Wandsworth Business Guide &Directory 2017/18

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Our thriving town centres
and business districts
BALHAM
Balham frequently wins plaudits for
being one of the best places to live in
Britain. It’s a town that mixes Edwardian
and Victorian charm with award-
winning architectural design, and with
its accessible location and young
professional population, is a great place
to do business and live.
On the high street you’ll find Sainsbury’s
and Waitrose, alongside a number of
national chains such as TK Maxx,
Holland & Barrett, Caffé Nero and a new
Travelodge (Balham’s first major hotel
brand). The area also boasts a vast array
of independent boutiques, cafés and
eateries, which give Balham a distinctive
neighbourly feel.
Balham offers a vibrant evening economy,
with a range of award-winning bars and
restaurants.
There is also a retro cinema in the Exhibit
restaurant and a charming strip of local
independent shops and cafés on nearby
Ritherdon Road. The Bedford, cited as
“one of the most important and critically
acclaimed venues in the country”, holds
the renowned annual Balham Comedy
Festival as well as the Balham Literary
Festival and Folk Music festival.
Wandsworth’s town
centres and business
districts are Balham,
Clapham Junction,
Putney, Tooting, and
Wandsworth Town.
Each centre has its
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form the borough’s main
hubs for shopping,
entertainment and
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In April 2017, Putney
and Wandsworth Town
centres both became
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Districts (BIDs) after
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ambitious plans to
boost trade and tackle
key local issues.
For food-lovers, there’s the annual
outdoor Balham Food Festival in
September, Balham Farmers’ Market
and Hildreth Street Market. The town
centre is well served by public transport,
with the Northern Line tube, National
Rail services into Victoria via Clapham
Junction, five bus routes plus a night bus.
What one thing you
recommend to a new
business coming into
the borough? “Make
a point of chatting
with other businesses
in the area you’re
planning to open
and give the council
a call, they seem
keen to support
small businesses.”
James Hickson, founder,
We Brought Beer.
© Simon Kennedy