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Good Morning Surrey,
There is a moment before May half term when the kitchen table becomes mission control: school letters, snack requests, train checks, a half-made plan for one proper day out and two cheaper ones.
Surrey families are already doing the usual half-term maths. What can be booked, what can be free, what works if it rains, and what gets everyone home before the small people unravel. This edition is for that moment, with routes, vouchers, family listings, weekend ideas and a few grown-up checks in one place.
Now in today’s edition,
A3 lane closure and SWR timetable changes to check before travelling
National notes on the King’s Speech, energy bills and Bank Rate
Surrey’s move to two unitary councils, plus Woking debt support
Half-term food vouchers, community fridge help and family support listings
Weekend theatre, music, markets, restaurants, jobs and local services
Let’s take a look.
— Prince Khurram
P.S. Our Monday Update leans more towards news, 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.
News
A3 southbound lane closure between Esher and Painshill this weekend
National Highways lists a nearside lane closure on the A3 southbound between Esher and Painshill for Wednesday 13, Thursday 14 and Friday 15 May. For Friday night, the listed closure runs from 11pm to 6am.
Relevant for late-night A3, M25, Wisley, Guildford and Woking-bound journeys.
The Wednesday and Thursday timings were 10pm to 5:30am.
Friday’s timing runs later into Saturday morning.
Click here: To check the full roadworks and closure details
South Western Railway timetable changes start Sunday
South Western Railway’s May 2026 timetable starts on Sunday 17 May. The main Surrey-relevant change in the pack is that Waterloo to Reading services gain Vauxhall calls, with some small timing changes.
Check your usual train before Monday morning.
The change affects regular commuter planning more than one-off weekend travel.
National Rail also carries broader timetable-change information.
Click here: To check updated train times
National headlines for Surrey
King’s Speech sets out NHS, SEND, housing and digital reforms
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government
The King’s Speech set out the government’s policy programme, including NHS, SEND, housing and digital-public-service reforms. The local effect will come over time, but these are the sorts of bills that can eventually turn up in schools, GP access, housing paperwork and council inboxes.
Click here: To read the official policy programme
Ofgem’s next price cap announcement is due by 27 May
Ofgem says the next energy price cap, covering 1 July to 30 September 2026, is due by 27 May. The April to June cap was £1,641 for a typical dual-fuel direct-debit household, down £117.
Bank Rate is 3.75%, with next decision due 18 June
The Bank of England lists Bank Rate at 3.75%, with the next decision due on 18 June 2026. For Surrey households, that keeps mortgages, savings and remortgage planning firmly in the “worth watching, not worth guessing” category.
Click here: To check the latest Bank Rate decision
MESSAGE FROM HIRE5 MENSWEAR GUILDFORD
County Updates
Source: https://surreycare.org.uk
Surrey County Council says changes to adult social care charging apply to care at home or in the community from 2 February 2026. The capital threshold for paying the full cost of care has changed from £24,500 to £23,250.
People with capital above £23,250 now pay the full cost of care at home or in the community.
Residential and nursing care charging is unchanged.
This is one to check carefully if you or a relative receives community-based care.
Click here: To check adult social care charging rules
Community Digest
May half-term food vouchers for eligible Surrey children
Source: Elmbridge Council
Surrey Education Services confirms £10 per eligible child for May half term 2026, funded through the Crisis and Resilience Fund. This is for eligible Surrey children, so families should check the school meal voucher details and any school communications.
Click here: To check school meal voucher details
ZERO Community Fridge offers free surplus food in Guildford
ZERO Community Fridge in Guildford is open to everyone and is not a foodbank. It offers free surplus food from the Riverside Business Centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30am to 1:30pm.
Click here: To find community fridge opening times
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Events
There’s A Monster In Your Show | Fri 15 May (Info/Tickets)
Location: Farnham Maltings, Farnham
Description: Family theatre with performances at 11am and 2pm. It is listed for age 2+, with a 55-minute running time, which is about right for small people and their snack-based attention spans.
Price: £15 or £56 family group, plus booking fee.
The Kids Show 2: The Power of Two | Sat 16 May (Info/Tickets)
Location: Mill Studio, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Description: A one-hour show for age 5+, starting at 1:45pm. Good for younger theatre-goers who like things lively but not epic.
Price: £18 full price, £12 for U25s and students.
Merrist Wood Farm Open Morning | Sun 17 May (Info/Tickets)
Location: Merrist Wood College, Guildford
Description: A Sunday morning farm visit from 10am to 12pm. Sensible shoes, small children and a high tolerance for animal questions will all help.
Price: £6.50, under-3s free.
Theater & Performances
The Importance of Being Oscar | Fri 15 to Sat 16 May (Info/Tickets)
Location: Main House, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford
Description: A theatre piece listed for age 12+, with a running time of about 2 hours 10 minutes including interval. One for Wilde fans, theatre regulars and anyone who likes their evening with a little polish.
Price: Tickets from £29, concessions £24.
Music & Gigs
International Music Festival finale | Sat 16 May (Info/Tickets)
Location: The Menuhin Hall, Stoke d’Abernon
Description: The festival finale includes a Young Composers presentation at 6:15pm and the main concert at 7:30pm. A cultured Saturday evening, and no one needs to know if you hum the wrong bit.
The Moonlandingz | Fri 15 May (Info/Tickets)
Location: The Boileroom, Guildford
Description: Friday night gig running 7pm to 11pm at 13 Stoke Fields. A useful option if your weekend needs more volume than the dishwasher can provide.
Special Events
Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride finish | Sun 17 May (Info/Tickets)
Location: Hogs Back Brewery, Tongham
Description: A charity ride finishing at the brewery, with the event listed from 12:30pm to 8pm. Entry is free, with charity bucket donations on site. Expect motorbikes, smart outfits and at least one excellent moustache.
Markets
Surrey Hills Artisan Market | Sat 16 May
Location: Hogs Back Brewery, Tongham
Description: Artisan market running 10am to 4pm, with free entry. Hogs Back also notes free parking, live music and donation-on-entry wording, so bring a bag and the sort of optimism that usually ends with chutney.
Click here: To confirm date, opening times and stall details
Guildford North Street Market | Fri 15 and Sat 16 May
Location: North Street, Guildford
Description: Regular Friday and Saturday market, listed from 9am to 4:30pm. Handy if you are already in town, less handy if you forgot Guildford parking is a small emotional journey.
Click here: To confirm date, opening times and stall details
Vintage Fashion Fair | Sat 16 May
Location: Farnham Maltings, Farnham
Description: Vintage fashion fair running 10am to 4pm. Entry is paid on the door, with under-16s free. Ideal if your wardrobe needs character rather than another sensible jumper.
Price: £4, under-16s free.
Click here: To confirm date, opening times and stall details
Eat and Drink
Restaurant of the Week | Lomri
Photo by: Lomari Ottershaw
Location: Foxhills, Ottershaw
Description: Lomri is the new evening restaurant at Foxhills, inspired by the spice ports of India and open daily from 6pm to 10pm. The feel is more polished dinner than casual pit-stop, with dishes such as Goan prawn curry at £28.50 and white lamb stew at £35.50 giving you the general direction of travel.
This is one for a planned meal rather than a quick “shall we just pop in” moment. Good if you want something with a little ceremony and have already accepted that the bill will not resemble a Tuesday sandwich. Booking ahead is the sensible move.
Click here: To see sample menus and restaurant information
The Mill at Elstead
Location: Farnham Road, Elstead
Description: Riverside Fuller’s pub in a converted mill, with weekend food times listed as Saturday 12pm to 9pm and Sunday 12pm to 6pm. A decent shout if your preferred dining setting includes water, beams and someone saying “this is lovely” before checking the weather.
Click here: To see details and booking information
Theion
Location: Guildford
Description: Greek and Mediterranean restaurant in Guildford with published opening hours and dishes including chicken yeeros tacos, filo feta, calamari and brisket croquettes. Useful for a sharing-table evening, assuming your group can be trusted to divide small plates fairly.
Click here: To see details and sample menus
Directory
Emergency Electrician Guildford
Location: Covers Guildford
Description: Local emergency electrician service with 24/7 availability and published call-out pricing. Useful for the sort of electrical problem that rarely waits politely until Tuesday at 10am.
Click here: To see contact details and request a quote
Bailey Plumbing & Heating
Location: Guildford and wider Surrey
Description: Guildford-based plumbing and heating business, with the site stating Gas Safe and OFTEC registration and more than 20 years’ experience. Accreditation claims should be checked on the relevant registers before paid promotion.
Click here: To see contact details and request a quote
And Finally
May half term is close enough now to start sounding less like a date and more like a logistics exercise. If you’ve found a good low-cost day out, a calm café with space for children, or a holiday club worth knowing about, reply and tell us. The best Surrey tips are usually passed on parent to parent.
Have a good weekend, Surrey.
Thank for reading. Let’s chat on Monday.
