Balham Newsie Weekly Newsletter
Country on the Common is back this summer, Balham Wardens begin patrols, food and drink offers, local bookshop wins award, and lots more!
Battersea Power Station comes alive this Saturday 21st March with a FREE day of music, dance, creative workshops and family-friendly activities, to celebrate Wandsworth's year as the Mayor's London Borough of Culture!
The Beat Goes On brings together chart-topping legends and rising local talent, alongside poetry, dance, hundreds of choral singers and lots of hands-on experiences – plus some amazing surprise guests! It’s an open invitation to come together, get involved and celebrate everything that makes Wandsworth move.
With UK Garage and Grime stars Lisa Maffia and Romeo London hosting the main stage, and the joyful Sarah Jayne’s Dolly Tribute Show, the day bursts with standout moments. Encounter family-friendly circus and street theatre from Brain Fools, Jelly Fish Theatre and Austin Dance Theatre, and relive highlights from the year as the Strictly Wandsworth dance returns alongside the colourful Urban Flow flag parade, brought to life by the uplifting sounds of World Heart Beat’s New Orleans’ Second Line Band.
An exciting programme will unfold across every corner of Battersea Power Station – each space will pulse with sound, movement and creativity, connecting you to the people, stories and cultures that make Wandsworth unique.
You don't need a ticket to join, but you can 'Reserve a Spot' to receive event reminders closer to the day at the Welcome to Wandsworth website.
Country on the Common returns to Tooting Common on 4th & 5th July!
Dust off your cowboy boots and get ready as London’s all-out celebration of country, blues & roots returns to South London for two unforgettable summer days filled with live music, line-dancing, axe-throwing, delicious food, craft beer, whiskey and cocktails, kids activities, a silent disco, and lots more.
Tickets on sale Tuesday 31st March – sign up to get exclusive access to presale tickets from 9am and see the line-up before everyone else! Don’t miss the return of London’s only outdoor country music festival!
🗓️ 4th & 5th July
🌵 Tooting Common
Sign up here.
Keep an eye out for the Balham Neighbourhood Wardens, who are patrolling the streets of Balham to help keep them safe and clean.
Their duties include fly-tipping enforcement, working with local businesses and Neighbourhood Policing Teams, and providing reassurance and an easier way to report issues.
If you've recently encountered the wardens, Wandsworth Council would like to hear about your experience. Share your views via the link in our bio.
Find out more about the wardens here.
Congratulations to Tom, Denise, Darby, Isobel, Zoë and Francis at Backstory - which opened in 2022 - on being named London’s Independent Bookshop of the Year by a panel of judges from the British Book Awards!
They'd like to thank all their wonderful customers, the judges, and their fellow shortlisted indie bookshops!
Cheers and congrats to the whole team! 🥂📚
Backstory is located at 71 Balham High Road.
Sales Property Of The Week from Keating Estates Balham: “A smartly presented two bedroom, two bathroom apartment with access to well-maintained residents’ grounds, set within a contemporary gated development on Old Devonshire Road in central Balham.
“This particular apartment is favourable positioned away from the bustle of Cavendish Road to the far side of the building and offers peace of mind with high energy efficiency and a well-kept environment throughout. A new water tank and pump were installed in 2022, further enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the home.”
For full info & more photos, visit their website www.keatingestates.com, visit the team at 61 Bedford Hill, email balham@keatingestates.com or call 020 8079 3161.
Planning a home improvement or extension project? Local company A.S Construction and Landscapes provide expert interior refurbishment services, including flooring installation, bathroom remodelling, wall installation, full property upgrades and extensions.
They also undertake outdoor projects such as landscaping, fencing and patios, offering a complete solution for improving both the inside and outside of your home.
Their team is known for delivering high-quality workmanship, reliable service and free, detailed quotes with no hidden fees.
Owner Ardi tells us more:
“A.S Construction and Landscapes is a family-run business established in 2017, with over 10 years of experience in the building trade.
“Our skilled craftsmen combine professional expertise, creative design and quality workmanship. Alongside landscaping, paving and groundwork projects, we also specialise in interior improvements including flooring installation, bathroom remodelling, wall installation, tiling and full refurbishments.
“We’re committed to delivering high-quality results using durable materials, completing projects on time while ensuring minimal disruption for our clients.”
A.S Construction and Landscapes provide a wide range of services including flooring installation, bathroom remodelling, wall installation, tiling, brickwork, fencing, paving, landscaping, paths, patios and full refurbishments.
To receive a FREE assessment, or for more information, call or text 07456 183 295 or visit their website https://asconstructionlandscapes.co.uk
Multi award-winning Balham skin health & wellness clinic, The Medi Shed are excited to announce that their Lead Aesthetic Practitioner & Clinical Operations Manager, Amy is joining the clinic full time from April 7th!
To celebrate, The Medi-Shed is offering 10% OFF all treatments booked with Amy during April. A consultation (redeemable against treatment) is essential if you haven’t seen Amy before.
Amy is already a familiar face to many Medi-Shed patients and brings expertise across a wide range of treatments including Morpheus8 Burst, Lumecca Peak IPL, Forma Radiofrequency, Obagi Skintrinsiq Medical Facials, SkinPen Medical Microneedling, Obagi consultations, Bespoke Peels. Emsculpt, Emsella and more!. Amy will also lead the clinic’s Define & Brighten™️ Ritual Membership.
To book an appointmemt or find out more about The Medi-Shed, visit their website.
The Medi-Shed is located at 81 Nightingale Lane, Balham, SW12 8NX.
Are you looking for a local decorator to freshen up your home or business this Spring? Marek Ciechanowski Decorating has been busy working on all sorts of properties recently in & around Balham (interior, exterior and wallpapering), and now has availability from late March onwards.
Marek tells us, “I’ve run my decorating business for over 20 years, offering high-quality work on all types of projects, including interior and exterior painting, wallpapering, ceilings, woodwork, furniture, doors, windows, as well as revitalising old kitchens and completing new ones.
“Just let me know your preferred colours and materials, and I can help with ideas too. I pride myself on my customer service, great reputation and delivering on time and in budget.”
To get a free quote & find out more, email Marek at genren2000@hotmail.com, call 07584 654679
You can also visit his website at mcdecorating.uk
Local resident Lavinia Fitzpatrick has launched a new Jazz dance class for adults, Theatre Land taking place at St Mary's church on Thursdays from 6:30pm - 7:30pm!
Lavinia tells us more:
"I used to be a professional dancer/actress and worked in Musical Theatre shows in the West End and internationally. I have now started this new dance class in Balham as I love bringing people together, having fun and believe dancing is one of the best things for your mental and physical wellbeing!
"I have been dancing since I was 3 and teaching for 10 years including children and adults!
"This class is for adults and it’s a beginner level but anyone is welcome! We usually start with a warm up, followed by a couple of technical exercises, then a routine, with a stretch/cool down to finish.
To sign up, send an email to info.theatreland@gmail.com or join the Facebook group ‘Balham Dance Club’.
A Balham resident has launched Perk Club, a tool that lets your favourite independent shops, cafés, barbers and salons offer their own subscriptions to regulars.
The founder tells us more:
"We noticed that every service we used has a subscription — Netflix, Spotify, gym, meals, flowers etc. But the place we visit every single morning for coffee? Nothing. The place we go every single month for a haircut? Nothing. It just felt like an obvious gap. In a world of increasing costs, endless competition, loyalty isn't a nice to have, it's survival.
"So how does it work? Think the Pret subscription but for independent businesses. Customers pay a monthly fee, get a QR code saved to their Apple or Google Wallet (no app downloads, promise 🙌), and enjoy perks like a coffee a day, 2 pastries a week, a haircut a month or anything the independent wants to offer.
"The customer gets exclusive perks and discounts. The business gets predictable income every month. Everyone wins!"
Perk Club is now offering free pilot access to five Balham businesses.
For more info or to sign up, visit perk club.io
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Eighteen years on from first opening their doors, Balham’s Caminata continues to serve genuine, honest Italian food cooked with love on Bedford Hill – and remains as popular as ever with local residents. Check out their fantastic reviews!
Everything at Caminata is freshly made – including the pasta – and the menu features delicious antipasto, pizza (using organic flour dough), pasta and main dishes from across Italy.
Caminata is open 7 days a week, including for lunch on Friday (where they offer a special 2 or 3-course Set Menu - see the image), Saturday and Sunday.
They also have a special takeaway / collection-only offer on a range of pizza and pasta dishes, starting at just £8.50 (see menu in images).
To book a table at Caminata, call 020 8772 0701, email info@caminata.co.uk, visit caminata.co.uk – or just walk in if there’s room!
You’ll find Caminata at 96 Bedford Hill (just under the railway bridge), open Monday-Thursday 5pm-11pm, Friday-Sunday 12pm-11pm.
Ming's Cuisine would love to welcome you – and the team have news about some exciting changes coming this spring!
The owners tell us:
“Since opening our doors in Balham last summer, we’ve felt incredibly lucky to become part of such a warm and supportive neighbourhood. Seeing families, friends and locals gathering around our tables is exactly why we started Ming’s in the first place.
“This spring, we’re also cooking up a few new things behind the scenes. Alongside your favourite Hong Kong and Shanghai dishes, we’ll soon be introducing some new lunchtime plates (perfect if you fancy something quick but delicious), a few new evening dishes, and an easier way to order directly from us.
“So if you’re planning to treat Mum this weekend, or simply fancy a proper lunch that doesn’t involve another sad desk sandwich, we’d love to see you.
“Keep an eye out for our new menu and lunch offers coming soon.”
To view the current menu and book a table, visit mingscuisinebalham.co.uk, call 020 7018 6800, or just pop in and say hello at 191 Balham High Road. Open 7 days a week from noon.
Volunteers from Friends of Tooting Common (human and canine!) and Enable Parks helped to clear the brambles smothering the gorse on the common recently.
FOTC would love new members and more volunteers to help out on projects like this, and also to help with litter picks. The group also organises walks – covering everything from bats to bluebells! – and other activities on the common.
To find out more, including how to join and to volunteer, visit the Friends of Tooting Common website.
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