Huge congratulations to so many Wimbledon Town Centre businesses. We had 16 finalists, ten runners up and four overall winners at this year’s prestigious Time & Leisure Food and Culture Awards. Now in their 11th year, the awards ceremony was hosted in the heart of the town at the New Wimbledon Theatre with hundreds of cultural and hospitality businesses attending from across South West London and Surrey. This year’s awards champion the talented, creative and passionate people who comprise our thriving hospitality and arts industries.

 

The Wimbledon Town Centre People’s Choice (Sponsored by Love Wimbledon)

Winner: New Wimbledon Theatre

Highly Commended: Aya Lebanese

Commended: Bombay Delight, Diba, i-Thai

 

Most Innovative Arts/ Community Project

Winner: Polka Theatre

Commended: Merton Arts Space and Wimbledon Bookfest

 

Best Family Friendly Restaurant

Winner: Diba

 

Best Sunday Roast 

Winner: The Alexandra

 

• Best Pub
  Commended: The Alexandra 
• Best Newcomer
  Commended: Island Poke
• Best Service
  Highly Commended: Roxie Steak
  Commended: Diba
• Sustainable Award
  Commended: Polka Theatre
• The Tony Kane Cultural Experience of The Year
  Commended: Wimbledon BookFest
• Local Restaurants of The Year 
  Commended: Diba
• Family Attraction of The Year 
  Commended: Polka Theatre and New Wimbledon Theatre

We are delighted to see so many of our local businesses in Wimbledon recognised for their excellence by the community. View the full list of winners and commended here.

We are coming towards the end of the first year of the third term of Love Wimbledon, and I have also recently celebrated my own first anniversary as Chief Executive. While the economic climate nationally remains uncertain, Wimbledon remains impressively resilient, and I believe we are in great shape to weather this storm. The next few months will offer much for businesses locally to look forward to.

 

Starting in March with the opening of The Golf Groove, we will increasingly see the Centre Court Shopping Centre transformation realised. With climbing walls, a luxury gym and spa, new restaurants and retail and a new co-working hub all to look forward to, it will be a very different place by the end of 2023.

 

We continue to attract new office businesses and have several more major arrivals in the next three months, beginning with Flight Centre’s relocation to 120 The Broadway this month. This will bring hundreds more employees into the town centre – good news for the local economy! There will be several major developments completed in 2023, including the YMCA scheme and the new office development opposite at 147 the Broadway, which will transform the look and feel of this end of our BID area.

 

Our Business Masterclass Series, launched in January 2023, will continue throughout the year, with events to look forward to on workplace wellbeing, cyber security, the future of workspaces and sustainability. I’d encourage you to attend any of these events if you have concerns in these important areas of business or if you’re looking to expand your business network, bringing our business community together is so important right now. If you missed the last masterclass, you can now catch up with our podcast on your preferred streaming service.

 

The Coronation in May will kick-off a packed summer of events, activities, markets and displays planned to showcase Wimbledon Town Centre in all its glory, including of course tennis fortnight – we want everyone to take real civic pride from our town this summer.

It’s a genuine privilege to be in this position, and I’ve met many excellent businesses in the last year here in Wimbledon, but I am always keen to know more. If we’ve not met yet, or if you have any questions about how the BID’s services can help your business with any challenge or opportunity you are currently working through, please get in touch!