Alton bookshop asks residents to help buy £655k building for new community arts hub

• An independent bookshop is asking residents to invest £300,000 in an ambitious plan to buy a mystery building in a town centre and transform it into a community arts hub.

Today in Surrey

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The local news that matters this morning

Here's the local news from the past 24 hours, made easy to digest.

BBC News — Surrey · yesterday Man completes 24-hour challenge to flip 100kg tyre • James Farmer took on the challenge to raise funds for a new sports pavilion at his former school.

BBC News — Surrey · yesterday New £6.5 million respite centre to support families • The Squirrels, a new respite care centre in Banstead, has been opened by Surrey County Council.

BBC News — Surrey · yesterday Clearing waste site 'remains goal' after court order • Enforcement work is ongoing to try to clear a waste site near Dorking West railway station.

SurreyLive — Guildford · yesterday Extra storeys on development replacing Guildford Debenhams would ‘overshadow’ town and ‘replicate Woking', residents say • Residents have said that plans to increase the height of the development would 'overshadow' Guildford

SurreyLive — Surrey News · yesterday The Surrey school with robotics lessons and a fire pit that's been named best Prep school in the country • Three Surrey establishments that took home a prize at the Independent Schools Of The Year Awards earlier this month.

Guildford Dragon · Local news · yesterday Acrimonious Change of Leadership at Spelthorne • By James Moules local democracy reporter A Surrey district council has chosen to replace its council leader just months before the council’s abolition next spring.

Farnham Herald — News · Local news · today Pathologist reveals cause of Farnham schoolboy Luis Guembes' death as court hears DNA evidence • A forensic pathologist has told a court that a stab wound to the back caused the death of 15-year-old Luis Guembes, as experts gave evidence about DNA findings linked to two teenagers accused of his murder.

Guildford Dragon · Local news · yesterday Flames Keep Cup Hopes Alive in Coventry • A 5-3 regulation win at Coventry Blaze allows Flames to take over the third Challenge Cup qualification spot, but progress now depends on other results. • Final third and even second place finishes are still possible but so is elimination. • A second place finish would allow automatic progression and third place a play-off match.

Epsom & Ewell Times · Local news · today Epsom artist’s peaches win Surrey readers’ choice award • An Epsom artist has won a readers’ choice award in the Surrey Artist of the Year 2026 competition with a painting of peaches. • Artan Jahaj’s Peaches on Navy was voted

Epsom & Ewell Times · Local news · today Sutton & Epsom triumph over the elements • Gravesend 12 – Sutton & Epsom 17 | Venue: Rectory Field 24th October After the drought and the heat came the rain and the wind, adding to the belief that,

What's on: next 14 days

A quick-view of 66 priority public listings from 66 tracked events over the next 14 days. Tap any item for the source and full details.

7 Nov · G Live'I'm not hungry' Eating disorders Workshop at Winter Wellfest Guildford

27 Oct · The Long Bar And Grill, Harbour Hotel'Little Something' Halloween Drinks For Singles in Guildford

27 Oct · All Bar One Guildford20s&30s Singles Night @ All Bar One Guildford|Love at First Sign

31 Oct · Labyrinth Guildford90s 00s Dance Anthems Day Party: Guildford

30 Oct · The Star InnA Night of the Jam and the Clash - Woking Calling - Live in Guildford

1 Nov · Merrow Village HallAwakening Gong Bath with 10 Gongs & 42" Drum ~ Double Session

28 Oct · Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Millbrook, GU1 3UX Guildford, United KingdomCeltic Nights Wed 28 Oct 2026 X Factor finalists The MacDonald Brothers hit the stage!

8 Nov · G Live, GuildfordDoctor Richard Shepherd: Time of Death – More Unnatural Causes

29 Oct · Popworld - GuildfordF*CK ME It's Halloween | Surrey Freshers 2026

7 Nov · G LiveGuildford Choral Autumn Concert - "Magnificat" - Beethoven, Mendelssohn and Rutter

31 Oct · G Live, GuildfordGuildford Stitches Comedy Club

30 Oct · Guildfords / Surrey's Best VenueHALLOWEEN PURGE Surrey's Biggest Halloween Event

30 Oct · Five And LimeHalloween Singles Party @ 5 & Lime Guildford| Love at First Sign

7 Nov · The Holroyd Arms / Suburbs VenueJerry Lee Lewis & Elvis

30 Oct · Thirty3HzJungle Cakes Haunted House - Thirty3hz - Guildford

30 Oct · Newlands Corner, Guildford, GU4 8, United KingdomMurder Mystery Dinner or Weekend Guildford, Surrey

1 Nov · Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Millbrook, GU1 3UX Guildford, United KingdomOpera Boys - starring Paul Potts Sun 1 Nov 2026 The Opera Boys' final tour

27 Oct · Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Millbrook, GU1 3UX Guildford, United KingdomRainer Hersch: All Classical Music Explained - Live!

8 Nov · Yvonne Arnaud TheatreSo You Want to Play Detective: Guildford

4 Nov · Surrey Technology CentreSurrey Research Park Soapbox Derby

31 Oct · Thirty3HzThe Secret Masquerade

31 Oct · Guildford Cathedral, GuildfordTim Burton's Universe by Mystery Ensemble

6 Nov · Christ Church GuildfordUltimate Chill: The Piano Music of Ludovico Einaudi

31 Oct · Popworld - GuildfordUnderworld

7 Nov · G LiveYoga and Journaling at Winter Wellfest Guildford

31 Oct · Shaftesbury Road, GU22 7DT Woking, United KingdomAll Saints Light Party

31 Oct · Cellar Magnifique Wine Bar, Cafe, and EventsChildren's Mask Making - Day of the Dead

30 Oct · Saint Columba's House, Maybury Hill, GU22 8AB Woking, United KingdomContemporary Icon Weekend Workshop with Renowned Artist Sophie Hacker

27 Oct · Woking LibraryCreating Nightmares: An Author talk with Don Campbell

31 Oct · 10 Gorsewood Road, WokingHermitage Halloween

29 Oct · Knaphill Scout HallNCT Woking Baby Cafe

5 Nov · Knaphill Scout HallNCT Woking Bumps & Babies

8 Nov · pyrford village war memorial hall, Coldharbour Road, Pyrford, Woking, GU22 8SPNV Dance Sunday Freestyle

27 Oct · Cellar Magnifique: Wine Bar, Cafe, and EventsPaint & Sip in Woking at Cellar Magnifique

4 Nov · Cellar Magnifique Wine Bar, Cafe, and EventsPassione di Valpolicella- Bussola Tomaso

27 Oct · The CricketersQuiz Night at The Cricketers, Horsell

8 Nov · Woking TheatreRomesh Ranganathan Will Change Your Life

8 Nov · New Victoria TheatreRomesh Ranganathan Woking Tickets

28 Oct · Gordons School Sports Hub (Aldershot FC Training Ground)Sells Pro Training Surrey 2 Day October Goalkeeper Camp 2026

2 Nov · Bisley Shooting GroundSimulated Game Day at Bisley - Monday 2nd November

1 Nov · GU21 4AA Woking, United KingdomStudio Sundays

8 Nov · Cellar Magnifique Wine Bar, Cafe, and EventsSwing Into Festive Cheer

31 Oct · The Bisley YurtThe Ancestors’ Wheel: A Samhain Ceremony

7 Nov · Woking Park, WokingWoking Fireworks Extravaganza

6 Nov · Hilton WokingWoking Means Business 2026

29 OctKoala Kids Halloween Party!

7 NovOld Skool Bingo Sat 7th Nov Woking

8 NovPooch Weekend Love From Betty & Edwins Garden Centre Woking

30 Oct at 01:00Everyone Gallery Tours

29 Oct at 01:30Children Haunted Mansion Workshop (7-12yrs)

28 Oct at 10:30Families Halloween Family Day

27 OctAll Classical Music Explained - Live! Tue 27 Oct 2026 The funniest concert you will ever see!

29 OctImprov Theatre for Kids 9-12yrs Thu 29 Oct 2026 Let imaginations run wild in this fun-filled workshop!

3 NovLittle Notes: 2.5-4.5yrs Autumn Term Pass Fun-filled music classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers Tue 3 Nov 2026

28 OctNoonans Mayfair Valuation Days Guildford Valuation Days 2026 Wed 28 Oct 2026 - Wed 28 Oct 2026

29 OctSam Bradshaw Productions presents Spot's Birthday Party Thu 29 Oct 2026 - Sat 31 Oct 2026

27 OctShort Stories, Tall Tales: The Three Little Pigs Tue 27 Oct 2026 - Tue 27 Oct 2026 An immersive storytelling adventure for 0 to 4 year olds.

28 OctSound Design for the Stage 12-16yrs Wed 28 Oct 2026 Young people will discover how sound engages the senses and helps tell stories

29 OctSpot Story Time Thu 29 Oct 2026 Story time with Spot's Birthday party cast!

27 OctSuds & Scents: Halloween Soap-Making Workshop 12yrs+ Tue 27 Oct 2026 Children will leave the workshop with their very own handmade Halloween soaps.

27 OctSuds & Scents: Halloween Soap-Making Workshop 5yrs+ Tue 27 Oct 2026 Children will leave the workshop with their very own handmade Halloween soaps.

3 NovTilted Wig in association with Watford Palace Theatre presents The Picture of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde Tue 3 Nov 2026 - Sat 7 Nov 2026

1 NovOff Road Day Sun 01 Nov >

27 OctSummer Craft Collection 2026: Handmade Ceramics, Glass, Jewellery, Textiles and Wood

27 OctWisley: Then and Now

27 OctWomen’s Peer Support Group

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Did you know? · Surrey

Painshill in Cobham is an 18th-century landscape garden created by Charles Hamilton from 1738, featuring England's largest Crystal Grotto encrusted with over 10,000 crystals.

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