Wimbledon's hopes and dreams for 2026
Plus: Primark has announced it's coming to Wimbledon
Good morning, Wimblers — I hope that everyone has had a lovely festive period. For those of you doing Dry January this year, good luck to you! Just don’t make the same mistake I have in the past and spend ridiculous amounts of money on 0% beers…
This week we hit the streets of Wimbledon to ask locals what their hopes are for the new year. Scroll down to see what your neighbours said.
We’re also back with your usual news snippets, a stunning property of the week and recommendations for the coming days and weeks.
But before that, a quick update: we’re working through your questions from our Ask The Wimble section, and we’ll be publishing answers as the weeks progress.
Happy reading!
News snippets 🗞
🛍 Primark is set to open its first new store in the capital in almost a decade… and it’s in Wimbledon! Spanning 24,000 sq. ft., Primark will take over the former Debenham site at Wimbledon Quarter. Construction of the store is set to begin in the coming months, with the aim to be open by the end of this year/the start of 2027. Philippa Nibbs, Director of Sales for London and the South East at Primark, said: “It’s fantastic to announce our first new store in London as we enter our 40th year in the capital. We’ve had lots of requests over the years to open here, so it’s great to finally make it happen.” Click the link here to read more about the opening.
🏗 A developer behind Colliers Wood’s tallest tower has proposed plans for three new tower blocks in the area, but the developer is facing serious opposition after a windowpane fell from its existing high-rise. Councillors in Colliers Wood said the community had “no faith” in Criterion Capital, which owns the 19-storey Britannia Point in SW19, citing unpaid costs and safety failures which led to a pane of glass falling from the 12th floor of the tower in June 2022. Merton Council was left with a £3m bill to pay to make the building safe after the incident, a bill which the council still claims Criterion owes it for.
Criterion is now proposing new plans for a site behind Britannia Point, called Colliers Gardens. These new plans include a 16-storey aparthotel, a 14-storey co-living building and a seven-storey private rented block. These new plans replace an application that was rejected in 2024. Councillor Stuart Neaverson questioned the new plans, arguing a loss of trust between the developer and the community and highlighting other issues at Britannia Point. In 2023, he said, residents were left without water for a month, faced lift failures and experienced antisocial behaviour when the doors to the building were not locked correctly; he also recalled a time when he helped a woman to her flat on the 14th floor after two lifts had broken down. Read the BBC’s in-depth reporting on the situation here for more information.
🦪 Alex Webb, winner of 2020’s MasterChef: The Professionals, has opened his first restaurant in Wimbledon Village. Orion by Alex Webb is a French-inspired / British seafood-led neighbourhood restaurant right in the heart of Wimbledon Village. The menu offers a range of small and large plates designed for sharing, shaped by the seasons and by Alex’s ties to local producers. From whole-baked scallops in the shell to Alex’s signature lobster & prawn toast, each dish is layered with texture, flavour and that all-important theatrical flair. Orion by Alex Webb, 75–77 Ridgway, is open for dinner from Tuesday to Saturday and lunch from Wednesday to Sunday. Check out their website here.
🚨 Police in Merton have seized more than 40 e-bikes and scooters as part of a crackdown on crime and anti-social behaviour in the borough. A total of 57 arrests were also made during the operation after officers carried out targeted action focused on improving road safety, disrupting criminal networks and addressing the concerns of local residents. The actions were part of Operation Frostwatch, which ran from Monday 17 November to Wednesday 24 December. Sergeant Matthew Bower is quoted as saying, “This operation demonstrates the Met's commitment to tackling crime and keeping communities safe… One of the key priorities was tackling the criminal and anti-social use of e-bikes and high-powered scooters, a major concern for local residents and often linked to offences such as street robberies and drug supply.” Read more about the operation in Your Local Guardian.
🏨 The specialist developer Watkin Jones has agreed to a development partnership with Latium Enterprises to build an 11-storey hotel in Wimbledon. A 249-room hotel is set to be built on a former brownfield site on Worple Road. The development, which is to be completed in the summer of 2028, looks to generate £40m in revenue for Watkin Jones. Click here to read more about the new plans.
❌ Water, gas, telecoms and roadworks are all expected to cause disruptions across Merton over the next two months, with a number of planned road closures meaning that Morden, Mitcham, Colliers Wood, Wimbledon and Raynes Park will all be affected. Several major roads in the borough will be impacted by traffic management measures like temporary traffic lights. These roads include Worple Road and Merton High Street. Click here to read about all of the closures and when they are happening.
🍻 The Standard ran an article this Christmas highlighting the great work that the Alexandra does to feed those on their own at Christmas. Wimblers will remember our feature on The Alexandra in our Christmas print edition. It’s great to see the Alex getting even more exposure! Check it out here and share the article to show some love to one of Wimbledon’s most important third spaces.
This week’s Wimble sponsor ⛳️
Looking to try something new and exciting this year? Fancy improving on your swing without freezing your arms off outside in the cold? Well, look no further than Caddi Club at Wimbledon Quarter. Golf is easier (and often more fun) than you think! At Caddi, you can learn at your own place, get real feedback, play with friends and build up your confidence, one swing at a time. It’s got a fully stocked bar and a cracking food menu, so they’ve got you covered in the food and drinks department too.
Property of the week 🏡
New year, new Wimbledon properties for us to lust after. This quaint two-bedroom period house is in one of SW19’s most desirable locations and matches the aesthetic of Wimbledon perfectly: one part countryside cottage and one part city townhouse. Maybe it’s the natural light, maybe it’s the courtyard garden, but this property oozes serenity. But at £1.3m, that feeling of calm doesn’t come cheap. Check out more photos here.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🍷
🔪 Game butchery and wine masterclass: What better way to start the year than by enjoying some delicious drinks and sumptuous food, all the while learning about game hunting and cooking? The event will include a short introduction to seasonal game, a demonstration on how to prepare a roe deer and a Q&A with the chefs. And best of all, it’s followed by a range of game dishes hand-crafted by a team of master chefs. Tickets are £65 per person. Book them here.
Where: Dog & Fox
When: Thursday 8 January, 7–11pm
🏃♀️ Wimbledon Common Parkrun: Parkrun is back for all of you looking to start (or get back into) running this year. Participants can choose to walk, jog, run, volunteer or just spectate for this weekly 5km. Join the other runners for a cuppa at the Windmill Cafe after the event.
Where: Windmill car park, Wimbledon Common
When: Saturday 10 January, 9am
🎶 The Jigsaw Players: Goldberg Variations for String Trio: Head over to this performance of JS Bach’s enduring keyboard masterpiece arranged for string trio by Dimitri Sitkovetsky. The trio will consist of Alessandro Ruisi (violin), Emmanuella Reiter (viola) and Brian O’Kane (cello). Tickets are £15 per person (or £5 if you’re a student) and can be purchased here.
Where: Christ Church, West Wimbledon
When: Saturday 10 January, 7.30–9pm
😆 Live comedy at Tunnel 267: Who says January has to be gloomy? This weekend, treat yourself to nature’s best medicine: laughter. Tunnel 267 is back with its weekly line-up of stand-up comics. Click here to book your tickets, which also include free entry to the nightclub after.
Where: Tunnel 267, The Broadway
When: Saturday 10 January, 7pm
🎨 Capturing the Moment: How The Brush And The Lens Have Captured Moments & Moods in Modern History: This lecture by Cindy Polemis is all about how the advent of photography changed the world of painting forever. According to The Arts Society Wimbledon’s website, “The instant capture of images meant new artistic ideas and movements were born. But to elevate their work to ‘high art’, photographers also drew inspiration from painting.” From the Pictorialists to Degas, Hockney, Gerhard Richter and more, this lecture follows the relationship between art and photography from the 19th century to the present day and how both have captured moments, moods and events. Tickets are £10 for visitors and guests, which you can buy here. This lecture is also available on Zoom.
Where: Sacred Heart Church Hall
When: Wednesday 14 January, 7.30pm
What are your hopes for Wimbledon in 2026? 🌠
This week, we asked 12 locals what their hopes and aspirations for Wimbledon are this coming year. Share your hopes and wishes for Wimbledon in the comment section below (scroll down).
Kelly
I’d like to see the Diversity cast return for next year’s Wimbledon pantomime. I missed it this year… First year I’ve ever missed the panto. And apparently Diversity were incredible. I saw these Wimbledon Facebook groups where people were desperately trying to buy tickets on resale!
Vanessa
You know what I’d really like to see in Wimbledon this year? A Zara or a Mango store. I’d also like to see less leisure and exercise because it makes me feel bad about myself! What else would I like to see? A nice rooftop bar with a view overlooking the whole of Wimbledon would be great. And I think some more culturally diverse food options: Caribbean, Vietnamese, and just more small business owners and fewer franchises.
Michael
I’d definitely like to see an increase in food options around the area. It’s definitely pretty good, but the choice is limited when you’re here every day. I’d also like to see The Piazza used all year round. It’s so good in the summer with the big screen for the tennis and at Christmas with the markets; I think more events like that throughout the year would be great.
éKristine (manager of The Fire Station Café)
What I really want to see is The Fire Station Café becoming the most popular café in the area! I’d love for it to be known as the go-to spot where people can enjoy a coffee and feel like it’s their home away from home. But we’re also looking to open in the evening this year — so come in if you fancy a glass of wine!
Laura
I’d like to spend more time in Wimbledon. I work here, but I haven’t really explored all the different areas. I want to get up to the village more often, take advantage of the tennis over the summer and get the most out of this area while I’m here.
Alejandro
Some more events throughout the year would be great. I love all the events we see in summer and over Christmas, but periods like January feel pretty dead, and I think some feel-good events would change that. I’d also like to see even more shops in the Quarter.
Eddy
Less estate agents! We’re in the middle of a cost of living crisis where hardly anyone can afford anything, so why do we have so many estate agents? I also think there’s a lovely community in Wimbledon, and I think that community would benefit from more events like book clubs and pub quizzes, etc. But I also think a lot of people don’t know about these community events, so we should find a better way to advertise them.
Simon (police officer)
At my age, I just hope to see the year out in Wimbledon!
Archie (police officer)
Cleaner streets… But I suppose that’s our job!
Titi
All of us were kids once, but so many secondary school children finish on a Friday and congregate around the town centre. Different schools end up arguing with one another, and that scares old people and parents with young children. I’m not saying it’s anyone’s fault, but I just think the schools should let their pupils know that it’s not OK.
Sophie
Firstly, more clothes shops — that’s a bit of an obvious one. Cheaper house prices! Oh, and this one is a bit rogue, but I’d love to see a games bar like Flight Club or the F1 arcade experience. They’re really fun — and I think they’d do really well in Wimbledon.
Matt
I’d personally like to see as many cultural events as possible. Wimbledon really punches above its weight when it comes to cultural events: Wimbledon BookFest, Wimbledon International Music Festival, Wimbledon International Short Film Festival, all the shows at the New Wimbledon Theatre and Polka, the outdoor theatre up at Cannizaro, the Lion King exhibition, the opera in the streets. I want to make the most of these events in the coming year and see as many of them as I can. And I’d love to see more events like these in the Wimbledon programme for 2026.
What are your hopes and dreams for Wimbledon in 2026?
Question of the week 🔍
In our last edition before Christmas, I asked you which famous children’s book (from a list) was authored by a Wimbledon resident. The answer: The Snowman.
Q: Which is the oldest church in Wimbledon?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition. We had a lot to catch you up on! Please do keep sharing The Wimble with your friends, neighbours and loved ones. Look after yourself and wrap up warm this week as the cold sets in. If you have any questions or ideas for features, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: zak@thewimble.com. Other than that, have a great rest of the week and we’ll see you next time.
More vegetarian food. Really lacking in Wimbledon.
I am really enjoying reading the Wimble, it is giving lots of local information which hopefully will get more residents involved, it is a great place to live