2018 has brought with it many highs and many lows.

From the new bin collection rolling out to a new crop of councillors taking office.

So with 2019 fast approaching, the Wimbledon Times has decided to look back on a few of the stories that grabbed the reader's attention through a series of 'Top 10' articles.

In this edition we take a look at something close to everyone's hearts, pubs and shops, shops and pubs.

First on the list we have Polly Thompson and The UK's first ever bridesmaid dress store opening in Wimbledon.

Polly decided to launch NABBD in Arthur Road after quitting her job as a PA at Warner Brothers.

During a friend's wedding in Miami, Polly saw a gap in the market establishing that the UK had not tapped into and decided to start up NABBD.

Second we took an inside look at Wimbledon's new American restaurant NYEAT

Who doesn't love when a new place to dine out on a Saturday night opens?

The restaurant boasts a 'relaxed urban chic ' setting and sells American favourites and comfort foods, such as ribs, jambalaya and a range of burgers. Sounds delicious to me.

But not all stories are as uplifting.

Last month KFC's Wimbledon store in The Broadway was forced to temporary close due to a rat infestation.

A notice on the door read: "There is an imminent risk to health due to an infestation serious enough to result in the actual contamination of food and a significant risk of contamination of rat droppings were found throughout the kitchen and storeroom." Not exactly what you want to see.

Continuing that theme a Tesco Express said it has turned things around following the discovery of mouse poo and urine.

On top of that, workers at the Tooting store in 50-56 London Road couldn't even identify what poo looked liked during the February visit.

But back into more positive news, in August it was announced that Theresa May’s old pub in Wimbledon Park would re-open after refurbishment plans were approved.

The Woodman in Durnsford Road would previously have fallen under Durnsford ward, where the Prime Minister was a councillor from 1986 until 1994.

Developer's Goldcrest had insisted throughout the year-long process that it would not only restore the building, but also build "much-needed" homes as part of a two-storey erection.

Then in November we turned our attention to the announcement of what would replace the closed down Maplin store in Wimbledon

Earlier this year, electronics brand Maplin closed 200 stores after it went into administration and this included the one in The Broadway.

But it wasn't vacant for long.

Then once again in October we were treated to an inside look at Bill's which had recently undergone a huge redevelopment.

The restaurant's founder, Bill Collison said of the new look: "Guests can expect less farmhouse kitchen, more farmhouse glamour."

"Think velvet, marble and chandeliers – plus handpicked trinkets from my own collection."

Over in Colliers Wood it was music to people's ear when the announcement came that a new micro-brewery and shop would be built at a Colliers Wood pub.

The William Morris pub in Merton Abbey Mills, Colliers Wood, will soon have a micro-brewery on site, with a new shop to sell beer brewed there, a remodelled riverside terrace, restaurant and outdoor dining area.

The last story on our list was the announcement of when Aldi would open in the Priory Retail Park.

It was a sad day when the announcement that the Colliers Wood Toys 'R' Us was closing down, but those spirits soon shot up when news the supermarket chain would take its place.