Saturday 7th March to celebrate International Women’s Day and fundraise for several players who are running this year’s London Marathon - so pop along and say hello!
Mike & Stephen have launched The Dough Gooders outside Naked Loaf at 70 Moyser Road, serving freshly made doughnuts every Saturday from 10am to 1pm (and they may extend their hours in the future)!
Their doughnuts use a special Italian semolina flour, with fillings of jam or Nutella (or just plain with sugar) available. More info via @d0ughgooders (Instagram).
Congratulations and good luck to Mike & Stephen!
Br3wery has opened at 97 Moyser Road (where Belgiardino was previously located), with owners Cadu and Tania serving craft beer brewed at their base in Beckenham!
Beers include IPAs, an oatmeal stout and a Pilsner, with cider and low alcohol guest beer options. There’s also a good selection of wines from Crystal Palace Wine Club and you can order from local pizzerias for delivery to the bar.
Families and dogs welcome. Open 4pm-9pm Monday to Thursday, 4pm-10pm Friday, 2pm-10pm Saturday, and 2pm-7pm Sunday. More info via br3wery.com
Congratulations and good luck to Cadu, Tania and the team!
COMING SOON TO EARLSFIELD/TOOTING: Milo and the Bull, a class-based gym, is to open a branch at 25-27 Summerstown, SW17 0BQ (where Against The Grain used to be located).
They plan to open in the next few weeks. We’ll keep you posted...
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