News
Every story, newest first.
Council asks Barnes to back its £29m funding fight
A year after threatening to take the government to court, Richmond Council is asking people in Barnes, Castelnau and Mortlake to sign up to the same argument — this time through a consultation that can compel nobody to do anything.
Barnes Green's new island and bridge are open
The Beverley Brook restoration is finished, and the island is reachable by an accessible footbridge.
Council wants your name on its funding proposal
A survey open until 14 October asks residents to endorse a formal submission to government over what the council says is a near-60 per cent cut in its funding by 2028/29.
Barnes's Wetland Centre: what it costs and whether membership pays
An adult day ticket at the London Wetland Centre is £19 at the gate. Four of those cost more than a year's membership — so for most of SW13 this is a place to join, not to visit. Here is what to pay, when to go and what to time a visit around.
A box in Barnes Pond, and why it is there
Volunteers have sunk a Men's Shed-built planting cage into Barnes Pond to re-establish lilies and pondweed after the summer's suspected botulism cases.
Council fights developer discount on infrastructure money
Richmond Council wants ministers to cap developer relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy at 60 per cent, warning the money already pays for roads, parks and public spaces across the borough.
Watchdog finds no climate path for third runway
The government's climate advisers say a third runway at Heathrow has "no credible pathway" to net zero under current policies — a finding Richmond Council has seized on.
Second food registration at Olympic Studios on Church Road
A food business registered as Olympic Studios at 117–123 Church Road is awaiting its first hygiene inspection, at the same address as Olympic Cinema.
Three Thames Path walks from Barnes, and where to stop
Barnes has a National Trail on its doorstep. Here are the three walks people actually do from Barnes Bridge - east to Hammersmith, on to Putney, west through Mortlake towards Kew - and the pubs, cafe and wetland worth breaking the walk for.
Council seeks views on suicide prevention plan
Richmond Council's draft suicide and self-harm prevention strategy for 2026-29 is open to comment until 15 October.
A Saturday in Barnes: the market, the pond and lunch
Barnes Farmers' Market opens at half past eight and packs up at two. Here is the route we would walk around it, from Station Road to the pond, the towpath and three places worth stopping for.
Sunday lunch in Barnes: where to book and what it costs
Seven kitchens between Castelnau and Mortlake High Street will feed you on a Sunday afternoon, from a rump of beef on Lonsdale Road to a fish restaurant at Tideway Yard. Where to start, when the kitchens shut, and who to ring.
Coffee in Barnes: the cafes locals actually use
Five places between Church Road and Castelnau, sorted by the errand you are on: the fast one, the sit-down one, the early one, the one for the coffee itself and the one that also sells you a bottle of wine.
Seven Barnes pubs worth the walk, from the pond to the towpath
A riverside terrace, a jazz room, a garden big enough for children and one independent pub: our guide to the best pubs in Barnes and Castelnau, and which to pick for which afternoon.
Baby and toddler classes in Barnes: which morning, which hall, which age
Three providers run classes in Barnes and Mortlake, between them covering Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. Here is what each one runs, for which ages, and what they publish on price.
Volunteers launch a Barnes guide to everything local
The Barnes Hub, live since 11 July at barneshub.co.uk, gathers local clubs, events and volunteering into one place.
Men's Shed reroofs a school shed in Barnes
Barnes Community Association volunteers have reroofed a shed at Lowther Primary School, months after refurbishing two of its benches.
Cycling cafe registers at Tideway Yard in Mortlake
Moloko Cycling has registered as a cafe at a unit in Tideway Yard on Mortlake High Street and is awaiting its first hygiene inspection.
Police liaison group meets on Church Road on Thursday
Barnes Police Liaison Group meets at Barnes Green Day Centre on 10 September, 7pm to 8.30pm.
New caterer registers at the Wetland Centre
Contract caterer Elior has registered a kitchen at the London Wetland Centre in Barnes, alongside the trust's own five-rated café listing.
Bakery registers at 13 Barnes High Street
The Parish Bakery has registered as a food business at 13 Barnes High Street and is awaiting its first hygiene inspection.
New butcher registers on Castelnau
Greenfield Artisan Butcher has registered at 189 Castelnau in Barnes and is awaiting its first food hygiene inspection.
New food business registers on Barnes High Street
A cafe or restaurant trading as ALISON has registered at 36A Barnes High Street and is awaiting its first hygiene inspection.
New restaurant Dee registers on Church Road
A restaurant trading as Dee has registered at 153 Church Road in Barnes and is waiting on its first hygiene inspection.
Carp removed from Barnes Pond after botulism killed the swans
The cob and his cygnets died in July. The council's first move against the botulism that killed them was to take the carp out of the water.
