Good morning, Wimblers.
Welcome to September. This week, I sat down with Max Eisenhardt to talk about Wimbledon Brewery’s upcoming beer festival, independent pubs and what makes a “proper” lager.
We’re closing our survey this week, so this is your last chance to have you say. Click the link below to fill it out.
We’ve also got some exciting recommendations, updates on this Saturday’s Merton Pride and more.
Happy reading!
News snippets 🗞
❤️ Merton Pride is taking place this Saturday. After a hugely successful debut last year — which attracted over 1,000 participants — the borough’s pride is back again, promising to be “bigger, bolder and more fabulous than ever”. The day will begin at 10am with a pride fair at Morden Hall Park, where anyone from the LGBTQ community, supporters, allies and families can take on AFC Wimbledon at football, check out art installations, take a Bollywood dance class or get stuck into one of the many activities set up for kids (from spider hunts to bringing a giant colourful lion to life). A little later, London’s greenest Pride March will kick off at 2pm, following the beautiful River Wandle from Morden Hall Park to Merton Abbey Mills. Later still, there’ll be a Pride Fest and After Party until 3am. This year’s headline act for the Pride Show is RuPaul Drag Race star Kate Butch, who will also be meeting fans after the show. Check out the event page to see more.
Don’t have anyone to go with? Don’t worry: the event’s set up to encourage people to make friends locally. Just stop by the Merton Plus stand to meet one of their Glitter Guides who will take care of you (“It’s like speed dating just without the dating,” the website reads).
🔥 The cause of the fire that tore through an industrial site in Mitcham destroyed part of a house and burnt four hectares of surrounding shrubland is currently under investigation. Around 125 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze on Wednesday 26 August. The fire also closed off Mitcham Junction and Sutton, causing significant stress and disruption during rush hour. The video linked below shows the view of the fire from the sky. The London Fire Brigade warned residents to keep their windows and doors shut due to the levels of smoke produced by the fire. The fire was under control by 8.30pm, but the cause is still unknown. Read more here.
🔍 Merton Heritage Day took place on Saturday, attracting families and local history enthusiasts alike. There were talks, walks, a huge Raynes Park model railway and some rather interesting mudlark art. There were also activities from the Wandle Industrial Museum, Wimbledon Museum, Priory Trust, and Mitcham Camera Club. The project aims to celebrate the diverse multicultural histories, local stories and communities that have helped to make Merton what it is today.
🖌 Wimbledon will once again become a giant art gallery this September with the return of the Wimbledon Art Trail. Set over one weekend, this event brings together over 80 local artists and makers to exhibit their work in shops, studios, homes, gardens and businesses. This year, the trail will be expanding into the heart of Wimbledon town and village, with a number of local businesses opening their doors to display art installations and exhibitions, including Elys, Day True, Farrow & Ball and Holloways of Ludlow. Katharine Rowe, co-founder of Common Works Gallery CIC, said, “The Wimbledon Arts Trail is all about connecting people with local artists and celebrating creativity across the community. This year we’re especially excited to be partnering with some of Wimbledon’s best-loved shops, making art even more accessible and bringing the trail to new audiences.”
The Wimble’s sponsor of the week ♻️
Sustainable September SW19 is back in Wimbledon Quarter for its fourth year. Delivered in collaboration with Love Wimbledon, this month-long celebration of sustainable living has a fresh wellbeing focus, and there will be four brilliant themed weekends throughout September for you to enjoy. Check out more details below.
Property of the week 🏡
Like any good window shopper, I love big homes — but given the average housebuyer’s budget, we can’t always focus on opulence. Thus: a property for under a million, this week.
This four-bedroom semi-detached house in Colliers Wood comes with a full extension, an interior composed of four large bedrooms, a reception room, an eat-in kitchen/living room, two bathrooms and a garden. For £850,000, that’s not to be sniffed at. Check out more photos here.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🎯
🍷 Chianti Day at Amathus: Who doesn’t love a good Chianti? Now I know what some of you are thinking (“Chianti? That awful vinegar they serve at the dodgy local Italian restaurant?”). But don’t be too quick to judge: some of the best Italian wines are Chianti Classicos. Whether you’re looking for an Italian red for everyday drinking or something a bit more special, this event is for you. Plus, the event is entirely free.
Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village
When: Saturday 5 September, 12–5pm
🏀 Big Sports Day: This is the borough’s annual flagship event for residents as part of the Borough of Sport initiative. This year, dozens of local sports clubs, coaches and organisations will be offering free taster sessions throughout the day. From athletics, cricket and table tennis to crazy gold, walking football and volleyball, there’s something for everyone this year.
Where: Canons House and Grounds
When: Sunday 6 September, 11am–5pm
🧺 Love Wimbledon Local Market on The Piazza: Think artisan stalls, hot food, and baked goods, plus homeware, art, clothing and accessories. Each market is different and brings with it new traders and seasonal goods. Pop along and have a gander.
Where: The Piazza, Wimbledon
When: Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 September, 11am–6pm
🧐 Stranger than Fiction: The Mysterious Disappearances of the Great Jan van Eyck Altarpiece at Ghent: Jan van Eyck’s great altarpiece at Ghent is an undeniable masterpiece, but its history is almost as compelling as the altarpiece itself. It has been stolen multiple times since its creation, perhaps most notably by Adolf Hitler. Join Caroline Rayman as she teaches you about this altarpiece and its remarkable history. Tickets are £10 (free for members).
Where: The Sacred Heart Church Hall
When: Wednesday 9 September, 8pm
🎭 Wimbledon Village Dress-up Day: This family-friendly event will include face-painting, arts & crafts activities, a treasure trail with plenty of treats to collect and Wimbledon Village’s Stables Fancy Dress Ride. All money raised at the event will be donated to local community charity tackling loneliness and social isolation in Merton and supporting those weathering difficulties in life, Wimbledon Guild.
Where: Wimbledon Village
When: Saturday 12 September, 12–4pm
🧣 The Fashion Edit: A three-day fashion and lifestyle event taking place this month. It kicks off with the Sustainable September Gala — this is your chance to join fellow style lovers and eco-enthusiasts for a night full of inspiring talks, chic runway moments, and amazing networking opportunities. The gala is followed by two days of curated eco-friendly fashion catwalks, masterclasses and talks. The events are free, but you’ll need to book your spot here.
Where: Wimbledon Quarter
When: Friday 11 September – Sunday 13 September
🧥 Re-loved Weekend at Wimbledon Quarter: August is over, which can only mean one thing: Sustainable September has arrived! Join The Quarter for a day of practical, hands-on activities designed to help you make more sustainable choices at home, from repairing everyday items to giving textiles a new lease of life. Expect a repair café, a domestic and general repair pop-up, sneaker cleaning and revival, and more. Times vary for each event, so click here to double check specific timings.
Where: Wimbledon Quarter
When: Saturday 19 September, 10am–5pm
‘The battle is very much between small beer and big beer’: In conversation with Wimbledon Beer Festival 🍻
Many of our readers will already know the local gem and independent powerhouse that is The Wimbledon Brewery. In fact, one of The Wimble’s first articles was a first-person piece focusing on the brewery. But our readers may be less familiar with their annual beer fest, which celebrates its sixth year this September. Last week, I sat down with Max Eisenhardt — Head of Sales & Events at The Wimbledon Brewery — to talk about the festival and what events like these mean for independent brewers.
Grab your tickets for the beer festival here.
When did the team get the idea for a beer festival?
I suppose it was a few years in the making. I joined the brewery in 2017, helping out with a couple of taproom shifts. Then in 2019, I began doing more sales-orientated work here. But within a year, Covid arrived, and lockdowns put a bit of a kink in our plans. It wasn’t until 2022 that we really started to sell beer again, and that year we hosted our first beer festival. It just felt like a natural way to showcase what we were up to and get people visiting the brewery again.
Initially, we did the beer festival because we thought it would be fun. But we also wanted to platform some of the brilliant independently brewed beers across the UK. We don’t buy beers from big brands. This is all about supporting small and independent businesses. We want people to come together and say, “Oh, I don’t need to just drink X, Y and Z. There are plenty of good — often better — options out there.”
And what exactly does a ticket to the beer festival get you?
So it covers your entry, your glass (which you get to keep), your first beer and a brochure telling you all about the different products that we have. If you’re a CAMRA member, you’ll actually get a second beer token as well. Traditionally, our beer festivals are themed, but this year we have a few themes. The first is the “Champion Beer of Britain” regional competition. On Friday morning, around half a dozen CAMRA judges will taste six beers and score them. Then, those attending the festival will get a chance to try those beers. It’s very possible that one of those beers will go on to win the national prize.
We also have a celebration of German beer festival lagers, which are usually prepared in a similar way to English cask beers. They’re essentially unfiltered, unpasteurised live beers. We’re going to have five of those to taste — apart from Oktoberfest, I don’t think many beer festivals have that sort of line-up.
And finally, we’re launching two new beers for people to try. Oh, and I should also add that you can choose your glass size when you arrive. You either get a generous half — a two-thirds pint glass (schooner) — or a full pint. I’d recommend the schooner size because you’ll try a wider range of beers that way.
Do independent breweries like yours have strong ties to other breweries across the UK?
Absolutely. These festivals are a way of supporting one another. We get teams from breweries across the UK coming along, chatting and learning from each other. It’s not just a great day for the public; it’s a chance for brewers to get together. There’s often this misconception that small breweries are battling each other. Once upon a time, that was probably the case. But now it’s different. It’s all about support — every self-respecting independent brewer understands that. Ultimately, we’re all on the same team. We need to collaborate to stop the hedge funds and conglomerates from buying us out. The battle is very much between small beer and big beer. An event like this is an opportunity to shout about the great work that independent breweries and pubs are doing, and hopefully it’s a chance for the public to see that there are more options out there than your standard beer lineup.
Wimbledon Beer Festival starts this Friday. There will be a German barbecue, cheese pairings and local favourite Bombay Delight to keep you satiated as you sip your way through a smorgasbord of excellent independent beers. Tickets are £7.50. Book yours here.
Question of the week 🔍
Last week, I presented you with a list of presenters and asked which one comes from Wimbledon. The answer: Kate Humble.
Q: Which of these shows features scenes shot on Wimbledon Common?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition. Do get yourself along to both Merton Pride and Wimbledon Brewery’s Beer Fest ‘26. Other than that, keep sending in your ideas and stories, and have a great rest of the week. We’ll see you next time.