Tooting Newsie Weekly Newsletter
Furzedown Farmers' Market returns, Valentine's offers, a charity clothes swap, NatWest Tooting to permanently close, new openings, signs of Spring 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 February, when you order direct via their website at lahorekarahi.co.uk. Discount applied automatically at checkout.
The fantastic Furzedown Farmers Market is BACK after its January break this Saturday 7th February, 9.30am-1.30pm, at Penwortham Primary School playground in Furzedown – just down the road from Tooting!
It’s going to be jam-packed with plenty of fresh produce (including fruit & vegetables), food stalls, drinks, gifts, condiments, treats for dogs (who are very welcome!) & much more!
The popular and diverse market is a fantastic place to enjoy a Saturday morning / lunchtime, with 30+ top quality stalls from local traders, including a couple of new traders appearing for the first time. There’ll also be live music & vibes throughout from South London Vinyl!
As well as this Saturday, the Market takes place on the first Saturday of every month, with the next date being Saturday 7th March.
Furzedown Farmers’ Market is located at Penwortham School, Penwortham Road, SW16 6RJ – just down the road from Tooting! More info via their Instagram.
CLOTHES SWAP this Friday 6th February at Mitcham Lane Baptist Church in Furzedown! The Clothes Swap (which gets bigger every year), in aid of Wandsworth Foodbank, promises to be a fantastic social event (with cake and prosecco)!
Doors open 7pm. Bring up to 10 items of women’s clothing, shoes, bags, accessories, or unopened beauty products. You will be given tickets equal to the number of items you bring.
Then at 7.30pm, all the clothes will be ready to swap. You choose as many items as the number of tickets you have. It’s a brilliant way to swap good-quality clothes that either no longer fit or you’re tired of, and want to swap for something different – without buying anything new!
More info in flyer.
📍Mitcham Lane Baptist Church, 230 Mitcham Lane, SW16 6NT.
Join Tooting History Group (THG) for their next monthly meeting with a talk by Liz Sayce entitled “Histories Of Heritage Park, Tooting: How To Remember An Asylum”, on Tuesday 10th February at 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, SW17 9NQ.
There will also be a short AGM and news of THG’s plans for 2026.
Full info via their website.
Lots going on for all ages in libraries across Wandsworth (including Tooting) in February, including book clubs, LGBTQ+ History Month events, drama sessions, Rhyme Time, language groups, reading groups, meet the author events, storytelling, digital inclusion programmes and much more!
Full list of activities and libraries via Better UK.
Congratulations to Tooting independent coffee business Forty on opening a new café in Mitcham! They’re bringing freshly roasted coffee and community-focused events to 1 Commonside East (formerly Commonside Café), CR4 2QA.
Founded in 2020 as a mobile coffee bike in Colliers Wood during the pandemic, Forty has grown quickly in recent years. The business opened its first bricks-and-mortar café at 165 Tooting High Street in 2024, followed by a dedicated roastery at Merton Abbey Mills.
The new Mitcham space serves fresh coffee, pastries, sandwiches and drinks, with Forty’s own coffee beans available to buy in-store, from their roastery. Forty also runs Abbey Mills Market, a popular bimonthly event celebrating local traders and independent businesses.
Forty Mitcham has a varied programme of events planned, including open mic nights, pub quizzes, live music and creative workshops. The first event, Café Laughe, a stand-up comedy night, takes place on 20 February, with the bar open every Thursday and Friday evening.
Sam Mulroy, founder of Forty told us,”We’re incredibly excited to be opening in Mitcham and becoming part of the community. I can’t wait to hear from local people and for Forty to be a welcoming hub where people can come together.”
The new premises are open 7am-4pm Monday to Wednesday, 7am-10pm Thursday and Friday, and 8am-4pm Saturday and Sunday.
More info via Forty Coffee Community.
Congratulations and good luck to Sam and the team!
Howden Insurance Tooting recently hosted Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce for their Mix & Mingle (Tooting & Balham) event to encourage as many businesses in Wandsworth to enter The Wandsworth Business Awards 2026, which celebrate Wandsworth’s emerging business talent and established local businesses.
The deadline to enter the Awards is 13th March 2026. Find out more and enter via the Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce website.
Howden Insurance Tooting is located at 149–155 Mitcham Road, SW17 9PG. Call the team on 0208 672 3375, or visit their website to find out more.
NatWest bank at 30-34 Tooting High Street is to permanently close at 12pm on Monday 18th May 2026, one of over 30 closures announced for branches across the UK.
More info on branch closures, including info on the Tooting branch, via NatWest.
SW Londoner reports on Tooting residents launching a campaign to recognise Tooting Bingo Hall, a cultural and music landmark, after submitting an application to BBC’s The Repair Shop to urgently restore an autographed foyer wall boasting the extraordinary roll-call of musicians who performed there.
Spearheaded by Wandsworth historian Geoff Simmons, the campaigners have not only applied to The Repair Shop to restore the bingo hall’s iconic Roll of Fame, but also propose to put up an external blue plaque in recognition of the hall’s contribution to Tooting’s vivid music history.
Full story via SW Londoner.
Country on the Common is returning to Tooting Common on the weekend of 4+5 July, after the plans were approved by Wandsworth Council, reports My London.
The festival launched last year as London’s “first outdoor celebration of country, roots and blues music”. It will host live music, line dancing, rodeo bull riding, axe throwing and lasso lessons when it returns on a larger scale this summer.
Full story via My London.
📷 Country on the Common
Tooting-based property advisor Homes with Chuk continues his ‘Meet The Neighbours’ series – this time with Johny of Gallery Midnight!
“Based at 12 Ritherdon Road (Balham or Tooting? A friendly debate for another day 😉) — Gallery Midnight is proof that we’ve got something pretty special right on our doorstep.
“I’ll be honest: I’ve driven past it countless times and never popped in…until now. I sat down with Johny (yes, that’s the correct spelling!) for a really enthralling chat about how significant his painting of Tooting Bec Lido was, how the name Midnight came about, what he loves about being part of the community, and so much more.
“View all 3 parts of the video on my Instagram (starting with part 1 here).”
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!
📷 @square_haus_media (Instagram)
Valentine’s treat: Couples Massage (or 2 solo Massages) for £120! Tracy & the team at The Treatment Rooms & Studio in Tooting Bec are offering 2 x 60-minute Massages for just £120 (usually £140) – the perfect Valentine’s gift!
These can be kept as credit or gifted (or a combination) and are available as an e-voucher.
Vouchers can be redeemed on their different massage services* – but be quick, as only a limited number of discounted spaces are available!
Give the gift of relaxation this Feb 14th!
To purchase a voucher, simply call 07852 331 859 / 020 8772 9516 or email info@treatment-rooms.com
To claim the offer, vouchers must be purchased by 14th February. They can be used anytime until 30th June 2026.
The Treatment Rooms are located at 26 Tooting Bec Road, SW17 8BD
Find out more on their website.
*excludes sports massage
The White House Prep School in Balham is holding a private Open Morning event this Friday 6th February, exclusively for families looking at Reception and occasional places in their older years. Bookings for the Open Morning must be booked in advance - see details below.👇
The Open Morning will begin at 9:30am with guided tours with pupils from Year 6, who will have recently finished their 11+ exams and will be able to talk to you about their experience and the amazing offers they have received from schools including St Paul’s, King’s Wimbledon, Dulwich College, Alleyn’s, Emmanuel, JAGS, Francis Holland, City of London, Westminster, Wimbledon High, Benenden, Brighton College and more.
With 40% of children receiving scholarships in Art, Music, Sport, DT and Academics, The White House Prep School are proud to deliver a range of choices for their families.
The tour will give you a closer look at what happens in the classroom from Reception-Year 6 with a chance to explore their Super Curriculum which includes Nurture in Reception, Enterprise lessons, Choice and their Futures programme in Year 6 - areas where they can develop children’s natural curiosity to enhance their learning and interests outside the classroom.
The school offers wrap around care from 8am-6pm with 14 weeks of holiday camps if required.
Celebrating 40 years of education, this Outstanding-rated co-ed prep school between Balham and Clapham welcomes children from ages 3-11 years old.
Bookings for the Open Morning must be made in advance. To book your place, please email admissions@whitehouseschool.com or call 020 8674 9514.
You can also find out more on their website.
The White House School is located at 24 Thornton Road, Balham, SW12 0LF.
If you’d like to host a local private screening - whether for a friends, family or a work event, the beautiful 29-seater private cinema at No3 at Nightingale Place by Clapham South tube is available for hire!
The plush cinema offers a warm and sophisticated setting for both formal & informal gatherings. You can even order food and drinks from No3 bistro upstairs to complete the experience.
The cinema is located within Nightingale Place, Nightingale Lane, SW4 9AH – right by Clapham South tube.
To find out more about private hire and availability, call 0203 510 4807 or email info@no3clapham.co.uk
Wandsworth reading charity Learn to Love to Read (L2L2R) is calling on local residents to help reverse the decline in children’s reading.
L2L2R, which works in primary schools across the borough, is recruiting new volunteers to support children aged 5–8 who are struggling with reading – at a time when national research shows that reading for pleasure among children is in rapid decline.
Volunteers work one-to-one with pupils during weekly reading sessions, either in school or online via Zoom. The sessions focus on encouragement, enjoyment and building confidence – helping children feel proud of their progress and develop positive reading habits that can last a lifetime.
No teaching experience is required. All volunteers receive training, structured materials and ongoing support from the charity.
For many, the experience is deeply rewarding. “I wanted to do something meaningful with my time, and volunteering with L2L2R has been incredibly special,” said volunteer Kirsty O’Shea. “Seeing a child grow in confidence week by week – from being hesitant to actually enjoying reading – is something I’ll never forget. You realise very quickly that simply giving your time and encouragement can make a huge difference.”
L2L2R also delivers early years programmes and parent workshops, helping families build strong reading foundations from the very start.
Tara Coffin, Director of Learn to Love to Read, said, “Reading for pleasure is the single most important indicator of a child’s future success – yet we’re seeing it decline rapidly across the UK. Reading is the foundation for all learning, confidence and opportunity. If we want children to thrive, we need to change this – and our volunteers help to make that happen. Through consistency, encouragement and positive reading experiences, they play a vital role in helping children believe in themselves.”
More info / volunteer sign-up details via their website.
RSPCA South London are appealing for urgent help with vet bills for local pets. They tell us more:
“Right now, pets across South London are waiting for urgent veterinary care that their owners cannot afford. Some need emergency treatment, while others need neutering to prevent unwanted litters. The Help With Vet Bills scheme run by the RSPCA South London Branch can be the difference between a pet getting care or going without.
“Last year, 42 pets received vital support through this scheme, which is nearly one pet every week. The scheme is funded entirely by donations and the income from their three charity shops. With rising costs, this support is under real pressure and more pets are already waiting for help. Without extra donations, fewer animals will be able to get the care they need.
“Every donation counts and stays in your local community. You can donate via our JustGiving page.
“Please share to help more pets in need find the support they deserve.”
Congratulations to all those who braved Tooting Bec Lido on Saturday 31st January for the Crisis Icebreaker ❄️, raising money to help end homelessness.
The Icebreaker campaign also includes an event at Parliament Hill lido this Sunday 7 February, and a DIY option too – and so far over, 150 people have attended an event, contributing £40,000 in fundraising, with the total continuing to rise!
If you’d like to get involved, there’s still time to sign up for their Parliament Hill event this weekend, or you can do it your own way, at a time and place that suits you. Sign up via their website…
…and to donate, just visit Crisis’s JustGiving page.
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Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Phakoon! The popular Thai restaurant in Earlsfield is marking Valentine’s season with a special dine-in offer running from Monday 9th - Sunday 15th February:
• 3 courses for £38pp (starter + main + dessert OR drink)
• 3 courses + drink for £42pp (starter + main + dessert + drink)
Book below!👇
Located right by Earlsfield station, family-run Phakoon have been a huge favourite amongst locals since they opened in 2024, serving authentic Thai food that’s full of heart and flavour, with fantastic Google reviews.
Tuck into their fantastic sharing platters, small plates, soups, stir-fries, curries, signature dishes and more – available for lunch & dinner.
You’ll find Phakoon located at 346-348 Garratt Lane, Earlsfield, SW18 4ES (right by Earlsfield Station), open 7 days a week from noon.
The offer is also available in their Balham branch!
To book a table, visit their website.
Valentine’s Brush & Bubbles at Flora in Tooting Market on Saturday 14th February!
After the huge success of their first Brush & Bubbles event, Flora is delighted to introduce TWO Valentine’s sessions, giving everyone more time to truly enjoy the experience of painting, whilst indulging in drinks and tapas!
🕒 Two relaxed sessions to choose from:
• Session 1: 3pm – 5pm
• Session 2: 5:30pm – 7:30pm
🎟️ Tickets: Bottomless Drinks & Tapas – £39.90
Your ticket includes:
• Two hours of bottomless drinks during your session (bottled beer, wine and prosecco)
• Two delicious Spanish tapas dishes
• All painting materials provided: canvas, easel, brushes, paints, apron and gloves
🎶 There’ll also be a live DJ creating the perfect Valentine’s atmosphere1
Whether you’re coming with your partner, friends or for a Galentine’s treat, Brush & Bubbles is all about good vibes, creativity, laughter, great food and flowing cocktails.
The last Brush & Bubbles event sold out quickly, so grab your tickets soon before they disappear again!
Book via Flora’s Linktree.
Happy 10th birthday 🎉🎂🥳 to Tooting Common parkrun, who celebrated on Saturday 31st January, welcoming 764 people, with 167 first-timers, and 76 runners recording excellent new Personal Bests – all made possible, (and with thanks to) their amazing 51 volunteers and directed by Co-Event Director, Ken!
Tooting parkrun has grown massively since 2016, when they welcomed 200 participants with 30 volunteers – since then they’ve welcomed over 42,000 participants, with 235,000 finishes covering well over 1 million (!) km and a fantastic 2,200 different volunteers supporting them!
Congratulations to everyone involved – here’s to many more years!
Read their 10th birthday report and find out more about the weekly Saturday run via their website.
Local running community, Tooting Run Club (TRC), has launched a new podcast, Chatty Miles!
Chatty Miles explores running, movement, and wellbeing through honest, relaxed conversations with guests from the running community and beyond. Podcasts are released monthly.
The first episode features Herne Hill Harriers stalwart Geoff Jerwood, former athlete and coach. Hear how he got into running, his incredible 2:17 marathon, and his passion for coaching the next generation, with loads of useful insights for runners of all abilities.
The podcast is available on all platforms. Congratulations and good luck and to presenters Julia & Kate, and Tahir Shams (TRC co-founder), for their work in developing and launching the podcast!
TRC is a free, volunteer-led, award-winning charity for adults, which aims to make running accessible, social, and genuinely welcoming to all. More info via their website.
Tooting Bal Sanskar Group celebrated Indian Republic Day last week. Tooting Pal Sanskar Group’s Dr Ashish Patel says:
“The session began with the auspicious Manglacharan prayer, setting a spiritual and positive tone for the day.
“Children were taken through a detailed and interactive presentation on Republic Day — its importance, significance, and how it is celebrated across India. They learned about our national anthem, national currency, national emblem, national animal, bird, tree, fruit, and much more.
“The celebrations continued with Vasant Panchami, the Hindu festival that marks the arrival of spring and is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of wisdom, learning, and arts.
“Questions and answers followed, where children participated enthusiastically and showcased their understanding of the events.
“The session concluded with a fun colouring activity, allowing children to creatively express their talents.
“To wrap up the day, everyone sang the Indian National Anthem, and children enjoyed a delicious vegetarian dinner.
“We are immensely proud of and grateful to all our dedicated volunteers for their continued support and commitment to Tooting Bal Sanskar Group.”
Tooting Bal Sanskar Group is a group of volunteers that deliver Hinduism and Gujarati classes to the local community. See Tooting Bal Sanskar Group (Facebook) for more info.
House of Stella Beauty Salon & Afro Caribbean Hair Stylist has opened in Broadway Market, offering all sorts of hair styling for women and men, including dreadlocks, weaves, braids, cornrows, plaits, extensions and more!
Find Stella at unit 46a, in the back corridor area of the market. More info on services and opening times via Stella’s WhatsApp or via her Instagram.
Congratulations and good luck, Stella!
Kamuu has opened in Broadway Market (where Rincon Guaraní was previously located), serving Sri Lankan food, including kotthu, hoppers, curries and more!
Open 2pm-10pm Tuesday to Thursday, 2pm-11pm Friday to Saturday, and 2pm-9pm Sunday for eat-in and takeaway, with delivery on Uber Eats, Deliveroo (Just Eat available in a few days). Halal and vegetarian options available (vegan options to come). More info via their Instagram.
Congratulations and good luck to Uvindu, Dilruck, Kasum and the team!
First signs of Spring on Tooting Common!
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