My (very caffeinated) hunt for Wimbledon's best cup of coffee
Plus: Charity dinners, wine tastings and much more in this week's edition
Good morning, Wimblers — I hope that everyone is having a lovely week.
Big thank you to everyone who has already taken part in our survey. We’re about to reach 100 respondents, which is brilliant! If you haven’t filled it in yet, I would hugely appreciate it if you took five minutes to do so now - hearing your feedback about this newsletter and your thoughts and ideas about Wimbledon is invaluable. It really helps me to decide what I should be reporting on in the months ahead, and I’ve already picked up dozens of great ideas from the responses so far.
If we can get to 200 responses by the end of this week, that would be phenomenal. Just click here to fill it in — it’s completely anonymous and very quick and easy to complete. (To fill in the survey, you’ll just need to login to our site by entering your email when it prompts you and then clicking on the login email it sends you).
This week is all about Wimbledon’s hot spots. We’ve got your jam-packed recommendations, your usual roundup of local news snippets, and the Wimble’s intrepid search for the very best coffee in town.
Please keep getting in touch. I’m working through all of your emails now, but I promise I will get back to you all in no time.
News snippets
🚇 A new map reveals the average monthly price of a rented room in and around London Underground stations. The map, produced by DOSE, has retrieved the data from the Office of National Statistics, and the full map can be viewed here. As the Wimbledon Times noted, Southwest London continues to have moderately high prices in comparison to other areas in the city, although Morden (£775) and Southfields (£775) are some of London’s cheapest rooms — the cheapest being Northolt (£615). Wimbledon and Wimbledon park both come in at £835, which is marginally cheaper than nearby stops Fulham (£860) and Tooting Bec (£928).
🛣️ Roads in Merton are in a “terrible state”, says MP Paul Kohler. Over a third of Merton B and C classified roads have been deemed “poor” by the Department for Transport (DfT). In fact, the number of roads considered “poor” by the DfT has more than doubled in Merton in the last year, meaning that the borough is now only a fraction away from having the worst roads category B and C roads in England. Check out the full story and Kohler’s comments in The Standard.
🍄 Is this the most wholesome job in the world? Wimbledon’s Rooftop Farm is now hiring for a part-time gardener to join the resident Urban Farmer in helping to grow produce (including those delicious oyster mushrooms), launch and maintain the subscription box service, engage with the local community, and much more. The farm is offering £15 per hour and the role is aimed at people who are already passionate about gardening and sustainability. Apply here!
🎭 Onnen Productions, a theatre company that specialises in portraying Welsh and queer stories, is bringing their show 12 to the New Wimbledon Theatre. 12 is a one-woman show written by Martha Ifan dealing with the subject of OCD. The play dismantles the stereotypes often associated with the disorder and aims to show the audience what living with OCD can really be like. Read more about it in Theatre Weekly.
🪕 Mumford & Sons are releasing an album named after one of Wimbledon Common’s ponds. Rushmere is set to be released on March 28, and is the band’s first studio album since the departure of banjoist and lead guitarist Winston Marshall in 2021. The album title pays homage to the band’s roots, having conceived the idea for Mumford & Sons in Wimbledon all those years ago. You can pre-order the album and listen to snippets of it here.
Property of the week🏡
This one is pretty special, if you ask me. This Grade II listed building is home to a rather opulent three-bedroom ground floor flat. The master bedroom comes equipped with a fireplace, a freestanding bath and even a walk-in-jacuzzi shower. I’m also in awe of that oak panelling. Also, fun fact, this building was once the home of Queen Victoria’s esteemed dentist, Sir Edwin Saunders. And for £2.275m, you too could live like a courtier. Check out more photos here.
The Wimble’s to-do list 🍽
🍽️ The Mayor of Wimbledon Charity Dinner: Enjoy a delicious three-course meal, welcome drinks and a raffle for this year’s mayoral charity event. Dinner is at the much-beloved local Italian spot Cent Anni. Tickets are £40 and can be booked by emailing mayor@merton.gov.uk.
Where: Cent Anni, Wimbledon Village
When: Tuesday, 25 February, 7:00 PM
🍷 Frankie’s Wine Tasting: Breakthrough T1D Fundraiser: Wait, did someone say drinking wine and doing so for a good cause? Count me in. Try six beautiful wines while raising funds for Breakthrough T1D, the UK’s leading charity dedicated to type 1 diabetes. The tickets are £36.50 plus a booking fee and can be found here.
Where: St Mary’s Church
When: Saturday, 22 February, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
👰 The Wimbledon Luxury Fair at Cannizaro House: This is for our betrothed readers. Get yourself up to Cannizaro House for a day of inspiration and start planning that beautiful wedding. Meet a wedding planner, have a walk around the grounds, talk to the photographers and florists who are there to make your day special, and start writing those invitations. Cannizaro House is one of the finest sites in Wimbledon, and, as such, it’s the perfect place to tie the knot. Oh, and the whole day is free — what are you waiting for?
Where: Cannizaro House
When: Sunday, 23 February, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
🧗♂️ Kids Fun Session at The Boardroom Climbing: Half term is nearly over, but we’re not there yet. This Sunday, why not get the kids out the house and introduce them to the exciting world of rock climbing. The Boardroom’s session is a blend of challenges and fun games to keep your children on their toes. A session is £20 per hour and can be booked here.
Where: The Boardroom Climbing, Wimbledon Quarter
When: Sunday, 23 February, 9:00 AM - 12:30 AM (slots available hourly)
🍻 Pub Quiz at The Rose & Crown: It’s time to put on those thinking caps with quiz master Duncan at this week’s pub quiz. Grab your buddies (preferably your smartest ones) and get them along.
Where: The Rose & Crown
When: Tuesday, 25 February, 7:30 PM - 10:45 PM
Order up: Wimbledon’s best coffee spots ☕️
What would we be without coffee? Me? Nothing. I drink far too much coffee to ever give up. I think that’s what some might call a “caffeine addiction”, but I’d rather feign ignorance. So where are the best spots to grab a cup of java in SW19? Here’s the Wimble’s top seven coffee houses in Wimbledon (in no particular order):
Coffee Hart 1510 — 61 The Broadway
The vibe:
I love a good coffee truck, and Coffee Hart 1510 is no exception. Located in the alley between Morrison’s big carpark and The Broadway, it’s the perfect place to take a break from the busy Wimbledon weekend streets and have a quick coffee. Keep your eyes peeled for their traditional Greek snacks and drinks too.
The coffee:
I opt for a large when I come here because it’s the sort of smooth coffee that a person could drink a lot of. Their unique blend from Guatemala, Brazil and Ethiopia has a nice depth whilst combating any bitterness with chocolate and sweet notes.
Served — 246 Alexandra Road
The vibe:
Served is one of Wimbledon’s coolest new spots. With its sleek, minimalist interior and dozens of people tapping away on laptops, one would be forgiven for thinking they were in a cafe in Upper West Side Manhattan rather than Wimbledon. Served is a great spot to meet friends, but I personally think it thrives as a work environment — get yourself, your laptop and your charger down there pronto.
The coffee:
Probably the smoothest coffee in Wimbledon. Served knows what it’s doing when it comes to a latte. It’s also worth making the trip for their freshly-squeezed juices and delicious snacks.
The Fire Station Café — 4 Queen’s Road
The vibe:
The Fire Station Café is one of Wimbledon’s newest establishments. Set inside a Grade II listed building that was once home to the town’s fire station, this café feels like the perfect synthesis between old and new. It’s got a very relaxed atmosphere, perfect for chill meet-ups or group working. It’s also only a stone’s throw from the station, but it somehow doesn’t feel crowded in the way that high street chain coffee shops often do.
The coffee:
The team behind The Fire Station Café are coffee obsessed, and it shows in their lattes, flat whites and cappuccinos. My particular favourite is the banana latte (£4.20) — it might sound strange, but, boy oh boy, is it tasty.
Victorian Cafe — 5 Worple Road
The vibe:
The Victorian Cafe needs no introduction. With its slightly run-down exterior and incredibly low prices, the Victorian Cafe feels somewhat like a time capsule. A favourite amongst locals, this cafe, though small, packs a punch. It’s not the sort of place you might visit with a larger group of friends; instead, the Victorian Cafe is something of a necessary pitstop on your daily journey through SW19.
The coffee:
With a latte coming in at £2.80, it’s hard to argue with the prices here. Admittedly, the coffee is not as smooth nor as glamorous as some of the other mentions on this list, but that’s not the point. The Victorian Cafe’s real pull is its sandwiches, and if you haven’t had one already … Well, just try one and let me know what you think.
Demitasse — 21 High Street Wimbledon
The vibe:
There’s a luxury feel to Demitasse, and something slightly exotic. Perhaps that’s because founder Elizabeth Abdulla spent her 20s travelling the world whilst working in the hospitality industry. Either way, Demitasse has style.
The coffee:
Smooth with a slight acidity, Demitasse’s coffee will certainly wake you up. Paired with the relaxed and rather lavish vibe of the place, the coffee is faultless. I’m looking forward to those warmer months when I can sit on their front patio and enjoy my latte as the world goes by.
DropShot Coffee — 8 Leopold Road
The vibe:
DropShot is a gem. Tucked away on Leopold Road, many local residents might not have heard of it, but they should have. With its tennis-influenced wooden interiors and sleek merchandise, this independent South West London collection of coffee shops is not one to miss.
The coffee:
It’s no surprise that a place that takes such good care of its aesthetic also delivers exceptionally nice coffee. I tend to go for the flat white here, as I’m a fan of how well they balance the strength to cup size ratio.
21 Grams — 83 Hartfield Cres
The vibe:
21 Grams is one of South West London’s sleekest new chains, but this location is particularly chic. Hidden at the end of a residential road, 21 Grams is a place to find peace and quiet over a slice of cake and a drink of your choosing.
The coffee:
People have been raving about the coffee at 21 Grams for some time. It’s not my personal favourite on the list, but it’s still incredibly smooth and crafted by their baristas to perfection.
A mysterious photo of the week (answered: sort of) 📸
It seems we still haven’t solved the mystery of who this bench was dedicated to. However, Julie, a local resident, got in touch the other day with a very nice suggestion. If we can find a name, Julie mentioned that using an Ancestry.com subscription to track down the deceased’s descendants would be a nice thing to do. Failing that:
[Perhaps] local people should find out how much it costs to replace the bench and launch a crowdfunder to replace it, so people can continue to enjoy having a place to sit and rest or just observe the common.
What do we think, Wimblers? Any leads? Thoughts about fundraising to fix the bench? Comment below or drop me a line: zak@thewimble.com.
Question of the week 🔍
Last week, I asked when the first rail station opened in Wimbledon: 36% said 1851; 15% said 1829; 26% said 1879; and 23% said 1838. The answer: 1838 (the station was just south of where the current station sits on the other side of Wimbledon Bridge).
Q: Which of these famous podcasters attended King’s College School, Wimbledon?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week’s edition. Please get in touch with any ideas and feedback.
Don’t forget to complete our survey if you haven’t already. It’s quick, anonymous and will massively help me improve The Wimble in the months ahead. Let’s get to 200 responses by Friday!
In the meantime, have a great weekend and see you for next week’s edition.
Coffee - next time you visit Leopold Road, try The Olive Grove (25a) for coffee. Small, great pastries and the best coffee. Also check out West Coast Fish - great quality fresh fish, lobster etc.