Good morning, Wimblers.
Firstly, I wanted to say thank you to all of our readers who filled out the survey. Your responses have been so helpful, and I’ll be going through them shortly. Click here to fill it out if you haven’t already.
This week, I visited one of Wimbledon’s newest spots, Jungle Berry, and sat down with Saulo to talk about everything from the freshness of açaí bowls to Wimbledon’s favourite toppings. Scroll down to read about the Brazilian berry taking London by storm.
We also have your usual news snippets, a lovely property of the week and some recommendations for the coming days.
Happy reading!
News snippets 🗞️
🍻Is street drinking out of control in Mitcham town centre? According to one local business owner, the answer is yes. In a recent article, the cafe owner said that the problem has become so severe that he’s considering leaving the area. A contributing factor could be that police powers to confiscate alcohol have recently expired, and Merton Council reportedly has no plans to renew the borough’s Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Ali Shabaan, owner of Tag Elezz Cafe in Mitcham, said, “Families and good people don’t come here, only alcoholics.” He also said that police are called out three to four times a week for alcohol-related ASB. “They come here and ask for empty glasses for their drinks. If I say no, they smash my windows,” Ali added. Read the full story here.
🥳 Merton students celebrated their GCSE results last week. Early figures show that national outcomes in English and maths have fallen, but indicative results suggest that Merton students are continuing to perform well. Councillor Sally Kenny, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Education, joined students at Raynes Park High School to share in their celebrations. She said, “We are incredibly proud of your hard work, dedication and determination, and we are excited to see the next steps in your journey,” adding, “My thanks also go to our teachers, school staff, families and guardians, whose support has been vital in enabling our young people to succeed and achieve the grades to continue on in their educational journey.” Read the press release here.
🔥 A fire tore through four hectares of grassland in Mitcham earlier this month. Control officers first received calls of a fire near Beddington Lane at 6.23pm on Monday 17 August. Eight fire engines and 60 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze. By 8.10pm, crews from Wimbledon, Croydon and Norbury had the fire under control. Check out the full article here.
🚔 Which southwest London boroughs saw the most crime in July? According to figures released by the Metropolitan Police, a total of 14,442 offences were logged in July, up 5 per cent recorded in June. Lambeth had the highest number of crimes, with 3,846 reported in July. Croydon was a close second with 3,310 offences. Next were Wandsworth (2,640) and Sutton (1,269). Merton was the penultimate borough with 1,157 offences. The most common crimes in Merton were “violence against the person” (385 reports) and theft (278 reports). Kingston and Richmond-upon-Thames saw the fewest offences, with 1,086 reports. See the full data with this link.
🧯 Another fire broke out at an industrial site in Mitcham this week. The premises contain a workshop, tyre centre and scaffolding yard. The London Fire Brigade sent around 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines to the scene, with the blaze spreading to about eight hectares of nearby shrubland. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Read the BBC’s report here.
The Wimble’s sponsor of the week 🐚
This week, we’re sponsored by So.Shell, the premium salon in Wimbledon Quarter focusing on high-quality nail, brow and lash services. So.Shell specialises in the Ukrainian manicure technique, prioritising precision, hygiene and long-lasting results, all delivered by highly skilled technicians. Just use the code “WELCOMEWQ” to get £10 off your first visit. Use the QR code above or visit their website via the button below.
Property of the week 🏡
I thought we’d go for variety this week and showcase a flat rather than a house. This two-bedroom ground-floor apartment is quite literally on top of the All England Lawn Tennis Club. This property is all about location, location, location. But it’s not cheap. In fact, it’ll set you back just shy of £2 million. Too much for a flat? You decide. Check out more pictures here.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯
🧺 August community market: We’ve featured this before, but it really isn’t one to miss. Get yourself down to Wimbledon Quarter this weekend for local shopping, artisan food and family-friendly fun. Expect over 30 traders from Merton, as well as live music, children’s activities and a free dance workshop on Sunday.
Where: Wimbledon Quarter
When: Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 August, 10am–6pm
🎶 Live Music Quiz at The Rushmere: Who doesn’t love a sing-along? Enjoy an evening of live music from Dan McHale, music bingo and bandeoke, plus a raffle with loads of great prizes on offer, all in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Tickets are £5 per person. To book, call 020 8946 1652.
Where: The Rushmere
When: Saturday 29 August, 6pm
🎨 HAZ: A Table in the Sun: Ad Lib Gallery presents a solo exhibition of new work by HAZ, celebrating her approach to contemporary still life. According to their website, Haz is “known for her richly coloured table scenes; HAZ transforms the rituals of eating, drinking and gathering into joyful, graphic compositions.” Drawing inspiration from Mediterranean travel and the conviviality of shared meals, HAZ creates paintings that feel both nostalgic and distinctly contemporary.
Where: Ad Lib Gallery
When: Thursday 3 – Sunday 13 September, 10am – 3.30pm
🥃 Premium Whisky Showcase: The temperature has dropped. It will drop again. And when it does, what better drink is there than a glass of whisky to warm your soul? Join guest host and whisky expert David Behan, who will take you through a number of amazing whiskies (both Scottish and Irish). Tickets are £10 per person.
Where: Jeroboams, Wimbledon Village
When: Friday 4 September, 6–7pm
🏎 Southside Hustle Classic Car Meet: Car lovers, this one’s for you. This informal meeting of classic car owners in Wimbledon (and the surrounding areas) features a stunning array of cars — some of which are extremely rare.
Where: Wimbledon Common Southside near the farmers’ market
When: Sunday 6 September, 8–11am
🪵 Wimbledon Common Nature Club: Den-Building: You know the score by now. This is one of the best FREE events in Wimbledon for children. At this session, the children will discover their inner Bear Grylls and try their hand at den-building. Summer may be coming to an end, but we’ve still got a few weeks of outdoor play! See more details here.
Where: Information Centre, Windmill Road, Wimbledon Common
When: Sunday 6 September, 10 am – 12 pm
From Brazil to SW19: The new superfood taking Wimbledon by storm 🍌
I have to be honest, I’d heard of açaí bowls before, but I didn’t pay them much attention. Why? Because it sounded like another Instagram trend that would surely bankrupt me and lead to disappointment. (I was worried it was going to be another matcha.) But a few weeks ago, I was talking with a colleague of mine in Wimbledon who said, “Have you popped down to Jungle Berry yet?” I hadn’t, but seeing as my office is about 30 seconds from the franchise’s new Wimbledon location, I decided to pay them a visit.
Earlier this week, I sat down with Saulo De Araujo, who runs the Wimbledon Jungle Berry store with his wife and business partner, Ana. On Saturday 5 September, Jungle Berry will open its first permanent store in SW19. But how have things been going so far at their pop-up? And, more importantly, what exactly is açaí? Here is what Saulo had to say about the “superfood”.
Let’s start with an obvious question: why Wimbledon?
We were looking to open a store in south London for about three or four months, but nothing was coming up. One day, we got a call from the Jungle Berry franchise saying they had an opportunity in Wimbledon Quarter. Did we want to take a look? I mean, this is Wimbledon we’re talking about. Of course we wanted to take a look! We signed the lease straight away … and here we are. The temporary stall in the Quarter’s Courtyard has been open for about eight weeks, but we’ll be able to do more than açaí once the permanent shop is up and running.
What is açaí and what makes it a unique food?
Açaí is what we call a “superfood”, and Jungle Berry is really a brand targeting people who want to lead healthier lives. Forget about the fries! Let’s eat something that’s genuinely good for us.
But açaí is also unique in its origin. It’s a natural berry from the Amazon Rainforest, and that’s because it needs hot temperatures and a lot of water to grow. You’ll find most açaí palm trees by the banks of the river in the Amazon. Another thing to know about açaí is that it’s rich in antioxidants. People often eat it to boost their immune systems. I’d really recommend it in winter when everyone is catching colds and the flu.
What is the açaí berry’s journey from the Amazon Rainforest to SW19?
Jungle Berry is special in this sense. Unlike most açaí brands, we actually have our own facilities in the Amazon. That means we process the berry ourselves. It also means we don’t need to add any artificial colours or flavourings, as our açaí is picked, processed and frozen within eight hours. It’s important to know that the açaí berry is a delicate fruit. It becomes grey and dry within 24 hours of picking, so it’s really important that the açaí is frozen and shipped to Europe as soon as possible. Unfortunately, a lot of açaí brands use chemicals to get the berry’s deep purple colour after the fruit has dried and turned grey. The problem there is that they’ve also lost the fruit’s natural taste. There’s a Netflix documentary coming out about this!
What has Wimbledon’s response to açaí bowls been so far?
We’ve already got a fan favourite. It’s called the “Brazilian Way”. It’s a normal serving of açaí which is then topped with paçoquinha (ground nuts, sugar and salt), strawberries, condensed milk and milk powder. It’s delicious. I think for every 10 bowls of açaí we sell, four of them are the Brazilian Way. But we’re also seeing locals try the fruit combinations in the morning before going to work or the gym. When we open the permanent store next Saturday, we’ll be able to sell Brazilian cheese bread, paninis, coffees, and protein shakes with açaí on top. I’m looking forward to being able to offer the community more.
As a new business, what is the biggest challenge you’ve faced?
Hiring the right staff. It may sound easy, but it’s actually very hard to get the right fit for your business. I’ve interviewed around 22 people but have only hired two employees, and that’s because someone who works here needs to have some passion. People might not realise this, but serving açaí is actually a bit of an art form (laughs). It is! From bringing it out, making sure it never goes below the optimal temperature, and making it look pretty in the bowl.
And what is your dream for this Jungle Berry?
I’d like to build a community of regular customers who visit us every day. That would be excellent. But I suppose the most obvious dream is for this store to give more people the opportunity to try açaí and to eat a healthier or more nutritious alternative to fast food.
Jungle Berry opens on Saturday 5 September. It will be open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm. Check out their website here.
Question of the week 🔍
Before I left, I asked you how many acres Wimbledon and Putney Commons cover. The answer: 1,140 acres.
Q: Which of these famous presenters hails from Wimbledon?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition of The Wimble. Special mention goes out to all those who commented on our post two weeks ago and gave their views about Wimbledon. It’s great to see your points, and thank you for starting a dialogue here! It’s so rewarding to see that The Wimble is becoming a community space in which people can voice their opinions and discuss ideas with one another. Have a great week, and we’ll see you next time.