Inside the new Wimbledon bakery where music and bread collide
Plus: Backlash for new cycling bays, celebrations for local heroes and more!
Hello Wimblers — We’re back! I hope that everyone has had a lovely week thus far. I must admit that I’m missing the sunny and verdant Basque Country, but it’s good to be home.
This week’s edition is a big one. We’ve got a fantastic leading feature with Sam McCauley, founder of Wimbledon’s Thrift Bakery. Musician by night, baker by day, Sam’s story is a fascinating one. We’ve also got a packed run-down of latest news snippets, some Easter-themed recommendations, and a rather unique property of the week.
Now that I’ve returned from holiday, I would love to hear your thoughts, ideas and recommendations. Please get in touch here.
In the meantime, keep subscribing and sharing our newsletter so that we can reach even more people in Wimbledon and beyond!
News snippets 🗞
🚳 Merton Council is facing backlash after it decided to replace parking spaces with e-bike hire bays. The council began its rollout of 350 new cycle bays last month, but some locals are annoyed that they will lose parking spaces with no guarantee that cyclists will actually use these new bays. One Liberal Democrat opposition councillor made the point that there is no formal agreement between the council and e-bike companies, meaning cyclists might ignore these new bays altogether. What do we think, Wimblers? Are these new cyclist bays a good or bad thing? Answer in the poll below:
🍓 The All England Lawn Tennis Club has unveiled its new plans for iconic Henman Hill. The hill — a popular spot for tennis spectators — will see a 20% increase in seating with a series of new terraces and pathways. The chair of the AELTC, Deborah Jevans, said: “I am particularly pleased that these plans will increase the accessibility of The Hill for our guests using wheelchairs or who have additional accessibility requirements.” The redevelopment is due to be completed in time for The Championships in 2027.
🏃♀️ A Raynes Park family are running the Wimbledon half marathon to raise funds for a specialist rehab that helps those with traumatic brain injuries. Emily Grey was 17 when she suffered a brain hemorrhage that left her paralysed and unable to speak. Now Emily wants to raise funds for those in a situation similar to her own. Emily’s mother, Marie, and sister, Abbie, will be running the Wimbledon half marathon on her behalf to raise money for Neurokinex — a not-for-profit organisation that aims to fulfill an unmet need for community-based rehabilitation services for people living with paralysis. Watch ITV’s coverage of Emily’s powerful and moving story here, and donate to their cause here.
📸 A new exhibition celebrating the brilliant people of Merton and Wandsworth opens this month. Champions of Merton and Wandsworth is a collection of portraits that celebrates 10 everyday heroes from our communities. You can catch this exhibition at Southside Shopping Centre from April 7 to 21. It then moves to The Piazza in Wimbledon from May 6 to 20. Check out more details here.
🥇 Celebrations are in order for local resident Tony Brown. Tony has just won the prestigious Global Man of the Year award, which was presented to him at the Houses of Parliament last month. Tony is the founder and director of Wimbledon Village’s Total Body Health — a holistic clinic that aims to help people make the best health choices for themselves and eliminate pain from their lives. Check out Tony’s post here. If you are a resident who has won an award or achieved a milestone, please get in touch — it’s really important to celebrate our community and the people who shape it.
Property of the week 🏡
This two-bedroom flat is ridiculous and lovely at the same time. I can’t get over the decor. Those curtains matching the bed frame. The almost regal approach to the wallpaper and fireplace. I also love the abundance of armchairs. It’s, as the saying goes, “a lot” — but I like “a lot”. And for £535,000, you too could have this incredibly chic home. Check out more details on Rightmove.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🛢
🍻 Meet the Brewer: Wimbledon Brewery at the Rose & Crown: Wimbledon Brewery is one of Wimbledon’s biggest successes. The brewery boasts a fantastic list of beers, wine and even gin. Check out our piece with the team from last year here. And get yourself down to the Rose & Crown to meet the team and sample some of their delicious beverages. This event is also FREE.
Where: Rose & Crown
When: Thursday 17 April, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
🐣 Meet the Easter Bunny at Wimbledon Quarter: This event is for children aged 3 to 12 years old. During their one hour session, kids will get the chance to craft their own mini Easter basket before heading off on a guided Easter egg hunt around the Quarter, with the Easter Bunny leading the troupe. Tickets are £12.50 and include a meet and greet with the Easter Bunny and Alice in Wonderland, crafting, the egg hunt, mini treats found along the way, face painting and time in the Quarter’s bouncy castle. Book your spot here. There is also a FREE Easter egg hunt for children and families from April 7-21 between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM — simply head to the ground floor of the Quarter via the M&S or Boots entrances and grab your map.
Where: Wimbledon Quarter
When: Saturday 19 April, 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
☸️ Songkran Festival at Buddhapadipa Temple: This festival, also known as Thailand’s Water Festival, marks the Thai New Year. The Buddhapadipa Temple will be hosting this FREE event with the aim of raising funds for the temple’s roof restoration project.
Where: Buddhapadipa Temple
When: Sunday 13 April, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
🛹 Sisters 360 at Polka Theatre: “Fatima and Salima are the closest, coolest, hijabi step-sisters in all of Bradford and they will win the Tiny is Mighty skateboarding competition, there is no doubt about it.” Inspired by the real-life story of skateboarding sisters Layna, Maysa and Amaya, and Olympic Medallist Sky Brown, this brand-new show by Asif Khan is not one to be missed. Book your tickets here.
Where: Polka Theatre
When: Saturday 22 March - Sunday 27 April
🥂 Live Music at The Ivy Café: Let’s bring a bit of style to spring with a complimentary glass of The Ivy Cuvee and some music to accompany. These dinners will run every Tuesday in April and May — you can book your tables here.
Where: The Ivy Café, Wimbledon Village
When: Every Tuesday in April and May, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
‘It shouldn’t be a privilege to buy good bread’: In conversation with Wimbledon’s newest independent bakery 🍞
Local resident Sam McCauley is not your average baker. One-quarter of UK alternative band Oversize, Sam’s main gig is music. With the band having just released their debut album, Sam is a busy man — but that hasn’t stopped him from launching a new solo venture: Wimbledon’s Thrift Bakery. I met Sam at his bakery to talk about everything from the fusion of bread and music to finding new communities in Wimbledon (and beyond).
OK, I’ll start with an obvious question: You’re a musician with a flourishing career. What made you want to open a bakery?
I was frustrated with the fact that most people can only afford supermarket bread. It shouldn’t be a privilege to buy good bread. That’s really the premise for the bakery. I lived in Bristol for a few years, and there were an abundance of bakeries that weren’t overly expensive when I was there. When I moved to Wimbledon three years ago, I noticed that this area lacked affordable places to buy bread — at least in terms of independent places.
I’m a musician, and in my mind this bakery is another creative outlet. I didn’t follow the route of becoming a baker during lockdown. I suppose I’ve always believed in baking and making food for yourself. I think it’s a really important skill to have. And so it snowballed from there: I went to The Dusty Knuckle bakery and learned how to bake, and then I met a network of bakers who encouraged me to pursue my own place. By no means do I think I’m the best baker in the world and that I know everything, but if you don’t dive into something and give it your best shot, then you’ll never know if it was worth doing.
Do you see yourself as competing with the high street bakeries in Wimbledon?
I think we’re very different beasts. People don’t necessarily want to stand in a queue and scan their produce without any interaction. Some people want that personal service, that sense of neighbourhood, and that community aspect that a bakery brings to an area. There’s no hiding the fact that we’re in the most expensive time to open a business. I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, but it’s all relative. My core values are what drives this place. I didn’t set out to make loads of money. I’m more driven by the idea of the bakery. I don’t see this bakery becoming a small chain. I just want to do this one and I want to do it well.
But it’s no small feat. You make everything yourself, and at the moment it’s just you. Has that been tough?
It’s was a one man show and it was a lot to do, but I’ve hired someone part-time now. My band gigs most weeks. So Friday and Saturday evenings are spent on the road and in venues performing, and then I’m back here in the bakery by 4:00 AM. I might be knackered, but there’s something very rewarding about standing here on a Saturday morning, sleep deprived, and hearing a customer say something like, “This is such a nice sandwich!” I like the detox that the bakery brings to my life. This whole project just feels very organic and being able to do something with your hands taps into a part of your brain that gives you stimulation and allows you time to think. I like to think of myself as a generous person, and making bread — something that is whole and good for people — is part of the act of giving. I don’t know how to describe it … there’s something fulfilling about it.
Do you think you’ve discovered or perhaps even created a community with this bakery?
I feel like I’m finding a community with this bakery. I think it was probably always there, but being in the bakery magnifies it. I’m meeting new families who have just moved to the area; I’m selling bread to people for church services, parties, and other occasions. I think it’s easy to isolate yourself in any corner of London. When I first moved to Wimbledon, I didn’t see much of a community here — I suppose I hadn’t found it. I’ve realised with the bakery that you can pitch up in any area of London and watch the community go by, or you can choose to get involved.
What has the response been like to the bakery so far?
The response has been mind-blowing. Small businesses have reached out to help me. The customers have spread the word through WhatsApp groups. Love Wimbledon has played their part. It’s been really organic, it’s been word of mouth, and I think it’s been the biggest asset to the bakery. Without the community and its support, it can’t function.
And do you think your career in the creative arts has helped you with the bakery in some way?
I think it’s just as much of an expression as music is — well, in a sense. You can kind of marry the two; the way you construct a loaf of bread is not completely dissimilar to the way you construct a song. There’s a feeling with both processes.
I know it’s hard to answer this question when you’re so newly opened, but what is next for Thrift Bakery?
The plan is definitely to increase production now that I know the demand is there. Last Saturday, I was making sandwiches ad hoc as a small queue formed outside! And I want to expand the menu beyond the fundamentals. Pretty much everything is made in house, but I want to get to the point where I am literally able to say it’s all made at the bakery. I want to start fermenting my own kimchi for the sandwiches, exploring how coffee and baked goods can pair together, but I don’t want to complicate things. I’ve just released an album and started a new business, and that can mean things are a little crazy at times. I don’t want to lose the communicative aspect of the shop. Sometimes those interactions can be lost when you’re so focused on running a business, but I want to make sure that the community aspect keeps flourishing.
Thrift Bakery is open Wednesday - Saturday, 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Find it here: 3 Broadway Ct, London SW19 1RG
Question of the week 🔍
In the last edition, I asked you which pub was the oldest in Wimbledon Village (still on its original site). 8% voted Dog & Fox; 26% voted Hand in Hand; 5% voted Fire Stables; 41% voted Rose & Crown; 21% voted The Fox & Grapes. The answer: Rose & Crown.
Q: Which of these plays debuted at the New Wimbledon Theatre?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition. I hope you enjoyed our feature with Sam, and do check out his bakery if you haven’t already. Get in touch with any ideas: zak@thewimble.com. And that’s it! Have a great rest of the week, and see you next time.
Very disappointing to normalise hijabs for small children as women round the world are fighting to throw off the oppression of having to wear tham. Would be much better to normalise not wearing hijabs.
When are men ever asked to cover their faces and heads ?