Good morning, Wimblers.
Today’s rather busy edition starts off with a bang, thanks to the grenade found on Wimbledon Common — and that’s just the beginning. This week, after two years of hearing glowing reviews from readers, I was delighted to receive a personal invitation from the team behind Cent Anni restaurant in Wimbledon Village. Scroll down to see how my visit went.
Also, we’re still getting ready for our Christmas print edition and keen to hear your suggestions and ideas. Please send your thoughts to: zak@thewimble.com.
News snippets 🗞
💥 Police were forced to evacuate the area around Wimbledon Common last week, after the discovery of a historic hand grenade. It was found at around 4.20pm on Friday 18 September and was later safely detonated in a controlled explosion. Read more here.
👟 The official route for Run South London, Merton’s brand new half-marathon, has been announced. The 13.1-mile run will take place on Sunday 14 March next year and proceeds right through the heart of Merton, past Wimbledon Common, through Wimbledon Village and alongside the All England Lawn Tennis Club. We reckon Raynes Park will be a great spot to cheer runners on for those crucial last few miles. Check out more information here.
🚘 A crash in Wimbledon town centre caused major traffic disruptions and bus diversions on Sunday. A motorcycle and a car collided at the junction between Alexandra Road, Wimbledon Hill Road and St George’s Road. It has not yet been reported if anyone sustained serious injuries. Click here for updates and images from the scene.
💷 Merton Council has secured £150,000 from private developers to create a new business support fund, which it hopes will help Mitcham businesses attract new customers and “unlock” the town centre’s potential. Local owners will be invited to work with the Town Centre Manager to identify how this windfall could help their business flourish. If you’re interested, reach out by emailing regeneration@merton.gov.uk. Click here to read the full story.
The Wimble’s sponsor of the week ⛸
The Wimbledon Quarter ice rink is back for its fourth year and they’ve got a super early bird offer to kick things off. For one week only, save 20% on your tickets with the code SUPEREARLYBIRD. The offer ends Wednesday 30th September, 11.59pm, so don’t miss it. Click the button below to book your tickets.
Property of the week 🏡
This newly built six-bedroom home is one of the most expensive properties on the market in Wimbledon at the moment, with an eye-watering price tag of £7.5 million. However, there’s no doubt this is a real “dream home” and it also happens to be located in one of Wimbledon’s most desirable enclaves: Ridgway Gardens. Check out more photos here.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯
❤️ Wellness Weekend by Sustainable Discovery: Wellness Weekend is all about resetting, recharging and feeling your best. Attendees can enjoy a programme of talks, workshops and interactive experiences designed to inspire and inform. From blending your own perfumes to talks on elevating your gut health, this free event is not one to miss.
Where: Wimbledon Quarter
When: Saturday 26 & Sunday 27 September, 10am–5pm
🐾 2026 Waggy Walk: This is the ninth annual Waggy Walk raising funds for local charity Wimbledon Guild. Participants can choose between a 4km or 7km walk across Wimbledon Common, claim their free doggy goody bag and enjoy refreshments at the Hand in Hand. Tickets are £16 per adult, with one free child ticket with every adult ticket purchased. You do not actually need a dog to attend this walk, but if you do, they go free (just so long as you book in advance — otherwise they are £5 on the day).
Where: Hand in Hand (for check-in)
When: Saturday 3 October, 10.30am–2.30pm
🍩 Love Wimbledon local market on the Piazza: Welcome back to the monthly market offering a delightful mix of artisan stalls. Whatever it is that you fancy, this market has it. From Bombay Delight’s award-winning curries to secondhand vinyl classics courtesy of So Pop Vinyl, the Piazza’s market has something for everyone.
Where: The Piazza, Wimbledon
When: Saturday 3 – Sunday 4 October, 11am–6pm
🥂 Amathus Autumn Drinks Fair: The nights are getting colder, which means a new menu of drinks is in order. Medium-bodied, earthy reds and white wines with a little more depth and character are perfect for these cooler months. Head up to Amathus to taste a selection of their autumnal wines and take advantage of their special weekend discount. No booking is required, as the tasting is free.
Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village
When: Saturday 3 October, 11am–7pm & Sunday 4 October, 12–5pm
🏎 Southside Hustle Classic Car Meet: This informal meeting of classic car owners in Wimbledon (and the surrounding areas) is for the real petrolheads among us. If rare cars and good vibes are your thing, then head to Wimbledon Village next Sunday.
Where: Wimbledon Common Southside near the farmers’ market.
When: Sunday 4 October, 8–11am
🤝 Netwalking on Wimbledon Common: Join Elevate Netwalking® with Lydia Stevens and other like-minded professionals on Wimbledon Common, on either 5th or 19th October from 10am to noon. The idea behind this event is to bring like-minded people together through coaching, connection and nature. Tickets range from £10–£60, click here to book and check out more details.
🙋🏽♀️ RISE: Female Leaders Networking Breakfast: Networking seems to be October’s theme! Join Time & Leisure for an energy-boosting networking breakfast, sponsored by HSBC UK. Meet other women in business, network and make new connections, or catch up with old friends. Tickets are £25 per person.
Where: Rose & Crown
When: Wednesday 7 October, 8.30–10am
🥩 Argentine Asado at Orion: For one day only, Orion brings the spirit of Mendoza to Wimbledon in a special partnership event with Michelin-starred Angélica Cocina Maestra and Argentina’s most-awarded winery, Catena Zapata. Arguably one of the most interesting culinary events to happen in Wimbledon this year, those lucky enough to attend can expect grilled oysters with crispy chorizo, lobster and prawn empanada. The centrepiece is, of course, “Orion meets Argentina”: British short rib and Argentinian rib-eye, both cooked over the Green Egg, smoked and carved at your table. Tickets are £95 per person (plus service charge). Book here.
Where: Orion, Wimbledon Village
When: Saturday 10 October, 12.15–2pm (lunch) & 6–7.45pm
Cent Anni: Is this Wimbledon’s favourite Italian? 🍝
In May 2019, Raymond De Fazio opened Cent Anni in Wimbledon Village as a tribute to his father, Angelo, and to the food he grew up eating in his family home. Since launching The Wimble, I have had dozens of locals and readers encourage me to visit and try Cent Anni’s food. Invited by the team behind Cent Anni to try their food (for free), how could I possibly say no?
I’m a little surprised at how hot it is for September. As I make my way up Wimbledon Hill Road, I begin to regret wearing a thick “formal” shirt. It’s never ideal to turn up to a restaurant looking like you’ve just clambered out of Rushmere Pond.
Cent Anni opened seven years ago and, since then, I’ve walked past a thousand times, noting the aesthetically pleasing exterior, and smelling waft upon waft of tomato, oregano, garlic and other essential Italian ingredients. But, until today, I’ve never stepped foot inside.
It’s important to point out that I have an expert guest with me — my Italian girlfriend. She’s a fastidious judge when it comes to her native cuisine but, having heard such good things about Cent Anni, I was confident it would win her approval. First impressions: Cent Anni is a lovely restaurant to look at. It manages to feel cosy and local, while also maintaining a sense of elegance and occasion. We’re lucky enough to have our own booth, and the extra sense of privacy is an added bonus.
I’m going to upset a few wine drinkers here when I say that pinot grigio is not my favourite white wine — it’s not even in my top ten white wines. It has its merits, don’t get me wrong, but I’ve had very few in my life that didn’t make me squint. So when it comes to choosing a wine, I settle on a crisp vermentino from southern Sardinia. And for £29 a bottle, I have zero complaints.
For starters, we order a sea bass ceviche and pan-fried king prawns with white wine, chilli, garlic, lemon and warm focaccia. I enjoyed them both — the sauce for the pan-fried king prawns was particularly more-ish — but I’m a sucker for ceviche, and this doesn’t disappoint. It’s fresh, and the crunch of the raw onion cuts through that soft avocado texture. I’m not always sure about avocado and fish, but in this case, it definitely works. Top marks.
The table to our left is celebrating a birthday, and a humongous cake is brought out with sparklers — a reminder that this restaurant focuses on being a beloved spot for locals as much as it does on gastronomy. For mains, I go for a veal Milanese, whilst my girlfriend opts for a crayfish and white wine risotto. Milanese is never really about presentation; it’s all about taste, which this dish has in spades. My girlfriend deems it “a proper Milanese”, a high achievement for a kitchen on English soil. Both our mains are generous portions — so much so that we struggle to finish either one.
What I also appreciate about Cent Anni is the service. The staff are knowledgeable, kind and, most importantly, know not to hover. Too many restaurants in London are about flipping tables and getting as much money from you as fast as they can. Cent Anni is nothing like this, thankfully. We’re given plenty of time to pick at our food, chat and enjoy our wine before any member of staff asks if we’d like to see the dessert menu. “There’s always room for dessert,” he advises — and he’s right.
We order a tiramisu to share and two single espressos. Some of you may be against a post-dinner coffee, but I’m a firm believer in a much-needed pick-me-up after a large meal. Yes, it might mean that I didn’t fall asleep until 1.30am. But that’s not the point.
The tiramisu is one of the stand-out dishes (second only to the sea bass ceviche). It’s very easy to make an average, passable tiramisu, but you know when you’ve got a good one. Cent Anni makes what my girlfriend calls a good — translation: excellent — tiramisu.
We leave Cent Anni satiated, happy and with plans to come back. But if a la carte isn’t your thing (or you fancy saving a bit of money), they have a lunchtime deal (Monday to Friday, 12–4pm) where two courses are £20 and three courses are just £24.
Check out Cent Anni’s website here.
Question of the week 🔍
Last week, I asked you how much Wimbledon’s population increased from the 1800s to 1911. The answer: 1,000–55,000.
Q: Who owned much of the land in Wimbledon between 1328 to 1536?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition. Do get in touch with any ideas by emailing zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.
I have never been to Cent Anni walked past it I live in Raynes Park but now I’m going to. Great review my mouth is watering!