Happy New Year Surrey!

By the second day of the year, Surrey feels a bit hushed; the bins are still a little too full, the car windscreen has that thin crackle of frost, and your group chats are doing the annual thing: is it actually going to snow?

This Weekender keeps it calm and practical. The yellow snow and ice warning, the Waterloo rail works, and a few warm, indoor options if you’re planning days out with the kids still at home, or just trying to get from A to B without slipping, waiting, or guessing.

In Today’s Edition,

Let’s take a look.

— Prince Khurram

_{P.S. Our Monday Update leans more towards news, the Wednesday Midweek Brief balances news and events, and the Friday Weekender is lighter on news and fuller on events and Eat & Drink. We would really welcome your thoughts on this format and how we can improve The Surrey Digest for you.}

A yellow Met Office warning for snow and ice covers Surrey around the New Year period, with forecasters flagging wintry showers, freezing conditions and the chance of light accumulations. It’s the kind of weather that turns pavements and minor roads into the main story.

Here is what to watch out:

Click here: To read a local explainer and follow through to the live warning map.

Major engineering work between London Waterloo and the south west continues through the New Year, affecting routes via Woking, Guildford and Portsmouth, with some sections replaced by buses and others running on altered timetables.

Click here: To check dates, journey planners and any replacement buses for your route

From 1 April 2026, the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over is due to rise to £12.71 per hour, with younger bands and apprentices also seeing increases.

Click here: To check the official wage tables for 2026.

If you are planning a 2026 wedding, or you know someone who is, the suit conversation is worth starting earlier than most couples expect. The groom’s suit is often left until it becomes a last minute scramble, when diaries are tighter, and alterations have to be rushed. That is usually when “good enough” replaces “exactly right”.

Here is why an early fitting makes the whole process calmer:

To help grooms starting early, Barucci has a limited time groom’s value pack, valid until 24 January 2026:

If you rather not leave it to typical last minute street rush, a conversation with the team at Barucci London is a sensible place to start the year.

Click here: to view the 2026 Collection and reserve your appointment

Price: Offers in excess of £300,000
Address: West Road, Guildford, GU1
Details: 2-bedroom ground-floor flat / share of freehold / 2 double bedrooms
Parking Type: Garage en bloc plus off-street parking

Click here: To view the full listing, floorplan and EPC before shortlisting.

Price: Guide price £550,000
Address: High Path Road, Guildford, GU1
Details: 3-bed Victorian freehold house / 3 bedrooms / separate reception rooms
Parking Type: Not stated

Click here: To check photos, floorplan and the viewing details before booking.

Price: Guide price £1,595,000
Address: Warren Road, Guildford, GU1
Details: 3-bed detached house / approx. 2,022 sq ft / large gardens near Pewley Downs
Parking Type: Driveway and grounds

Click here: To view brochure, photography and layout before arranging a visit.

Surrey County Council is consulting on its 2026/27 budget, the last full-year budget before the move to new East and West unitary councils. Residents and stakeholders are being asked for views on priorities, savings and council tax as services face continued pressure.

Click here: To complete the online budget survey on SCC’s Civilspace site, which takes around nine minutes.

Leatherhead Leisure Centre is one of Mole Valley’s Warm Welcome venues this winter, offering a free warm hub space alongside its usual leisure facilities. Warm hub sessions run on Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 am to 1 pm, through to March 2026.

Click here: To confirm the warm hub days and details before you travel.

Snow Globe Skate sessions | Until 5 Jan 2026 (Info/Tickets)

Location: Guildford Spectrum, Guildford
Description: Indoor 90-minute skating sessions with “snow machine” effects, music and lighting, running across the Christmas school holidays and into this first weekend of January.

Christmas Family Trail | Sat 29 November – Sat 3 January (Info/Tickets)

Location: Guildford Museum, Quarry Street / Castle Arch area, central Guildford
Description: Indoor trail through the museum galleries with simple clues and activities for children, running from late November until the first Saturday in January. A low-pressure way to fill a post-Christmas afternoon close to the High Street.

Discover the Snowdogs Trail | Sat 15 November – Tue 6 January (Info/Tickets)

Location: Hatchlands Park (National Trust), East Clandon, near Guildford
Description: Snowdogs sculptures and trail points are dotted around the parkland, so children get a themed hunt while adults get a Surrey Hills walk. Normal National Trust admission and parking apply, with full details on the NT site, so it is worth checking opening times and any weather-related changes before you go.

Gong sound bath evening | Sat 3 January 2026 (Info/Tickets)

Location: The Horton, Epsom
Description: A guided gong and sound bath session aimed at adults who want a quiet reset before the new working year. Expect mats and blankets on the floor, a focus on relaxation rather than conversation, and a limited number of places.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

Home Ice Hockey Match Night | January home fixtures (Info/Tickets)

Location: Guildford Spectrum Ice Rink, Parkway, Guildford
Description: Guildford’s Flames play a run of home fixtures at Spectrum through January, with one of the January Saturday games highlighted on Visit Surrey. Fast, noisy and indoors, it works well for older children, teens and groups, but ticket prices and face-off times vary by opponent, so pick a specific game via the club’s own schedule before you go.

Music of Queen by Candlelight | Fri 23 January, 7.30pm (Info/Tickets)

Location: Guildford Cathedral, Stag Hill, Guildford
Description: Candlelit concert of Queen songs performed in the cathedral, pitched firmly at adults looking for a big night out without leaving Guildford. Tickets start from around the mid-£30s per person as per the cathedral listing, and are likely to sell out.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

Location: Farnham Maltings, Farnham
Description: A large indoor and outdoor market at Farnham Maltings, typically from 9 am, with around 150–200 stalls covering vintage, crafts, homeware, clothing and local produce. Entry is usually £1 on the door, with members and under-15s going in free, making it a handy West Surrey browse if you are in town.

Click here: To see details of the Maltings Monthly Market and any last-minute updates.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

Location: Just off the High Street, central Guildford
Description: Long-running Italian restaurant in a period building near the cobbled stretch of Guildford High Street, serving classic pasta and pizza alongside meat and seafood dishes. Reviews paint it as a reliable mid-range option for pre- or post-theatre meals or family dinners.

Click here: To see details and sample menus

Location: Surrey Wine School (see organiser page for venues)
Description: January red and sparkling wine evenings, plus an end-of-Dry-January lunch, are currently marked as sold out, a useful reminder that the popular sessions go early.

Click here: To browse future dates and join waiting lists where available

Location: The Square, Shere village centre, a short drive east of Guildford
Description: Highly rated restaurant in a 17th-century cottage, serving modern British and European dishes with a seasonal focus in a very Surrey setting. Better suited to anniversaries, visiting family or a quieter celebration than a quick midweek bite.

Click here: To see details and sample menus

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

Chilworth Day Unit Receptionist (Band 2) – Royal Surrey

Location: Guildford
Description: Receptionist role at Chilworth Day Unit, based at the Royal Surrey, working front-of-house with patients and clinical teams on an NHS Band 2 pay scale. The job is advertised through NHS Jobs, and closing dates can move quickly as services recruit.

Click here: To search current roles and read the full job descriptions

Support Worker – Surrey County Council

Location: Guildford
Description: Full-time Support Worker role (36 hours/ week) supporting adults with learning disabilities in Guildford, with a salary of £27,634 per year plus a 50% enhancement for weekend and bank holidays. Applications closing on 28 January 2026.

Click here: To apply via and full role details and enhancements.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

Location: Covers Guildford, Godalming, Woking and nearby
Description: Local Gas Safe-registered boiler and heating firm handling breakdowns, repairs and servicing across much of West Surrey. Useful both for urgent no-heat situations and planned annual checks, with online and phone booking options.

Click here: To see contact details, coverage areas and request a boiler repair or service quote.

Location: Guildford town centre
Description: High Street repair shop offering same-day fixes for many smartphones, tablets and laptops, including screen repairs, battery swaps and diagnostics. Handy if a device fails just as you go back to work or school and you need it turned around quickly.

Click here: To see services, opening hours and arrange a repair quote.

Location: Inside Guildford Harbour Hotel spa, Guildford
Description: Nail lounge with manicure and pedicure stations, set within the spa at the Guildford Harbour Hotel, offering a range of nail and foot treatments. Works both as a regular self-care stop and as a treat or gift, with booking advised at busier times and around weekends.

Click here: To view the treatment list, pricing and book a slot online.

Nothing in this section is sponsored. They're just the things you need to know. I'll always let you know when something's sponsored.

And Finally,

If you’re easing into 2026, this weekend is built for it. A yellow warning asks for careful footsteps, the rail works ask for a quick check before you leave, and then you can choose your version of “out”: lights, panto, skating, or a warm table somewhere local. If you know a warm space or small event we should share before the next cold spell, hit reply and tell us.

Thank for reading. See you on in the New Year.

— Prince Khurram