Neighbourhood

Every weekend, those in the know head to Woking Wharf to fuel up with caffeine and brioche brunch baps before taking a leisurely stroll down the Basingstoke Canal. Kiwi and Scot is a gorgeous café canal boat serving up a seasonal brunch menu alongside real Italian coffee – veggie, vegan, gluten free and dog friendly goodness all feature!

We do like to keep it green here at The Marches, which is why we’re stanning Bare and Fair pretty hard. You can refill reusable packaging with everything from cleaning products to skincare, plus they’ve got some brilliant gifty bits too. The food range isn’t just goody-two-shoes bulgur and quinoa, either. We’re talking Bombay mix, fizzy sweets, pasta and more (*drools*)!

Tucked away on level 1 of the Peacocks Shopping Centre is our freshly refurbished local cinema. They haven’t just spruced up the place, they’ve upgraded the tech, so your next Marvel movie’s going to look extra marvellous. There’s also great food and drink (mostly local), plenty of moreish nibbles and a sleek bar to hang out with before and after the showing.

We’re spoilt for choice around here when it comes to drinks and dining, but there’s nothing like finding one fabulous place for aperitifs, antipasti, dinner and dessert. Bacaró is Italian through and through, with a menu filled with classic dishes to warm the soul and a cocktail list to knock your socks off.

Gift shopping’s always more fun when you’re treating yourself and there’s nowhere better than Two Ducks in the heart of St John’s village. This gorgeous, award-winning independent store is stuffed with unique and beautiful finds; from fashion and accessories to decorative homeware and more. Of course, you could always pick something up for a loved one, but where’s the fun in that?

Drink coffee to change lives. No joke. The Cosy is totally not-for-profit, raising money for The Lighthouse, which works to empower local people in times of crisis. Pop in for a cup of locally roasted joe, served by volunteer staff, either indoors or on their chilled out terrace. The brunch is top notch here too, but if you’ve only time to grab a snack, make it the cinnamon toast. Get one for the road too.

There’s a reason this local bottle shop and bar has won multiple awards and it’s easy to see as soon as you step inside. It’s warm, inviting and reassuringly French in its vibe, with the encyclopaedic knowledge of its friendly sommeliers and extensive cheese and charcuterie menus. There’s even a cigar humidor if want to channel your inner Jeff Goldblum in Independence Day. Also it would be remiss of us to not tell you that they deliver. No, really – wine (and food but you’ll probably stop reading at wine) to your door.

Everybody needs a pinch of old-world glamour now and then, and we get our dose of Hollywood glitz at Lauren Elizabeth. Along with the lovely interiors there’s serious aesthetic expertise, with luxe Elemis products and cutting edge technology provided by highly trained professionals. Get 20% off any beauty treatment on your first visit. We went straight for the Elemis Biotec Firm-a-Lift Facial and are now fit to grace any red carpet.

As much as we love Woking, it’s nice to step over a threshold and find yourself in Puglia now and then tbh. Deli Class is somewhat addictive, being a deli, shop, coffee bar, eat-in café and takeaway all rolled into one! And with the lovely Filippa at the helm, you’ll be sure of a warm, Italian welcome.

Did we mention how much we love pets at The Marches? Thanks to Oscar’s, it’s brilliantly easy to care for our doggy residents. Oscar’s is a fantastic local pet food service that delivers top notch British made foods and accessories right to your door. Local pet care pro and rabbit rescuer Trevor is full of good advice, too – ask him anything. And for pickier pets, Oscar’s has all kinds of grain-free, sensitive and other specialist options. There are also plenty of calming aids to help your furry (feathery, scaly…) friend settle into their new digs.

When they say “anytime”, they mean it. This is a 24-hour gym with enough cardio kit, weights and battle ropes to make any gym bunny happy. They’ve also got PTs and classes galore in case, like us, you need someone breathing down your neck to stop you sloping off for a smoothie.