New data shows how Wimbledon bounced back from the pandemic
New data shows how Wimbledon bounced back from the pandemic
Plus: 'There's no rule — you should drink what you like': Exploring Wimbledon wines with Auriane D'aramon
Good morning, Wimblers — how are we? I hope that we’re all powering through the rather chilly weather. Thank you to everyone who has already subscribed. Big news: as of last week, we’ve officially surpassed 3,000 subscribers! Thank you so much to everyone who has joined us so far — as ever, please do share The Wimble with your friends, family and whoever else you think might be interested in learning about the best Wimbledon has to offer.
We’ve got quite the busy week this week: music sessions, writing classes, pub quizzes, a very magical evening and much more. We’ve also got your news snippets, a cheaper-than-usual property of the week and an interview with Auriane D’aramon, the head wine buyer at Friarwood Wines.
We’ve also got a section on how Wimbledon Town Centre has bounced back since the pandemic — scroll down to see the data and read about how areas like ours are finding it easier to return to normality compared to London’s central zones.
If you’d like a chance to be featured, don’t forget to send in your photos of the week. Drop me an email with ideas, feedback and potential stories: zak@thewimble.com.
Thanks and happy reading!
News snippets
📊 Good news! Recent data shows that Wimbledon’s local economy and footfall has bounced back and even exceeded levels from before the pandemic. Scroll down for the full summary.
🏡 Local house is redefining the suburban home. Check out this fantastic article about a local property — built on the site of a former garage and designed by architect Andrei Saltykov — which is changing the way we see residential living.
🍺 Charity Beer Run across Wimbledon Common raised thousands of pounds for Street Child, a charity dedicated to supporting education in countries affected by war, poverty and environmental disasters. Two runs took place — a 10K and a half marathon — with over 140 runners taking part.
💷 Accounts for Merton’s young savers are back after their pilot scheme last year. The Merton Young Savers accounts are open to every Year 7 in the borough and include a free £20 deposit to kickstart the saving. Check out Merton’s website to find out how to apply.
Property of the week 🏡
Well isn’t this cute? This top floor, two-bedroom flat might not be as grand as some of our previously featured properties, but gee whiz does it pack a punch. There’s something a little provincial and cottagey about those wooden doors and bed frames, and the living room fireplace is a lovely touch. For £500,000, this flat isn’t a bad deal. Check out the location and details here.
‘The rule is that there should be no rule’: Meet Auriane D’aramon of Wimbledon’s Friarwood Wines 🍷
This week, I spoke to Auriane D’aramon — head wine buyer for Friarwood Wines — about Wimbledon, her journey from growing up on a winery in Saint-Émilion to London and how the residents of SW19 are particularly invested in the world of vino.
Z: Ok, talk to me about your journey into wine.
A: I grew up in a winery. I really fell in love with the industry and the product as a kid. Coming from France — from a famous region like Saint-Émilion — wine was such a huge part of our culture. People would come from all over the world to my home just to share the moment with wine. I started with the production side of wine and then went into the business side, which was where I met my husband, Ben [Ben Carfagnini: owner and director of Friarwood since 2015]. He moved to London and I joined him pretty quickly. A few years later, the owner of Friarwood passed away and the family asked Ben if he wanted to take over. He said yes and that’s when I joined the company.
Was the shop in Wimbledon already there?
No, the company started with the head office in Parsons Green. 70% of our trade is supplying to restaurants and companies. But when we took over we wanted to see if we could find another location like Parsons Green that would replicate its success. And then we found Wimbledon, which was a perfect choice. They are very similar neighbourhoods and yet different at the same time.
I’d say they’re both fairly affluent areas, right?
I think so. In my opinion, Wimbledon is a little more community-based. The residents really want to be involved. There’s a lovely community in Wimbledon.
Do you think the demographic for wine buying is particularly unique in Wimbledon?
In a way, yes. There’s a big demographic of South Africans in Wimbledon so we tend to sell a lot more SA wines. When it comes to choosing our wines, we always involve our team. Members of Friarwood in Wimbledon will taste the wines that we’re bringing in to see what they’re like and if the residents would want them.
Talk to me a little bit about the list — is it quite traditional in Wimbledon?
When we took over, our list was very French. There were a lot of Bordeauxs, a lot of Burgundys. But then we grew that portfolio to what it is now in the Village: wines from the US, South Africa, Chile. I think we’ve adapted to make our portfolio pretty vast.
And what about English wines? How does that factor into the list?
We definitely sell a lot of English sparkling, especially Roebuck. It’s something that we’ve seen grow over the past few years — there’s a real quality and demand for English wines.
Do you think Wimbledon is particularly knowledgeable when it comes to wine?
I think so. I think English consumers are knowledgeable in general. In France, the French are very knowledgeable when it comes to their own grapes but they tend to know less about other countries and varieties, though I think this is changing. When you come to the English market, Wimbledon being a great example, there are wines from all over the world, from every region. Wimbledon is definitely a sophisticated area when it comes to its tastes — not to say that everyone is a wine connoisseur — and there’s definitely a lot of knowledge there.
Is it hard to match Wimbledon’s sophistication for wine with affordable prices?
I think you want to please everybody, though that’s not always possible. What might be an everyday wine for one person is a rare wine for another. We try to bring a variety of wines at a fair price. All of the producers you see in the shop are usually exclusive to us on the UK market.
Have you noticed any trends emerging in Wimbledon with certain wines?
There are trends that come and go, and that’s for the whole of the UK. Organic and biodynamic wines have been growing in popularity over the past few years. There is always something exciting and new but that doesn’t mean it will last. One trend that I think will keep growing is low to no alcohol wines.
As the seasons are changing, do you have any recommendations for our readers to help them through the coming cold months?
It’s always hard. People tend to think of red wine when they think of Christmas and the colder months, but some people hate red wine. On a personal note, I’d always recommend wines from Burgundy. I’d definitely recommend Barbaresco for winter or American pinot noirs. But there’s no rule. Actually, the rule should be that there is no rule! You should drink what you like. People say you can’t put ice in your wine but I’m of the opinion that you should drink what you enjoy. Try things out and discover what suits you. You don’t know if you like spicy food until you try it.
From mid November, Friarwood will have a weekly producer on Saturdays for residents of SW19 to taste their wines and ask questions.
The Wimble’s to do list 🎯
🪄 An Evening of Illusion and Magic — this is for the Dynamo fans out there. The Friends of Wimbledon & Putney Commons are hosting this fundraiser for the Queensmere Restoration Project. Grab your tickets and enjoy two separate talks from Inner Magic Circle member and Arts Society lecturer Bertie Pearce. The first talk explores the mystery of perception and then, after a light supper interval, Bertie will lead another talk on “the history of mystery”. Tickets are £35 — book here.
Where: Christ Church Hall, Cottenham Park Road, Wimbledon, SW20 0RZ
When: Saturday 19th October, 6:30 PM
🎶 St John’s Lunchtime Concert — this month’s free concert is a real treat. Head over to St John the Baptist next Friday and listen to Isobel Gathercole (vocalist) and Michael Horner (piano) perform some of the best known songs from the Great American Songbook. Arrive early if you’d like some drinks and nibbles. I just hope they play “The Man I Love” by George Gershwin; that’s one of my favourites.
Where: St John the Baptist, Spencer Hill, Wimbledon, SW19 4NZ
When: Friday 25th October, 1:00 PM - 1:45PM (drinks and snacks reception at 12:30PM)
✍️ Writing Saturdays at Southside House — we’re back again with another literary masterclass. Join author Juan Tafur for this week’s session: writing poetry. Tickets start at £20 and the session will last for two hours. And don’t worry if you haven’t written poetry before — if Instagram influencers can do it, so can you! Book your spot here.
Where: Southside House, 3-4 Woodhayes Road
When: Saturday 19th October, 10:00 AM- 12:00 PM
🍺 Pub Quiz at The Crooked Billet — no week is complete without a pub quiz. Yes, I know that plenty of people are doing Sober October, but that shouldn’t stop you from going to the pub. Gather your smartest friends, head up to the Village, grab a lime and soda (or a low/no alcohol wine) and get quizzing. Prizes include vouchers, bottles of wine (that’s right, plural!) and a free round of drinks.
Where: The Crooked Billet, Wimbledon Village
When: Wednesday 23rd October, 7:30 PM - until the booze (or soft drinks) runs out
🎸 Tuned In with Jah Wobble — join John Wardle — original lead bassist of Public Image Ltd — for another jam session. These evenings are open to anyone interested in meeting new people and playing some music together. We’ve featured Tuned In before, but it’s worth reiterating that these sessions began as a way to combat loneliness, especially in men over the age of 50. Everyone is very much encouraged to attend.
Where: Merton Arts Space, Merton Library
When: Monday 21st October, 7:00 PM - 10:PM
New research finds that Wimbledon Town Centre has bounced back post-pandemic 📈
Wimbledon has bounced back and is now performing better than it was before the pandemic, according to new data tracking footfall and consumer spending in the town centre. It’s a success story that stands in contrast to other areas in central London, some of which have struggled to return to pre-Covid vibrancy.
The research — conducted by Merton Council, Wimbledon Quarter and Love Wimbledon — shows that local spending is 25% higher than it was before the lockdowns hit, and that’s even after inflation has been accounted for.
Wimbledon High Street is what many call a London “village”, and it’s these “villages” that have seen a faster return to normality post-pandemic. This is partly due to the “donut effect” caused by Covid: residential areas thriving whilst central parts of the capital are struggling to regain the footfall and spending they saw pre-pandemic.
But what does this mean for Wimbledon in general? Well, firstly we’ve seen new and existing businesses thrive through local spending. It also means that new businesses that previously were located in central areas are opening locations in Wimbledon. But most of all, it signifies an increase in the local community. The more time people spend in their own area — whether for work or recreation — the better it is for the local community.
The Wimbledon authors to look out for at this year’s BookFest (part 3) 📚
This is our final instalment of the “local authors” appearing at this year’s BookFest section. Grab your tickets and support your fellow SW19 residents here.
Kate Humble — Home Made
A beloved TV personality and champion of sustainability, Kate Humble (born in Wimbledon) is leading a talk at this year’s BookFest on her stripped-back style of living. Kate will also be talking about her new book, Home Made, which celebrates the food we eat and the people who grow and make it. Tickets are £20.
Sudha Bhuchar: Evening Conversations (performance)
Famed local author and playwright Sudha Bhuchar is bringing her solo show Evening Conversations to Wimbledon this year. Inspired by conversations with her millennial/Gen Z sons, Sudha’s show invites her boys to “crack open a cold one” and share their views on life. Residents will be familiar with Sudha’s previous works: Balti Kings, The Trouble with Asian Men, My Name Is as well as her numerous performances on stage and screen. Tickets are £12.50.
Liz Jensen — Your Wild and Precious Life
Liz Jensen and Rachel Wilson come together to lead an event on grief, loss and hope. Liz unexpectedly lost her son Raphaël Coleman when he was just 25, and Rachel lost her mother as a young woman. This event is all about finding meaning in our darkest times and how resilience can germinate and appear in astonishing ways. Tickets are £15.
Question of the week 🔍
Last week I asked you which current Conservative MP in the leadership race was born in Wimbledon. The answer: Kemi Badenoch.
Q: Which Saxon king referred to Wimbledon as “Wimbedounyng” in a mid-tenth century charter?
You’re up to date 👋
Thank you for reading this week. The growth has been amazing! Get in touch with ideas, comments, tips and stories: zak@thewimble.com. Recommend The Wimble for your chance to win prizes on our leaderboard. I think that’s all from me. See you next week.