Merry Christmas Eve Surrey!
It’s Christmas Eve, which means Surrey is split between “just nipping out for one thing” and “why is the A3 doing this to me today of all days?”. If you’re on bin duty, travel duty, or last-minute present duty, you have my full sympathy (and I hope the traffic gods are kind and the car parks have mercy).
While Christmas does its thing, Surrey’s admin and infrastructure are carrying on regardless: Westminster has backed the next step towards two new unitary councils (East and West Surrey), with in-principle support for Woking’s debt. We’ve also rounded up the practical bits for the next few days - A3/M25 updates, festive bin timetables, warm spaces and food support - plus a couple of last-minute outings and local roles if you’re job-hunting over the break.
In Today’s Edition
East/West unitary councils: what’s proposed, what’s agreed, and what still has to happen
A3/M25 J10: what’s live now, and the early-January overnight closures to watch
Christmas bin-day changes across Woking, Guildford, Waverley and JWS areas
Warm Welcome venues, advice services, and Christmas-week food support
Panto and carols for Christmas Eve and the in-between days
Let’s take a look.
— Prince Khurram
p.s. Our Monday, Wednesday, and Friday editions bring you different flavours and portion sizes of news, events, local life, and Eat & Drink round ups. We’d love to know if we are missing anything that you want to see in your very own “The Surrey Digest". - Thank you.
News
Westminster confirms East and West Surrey unitary councils and in-principle Woking debt support
Map: Chessrat, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped/edited)
Government has agreed in principle to replace Surrey’s current 12 councils with two new unitary authorities namely East Surrey and West Surrey - with a target “vesting day” of 1 April 2027. The same package includes in-principle support of up to £500m towards Woking’s debt, all subject to legislation and detailed arrangements.
Here is how this would work:
West Surrey would cover Guildford, Woking, Waverley, Surrey Heath, Runnymede and Spelthorne.
East Surrey would bring together Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge under one council.
The Woking support is “up to £500m” and “in principle” but not an automatic write-off, and still dependent on legislation.
Existing county, borough and district councils would only be replaced if Parliament passes the necessary laws and implementation stays on track for April 2027.
State of Surrey economy – winter 2025 snapshot
Photo by: Prince Khurram
Business Surrey has published a “State of Surrey economy – winter 2025” snapshot, pulling together survey data and council feedback on business confidence, recruitment and cost pressures as we head into 2026. It’s more context than breaking news but useful if you’re weighing job moves, retraining, or the general “is it just me?” feeling about costs right now.
Here is what the report talks about:
Brings together survey responses on confidence, recruitment and cost pressures.
Flags concerns about job security and living costs into 2026.
Links out to business support and skills programmes that are open now.
A3/M25 roadworks and early January overnight closures
Photo: David Dixon, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped/edited)
If your life involves the A3/M25 J10 junction, you’ll already know it’s not Surrey’s finest driving experience. Narrow lanes and lower speeds remain in place around the M25 J11–10 stretch and the A3 near Painshill/J10, with more overnight closures due in early January.
What’s more:
Works continue through late December 2025 on both the M25 anticlockwise and A3 around J10.
Overnight lane closures are currently scheduled between 5–10 January 2026, typically 10pm–6am.
The biggest pinch points are for Woking–Guildford routes and M25/A3 connections into London.
Dates and exact closures can change at short notice — worth checking on the day if you’re travelling.
Sponsored by HIRE5 Menswear Guildford
Should You Hire a Wedding Suit or Get One Tailored?
If you’re planning a 2026 wedding, the groom look is getting more practical: less “catalogue perfect”, more built-for-the-whole-day. The suit still has to photograph well but it also has to survive hugs, heat, ceremony seating, speeches, and a dance floor without collapsing into creases.
Simon at HIRE5 Guildford puts it simply: the best outfits are the ones you stop noticing halfway through the day, because everything fits, moves, and holds its shape. If you’re working towards that result,
Here’s what to prioritise:
Start with the groom, then build the party around him. Made-to-measure for you (for control of shoulder line, jacket length, trouser fall), then hire or buy for groomsmen in a coordinated look.
Pick the palette based on venue light. Daytime/outdoors tends to flatter stone, sand, sage; evening/winter venues handle emerald, black cherry, espresso with more impact.
Go “relaxed, not loose”. A cleaner shoulder and a natural trouser fall reads modern and feels better from ceremony to last dance.
Use texture to add depth (especially in group shots). Wool blends and subtle weaves look richer than flat cloth; think complementary textures rather than everyone in the same finish.
Protect the timeline for fittings and tweaks. Sleeves, waist and trouser length are the quiet details that make the photos look intentional — and they need time.
If you want to sanity-check your venue, month, and palette before you commit, have a quick chat with Simon.
County Updates
Photo: Basher Eyre, CC BY-SA 2.0, via WC
Festive bin changes across Woking, Guildford and Waverley
If you’re trying to avoid the annual “wrong bin, wrong day” ritual, Woking, Guildford and Waverley are all running revised collection timetables over Christmas and New Year — and two areas are also pausing garden waste for a spell.
Woking: Collections shift between Thu 25 Dec 2025 and Sat 10 Jan 2026, with normal patterns resuming Mon 12 Jan 2026.
Guildford: Refuse and recycling continue on revised days, and garden waste pauses from Mon 29 Dec 2025 to Fri 9 Jan 2026.
Waverley: Special bin timetable runs over Christmas/New Year, with normal rounds resuming Mon 12 Jan 2026; garden waste pauses from 22 Dec 2025 to 5 Jan 2026.
Waverley offices: Close 3.30pm on 24 Dec and reopen 8.45am on 2 Jan.
In all three areas, the safest move is using the council’s address-level lookup tools to confirm your exact day.
Also Joint Waste Solutions, for Elmbridge, Mole Valley, Surrey Heath and parts of Woking, has published Christmas collection tables for the areas it serves, setting out how rounds shift between Christmas Day and early January.
Community Digest
Citizens Advice South West Surrey – Christmas opening and closures
Source: Google Maps
If you need advice on money, housing or work around Christmas, Citizens Advice South West Surrey has set out which offices are open in the run-up and when everything closes for the break.Here’s how it works:
Monday 22 December: Farnham, Haslemere and Guildford open (Haslemere 10am–12pm).
Tuesday 23 December: Haslemere and Guildford open; Cranleigh has morning appointments only.
All six offices close from Wednesday 24 December to Friday 2 January.
Phone and online advice continue during the break.
Guildford and Woking – community fridges and Christmas-week food support
For anyone worrying about the food shop this Christmas, there’s a mix of community fridges and formal foodbank support operating around Guildford and Woking, with specific Christmas-week timetables.
Woking Foodbank has published Christmas opening times, including limited openings on 29 and 31 December.
Full service resumes from 2 January, with normal timetable from 5 January.
Guildford community fridges (including at The Hive, Park Barn Drive) are typically open Mon–Thu 9am–4pm and Fri 9am–3.30pm.
Opening hours can shift around bank holidays, so it’s worth checking before travelling.
Events This Week
👨👩👧👦 Family & Kids
Santa’s Victorian Parlour | 19–24 December 2025 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Haslemere Museum, Haslemere
Description: Meet Santa in a Victorian parlour setting with daytime sessions through Christmas week, plus a quieter ASC-friendly session on Monday 22 December (9am–10.30am). Expect traditional decorations, stories and a small gift — pricing is listed as from around £6 per family (best to confirm the exact 2025 figure when booking).
✨ Special Events
Christmas Eve Midnight Mass – “The White Candle” | 24–25 December 2025 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Guildford Cathedral, Guildford
Description: Midnight Mass starts at 11pm on Christmas Eve, with Christmas Day services including Morning Prayer (7.45am), Holy Communion (8am), Eucharist (10am) and Lessons & Carols (4pm). Seasons Café and the Cathedral Gift Shop are closed until Monday 5 January 2026 — this one is purely about the service.
Grayshott Carols in the Square | 24 December 2025, 7pm (Info/Tickets)
Location: Headley Road, Grayshott (village square)
Description: Outdoor village carol singing with mulled wine and the usual Christmas-Eve sense of “oh, everyone’s here”. No ticket price is listed; it’s typically a free community event with a collection for local causes. Wrap up warm and keep an eye on the listing for last-minute changes.
🛍️ Markets
Kingston Upon Thames Christmas Market | Mid-November – late December (check exact 2025 dates)
Location: Ancient Market Place, Kingston upon Thames
Description: Large German-style market just over the Surrey border, with wooden chalets, food and drink stalls and Christmas gifts. It usually runs from mid-November to just before (or just after) Christmas — and closing times can shift around the final few days.
🍽️ Eat & Drink
Woodlands Park Hotel – festive afternoon tea
Location: Woodlands Park Hotel, near Cobham
Description: Festive afternoon tea running from 1–31 December 2025, with booking slots between 12pm and 5pm daily. Think seasonal sandwiches, cakes and scones - not a “light bite”, unless you have a very unusual definition of light. Price starts from £38 per person.
Click here: To view the menu and book a table
The Seahorse, Shalford – festive bottomless bubbles (Sat 27 December)
Location: The Seahorse, Shalford (just outside Guildford)
Description: A 90-minute bottomless drinks slot within a 12pm–3pm window on Saturday 27 December, paired with a festive menu. Prices start from £34.95 per person and advance online booking is required.
Click here: To book a table and see the full terms
💼 Local Jobs
Business Support Administrator – Surrey Child & Family Health Services (HCRG)
Location: Surrey-wide (Epsom/Guildford base – see listing)
Description: Permanent part-time Business Support Administrator role supporting teams delivering services across the county. Salary band is £23,875–£24,407 (FTE), with a closing date of 4 January 2026.
Healthcare Assistant – Heightened Surveillance Team (Royal Surrey)
Location: Guildford (GU2 7XX)
Description: Band 3 Healthcare Assistant post supporting patients who need closer monitoring. Posted 19 December 2025, salary £26,240–£27,928, closing date 1 January 2026 (ref C9384-25-0963).
Click here: To check requirements and apply
Senior Client Services Co-ordinator – Surrey Sports Park
Location: Surrey Sports Park, Guildford
Description: Full-time role overseeing client-facing operations and supporting the events and facilities team. Salary £27,505–£28,037 per year, with applications closing 23:59 on Monday 29 December 2025 (Ref 059125).
Click here: To read the full advert and apply online
📒 Directory
Guildford Plumbers – 24/7 local plumbing and heating
Location: Guildford (covering GU1–GU5 and nearby)
Description: Local plumbers and gas engineers offering 24/7 emergency call-outs for leaks, boiler breakdowns and heating issues across Guildford postcodes.
Click here: To see contact details and request a quote
Bryant Electrical – domestic electricians, Woking
Location: Woking and surrounding Surrey towns
Description: Domestic electricians providing 24/7 emergency call-outs plus planned electrical work, with NICEIC Domestic Installer accreditation.
Guildford Appliance Repairs Ltd – domestic appliance repairs
Location: Based in Guildford; covers Woking, Godalming, Weybridge, Cobham and more
Description: Repair service for washing machines, ovens, fridges and other white goods, offering call-outs across much of west Surrey.
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,
Thank you for reading The Surrey Digest today. If you found something useful, please share it with someone who is heading out for last-minute bits today, may their parking space be closer than they expect, and their A3 journey be only mildly irritating rather than legendary.
— Prince Khurram