TOGETHER WITH
Good Morning Surrey,
Half-term (or not), Surrey life is full of tiny rituals: the familiar queue at the coffee place, the same set of traffic lights you’re convinced have a personal grudge, the walk you do “just to clear your head” that somehow becomes a full loop.
Here’s a question I keep coming back to: what’s the small local thing you’d miss most if you moved away - a path, a shop, a view, a library corner, a market stall? Hit reply anytime with yours. I’m collecting them.
Now, In today’s edition,
Surrey Connect expands into Elmbridge
New local pitch programme for founders.
Final Household Support Fund grants and new Your Fund Surrey capital for community projects.
Home Energy Plan discounts, and support hubs from Guildford to Woking.
Half-term outings now, with a couple of bigger dates to pencil in.
Three homes on the market, deadlines, and a new Italian in Great Bookham.
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’d really welcome your thoughts on this format and how we can improve The Surrey Digest for you.
News
Surrey Connect on-demand buses arrive in Elmbridge
From today, the Surrey Connect on-demand minibus network extends into Elmbridge, offering flexible, bookable journeys in areas that do not always see frequent scheduled buses. Trips can be arranged by app or phone, with fares aligned to normal bus tickets and concessionary passes accepted.
The new zone covers parts of Cobham, Weybridge, Esher and Oxshott, with pick-ups and drop-offs arranged close to where people live.
Existing Surrey Connect zones already cover Tandridge, Farnham, Cranleigh, West Guildford, Longcross, Runnymede, Haslemere, Mole Valley and Reigate.
The service is aimed at residents who might otherwise rely on lifts, taxis or going without certain journeys altogether.
It sits alongside, not instead of, conventional bus routes.
It’s pitched as a halfway house between a fixed bus route and booking a taxi for local trips.
Surrey Venture Studios: local founders invited to pitch for up to £25k
A new Surrey Venture Studios initiative has launched with backing from the county’s Economic Growth Fund and the University of Surrey, offering local founders mentoring, workspace and the chance to pitch for up to £25,000 of early-stage investment.
The first cohort is recruiting now, with applications open to early-stage ideas as well as more developed concepts.
Support on offer includes structured mentoring, access to networks and shared workspace.
Shortlisted founders will be able to pitch for up to £25,000 in funding to help turn their ideas into viable businesses.
The programme is positioned as part of a wider push to keep more innovation and jobs rooted in Surrey.
If you’ve got a half-finished pitch deck tucked away, this might be the nudge to bring it into daylight.
National headlines that matter in Surrey
Final Household Support Fund round backs 11 Surrey organisations
The last round of the national Household Support Fund has sent more than £150,000 to 11 Surrey organisations through Poverty Prevention Grants, focusing on debt advice, housing support and food security rather than one-off emergency payments.
New high-rise fire-safety rules coming in April
From 6 April 2026, the Fire Safety (Residential Evacuation Plans) (England) Regulations 2025 will require person-centred fire-risk assessments and Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans in taller residential blocks, generally 18 metres or 7+ storeys. Landlords and managing agents in Surrey high-rises are being urged to get their paperwork and procedures in order now.
National Year of Reading 2026 – Surrey Libraries “go all in”
The National Year of Reading 2026 campaign has launched, led by the Department for Education and the National Literacy Trust, with Surrey Libraries running county-wide events, promotions and challenges for children, families and adults through the year.
Sponsored by HIRE5 Menswear Guildford
5 things to know when hiring your wedding suit
Hiring your wedding suit is not the shortcut some people think it is. Done properly, it is the most sensible way to look like you planned every detail, without spending like you did. The difference is never the label, it is the fit, the finish, and whether the whole look makes sense for your day.
Pick the suit for the wedding you are actually having
Venue and timing matter. A formal ceremony earlier in the day reads differently from an evening reception, and your suit should reflect that, not whatever is trending on your feed.Fit is what makes hire look expensive: Focus on the non negotiables, clean shoulders, neat sleeves, trousers that sit correctly and break properly. If those are right, everything else looks intentional.
Choose colour with the photos in mind: Navy and mid grey work because they flatter most people and photograph well in all seasons. If you go lighter or more fashion forward, make sure it still sits comfortably alongside the rest of the wedding party.
Style with restraint: A good shirt, a well chosen tie or bow tie, and proper shoes will do most of the work. Keep accessories supportive, not noisy, and let the tailoring lead.
Book early, and plan for a second appointment: The best sizes and styles go first, and a final check closer to the date is what prevents the avoidable issues, tight collars, short sleeves, last minute panic.
If you want it handled properly, the team at HIRE5 Menswear in Guildford will talk you through the options and make sure the final fit looks as it should.
Properties of the Week
Home A: Under £350k
Price: £325,000
Address: Mainstone Close, Deepcut, Camberley
Details: 2-bed terraced house in a small cul-de-sac, backing onto open space, with a downstairs WC and private rear garden.
Parking Not clearly specified
Home B: £350k–£650k
Price: £375,000
Address: Ryelands Close, Caterham
Details: 2-bed terraced/ 882 sq ft/ offered chain-free/ council tax band C.
Parking Type: Driveway plus allocated space
Home C: Above £650k
Price: £800,000
Address: Augustus Gardens, Heatherside, Camberley
Details: 5-bed detached/ 2,200 sq ft/multiple reception rooms/council tax band G.
Parking Type: Double garage
County Updates
Your Fund Surrey: £537k for seven projects and a Small Projects deadline
The latest round of Your Fund Surrey approvals has signed off £537,533 for seven community projects across the county, following the final Large Community Projects advisory panel in January. At the same time, the Small Community Projects Fund remains open for capital bids from £1,000 to £50,000.
Successful projects range from local facilities upgrades to new community spaces, with locations spread across Surrey.
The Small Community Projects Fund is open to groups with smaller capital schemes that still need a one-off boost.
Applications for the Small Projects Fund must be in by Friday 20 March 2026.
Applicants need the backing of their local county councillor before submitting a bid.
If you’re sitting on a “one day we should really fix that” community idea, this is the window to turn it into an application.
Click here: To read the list of funded projects and get guidance on applying to the Small Community Projects Fund
Home Energy “One-Stop Shop” - subsidised whole-house plans
Surrey’s Home Energy Improvement One-Stop Shop, run with retrofit partner Furbnow and promoted by boroughs such as Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, is offering subsidised whole-house assessments and Home Energy Plans for owner-occupiers. The idea is to give residents a clear, phased route to making older homes warmer and cheaper to run.
Here is the verified position on discounts:
The first 245 eligible homes can access a subsidised whole-house assessment and Home Energy Plan at 60% off.
If you go ahead with works through the scheme, project-management fees from Furbnow are also discounted by 60% for those homes.
Borough newsletters trail additional home energy support, but offers may vary slightly by area.
The One-Stop Shop is intended to be a single gateway for advice, trusted installers and a realistic plan rather than piecemeal measures.
If you’ve been meaning to tackle draughts and rising bills but don’t know where to start, this is a structured way to get a plan on paper.
Community Digest
Woking Library of Things
Woking Library of Things lets residents borrow DIY tools, gardening kit, camping gear and more, instead of buying items that might only be used once or twice. Collections are from Woking Library, with borrowing free and donations welcomed if you are able to contribute.
Here is how it works:
Browse the online catalogue and reserve items you need.
Collect from the Library of Things counter at Woking Library.
Use the tools for your project, then return them on the agreed date.
Optional donations help cover maintenance and replacement costs.
It’s a neat way to avoid both cluttered sheds and last-minute trips to the DIY aisle.
Events This Week
👨👩👧👦 Family & kids
LEGO exhibition and build sessions | February half term (Info/Tickets)
Location: Denbies Wine Estate, near Dorking
Description: Timed family LEGO sessions run by The Brick People during February half term. Tickets are separate from general estate access, with a few on-site food offers linked in if you want to make a longer stop of it.
Grand Prix centenary half term | 14–22 February (Info/Tickets)
Location: Brooklands Museum, Weybridge
Description: Half-term programme marking 100 years since Britain’s first Grand Prix, with Mini Mechanics activities, family trails, and optional “Legendary Car Rides” (extra cost).
February half term in the palace gardens | February half term (Info/Tickets)
Location: Hampton Court Palace, East Molesey
Description: Dated half-term admission including access to the Magic Garden play area alongside the usual palace visits. A book-ahead option if you’re coordinating a group and the weather.
Special Events
Contemporary art fair weekend | 20–22 March 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Sandown Park racecourse, Esher
Description: Contemporary art fair weekend with an opening night and daytime sessions, mixing established and emerging artists under one roof.
Charity supper club in Guildford | Wed 25 March 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Soulspace at The Boathouse, Guildford
Description: Fundraising supper club for FareShare Sussex & Surrey with a set menu and short talks about their food-redistribution work (7:00pm–9:30pm).
Country craft and food show weekend | 19–21 June 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: Loseley Park, near Guildford
Description: Three-day country show weekend with craft stalls, food producers and family-friendly activities on the Loseley estate.
West Horsley food festival weekend | 22–23 August 2026 (Info/Tickets)
Location: West Horsley Place, West Horsley
Description: Full-scale food festival weekend with chef demos, stalls, live music and kids’ activities in the grounds of West Horsley Place.
🍽️ Eat & Drink
Carlo’s Independent Italian | Great Bookham (Info)
Location: Great Bookham
Description: Newer Carlo’s branch (opened autumn 2025) with a neighbourhood-restaurant feel that still works for a proper “night out”. Menus and booking details are kept up to date online, so it’s worth checking opening days before you go.
The Merry Harriers | Hambledon (Info)
Location: Hambledon (Surrey Hills, near Guildford)
Description: A 16th-century village inn with old oak beams and that proper “long lunch by the fire” feel. It’s been run since 2023 by the team behind Hilltop Kitchen, with a daily-changing menu that leans on what comes from their own farm and classic British favourites.
Fresco DeliKafessen | Guildford (Info)
Location: Friary Street, Guildford town centre
Description: An independently owned Greek coffee house and bakery — ideal for a “proper coffee and something sweet” stop (or a light savoury bite) when you’re in town.
🛍️ Markets
Maltings Monthly Market | Sat 7 March 2026 (Info)
Location: Farnham Maltings, Farnham
Description: First-Saturday market with around 150–200 stalls across crafts, antiques, homeware and more (9:00am–4:00pm). Easy to combine with a town visit.
Price: £1 adult entry.
📒 Directory
The Barbers Lounge | Walton on the Hill (Info)
Location: Walton Street, Walton on the Hill
Description: New local branch offering men’s cuts, skin fades, and father-and-son appointments, with clear opening hours and booking info online.
New Haw Launderette Ltd | 7-day self-service laundry (Info)
Location: The Broadway, New Haw
Description: Self-service washers and dryers plus service washes, open 7:00am–8:00pm every day. Handy for bedding days or if your machine has given up.
Jacks of London | Guildford (Constitutional Hall) (Info)
Location: Constitutional Hall, Guildford High Street
Description: Barbershop relocated into Constitutional Hall, combining a larger shop with head office and training space; positioned as a premium men’s barber with online booking.
And Finally,
Half-term has a way of turning Surrey into two groups: the people who know exactly where the spare gloves live, and the rest of us, retracing our steps through the park. I hope today’s list helps with the small logistics, from getting around to getting out of the house. If there’s a local place or project we should feature next, hit reply and point us to it.
Thank you for reading. let’s chat on Wednesday.
