Tooting Newsie Weekly Newsletter
A Windrush street market, your chance to play a church organ, the closure of a local supermarket, a summer fair, the last chance to enter Wandsworth in Bloom, new openings, and lots more in Tooting!
Windrush Weekend at Totterdown Street Market in Tooting this Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd June!
Totterdown Street Market is celebrating the legacy of Windrush with two days of community, culture, and creativity. On Saturday, the Family Fun Day will include face -painting and FREE arts & crafts (make your own flags and contribute to the market’s big Windrush-inspired art wall), kids games, balloon sculptures for kids (11am-1pm) and more!
There’ll be delicious street food, including Caribbean favourites like oxtail curry, stew chicken, pepper steak, curry mutton, and jerk fish, as well as Nigerian cuisine including chicken & jollof rice, puff-puff and more, as well as sweet treats such as rum cake and toto cake!
Then on Sunday, 11am-5pm, join a celebration of Black female entrepreneurs for a hand made and artisan market, with a vibrant mix of lifestyle, fashion, arts, food, beauty, home décor, vintage, and crafts, in partnership with Go Inspire International and Vitality Market Events! Come along to support, shop, and be inspired by an amazing line-up of female-led businesses. There'll also be a few male vendors, including Simon Hudson, acclaimed author of History Through the Black Experience.
Sunny skies are forecast, so head down and celebrate with the community!
Follow @totterdownstreetmarket (Instagram) for info and updates!
Ever wanted to play a church organ? Then head to All Saints Church in Tooting this Sunday 22nd June at 3pm!
As part of Wandsworth Arts Fringe and the Royal College of Organists ‘Play the Organ Year’, the church is running a workshop and demonstration, giving people the opportunity to try playing the organ.
International Concert Organist, Mark Brafield, will give an organ recital featuring a range of work. This will be followed by a brief talk on the organ, and then audience members will be invited to play the organ itself, even if you’ve never played an organ before!
All ages and abilities are welcome, and the event is free, but donations are warmly encouraged as they are fundraising to restore the Grade II listed 1906 Harrison organ.
More info via Wandsworth Arts Fringe.
Fundraiser at Tooting Bec Lido this Sunday, 22nd June! Join FLOAT Foundation for a fantastic day of swimming, stalls, and summer fun to fundraise for Project Limitless, who provide free, comfortable and adaptable prosthetics, a wide range of activity-based tools, and full peer-to-peer support to children with upper limb differences and their families across the UK!
Throughout June, participants from all over the UK are swimming lengths in their own pools, local lidos, or leisure centres to help collectively cover the distance of the English Channel – culminating on Sunday 22nd June at Tooting Bec Lido to complete the final lengths and celebrate!
Nate Macabuag (pictured), founder of Koalaa Soft Prosthetics, a Soft Prosthetics company, who will be attending the event, says, “Even if you don’t feel like swimming, come along to meet other Project Limitless UK families, Paralympians, charities, explore the stalls on offer, and enjoy the holiday atmosphere. There will also be a chance to take part in a coached swimming lesson with our new Gwen Tool to help you hold the swim float. There's also a paddling pool, so even the youngest members of the family can have fun!
“You don’t have to fundraise to attend this event, but if you know anyone who would like to join us in our Channel Challenge we'd love to have as many people involved as possible! Please feel free to bring friends, family and have an amazing day at the UK's largest outdoor swimming pool!”
Click here for more info and to sign up.
St Boniface Summer Fayre, Saturday 28th June, 2pm-6pm in Tooting – free entry, all welcome!
The Fayre promises to be a fantastic afternoon with games, food, music, a bouncy castle and lots of fun for all ages. All money raised will go towards school trips and new sound equipment for the school’s students.
The school would especially like to encourage parents with nursery-aged children to come along, explore the school, and get a feel for the warm and welcoming community that they’re so proud of.
St Boniface School is located on Undine St, Tooting, SW17 8PP
Join Geoff Simmons on Saturday 28th June for the 'Africa in Tooting' History Walk and the unveiling of a blue plaque honouring Constance Cummings-John! This extraordinary woman was a pioneering educator, activist, and champion of women's rights who became the first female Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1966, and later lived on Broadwater Road for three decades until her death in 2000.
The walk will also reveal fascinating stories of Black history in Tooting, including stories of kings, pioneers, musicians, and more (see the link below for full info)!
Meet at 20 Broadwater Road beside St Augustine's Church - whether you join for the full walk or just the plaque unveiling. The event runs from 11:30am-2:30pm, starting with the guided walk before culminating in the plaque unveiling at 2pm. Visit here for more info and to book.
The walk is part of the annual fee Community Fun Day on Broadwater Road, which takes place 12pm-5pm.
If you've not visited the hygienist for a while, it’s important to book in, so that they can check for any gum disease & remove stains and make your teeth sparkle again!
Regular visits to a dental hygienist are an important part of oral healthcare, and can keep your teeth & gums in better condition for longer.
Ten Dental + Facial is an award-winning practice in Balham, offering general, family, cosmetic, & implant dentistry and Facial Aesthetics. Their expert hygienists can:
• Remove harmful plaque and calculus
• Prevent gum disease and tooth decay
• Give you oral health tips for the festive period
• Remove stains and make your teeth sparkle
• Utilise the newest Guided Biofilm Therapy technology
To find out more & book to see a hygienist, WhatsApp 07907 366 397, call 020 8675 1798, email hello@tendental.com or pop in!
Ten Dental is located at 156 Balham High Road, with a clinic in Clapham Common too.
You can also visit their website at tendental.com
FREE 20-minute foot and ankle assessments this month at Instant Physio in Tooting Bec (see below)!
Instant Physio’s owner Ed tells us, “Nagging foot and ankle pain can make walking and standing for long periods an absolute nightmare, and getting out of bed in the morning can feel like you’ve run a marathon in the night because of the pain.
“Lots of people try new shoes, stretches, or just put it down to “getting older”. But when nothing seems to work, many assume it’s just something they have to live with.
“One patient we saw earlier this year had been putting up with foot and ankle pain for a year and had stopped leaving the house. She’d tried insoles, new trainers, and every stretch going. It wasn’t until friends started pointing out how strangely she was walking that she realised how much it was affecting her and that it was time to take action.
“After some targeted physio sessions and shockwave treatment at Instant Physio, she’s now walking comfortably, staying active, and has just booked a weekend hiking trip with her daughter.
“Foot and ankle pain, even when it’s been going on for years, is often very treatable with the right approach. That’s why we’re offering free 20-minute foot and ankle assessments this month – spaces are limited!”
Book your free assessment (offer ends this Saturday 21st June) at Instant Physio, 261 Balham High Road (opposite the Sewing Shop) in Tooting Bec – call them on 020 3488 2698, or leave an enquiry here.
Open Monday-Thursday 8am–8pm, Friday 8am–4pm and Saturday 8am–12pm.
Are you looking for a local construction company to renovate or extend your property? Or perhaps a fantastic carpenter to make bespoke wardrobes, cupboards, shelving or storage for your home?
Balham resident, Beqo (owner of BQ Construction) and his team have been providing all of these services and more for local residents over the past few years! Beqo & his team are now taking bookings for new jobs – he tells us more:
"It's our job to help make your home and garden just the way you want it and to maximise the use of your space. We carry out bathroom, kitchen and whole house renovations, as well as extensions, including loft conversions. Our carpentry side of the business is also extremely popular and we can build whatever storage and handmade furniture you need.
“You can let us know your preferred design and materials and we also have a fantastic interior designer on our team too.
"All our work is carried out with huge attention to detail and to the highest standard – we want our customers to become returning customers!"
To find out more & get a free quote, email Beqo at bqconstruction2019@gmail.com or call 07400459374.
To see some great testimonials, visit his website at bqconstruction.co.uk
If you need some admin help, Balham-based virtual assistant, Magdalena @yourvirtualpresence (Instagram) helps local residents and small business of all kinds & has some weekly / monthly capacity to take on new projects!
With 11 years experience working in administration, Magdalena can assist with all sorts of tasks, big & small, including:
- general administration (emails / bookings)
- diary & calendar management
- social media
- issuing invoices
- scheduling meetings
- client management
Magdalena would love to hear from people that need her services, even if it's just for 2-3 hours a week.
To find out more and arrange a discovery call to go through the process, your specific needs and answer any questions you have, please email magdalenavirtualpresence@gmail.com, call 07951 380 839 or DM @yourvirtualpresence (Instagram)
20% off at local art studio Paperdoll Art Studio to save on painting workshops and sip & paint sessions (see below)!
Based at Wimbledon Art Studios, SW17 0BB, Paperdoll offer a range of classes – whether it’s bold brush strokes in their Pop Art Class, the calming flow of a Watercolour Workshop, or the energetic mess of their Splatter Painting Session, there’s something for everyone!
Classes are open to all – no experience needed. Perfect for beginners, creative explorers, and anyone seeking a memorable paint and sip experience!
Each hands-on painting session takes place in a working artist’s studio, guided by practising artists, with unlimited tea, coffee, biscuits, and chocolates – and a complimentary glass of wine for each guest!
Founded by London-based artist Alma Tipon, Paperdoll Art Studio is run by a passionate team of professional, practising artists. Alma tells us, “With years of experience across different techniques, we’re dedicated to helping people explore the fun and transformative power of art. Every class is carefully designed to offer just the right mix of support, challenge, and creative inspiration.
“Whether you’re starting from scratch or building your confidence, you’ll find a warm, welcoming space where creativity can truly thrive.
“It’s painting, sipping, chatting, and creating — all in one inspiring session!”
Paperdoll Art Studio is located in Studios 28, 29 & 152 at Wimbledon Art Studios, SW17 0BB. For more info and to book – use code PAINTBRUSH at checkout to receive 20% off by 30th June 2025 – visit Paperdoll’s website!
Aldi Local at 35 Tooting High Street will be permanently closing its doors in September. An Aldi Spokesperson said, "Our Tooting Store will close in September 2025 when its current lease ends. Our valued customers will still be able to shop and save close to home at our Wimbledon, Colliers Wood and Balham sites, and our amazing colleagues will be relocated to local stores.
"Aldi is a growing business and its investment of £650m in Britain in 2025 reiterates its commitment to expanding its store estate."
We'll keep you posted as to what will be replacing the store.
There's still time to enter Wandsworth in Bloom! As part of the celebrations as London Borough of Culture 2025, Wandsworth Council is inviting residents, schools, businesses and community groups to showcase their green-fingered talents!
Whether you're growing plants on a balcony or tending a community allotment, there’s a category for every kind of gardener. This year’s categories include:
• Best Allotment Plot
• Best Business in Bloom
• Best Balcony or Container Garden
• Best Community Food Growing Site
• Best Community Facility Garden
• Best Front Garden
• Best Street
• Tallest Sunflower (nurseries and primary schools only)
• Best in Show
• People’s Choice
• Most Vibrant London Borough of Culture Garden
The competition is free to enter and open to everyone.
Deadline for entry is Monday 30th June, with judging taking place in July.
More info and how to enter, via Wandsworth Council.
Following Tuesday afternoon's incident on Mitcham Road in Tooting, police have released the following statement:
"At 17:08hrs on Tuesday, 17 June, police were called following reports of public order in Wandsworth.
"Officers attended the scene on Mitcham Road where a group of people were causing a disturbance, and deployed Pava spray in order to disperse the crowd.
"A 40-year-old woman was arrested for possessing an offensive weapon, in the name of a bat, and an 18-year-old man was arrested for public order and racially aggravated public order.
"Both have been released pending further enquiries.
"Enquiries continue.
"If you were a witness or have any information which may help, please call police on 101 with the reference 6293/17Jun."
Tooting & Earlsfield businesses were amongst the winners at this year’s Wandsworth Business Awards, including Graveney Gin (Best Micro Business) in Tooting Market, Minar Jewellers (Best Independent Retailer), Cognito Hair (Environmental/Sustainability Champion), and Switched On London Ltd (Best SME Business and Best Overall Business)!
The Awards, run by Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce, took place last Wednesday at The Clapham Grand. For the full list of Winners, Highly Commended and Commended, visit the Wandsworth Chamber website.
Congratulations to all the award recipients!
Wandsworth Council has secured additional funding to significantly boost the borough’s CCTV monitoring capabilities, with extended monitoring hours and brand new mobile CCTV vans which aim to strengthen community safety.
CCTV monitoring takes place across Wandsworth via over 1,200 cameras, with officers stationed at Wandsworth Town Hall’s Joint Control Centre (JCC) which is operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Council will increase CCTV monitoring by an extra 150 hours each month and will introduce three new mobile CCTV cars.
Recently, a late-night digital patrol targeting mobile phone thefts around Tooting Broadway took place, during which the operator noticed two suspicious men working together to identify potential victims. One of the men then engaged a passerby in conversation, encouraging them to take out their phone, before the second man approached and snatched their phone.
The operator stayed on top of the situation, zooming in to get clear footage and updating the police in real time through the two-way radios the service has in place. Their efforts helped police catch both men, support the victim and recover a stolen phone.
Full info via Wandsworth Council.
Did you know that there's a Play Team at Tooting's St George's Hospital? The team of Health Play Specialists use play as a tool to support children's emotional and psychological well-being during healthcare experiences, preparing and distracting children for all medical interventions, whilst offering support throughout a child's or young person's journey in hospital.
If you'd like to know more, visit their Instagram at @stgeorges_playteam
📷 @stgeorges_playteam (Instagram)
The Khalsa Centre Gurdwara in Tooting marked the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Fifth Sikh Guru, Guru Arjan Dev Ji over the weekend, and handed out free samosas and water outside their temple at 95 Upper Tooting Road.
Saturday’s Fun Day at Furzedown Rec was a huge success, with live music and dance, a wide range of food stalls, community groups and local traders, plus lots of fun activities (and the weather was great)!
The event was organised by Furzedown Community Network, in partnership with Enable Leisure. See Furzedown Community Network for more info on what they do in the community, plus details of upcoming events!
Good luck to Tooting resident Yasmin, who’s been selected as a finalist for Miss Universe GB 2025, and is using the platform to raise awareness for vitiligo, and to raise money for A-Sisterhood, a not-for-profit which aims to empower, support and protect women.
Yasmin tells us, “This is such an exciting time for me – as a woman with vitiligo, I never dreamed of having a seat at the table in a beauty pageant, but now I do. After years of covering up my facial difference, I now wear it with pride and encourage everyone to embrace their natural selves.
“I’m also fundraising for A-Sisterhood, which supports charities that help women worldwide. One of the charities A-sisterhood supports helps female victims of acid attacks in India.
“As part of my fundraising efforts, I have completed the challenge of climbing 3000 flights of stairs on the stair-master (stepper) over 30 days (equivalent of 100 flights a day), to raise money for such a worthy and inspirational organisation.
“Any donation would be greatly appreciated, will go a long way to support women around the globe, and will be 'step' in the right direction towards empowering women."
To donate to Yasmin’s fundraiser, please visit her GoFundMe page.
Ahead of the Miss Universe GB 2025 final in July, the public has the opportunity to vote for their favourite finalist via text, and you can text ‘GB YASMIN’ to 64343 to vote for Yasmin! (Texts cost £1 plus one standard network message). Voting closes at 7pm on 22nd July 2025 (Ts and Cs here).
The final takes place at 7pm on 26th July in Cardiff. We wish Yasmin all the best!
Antonio has opened Cerbero, an Italian 🇮🇹 bakery and deli, in Tooting Market!
Antonio will be serving freshly-baked focaccia every day, along with antipasti (including Italian meat, cheese and vegetarian options), Italian soft drinks and more to eat in and take away from his unit in the Yard Market area (where Greek Mama's Bakehouse was previously located).
Open 11am-8pm, Tuesday to Sunday. More info via @cerberotesse (Instagram).
Congratulations and good luck, Antonio!
Poutinie has opened in Tooting Market, serving poutine (a Canadian dish consisting of fries, cheese curds and gravy) dishes and more!
Brother and sister team Julian and Tahliah tell us, "we're bringing proper poutine to Tooting! Think crisp fries, squeaky cheese curds, and rich gravy, with slow-cooked meats or veggie-friendly toppings to load it up your way.
"Highlights include our Smoked & Loaded – a beef chuck and short rib blend, slow-cooked for 6 hours and finished with parmesan and garlic butter – or the Hot Honey Hustle, with crispy chicken tenders glazed in sweet 'n spicy hot honey and topped with pickled jalapeños.
"We’ve got halal, vegetarian, and vegan options, with some gluten-free choices too!"
Find Poutinie in the Yard Market area of the market (where Sausage Lab was previously located). Open 5pm-10pm Wednesday to Friday, 12pm-10pm Saturday and Sunday, for takeaway and delivery. More info via @poutinieuk (Instagram).
Congratulations and good luck to Julian and Tahliah!
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