Balham Newsie Weekly Newsletter
A free concert, three charity quizzes, singer Raye puts Balham on the musical map, renovations to Balham Children's Library, 50% off food offer, and lots more!
Quiz night and raffle for charity this Friday! 🐶 Local resident Martin Parsons is holding a quiz night and raffle The Bedford Pub on Friday 6th March to raise funds for the Geordie Bullies Springboard Rescue.
Tickets are £2.50 per quiz entry (NHS discount available) and £2 per raffle ticket. All proceeds with go to the Geordie Bullies Springboard Rescue, founded to rescue and rehabilitate bulldogs in need.
The charity is close to Martin's heart after losing his dog Claude in 2024 who was an English Bulldog (think Churchill adverts!)
For more info, visit Martin's Instagram page and click the link in his bio.
Doors open at 7pm with the quiz beginning at 7:30pm in the Upstairs Room at The Bedford.
FREE concert! Join St Mary's Balham on Saturday 7th March at 6pm for an evening of classical piano music with Guy Murgatroyd, who has previously played at St Mary's with great style and aplomb while accompanying the performances of Rogue Opera!
The concert is free to attend with a retiring collection and refreshments will be available.
Spring Quiz for Ukraine! 🇺🇦 The White Eagle Appeal is holding its popular Quiz Night to raise funds for Ukraine on Thursday 26th March at the White Eagle Club!
All proceeds will go towards helping support Ukraine and those affected by the war.
Teams of up to 6 people are welcome to join.
Enjoy a night of competition and stand a chance to win their coveted White Eagle Ukraine Appeal Quiz Winners' trophies all while raising money for Ukraine!
Tickets cost £15 per person and include a buffet.
The quiz will start at 7:30pm.
More info and tickets here.
The White Eagle Club / Klub Orła Białego is located at 211 Balham High Road.
The Big Creative Quiz! Join local community creative wellbeing group Creative Voices Collective for fun-filled quiz night on Friday 27th March The Bedford Pub from 7pm!
Hosted by comedian Rachel Watkeys-Dowie, this quiz features fun questions, creative challenges, and rounds on art, culture, music, and storytelling.
All funds raised support CVC’s creative wellbeing programs, providing inclusive workshops and events for people facing mental health challenges and barriers to care.
Go with a team or join one on the night. Enjoy laughs, make connections, and win prizes from local vendors and partners.
More info and tickets here.
A new premium golf simulator Scratch Golf, has opened at 40 Balham Hill, offering membership or pay as you go options!
Co-founders Tom and Charlie tell us more:
“Like a lot of people, we started playing golf out of Covid. We quickly fell in love with the sport but found it equally frustrating and wanted to practise as much as possible.
“We found that our options were either to travel out to a driving range or go to an indoor simulator bar which was not always the best environment for practise. So Scratch Golf was born. Scratch is on a mission to provide indoor golf to real golf lovers.
“Scratch Golf offers private bays with the highest quality of golf simulation, booked by the hour.”
“Booking is easy. Simply make an online booking, receive a code for access, punch in and play your favourite courses from around the world! You can also bring up to three friends with you for free!”
For more info or to book, visit www.scratchgolf.com
The popular boutique training studio Fitnessworks Balham will be opening a second site just across the road from its current location, taking over 147 Balham Hill, SW12 9DL.
The new studio will allow FitnessWorks to run Personal Training and Small Group Training sessions across two locations, meaning more availability, improved scheduling, and a smoother experience for members.
The expansion will bring:
👉 Increased peak-time Personal Training slots
👉 More Small Group Training availability
👉 Expanded class capacity
👉 Reduced booking congestion
Founder Will says:
“This has been a long time in the making. We’ve always been focused on quality over quantity, and this new space allows us to grow without compromising what makes FitnessWorks special. It means more availability, better scheduling, and an even stronger coaching experience for our members.
“Further details, including the expanded class timetable and official opening date, will be announced in the coming weeks.
“This next chapter is about offering more of what members already value (expert coaching, supportive community, and training done properly) now with the space to do it at an even higher level.”
To find out more, visit their website at yourfitnessworks.co.uk
A new Reformer Pilates studio and sauna, Goji London, will be opening on Balham Hill next door to Lockdown Bakehouse.
Goji, which has a location in Clapham Old Town, hopes to open in early May.
For more info, visit their website.
We’ll keep you posted!
Last chance to experience Freak Scene as you know it – and there’s a fantastic offer to mark the occasion!
From Thursday 5th March until Saturday 28th March, Freak Scene are offering 50% OFF your food bill + a glass of bubbles or a pint of beer on arrival for all pre-booked tables. See how to book below!
Created by Chef Scott Hallsworth, Freak Scene has been serving superb Pan-Asian food to Balham locals since it opened back in January 2024.
They’re soon to close their doors - but this isn’t the end of the story....
Scott tells us: “Freak Scene was never meant to be ordinary. It was built to be a place where the food hit hard, the room had energy, and every visit felt like something a little wild. As this chapter comes to an end, we want to fill the restaurant with the people who made it what it is.
“This is your final invitation to experience Freak Scene Balham before we close the doors – but this isn’t the end. Something new is coming.
“Something sharper. Something 2.0. One last time, Balham...”
Stay tuned for news of how Freak Scene is set to evolve!
And in the meantime, to book your table and take advantage of this great offer, visit their website www.freakscenerestaurants.com
Sales Property Of The Week from Keating Estates, Balham: “An exceptional three double bedroom, two bathroom apartment, complete with a substantial private balcony and an allocated parking space, set within a Grade II listed former cinema building on Streatham High Road.
“The Picture House is a splendid 1930s Art Deco cinema façade and foyer, beautifully preserved as part of a purpose-built residential development. Retaining elements of the original cinema, this unique home offers a compelling blend of mid-century architectural character and contemporary practicality.”
For full info & more photos, visit their website www.keatingestates.com or the team at 61 Bedford Hill, email balham@keatingestates.com or call 020 8079 3161.
Pawpadour Salon Dog & Cat Grooming is now welcoming clients from Balham, Tooting, and all over South London! Pawpadour owner Wiktoria tells us more:
“We specialise in Teddy Bear cuts, Asian Fusion styles, round faces, and breed-standard trims. Whether your dog needs a stylish refresh or a complete transformation, every groom is tailored to suit your pet’s unique coat, comfort, and personality.
“We truly love what we do. For us, grooming is not just about creating beautiful finishes and perfectly rounded faces – it’s about building trust, handling every pet with patience and care, and making sure they feel safe and happy throughout their visit.
“We’re incredibly proud of our outstanding 5-star reviews and our loyal, happy client base across South London. The trust our pet parents place in us means everything.”
“With a gentle, welfare-first approach and a passion for high standards, Pawpadour has become a trusted name for stylish, safe grooming."
Services include:
• Full Grooming (all breeds & sizes)
• Bath & Blow Dry
• Teddy Bear & Asian Fusion Styles
• Hand-stripping & De-shedding
• Breed Standard Cuts
• Ultrasonic Teeth Cleaning
• Nail Trimming & Paw Care
• Puppy Introductions to Grooming
Pawpadour also groom cats, offering:
• Wet & Dry Baths
• Groom Out & De-shedding
• Sanitary Trims
• Body Clipping / Lion Trims
• Nail Trimming
Open Monday–Saturday, 9am–5pm at Pawpadour, Tooting Works, 89 Bickersteth Road, SW17 9SH
Book online here.
The Balham Library will be refreshing and modernising the Children’s and Teen Libraries to create brighter, more welcoming spaces for families.
To support the works, a temporary Children’s Library has been opened downstairs (shown above) ensuring children can continue to enjoy books and activities throughout the refurbishment.
This will, however, mean reduced study and IT space during this period (which has all been combined in the adult library downstairs).
The entire upstairs floor will be closed from 2nd March.
We'll keep you posted on when the works are complete!
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 The Nightingale Pub!
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!
Two local residents, Jean Millar and Justine McNeil (co-founders of Beautify Balham) are leading the charge to improve the face of Balham through litter-picking, replanting and community outreach, reports SW Londoner.
"A recent proposal from Wandsworth Council has outlined the plan to tackle ‘anti-social behaviour’ in the Balham area by introducing an £170,000 pilot scheme to introduce Neighbourhood Wardens – subject to a cabinet decision.
"Simon Hogg, the council leader, highlighted how ‘graffiti, noise and other anti-social behaviour have a big impact on residents’ lives’.
"But Beautify Balham, co-headed by Jean Millar and Justine McNeil, seeks to buck the narrative that Balham is an unclean and un-green place to live, and have been cleaning streets and increasing plant life since 2020.
"Jean founded Beautify Balham post retirement, with the aim of improving her local area, she said: “I saw Balham as a lovely place to live but there was the litter and the greyness and there weren’t any trees and I just felt it needed a lift”.
"Just before the pandemic, Jean met Justine who was in Balham organising tree pit planting, a ‘meeting of the minds’ took place and they decided to join forces.
"Since then, their work has continued to grow and make a notable difference to the local community with a shared vision: ‘to clean up and green up Balham’."
Read the full article here.
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