Essentiallocalbalhambattersea37 by Essential Local

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Reality bites

with literary legend Dame Jacqueline Wilson

Moving on up the changing face of Balham

Summer in SW London where to go, what to do

Your Local Letting & Management Specialist For an honest & reliable service For more information or a market appraisal contact your local office today: Balham: 80 Balham High Rd SW12 9AG 020 8675 5050

Battersea: 134 Northcote Rd SW11 6QZ 020 7978 4404

Clapham Common: 1 The Polygon SW4 0JG 020 7720 5588

Earlsfield: 370 Garratt Lane SW18 4ES 020 8879 6205

Email: info@PalaceGateLettings.com www.PalaceGateLettings.com

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contents

Local lowdown Events, entertainment and community news for Battersea, Clapham and Balham

What’s new A Latino restaurant; ½tness facelifts; St John’s Way apartment living; caring concepts; and a cookery school on wheels

Thrill of the chase Comedian, quizmeister and former St Georges medic Paul Sinha gives us the inside track

Summer sorted Girl Meets Dress founder Anna Bance advises on summer fashion

Make the outdoors greater Amanda Russell and Juliet Bawden on how to make your garden space your own

Off the Cuffe comments Local veterinarian David Cuffe delves into the animal mind

Review The Wellness Centre in Battersea

Feeling hot, hot, hot Tooting Bec Lido – like a trip to the coast, without the traf½c jams or train delays Keep ‘em busy Your guide to free local activities that will keep babies and toddlers occupied this summer Keeping it real Author Dame Jacqueline Wilson is a literary legend with no affectation, says Ruth Wyatt

The changing face of Balham Café culture; new independent businesess; a £2m town centre redesign – it’s come a long way

This summer, try... A free local workout, a travel adventure or perhaps a professional workspace?

29 31

Spotlight on... Local entrepreneur Sam Clark

The A to Z directory Find the local business you need

Spending a day with... Battersea mum, personal trainer and singer Susie Morgan

Publisher: Richard Chumbley 07985 642245 - richard@essentiallocal.com Editorial Director: Ruth Wyatt 07885 585 901 - ruth@essentiallocal.com Director, Client Support: Alicia Stewart 07970 428 980 - alicia@essentiallocal.com Designer: Monika Orman - monika@essentiallocal.com Cover Image: ‘Our Lovely Lido’ by Johny Midnight (www.gallerymidnight.com*) Advertising/Editorial Enquiries: 020 8432 3441 Email: info@essentiallocal.com Twitter: @essentiallocal W: EssentialBattersea.co.uk, EssentialBalham.co.uk, EssentialClapham.co.uk Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, neither the publisher nor its editorial contributors can accept, and hereby disclaim, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause. Advertisements are published in good faith and neither the publisher nor its editorial staff endorses any advice, advertisers or advertising material included within this publication and cannot accept, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any party to loss or damage caused by errors or omissions resulting from negligence, accident or any other cause.Any suggestions made by contributors to this publication should not be undertaken without seeking appropriate professional advice. Essential Local, the Essential Local Directory,We Choose Local and Essential Local Events are trademarks owned and controlled by Richard Chumbley. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form–electronic, mechanical, recording, photocopying, or otherwise–without prior written permission of the publisher. All in-house artwork and editorial in this publication remains the copyright of Essential Local. ©Essential Local. All rights reserved 2015. *Original modern art and limited edition prints www.gallerymidnight.com, 12 Ritherdon Rd SW17 8QD

news & events

Battersea Arts Centre

entertainment Tooting Foodival

events

Ickle Pickles Summer Party Saturday 18th July 12-5pm

Raising funds for Neonatal Units, this annual jamboree takes place on Wandsworth Common. With famous characters, face painting, rides, inÁatables, food & craft stalls, a BBQ and more. www.icklepickles.org

Tooting Foodival

Saturday 12th/Sunday 13th September Locally grown produce donated on Saturday will be cooked up by local restaurants, groups and individuals, and served to visitors on the Sunday, alongside entertainment and activities for all. www.tootingfoodival.blogspot.co.uk

Bellevue Road Fair

Sunday 20th September 11-5pm Offering local residents another great day of family fun, with numerous stalls and entertainments alongside shops, restaurants and traders running special events and games. www.bellevuevillage.co.uk

Balham Food Festival Sunday 27th September

The visual, aroma and taste sensation of Balham Food Festival returns, celebrating the food and drink shops, cafés, bars, pubs and restaurants of Balham. Groups/businesses interested in taking part, contact foodfest@essentiallocal.com asap. www.balhamfoodfestival.com

Battersea Arts Centre

Despite the awful Àre that destroyed its Grand Hall in March, the Centre continues to run shows and projects within the building and beyond. www.bac.org.uk

The Exhibit Cinema

Balham’s boutique cinema screens Mon/Tues/ Wed, 8.45pm + Mother & Baby shows Tues/Wed, 11.30am. On soon: While We’re Young & Mad Max www.theexhibit.co.uk

Money Womb 3rd - 8th August

Comedy theatre group Velvet Trumpet present a play at Battersea’s Theatre 503 about a man in crisis: ‘an earwig latched into London’s armpit’. www.theatre503.com

Bedford Rocks 21st - 23rd August

The Bedford in Balham has announced its Àrst ever rock festival! An exciting and eclectic mix of rock across all genres under one roof. www.thebedford.co.uk

Thoroughly Modern Milly 18th August - 13th September

Clapham’s Landor Theatre hosts the return of the Tony award-winning musical comedy that has all of New York dancing the Charleston. www.landortheatre.co.uk

Mr Maker at Sacred Heart

community

Mister Maker in Battersea

CBeebies megastar Mister Maker and friend Mr Pritt recently visited Sacred Heart school in Battersea to host a fun-Àlled crafting day. The school was the third and Ànal school in the UK to win an exclusive competition that saw the stars host a fun crafting session making pupils into ‘Mini-Makers’ for the day.

Toby’s Memorial Evening Saturday 17th July 7pm til late

Everyone is welcome to an evening raising funds for the charity CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) at the Clapham Grand this July for a £5 entry fee. Organised by former local resident Mark Parson’s in memory of his brother Toby, Mark will also be climbing Kilimanjaro to raise further funds for the charity and to highlight the shockingly high incidence of male suicide. Donate at www.justgiving.com/tobyallnutt74

A Formula for Controversy

Argument still rages over the recent Formula E event at Battersea Park. A petition asking the council to employ the break clause in their 5-year race contract has received over 2000 signatures. See Facebook.com/saveBattPark and Andrew English at Telegraph.co.uk/cars/motorsport/

For updated local news and event listings, visit EssentialBalham.co.uk or EssentialBattersea.co.uk

What’s New? in your neighbourhood Clapham North goes South... American

You’ve been to plenty of Mexican restaurants and Argentinian steak houses, even perhaps a Colombian cafe, but you’ve never been on a culinary journey through Latin America like you will Ànd at Mendoza Square next to Clapham North tube. “We created the bar and restaurant because of our passion for Latin America; for its cultures, its music, its lifestyle,” says owner Afroza Begum. “Our aim is

to reÁect this vibrancy and diversity: to convey the region’s taste sensations, Áavours of spices, culture, fragrances and styles in our menu, and through the warm Latino welcome you will receive here.” Mendoza Square serves a huge variety of Latin American street food, including new weekend brunch options such as ‘Huevos Rancheros’: chorizo sausage, peppers, potatoes, salsa and eggs; and ‘Toastados de Pollo’: crispy tortilla, refried beans, chicken, lettuce, sour cream, topped with pico de gallo and cheese. It’s also a great venue for those with an eye for an offer. Don’t miss ‘Taco Tuesdays’, when they offer Tacos half price all day long, or their ‘Mid-Week Treat’ – a free beer with any burger. All courtesy of a Clapham North venue offering a true taste of Latin America.

Mendoza Square 3 Bedford Road, Clapham SW4 7SH 020 7274 2624 www.mendozasquare.co.uk

Coming soon to a kitchen near you

Ramsay Group alumnus Chris Jarman has just launched a cookery school with a difference. Old Town Cooks comes to your kitchen bearing all the equipment and ingredients you might need, to teach you anything you might want to cook. From Àne dining to quick and tasty basic suppers, Chris tailors his eight core courses – ‘3 Quick Meals’, ‘Dinner Party Menu’ and ‘Dessert Masterclass’, to name a few – to your skills, dietary preferences and the dishes you’d like to perfect. You can even make a

party of it with a special tailormade group class. Chris, who has ten years’ experience working for some of Britain’s top chefs, including time in senior roles at Maze and London House, says: “It’s not like other cookery schools. I come to your home and can teach you to cook anything. There are lots of tricks of the trade, so I share a lot of these as we go and I can cover everything from butchery and Àsh preparation to the creation of colourful desserts – you just need to ask. There’s no restriction on what we can prepare and cook together.” Classes are fun and relaxed and tend to last a couple of hours, while Chris is approachable and patient – nothing like some of his more explosive mentors. He’ll even clean your kitchen before he leaves! Sounds like it’s time to get cracking, poaching, soufÁéing…

Old Town Cooks Bespoke Cookery School... with Wheels! 07729 968704 www.oldtowncooks.com

sponsored business news Local leisure centres given a multi-million pound makeover

Five of Wandsworth’s leisure centres have been given a serious facelift thanks to a £3.5m investment from Wandsworth Council into their facilities, including the latest gym equipment, new workout studios, swish new treatment rooms and smart new changing areas that would give a private health spa a run for its money. There are even new saunas and steam cabins. Since the beginning of the year leisure centre operator Places For People Leisure, has been upgrading facilities across the borough. Latchmere, Balham and Tooting Leisure Centres have been completed, while the refurbishment of changing rooms at Wandle Leisure Centre is near completion and the improvements to Putney’s swimming pool will be Ànished in September. Different centres have had different improvements, but each of the four swimming pool sites has beneÀted from the total redevelopment of their changing villages. Take a look at the pictures to whet your appetite or why not pop along to your local centre to see the improvements for yourself.

The new look gym at Putney Leisure Centre

All areas have been refurbished to the same high standard

The new steam rooms and saunas echo the design shown

Perhaps the biggest change is the complete refurbishment of each of the changing villages

Balham Leisure Centre 020 8772 9577 Latchmere Leisure Centre 020 7207 8004 Tooting Leisure Centre 020 8333 7555 Putney Leisure Centre 020 8785 0388 Wandle Recreation Centre 020 8871 1149 Roehampton Sports & Fitness 020 8785 0535 Tooting Bec Lido 020 8871 7198 www.placeforpeopleleisure.org

SPONSORED BY PLACES FOR PEOPLE LEISURE

With Wi thh ttemperatures empe em pera pe rattu ra ture ture ress fo fforecast fore ore reca castt iinn th the he 30 330s, 30s 0s , there’s to cooll offff than h ’ no bbetter place l h the iconic Tooting Bec Lido this summer

Take a dip in the 1m gallons of water contained in the UK’s largest open-air pool, while soaking up its gorgeous architecture and vintage charm – and catching a few rays, of course. Open from 6am-7.45pm daily, it is a great place to while away a hot day without breaking the bank. All day entry costs just £6.70 for adults and £4.10 for under-16s (plus a £1.10 admission charge for non-members). Children under Àve swim for free. Alongside the football pitch-sized main pool, there’s plenty of space for sun-bathing, a paddling pool for the under-8s to splash about in, a café serving hot and cold food and drinks, and a picnic area. The Lido, which was opened in 1906, is situated on Tooting Bec Common and is easily accessible by car, public transport, or, better yet, on foot.

Tooting Bec Road, Tooting, SW16 1RU For further information go to: www.tootingbeclido.co.uk

families Keep ‘em busy – Rebecca Mills suggests free activities for summer I love summer – light evenings, picnic lunches and paddling pools – but it also means nursery is closed for eight long weeks in which I need to keep my extremely active two and a half year-old entertained and exercised. I’m naturally delighted to be spending all this time with him, but with a new baby in tow, I need to be more imaginative than a daily trip to the playground. Here’s my round-up of the best free (or cheap) local activities for babies and toddlers this summer… • Clapham Omnibus’ Grasshopper Festival 23-26 July at The Bandstand omnibus-clapham.org • Vauxhall City Farm Weds-Sun 10.30am-4pm. vauxhallcityfarm.org • Story Time at Battersea Library Weds 4-4.30pm 020 7223 2334 • Story and Rhyme Time at Clapham Library Tues 10-11.15am (£1 per family) 020 7926 0717

• Clapham NCT Play Group St John the Evangelist Church Weds 10am-12 pm (£2 per child, £3 per family) claphamplaygroup@claphamnct.com • Bolingbroke One o’ Clock Club Chivalry Road. Mon-Fri 10am–4pm school holidays only (£3.75 per morning /afternoon session) 020 7738 1958 • Arts and Crafts at Clapham Manor Children’s Centre Mon 10-11am. 020 7627 9917 • Little Diggers Fri 10am-12pm and Stay and Play Weds-Fri 1-4pm for outside fun exploring nature and gardening. Both at The Spinney, Windmill Drive 020 8673 5736 PS Free events are sometimes subject to change so it’s best to check before setting out.

Rebecca is Editor of ClaphamMums.com which provides up-to-date information for local families. @claphammums

local hero

D Dame Jacqueline Wilson is a living legend in children’s ½ction, but you’ll ½nd no affectation, as Ruth Wyatt reports a

Tracy Beaker. © Nick Sharratt

“Modest, but very good” is how local children’s author Dame Jacqueline Wilson describes her favourite Battersea café. She could be talking about herself. Certainly for the modest part. Wilson is an incredible talent. One of the greatest living children’s authors, she has sold more than 38 million books in the UK alone and is the most borrowed children’s author of the decade. But the long-time Kingston resident is a study in self-deprecation. Asked about the process and research that goes into creating narratives that deal with children’s innermost feelings in an authentic tone of voice, she says: “Well I check concrete facts, but mostly I just imagine what it must be like; I pretend and that seems to work for me.” Seems to work? She is a goddess to girls aged seven and up, although oddly she is a fairly well kept secret outside her readership. Her characters may not be the blockbusting headlinegrabbing Harrys and Hermiones, but they connect with children at visceral level. Forget witches and wizards,

local hero Wilson remarks. “And there she was on Strictly with tattoos.” She feigns a sharp intake of breath. “I must admit I felt a bit like her mother at that point,” she adds, laughing.

Wilson’s children deal with altogether more realistic experiences. “I remember reading books in the 50s and 60s that didn’t reÁect the problems around me,” she explains. “No one had money worries or parents that argued or anything like that and it just didn’t ring true.”

Bright spirit

“I remember reading books in the 50s and 60s that didn’t re¾ect the problems around me... it just didn’t ring true.”

©Nick S

harratt

Wilson’s characters are abandoned, abused, bereaved and bullied; exposed to divorce, alcoholism, cancer, homelessness, poverty and mental illness. But that’s not to say her work is gloomy – far from it. Her books are funny and uplifting, written with a light and remarkably deft touch that demonstrates children’s ability to adapt to what life chucks at them. Her heroines are quirky, spirited and intensely likeable and, like real children, they are fundamentally optimistic. Tracy Beaker, who spends much of her life in children’s care homes due to her mother’s appalling taste in boyfriends, is probably her most famous character thanks to her longrunning and hugely popular adaption on CBBC: The Story of Tracy Beaker. Hetty Feather, a Victorian foundling, is likely second – the critically acclaimed stage adaptation is back for a second West End run and UK tour this year and its TV adaption is currently on air. You may have also heard of Tracy Beaker via Strictly Come Dancing. The actor who portrayed her on CBBC, Dani Harmer, came fourth on the 2012 run of the show. “She was only ten or 11 when she started [playing Tracy], she was practically born for the part and it’s been wonderful seeing her grow up,”

Hetty Feather is Wilson’s favourite character: “She’s spirited, interesting and fun. She goes through some horrible, difÀcult things but she never lets life get to her.” Again, she could be describing herself. Wilson suffered heart failure in 2010 and subsequently kidney failure. Now 69, she is on the waiting list for a kidney transplant along with 7,000 other people, but don’t for a moment believe that it has dented her spirits or slowed her output. She continues to publish roughly two books a year and has used her dialysis sessions to research her historical novels and indulge in her lifelong passion for reading. She writes every day of the week, come what may. The author of 102 books, she says she has never had a good idea sitting at her desk. “Often my ideas come completely out of the blue. Sometimes they’ll be there in my head for two or three days and if I remember them vividly, I might think about working them up or I might note them down in the back of my diary for later,” Wilson reÁects. “Happiness is having three or four ideas ready to be worked on and to go from one book straight to another – then you know you can make a secure living.” Her days follow the same routine: “I get up, feed the cat, let the dog out into the garden and, still in my pyjamas, I write for a couple of hours, seven days a week.” She shares her Victorian villa with 20,000 books; Jackson, a Áuffy black terrier cross who “particularly likes pubs and can’t bear foxes”; and Jacob, her “beautifully elegant” cat whose life now is very serene, but who had a horrible start, she says. Both pets are Battersea boys as Wilson is a patron of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. While she loves going there

she says “it’s fatal – you just want to adopt every animal you meet”. And that favourite café of hers? The one in the dogs home itself. “It’s a very good, old-fashioned, down to earth café and if I’m in the area, that’s where I go.” How very unstarry of her. How very appropriate. She may be a giant in children’s Àction, but the only ‘out there’ thing about this indomitable and extraordinary talent is a penchant for statement jewellery.

Jacqueline Wilson’s new book, Katy, a reworking of the classic Victorian novel What Katy Did, will be published by Puf½n on July 30th priced £12.99.

community

The changing face of

Balham

Jennifer Elly reports on the recent developments in Balham town centre and why the “gateway to the South” is no longer a gate but a prime destination Public art in Balham High Street

Café culture is adding to the town’s existing boutique shopping and restaurant scene. Below: the new paving of Hildreth Street.

There’s a buzz about Balham these days. On a hot summer’s evening the town centre is thronging. Shoppers bustle around Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. The ample selection of bars, restaurants and pubs is doing brisk trade, the odd café is still open – including the very odd café that is Lavish Habit, a quirky mash-up of coffee, cakes and vintage retail. Meanwhile the emergent al fresco culture in the recently beautiÀed Hildreth Street is evident: drinkers sup craft beers and sip wine outside We Brought Beer and The Wine Tasting Shop over quiet conversation. It’s been a long road from Balham’s old reputation as the “gateway to the South” to being one of the most desirable places to live in the UK, but the number of independent shops, great restaurants and cool bars have made Balham a sought-after location. Last year it ranked as one of Britain’s best places to live in a survey by The Sunday Times. And if people want to live here, interesting businesses want to be here. Over the last few years dozens of new businesses, such as baby shops Nature’s Purest and JoJo Maman Bébé, Brickwood Café, Blackbird Bakery, Sam Ubhi jewellery, The Treehouse workspace and Chestnut Café have opened their doors in Balham (and a 24-hour gym is on its way), while some old favourites have been given makeovers. Milk, the brunch mecca at the corner of Hildreth St and Bedford Hill, has just reopened after an expansion. Turn the corner and you’ll see The Exhibit with its spectacular facelift and plethora of events and spaces. Even McDonalds on Balham High Road has had a major reÀt. Balham has also beneÀted from the industry of The Bedford pub. The Banana Cabaret is now 30 years old and remains one of the best UK’s best comedy clubs; while The Bedford’s festivals – the Balham Comedy Festival and London Folk Festival to name but two – continue to enhance Balham’s reputation London-wide.

PROMOTION

The bench in Bedford Hill Place features the same green tiles that have been used elsewhere in Balham to create a visual identity. For example, underneath the Balham High Road railway bridge (left).

It is hard to imagine how an area once immortalised as a place where nothing interesting happened in that Peter Sellers sketch, could be home to such a rich and interesting mix. From hot yoga and organic butchers to treatment rooms, eclectic design shops, upmarket delis and seriously good coffee shops, there’s something for everyone. And it’s well worth exploring beyond the centre, for example along The Boulevard to the quirky independent shops and cafés of Ritherdon Road. There’s much on offer for foodies – check out Volker & Quinn, described as like having a corner of Borough market in Balham, the Chicken Shop, an offshoot of the Soho House Group, Harrison’s, Franco Manco, Lamberts and Thali & Pickles to name but a few. The Balham Food Festival returns in September and promises to be a gastromic treat. Lots for those who like drinkies too – in addition to those already mentioned, there’s Hagen & Hyde and other venues for craft beers, while the Balham Bowls Club has a louche charm all of its own.

Looking good, feeling good

Business is booming, but that’s not the whole story. Almost £2m has been pumped into improvements, with £1.44 million coming from the Outer London Fund, set up by Mayor of London, with the rest from Transport for London, Wandsworth Council, Balham Parnertship and local business. The objectives were to encourage people to explore, enjoy and invest. Hildreth Street has been a major recipient. The space has been decluttered, opened up, repaved and pedestrianised – to brilliant effect. A new lighting system is apparent at night, including pretty blue and green lights which occupy trees at each end of the

street – two of which are newly planted. The vast and visually arid expanse of wall next to Waitrose car park – known locally as “the ugly wall” – has been suitably clothed in a bespoke artwork: the ‘music of architecture’ (see image on previous page). The formerly dank, dirty and slightly forbidding space under the railway bridge on Balham High Road has been brightened up with excellent lighting and green tiles featuring similar architectural motifs. These green tiles are now part of the visual language of the area, alongside new signage that brings Balham into line with central London wayÀnding. Finally the ‘community space’, Bedford Hill Place, which frankly few residents realised was anything other than an adjunct to the car park, has been repaved, with improved pedestrian access. A canopy and kiosk for community use are also being constructed. There’s never been a more pertinent time to say “watch this space”.

To receive Balham news and local offers by email, send your name to balham@essentiallocal.com

PROMOTION

THIS SUMMER, TRY. . . A FREE LOCAL TRIAL WORKOUT with beFresh If you’ve ever wanted to get away from crowded gyms and prying eyes, you’ll be pleased to know you have a quality personal training studio right on your doorstep. beFresh, a family-friendly private studio with both indoor and outdoor areas and including a fully equipped gym space, offers a great environment for providing individual focus and privacy. They also have a unique approach centred on obtaining a healthy lifestyle through bespoke training programmes and delicious food packages. Particularly popular are beFresh’s pre and post-natal packages, run by trainers holding specialist qualiÀcations in these areas. Says founder Joe Haynes: “We make our clients’ bodies work hard so it’s important to replenish the muscles with the right food after training. Our packages do this perfectly by nourishing the body with essential proteins, low GI carbs and good fats.” Contact Joe directly by phone or email joe@be-fresh.co.uk if you’d like to take advantage of his free Àrst session trial offer this Summer.

Be Fresh - Clapham Common West Side (double white gates on Broomwood Road), SW4 9AU 07999 085 133 www.be-fresh.co.uk

Reproduced by permission of Geographers’ A-Z Map Co. Ltd. ©Crown copyright and database rights. 2015 Ordnance Survey 100017302...

WHY NOT ALSO try...

@theexhibit Visiting the boutique cinema lts @cuffevets resu Abbeville pet photo comp. @thebedfordpub Catching a night of comedy enscanteen Enjoying DIY doughnuts @b ewoodenfloors Choosing new flooring @th @randbdesigns Learning to make things with @mendozasquare sday 1/2 price tacos on Taco Tue a friend @npbalham Buying a baby gift card for rsea_arts Visiting a local show @batte e503 @landortheatre or @theatr yledb @poeprojects Get a building quote @lifest remarkLtd Exploring care options @ca yoilwater enn Catching an exhibition @p @taxassist_SW17 Saving money on your tax lexanderhair Salt-infused styling spray @fa tates l_es Valuing your house @samue balham Eating al frescoe @harrisons s ting Renting your home @pgLet fmotorworks_ Getting your car checked @gs sis Volunteering @wandswor thoa akes Making cupcakes @ladybcupc mensalgb @co Scrumptious Mexican food inetastingshop Experiencing a tasting @w @exptrav Following travel experiences

Sponsored by

unable to suffer pain, and totally unable to suffer or enjoy ‘human’ emotions. Fish were regarded as all but insentient and birds as, well, birdbrains. Over these years we have learned that these concepts are all wrong. Fish can learn, and have long memories. Birds don’t have the same frontal lobe that we do, but they have cerebellar development that we don’t. It’s pretty hard to outwit a crow. We now know that cows are bereft when their calves are taken away, and that just about all caged animals are miserable; very much as we would be. Of course it suited the dogma that animals were there for our use, and it beneÀtted us to regard them as essentially unfeeling and undeserving of any higher regard; but if we remove the biblical justiÀcation, it is unavoidable to acknowledge that animals have rights and that most don’t enjoy them. And now, I have to go for a run. With the dog.

Cuffe Vets is a friendly, independent practice providing ethical veterinary care to local clients 52 Abbeville Road, Clapham SW4 9NF 020 8772 9922 team@cuffevets.com cuffevets.com

review

The Wellness Centre by Monika Orman The Wellness Centre is the place to go for a fuss-free massage that leaves you feeling relaxed and refreshed. Located just off Northcote Road in a cobbled courtyard in Croosh Alley (the same building as Fybre Fitness), The Wellness Centre offers a variety of massage types from ancient to modern and Eastern to Western styles of massage and pressure point bodywork. I liked their single-minded approach; it’s all about wellbeing and health – no fancy candles, oils or the rest of the unnecessary fuss that’s usually associated with massage. I also really appreciated the fact I didn’t need to undress. I was asked to wear comfortable, loose clothes, which made it much easier, less intimidating and less time-consuming. I was eight and a half months pregnant and suffering lots of back pain when John gave me my shiatsu massage. He was conÀdent and extremely able, and I felt very comfortable during the whole process.

Shiatsu is a non-invasive, gentle form of massage and I felt wonderful afterwards. Happier too. I’d deÀnitely go back to The Wellness Centre; perhaps to try one of their other types of massage, although I suspect that shiatsu will be my favourite.

The Wellness Centre at Fybre Fitness Hub, 25 Northcote Road, Battersea SW11 1NJ 020 3637 1370 www.thewellnesscentre.com

essential local community

Spotlight on: Sam Clark co-founder, Experience Travel Group Sam Clark is Clapham born and bred, in fact, he’s only ever lived in three places: South London, Bristol (at university) and Sri Lanka. The last is what gave him the determination to set up Experience Travel Group (ETG) with partner Tom Armstrong. “We spent a lot of time there and we wanted to provide the kind of holidays we believed in. Experiencing the real country is what makes it interesting and that wasn’t available from conventional travel companies,” says Sam . Their Àrst attempt in 2004 was scuppered by the devastating effects of the tsunami in Christmas of that year. The pair took an extended break from business to take part in the aid effort and started again in 2007, with a third partner, Melissa Nicholas, joining them. Now a team of 19, the Àrm moved from its ofÀces in St John’s Hill to a larger location near Clapham High Street last September. ETG offers holidays across Asia and promises that whatever your interest, it will provide an original and authentic way to see the destination – from street food tours, art tours or walking trips and almost anything you can imagine. “We had one client with a passion for rail transport who wanted to see and travel on speciÀc models,” Sam says. “The logistics involved in that were almost military and not exactly in step with the local laid-back attitude, but we made it happen.” Sam believes in putting his money where his mouth is and is shortly testing out a new holiday experience in Rajasthan, India with his own family. His seven and nine-year-old sons are furious: “They wanted to go to Eurocamp,” he smiles. Sam now lives in Streatham but remains a big fan of his old stamping ground. The best thing about being based in Clapham, he says, is that all his staff want to work in the area: “It’s lovely around here: you can cycle to work, you don’t have to Àght your way into the city on a hot Tube, there are loads of p places to eat, drink and socialise and it To request information about the Essential Local Community – open only to local organisations of four branches or less – contact richard@essentiallocal.com

has a great atmosphere.” His favourite drinking haunt is the Rose and Crown in Clapham Old Town (“a proper pub”) and favourite restaurant the Banana Leaf in Tooting (for the best Sri Lankan cuisine: “wonderful food, authentic décor”). Food Àgures a lot in the ETG experience. For one thing its creative team occasionally organises a supper club that’s a good way to get people excited by Asian travel and to educate them about the region’s authentic culture. For another, when asked what he misses about working in St John’s Hill, he rattles off a list of places – all eateries. “We had to move, though, we were creaking at the seams with far too many people crammed in and we’re hugely better off in the new ofÀce, but...” he drifts off wistfully, no doubt thinking about The Deli Boutique. If he ruled the world, this passionate, environmentally driven yet laid-back 38-year-old would make it easier for local businesses to work together and to share their experience. The same purpose in fact, that brought the Essential Local Community – of which he’s a member – into being.

www.experiencetravelgroup.com

a-z directory Follow @essentiallocal for LOCAL business news and offers If you’d like your business or organisation to be included here and on our online directory at Essential Balham.co.uk/EssentialBattersea.co.uk email info@essentiallocal.com Listings in white are members of the Essential Local Community

Accountants/Bookkeepers

Builders (Design & Build)

Zarkava - Tax and Business Advisory Services Free consultation and summary of that meeting info@zarkava.co.uk 020 8675 0399

Lifestyle Design + Build All building inc. loft conversions, basements, refurb and extensions. Unit 20, Abbeville Mews, 88 Clapham Park Road, SW4 7BX 020 7720 3082

www.zarkava.co.uk

Ambulance

For emergency assist, call 999

Art Galleries & Antiques Oil & Water Contemporary Art Gallery 340 Old York Road Wandsworth Town SW18 1SS 020 8704 4327

www.oilandwater.co.uk

Babysitters - see Childcare Bars - see Restaurants & Bars

Beauty Salons/ Treatments Francesca Alexander Hair & Beauty 53 Webbs Rd Battersea SW11 6RX 020 7585 3330

www.francescaalexander.co.uk B&B - see Hotels;

Bicycle Sales & Repair Psubliminal Expert advice, sales & repair 17 Balham High Road, SW12 9AJ 020 8772 0707

www.psubliminal.com

Business advice – see Accountants

Caremark (Wandsworth) Part or Full-time home care service. Culvert House, Culvert Rd SW11 5DH 020 3542 1255

www.caremark.co.uk

www.lifestylebyasq.co.uk

Carpentry and Cabinet-makers

Simply Construction Building and roo½ng contractors. 172 Clapham Park Road Clapham SW4 7DU 020 7498 6696

West London Carpentry and Decoration Bespoke Fitted Furniture & Decorating Services 07795 411 400

www.simplyconstructionltd.co.uk

www.westlondoncarpentry.com

Poe Projects Project management specialists: design, build, electricals & interiors. 0808 235 3635

Spaced In Spray ½nished, bespoke furniture. Beautifully built in. 07734 203 911

www.poeprojects.co.uk

www.spacedin.co.uk

Angel Home Improvements Paving, patios, fencing, tur½ng, roo½ng, pressure cleans, guttering and more. 020 8485 7734

Cars - see Garages

angelhomeimprovements.co.uk

www.life-times.org.uk

Cafés see also Restaurants & Bars

Wandsworth Oasis Charity shops and fundraising to help support local people affected by HIV. 020 8769 3845

The Chestnut Café Balham’s Garden Café, with WiFi 9 Chestnut Grove, Balham SW12 8JA 020 3674 2141

Facebook: The Chestnut Cafe

Charities & Volunteering Wandsworth 020 8870 4319

www.wandsworthoasis.org.uk

Care Services

Childcare

020 8780 9146

Likeminders Battersea based babysitting and ¾exible childcare agency 0844 879 7189

GreatMinders Online resource for securing care and /or companionship for the elderly.

www.greatminders.co.uk

www.likeminders.co.uk

The Essential Local Directory is designed to allow small businesses to promote themselves cost-effectively and it costs just £120 to appear in both these listings and online at EssentialBattersea.co.uk for 12 months

a-z directory Childrens Activities/Courses

Cinemas

Domestic Appliance Repair

Yoga Bugs The one bug your child should catch. Call Francesca on 0845 899 7173 or email francesca@yogabugs.com

The Exhibit 12 Balham Station Road, Balham SW12 9SG 020 8772 6556

MK Repair Centre Dishwashers, washing machines and electric ovens 19 Cobham Close, SW11 6SP 020 7223 6529

Lady Berry Cupcake Courses Cupcake decorating classes and

Cineworld Ltd Wandsworth High St, SW18 4TF 0871 200 2000 cineworld.co.uk Clapham Picturehouse 76 Venn Street SW4 0AT 0871 902 5727

www.mkrepaircentre.co.uk

Cleaners & Cleaning Services

www.groovyartworkshops.co.uk

Blue Ribbon DomesticCleaning Weekly, fortnightly or monthly cleans with the same vetted cleaner. 020 8328 3096 07702 793 623

Electricians/Electrical

www.yogabugs.com

birthday parties for children. Ladyfarleyb@gmail.com 07985 245 674

www.ladyberrycupcakes.co.uk Hartbeeps Exciting, interactive and fun baby and toddler classes. 1st class £5! anna-belle@hartbeeps.com Battersea, Clapham, Balham & others 07588 324 161

www.hartbeeps.com

Tutoring by GAW Advance through achievement From age 6 for Key Stage tests, GCSE and up to A level. 0844 357 9472

www.groovyartworkshops.co.uk Monkey Music Music classes: babies of 3mths-4yrs Balham, Tooting, Streatham, Wandsworth and South½elds 0208 699 0977

www.theexhibit.co.uk

www.picturehouses.co.uk

www.blueribboncleaning.co.uk

Children Natures Purest Organic and naturally dyed baby gifts, bedding, clothing and furniture 78 Balham High Road SW12 9AG 020 8673 2672 @NPBalham

balham@natures-purest.co.uk

Education and Tutoring Tutoring by GAW Advance through achievement From age 6 for Key Stage tests, GCSE and up to A level. 0844 357 9472

MK Repair Centre 19 Cobham Close, SW11 6SP 020 7223 6529

www.mkrepaircentre.co.uk

Emergency Services Call 999 OR 112

Estate & Letting Agents Palace Gate Lettings (ARLA Licensed) Of½ces in Balham, Clapham Old Town, Northcote Road & Earls½eld 020 8675 5050

Complementary Therapy – see Healers, Massage, Therapy

www.palacegatelettings.com

www.monkeymusic.com

Dentists

(ARLA & NAEA Licensed)

Courses/Parties for Adults

Tooting Bec Dental Same day appointments available. Examination £18 (inc. 2 X-rays)

Old Town Cooks Individual bespoke tuition or parties held in your own home. All equipment/ingredients provided.

020 8772 7708 tbdp@btconnect.com www.tootingbecdental.co.uk

SW London 07729 968704

For NHS contact: 0845 46 47

Lady Berry Cupcakes Cupcake decorating classes and

Decorators – See Painters Designers – see Printing Services Dishwasher Repair. – see Dom’

www.oldtowncooks.com

hen/baby shower parties. 07985 245 674

www.ladyberrycupcakes.co.uk Little Aid - First Aid for Children and Babies Perfect for new parents & childcarers.

020 8772 3595

www.littleaid.co.uk

DIY, Paint & Hardware Force Homecare DIY/Paint Specialist: Keys cut. 020 8675 9866 22 Bedford Hill, Balham SW12 9RG

www.forcehomecare.co.uk Doctors - see Medical

Samuel Estates (sales/lettings) 38 Balham Hill SW12 9EL 020 3411 0633

www.samuelestates.com

First Aid Little Aid - First Aid for Children and Babies Courses for everyone. Perfect for new parents, nannies & babysitters.

020 8772 3595

www.littleaid.co.uk

Fitness beFresh A quality personal training studio with both indoor and outdoor areas, located off Broomwood Road. FREE TRIAL 07999 085 133

www.be-fresh.co.uk

visit wechooselocal.co.uk for rewards you can receive for to support local independent businesses If you would likechoosing to be included contact us at info@essentiallocal.com or on 020 8432 3441

a-z directory Wandsworth Council The Town Hall, Wandsworth High Street London, SW18 2PU www.wandsworth.gov.uk

020 8871 6000

Town Hall Brixton Hill London, W2 1RWU www.lambeth.gov.uk

Flooring

Hairdressers

Wooden Floor Specialists Suppliers, Installers & Renovators 302 Cavendish Rd Balham SW12 0PL 020 8675 2431

Francesca Alexander hair & beauty 53 Webbs Road SW11 6RX 020 7924 3459

Framers

Hair Masters 020 7228 1520 88 Battersea Rise SW11 1EJ

www.wooden¾oors.co.uk

Oil & Water 340 Old York Rd Wandsworth Town SW18 1SS 020 8704 4327

www.oilandwater.co.ukk

Garage/Motor Repairs GSF Motorworks Car servicing workshop. Unit E & F London Stone Biz Estate, Broughton St, Battersea SW8 3QR 020 7819 9555

www.gsfmotorworks.co.uk Gardens - see Builders

Gifts Natures Purest Organic and naturally dyed baby gifts, bedding, clothing and furniture 78 Balham High Road Balham SW12 9AG 020 8673 2672 @NPBalham

balham@natures-purest.co.uk Graphic Design - see Printers

Healing

See also Meditation Pippa Neve Healer & Indigo Essence Practitioner Eswyn Road, Tooting, SW17 8TN 020 8767 1292/ 07932 697938

www.pippaneve.com

Lambeth Council

www.francescaalexander.co.uk

www.hairmasters.org.uk

Hotels & Bed & Breakfast Balham B&B 28 Old Devonshire Road Balham SW12 9RB 020 8673 7179

020 79261000

Latchmere Leisure Centre 020 7207 8004 Burns Road, Battersea SW11 5AD Tooting Bec Lido 020 8871 7198 Tooting Bec Road SW16 1RU Tooting Leisure Centre 020 8333 7555 Greaves Pl, Tooting SW17 0NE Battersea Park Mill’ Arena 020 8871 7537 Albert Bridge Road, SW11 4NJ Clapham Common Facilities 020 7223 9837 Windmill Drive, Clapham SW4 9DE

www.balhambandb.co.uk

Live Music

Hypnotherapy

The Bedford Live music, Club Nights, Comedy, Food, Drink and Events 77 Bedford Hill Balham SW12 9HD 0208 682 8940

Also see Therapies Keith Bibby (UKCP Psychotherapist)

49 Klea Avenue Clapham Common SW4 9HG 020 8673 6311

www.hypno-psychotherapylondon.com

Interiors & Design R&B Consultants Amanda Russell and Juliet Bawden russellandbawden@gmail.com

wwwrandbconsultants.co.uk

Key Cutting - see DIY Kitchens - see Bathrooms/Builders

Leisure Centres & Facilities Balham Leisure Centre 020 8772 9577 Elm½eld Rd, Balham SW17 8AN Battersea Sports Centre 020 8871 8529 Hope St, Battersea SW11 2DA

www.thebedford.com

The Exhibit 12 Balham Station Road, Balham SW12 9SG 020 8772 6556

www.theexhibit.co.uk

Massage

Also see Therapy The Wellness Centre Ancient, modern, Eastern & Western massage/pressure point bodywork. @ Fybre Fitness Hub, 25 Northcote Rd, Battersea SW11 1NJ 020 3637 1370

www.thewellnesscentre.com

Meditation Guided Group Mediations with Pippa Neve, Tooting Bec 07932 697 938

www.pippaneve.co.uk

Support local businesses and please let them know you found them in Essential Local

a-z directory Medical Services For urgent but non life-threatening conditions call 111. For lifethreatening conditions call 999. Chiropractic by Hand Chiropractic and Sports Therapy services for all the family at Movers & Shapers in Balham info@chiropracticbyhand.com 07847 202365

www.chiropracticbyhand.com

Tooting Walk-In Centre Treatment & emergency contraception. 7am-8.30pm. Clare House, St George’sHospital, Tooting SW17 0QT 020 8700 0505 Kiki’s Clinic Paediatric Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Osteopathy for babies and children. 124 Thurleigh Road SW12 8TU 020 7450 1708

Simply Construction Friendly building and roo½ng contractors based in Clapham 172 Clapham Park Rd SW4 7DU 020 7498 6696

www.simplyconstructionltd.co.uk Poe Projects Interior design projects and painting/decorating jobs of all sizes 0808 235 3635

www.poeprojects.co.uk

West London Carpentry and Decoration Bespoke Fitted Furniture and Decorating 07795 411 400

www.westlondoncarpentry.com

Photographers Emanuel Redaschi Photography Maternity, New-born and Baby specialist. Studio based between the commons. Of½cial photographer, St Thomas’ Hospital, Westminster Suite. 07775 681191

www.forcehomecare.co.uk

Painters & Decorators Paintcraft Professional interior decoration, external decoration and building. 020 7064 5284

www.paintcraft.co.uk

Battersea Police Station 112 -118 Battersea Bridge Rd Wandsworth Police Station 146 Wandsworth High Street Lavender Hill Police Station 176 Lavender Hill Clapham Police Station 51 Union Grove

Balham Hill Westbury Parade, Balham Hill SW12 9DZ Cedars 41 Queenstown Road, Battersea SW8 3RE Clapham Common 161 - 163 Clapham High Street SW4 7ST Alfriston Road 99 Alfriston Road; Battersea SW11 6NP; Battersea 202 Lavender Hill, SW11 1AB St Johns Hill 7 The Parade SW11 1TG.

The New Hurleys 9 The Boulevard Balham High Rd SW17 7BW 020 8772 8223

Force Homecare DIY & Paint Specialist. 22 Bedford Hill Balham, SW12 9RG 020 8675 9866

ww.met.police.uk

Pharmacies

Of½ce Supplies & Furniture

Paint Specialists and DIY

Metropolitan Police 0300 123 1212

Post Of½ces

Motor Repairs - see Garages Nannies & Nursery - see Childcare Of½ce - see Workspace

www.hurleysofbalham.com

For emergency assistance, call 999 OR 112 or for general enquiries contact:

Personal Training – See Fitness Pets – See Vets Healthchem Pharmacy (KDS) 4-5 Station Parade, Balham SW12 9AZ 020 8673 8351 Cospharm Pharmacy (KDS) 281-283 Mitcham Rd Tooting SW17 9JO 020 8767 6005

www.kikisclinic.com

Police

www.emanuelredaschi.com

Faby & Carlo Selected photography services and ‘A day in the life of...’ speciality. 07952 984207

http://adayin.photo

Plumbers & Heating Engineers Poe Projects Interior design projects and maintenance jobs of all sizes 0808 235 3635

www.poeprojects.co.uk

08457 223344

Printing & Design Services Essential Local Flyers, brochures, letterheads, business cards, photography. Balham/Streatham HIll 020 8432 3441

www.essentiallocal.com

Follow @essentiallocal for LOCAL business news and offers

If you would like to be included contact us at info@essentiallocal.com or on 020 8432 3441

a-z directory Support Helplines Age UK 0800 00 99 66

Heart Helpline 08450 70 80 70

Info and advice on topics affecting older people

British Heart Foundation information of½cers

Breast Cancer Care helpline 0808 800 6000 Learning Disability Helpline 0808 808 1111 Information and support on breast health

Advice for individuals, families and carers

Brook Advisory Centres 0808 802 1234

Marie Stopes Abortion Help 0845 300 80 90

Sexual health advice and services for under-25s

24-hour abortion information service

Cancerbackup 0808 800 1234

Mind Info Line 0845 766 0163

Support from nurses concerning all aspects of cancer

Help for people with mental health problems

Carers Direct 0300 123 1053

NHS111 111

Advice for anyone looking after someone else

24-hr service for non-999 urgent medical help

Childline 0800 1111

Sexual Health Line 0300 123 7123

Support and information for children on any topic

Information and advice on sexual health issues

Cruse Day by Day 0844 477 9400

Shelter 0808 800 4444

Help and support for people who are bereaved

Advice from the homelessness/housing charity

Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247

Smokefree 0300 123 1044

24-hour line for urgent response or in-depth support

Get help to stop smoking and stay stopped

Drinkline 0300 123 1110

Stroke Helpline 0845 303 3100

For callers or families/friends worried about drinking

Support for stroke patients and their families

Frank 0300 123 6600

The Samaritans 08457 90 90 90

Straight up, unbiased information about drugs

Non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day

Restaurants, Pubs & Bars The Exhibit All day drinking and eating hub with numerous events & spaces for hire. 12 Balham Station Road Balham SW12 9SG 020 8772 6556

www.theexhibit.co.uk

Mendoza Square Latin American cuisine and lifestyle. See website for Tues & Wed offers. 3 Bedford Road, Clapham SW4 7SH 020 7274 2624

www.mendozasquare.co.uk

Addomme - Pizzeria&Trattoria Neopolitan cuisine, including sour dough pizzas (delivery to some areas). 17 Sternhold Av, Streatham Hill, SW16 020 8678 8496

www.addomme.co.uk

Comensal An authentic Mexican Bar and Restaurant 32 Abbeville Rd, Clapham SW4 9NG 020 8673 7272

www.comensal.co.uk

Harrison’s Neighbourhood brasserie and cocktail bar 15-19 Bedford Hill, Balham SW12 9EX 020 8675 6900

www.harrisonsbalham.co.uk The Bedford Music, Club Nights, Comedy, Food 77 Bedford Hill Balham SW12 9HD 020 8682 8940

www.thebedford.com

Ben’s Canteen All-day neighbourhood hangout 140 St John’s Hill, Battersea SW11 422 Garratt Lane, Earls½eld SW18 020 7228 3260

www.benscanteen.com

McDonald’s Balham A franchise owned locally, employing locals and supporting the community. 159 Balham High Street, SW12 9AU 020 8675 4520

www.mcdonalds.com

Amirah’s Kitchen ‘View’ Top Ten Indian Restaurant. Takeaway/Delivery Available 356 Old York Road, Wandsworth Town, SW18 1SS 020 8874 8008

www.amirahskitchen.com

Support local businesses and please let them know you found them in Essential Local

a-z directory Rick’s Restaurant Tooting’s Modern British & European Restaurant 122 Mitcham Rd,Tooting SW17 9NH 020 8767 5219

www.ricks-restaurant.co.uk Roofers - see Builders

Schools & Colleges Ernest Bevin College School plus sixth form Beechcroft Rd, Tooting SW17 7DF 020 8672 8582

www.ernestbevin.london

Solicitors & Legal Advice Battersea Legal Advice Centre Free legal advice. 125 Bolingbroke Grove, SW11 1DA 020 7585 0716

www.lawworksclinics.org.uk Spas - See Beauty

Sports Shops & Activities Also see Leisure Facilities Capstick Sports 91 Northcote Road SW11 6PL 020 7228 7814

Facebook.com/capsticksports Stationery - See Of½ce Supplies Swimming - See Leisure Centres Take-Aways - See Restaurants

Theatres

For details for forthcoming shows see our regular theatre preview feature elsewhere in the magazine Battersea Arts Centre Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN 020 7223 2223

www.bac.org.uk

Theatre 503 Above Latchmere Pub 503 Battersea Park Rd SW11 3BW 020 7978 7040

www.theatre503.co.uk

Landor Theatre 70 Landor Rd, Clapham SW9 9PH 020 7737 7276

www.landortheatre.co.uk

Richmond Theatre The Green, Richmond TW9 1QJ 0844 871 7651

www.atgtickets.com/richmond

Therapy Chiropractic by Hand Chiropractic and Sports Therapy services for all the family at Movers & Shapers in Balham 07847 202365

www.chiropracticbyhand.com

The Wellness Centre Ancient, modern, Eastern & Western massage/pressure point bodywork. @ Fybre Fitness Hub, 25 Northcote Rd, Battersea SW11 1NJ 020 3637 1370

www.thewellnesscentre.com

Kiki’s Clinic Paediatric Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Osteopathy for babies and children. 124 Thurleigh Road SW12 8TU 020 7450 1708

www.kikisclinic.com

Travel Agents Experience Travel Group Sri Lanka and South East Asia

020 7924 7133

7 Prescott Place Clapham SW4 6BS

www.experiencetravelgroup.com

Windows – Sash Wandsworth Sash Windows Traditional timber, double-glazed, draught proo½ng, overhaul, sliding 125 Lavender Hill, Battersea 020 7924 7303

Wandsworthsashwindows.com

Wine The Wine Tasting Shop Independent Tastings and Sales 18 HIldreth St, Balham SW12 9RQ 020 8616 8658

www.thewinetastingshop.co.uk

Workspace/Of½ce The Treehouse Offers desk space and meeting rooms on low-cost, ¾exible basis 2-10 Balham Station Rd, SW12 9SG 020 8675 4779

www.treehousesw12.com

Yoga Bugs The one bug your child should catch. Call Francesca on 0845 899 7173 or email francesca@yogabugs.com

www.yogabugs.com

The Essential Local Community is a network of around 40 independent local organisations and businesses who receive priority support from Essential Local and aim to ½nd ways to support one another through the ‘We Choose Local’ campaign.

Tutoring - see Education

Vets Cuffe Vets Friendly practice providing ethical veterinary care to local clients 52 Abbeville Rd, Clapham SW4 9NF 020 8772 9922

www.cuffevets.com

Website Design Essential Local Cost-effective website design and e-newsletter marketing. Balham/Streatham Hill 020 8432 3441

www.essentiallocal.com

Follow @essentiallocal for LOCAL business news and offers

If you would like to be included contact us at info@essentiallocal.com or on 020 8432 3441

Spending a day with

You need a lot of puff to keep up with this Battersea-based mother, personal trainer and professional singer

Susie Morgan

Like mothers the world over, Susie’s < day starts early, with Barclay, eight, and Milla, five. If a client wants a 7am training session, the juggling starts early too.

After the school run, it’s straight off to Wandsworth Common to conduct a group training session.

Accounts, admin and business planning has to fit around her clients’ and her childrens’ schedule. And then there’s singing, her original profession…

With the children fed, bathed and in bed, and a babysitter at home, Susie and husband Jules head off for a glass of wine. Luckily their favourite pub, The Bolingroke, is just a stone’s throw from their house. Photos: Faby and Carlo at adayin.photo