Opera comes to the streets of Wimbledon
Plus: A day at one of Wimbledon's oldest clubs
Good morning, Wimblers — welcome back. Some good news for The Wimble: we’re in the running for “Best Use of Innovation” at the finals for the Merton Best Business Awards . We’re incredibly grateful for the nomination and can’t wait for when they announce the winners on Thursday 25 September.
This week, I took a stroll down to John Innes Park and popped my head into the Merton Park Bowling Club, which will celebrate its 100-year anniversary in 2026. Now, I’ve never played bowls before, but the ladies and gents at the club were more than happy to show me the ropes. Scroll down to find out how I got along.
Last week, we ran a little competition for our readers. The prize was two tickets to see War Horse at the New Wimbledon Theatre. The question was: in the novel Private Peaceful, Charlie sings his favourite childhood song before his execution. What is that song? The answer: “Oranges and Lemons”. Thank you to everyone who wrote in. The winner this time was Damien, who told me today that he thoroughly enjoyed the show — and provided a lovely photo as evidence.
We’ve got your usual news snippets this week, some great recommendations for the coming weeks and another stunning property to feast your eyes upon.
News snippets 🗞
🎭 Pop-up opera performances have been surprising the residents of Merton, Croydon and Wandsworth. From cafes to libraries, unexpected venues are being transformed into opera stages throughout July and August. The initiative was devised by Baseless Fabric Theatre, a Wimbledon-based troupe known for their accessible and high-quality performances, who are currently performing a modernised interpretation of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love. Audiences have been wowed so far. Cat Wellington, who found herself with a front-row seat to an impromptu performance at the Charles Holden pub in Colliers Wood, said, “It was mental; brilliant, but mental.” The group will have their last public performance this Sunday at Wimbledon Quarter from 5-6pm. Check out all of their showtimes here.
🎥 The Curzon in Wimbledon is getting a major upgrade. The three-screen cinema will be closing on 11 August for roughly six weeks, with a reopening date scheduled for some time in September. The refurbishment plans include an upgrade of the screens, new reclining chairs and the introduction of a large food and drinks menu. They will also be offering in-screen services as well as a new photo booth. Read more about the upgrade in Time Out.
🚨 A person has died after being hit by a train at Wimbledon station at around 6.40pm on 31 July. The incident is not thought to be suspicious, the British Transport Police have said. The station was closed, and all lines from Wimbledon station were disrupted, with the Thameslink returning to normal at 8.30pm. Read more about it here.
Property of the week 🏡
This house is the epitome of opulence. Not only does this house have eight bedrooms, but it also has underfloor heating, a games room, a gym, a wellness suite with a steam room, a cinema and a climate-controlled wine room. Need I say more? Quite frankly, I wouldn’t know what to do with all that space — how do you fill so many rooms? Anyway, I don’t have to worry about that, because I don’t happen to have £10m lying around. Check out more photos on Rightmove.
The Wimble’s to-do list
💅 So.Shell grand opening giveaway: The nail salon known for its flawless precision, safety and attention to detail is coming to Wimbledon Quarter. To celebrate, they’re having an opening party this Saturday! All Wimble readers will get a complimentary service throughout the day. To make use of this deal, please RSVP to pr@soshell.uk
Where: Wimbledon Quarter
When: Saturday 9 August
🇲🇽 Madre Mezcal barrel top tasting: Madre’s famous mezcal is distilled in open-air “palenques” in the hills of Oaxaca. If you’re new to the spirit, then their range is the perfect entry point: their Ensamble is less smoky than other mezcals, whilst their Espadin has an earthy flavour. Head up to Amathus this Friday to try them both. The event is free, so no booking is required.
Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village
When: Friday 8 August, 4–7pm
☮️ Community VJ Day walk of remembrance: The community VJ (Victory over Japan) Day walk of remembrance is a chance to honour the bravery and sacrifice of all those who served in the Far East during the second world war, which officially ended on Friday 15 August 1945. The 80-year anniversary also coincides with the second anniversary of the founding of Wimbledon Common and Village Walk & Talk, who are hosting the day’s events. Click here to see an overview of the itinerary.
Where: Wimbledon War Memorial
When: Saturday 16 August, 10.30am – 12.30pm
🎭 Live comedy at Tunnel 267: It’s time to kick back and have a ‘laff’. Each week, Tunnel 267 presents a new lineup of fantastic comedic acts. Tickets are marginally cheaper online, so book them here. If you’re feeling a little peckish, you can also book yourself a dinner for the show.
Where: Tunnel 267, The Broadway
When: Saturday 9 August, 8–10pm
🍋 Botivo non-alcoholic aperitif barrel top tasting: I think we can all agree that we’re living in the golden age of mocktails. They’re everywhere. And they’re good… most of the time (I did once order a £10 mocktail only for the bartender to pour me a glass of orange juice.) Botivo, a bittersweet aperitivo crafted in small batches in Hertfordshire, is certainly one of the best when it comes to alcohol-free alternative spirits. Pop along and taste it for yourself. After all, who really wants a hangover?
Where: Amathus, Wimbledon Village
When: Friday 15 August, 4–7pm
“They say you can play it from birth to grave”: Welcome to one of Wimbledon’s oldest clubs
Bowls is old school. In fact, the game can trace its origins back to Ancient Greece and the pastime of chucking objects — stones, coins and even circular rocks — as far as possible. But it took a while before it developed into what it is today. Depending on which historian you ask, bowls as we understand it began in 13th century England. By the 19th century, the rules of the modern game were established. Fast forward 200 years, and bowls is played in over 7,500 clubs in more than 40 countries. One of those clubs is Merton Park Bowling Club, which celebrates its 100-year anniversary in 2026. This week, a few of the bowlers invited me down to give the game a go. Spoiler: it’s a lot harder than it looks!
Dev Anand and I meet at the Leather Bottle in Wimbledon Chase. My contact at the bowls club, he’s wearing a branded Merton Park white shirt and a very stylish Panama hat, leading me to realise that I might be underdressed for the game. He explains how the area has changed (and stayed the same) over the past few years. Dev — like so many others from this slice of SW19 — is loyal to this unique quasi-village in the south of Wimbledon. A great deal of the shops and restaurants are independent in this part of town, and there’s a strong sense of community camaraderie as you walk along the streets. (Check out our feature with Wimbledon Chase wine bar Artisans Depot for an example.)
To get to the club, we take a shortcut through the back of John Innes Park. I’m ashamed to tell Dev that I’ve never actually stepped foot in this park before. “It’s a real gem,” he tells me. “And the groundskeepers do a great job at keeping it clean.” It’s beautiful and quiet. Groundskeepers tend to the vibrant rows of flowerbeds. Young families play tennis. The elderly stroll together with linked arms. It may only be a five-minute walk from Kingston Road, but John Innes Park feels like a completely different world.
When Dev and I arrive at the club, he takes me to the locker room to discuss which bowls I should use. He decides on ones that have a hefty curve — or “bias”, if you’re to use the correct term.
We step out onto the green. The bowls club is also looked after by a team of groundskeepers — as Dennis Roll, a seasoned bowler, later says, “We’re very lucky to have a green as well-kept as this. There are plenty of bowling greens in London that have been left in disarray”. I’m to play Dev, while Mike Quinn — a member of the bowls team — gives me pointers. He begins by explaining the game in layman’s terms. He tells me that the objective is to roll the bowls down the green, aiming to get my bowls as close to the little white ball — the ‘jack’ — as possible. I tell him that it seems simple enough.
My first roll is a disaster. It’s far too long and ends up in the ditch on the other side of the green. “Too heavy,” says Mike. I try again. It’s an identical shot: terrible. “Still too heavy.” This goes on for about eight rounds before I finally manage to get the bowl anywhere near the jack. “That’s better,” says Mike, “but it’s still quite a way off.” After another few attempts, I manage to roll a bowl that’s not a complete disaster. I’m overcome with joy. “You’re a natural,” says Mike. (I think he’s being kind, but I take the compliment all the same.)
The time comes for me to play Dev. Much to my surprise, I’m able to hold my own. (Make no mistake, Dev is far better than me — but I’m not a complete lost cause.) There’s an abundance of rules to learn, though Mike tells me not to worry too much: “It feels like a lot now, but you’ll get the hang of it the more you play.” And he’s right. We play for an hour, though it only feels like five minutes. By the time we finish our game, I’m hooked.
We wander back to the club’s building and have a chat with some of the other members — the club currently has around 50, nearly half of whom are women. Bonnie Johnson, the captain of the ladies team, tells me that, “It’s a lovely environment for older people. There’s a social aspect to it, which helps those people who are on their own. But really, it’s just a lovely environment. You’re outside, you’re getting fresh air and, most importantly, you’re talking to other people.”
Bowls is a sport that can be played by anyone at any age. Another member stresses this point as he explains why he got into the game: “I was always very sporty growing up. I used to love playing football. I loved running, swimming… you name it. I was always able to race my son and win. But one day, that stopped being the case. I realised that I needed a sport that I could still be good at. That’s the thing about bowls: you can have a 70-year-old play a 20-year-old, and there’s no guarantee that the 20-year-old will win. What other sports are like that?”
The club is actively looking for new members, but it’s hard to get the word out. (“On a good year, we’ll maybe get six or seven joining. But that’s quite rare.”) Another member explains that they run introductory sessions on Mondays for beginners: “What you did today is essentially what we do for anyone looking to have a go.” As I leave, I look at the names on the wooden honours boards. They go back decades. Dennis, who has been a member for over 20 years, points to a photo on the wall: “That’s me. We won the top four that year.” A few of the other members look at the photo and smile too. I realise then just how much this club means to them, to the community.
Next year, Merton Park Bowling Club will celebrate its 100-year anniversary. After today, I’m reminded of why we need to protect and celebrate these often forgotten third spaces. For 100 years, this little slice of green has endured. Here’s to 100 more.
Check out Merton Park Bowling Club’s website here.
Question of the week 🔍
Last week, I asked you when the Polka Theatre was built. It turns out the question was a little trickier than I had initially thought. One of our readers, Ann Roberts, kindly pointed out that the building was actually there prior to the Polka’s opening. So let’s rephrase the question to: “when was the Polka Theatre opened?” The answer: 1979.
Q: In what year was Wimbledon’s Hall School opened?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition. I hope you enjoyed our feature on the bowls club. Who knew it could be so addictive? Keep your eyes peeled for further giveaways like last week’s tickets to War Horse, and do get in touch if you have any ideas or scoops you’d like us to cover. Other than that, have a great week.
Thank you for the information about the street opera, I saw the performance in Wandsworth and it was superb. Without you I would never of known