Kingston Nub News’ 12 most read stories of 2025.
By Tilly O'Brien 31st Dec 2025
By Tilly O'Brien 31st Dec 2025
Having published hundreds of stories about Kingston and surrounds in the last year, we have picked one story from each month to help summarise 2025.
The news locally this year has been dominated by council plans, community events, planning applications, and new businesses opening.
But we have tried to reduce each month to just one story and one photograph.
January
The start of 2025 saw the most read story in Nub News history when a former BBC Breakfast presenter was rushed to Kingston Hospital unexpectedly.
A former BBC Breakfast star from Kingston was rushed for an "unexpected" hospital stay as fans were left panicking.
At the time, the former BBC Radio star, Debbie Greenwood, issued a statement thanking the NHS for her hospital care after an "unexpected" stay.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, 18 January, Ms Greenwood said: "A huge thank you to the amazing team at Kingston Hospital who looked after me so well for my unexpected 6-night stay. You were so, so kind, attentive, patient and cheerful."
February
While in February, you were all eager to read about a former Kingston Hospital nurse being struck off after making derogatory comments to a colleague.
A former senior nurse at Kingston Hospital was struck from the register after making derogatory comments about his line manager.
Mohammad Ahmed Humeedi Hindawi was also found to have given a patient four times the appropriate dose of an antipsychotic while working as a trauma and orthopaedic coordinator at the hospital.
A Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) misconduct panel ruled Mr Hindawi's fitness to practise as a registered nurse was impaired after holding hearings in January, which he did not attend.
March
And in March, our biggest story was about a fire in a disused building in Kingston.
Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters tackled a fire, which began at around 2pm on Sunday, 16 March, at a disused building on Richmond Road in Kingston.
The building, opposite the Gala Bingo Hall, was formerly a cinema.
Road closures were put in place while emergency services attended the scene.
April
In April, you were all eager to read about Dunelm completing a freehold acquisition in Kingston.
Homewares retailer Dunelm has revealed that it has completed a freehold acquisition in Kingston upon Thames, "a key target area of 'white space'", which the group expects to open in FY26.
This follows the retailer's "strong sales" over its third quarter, as the group generated over six per cent growth across its homewares and furniture categories.
CEO Nick Wilkinson stated that the group "had a good third quarter, with strong growth and further strategic progress" and that "the Dunelm brand continues to attract a broad range of customers."
May
While May had lots of widely read stories, including a woman being rushed to hospital after swallowing a corrosive substance and a stabbing in Surbiton, one of our most popular stories was about the Met opposing Wendy's plans to extend its operating hours.
The Met Police slammed plans for Wendy's to stay open as late as 2am in a Kingston crime hotspot, with high levels of violence against women.
The fast-food chain wanted to extend its opening hours from 11pm to 12am on Sundays to Wednesdays, and 2am on Thursdays to Saturdays at its branch on Eden Street, in Kingston town centre.
Police Sergeant Jeremy Weston sent an objection to the plans to Kingston Council, ahead of a licensing hearing on Tuesday (May 20), describing Eden Street as 'an area with a high incidence of violent crime'.
June
And in June, one of our biggest stories was about parents' reaction to the sudden closure of a local prep school.
Parents of pupils at a private preparatory school in Kingston said they feel "cheated" after Inspired Learning Group (ILG), an independent school group, announced that it will be closing the school due to Labour's recent introduction of VAT on private school fees.
The 20% tax led to a sharp drop in pupil numbers at Park Hill, the school said.
Independent Learning Group (ILG) broke the news to parents in a letter on Wednesday, 4 June, announcing that it would be closing Kingston's Park Hill Preparatory School after 75 years and offering parents the option to relocate their children to ILG's sister school Westbury House in New Malden.
July
However, on a more positive note, in July, you were all excited to read about the news of a new rooftop bar opening in Kingston.
Sonny's Riverside, which overlooks the Thames, opened in Kingston on Thursday, 10 July.
It is nestled above the Riverside Walk and is run by Sam Berry, who also co-owns Cento Uno in both Surbiton and Teddington as well as the former One One Four, and the team behind Dropkick Ventures, a London-based hospitality group that has brought venues such as Barrio Bars, Disrepute, Pearly Queen and Richmond's favourite beer pub, the Tap Tavern.
Together, they created Sonnys, a rooftop bar that brings holiday energy to Kingston, with cocktails, music and food residencies designed for summer.
August
Unfortunately, in August, our most-read story was about the rape of a teenage girl in a park in Surbiton.
Four men were arrested after a teenage girl was raped at a park in Surbiton.
Officers were called to reports of a girl being sexually assaulted by four men at Fishponds Park just before 7.15am on Thursday, 21 August.
A crime scene was established at the park as forensic searches continued.
September
Whereas in September, you were all delighted to read that two secondary schools in Kingston were rated 'outstanding by Ofsted.
The two schools were Tiffin Girls' School and The Kingston Academy.
41 schools across South London were given Ofsted's top rating.
A grade of outstanding means a school is achieving at the highest level across four key areas - the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management.
October
And in October, you were all excited to hear that a new entertainment playground would be replacing the former Wilko on Clarence Street.
Funbox Entertainment, the UK's fastest-growing leisure operator, launched Urban Fun, a £4 million next-generation playground that reimagines nights out, socialising, and play under one roof.
Taking over the former Wilko site on Clarence Street, Urban Fun is a game-changing, cashless entertainment venue where guests can eat, drink, play and win like never before.
Urban Fun Kingston opened its doors in December.
November
November was a big month for us, but sadly our most-read story was about a collision between a van and a motorcyclist in Surbiton.
A motorcyclist was taken to hospital with "serious" injuries following a collision with a van in Surbiton on Wednesday, 26 November, according to a police officer at the scene.
The incident occurred outside Hollyfield School on Surbiton Hill Road.
A Met Police spokesperson told Nub News: "Around 07:10hrs on Wednesday, 26 November, officers attended the junction between Ewell Road and Lamberts Road, in Surbiton, with the London Ambulance Service, following a collision between a motorcyclist and a van."
December
And finally in December, one of our most-read stories was about the rebranding of a coffee shop in Surbiton.
A Surbiton coffee shop has rebranded as a coffee and brunch house.
The Surbitonian Grind, which is located on Ewell Road reopened as ICON Coffee & Brunch House under the same owner, Jamie, on Tuesday, 9 December.
Jamie opened the first branch of ICON on Claremont Road in September last year.
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