The Wheatsheaf in Tooting Bec Refurbishment Relaunch

Tooting Bec is on the up - The Wheatsheaf and Imperial Durbar are both under refurbishment, with exciting new function rooms and beer gardens to come. Tonight Friday 8^th September, the Wheatsheaf will reopen and putting on a party to celebrate.

The Wheatsheaf, opposite Tooting Bec tube station, has welcomed many changes and faces over the years. But it’s not always been plain sailing. In 2015, after a long battle and many campaigns residents, along with local MPs celebrated a win against greedy landlords and saved the pub from being turned into yet another Tesco Express.

Tonight, from 6pm, head over to The Wheatsheaf in Tooting Bec to discover a private dining room, (suitable for 30 people), a new lounge room with an open fireplace (accommodating 40 people) and a larger room with a bar (and concertina doors that open into the private dining room). All three function rooms are available for private hire.

The much missed beer garden has also had a makeover. It’s been decked out with new furniture, a fresh paint job and lot’s of leafy planting. The main dining room has now become an extension of the bar, (if you’re just drinking, you’ll be welcome to hang out in there). The chefs have been working hard and have created a new food menu, a mix of pub classics and seasonal specials – available to sample for free this evening.

The re-launch party will feature DJs all night and brewery give aways. After being closed for the last week, I’m sure the regulars will be scratching at the doors.

The Wheatsheaf in Tooting Bec will welcome back it’s regulars and anyone from the local area is invited to pop by and discover the new-look Wheatsheaf pub.

I’ll see you at the bar.

Find out more about The Wheatsheaf Pub on their website, follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Wheatsheaf

2 Upper Tooting Road

Tooting 

SW17 7PG

Milk Teeth – Tooting Broadway

'

With all the hype Tooting Broadway has received, it’s no wonder another business has popped up on Mitcham Road

Juliet’s Afro Superstore has been taken over by MilkTeeth, a new antipodean coffee shop that also serves hip brunches, smoothies and delicious homemade cakes.

Being a coffee lover and brunch fan, it didn’t take me long to pop by; I wanted to find out if we have another cool place to hang out in Tooting. 

Milk Teeth is the big sister of Milk in Balham, a popular cafe with hour-long queues every weekend.

The decor looks modish with stripped back, exposed brick walls, long wooden benches, a mish-mash of tables and chairs suitable for kids and the yummy mummy clan. With a plethora of brown and beige, the jugs of water filled with fresh, bright green sprigs of mint, bring a pleasant contrast to each table.  

I take my coffee black, no sugar. I enjoy the full flavour of the bean and I wasn’t disappointed by Milk Teeth Tooting Broadway. It was served in a proper cup, rather than a mug or paper cup. The coffee beans are supplied by The Barn, a specialty coffee roastery in Berlin. 

Today's coffee beans were from Kayon Mountain, Ethiopia and as the guys at Milk Teeth take their coffee seriously, you're even supplied with a card explaining the bean you're drinking - such a nice touch. 

I also ordered a smoothie: my choice was the Polly, a zingy blend of coconut, mango and lemon verbena (a fresh herb similar to mint, but with lemon flavours) served in a mini milk bottle. A fresh and healthy treat - just what I needed. 

The menu has all the brunching favourites... eggs, mushrooms, bacon and (of course) smashed 'avo' on sourdough toast. Feeling adventurous, I thought I’d give the Sweet Maria a go. Sweetcorn fritters served with 'krispy' halloumi, avocado, kasundi, lime and I even added a poached egg to the mix. I heard on the grapevine that these were the best things since sliced bread... and boy... Yep!

Everything about this dish made me incredibly happy: the flavour, the freshness, the touch of spice, the portion size and the way it arrived to my table, neatly presented on a silver platter (even my poached egg arrived on a separate mini silver tray).

If you’re a brunch fan, you have to check out Milk Teeth Tooting Broadway. It's more spacious than Milk in Balham, but I’d recommend going before it gets too popular. No one wants to queue for brunch - especially me.

Find out more about Milk on their crazy, but awesome website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Milk Teeth Tooting Broadway is a new hip brunch spot - I'll be back again soon

110 Mitcham Road

Tooting

London

SW17 9NG

Lots of love LPD XXX

Weber Grill Academy At The Jolly Gardeners - Earlsfield

Last month, I spent another Friday lunch time out of the office, this time out on The Jolly Gardeners terrace for the Weber Grill Academy School and a chance to learn how to cook the perfect alfresco feast - fit for all my family and friends.

Weber BBQ’s, originally from Australia have created the perfect cooking courses for anyone, at any BBQ-ing level, how to use the garden as an extended part of the kitchen. The Weber Grill Academy offer different cooking courses throughout the year, all over the UK. But The Jolly Gardeners Pub in Earlsfield is the only place you can book onto a course in London.

I attened the Weber Essentials course, which started with all attendees prepping all six dishes on the menu, then shown how to correctly light two gas BBQ’s, two charcoal BBQ’s and how to check when they are at the correct cooking temperature.

When all the BBQ’s were almost at temperature, we then started preparing the first course – a sourdough pizza... that’s right... a pizza on a BBQ - who knew! We rolled out the sourdough base by hand, added the tomato sauce, cheese and toppings. A pizza stone and paddle are recommended for easy cooking, easy removal from the grill and to make sure you serve a decent looking pizza to your hungry guests.

Also on the menu was a beer can chicken, with a BBQ spicy rub (this was amazing), a vegetable risotto, a beautiful pork loin with sides of broccoli and baked sweet potatoes and a delicious Salsa Verde. 

We even learnt how to cook soft, melt in the middle chocolate pots, the perfect way to finish off that Sunday family feast. The best thing about the course, is that you get to eat all the food you’ve just cooked – my advice is to definetely arrive hungry!

The Weber Grill Academy is a great way to learn how to cook all the essentials, learn new skills on your BBQ and most importantly show off in front of friends and family.

Book your course now for the next Weber Grill Academy at The Jolly Gardeners Pub in Earlsfield, You won’t be disappointed and you will definitely learn how to cook delicious BBQ food with ease.

Find out about the next Weber Gill Academy course and how to book on to it via this link.

The Jolly Gardeners - Earlsfield

London - SW18 4EA