Afternoon, Surbiton — and happy Sunday. Yesterday I warned you of showers; good news, they've largely held off. It's a calmer, cooler 25°C today, sunny intervals and a stiff breeze, with the rain staying away until late. A gentler day for the allotment, a wander, or nothing much at all. Below: a new studio heading for the old Carluccio's, our university joining some serious company, the roads that change tomorrow morning, and a lovely note from Berrylands that made my afternoon. A warm welcome to Roy, Samuel and Ian, who all wrote in this weekend. Here's Sunday.
The old Carluccio's on Charter Quay has a new future: a Pilates studio
Good news for anyone who's watched that riverside unit sit empty. STRONG Pilates is opening at Charter Quay this autumn, in the old Carluccio's site by the river. Owners Kathryn and Scott are bringing six different class types — from a gentle Starter and Pilates-only sessions up to strength and reformer-style classes — so there's a way in whether you've never been near a reformer or you're already hooked. No firm opening date beyond “autumn” yet, but a well-known empty unit getting filled is a win for that stretch of the waterfront either way.
Kingston University joins a select defence group — one of a handful chosen from around 100
A quiet bit of local pride. Kingston University has been named a founding member of the new Defence Universities Alliance, picked from roughly 100 applicants. It's a mark of the research reputation building up the road, and the sort of thing that brings funding, jobs and students into the borough over time — worth knowing your local university is in that company.
Quiet on a Sunday, but tomorrow morning three things change — mostly for the better.
- Dysart School crossing: the temporary signals come down tomorrow, Monday 27th — one fewer hold-up on that stretch.
- Hook Road roundabout: Vale Road North clears tomorrow (Mon 27th). Two jobs remain — Gladstone Road to 29 July, and the Bridge Road side closed with signals to 31 July.
- Ewell Road, near Tolworth Close: the one new hold-up — two-way signals go in tomorrow (Mon 27th) for gully works, running to 7 August.
- A3 at Tolworth: still looks finished — off TfL's disruption feed since Friday. Give yourself the old margin on a tight run, but it looks clear.
- Leatherhead Road at Bridge Road (towards Chessington): temporary two-way lights for power works to 13 August.
- Ewell Road, the big one: unchanged — St Mark's Hill to Hollyfield signals into late October, cycle-route works at the Ditton, Hollyfield and Kingsdowne junctions to January 2027.
K1, K2, K3, the 71 and the 281: all good service this afternoon. Spot something I've missed? Reply and I'll chase it.
Today (Sunday):
- Learn to grow your own food: Knollmead Allotments, Tolworth (KT5 9QP), 2–4pm — week three of the Save the World Club's run, covering harvesting, cooking with what you grow, and spotting edibles growing wild. (Ring ahead: the listing carries a Kingston contact address.)
- Football for Women, no experience needed, 18 to 81+: Tiffin Girls School, Richmond Road, Kingston.
- Turner's House, Twickenham: “Unfinished Business: Turner's Painting and Bequest” — a short trip for an art afternoon.
This week:
- Bonnie Rogues Quiz: 154 Clarence Street, Kingston — Monday 27th.
- Kids Club Science Club: Old London Road Cafe — Tuesday 28th.
- Kingston Rowing Club Junior Learn to Row: Lower Ham Road, from 27 July.
via Kingston Nub News What's On & Kingston Council
Out with the kids. Sarah in Berrylands wrote in this weekend — her neighbour forwarded Saturday's issue, and she and her daughter had a lovely morning at the Saxon Fayre because of it. She asked for more free events for small children, and she's right that it's a gap I should fill properly. So I will: a proper reader-checked list of free under-8s things, done the way I did the station mosaics, in the next few days. For now — the Kids Club Science Club on Tuesday, and, always, Bushy Park's deer and playground, free all summer. Got a free under-8s spot your family loves? Hit reply and tell me — you'll be helping Sarah and half the newsletter.
The forecast softened overnight. Sunny intervals, a breezy high of 25°C down to 15°C tonight, and only a 10% chance of rain — and not until late. High pollen, though, if you suffer. Tomorrow's better still: Monday is a dry 26°C with bright spells, barely a drop. The hosepipe ban is still on, mind — a cooler weekend doesn't lift it.
You wrote in. A warm welcome to three who got in touch this weekend: Roy, who's in Chessington these days but is often over in Surbiton to eat and shop; and Samuel and Ian, both in Berrylands and both after more on what's happening locally — noted, and that's rather the whole plan.
And Paul, who asked for events aimed at older residents: I haven't forgotten. That list is coming this week, done properly.
That's Sunday. Enjoy the calmer weather while it's here. Back tomorrow.
Mike, Surbiton Daily
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