Wimbledon gets its own "not so secret" speakeasy

Plus: Get your running shoes on, meet the producers behind Bloody Bens Gin and get ready for some amazing Caribbean food

Aug 22, 2024

Good morning, Wimblers. I hope that everyone has enjoyed their week so far. Before we get into the newsletter, I just want to say a massive thank you to all of you — as of this week, we’ve reached 2,000 subscribers. None of this would have been possible without your continued support, so thank you, again!

The Wimble has been live for just over two months. When it first launched, people asked me, “Will there be enough to talk about? I mean, it’s only one small part of London, right?” Each time I politely explained that Wimbledon wasn’t like “other parts” of London. Yes, there are similarities with the leafier ‘village-esque’ suburbs of the capital like Richmond, Hampstead and Greenwich, but after two months, I feel vindicated. Wimbledon is its own microcosmic city and an area bursting with stories, hidden gems and opportunities. Sometimes it’s hard to choose what to feature — a dilemma that I’m very grateful to have. That said, these stories come from you. Please keep reaching out with ideas, recommendations and people you’d like to see featured: zak@thewimble.com. Oh, and please keep sending in your photos of the week.

For this edition, I’ve tried to switch things up a little. Rather than the usual Q&A (don’t worry, they aren’t going anywhere) we’ve got an inside look at Dalchini — the UK’s first Indo-Chinese restaurant celebrating their 25th year in Wimbledon — and their new speakeasy bar, Holy Brew. Expect your local news, recommendations and a dashing property of the week.

I think that’s all for now. Happy reading!

News snippets 🗞

🌶 Europe’s “biggest” Caribbean food festival is coming to Wimbledon Park — the soon to be annual Taste of Caribbean Food and Drink Festival will take place on September 14th this year from 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM. There will be live music and a market selling books, clothes, jewellery and toys, as well as 25 food stalls presenting different Caribbean dishes. Read more here.
🍺 Guest brewers announced ahead of Wimbledon Beer Festival — the Wimbledon Brewery will welcome Two Flints, Burning Sky, Longman, Ideal Day, Kernel, Azvex, Track, Villages and more. The festival is just three weeks away and aims to champion independent breweries. More details here.
☢️ Thames Water sewage found in Beverley Brook on Wimbledon Common — Thames Water confirmed last week that sewage has made its way into the Brook following a mains failure. A spokesperson for Wimbledon and Putney Common has said that “people and dogs should stay out of the Brook, from Wimbledon Common and downstream, until the situation is resolved”. See more information here.
🚨 Borough of Merton hit by police raids — more than 270 police officers have been involved in carrying out warrants in Mitcham over the past six months. The Merton community raised the issue of organised criminality in the area which prompted the new policing plan known as Operation Hessian. They have seized 12 firearms, ammunition and 40 bladed weapons as well as drugs and cash. Read more about it here.

Property of the week 🏡

A lot of our featured properties have been grand mini-mansions or huge townhouses. Not this week! This property is stylish, contemporary and bijou. It’s a Grade II-listed building and is a blue plaque property. It’s got it all: underfloor heating, a concierge service, air conditioning and a ridiculously attractive open-plan kitchen where you can make a coffee and pretend you’re Michael Caine in The Ipcress File. For £500,000, this flat could be yours. Check out more here.

Dalchini: Prohibition-era speakeasy meets the Hindu gods and goddesses of drinking 🥘

In September, Dalchini will celebrate its 25th year in SW19. Being the first Indo-Chinese restaurant in the UK, innovation is at the heart of Dalchini’s mission. That’s why this year they’ve launched their new speakeasy, Holy Brew — here’s what I found.

“Try and find the door,” says Parag Rane, one of the managers at Dalchini. “We always ask our customers to find the door.”

I spend the next few minutes slamming my palm against a pane of frosted glass like a toddler hitting a high chair. Parag puts me out of my misery and points to an adjacent wall where the actual entrance to their new speakeasy, Holy Brew, is hidden. The door sighs and swings open as Parag leads us down a flight of dimly lit stairs.

The bar’s clandestine nature may evoke American speakeasies from the Prohibition-era, but with its bottles of rare, expensive liquor lining the far wall, the space retains a modern edge, like a high-rise Hong Kong hotel. My girlfriend and I take our seats and glance through the sleek menu. Similar to the building’s classic-yet-contemporary design, the drinks are recognisable from their base ingredients, but they offer a twist on their “classic” counterpart. There is the Parvati Potion, which combines gin, yuzu, vanilla, orange bitters and cloves; or the Brahma’s Blood Moon, a Cosmopolitan-style cocktail incorporating Ciroc pomegranate, pomegranate molasses and Cointreau. I opt for the Veda: an Old Fashioned that infuses star anise to give it an aniseed undertone. My girlfriend orders the Maya’s Mango, which is essentially a Margarita with a mango twist served in a highball glass.

Parag crafts the cocktails and explains that the bar is inspired by the Hindu gods and goddesses of drinking. There is Lord Shiva who is often depicted holding a pot of intoxicating liquor (Soma). There is the goddess Varuni who is commonly shown holding a wine cup. Parag tells me that the drinks at Holy Brew pay homage to Indian mythology and the country’s history of community and connection through libation.

The drinks are delicious. I have no notes. The Veda is a perfectly balanced short drink. The Maya’s Mango is refreshing; the lemon juice, in place of a Margarita’s typical lime, gives it a lightness that makes it far too easy to drink.

The inside of Holy Brew is bathed in a red light

“Mondays are quiet,” says Parag, “but Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays are busy. We’re starting to get regulars who come just for Holy Brew.”

We finish our drinks and head back upstairs for dinner. The windows are open and the cherry blossoms along the windowpane make Arthur Road feel like a provincial high street.

Dalchini has been in Wimbledon for nearly 25 years. I think part of its success comes from its uniqueness. Dalchini serves Indo-Chinese cuisine: a style of cooking that originated in the 19th century when the Hakka Chinese community settled in Kolkata, India. The dishes combine Chinese ingredients with Indian spices to create a beautiful fusion of flavours, and it only takes a brief glance at the menu to see the marriage of these two culinary cultures: menu.

We start with a Pepper Chilli Paneer. You can’t go wrong with paneer. It’s the unfaltering giant of the “cheese world”, and this dish does a great job in spicing the cheese without masking Paneer’s natural freshness. The “Crunchy Mushrooms” are the standout starter: small, semicircular slices of mushroom that are fried and tossed in a tangy sauce. The Mahim Fish Koliwada (an Indo-Chinese variation of soft fish sticks paired with mint sauce) and Chicken Lollypops (slowly fried chicken coated in a blend of spices) are both excellent. My drink of choice is the Holy Brew “Soma” lager — a beer made especially for Dalchini by Wimbledon Brewery. It’s a fantastic beer that’s lagered for six weeks, though this doesn’t come as a surprise when you consider the brewers behind it.

As we wait for our mains, a stream of customers file through the door. It soon becomes clear from the relaxed nature of the staff and patrons that these diners are regulars. Parag tells me that one of the men dining by the window has been coming to Dalchini for years, ordering the same dish each time. “There are loads of people that get the exact same thing every time — they have their ‘chosen’ dish.”

Our first main dish is the Lamb Dry Red Chilli, which is a Szechuan-style fried lamb with spring onions, chestnuts, garlic and red chillies. As a fiend for spice (I will put scotch bonnet sauce on scrambled eggs) this dish gets an instant thumbs up: the lamb is seared well on the outside and is soft and juicy in the centre. It pairs perfectly with the Vegetable Hakka Noodles. But the star of the show is the Fish Spicy Coconut Curry. This is an Indo-Chinese delicacy. Unlike other fish curries from India or Southeast Asia, this variation uses thick coconut milk that gives it a distinct richness. A half-portion of Vegetable Manchurian is then placed on the table. “You have to try this,” says Parag. “It’s one of our specialities.” The dish is made up of mixed vegetable fritter balls in a moreish ginger, garlic, chilli and coriander sauce. I instantly want 300 of them.

Stuffed and satiated, Parag brings our dessert: the Tease the Taste (Yuzu Mousse). It is a Madeira sponge with lemon and honey jelly, but a texture like that of a cheesecake. The three blueberries may mostly be for decoration, but they add a slight acidity that complements the dish perfectly.

We leave Dalchini with bloated stomachs and a carrier bag full of excellent leftovers. Waiting for the tube, I think about London’s hidden gems. In a world saturated with social media recommendations and heavily promoted “spots”, it’s hard to know where to go. I’ve tried to find “local” restaurants through Instagram before. It rarely works. But Dalchini is the real deal. I’ll be going again (and again) — as if often the case when you find your local. Considering the food, the service, the atmosphere and their desire to keep innovating, it’s no wonder that Dalchini has been around for 25 years. Here’s to 25 more.

The Wimble’s to do list 🎯

🏅Pub Olympics at the Rose & Crown — round up your friends and head to the pub for a night of Olympic-inspired drinking games. There will even be an awards ceremony at the end — try not to fall off the podium. Book here.
Where: The Rose & Crown
When: Thursday 22nd August, 6:00 PM onwards
🍸 Meet the Producer — Bloody Bens Gin. Friarwood is giving you another chance to meet the team behind the South West London gin company. Pop your head in, try some gin and have a lovely time — why not, it’s summer after all!
Where: Friarwood Wines, Wimbledon Village
When: Saturday 24th August, 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
🎨 Arts & Crafts at Wimbledon Guild — it’s time to grab a canvas and get creative. For £4, you can work on your pieces under the guidance of the Guild’s tutor. They’re also offering a monthly workshop on the same day called “The Art of Paper Marbling” which costs £10 — learn how to turn sheets of paper into stylish works of art. Book here.
Where: Drake House, SW19 4ED
When: Thursday 29th August, 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
🏃‍♀️ Wimbledon Common Parkrun — the free, friendly and welcoming running event is back. Participants can choose to walk, jog, volunteer, spectate or, in my case, wheeze their way through the 5k community run.
Where: Windmill car park
When: Saturday 24th August, 9:00 AM

Question of the week 🔍

Last week I asked you which famous actor was born in Wimbledon and starred in Oliver! The answer: the late, great Oliver Reed, of course!

Q: Which Prime Minister fought a duel on Wimbledon Common against the MP for Southwark in 1798?

You’re up to date 👋

Thank you very much for reading this week. Get in touch, send me some stories, subscribe if you haven’t already and send in your photos of the week. Take it easy and enjoy your weekend and what remains of summer. Catch you next week.