Clocks go forward on Sunday for the start of British summer time. I recommend changing the time at midday Sunday, not midnight Saturday. Otherwise you’ll be taking an hour out of your mum’s Mothers Day lie in, and that is NOT A GOOD IDEA AT ALL.
Mother’s Day
The mother in your life may be secretly yearning for tickets to the “disgracefully sexy” Don Juan in Soho for her Mother’s Day treat, but realistically Mothering Sunday means family time. The National Trust Morden Hall Garden Centre has organised a Mum’s The Word activity for kids on Friday and Saturday, potting up a plant as a Mothers Day present. £4 per child, 10am-12pm & 3pm-5pm on March 24 and 25. See the Morden Hall website or contact mordenhallpark@nationaltrust.org.uk.
Hotel du Vin Cannizaro House on Wimbledon Common is one of many local pubs and hotels offering Mothers Day Sunday Lunch. From 12.30-9.30pm, £35 a head includes four courses, a glass of Prosecco and a gift for your mum.
Booking is a must for the slap up ‘Mothers Day Afternoon Tea’ at The Lantern Coffee House in Tolverne Road, Raynes Park. Sandwiches, a choice of cakes, scones with cream and jam and a pot of tea costs £12 for adults. Call 07512 740546 or email hello@lanterncoffeehouse.co.uk for more details.
If you’re not nervous of Westminster after Wednesday’s tragic events, Millbank Tower is offering Mothers Day In The Sky – 12 hours of entertainment, great food and champagne 11am – 11pm in the sleek, monochrome environment of the London Sky Bar; £45 – £65. Contact info@londonskybar.com or ring 0203 019 6519 for more details.
Families
Fun With Chocolate will tempt most kids: on Saturday from 1pm – 5pm it is one of the taster sessions at the charity Groundwork’s free Family Learning Festival 2017 in Merton Arts Space, at the rear of Wimbledon Library. Other activities include The Big Draw; Keeping Active; Mindful Yoga; Mask Making; Storytelling; and an expert from Polka Theatre will explain A Day In The Life of An Actor. Be there at 4.15pm for the Big Easter Egg Hunt. More details from merle.forbes@groundwork.org.uk, 0207 278 1514.
There’s a one hour Shakespeare Workshop based on The Tempest for kids aged 7+ at 11am on Saturday, Wimbledon Library; booking required.
Young Actors Company will perform Romeo and Juliet at New Wimbledon Studio Theatre at 7.45pm on Friday and Saturday, £6.
A new ‘Inner Harmony Children’s Choir’ has started at 4.30pm on Wednesdays at St Saviours Church Hall, Grand Drive, Raynes Park; £4.
Cabaret
Stand up comedian, poet and quiz show regular Phill Jupitus will be trying out his new material in advance of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in his latest show A Work In Progress at New Wimbledon Studio on Sunday at 8pm. Tickets £13.20.
Markets
This is a round up of some of the regular, weekly markets in the area where you can source organic meat and artisan bread, or truffle among the antiques.
Saturday:
Wimbledon Park Farmers Market, Wimbledon Park Primary School, Havana Road, 9am-1pm.
Balham Farmers Market, 9am – 2pm, Chestnut Grove School, Hearnville Road.
Saturday and Sunday:
Merton Abbey Mills Fresh Produce Market, 10am – 4pm.
Venn Street Market, Venn Street, Clapham, 10am – 4pm.
Sunday:
Brixton Farmers Market, Station Road, 10am – 2pm.
Hildreth Street Market, Balham, 10am – 4pm.
Sunday and Tuesday:
Sandown Park Antique & Vintage Fair, Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, 11am – 4pm, £3.
Tuesday:
Antiques Fair (every other Tuesday), Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury, 9am – 2pm.
Thursday:
General Markets at Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury, 9am – 3pm. The biggest market in southern England and well worth a visit.
Music
Saturday night is a belter for classical choral music. Enjoy Faure’s Requiem and the Cantique of John Racine at Morden Park Choral Society Spring Concert at St John the Divine Church, High Path, South Wimbledon, 7.30pm.
Or uplift yourself with high baroque at Academy Choir: The King Shall Rejoice! at St Johns Church, Spencer Hill, Wimbledon. Zadok the Priest and other royal ceremonial music by Handel and Boyce, with the professional Academy Baroque Players and soloists Susanna Hurrell (soprano), William Purefoy (counter-tenor) and James Newby (baritone). 7.30pm, £10 – £25.
The brilliant Wimbledon Choral Society’s performance of Monteverdi’s Vespers is also at 7.30pm on Saturday, at Cadogan Hall, Sloane Square, £10 – £25.
In Brief
RHS Wisley near Woking is holding its Spring Plant Fair, 10am – 5pm Friday to Sunday; entry free with normal admission.
WeSleep is holding a Sleep Improvement Workshop with tips and demonstrations all day Saturday at Make Me Feel on Abbeville Road in Clapham.
Got an event you’d like us to publicise? Email: whatson@ladywimbledon.com
By ‘Culture Vulture’ Jenny Booth
Twitter: @culturevult
Facebook: @culturevult
Visit: mediastarsite.wordpress.com
About The Author
Jenny Booth
Jenny was a news journalist for The Times. An ex-teacher, mum, gardener and art lover, there’s nothing she doesn’t know about the local culture scene…