Bellevue Road Summer Fair 2015

I've been keeping myself sane this 'summer' by placing my bets on a sunny September. It seems the folk of Bellevue Road are of the same mindset.

The Bellevue Road Summer Fair will return for the fourth year in a row, on Sunday 20th September from 11am to 5pm. This popular event is kindly organised by the Bellevue Road Association and brings together the businesses and locals for a community event filled with entertainment, market stalls, plenty of food and drink, a bouncy castle and the much-loved Dog Show!

Bellevue Road is well known across London for serving the best quality food, and the delicious treats at the Fair promise to live up to this reputation. A hog roast, Italian cheese & charcuterie, cakes & bakes plus freshly made crepes, may all be finished off with a glass of prosecco (or two!) - there won’t be a hungry tummy in sight! The street food sellers will be flanked by stalls filled with a beautiful selection of homewares, children’s clothes, fashion, jewellery and more!

The bouncy castle will be positioned on the Common, where children can bounce to their hearts content. Children may have their faces transformed into works of art by the team of face painters and the entertainment stage, will host talented performers who will sing, dance and act their way through the day! At Bennett Court, a large ‘pond’ will be installed for the extreme Hook-A-Duck game, right outside Home Hair, where the Dunkin’ Ducklin’s competition will challenge both children and adults too!

The popular Dog Show will return to the Bellevue Road summer Fair and take place opposite the street on Wandsworth Common. Between 11-4pm pooches skills will be tested in the dog agility course run by the good people at The Dogfather, a local dog walking service. Woofs should register on the day to take part in the competition, in any (or all!) of the six categories: Waggiest Tail, Best decorated lead, Best 'bad hair day', Looks Most like owner, Best party trick or Fastest 'sit down'. Judging will take place at 4pm on the entertainment stage, where crowds can watch the pooches parade. Rosettes will be presented to first, second and third place winners and top dogs will receive vouchers of £35 from D-O-G, the local grooming salon. Proceeds from the Dog Show will be donated to the Wimbledon Greyhound Welfare Charity.

Please join us in thanking the principal sponsor for the fair: Knight Frank. Sam Sproston and the good people at Knight Frank will be handing out samples of Turners cider on the day of the Fair. Made with fresh apples from the fields of Kent and created by Sam’s brother in law, Turners cider is loved both locally and internationally. It’s even made it to Russia! Make sure you enjoy your sample outside the Knight Frank office at 26, Bellevue Road, as stock will be limited.

More information: @BellevueRoadSW and www.bellevuevillage.co.uk #BR15

Five best brunches near Wandsworth Common

Go Earlsfield is delighted to welcome a new guest poster. Say hello to Valerie from squeezeofgoodness.com who has selflessly been brunching her way round Wandsworth Common so she can share her reviews with you. Read on to hear what she found.

HURRAH!! - Wandsworth Common has some fantastic brunching options! Below are Five Fab Options for a sneaky brunch...

1: Flotsam & Jetsam (4 Bellvue Parade) 

There's a new kid in town, and it goes by the name of Flotsam & Jetsam. This café has a definite hint of the antipodean about it; it's a laid-back place to chill out and enjoy excellent food. 

We popped in for a quick coffee, and enjoyed ourselves so much that we ended up ordering extras off the menu. We were impressed by the super friendly attitude towards our dog (Pippin). In our books, any brunch place needs to be friendly for families and dogs if they want to succeed for the Wandsworth Common set...

The menu offers scrummy, healthy and nutritious options. How about smashed avocado and feta salad with sourdough bread? Or the more traditional creamy eggs Benedict with hollandaise sauce?  The coffee is supplied by Allpress espresso: we had one of the best flat whites in SW17.

This is a thriving independent cafe, and and excellent place to spend time on a lazy weekend. It gets pretty packed, and as you can't book, be prepared to wait a bit... The cakes and pastries looked awesome for a takeaway option (we didn't indulge after our huge brunch...).

2: Skylark (Wandsworth Common)

Heading to the Skylark café has become something of a ritual on our weekend walks with Pippin. The Skylark caters well for both families and those looking for a quick bite to eat with their four-legged friends - as long as willing to sit outside. Dogs aren't allowed inside the café., but we've never found this to be a problem (and the beautiful cafe is not really the place for muddy dogs!). Skylark has made the excellent decision to invest in cosy and warm fleecy blankets, fab for those sitting at one of the tables outside.

The staff are very friendly - though the table service outside can take a while, as they are often rushed off their feet with customers. Whatever time of day you arrive, you'll find the café and the table area outside flooded with families, friends, and fashionable pooches.

There are plenty of pastries, cakes, cookies and other treats on offer (and we've sampled many! - sweet and delicious). They do some awesome bacon and sausage baps, pancakes, and poached eggs. We love to incorporate a visit to the Skylark café on most of our walks around the common.

3: The Toast Rack (314 Trinity Road)

Another new place to try, this time on the Trinity Road side of Wandsworth Common.

This place is trying hard, and we're sure it will become a thriving and successful brunch spot and deli. The fresh cakes look fantastic, as does the display of freshly baked bread. There's a small seated area outside, and this cafe has a very grown-up feel. This is the sort of place you could pop in for a coffee, with your paper, and sit down to enjoy a pastry and a peaceful half hour.

We stopped off for a hearty brunch following a big night out the evening before. Mr Brunch ordered his usual (eggs Royale) and I was excited to see the Turkish eggs option on the menu. One of my favourites!

On balance, we had an enjoyable breakfast. The fresh orange juices were fantastic, and the toasters on the table provide a quirky touch. There are some aspects of brunch that could do with being improved. I love making Turkish eggs at home, and the kick of the chilli flakes should be well-balanced with the creaminess of the eggs, and the tangy savouriness of the tomatoes. It just... didn't quite work out that way, and I found myself adding a lot of seasoning. Likewise, the hollandaise sauce was creamy and light, but Mr Brunch requested an extra half a lemon to jazz it up a bit.

Would we go again? Yes, certainly. The place has exciting options on the menu, and it's surely only going to improve. We'd give it another brunch; and I want to sample their awesome cakes... 

4: Story Coffee (115 St Johns Hill)

This is a fantastic coffee and brunch spot, albeit some way from the common. We stopped off on a whim, and sat outside people watching. We enjoyed some of the best lattés around (and we drink a lot of coffee). The almond croissant was to die for (sweet, sticky, nutty, and flaky). We were feeling like a lighter option for breakfast, and we enjoyed massive bowls of greek yogurt heaped with homemade granola, raspberries, and a little honey.  Delightful. Inside the space is light and airy, and the staff are relaxed and contribute to the cool foodie-vibe. 

5: Gail's (64 Northcote Road)

If you've been to a Gail's elsewhere, you won't be disappointed! The cakes and pastries are delicious; fabulous sweet treats to enjoy with one of Gail's very good coffees. This is a small chain of artisan bakeries, and there's around 20 across London. A favourite from the menu is sweet and spice roasted sweetcorn pancakes (fritters?) with tomato relish, avocado, and sour cream. It's elegantly stacked, bursting with flavour, and a welcome move away from eggs for breakfast... Attentive staff; I feel a bit less like I'm supporting a local business - but would overlook that given the quality of the goodies inside. 

This article is bought to you by squeezeofgoodness.com: check out her blog. All about fantastic food. Getting Fit. And embracing technology, where it helps!

Children's charity party on Wandsworth Common

Bat walk tonight on Wandsworth Common

Vote for where you want local funding spent

Following a survey last year, Wandsworth Council has put forward suggestions of what local projects levies on new developments should be spent on. They focused on the areas of Balham, Battersea, Nine Elms, Putney, Tooting and Wandsworth (including Earlsfield). The council says:

"The Wandsworth Local Fund (WLF) - also known as the neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) - is a charge the council makes (mainly on new homes) to pay for the infrastructure needed to support the development, such as new or safer roads, park improvements or a new health centre.

Most will be spent on borough-wide, “strategic” CIL projects, but 15 per cent must be spent on projects that take into account the views of the neighbourhood where the new development has been built.

There is approximately £1.6m available to meet local priorities across the borough. This figure will increase as further development takes place.

In summary, five issues were highlighted by most residents:

(a) Making the area feel safer;
(b) Improving parks, commons and riverside walks;
(c) Repairing roads and pavements;
(d) Better facilities for cyclists; and
(e) New and improved green spaces."

The suggested projects most relevant to Earlsfielders are:

All areas

Festive lighting in town centres (I will see if I can find out if this would mean Christmas lights in Earlsfield!)
LED streetlights
Improvements to roads and pavements

Earlsfield

Swaby Gardens - Improvements to play areas - £163,000 - Redesign the existing junior play space to improve access and enable children of different ages to share the space and inclusive play opportunities
Earlsfield 20mph zone - Franche Court Road, Burmester and Aldren Roads - £23,000
Earlsfield station rail bridge - Repainting and improvements - £TBC

Not all schemes will be able to be funded in the first phase of work. Options will be considered by the Finances and Corporate Resources Committee in June.

To have your say on what you'd like to see funded, use the council's online form and it wouldn't hurt to contact your local councillor too.

More information and the full list of schemes are on the council website.

Two days left to have your say on Crossrail 2 and Wandsworth Common

Dan Watkins has done a comprehensive roundup of what the current Crossrail 2 proposals mean for the local area. He says:

"By way of a summary, the route enters Tooting on the Longley Road end of Tooting High Street, travels north close to the high street up to Hebdon Road, veers west a little underneath Springfield Hospital and directly underneath the Burntwood Lane/Trinity Road junction, before passing under Wandsworth Common all the way up to the Spencer Park Rd / A3 junction.

It is entirely underground through our area, but there are 4 areas of surface interest (‘ASIs’) where access shafts will be built to help with construction, ventilation etc. It was clear from the public meeting that these are the main areas of controversy for our area, with residents wishing to minimise disruption and loss of green space.

The 4 ASIs are:

•          Just behind Tooting Broadway station (on the south side)
•          Next to Tooting Market, on Totterdown Street
•          On Trinity Fields (on the Burntwood Lane / Trinity Road junction)
•          Next to Skylark Café in Wandsworth Common. "

Draft route of Crossrail 2

The consultation is on "safeguarding" the relevant land above and below ground - ensuring that any planning applications will be able to accommodate the planned development. It is open until midnight on Wednesday 28th January.

Local group 'Save Wandsworth Common' has concerns about the impact on Wandsworth Common and Trinity Fields. They have set up a website where you can submit an email objection to the scheme. Remember though that this consultation is about how the sites are reflected in planning. Consultation about exactly where infrastructure is placed will follow later in the year.

Help bring lifesaving equipment to local parks

Local club All Star Tennis are fundraising to bring lifesaving equipment to local parks.

They say:

"All Star Tennis are leading a community project to purchase and install defibrillators at 4 venues in Wandsworth Borough - Wandsworth Common, Tooting Common, Leaders Gardens and King George's Park. These defibrillators are a valuable tool to save the lives of Park users and our neighbouring community.

 What is a defibrillator?

These will be there for all park users, dog walkers, runners, walkers, parents and grandparents and children.

We have secured 50% of the cost but need your help."

As well as seeking direct donations, they will be hosting a charity 24-hour tennis marathon in late February.

Help them reach their £5,280 goal at their fundraising page.

Tickets on sale for the Wandsworth Common Summer Beer Festival

This year's Wandsworth Common Beer Festival is taking place from 24-26th July and tickets are now on sale. There are 120 London beers on offer and there are no door sales, so get in early.

Tickets on sale for 2014 Wandsworth Common Beer Festival

Tickets are now on sale for the 6th annual Wandsworth Common Beer Festival in March. They usually sell out, so get in fast!

Poster from Le Gothique.

Bellevue Road summer fair and dog show

A short stroll up the hill from Earlsfield is Bellevue Road. Running alongside Wandsworth Common, the street is home to many independent traders, pubs, and restaurants.

On Saturday 7th September the Bellevue Road Association is hosting the annual Bellevue Road summer fair and dog show. Running from 10am to 6pm you can expect a host of activities throughout the day as well as stalls, demos, face-painting and games:

Bellevue Road by Herry Lawford on Flickr

12.30-2.30 child favourites Bertie and Boo
2.00-5.00 fire engine
11.30-1.30 Steel Pans live steel band
12.30-4.30 dog show (registration from 10am)
4.30 raffle result drawn by Phil Spencer

Dog show categories include prettiest lady and handsomest male, waggiest tail, best rescue, owner lookalike, and "rock star".

The raffle has a great list of prizes including gift vouchers, food and wine, cookery lessons at Jamie Oliver's Recipease, flowers, artwork... Tickets are available from any business on Bellevue Road.

Share your ideas for Wandsworth Common

On Monday 8 July, the Wandsworth Common Management Advisory Committee will be holding its annual public meeting.

Members of the committee and council officers will be presenting reports on ecology, wildlife and more and will be available to answer questions. Local councillors will also be present.

The meeting will take place at 7.30pm, Fitzhugh Community Centre, Fitzhugh Grove (off Trinity Road). 

A microbrewery for Earlsfield?

Well, not quite (although surely we hold out hope). Happily, though, you don't have to go far to find one.

Located next to Wandsworth Common station, the Belleville Brewing Co brews American-style beers with distinctly local names. Fancy a Battersea Brownstone, Commonside Pale Ale or Northcote Blonde? Get along to their premises on a Saturday or look for them in local pubs and off licences.

If you want to know more, check out their website and the @BellevilleBrew Twitter feed.

London beers come to Wandsworth Common

On 4-6 July, Wandsworth Common will be playing host to dozens of London-brewed beers. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights you can sample one of 120 beers and enjoy BBQ food and entertainment, all within walking distance of Earlsfield.

Poster from legothique.co.uk

See this blog post from London Brewers for more details. Book tickets at the Eventbrite page.