Happy Boxing Day Surrey!
Hope Christmas Day was a good one, and that you’ve got a proper slow Boxing Day lined up. Even so, a few bits are ticking along in Surrey, a county-wide energy group-buying scheme, job support getting a bit more joined-up, a new Changing Places loo in Camberley, and the usual mix of car-park payment upgrades and upcoming Greenway roadworks.
In today’s edition:
Free, no-obligation Switch Together Energy scheme for Surrey households
Job support ramped up via STEP Surrey, Skills Bootcamps and more
Next stage of consultation on a Guildford parish (town) council
New card/phone payment options coming to Guildford’s car parks
Restaurant of the Week, Events for kids, Jobs, and local service providers
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
Surrey backs Switch Together Energy group-buying for power bills
Photo by Arthur Lambillotte
With energy bills still a worry for many households – and tariffs changing often – Surrey County Council is backing Switch Together Energy as a way to use collective buying power to secure more competitive deals. The free, no-obligation scheme aims to help residents cut costs while making it easier to compare offers in one place, rather than shopping around alone. Many of the tariffs offered through similar schemes also use 100% renewable electricity, adding a greener angle alongside potential savings.
Here is how this would work:
Register online for Switch Together Energy with your details and current energy usage (it’s free and no-obligation).
Energy suppliers bid in a reverse auction, competing to offer the best group deal to everyone who has registered.
You receive a personalised offer showing what you’d pay on the new tariff and can then decide whether to switch or stay with your current provider.
Job support stepped up as residents share economic concerns
Photo by NAIS
New research from Surrey’s resident panel shows one in three (32%) people know someone who has lost their job in the last year, more than half say their own finances have worsened, and more than one in five workers are worried about losing their job in the next 12 months. Government figures also show over 26,900 residents are out of work but actively seeking employment, so the council is stepping up support rather than treating this as a passing blip.
Here is how one can get involved:
Visit STEP Surrey to see a single portal for skills, training, job vacancies and employment support in one place.
Explore Skills Bootcamps in areas like construction, cyber, gaming and green industries if you’re looking to retrain or move sectors.
Check out Connect to Work if you’re a resident with a disability or more complex challenges and need tailored help into suitable, sustainable employment.
Use WorkWell coaching if health issues are affecting your ability to start, stay in or return to work, with one-to-one support available now and expected to run into 2026 and beyond.
New payment options coming to Guildford’s car parks
Image by wal_172619
Guildford Borough Council is upgrading payment machines across its car parks from Wednesday 7 January 2026, adding card and phone options and briefly closing one car park while works take place. Tariffs aren’t changing in this update – this is about how you pay, not how much.
What’s more:
New machines will support cash, card, contactless and app payments.
Work starts on Wed 7 January, with a one-day closure of Tunsgate Car Park during installation.
Other car parks stay open but individual machines may be out of action while they’re replaced.
No new charges are announced in this notice; it’s purely a payment and hardware upgrade.
Sponsored by Barucci Custom Tailors London
Why the Tailors Always Favour to Start Early?
If you’re planning anything in 2026 that needs a proper suit, wedding, work, black tie, the smartest decision usually comes before cloth, colour, or lapels, book early.
Tailors favour early appointments for a simple reason, time makes everything cleaner, the choices stay open, the fittings stay calm, and the finish looks intentional rather than rescued.
Here are 5 reasons why tailors want you to get in early:
The cloth you may actually want is far more likely to be unavailable if left for late in the year, especially with seasonal bunches and popular weights.
The first fitting sets the foundation, then the tweaks refine it. When you book early, small adjustments become precise, not panicked.
Your Body weight shifts, gym phases, posture changes, even travel can alter how a jacket sits. Starting early means the final fit matches you close to the day.
Weddings, events, and corporate seasons stack up fast. Early slots mean better appointment times, less compromise, and fewer last minute reshuffles.
The final result looks intentional in photos and in real life Sleeve length, trouser break, jacket balance, these
, but they make a suit look quietly expensive, and feel comfortable for hours.
If you want to get ahead of the diary and build something properly, have a quick chat with Barucci and lock in an early consultation.
Properties of the Week
Home A: Under £350k
Price: £250,000
Address: York Road / Guildford / GU1
Details: 2-bedroom flat (see listing for full specs)
Parking Type: Not stated (ask agent)
Click here: To view the full details and plan a viewing
Home B: £350k–£650k
Price: £375,000 (guide price)
Address: Ladymead / Guildford / GU1
Details: 2-bedroom flat (see listing for full specs)
Parking Type: Not stated (ask agent)
Click here: To view the full details and plan a viewing
County Updates
Next stage of consultation on a Guildford parish (town) council
Guildford Borough Council is moving to the next stage of its Community Governance Review on creating a new parish (town) council for the currently unparished urban wards of Guildford. If created, it would add another layer of local representation — and a local precept.
Draft recommendations include:
One parish area (“Guildford”) with a 24-member Guildford Parish Council.
The parish could later rebrand as a “town council” if created.
The precept is estimated at £60–£100/year for a Band D property in year one.
An eight-week consultation January 2026, with possible elections in May 2027
Community Digest
Guildford launches online support hub for money, food, health, and warm spaces
Guildford Borough Council’s online support hub pulls together help with money, housing costs, council tax, food support, health and wellbeing and warm spaces — a single starting point if you (or someone you know) needs extra support this winter.
The Hive community fridge and pantry in Park Barn
Photo by: Melissa Dooley
The Hive in Park Barn runs a community fridge and pantry, offering low-cost or free food support and a practical way to reduce food waste. Pantry bags are pre-packed and the offer is open to anyone feeling the squeeze.
Here’s what’s on offer:
Community pantry bags available Mon/Wed/Fri, 10:00–14:00.
A community fridge with surplus food that would otherwise go to waste.
Donation points around Guildford for those who want to help stock the pantry.
You’re not asked to prove need at the door.
Click here: To see how the pantry works and when to go
Events This Week
👨👩👧👦 Family & Kids
Illuminate – Guildford Castle Winter Light Trail | Until 4 January (closed 25 Dec) (Info/Tickets)
Location: Guildford Castle grounds, Guildford
Description: An evening light trail around the castle grounds, with installations and projections from dusk until around 8pm. Good for a post-lunch walk that feels more “event” than “errand”; wrap up warm and expect it to be busiest at peak times.
Glow 2025 | 21 November – 4 January (selected dates) (Info/Tickets)
Location: RHS Garden Wisley, near Ripley
Description: RHS Wisley’s winter light trail returns with an illuminated route through the gardens and timed entry on selected evenings. It’s festive, but not quiet — plan for queues around peak sessions and keep an eye on date availability.
Snow Globe Skate | Selected sessions 26 Dec – 4 Jan (Info/Tickets)
Location: Guildford Spectrum, Guildford
Description: Festive ice-skating sessions in the Snow Globe theme, including dates on 26, 28, 29, 31 December and 1–4 January. A reliable way to burn off the chocolate; less ideal if you’re discovering your ankles have opinions. Pre-booking recommended.
New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day Swims | 31 December & 1 January (Info/Tickets)
Location: Guildford Lido, Guildford
Description: Two days of swims in the (heated) outdoor pool to see out 2025 and welcome 2026. Think “bracing” rather than “spa day” — check the listing for session times and booking details
🎭 Comedy
Gag House Comedy Club | Saturday 17 January 2026, 8:00pm (Info/Tickets)
Location: The Star Inn, Guildford
Description: A January stand-up night with a mix of touring comics and newer names in an upstairs-room setting. Expect around two hours with an interval, and ticket prices in the high-teens plus booking fee.
🛍️ Markets
North Street Market | Fridays & Saturdays (festive schedule may vary)
Location: North Street, Guildford town centre
Description: Guildford’s regular general market, usually running Fridays and Saturdays, 8:30am–5pm, with a mix of food, produce, clothing and household stalls. With Boxing Day and early January in the mix, it’s worth checking for any timetable changes before you assume it’s on as normal.
🍽️ Eat & Drink
Restaurant of the Week | Pasta Evangelists (Guildford)
Location: High Street, Guildford
Description: Fresh pasta in a smart-ish High Street setting, with the menu built around rich sauces, filled pasta and a bit of aperitivo energy. Prices sit firmly in “central Guildford dinner money”, and reviews are mixed — which probably makes it a fair one to try once, order the thing you actually want, and decide for yourself rather than expecting miracles.
Click here: To view the menu, book a table or order
Mulligans Guildford – crazy golf, arcade & bar
Location: Central Guildford
Description: Indoor crazy golf and arcade games with a bar attached, pitched at families earlier on and adult groups later. It’s lively, loud, and best treated as “activity first, chat second”.
Click here: To check opening hours, prices and book a slot
The Mezz – café bar and lounge
Location: G Live, Guildford
Description: A bar/café-style space inside G Live for pre-show food and drinks (and some upgrade packages). Handy if you’d rather stay under one roof — just expect theatre-adjacent pricing.
💼 Local Jobs
Facilities Manager – Surrey Sports Park (University of Surrey)
Location: Guildford
Description: Full-time role overseeing the operation and upkeep of a large multi-sport site. Salary is £41,837–£46,486, with interviews expected in mid-January and a closing date of Monday 29 December 2025 at 23:59.
Click here: To read the full job pack and apply online
Housing Estate Inspector – Guildford Borough Council
Location: Guildford (Millmead House)
Description: Estate Inspector role covering council housing estates, including walkabouts, flagging repairs/safety issues and working with residents and contractors. Salary £32,792–£36,699. Closing date Friday 2 January 2026 at 23:59.
Click here: To read the role profile and apply
Swift Stitch – tailors & dry cleaning
Location: Guildford town centre
Description: Long-running alterations and dry-cleaning shop just off North Street — useful for everything from emergency hems to reviving a winter coat.
Click here: To see services, prices and contact details
Bailey Plumbing & Heating (UK) Ltd
Location: Based in Guildford, covering Guildford, Woking and surrounds
Description: Boiler installation and servicing, bathrooms and general plumbing — the kind of number you’re glad you saved before the heating starts making “new noises”.
Click here: To request a quote or arrange a call-out
Guildford Appliance Repairs Ltd
Location: Covers Guildford, Godalming, Woking and nearby areas
Description: Domestic appliance repairs for washing machines, dryers, ovens, fridges and more, with same/next-day call-outs where possible.
Click here: To book a repair or request a visit
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 your main achievement today is getting out for a short walk between showers and leftovers, that still counts. Enjoy the lull between Christmas and New Year and if you do brave a lido swim, we salute you from the blanket.
until next edition..
— Prince Khurram