In the spirit of the popular ‘wrap’ trend, we have taken a moment to look back at 2025 and everything Positively Putney delivered over the year. We are often asked what we do beyond marketing, or whether our initiatives are funded by the council. In fact, Positively Putney is funded by around 400 local businesses across Putney. Read on to discover more about the work we do and the impact it has.
January – We kicked off the year with our annual consumer survey, giving us valuable insight into how people are using Putney town centre. This research is vital in ensuring we truly understand visitor behaviour, allowing us to share informed, relevant insights with local businesses and help them make the most of opportunities. The findings also strengthen our conversations with Wandsworth Council, the Putney MP and other key stakeholders, ensuring Putney’s interests are represented with evidence and clarity.
February – Traditionally a month for celebrating your partner, but in Putney we like to think of it as a time for Loving Putney. In 2025, we funded twenty overnight, two-person shifts to pressure-wash pavements across the town centre, covering approximately 20,000 square metres. This investment helped keep Putney clean, welcoming and well-presented for everyone who lives, works and visits the area.
March – Putney’s Spring Art Trail brought colour and creativity to the town centre, with 26 business windows transformed by vibrant spring-themed artwork. The trail not only enhanced the look and feel of Putney but also gave visitors a new reason to explore, encouraging them to discover hidden letters and complete the trail. Alongside this, we revitalised vacant units by painting artwork on the former Bill’s site and gave the Putney signage outside Marks & Spencer a fresh new look, further improving the town centre’s appearance.
April – Putney’s historic connection to rowing comes alive each year with the iconic Boat Race, and it’s a key moment for celebrating the town’s unique spirit. Positively Putney coordinates a street food market and a stage in Church Square, offering entertainment for visitors beyond the races themselves. We also provide bunting to local businesses so they can join in the sense of rowing camaraderie. For many of Putney’s pubs, the Boat Race is the single day of the year with the highest takings, highlighting just how important this event is for the town centre.
May – Keeping visitors and workers safe in Putney is a top priority for Positively Putney. We work closely with the Met Police to ensure the town centre remains welcoming and secure. In May, we celebrated the first anniversary of our Putney Street Angels, who support nighttime visitors and hospitality businesses every Friday evening.
A significant part of the BID’s annual expenditure is dedicated to a less visible but crucial area: undercover security. This team works behind the scenes to support businesses, helping reduce shop theft and tackle anti-social behaviour, keeping Putney safe for everyone who lives, works, and visits here.
June – Throughout the year, Positively Putney coordinates a range of training and networking events for local businesses, with the most popular taking place in June. This summer celebration combines a review of the previous financial year’s achievements with Putney’s Annual Business Awards. In 2025, the event was held at the Dukes Head pub on Putney’s stunning riverside, and even in the summer, guests were treated to an impressive ice sculpture.
Another standout networking event was our Women’s Networking session, hosted by Metro Bank in March, where attendees heard from a panel of inspirational female business owners, sharing insights and experiences to motivate and connect the local business community.
July – By July, our 26 hanging baskets are in full bloom, adding colour and vibrancy to Putney’s streets. These baskets are funded and maintained by the BID, alongside our ten tiered planters, the Lacy Road parklet, the narrow planter on Putney Bridge Road, the Putneymead and Cambridge House planters on Upper Richmond Road, and the tall Christmas tree in Church Square.
In 2025, Putney was awarded a Silver Medal in the London in Bloom Awards, celebrating the BID’s commitment to keeping Putney welcoming and well-presented all year round.
August – A month-long celebration featuring a different event every day which we branded Amazing August. Putney businesses were invited to apply for small grants from the BID to help subsidise their activities, allowing them to offer free or discounted experiences to local people. The aim was to encourage residents and visitors to enjoy everything Putney has to offer, keeping footfall in the town centre rather than travelling further afield during the summer holiday period.
September – Much of our work focuses on encouraging people to visit Putney, and we do this in a variety of ways. Throughout 2025, Positively Putney continued to showcase the town centre and its fantastic businesses across Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, reaching new audiences and keeping the community engaged. This year our Instagram content received 1.27 million views, highlighting the interest in Putney town.
We are also always looking to reach new audiences. In September, we attended the Roehampton University Freshers Fair to introduce students to their nearest town centre, helping them discover all that Putney has to offer as a vibrant place to shop, eat, socialise, and explore.
October – The Putney Trick or Treat Trail is fast becoming a South London favourite! In 2025, 75 local businesses joined in, handing out treats to Halloweeners in costume. The event featured a pumpkin patch, face painting, balloon modelling, and concluded with two spectacular pyrotechnic shows, making 31st October a truly memorable day in Putney.
November – Christmas was officially declared in Putney on Friday 28th November, with local schools and performance groups showcasing their incredible talent on our community stage in Church Square. The Christmas tree this year was one of the biggest ever, and the lights were switched on by Father Christmas himself!
The festive celebrations continued the following day, when visitors flocked to Putney to enjoy our Winter Wonderland Ice Sculpture Trail. Featuring 22 beautifully carved sculptures, the trail encouraged people to explore the full town centre, spreading festive cheer and creating a magical experience for all ages.
December – Our Putney Advent Calendar shared on our social media and revealed on our website celebrated the countdown to Christmas by shining a spotlight on our fantastic local businesses. Each day featured unique special offers and discounts, encouraging people to shop, celebrate, and enjoy everything Putney has to offer while finding the perfect gifts locally. The campaign helped highlight the diversity and quality of Putney’s independent retailers, making the town centre a festive destination throughout the critical Christmas season.
Looking Ahead to 2026 we will be repeating many of your favourite events while continuing to deliver essential services that keep Putney clean, safe, and welcoming. As a Business Improvement District (BID), under UK legislation, we must go back to ballot every five years to confirm whether local businesses wish to continue funding our work. Throughout this year, we will be engaging with businesses to understand their priorities for the next five-year term. The ballot will take place later in the year, giving businesses the opportunity to shape the future of Positively Putney and ensure the town centre continues to thrive.