Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
Canary Wharf’s public art consultant Sally Williams on work, collection and commissions
art finding the
celebrating the best of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the new east London people - events - treasure - property - nonsense
inside
Horrible Histories, Level39 Bennison Brown, The Moon Berkeley Homes, Formula E Momo Canteen, Capeesh Puzzles, Telford Homes Cycle Bridge, Fighter
Cover shows detail from Jennie Moncur’s Redberries Blueberries, 1990 at 40 Bank Street
2
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
read
fortnightly find
this issue’s Tiger Treasure
14 days later
plan your life from Apr 25-May 9 where? Montgomery Square Canary Wharf
feast your eyes on these
Need a hand? No really. Maybe you’d like to draw it or possibly make your loved one think they’re being caressed by a tailor’s dummy. Whatever its function, this wooden specimen comes with fully articulate digits allowing for a vareity of hilarious poses certain to amuse and delight your colleagues. Caution, raising the middle finger can lead to disciplinary action and is best avoided in polite company. Wooden Mannequin Hand, £10 Go to uk.flyingtiger.com
FOOD | Eats Of The World Celebrating Jeroen Swolfs’ art exhibition Streets Of The World, which runs until May 24, this is a chance to tuck into some street food in the open air. May 2-3, 11am-3pm, free to attend, canarywharf.com
04
Enter your images of wildlife on the Wharf
06
Ben Brabyn talks talent and purpose at Level39
where? Canary Wharf Across the estate
SPORT | London Marathon Watch Mo Farah and co, friends and family as they jog through Mile 19 of the course. Beware multiple road closures on the estate and beyond. Apr 28, 9.50am, free, virginmoneylondonmarathon.com
good
eggs
where? One Canada Square Lobby Canary Wharf
PHOTOGRAPHY | AOP Awards 2019 See work by this year’s Association Of Photographers Awards winners and Student Awards winners from 2018. Apr 15-May 31, daily, free, canarywharf.com/
to do in the coming days
08 eat this
huevos rancheros, The Breakfast Club, Crossrail Place, £10.50
In my teenage years, I first encountered a reference to huevos rancheros in William Gibson’s seminal sci-fi cyberpunk novel Count Zero. In it, a burnt out mercenary is nursed back to health in a small Mexican town, following a particularly difficult gig. At the age of 14 I had no idea how “dipping shards of tortilla in egg yolk” would taste, but I’m happy to confirm it’s every bit as good as Gibson’s mouthwatering description. The Breakfast Club’s version of ranchers’ eggs comes with chorizo, refried beans and just enough heat. Go to thebreakfastclubcafes.com for full details If it’s an impressive set of pipes you’re after, drop in to see Fleur East at Boisdale Of Canary Wharf on April 25. Expect a barrage of funk, soul and R&B with a side of glitter. Tickets are from £25 with no food included boisdale.co.uk
get in touch
correct us
Editorial email stories@wharf-life.com call 07765 076 300
we want to hear from you
working that art – Sally Williams on placing pieces
the joy of six Every fortnight Wharf Life covers six areas surrounding Canary Wharf to bring you the best of what’s going on around the estate From Page 38
need something fixed?
Chai Ki is the only serious place for Indian food in Canary Wharf chai-ki.com
Advertising email advertising@wharf-life.com call 07944 000 144
Our editorial team works hard to ensure all information printed in Wharf Life is truthful and accurate. Should you spot any errors that slip through the net or wish to raise any issues about the content of the publication, please get in touch and we will investigate.
want more? @wharflifelive
Go to wharf-life.com for more information
Email info@wharf-life.com
spot check somewhere to try
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
3
Canary Wharf
9
on the radar
looking to the future Paint Jam returns on May 23 for Art Tunnel, a 6pm-9pm session at Crossrail Roof Garden. For £25 participants get two drinks and the opportunity to create some art at one or all of five stations dedicated to art movements including Bauhaus canarywharf.com
14
Dishes served with rice at Momo canteen including pumpkin croquette curry
dine
visit Momo Canteen
Bennison Brown on mortgages and having an Isle Of Dogs base
Join Museum Of London Docklands for World Docks: Untold Stories – a walk through Poplar’s 300 years of multiethnic and maritime history on May 25. Led by author and historian SI Martin, tickets for this event cost £12.50 and are available online museumoflondon.org.uk
More observant readers will be well aware the corner of West India Avenue and Westferry Circus quietly turned from Tom’s Kitchen into an oriental street food outlet a few months ago. Momo is pleasantly lo-fi. It just about manages to be tidy when we visit, although all that separates the kitchen from the dining area is a shred of curtain. The focus here is on the food rather than fussing with the kind of perfect decor Wharf eateries normally bother about. My Malaysian chicken curry comes in a tray with wild rice, pickles and veg and is nowhere near the searing monster the chillis on the menu would have you believe. The whole thing feels healthy and excellent value at £7.25 Go to museumoflondon.org.uk
Momo’s Malaysian chicken curry with pickles and veg
SPECIAL LUNCH OFFERS AACHOICEAOFAPASTAAAFILLEDAPASTAAA PIZZAAORAPANINIAWITHAAASOFTADRINKAFORARRRRA WITHAAAPINTAOFAFOSTERSAORA RRRMLAHOUSEAWINEARRRRR EADAYSAAAWEEK
At Capeesh we do things differently. We are one of the finest restaurants in Canary Wharf and we serve fresh and authentic Italian food. The freshest ingredients go into every dish in our Italian restaurant to compliment the exquisite setting in which our establishment is situated. Unwind in our adjoining Lounge in absolute luxury with friends and family; the perfect spot for drinks to finish the working day. If all that wasn’t enough, Capeesh boasts a unique Sky Bar in Canary Wharf (one of the highest bars in London) to take you amongst the dizzying heights of Canary Wharf’s towering skyscrapers with panoramic views of London. This is 21st century Italian dining done right in incomparable and inimitable style in
WWW.CAPEESH.CO.UK 020 7538 1111 - events@capeesh.co.uk instagram/facebook @capeeshlondon
BREAKFAST EVERYAWEEKEND FROMARRMMMAMA--PM
CAPEESH SKYBAR
LIVE JAZZ BLUES & SOUL
EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM PM INCLUDING SOME OF LONDONS FINEST MUSICIANS COUPLED WITH SPECIAL ‘SURPRISE’ GUESTS TO COMPLETE WHAT IS GUARANTEED TO BE AN AMAZING EVENING WITH A MIX OF GREAT MUSIC AND FUN
WWW CAPEESH CO UK
4
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
legal matters
Fern Frond by Candy
by Graeme Bellenger
Q
Blackham was a
I’m thinking of letting out a property that I own. What do I need to consider legally speaking?
finalist in the 2018 Canary Wharf Group competition
There’s lots to think about when letting out a property
A
Although it is possible to let a property without the assistance of a letting agent, they can provide invaluable assistance. They can help to source and vet potential tenants, provide a tenancy agreement and guide you through the legislation in this area. If your property is leasehold you may need to seek permission of your landlord before you put it on the market. This is likely to be a freeholder, a long leaseholder or a management company. Check the terms of your long lease – a letting without permission can place you in breach of it with the result that your landlord sues you. You are letting your very substantial asset, running to many hundreds of thousands of pounds so ensure you use a professionally-drafted tenancy agreement. After all, if you have to sue your tenant or evict, it’s the key document that you will want to be able to rely on. You must have in place, and maintain throughout, up-to-date numerous certificates. These include Gas Safe Certificates, a valid Energy Performance Certificate and an Electrical Installation Condition Report. Smoke detectors and alarms are also a must and it may Ensure you use a also be necessary to professionally-drafted have in place a carbon monoxide alarm. You tenancy agreement. will need to meet fire regulations which It’s the key document affect both furniture that you will want to in your property and the property itself. be able to rely on It is necessary that Graeme Bellenger, Kidd Rapinet Solicitors electrical appliances in the property have been tested. A good letting agent can put you in touch with professionals to deliver the various certificates. Your tenant must have the right to rent through the duration of the tenancy and you must check their immigration status on behalf of the Government. Prior to letting, you must ensure your tenant has signed the tenancy agreement, that you have served them with the gas certificate, a valid EPC and the latest version of the How To Rent booklet, which is produced by the Government. You may need to register with the Information Commissioners Office in order to comply with GDRP. It is likely that you will want your tenant to pay a deposit. If so, it will be vital that this is protected within a tenancy deposit scheme and all the relevant paperwork completed. If you don’t comply with these obligations you could expose yourself to fines and may have problems should you need to evict your tenant.
“
Graeme Bellenger is managing partner at Kidd Rapinet LLP based at Harbour Exchange specialising in landlord and tenant law Go to kiddrapinet.co.uk or follow @KiddRapinetLLP on Twitter or @kiddrapinet on Instagram
capturing the
competition time Canary Wharf Group has opened its Wildlife Photography Competition for 2019 with a top prize of £1,000 in estate gift cards. Returning for a fifth year, the contest is open to all photographers with four adult categories – Street Photography, Architecture, Wildlife And Water and Up Close And Personal With Nature as well as two for junior
wild
get those lenses at the ready to snap flora and fauna across Canary Wharf snappers split by age group – 11 years and under and 12-17. Entrants must submit their images by 5pm on September 27 via canarywharf.com or on Instagram by tagging, and following @canarywharflondon and using #CWwildlife19
captioning their images with a title and specifying the category entered. Shortlisted entries will be exhibited at Adams Plaza Bridge in the autumn. A Directors Choice award will also be made for a £250 Canary Wharf gift card. Go to canarywharf.com
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
5
need to know Wax lyrical: Try your hand at candle making at Crossrail Place Roof Garden
doing the deals
hit the Wharf’s malls and restaurants for less
£50
You’ll need to move FAST for this one – Hobbs in Canada Place is offering £50 off selected spring coats to take the edge off the showers until April 16 hobbs.co.uk
40 £10
Not everybody’s heard about the Bird offer at Wharf Kitchen. On Wednesdays the stall is offering 12 wings and a drink for £10 all day. Wet wipes included birdrestaurants.com
Father and son drive food forward at Capeesh by South Quay
get all crafty among Crossrail Place’s ferns diary date Join The London Refinery on June 13 for a lunchtime candlemaking session. The hour-long workshop, which runs from 1pm-2pm costs £15 and begins with a session on how sense of smell works
and the ways in which fragrance can affect mood and emotions. Participants will then be taught about different fragrance families – the meaning of top, middle and base notes – before learing how to blend them into a candle. The final part of the workshop
will see those attending create their own soy wax candles impregnated with essential oils to take home and burn responsibly. The event is part of Crossrail Creatives along with Paint Jam and The Poetry Lab. Go to or canarywharf.com
LAUNCH PARTY THUR 18TH APRIL 2019
27 Coldharbour, Coldharb r our, rb ourr, r London, London E14 9NS
BOOK THE BEST OUTDOOR SPACE IN CANARY WHARF FOR YOUR SUMMER PARTY NOW
www. w thegundockl w. k ands.com kl www.thegundocklands.com gun.events@fullers.co.uk gun.eve v nts ve t @f ts @fu fulll ers rs r .co.uk 0207 519 0075 7 75
6
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
virtual viewpoint by Chris Ezekiel
why the head of Level39 is looking at sharing equity and attracting the right people to ensure success
72%
Percentage points above UK average that Inner London East’s productivity was found to be by the Milken Institute Talent and purpose are on Ben’s mind as key topics that should ensure Level39 and the Wharf’s ongoing prosperity
By Jon Massey
Don’t believe the hype, it isn’t thinking anything
T
he world has gone crazy about Artificial Intelligence. There’s a lot of talk about computers taking over the world - and even, eventually, destroying mankind. What rubbish. Computers still run on ones and zeros with computer programs written by humans. Artificial Intelligence is exactly that – artificial. The big growth in AI applications has come about due to processing power and cost reaching an inflection point. Despite the media hype, computers can’t think for themselves and are not remotely close to doing so. They probably never will. They don’t have emotions, they can’t love or admire a fine painting or song and they can’t laugh at jokes. They’re brilliant at processing large amounts of data very quickly, which is the same computing paradigm that is fuelling the growth in AI. That results in amazing applications that enhance our lives. Consider what entertainment, travel and medicine would be like without computers. Despite the media They are tools hype, computers helping us get closer to understanding can’t think for the two unexplained miracles (leaving aside themselves and are my mate Richard once not remotely close buying a round of drinks) – the creation to doing so of the Universe and the Chris Ezekiel, Creative Virtual creation of life – what made atoms and light and what made atoms spark into life? Is the vast abundance and diversity of life we see on Earth a one-off event, or is the Universe teeming with life across its billions of galaxies? It’s pretty lonely to think this tiny speck of dust we call a home planet is the only place where life exists, but when you consider its miraculous nature, it’s quite possible that this is indeed the case. As the ultimate custodians of the planet, us humans have a massive responsibility to cherish life and look after our beautiful rock as best we can. And if we ever solve these mysteries, I believe it will be based on a mixture of both science and spirituality. Why not then a God?
“
Chris Ezekiel is founder and CEO of customer engagement solutions specialist Creative Virtual based at Cannon Workshops on West India Quay Go to creativevirtual.com or follow @creativevirtual and @chrisezekiel on Twitter
A
mbushed with an interview, the effortlessly amiable en rabyn barely skips a beat before proposing twin topics for conversation. What has the head of anary Wharf tech accelerator evel been considering recently as he strives to improve its already formidable credentials as a place to base a startup alent and purpose. “ hese two are, I think, a little bit related, he said. “ reating conditions in which people can perform to their very best, whether they’re in a big company or a small company, fascinates me. “ here are some emerging patterns of behaviour we see the early days of here, which I think have much wider applicability and resonance. “We must also recognise we’re immensely privileged. he ilken Institute points out this is the most productive region in Europe – higher than the average – and that shows that people play a better game when they’ve bought into an environment like anary Wharf – if by better’ you accept that to mean more economically productive. “I think we’ve also got to get much better at communicating how it’s not ust an economic result, it’s got to be a political and social result, not ust for the people in it, but those all around. tempting talent side from delivering excellent material conditions for its workers – think commanding views of ondon, a cafe and a vibrant social calendar – how does evel attract the right people “ ne of the reasons people perform better is because of who they are surrounded by, said en. “What that means is that, even as a small company, you can attract and retain talent, because the people who are oining you as colleagues, are going to be around other super smart individuals who aren’t in your team, or who aren’t yet in your team, so people begin to collaborate. “I think that if you dig deeper, for example into the functions of
trust making
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
7
Technology
brokerage and closure of relationships both inside and outside organisations, you begin to see that it’s not simply a case of scrunching a bunch of people together. “What matters includes factors that are less commented on, like a high degree of convergence on purpose. In this specific context, what I mean is the very high proportion of the 1,250 people here at Level39 that are actually addressing a relatively identifiable group of potential problems and, indeed, organisations as potential clients. It means conversations between people often yield real value. “In contrast, for example, if you just take two random startups – one may be developing an app to improve the way pizzas are delivered and the other one might be developing a fintec application – beyond being in the early stages of foundation, they would have relatively little to talk about. “They might solve each other’s lunchtime needs, but they won’t shorten each other’s sales cycles. “In a community like Level39, very often one company will be in discussions with another and discover they’ve already built trusting relationships over many months with potential clients and it adds value to both organisations to collaborate. “If you consider that the average sale into a financial services business takes 18 months (a very long time for a startup) anything you can do to shorten that time is enormously valuable. “It’s trust that takes that time. echnology in fintec is usually the easier part. The harder work is building the relationships to enable a big organisation and a small one to work together effectively. “And trust is enormously improved with third party endorsement. If a person you trust and maybe admire introduces you to someone else, you’re much more likely to think there’s relevance, because that person will have already used their own judgments to decide whether it’s a useful introduction. “ he bit that I find most interesting is what happens when that dynamic applies to the most di cult of all buying decisions. “So this is perhaps most prominent in cyber security, which is
“
Whatever industry you’re in, if you depend on trust, then this is well worth paying attention to. You can think of this as a trust factory Ben Brabyn, Level39
rocketing up the agenda of senior executives in pretty much every industry and yet it’s a really, really complex area. “We routinely see companies foregoing an opportunity to sell in order to establish their trustworthiness and credibility as a referrer. “This is the largest cluster of cyber companies in London, and I think we see a critical mass of emergent behaviour here, which, of course, has wider applicability. “Whatever industry you’re in, if you depend upon trust, then this is well worth paying attention to. You can think of this place as a trust factory.” a wider purpose While attracting the right individuals is key, fostering long-term prosperity for Canary Wharf requires more. “We’ve got 120,000 of the smartest, best connected people here, commanding about 30% of the world’s financial services, so that’s a pretty robust chunk of human and economic capital,” said Ben. “And it works incredibly well. “Socially and politically, I think, there’s a legitimate challenge to the benefit it brings to the rest of society. The fact is that in here are organisations doing good things to make our society richer and also safer. “Companies here are protecting everyone’s personal privacy, their data, the security of our financial systems. There are companies that are extending financial services to people who were previously excluded. “But we’ve got to get better at expressing the value of this in a way normal people can believe, celebrate and enjoy at a time when there’s an historically low level of trust in our institutions and often in public discourse. “We have to make sure that we have su cient licence to operate. We are so privileged to be here, to be benefiting from public investments and infrastructure, publicly educated workforces and publicly sustained rule of law. “We’ve got to make sure that we do and are seen to be doing, and are understood to do what we must to secure our social purpose. “Some of it is business as usual. The companies that are contributing directly to inclusion, that’s great. Some take the view companies’ social purpose is to create jobs and employ people and provide services to customers. “I think that’s a great start. But you may need to be more creative, you may need to be more inventive. So, for example, we are exploring at the moment the possibility of inviting entrepreneurs to give away slivers of equity in their businesses and we’re discussing that with, among others, the Government and the
Treasury. We are keen to show that these are public goods, not just private goods. “We need to make sure that we open up, that the companies that are here have access to talent, wherever it is, wherever it comes from. But beyond even that, among people who would never have the opportunity to work here, we want to help express to them the value of those companies. One way is to distribute equity. “We live in times of wealth and
income inequality that are at their greatest in this country and right across the G7 since the Edwardian era. That’s increasing. “For 20 years, the bottom half of the population have seen no improvement in their material conditions, no rise in real incomes. “It’s worth considering that what matters more than income distribution is hope distribution. We’ve got to support hope and we’ve got to distribute it better.” Go to level39.co
8
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
Canary Wharf
World Art Day is April 15 (who knew?) so we sat down with Canary Wharf public art consultant Sally Williams for a chat in celebration
Image by James Perrin – find his work at jamesperrin.com or via @millerjamesperrin on Insta
Sally looks after both Canary Wharf’s permanent art collection and many of the estate’s exhibitions
by Jon Massey
W
alk around Canary Wharf and it’s impossible to go more than a few steps without seeing, walking over or even sitting on artwork. Some pieces are obvious, making bold statements in bronze or stone. Other works, including most of the original railings and even the street furniture have been commissioned on a more subtle level. What’s certain is the rich depth of the collection – so large Canary Wharf Group’s current guide to its permanent exhibits runs to 68 pieces. It publishes a regularly updated version (available online and in print) for those keen to explore them all. We’ve dotted a few highlights over the next four pages with the aim of sparking lunchtime walks or weekend visits. This is all part of the world of public art consultant for the estate, Sally Williams, tasked both with looking after the works owned by the Wharf and with producing temporary exhibitions in venues such as the lobby of One Canada Square and Crossrail Place Roof Garden. “People should explore the estate because there’s a lot of art here and we have some really good exhibitions by some interesting artists,” she said. “One of the whole ideas about bringing art to Canary Wharf right at the beginning, before the whole programme of exhibitions started, was the idea of making the place much more attractive. There was always the intention to have sculptures in the landscape. “In the early stages, most of the artists
Martin Richman We Could Meet, 2015 acrylic, fibre optics, electronics Crossrail Place Quayside
“
People who come to Canary Wharf are going to find a really interesting variety of work
Sally Williams, Canary Wharf Group
work making the art
Jeff Bell Cast Glass Panels, 1992 cast lead crystal Cabot Square
Andrew Burton Chimney, 2008 recycled fired bricks, steel Westferry Circus
Sinta Tantra A Beautiful Sunset Mistaken For A Dawn, 2012 paint, lighting Middle Dock
were commissioned to do functional items. The railings round Westferry Circus are by Giuseppe Lund, for example – that was absolutely a one-off commission. We get a lot of people who come to Canary Wharf for the art as well as the landscape and for the shopping.” Sally herself arrived on the estate in 2002, initially on a six-month maternity leave contract, before going on to job-share with her predecessor and then take over the role. “There are really two elements to the job,” she said. “One is looking after the permanent collection – it’s very important to say public art is art in the public sphere. “In a sense the exhibition programme is not correctly defined as public art, but that’s semantics. “I’ve had a very long association with Tower Hamlets and the East End. I’ve worked in a lot of different organisations. I did art history to start with at the University Of Sussex. Then I worked for Toynbee Hall and after at the Whitechapel Gallery as a whole mixture of things. “Then I worked in public art with the Public Art Development Trust, which was one of the first public art agencies. "It arose out of Arts Council discussions about art in public places and we did a lot of work commissioning pieces for hospitals and other public places. “Public art consultants tend to be like brokers. You’re working for a client, but you’re working very much with the artist. “In Canary Wharf there are quite a lot of practical things to do. The permanent collection has really grown. We’re always updating the Art Map so people can come on self-guided tours. “Sometimes a work commissioned for a particular location has to move and it turns out to be even better there than in its original setting. “I find that side of things fascinating and I love working with artists, that’s my main interest. “I think people who come here are going to find a really interesting variety of work. There some that are architect-integrated like the railings or the benches. “But then there are works like Draped Seated Woman by Henry Moore, which is on loan from Tower Hamlets Council for five years. We bid for it and I think the reason we were awarded the loan Continued on Page 10
Bruce McLean Sculptural Railings, 1992 steel Fisherman's Walk
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
13
SEASONAL MEMBERSHIP As a Member of Club London you secure much more than just your seat to watch West Ham United play in front of 60,000 supporters. Located just 11 minutes from The City and 14 minutes from Canary Wharf, we have a range of experiences at London Stadium which make the perfect setting to spend your matchday with clients, friends or family.
Memberships start from ÂŁ1,650 plus VAT per season CANARY WHARF
MINUTES
THE CITY
MINUTES
A limited number of seasonal memberships will be available from this May
To learn how you can secure your place or to book a tour of our lounges please call 0303 031 1968 whufc.com/hospitality
10
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
from Page 8
Constance De Jong Speaking Of The River, 2000, audio Canary Riverside
Bill Culbert Coup De Foudre II, 2009 neon Churchill Place
was because we could provide really good security, insurance and we’re also doing a really interesting community education programme around it. There’s been a kids’ arts trail and lessons rolling out. We want every child in Tower Hamlets of a certain age to come and see Old Flo in Cabot Square. It is with us until 2022.” Beyond the myriad works that have a permanent home in Canary Wharf, Sally’s other role is to direct the ow of new work via temporary shows. “The exhibitions are around two thirds of my job,” she said. “One Canada Square’s lobby is the main site. It’s always an interesting challenge because it’s so busy. “ lso, you also can’t fix things to the walls, which is why it was very much seen as a sculpture space. “We have managed to get things hung from the ceiling – the ssociation Of Photographers (AOP) wanted to hold their awards here and we did an exhibition for them. “They’ve got an event with them on May 14 at the East Wintergarden and there will be an exhibition of the winning works after that. “We have independent curators
for most of the shows. As to what makes a successful exhibtion, it’s not necessarily whether you like the work that goes in. “Over the years, there have been some shows that have been outstanding. “We had one by Phyllida Barlow before she had her show at the Tate. We’ve had some very big names, Anthony Caro and Franz West. “We work on the exact location of pieces. I see myself as the project manager, working with a curator, deciding where to put work. “I really enjoy working with artists. My other great allies are the security staff because they see the work every day, they have a check sheet of all the works and check them regularly. They always ask what’s coming up next and give me feedback.” Sights to look out for around the estate in addition to the AOP exhibition include Cartographic Colour – a photographic exhibition by Giles Revell at Crossrail Place oof arden from pril - ay 31 and Jeroen Swolfs’ massive photography show which will see 195 massive images take over the estate from ay - . Should the temporary not tempt or prove convenient, Sally gave
2
Works by Richard Hudson – Tear and The Knot, pictured, which are set to join the collection soon
us a recommendation from the permanent collection – ideal for checking out during a lunch hour. “There is a really interesting work, it’s an audio piece called Speaking Of The River by an American artist called Constance De Jong and that was a project Canary Wharf sponsored rather than commissioned,” said Sally. “It was undertaken by the Public Art Development Trust, which is an organisation I coincidentally used to work for. “There are two benches at
Canary Riverside as you’re on your way off the estate and when you sit down it triggers about 30 minutes of memories from people who live on the Isle Of Dogs, combined with sounds of the river and music. "I know how it was researched because when I was at the trust, I knew the person helping the artist meet communities on the Island. She wanted to talk to some of the older people living there. “It’s worth noting there wouldn’t be an arts programme or
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
11
Canary Wharf
Henry Moore Draped Seated Woman, 1957-58 bronze Cabot Square
Robert Worley Avatar, 2009 aluminium Westferry Circus
Yvonne Domenge Coquino Coral, 2015 polymer with onyx Bank Street
Lawson Oyekan Trail With Light Series, 1998 terracotta One Canada Square
when did you last take the team out for a curry?
Konstantin Grcic Six Public Clocks, 1999 steel, glass Reuters Plaza
an exhibition programme at all if it wasn’t for Canary Wharf Group chairman and chief executive Sir George Iacobescu. It’s absolutely his passion. "He’s on the board of the Royal Society Of Sculptors. Really – and I’ve found this with other organisations I’ve worked with – if you have someone who’s passionate, then that absolutely leads things. His interest is key to how Canary Wharf has developed.” Go to canarywharf.com for more about the estate’s art collection
Couple On A Seat by Lynn Chadwick can be seen in Cabot Square
Bob Allen It Takes Two, 2002 bronze Cabot Square
Julian Wild Origin, 2017 painted steel Crossrail Place Roof Garden
discover real indian food book online at limerestaurant.co.uk One Manilla Street Regatta Point, Isle Of Dogs London, E14 8JZ
B A R & R E S TA U R A N T
020 7515 4500
scan this
12
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
Canary Wharf
68
Works to discover on the latest version of the Canary Wharf Art Map, available to download at canarywharf.com
Jon Buck Returning To Embrace, 1999 bronze Cabot Square Forecourt
Jennie Moncur Redberries Blueberries, 1990 paint on linen 40 Bank Street
Igor Mitoraj Testa Addormentata, 1983 bronze Bank Street, West Wintergarden
Julius Popp bit.fall ‘London Games’, 2012 valves, pump, computer, filter Chancellor Passage
Giles Penny Man With Open Arms, 1995 bronze West India Avenue
Jay Battle Vanishing Point, 1999 Derbyshire stone, steel Canary Riverside
Emma Biggs Wharf Walk 2003 and 2013 stone and glass Jubilee Place
LBO Lichtbankobjekte Lightbenches Classic, 2011 translucent glass, LED Canada Square Park
Ron Arad Windwand, 2000 carbon fibre Canary Riverside
Do König Vassilakis Angelo I, 2000 various materials 40 Bank Street
Alexander Beleschenko Art Glass Wall, 2002 glass, lighting Citigroup Entrance
Giuseppe Lund Gate, Sculptural Railings, 1992 steel, bronze Westferry Circus
Suresh Dutt Drawing Cube (Blue), 2010 mild steel Montgomery Sq
Antoni Malinowski Untitled, 2000 acrylic on canvas Canada Place
Do König Vassilakis Sasso Cosmico bronze, steel Westferry Circus
Igor Mitoraj Centauro, 1984 bronze Montgomery Sq
Maureen Anne Holley The Spirit Of East London, 2007 photographic lightbox West Wintergarden
Martin Richman Float, 2002 light, glass, steel North Colonnade
Nigel Ross Cross Way, 2003 European larch Montgomery Sq
Eilis O’Connell Sacrificial Anode, 2007 cast bronze, stainless steel Montgomery Sq
Sophie Smallhorn Colour East vinyl Canary Wharf T ube Station
Sophie Smallhorn Colour West vinyl Canary Wharf Tube Station
Oliver Barratt Opening Lines, 2010 and Turning Point, 2014 fibreglass, resin, stainless steel Columbus Courtyard
Helene Blumenfeld Fortuna, 2016 bronze Jubilee Park
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
37
Creative space
this space is yours
use it to design the YouTube video of your dreams – share storyboards with @wharflifelive or #keepittoyourself – don’t like, subscribe or comment below
WORKING TITLE
38
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
60
The Tower Of London played a big role in the lives of the Tudors
14 days later
plan your life from Apr 25-May 9 where? Troxy Limehouse
PODCAST LIVE | Happy Place - Masie Williams Fearne Cotton welcomes actor Maisie Williams – best known as Game Of Thrones’ Arya Stark – for the recording of her positively slanted broadcast. May 4, 7.30pm, from £28, troxy.co.uk where? Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping
CINEMA | Dmytro Morykit’s Metropolis Live Watch Fritz Lang’s masterpiece to the strains of a live pianist for this representation of a year 2000 that never was, but still yet might be. Apr 27, 7.30pm, from £10, wiltons.org.uk where? Tobacco Dock Wapping
EVENT | London Cats Billed as the “biggest cat expo in the whole of Europe” this is the place for all things feline. Just make sure you know which way to rub them. May 4-5, 9am-5pm, £26.49, tobaccodocklondon.com
flagging it up
Join Roamin’ Jasmine for a selection of New Orleans jazz, Dixieland and Calypso tunes delivered in the delightful surroundings of Jamboree in Three Colt Street, Limehouse. Attend from 7pm and pay £7 for the pleasure jamboreevenue.co.uk
spot check worth a visit Uncork a few bottles at Champagne Route in Wapping. Craft bubbles champagneroute.co.uk want more? @wharflifelive
Minutes each performance lasts, with shows starting at noon and 3pm in the Tower’s dry moat
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
39
Wapping - Limehouse
terrible entertainments
get ready as the Tower Of London prepares for the horrors of the Tudors
T
he Tower Of London is set for an invasion of mirth and history when the Brimingham Stage Company perform the Terrible Tudors at the historic palace from May 25-June 1. The production, drawn from the stable of Horrible Histories, promises to bring “the blood curdling stories of this infamous royal dynasty” to life for those with a thirst for all things awful and amusing. Audiences will learn how King Henry VII, the first in the line, came to the throne Actors from the BSC and all about the six wives of his son, King Henry VIII, two of whom lie buried are well versed in in the Tower’s Chapel Royal of St Peter bringing characters from Ad Vincula. Then there’s the tale of history to life
The era of the costumes may be wrong, but the expressions do justice to a horrible time what theGroom Of The Stool did for a living and why Queen Mary acquired her moniker Bloody Mary? Performances last for one hour in the Tower’s dry moat. Seating is on grass and unreserved. Audience members can bring blankets and cushions. Tickets are £12 for adults and £7 for children five and over. Go to hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london
40
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
riverside recipes Images by Matt Grayson
by Matt Colk
how a father and son fill up Capeesh with warmth on every level
Images by Matt Grayson – find his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta
By Jon Massey
Matt Colk’s beef feather blade stew with garlic mash and spinach on the side
T
his dish is definitely for the meat lovers. Whenever I think of braised dishes, I always think about my nan’s stew and dumplings, which my brother and I loved. My advice when making this dish, is take your time, don’t rush the cooking of the meat, the lower and slower the better it will be. Ingredients (serves 2) 200g beef feather blade 150g onion 2g thyme 2 sticks of celery Pinch of black pepper 300ml red wine 1 clove of garlic (or 2 if you like) 1 carrot 50ml veg oil For the garlic mash 400g potato 50g unsalted butter 80g double cream 2 garlic coves Pinch of salt and white pepper For the spinach 150g washed spinach Pinch of salt Method In an oven proof pan, heat up the veg oil then sear the beef on all sides getting plenty of colour. Remove the beef then roughly chop all the veg and colour in the same pan. Add the beef back to the pan, de-glaze the pot with red wine, add the herbs and top up with water till just covered. Cover the pan with foil and put into a pre-heated oven at 140C for five-six hours, leave to cool for 20 minutes before serving. For the mash, peel and chop the potatoes in half then bring to the boil in a pan of lightly salted water. Simmer till soft. While the potatoes are cooking add the butter, cream and garlic together in a pan. Simmer till the garlic starts to break down, then blitz. Pass the cooked potatoes through a masher. Add the cream and garlic mixture to the potatoes and beat with a spatula. Once you have a smooth silky consistency, leave to one side. Depending on how you like your mash, if it’s too dry add a bit more cream. Cook the spinach in a clean, dry pan. It will take seconds – keep moving it around so it doesn’t char. Add the salt then serve.
Matt Colk is head chef at The Gun in Coldharbour, Blackwall. Owned and operated by Fuller’s it offers dining, drinking and relaxation by the Thames Go to thegundocklands.com or follow the @thegundocklands on Instagram and Twitter
M
ustafa and Jamie Topkaya have been running bar and restaurant Capeesh for a little over two years. Located at the base of an eninsula and with a th oor Sky Bar, this sizeable chunk of real estate manages a neat trick. Since taking over Tompkins and The Attic, the father and son team have successfully reinvented the previously impersonal space as one that radiates the familial warmth of a comfortable, upmarket Italian restaurant. The pair are insistent when we visit for interview and photoshoot. They want to be pictured waiting to welcome guests – after all: “We are the people you’ll see when you come”. It’s all part of a philosophy that has seen the venue’s business rebalanced firmly in favour of food. When they took over, dining was a mere 5% of revenue. Now it’s 50%. And that’s down to a blend of Mustafa’s experience and Jamie’s expertise. “Everyone who walks into this place, they deserve my respect so I make sure I make everything is done properly, as it should be,” said Mustafa, 63. “I came to the UK in 1975 from Turkey and ever since I’ve been in the food business – the service industry. “Hotels, restaurants and so on. I also know the revolution that happened in the UK in terms of restaurants. “When I came here, you had only a very few high end restaurants, Wimpy bars and Berni Inn steakhouses. “Everything has developed and improved. Competition has brought quality. Now you get the best restaurants in the world in the UK. I’m very pleased about this and I grew with it.” Following on from success with Bella Vita in Broadgate Market, Mustafa returned to Italian food at Capeesh. So how have he and Jamie grown the restaurant since taking it over? “We’re not one of those places like The Ivy that pay more attention to the table and the plate decoration than the quality of the food,” he said. “We are focussing on quality. I believe in the Hindu saying: ‘You are what you eat’. “Number one, you
From left, Mustafa and Jamie Topkaya and Capeesh general manager Sercan Tozge wait to welcome guests
the Italian restaurant on the Isle Of Dogs promises the best of old and new together have to have quality produce – fresh vegetables, fresh pasta. We go for the best possible. “If you start right, you end right. You can take bad produce to the best chef in the world but you won’t get decent food. “Then there’s caring for my chefs and kitchen staff. In the restaurant business, for me, they are the top tier. I respect everyone but you have to have
a good chef. People come to the restaurant for the food. We’re based in a lovely building but customers are not silly. They are not going to pay a lot of money if it’s not good value. “Our motto is value for money, quality and personal service – when you get these things right, people realise what they can get in a place and that they’re not being ripped off. aving firmly established the pi a and pasta, a fresh focus on seafood is
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
41
Isle Of Dogs - Poplar - Blackwall | presented in association with mortgage specialist Bennison Brown
“
Our motto is value for money, quality and personal service – when you get these things right, people realise
14 days later
to do before Apr 25
plan your life from Apr 25-May 9 where? The Space Isle Of Dogs
Mustafa Topkaya, Capeesh
One of the views from Sky Bar’s balconies
top deals ● Get pasta or pizza with wine or beer for £12.99 or £9.99 with a soft drink for lunch ● Get 50% off on cocktails at Capeesh Sat-Wed 4pm-7pm and at Sky Bar Mon-Wed 5pm-8pm
in the pipeline – appropriate perhaps given Capeesh’s location next to the dock by South Quay DLR – so diners can expect grilled fish as they look out over the water. It’s Jamie, however, who is responsible for driving the venue forward. He joined his father having proven his mettle with tapas bar The ockingbrid in alston, financed by selling various personal items including his car and watch. Now he’s keen to establish Capeesh and its Sky Bar as a venue for live music, further boosting it as a destination. “I’ve grown up with my father in hospitality businesses since I was little so I took to it like a duck to water,” said Jamie, 33. ”I’ve been around restauants and kitchens all my life and I always looked up to him as a hero. “Upstairs is a lovely venue, always very busy. We do jazz nights on a Wednesday – it’s uber cool. “Great cocktails and amazing views, you couldn’t ask for more after being in a basement. “It’s huge, a complete 360. The clientele has changed – now I’m serving people in suits. “But people are people, as long as you make sure you give them good service with a smile on your face they should be leaving happy. “There have been lots of ups and downs over the two years. It’s been a strenuous and tough road getting to where we are, but we’re in a really good place now. “Before, it was purely a bar for people to have drinks. We wanted to make it somewhere for people to come. You can get a drink anywhere in Canary Wharf. “But if you do good quality pizza and pasta, it’s something to attract people to the venue.” Between that, a thriving delivery business, a blockbuster £40,000 pizza oven and a full English breakfast served until 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, Capeesh is not short on attractions. And with plans to move the music downstairs to make full use of the venue, there’s plenty to look forward to. Go to capeesh.co.uk or call 020 7538 1111 for more information
STAGE | Me And My Doll Workaholic Kate is gifted a blow-up-boyfriend by her colleagues and decides to keep it. Paperback presents this rom-com with a difference. Apr 30-May 4, times vary, £12, space.org.uk where? Poplar Union Poplar
Attend the launch of the Sipsmith Gin Garden at The Gun on the evening of April 18 or simply hire the whole space for a corporate spring or summer do overlooking the Thames with Canary Wharf behind book via gun.events@fullers.co.uk
spot check worth a visit GIG | Folk On Monday Pop along to this Saturday showcase for the sounds of Lisa Knapp, Brazen Thieves, Alison Sleator, James Findlay and Solasta (pictured). May 4, 2pm, £15, poplarunion.com
With a new head chef, pop to Bokan at the Novotel for top class food bokanlondon.co.uk want more? @wharflifelive
42
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
Rotherhithe - Bermondsey - Deptford
£300m
Potential cost of a cycle and pedestrian bridge from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf’s Westferry Circus is the proposed end point for the bridge from Rotherhithe
14 days later
plan your life from Apr 25-May 9 where? The Albany Deptford
COMEDY | Question Time Cabaret Talia Randall delivers her glitter-drenched version of the nation’s favourite discussion programme featuring drag, spoken word and stand-up acts. May 2, 7.30pm, £14, thealbany.org.uk where? Canada Water Theatre Canada Water
STAGE | Women Who Gave No Fucks Two teams of stand-up storytellers recount the exploits of womankind in a bid to win over the human clap-o-meter. The winner takes all. Apr 30, 7.30pm, £14, thealbany.org.uk where? Brunel Museum Rotherhithe
cross the best way to get
Image by Victor Huang
Comment - a cycle bridge is not really a ferry good idea By Jon Massey
PARTY | Brunel Spring Party Fragrant blooms, floral cocktails, pioneering engineering and seasonal fare will be on offer as toasts are raised to Marc Brunel. Apr 27, 5.30pm, from £5, themidnightapothecary.co.uk
to do this fortnight
Pop over to Shortwave Cafe for Ghizbo Collective’s People, Places And Things from April 12-30. Each artist featured has selected a word from the title and created work to respond to it. Admission is free shortwavecafe.co.uk
spot check worth a visit Journey to Old Salt Quay in Rotherhithe for a drink right on the Thames greeneking-pubs.co.uk want more? @wharflifelive
W
e need more ways to cross the Thames in east London. That the only new link built in recent times has been an ill-conceived, barely practical cable car is scandalous. Both sides of the river are set for extraordinary growth over the next decade and to get the most out of that potential, connecting them more efficiently is essential. Fixed links are the gold standard, naturally. Accessible 24-hours a day, generally free to use, dependable, reliable. But times are tough. These are costly projects and often run aground on the rocks of deals to operate tolls, or environmental concerns about increased traffic. Neither would apply to the Rotherhithe-toCanary Wharf cycle and pedestrian bridge. Early drafts of the plans for this link were leaked to the media recently, indicating TfL was intending to consult on an L-shaped vertical lift bridge between Durands Wharf on the south bank and Westferry Circus on the north in spring 2019. Despite the decision to abandon the graceful bascule bridge (conceived for the site by Reform Architects) in favour of an industrial-style solution, it’s clear a fixed link would be lovely. It would join Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf, two areas in the grip of unprecedented levels of development, in a way the Jubilee line just can’t. But is it actually necessary? Would the £300million be better spent elsewhere? While working for a previous publication, I interviewed MBNA Thames Clippers CEO Sean Collins. His company operates the existing ferry service between the two points.
An CGI of the proposed lift bridge in Rotherhithe At present it’s comparatively expensive and perhaps lacks the glamour of his fleet’s river bus services. But during our chat he spoke of a desire to see the ferry enhanced and for similar systems to be installed up and down the river, dictated by demand. With the colossal flop of The Garden Bridge in the background, before too much money is committed, I’m increasingly of the opinion that trialling a more frequent ferry service for pedestrians and cyclists makes sense. Cheap to set up, at least in contrast to building a bridge, such an alternative would establish demand for a future fixed link and also serve as a blueprint for similar services. Vast swathes of east London and Docklands are being built on. One new pier is already certain, with others in the pipeline. A network of free, frequent and simple ferry crossings would make these vital pieces of infrastructure work as hard as they are able. And Rotherhithe-to-Canary Wharf could be the first. Give it some thought Sadiq Khan.
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
43
Greenwich - Peninsula - Woolwich
Image by NASA
moon
how the National Maritime Musuem is preparing to mark 50 years since the largest small step taken
180
Objects will tell the story of our scientific and cultural relationship with the Moon
plan your life from Apr 25-May 9
landing
where? The O2 Arena Peninsula
A
n exhibition celebrating 50 years since NASA’s pollo mission first saw humans visit the Moon is set to arrive at the National Maritime Musuem in Greenwich this summer. The Moon, which is scheduled to open on July 19, will feature more than 180 objects from public musuems and private collections across the world in a bid to illustrate the cultural and scientific story of the relationship between us and our nearest celestial neighbour. Visitors will be able to see artefacts from the Apollo 11 mission including Edwin “Buzz” Alrdin’s communications cap and the Hasselblad camera equipment used to capture images on the mission. Lunar samples collected from NASA and the Soviet Union missions to the moon will also be on show as well as a rare lunar meteorite on loan from the Natural History Museum. Supporting the more recent objects will be a selection of historic and contemporary works, intended to illustrate how the Moon has inspired artists. Moonlit scenes by JMW Turner and John Constable will be displayed alongside modern pieces by Katie Paterson, El Anatsui, Chris fili and eonid ishkov. Visitors will start with a section dedicated to exploring ways in which the Moon has been embedded in human culture, spiritually, practically and artistically, with its changing phases used to mark time in religion, navigation and medicine. This will include the oldest object on display, a Mesopotamian Tablet
GIG | Jay Chou Neither bird nor pastry, the king of Asian pop’s star is in the ascendant as he graduates from Wembley Arena to The O2 with his Invincible 2 World Tour. Apr 26-27, 6.30pm, from £42.75, theo2.co.uk where? Greenwich Theatre Greenwich
STAGE | Sherlock Holmes: The Sign Of Four Blackeyed Theatre present the world premiere of their take on Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle’s classic tale. A missing father, stolen jewels and murder. May 7-11, times vary, £21, greenwichtheatre.org.uk where? The O2 Arena Peninsula
Above, Apollo 11, the first manned lunar mission, blasts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Below, a framed pastel drawing entitled The Moon by John Russell, circa 1787, will be on show Image by National Maritime Museum
By Jon Massey
from 172BCE, on loan from the British Museum, which shows how lunar eclipses were considered to be bad omens, as well as Islamic and Chinese calendars showing the continuing importance of using the Moon to set the date for key festivals such as Chinese New Year and Ramadan. The Moon will also look at key moments within the Space Race, highlighting how a number of Soviet achievements were
14 days later
ultimately overshadowed by Neil rmstrong’s century-defining step down onto its surface. The exhibition will feature new video art by Christian Stangl whose film Lunar uses animated photographs from Apollo missions to allow visitors to experience the Moon landings through the eyes of the astronauts. With a renewed drive to return to the oon, re ected in future projects from China, Europe, India, Israel, Japan, Russia and the United States, The Moon will also re ect on the fact such a journey may soon no longer be the domain of superpowers and international space agencies but become that of private companies and entrepreneurs. The exhibition’s closing chapter will therefore look at these contemporary motivations for Lunar travel, asking whether the Moon will remain a peaceful place or become the focus of competition. The Moon will run at the National Maritime Museum from July 19-January 5, 2020. Tickets cost £9 and are available now. Go to rmg.co.uk/moon50
EVENT | Take That The trio Rick-roll the tent with Astley in support as they bring a blistering show of costume changes and re-imagined greatest hits from their Odyssey album. May 2-10, 6pm, from £187, theo2.co.uk
to do before Apr 25
Participate in The O2’s Great Easter Treasure Trail from now until April 21, 10am-6pm. Those who visit five attractions at the venue and collect the appropriate stamps will get free Nestle Easter Eggs theo2.co.uk/easterhunt
spot check one to try Right on the Thames, try The Sail Loft for river views, brews and nautical decor sailloftgreenwich.co.uk want more? @wharflifelive
44
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
why Excel’s events and attractions supremo is delighted to have landed Formula E for 2020 and how the venue is driving forward
14 days later
plan your life from Apr 25-May 9
By Jon Massey
where? Excel Royal Docks
EVENT | Service Desk And IT Support Show More than just turning it off and on again, this is the event for those providing tech assistance to the rest of the company. Trade customers only. May 1-2, 9.30am, free registration, excel.london where? Excel Royal Docks
EVENT | Hard Surfaces Ceramic tiles, metal cladding, glass, polished concrete. As technology delivers new materials here’s a show that reveals how to use them. Apr 30-May 2, 10am, registration needed, excel.london where? Excel Royal Docks
EVENT | Grand Designs Live Worship at the church of architect Kevin McCloud as he brings his self-build spiritual to Royal Docks. Suppliers, financing – it’s all there. May 4-12, 10am daily, from £12, excel.london
to do before Apr 25
D
amian Norman is a man on a mission. Recently installed as head of events and attractions at Excel, his job is to bring spectacle to the Royal Victoria Dock venue – to draw crowds beyond the not insignificant pull of its roster of blockbuster shows. “Part of my remit is that I am responsible for everything that isn’t the current business,” he said. “The exhibitions and conferences side is incredibly well run and has been a huge success over the last 18 years, so now we’re looking at the wider campus. “I’ve been having a lot of conversations with major rights holders, different owners on what fits with our calendar and what we could do well. “Let’s not forget we run more than 500 individual events and 400 conferences and exhibitions across the year so there’s not a lot of dead space in the calendar. “But there’s not a lot of opportunity for me to go about finding those partners who are going to be brand-enhancing, also people we can work with and with whom we can achieve interesting things. “Obviously we’re all waiting for Crossrail, which will connect us much better to the rest of London. “We already have four million people coming to the venue each year – we’re one of the most successful and well attended venues in the world. “Putting that transport piece in makes big, mass attendance at events that much more possible, because of the ow of people you can get in and out.” And Damian, like the rest of us, is hoping the purple trains of the Elizabeth Line will be running to Custom House by July 2020. It’s the reason he and I are chatting. The venue recently announced a the taking of a sizeable scalp in world motorsport – it has convinced Formula E to return to London and base itself in Royal Docks for a number of years.
or the first time the starting grid and finish line of its track will be inside, with its electric cars tearing 2.4km round the building at speeds of up to 175mph. “Formula E has been all around the world, expanding through New York, Rome and Paris, but the organisers have always wanted to be in London,” said Damian. “That’s where their headquarters are and it’s a huge market for them, so we’ve been in constant conversation. “I joined the business in August 2018 and one of the things in my inbox was: ‘OK – lets see if we can put something together that would excite the fans, that would be a racing spectacle and that would allow us to work in partnership with formula E’. “So I’m delighted we’ve managed to put that partnership together and, although we’re at an early stage, already there are a lot of shared goals, there’s a lot of synergy between the businesses and their sustainable message that electric vehicles are the future of motoring. It also fits in with how London is moving in terms of tax and emissions – with low emission zones and everything else – our air quality has to get better.” inside job “What is a world first is that m of the track will be inside,” said Damian. “Formula E and ourselves are putting together some very exciting ideas as to how we will celebrate that – it’s an atmosphere that you wouldn’t be able to get at any other motor race and the grandstands will support that. “The whole race will run clockwise around the building and be completely contained within the Excel
“
It’s fabulous to have Formula E back in London. Our ambition is to make this its most successful event in the world Damian Norman, Excel
Get over to Zzetta Soul Fired Pizza in Canning Town, pick up an Easter Egg challenge map, track down the locations (10 in total) and get free pizza for the evidence. Runs April 15-22. Full details in store zzetta.co.uk
spot check worth a visit Fancy pizza somewhere else? Heroica Lounge serves it on an old bus heroicalounge.com want more? @wharflifelive
The route Formula E drivers will take round Excel
Formula E cars are seen outside Excel to celebrate its arrival at the Royal Victoria Dock venue campus itself. The Aloft Hotel will also be part of the track – quite unique for them. “What it will allow, as Formula E grows and the audience gets bigger, is that the event can expand fully across the campus – that’s 100,000sq m plus and about another 30,000sq m outside. That gives us the capacity to have a very large attendance. “What’s different about ormula E compared to existing Formula 1, is that the latter is very well established and very successful, but the barriers to going to a race are financially significant. “Formula E is pitched at a much younger demographic, more family focussed – under 15s go free, for example. hat’s a very good offer. “I think that from Formula E’s perspective the organisers are aware they are building a global following for it with 35million people already watching every race online.” green machines Formula E sees a young audience as crucial both to its future and to the aims of the manufacturers participating. Consequently Mario Kart-style powerups are available to drivers crossing special blue chevrons for a duration of two laps, although they must deviate from the racing line to get them. Controversially, there’s also a fan boost, awarded to a driver in response to audience interaction with the event online via social media. Then there’s the fact Formula E cars can race five inches apart as the downforce-altering effects of the dirty air pumped out by petrol vehicles are nonexistent. That means more overtaking, tighter races, more crashes and a very different kind of driving for spectators to absorb. It’s all part of a carefully constructed plan to promote electric vehicles to the buyers of the future.
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
45
Canning Town - Royal Docks
Excel’s Damian Norman is tasked with adding attractions to the venue’s already busy calendar, including Formula E in 2020 “The audience and the next generation aren’t driving petrol cars but they are interested in the ecological ambitions of those manufacturers,” said Damian. “They want to know about the future and they’re focussed on the technology, so there’s a lot of interactivity and the appeal to the younger generation is very much the way Formula E creates its E-village – its all part of a kind of electric festival. “The organisers are aware families are a core market for them, so they want to be seen to be talking to the fans of the future and keeping those entry costs low. That is the way to do that – to bring people in, to invite them to become part of the family. “The current Gen Two cars, which they now race, are beautiful. I think the brief was to make them like the Batmobile but better, and they’ve achieved that. “You have the likes of Mercedes and Porsche joining the manufacturers for 2020 so Formula E’s roster of car manufacturers is second-to-none. That’s because of the quality of the racing, it’s a great spectacle. “I’m not an industry expert, but if you sat those CEOs down and asked them what ratio of electric cars they will be making to combustion engines in five years time, let alone , it would be quite interesting. “That’s absolutely why this sport is growing at the rate it is, and it’s fabulous to have it back in London as well, because I think our ambition is to make this the most successful Formula E race in the world. It’s a really big opportunity.” face-to-face change The part Excel plays in that is a familiar one – enabling people to see automotive industry developments in the person. And Formula E comes with plenty of opportunities for that. “This is a brand and a company that’s playing a part in changing the planet,” said Damian. “It sounds quite grand, but it genuinely is. If there are going to be millions of electric cars sold and we’re still relying on fossil fuels, it’s going to be Formula E that’s going to change that agenda. It’s a showcase.
The only emissions from Formula E races are typically sprayed from bottles at the end of the contest “One of the big things that Excel does is to act as a facilitator for sharing information and enabling a meeting of minds. If you’re looking for sources of supply or to buy into a certain industry, face-to-face works. “My belief is that events will always stay strong because they are about a basic human need to talk to one another and to look into the whites of someone’s eyes – to see if you can trust them. “We don’t all sit in front of computer screens all the time. So if Mercedes, Porsche and VW are going to sell electric cars to significant numbers of people, their customers will still want to come and ask questions – there’s a lot of demystifying to be done. “People want to know what their range is, how the maintenance works and they need a forum to ask those questions. That’s where Formula E comes in. The race will be a chance to meet those manufacturers and for them to address those issues. “It’s a chance to see what electric cars are really like and that’s an opportunity itself. That works well in a venue that has built its history on people sharing relationships and ultimately buying from each other. “You could watch it on the telly or you could take things a step further and go to the event – then you get something really interesting.” Go to excel.london or fiaformulae.com for more information or to register for tickets to the London event
message racing to deliver a
46
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
Advertising Directory - Acknowledgements
find our advertisers’ messages here in order of appearance Chase Evans print Pages 1, 30, 31 online chaseevans.co.uk
Southern Homes print Page 23 online shosales.co.uk
Capeesh print Page 3 online capeesh.co.uk
Berkeley Homes print Page 24-25 online berkeleygroup.co.uk
The Gun print Page 5 online thegundocklands.com
Telford Homes print Page 27 online telfordhomes.london
Transport For London print Page 7 online tfl.gov.uk
Luna Group print Page 29 online lunagroup-stjames.co.uk
West Ham United print Page 9 online whufc.com/hospitality
Landmark Estates print Pages 32-33 online lmlondon.com
Kidd Rapinet print Pages 10, 13, 22 online kiddrapinet.co.uk
Galliard Homes print Page 36 online galliardhomes.com
Lime Bar & Restaurant print Page 11 online limerestaurant.co.uk
Bennison Brown print Page 41 online bennisonbrownmortgages.co.uk
Vantage Properties And Management print Page 20 online vantage-uk.com L&Q print Page 21 online thamesstreet.co.uk
be part of the Canary Wharf conversation To advertise in Wharf Life call 07944 000 144 or email advertising@wharf-life.com
without these people, Wharf Life would not have been possible Graeme Bellenger, John Garwood, Jon Dyer, David Galman, Natasha Maddison, David Campbell, Matt Grayson, Kerry Hill, Stephanie Massey, Sarah Leaman, Steve Grieg, Phil Wetz, Camille Waxer, Lucy Merrit, James Vellacott, Lyndon Nunn, Camilla Maddison, Philip Wild, Michelle Vellacott, Andy Shaw, Andrew Scott, Paula Voong, Nadia Maddison, Gary Pring, Edwin Chiu, Annamaria Maddison, Mike Televantou, Chris Ezekiel, Steve Askari, Michael Massey, Andy Shrimplin, Gooch Heer, Rudy Wong, Nick Preston, Steven Herd, David Massey, Ian Li, Andrew Brown, Jean Paul Toerien, Mark May, Ranald Macdonald, Mustafa Topkaya, Simon Spann, Enza Capodici, Mathew Heaton, Kim Wiper, Sophie Watt, Louise Howell, Victor Huang, Phillip Maddison, Spencer Fortag, Dan Smith, Richard Carroll, Randeep Thethy, Toby Wilson, Joel Rayney, Lana Marshall, Olivia Curle, Laura Warren, Rebecca Wood, Maria Tognarelli
thank you Jess Maddison co-founder and commercial director Jon Massey co-founder and editorial director
@wharflifelive
Wharf Life is published by Massey Maddison Limited, printed by Iliffe Print Cambridge and distributed by Willis News Distribution. Copyright Massey Maddison Limited 2019
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
47
Stratford - Bow
Main image by Kasia Burke
75
Running time in minutes for Fighter at Stratford Circus
14 days later
plan your life from Apr 25-May 9 where? Copper Box Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
box fresh
GAMING | Call Of Duty World League London Enter your own team in the open championship or watch 16 teams of elite gamers compete for a $325,000 prize pot. Team entry is £295. May 3-5, 8am-10pm, from £55, cwl.gfinityesports.com
A former boxer herself, Libby Liburd writes and stars in Fighter
new work Fighter reflects legacy of female fighters in 2012 by Jon Massey
S
tratford commands special status in the world of international women’s boxing. In 2012 it became the first place where the sport was included on the Olympics’ roster of events. Appropriate then, that it should also be the setting for Libby Liburd’s Fighter, a play inspired by the pioneering female British boxers who fought for their right to compete in the ring. The production, which will run at Stratford Circus Arts Centre from April 25-27, features young boxers from Fight For Peace’s Newham Academy, who will re-create a boxing gym on stage, running through training drills as the main cast perform. Writer Libby takes the main role of Lee, an embattled single mum used to taking on the world alone. Plunged into the world of boxing via Tommy’s Gym, everything changes for her as the play explores her attempts to overcome adversity. Libby said: “Fighter is a very special play, even if I do say so myself. “We’re in Stratford, home of the lympics – the first where women were allowed to box competitively and where our very own Nicola Adams won Gold. “ y first ever time in a boxing gym was at a place in Canning Town, so it feels really important and relevant that Fighter is set here.
Actor Cathy Tyson will appear alongside Libby Liburd “The play celebrates the amazing female boxers that fought both literally and figuratively to be allowed in the ring. “It celebrates the rich cultural tradition of boxing in Newham. It’s a loud, sweaty, fun play, full of heart – something very different
“
Fighter celebrates the rich cultural tradition of boxing in Newham. It’s a loud, sweaty fun play full of heart – something very different Libby Liburd, The Fighter
where? Lee Valley Hockey And Tennis Centre Stratford
to your usual theatre piece and you’ll leave the theatre feeling like Rocky.” oining the fighters and ibby on stage will be BAFTA and Golden Globes-nominated actress Cathy Tyson, who won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress, opposite Bob Hoskins in Mona Lisa, and David Schaal whose credits include The Inbetweeners Movie and he ce, playing Tommy. Directed by Julie Addy, the play draws on Libby’s personal experiences of fighting in the ring (including a bout at The Troxy in Limehouse) and the legacy of the professional female boxers of the late 1990s who faced discrimination, sexism and brought court cases to be allowed to fight in the ring. Libby said Fighter questioned perceptions of masculinity, femininity and challenged the idea boxing was a violent sport “against womankind and not for a mother”. The production is supported by the National Lottery via Arts Council England funding and has been produced with support from Stratford Circus, Fight For Peace, The Lake House Charitable Foundation and Arts Award Access Fund. It is Libby’s third play, written following the success of Muvvahood, which dealt with society’s attitudes towards single mothers and Temporary, about the crisis of single mother households. Tickets for the production cost £15 and performance times vary. Go to stratfordcircus.com
SPORT | The FIH Pro League This new competition offers 12 opportunities to see Great Britain’s men’s and women’s hockey teams play international opponents. Apr 27-Jun 15, times vary, £22.50, fihproleague.com where? Stratford Circus Stratford
DANCE | COLL!DE 2019 Watch UEL BA Dance Urban Practice students showcase their talents in this blend of Hip-Hop, contemporary, Capoeira and popular moves. May 3, 7pm, from £5, stratford-circus.com
to do before Apr 25
Head to All Star Lanes at Westfield Stratford City on April 22 with the kids and join the Easter bunny for an egg hunt in a bowling alley. Entry is free although participation is on a first-come, first-served basis allstarlanes.co.uk
spot check try this place out Try Darkhorse in East Village for industrial looks and Mediterranean mouthfuls thedarkhorserestaurant.com want more? @wharflifelive
48
Wharf Life Apr 11-25, 2019 wharf-life.com
SUDOKU
Crossword - Sudoku
Medium
6 2 7
2 4
6 5 3
1 2
6
You can find more Sudoku puzzles and a wide selection ofTo others available in apps and books at str8ts.com. This complete Sudoku, fill the board Sudoku is supplied by Syndicated Puzzles. by entering numbers 1 to 9 such
7 5
5
3
4
1
7
8 5 9
that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. Notes
© 2019 Syndicated Puzzles
3
6
4 6 9 2 8 3 7 5 1 Sudoku 2 a3break 1 from 5 4 that 7 phone 6 9 8 Take 5 7 8 6 1 9 4 3 2 How 1 to4 play 2 3 6 5 8 7 9 To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 7 such 8 that 9 4each 2 row, 1 3column and 3x3 box one6to5nine contains every number uniquely. 9 8 3 1 7 2 5 6 4 2 find 4 strategies, 9 3 6 hints 1 8and5tips online You7can at sudokuwiki.org 3 1 6 4 5 8 9 2 7 8 to 9 play 5 7 2 1 3 4 6 More
8
4 9
1
Previous solution - Easy
For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Sudoku you’ll really like ‘Str8ts’ and our other puzzles, Apps and books. Visit www.str8ts.com
crossword Down
7.
1.
Speaks of zero house assessments (6) 8. One who pinches a child (6) 10. No top on ruined bridge (7) 11. See 5 Down 12. See 6 Down 13. Use it for a musical sequence (5) 17. Go through the letters for a certain amount of time (5) 18. One who sings in natural tones (4) 22 & 15Dn. Not necessarily one who goes to bed during the day (5,7) 23. Clothes Martin changed about the end of June (7) 24. Speculate about everybody dancing (6) 25. Charming things you’ll find em among children (6)
Notes
Instrument that indicates all points of view (7) 2. Parent upset about one artist (7) 3. Denise Norbury will conceal the Spaniard (5) 4. Argue about being put in poor side (7) 5 & 11Ac. Don’t use pieces as extra accessories (5,5) 6 & 12Ac. The rest I wish to make a mess of pottage! (5,4) 9. Describing one completely overcome by tears? (2,4,3) 14. Observed a description of the Dalmatian (7) 15. See 22 Across 16. A hundred on trial question the verdict (7) 19. A suit for the society spots (5) 20. In shocking gale one must be nimble (5) 21. Mountaineering aid to fasten all round (5)
Quick Across 7. 8. 10. 11. 12. 13. 17. 18. 22. 23. 24. 25.
Almost (6) Tremble (6) Promote (7) Lift (5) Adhesive (4) Abode (5) Fit out (5) Pulse (4) Wash lightly (5) Rare (7) Madness (6) Scanty (6)
Down 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 9. 14. 15. 16. 19. 20. 21.
Revile (7) Odious (7) Shine (5) Dawn (7) Miss (5) Steal (5) Tuneful (9) Press (7) Need (7) Pompous (7) Boats (5) Below (5) Speedy (5)
Across: 7 Nearly; 8 Quiver; 10 Elevate; 11 Raise; 12 Glue; 13 House; 17 Equip; 18 Beat; 22 Rinse; 23 Unusual; 24 Frenzy; 25 Scarce. Down: 1 Inveigh; 2 Hateful; 3 Gleam; 4 Sunrise; 5 Avoid; 6 Creep; 9 Melodious; 14 Squeeze; 15 Require; 16 Stilted; 19 Craft; 20 Under; 21 Quick.
Across
whether you’re cryptic sleuth or synonym solver in it for quick wins, this should satisfy
Cryptic Solution
Cryptic
beating the
Across: 7 Orates; 8 Nipper; 10 Pontoon; 11 Parts; 12 Stew; 13 Suite; 17 Spell; 18 Alto; 22 Light; 23 Raiment; 24 Ballet; 25 Totems. Down: 1 Compass; 2 Painter; 3 Senor; 4 Dispute; 5 Spare; 6 Irish; 9 In full cry; 14 Spotted; 15 Sleeper; 16 Contest; 19 Clubs; 20 Agile; 21 Piton.
The solutions will be published here in the next issue.
Quick Solution
No. 424