Wharf Life, Apr 19-May 3, 2023

How Canary Wharf Group works with the Eden Project to go greener

inside issue 86

Natasha Maddison - Skillwork - Crossword

One Touch Collective - Riverscape

Greenwich Millennium Village - Sudoku

Sea Change - Mouse Tail Co ee

Stratford Picturehouse

Unlocked - Outrivals

Under Milk Wood

Sophie Goddard

celebrating the best of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the new east London people - events - treasure - property - foolishness

Image by Jon Massey

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what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

Where? Montgomery Square Canary Wharf

EAT | The Lunch Market

Karnival is bringing its street food stalls back to Canary Wharf on Thursdays from next month with a rotating cavalcade of traders expected. May 4-Sept 28, noon-2.30pm, canarywharf.com

Where?

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Square

Welcome to the 86th issue of Wharf Life. Within you’ll nd cutting edge clothing, tech consultancy, a venue that puts sustainability at its heart and a gym blending community with plenty of challenging workouts. Oh, and there’s still time for some classic lms, a decent co ee spot and Dylan Thomas

hot list

rumours tips and rankings

NEW STUFF

GIG

The smiling guitarist – a veterean performer with the likes of Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris and the Everly Brothers – returns to Cabot Square. May 10, 9pm, from £29 (show only), boisdale.co.uk

Where? Museum Of London Docklands West India Quay

KIDS | Dodger: A Family Adventure

Explore the museum’s galleries and help Dodger, Fagin and the gang stay one step ahead of the cops with this newly created trail. For ages 7+. Until Jun 4, 10am, free, museumo ondon.org.uk

Anyone excited yet? Greggs is set to expand its footprint in the area with a branch in Canary Wharf Tube station set to tempt hungry and thirsty Wharfers as they arrive or depart from the estate. Expect long lines and sausage roll cravings. Baking is booming, apparently, as Buns From Home is also expected to open an outlet in Cabot Place, close to Leon on the lower level.

OUR PICKS

If you do nothing else in Canary Wharf this fortnight, consider indulging in the below:

1. It’s a new nancial year, so allocate some time to helping a charity. Water Aid is hosting a Dragon Boat Race on July 6 and taking bookings now. See page 9 for details – wateraid.org

2. Check out the return of the free crazy golf at Montgomery Square. Who will win the hotly contested o ce competition? – canarywharf.com

3. Try a £6 small plate or cocktail at Caravan in Reuters Plaza, available Mon-Fri from 4pm-7pm and also after 9.30pm. A top deal on selected dishes and drinks – caravanrestaurants.co.uk

seasonal spot

Sakura Notebook By Kosuke Tsumura

If you prefer to doodle on the pages of a seasonally appropriate notebook, the Moleskine in Cabot Place can easily help you out. As part of its Asian collection, this fabric bound jotter measures nine by 14 centimetres and features a graphic depicting the blossoming of cherry trees in spring. This pocket version retails at £23, with a variety of other sizes also available online or in store.

Scan this code to nd out more about Moleskine

This is the moment the very top of One Canada Square was bolted into place, a scene captured by photographer Tony Brien, hoisted 830ft into the air in a crate to snap the image. He’s since rediscovered the pictures and is sharing them tonybrien.com

Scan here to read our interview with Tony, who worked to record the Canary Wharf project until 1993

| Albert Lee

need to know

Randox Health has opened the doors to its Canary Wharf clinic at Cabot Place, o ering a wide range of health checks and tests including services aimed at athletes and mothers. Wharfers can get 10% o when booking by using code WHARF10 randoxhealth.com

24

For those craving freshly warmed focaccia stu ed with a range of wholesome ingredients, Bread And Tru e is set to arrive in Canary Wharf’s Canada Place in the not-too-distant future. Expect classic

How four dancers are set to explore Covid in Unlocked

doing the deals

get

more for

20%

Enjoy a fth o salads at Urban Greens in Bank Street by quoting UG20 at the till. The restaurant is open Monday-Saturday and the o er is valid until the end of April urbangreens.co.uk

26

Canary Wharf - West India Quay

30%

JON HALA

JUBILEE PLACE CANARY WHARF LONDON, E14 5NY 020 7719 1828

JONHALA.COM

NEW FOR APRIL-MAY 2023

JON HALA X JAPAN

Taking inspiration from Jon’s collaboration with Wella Japan in Tokyo and Art Of Hair by the iconic Shu Uemura ,the salon is pleased to celebrate Sakura Season in Canary Wharf with a range of treatments from Japan

FEATURED TREATMENT

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An advanced treatment to soothe over-processed, neglected hair with powerful active ingredients to repair, restore, restructure and add incredible shine

HAIR | BEAUTY | AESTHETIC TREATMENTS

28

SCAN TO MAKE A BOOKING

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write me words you don’t know you need

eastar

noun, fake, from Middle English

A retailer selling o heavily discounted Easter chocolate just after the weekend has passed but that somehow has gone unnoticed by the droves of bargain hunters looking to snap up a chocolate egg or two

dwizzen

verb, real, from American English

This turns out to be a modern word that means to shrink or dry up – essentially what happens to stocks of discount chocolate at worrying speed. Hit Charbonnel Et Walker now for 50% o ...

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hot coffee market wines craft beer

When I was at fashion school, I became really interested in the concept of trend forecasting. Just as it sounds, it’s actually somebody’s job to predict these things. This might sound simple – choosing colour palettes on a whim – but not so. Trends take into account the economic climate, scienti c developments, world news, consumer sentiment, lms, music and a whole host of things.

There’s certainly a lot going on in the world at the moment and with the UK dealing with the highest in ation seen in decades, Recession Core has arrived. Also dubbed Quiet Luxury (QL), it’s all about dressing in a minimalist manner, with subdued colours and shapes – nothing ashy or overstated.

Super rich celebrities have been notably wearing less glitzy jewellery on red carpets recently. Flaunting wealth during an economic slump is not a good look. The excess and logo-mania of previous seasons is gone, with the runways for Spring/Summer refreshingly simple. The irony of spending a lot to look like you haven’t is not lost on me, especially in the midst of a cost of living crisis.

We all lived through lockdown when loungewear was king of the wardrobe, so we’re all set, right? However, my leggings and joggers now have holes from excessive wear, so I’ve been window shopping for this trend.

● I spotted the Regular Fit Trousers In Japanese Crepe With Drawcord Waist in black, £189 at Boss in Cabot Place. If these don’t scream QL, I don’t know what does. They’re a relaxed comfy t, but can be dressed up with heels and a blazer.

● I also have my eye on a Juicy Couture Silver Marl Zip Hoodie, £60 at recently opened Circle Collective in Jubilee Place. Juicy was the ultimate 00s go-to for velour tracksuits and Desperate Housewives vibes. However, even this brand has toned it down.

● Coach in Cabot Place has wooed me with its Signature Knit Dress in black, priced £495. It’s a lightweight cotton polo-style dress, plain except for the lace frill at the collar, which is a nice touch, and not too much. Plus, pockets. Need I say more?

● I am not a super rich celebrity, unfortunately, and my energy bills need paying, so I doubt I’ll stray far from Zara in Cabot Place this season. The high street giant is also in on the act, with its beautiful linen collection, which I adore. A pair of Linen Wide Leg Trousers in light khaki, £49.99 are so versatile, with a utility theme and the Linen Palazzo Trousers in grey, for £32.99, are also on my shopping list.

Ultimately, though, we don’t need to spend much to keep up with fashion trends, and anything I do splash serious cash on, I expect to last years.

Insta @wappingdocklandsmarket

Brussels Wharf Glamis Road Wapping, E1W 3TD squid.org.uk/visit when are

Natasha Maddison @pazzanatasha on Insta

watercolour by Ed Bucknall - edjbucknall.com

by Jon Massey

Business is all about relationships and it’s pretty clear there’s real strength at the heart of Level39-based Skillwork. It’s also emblematic of how London provides the crucible that allows individuals to come together, fused and more powerful as a consequence.

In a nutshell, Skillwork provides software development services to startups, small firms and corporates looking to run innovative breakaway projects that fall outside their main areas of operation.

But at its heart lies much more than technical prowess. It’s the enthusiasm, energy and passion of two men – co-founders Jan Gasiewski and Ali Youssef.

From Poland and Bulgaria respectively, the pair met and founded the business in 2020 while both studying for their masters degrees in entrepreneurship at University College London’s School Of Management in Canary Wharf’s One Canada Square.

Both had previously studied in the UK – at Lancaster (Jan, business administration) and Northampton (Ali, computer software engineering) – before heading to the capital with perhaps a sense of something unfinished.

“Lancaster is a great university,” said Jan. “But what you need if you want to go into business is exposure and the nearest city is Manchester. Even that is just far away enough that nobody goes.

“I’d applied for placements at Microsoft and HP. At the assessment centre for the former I didn’t know how to approach it – everyone just said: ‘Be yourself’. But the feedback was that all the product work was done in the States and that I didn’t show much human emotion, so I got into HP instead.

“It remains my only ‘real’ job, but there wasn’t much work to do so I wound up mostly reading books rather than getting experience.”

Ali said: “I’d gone back to Bulgaria, thinking I was going to be a software engineer and I got a job.

“But on the day I was supposed to start, I called the guy and said that I didn’t want to do it.

“Then I told my dad that I

wanted to study entrepreneurship instead and his response was that business courses were for people who didn’t know what they wanted to do in life.

“But I applied to UCL, got in and that was my first experience of London – coming to Canary Wharf I was so shocked because I had never seen a place like it in my life.

“It was a place you could talk to anybody – I was having a coffee with a guy and he turned out to be a fund manager in control of millions of dollars.

“When he asked me what I did, I had to say I was a student. In Bulgaria I thought people like these were superheroes that I would never meet in real life. But London showed me you could talk to people who were very successful. It changed everything.”

Jan, in a “rare display of extroversion” messaged his course mates at UCL to see if any of them would be up for meeting over a drink. Ali was the only respondent, and they bonded over food at Honest Burgers swapping tales of their fathers.

“Both our dads had businesses,” said Jan. “We both grew up looking up to them and both were screwed over quite badly by their business partners.”

Their friendship flourished and they decided to go into business together, with Skillwork founded in 2020 while they were still studying at UCL. Now based at Canary Wharf’s tech community, Level39 at One Canada Square, it employs some 17 people in London and Bulgaria.

“We always say our partnership is the cornerstone of the business,” said Jan.

“Because of our fathers’ experiences, we created a set of rules when we started to ensure that nothing like that could happen to us. We are very transparent with each other and love working together.”

“We really wanted to be very entrepreneurial from the start,” said Ali. “We were surrounded by people in that environment both at UCL and at home.

how Skillwork offers tech services to businesses from its base at Canary Wharf’s Level39 tech community

It was quite prestigious for us to come to Level39. I also think it’s one of the best spaces in London

Jan Gasiewski, Skillwork

Skillwork co-founders Jan Gasiewski, left, and Ali Youssef met while studying at UCL before deciding to build a business together

Image by Jon Massey

“It’s also about an acceptance of potential failure and an appetite for risk. To start with, we had no experience, so we decided to plug ourselves into the world of startups and build up knowledge as we went, using that as a catalyst to create something.

“Today we work with small businesses and corporate innovation labs and the core of what we do is software development for those clients.

“We like to mix pragmatism with technology. You get people who come to us all guns blazing saying that they’re going to build an AI model to do something incredible but they haven’t yet got any traction. So we might apply the brakes there and persuade

Helion. We’ve also managed to build all this without any investment. We now have employees who rely on us and fortunately we have a good, strong network of mentors.

“Generally speaking what’s happened is that our success comes from our clients’ success.

“We’ve worked with the majority of our clients since day one and many have seen a huge degree of success. They’re all big-name people, so it’s all going very well as far as our reputation is concerned. We’re now in a much healthier position, with strong cash-flow and a sound profit margin. We’re now looking outwards to expand.”

While Skillwork’s technical operations take place in Bulgaria, London remains key to the business’ plans for growth. Having studied at UCL on the 38th and 50th floors of One Canada Square remaining in the tower was a natural step.

“It was quite prestigious for us to come to Level39 – it was a marketing thing as well, because meeting clients here makes a good impression,” said Jan.

“I also think it’s one of the best spaces in London. If your working environment is good, then your

work will be good and we’re very fortunate that we can afford to be here. We have some clients in Dubai and that might be a place we expand into.

“Our strength lies in the fact that we have contacts in so many countries and the ability to access them. One thing to remember is the UK is and always will be a global power.”

Ali added: “That was the key benefit for us of coming to the UK – when we came here, we were exposed to all these different cultures.

“London isn’t going to go under anytime soon. The reason we’re looking outwards is that we’re a bootstrap business, with not too much cash in the bank, so we have to keep expanding. There are only two choices – you go up or you go down. Out next step is to become innovation leaders in the Middle East for anything digital – that’s our ambition.”

Who would bet against them?

Go to skillwork.co.uk for

Scan this code to nd out more about Skillwork

them to go one step at a time. On the corporate side, we are leaning towards what’s called venture building, where a big company decides it needs, for example, a digital presence, and brings in help from outside to help it develop one.

“So we sit down and discuss with them problems which they are interested in solving, and then we help them to see what ideas might be a potential business plan. Then we help them build that product up, and then they take it over and run it.

“We’ve been around now for a little over three years and in that time we’ve been able to work with the likes of pharmaceutical giant GSK and fusion power company

EXHIBIT 69

Artist Mark Anthony works under the name Exhibit 69 and sells his vibrant painted leather jackets at One Touch.

“I use my art to manage my mental health – it calms me,” said Mark. “The beautiful part for me is when you know someone is wearing one. That’s a proud moment.

“Fashion and art are related and it’s always fun to do something as a group, so I’m very happy to have my jackets for sale here.

“I paint leather jackets because I’ve always liked punk culture – I remember going to Camden and seeing people there. I loved their boldness, the DIY attitude and that they didn’t conform to society. I think there’s something beautiful and brave about that.”

Follow @exhibit69 on Insta

EXODUS PAS DE CE MONDE

Founder Inder Paul Sandhu created the brand as a response to not being able to a ord the clothes he wanted. He makes hats, jackets and scarves – all for sale at One Touch.

“Exodus is from the bible and the French means ‘not of this world’ so there’s a duality in it,” said Inder. “There’s a coolness and also my spirituality because God has put me here.

“I’m used to being misunderstood, underestimated, so that’s what the brand is for. I wanted it to be the cool kids club, with the caveat that we’re all cool kids.

“I’m London-based and my main background is music, but I couldn’t a ord the clothes I wanted so I thought I would go and make them instead. I met a couple of tailors and they gave me the time of day.”

Follow @exoduspdcm on Insta

by Jon Massey

Cory Saunders is a singular man, driven, a trailblazer, a one-off. But the co-founder of One Touch Collective is paradoxically anything but insular. He’s all about building and growing a community, showcasing and celebrating others’ talents.

That individuality, however, is worn proudly – not least in the Cabot Place unit he took on as a pop-up, now extended due to demand.

“At heart it’s an independent concession store,” he said. “We source high-end brands but we also specialise in premium sneakers, creative artwork and developing brands.

“We keep it like a hub – it’s more than a store – we’re building a community for the marathon not the sprint.”

Co-founded with his mum’s nephew, Kyle Wynter, One Touch is unquestionably about people – artists, traders, enthusiasts and like-minded folk whose energy and products come together in the space.

It’s a radically different retail experience to shopping at a shiny high street store and Canary Wharf Group deserve recognition for adding a fresh ingredient into its blend of shops.

“It all started from my mother,” said Cory.

“I was quite privileged as a child – a lot of my clothing came from Bond Street.

“So the eye I have today –how I look at things, fashion, clothing and toys – it’s all from what my mother provided for me. She was into clothes and before she was pregnant with me, she got into the London College Of Fashion but didn’t end up attending.

“To this day, I bring her with me to get my clothes if I’m going out, she has got that eye, my father too.”

Cory’s journey in

fashion began around 2008 when he decided to drop corporate work in favour of customising sneakers – a key component of One Touch in its partnership with trader Hypezeus.

“I don’t class this store as mine, it’s for everyone,” said Cory. “I curate it. I open the door for each individual brand to do what they need to do.

“If they don’t want to step on it, then that’s down to them. If people want to embrace it, they can.

“When I first came down to see the space at Canary Wharf I thought there would be a big difference to what was here – a shock. But there has been a good response.

“I’m not surprised because what we’re bringing here is the new pop culture of the streets. Since we’ve been here people have embraced it and there’s a demand for what we offer.

“Even the majority of people coming to work in Canary Wharf have trainers on their feet – the bowler hat and the suit are gone.

“Our ultimate aim is to be

more than a

how One Touch Collective is at the cutting edge of fashion and style in Canary Wharf’s malls

One Touch Collective co-founder Cory Saunders

established, but for all the right reasons – to create something that has longevity that’s authentic. Our doors are open for everyone and it’s all positive.

“Moving forward I’ll be working with Hypezeus and that’s the plan for this space. It’s taken me 0 ears to find someone who’s on the same page as me and that’s Chris Ng – the top sneaker seller on TikTok.

“We clicked just like that – we collaborate and it just works. It’s very important to have the right people around you. Another example is Mark Anthony, the artist Exhibit 69. His work is on another level and we’re proud to stock his hand-painted leather jackets.

“When people come in here

One Touch Collective sells clothes, toys and rare sneakers at its Cabot Place store in Canary Wharf

we tell them he’s not a fashion designer but an artist. The creativity and energy he puts into his work is amazing – I’ve seen people fall on the floor looking at the jackets.”

And that’s really the message.

To feel the vibe at One Touch, the best thing to do is pop down and check it out. There’s bound to be someone on hand to guide you around its exclusive selection of products ou definitel won’t find elsewhere.

Follow @onetouchcollective on Insta Scan

HYPEZEUS

Hypezeus sells limited edition sneakers, streetwear, designer clothes and collectables.

“I founded it while I was doing my PhD in mechanical engineering,” said Chris Ng, who has become a top seller of footwear on TikTok and is a key collaborator for One Touch.

“It’s so hard to get hold of limited edition sneakers, but I wanted it to be accessible for everyone – not just people who have connections.

“Initially I built up my own collection and then

a lot of my friends were asking me how they could get these shoes.

“I see sneakers as works of art that you can wear. I wanted to help create a community where we share the same vision – Cory, Mark, and so on – artists who have a real talent, and that will o er something for everyone, with all price points covered.

“Then we want people to come in so we can tell them the story behind each brand.

“We believe this is very important, because it’s the designers’ artwork, and you want to share that with the customers.

“We also want them to come in and have fun, and discover new brands which people will like, not just the big corporate names that they will also want to see.

“Getting a new pair of sneakers feels like when you’re a young kid and you get the toy you always wanted.

“It’s a fresh feeling because every pair is di erent but it’s also a bit like a sticker book because you want to complete your collection.

“I’ve lost count of how many pairs I have personally. Now it’s about making them available to everyone else.

“Go back 10 years and people who collected trainers were sneaker-heads.

“But now everyone on the street has a pair – this is how the trend is going.

“I clicked with Cory because we share the same vision and want to work as a team to give people what they want. That’s what Hypezeus and One Touch Collective are all about”

Follow @hypezeus on Insta

Thursday 6 July South Dock, Canary Wharf

Recruit your team and take to the water this summer for your chance to become champions – and unlock people’s potential with life-changing clean water.

Entry fee: £350 per team

Fundraising target: £1,500

Corporate entry includes a minimum of 11 and up to 17 people in a team.

For more information visit wateraid.org/dragon-boat-race

getting greener

by Sophie Goddard

Acouple of weeks ago, I ventured down to Cornwall with Canary Wharf Group’s sustainability team for a knowledge sharing session with our partners at the Eden Project.

While we were there, taking in the incredible scenery in the domes, I was struck by its incredible story – how a former quarry has been transformed into not just a visitor attraction, but a thriving ecosystem that continues to develop each year.

It is so valuable in its support for the local community, the supply chain it creates and its role and insights in research and development in this sector.

Additionally, those running the project have made the entire experience of visiting accessible and fun – not always easy when dealing with the mundane or technical aspects of sustainability.

We’ve had a partnership with the Eden Project for a year now, and it has been instrumental to the work we are doing to transform our public spaces at Canary Wharf.

Its sta have been involved with advising us on what to plant and sharing their experiences with education and how to create places where people feel comfortable and relaxed.

Eden’s employees have been especially supportive as part of the team working on our Middle Dock project. The proposal received planning consent this year, with construction due to start in spring.

The plans will provide more space for local wildlife to thrive and give the people who live in Canary Wharf, work locally or visit for pleasure and relaxation a way to connect with the water and nature.

But overall, the visit got me thinking about how we can take our partnership even further. On the train back to London, the team and I discussed what we might do. As a result, we are working with Eden to deliver an exciting programme of works on our estate – stay tuned for more on that later this year.

We are also producing a guidance document with the Eden Project that sets out some of the things we’ve learned from our work so far and the ideas we’ve brainstormed.

The lessons my team and I learnt at Eden were invaluable – and the possibilities for applying the knowledge right here in Canary Wharf’s urban environment, are endless.

Even though E14 is a long way from St Austell, our shared desire to connect people with nature means the possibilities are myriad and we look forward to continuing to develop these and share what we learn from the process.

Sophie Goddard is director of sustainability at Canary Wharf Group and can be contacted via sustainability@canarywharf.com

Go

Wapping - Limehouse - Shadwell

£14.50

Starting price for a ticket to Under Milk Wood at Wilton’s Music Hall

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

Where? St Katherine Docks Wapping

Guy Masterson is set to perform at Wilton’s Music Hall in May

SEE | Dunkirks At The Docks

In celebration of the coronation, the largest gathering of Dunkirk Little Ships is set to be held at the marina in May. Expect various events to mark it. May 4-6, daily, free, skdocks.co.uk

Where?

Troxy Limehouse

GIG | Yard Act

Having sold out their May 4 gig at Troxy, the Leeds rockers have added a second date in Limehouse after the release of debut The Overlord in January. May 5, 7pm, from £25.70, troxy.co.uk

feat of and physical performance

experience

Where? Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping

GIG | The Swingles Vocal Weekender

There’s two headline concerts, workshops, a scratch choir and pop-up performances on the agenda as the ve-time Grammy winners come to Wilton’s. May 5-6, times vary, from £35, wiltons.org.uk

how Richard Burton’s nephew, Guy Masterson is set to play every single character in Under Milk Wood

by Jon Massey

The numbers are impressive. A total of 69 characters, 100 minutes of entertainment and three score years and 10 of history – the forthcoming production of Under Milk Wood at Wilton’s Music Hall has it all. It also has a man who has performed Dylan Thomas’ day-in-the-life of ctional Welsh coastal town Llareggub more than 2,000 times over

three decades, himself with a powerful link to the text.

In shows running May 9-13, Guy Masterson is set to portray every character in the poet’s masterpiece – a feat of memory and physical transformation he’s been touring for more than 30 years.

Inspired by his uncle, Richard Burton, who led the rst broadcast of Under Milk Wood on the BBC World Service in 1954, Masterson promises an evening of the bawdy and beautiful, sad and sensual as he works his way through the text.

The show, directed by Tony Boncza, also features an original soundscape by Matt Cli ord. Tickets for the performances start at £14.50, with shows at 7.30pm and matinees on Saturday and Thursday at 2.30pm. Go to wiltons.org.uk to book or for more information

Scan this code for more about the show or to buy tickets

book now

Following massive demand for tickets to their Eventim Apollo show, The Flaming Lips have added a second London date at Troxy in Limehouse to play Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots in full on April 25. Tickets from £43.55 troxy.co.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about the gig or to book tickets to see The Flaming Lips live

want more? @wharfwhispers

a

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

Where? Craft Central Isle Of Dogs

Minutes of contemporary dance will see the dancers of Unlocked re ect on the events of 2020 and 2021

Nova Grace Productions’ lockdown collaboration with choreographer Karen Hill – Unlocked – is set for a run at The Space in May

EVENT | Flax Piece #1

To celebrate London Craft Week this performance piece will see Shane Waltener explore making ax into thread. Expect scutching, hacking and spinning. May 12, 4pm-6pm, £10, craftcentral.org.uk

Where?

Poplar Union Poplar

LEARN | Thursday Blast With Both Dance

These once-a-month classes o er three hours of training for experienced dancers. Expect a challenging programme to help individuals develop. May 4, 6.30pm, £18, poplarunion.com

Where? The Space Isle Of Dogs

EVENT | Board Games Night

Running the rst Wednesday of every month, these regular evenings are for casual and serious players alike. Donations will be encouraged to SpaceLift. May 3, 7pm, free (booking advised), space.org.uk

try this

unlocking the

This delightful bowl of Mussel Linguine is from new seafood player on the Island The Shell – open now at South Quay Plaza. Its current lunch deal o ers this dish and Mussels With Fries for £9.90 each. Decent. theshellseafood.com

Scan this code to nd out more about The Shell at South Quay Plaza or to make a booking

want more? @wharfwhispers

by Jon Massey

Aquartet of dancers is set to unleash Unlocked at The Space on the Isle Of Dogs in May. uring the first lockdown in March 2020, the performers from Nova Grace Productions collaborated with aidstone-based choreographer Karen Hill to create the piece.

Conceived as an exploration of both life in lockdown and the story of the pandemic, they created a production of four 5-minute sections each intended to represent different stages of lockdown life.

Rehearsing over Zoom, the performers patiently contended with limited space and time lags on ideo calls to create nlocked which was first performed in December 2020.

Its arrival at The Space is intended as an opportunity for audiences to reflect on all that came before from vaccines to masks social distancing and long-awaited hugs.

“Life over the pandemic was very interesting to say the least,” said Karen, who choreographed nlocked. “In man wa s lockdown had an incredible effect on m life. uring that time – trapped at home – my love for music and composition grew, but my passion for dance became frustrating.

“My mind was dreaming of choreography that I couldn’t bring to life. Then came the suggestion to dance on Zoom with the professional performers of Nova Grace Productions. So, we started with ballet classes together three times a week and soon de eloped long choreography sessions.

“We all had free time to spend working together when mone wasn’t an issue. We’ll never have that again.

“Dance was our coping mechanism – doing what we love most and what makes us who we are. Joining together via Zoom, keeping close to one another although isolated, sharing a joint purpose, we started documenting the experience in choreography.

“It gave me great pleasure to see what was in my head coming to life. It reall was a gift which kept me going. I believe that it was the joy of creating together, which makes the pro ect perfect.

“Technique, style and form are always important in dance but,

during that time in lockdown ust working together was what mattered.

“ rt speaks without words and is interpreted by each individual. I hope the audience will all find positive encouragement in this piece.”

Founded in 2015, Nova Grace Productions is a social enterprise aimed at building a platform for creating original dance pieces and deli ering workshops “with a message”.

Over the seven years it’s been in existence, that has involved the creation of shows focused on mental health awareness inspiration and lockdown.

Unlocked is an effort to capture a moment in time and to provide a space for self reflection as it takes people back in time ia news headlines, confusion and government messaging to ensure the pandemic is neither forgotten or brushed under the carpet.

Following each performance at The Space, audiences will be invited to participate in a 0-minute with the dancers to hear about their creative process and the development of the project.

“Interpret and take what ou will from this creativity,” said aren. “ lwa s find positi e encouragement. It is the joy of creating together that makes it perfect.”

● Unlocked is set to run at The Space from a - with all performances starting at 8pm. ickets for the show are offered on a pa -what- ou-choose basis with £6, £12 and £18 options. Go to space.org.uk for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about Unlocked

how Unlocked at The Space is set to take audiences back to the pandemic as dancers explore the story of Covid

Art speaks without words and is interpreted by each individual. I hope the audience will all nd positive encouragement in this piece

Karen Hill, Choreographer

The production features four dancers who will take to the stage at The Space to explore the story of lockdown and the pandemic through the language of movement

by Jon Massey

Matt Lo’s vision is one of community. Having dropped out of university, bored by his business course and keen to avoid getting into debt, the entrepreneur tried his hand in various sectors. Following stints in estate agency, stockbroking and helming a failed website business, fitness beckoned.

“I fell into personal training,” he said. “I was always sporty –basketball, football and athletics at school and basketball for my county, Essex.

“But then you get into standard living, so it was nice to get back into fitness. What I learnt from the website business was that I wanted to gain some experience for a few years and earn my stripes before launching something. So I worked for Virgin Active in Moorgate, spent all my spare time studying, did my personal training qualifications in 2013 and that was it.”

From those beginnings, Matt started hosting outdoor fitness sessions in east London parks before successfully crowdfunding and opening his first ph sical g m in Old Street in 2016.

“I took my personal training clients, went freelance and that’s how things evolved,” he said. “Walking through those doors on opening day was beautiful, but also so stressful.

“We had plumbing problems the changing rooms leaked into the g m floor and when we first opened I was there for several nights in a row lifting floorboards with water gushing out.

“I didn’t know what to do, but that’s part of the game – the unexpected stuff the random scenarios. If you don’t want those challenges, then you shouldn’t run a business.”

With the leaks stopped his first gym performed solidly up until the pandemic when, like many businesses, its model was upset by unprecedented circumstances.

When the Old Street g m closed permanentl in 0 buffeted b lockdowns and home working, the next chapter in Matt’s story was already unfolding.

“I first saw the space on reenwich eninsula about fi e ears ago – but we couldn’t get funding for it back then,” he said. “So I reached out to developer Knight Dragon as it was still empty and they said they were looking for an operator.

“We came in and opened in 2021 – I feel we’ve created something really solid for the community here.”

That something is Outrivals – a health and fitness space located on the Thames with its entrance facing elevated public space The Tide.

“When the agent showed me the unit in 2018 it looked really promising – especially with everything the developer was doing to create a community, building it up from scratch,” said Matt. “I wanted to be a part of that.

“Outrivals has been set up as a place where people can come together to make friends and connections through fitness. Essentially, it’s a communitybased gym.

“We offer small group classes and personal training with a team of people who are all specialised in their fields. It’s down to them that we have got where we are today.

“We’ e tested man different classes – sussing out exactly what people like. We wanted it to be a very strong facility, where people come knowing that they’re getting excellent training from very good staff but ha ing fun at the same time.

“We do strong-man and strongwoman classes where people lift 50k balls stuff ou wouldn’t be able to do at home on your own.

“We do an hour and a half endurance class and we have a leg-day on Monday. So we’ve worked on what we want to be about, but at the same time made these things fun for the people who are doing them.”

Memberships at Outrivals start at £30 per month for gym-only access – available for anyone who works, studies or lives in reenwich. Standard open g m

A free trial period of three consecutive days is available for prospective Outrivals members to try out the facilities 3

how Outrivals aims to foster a sense of togetherness and inclusion that extends out beyond the gym floor

Outrivals has been set up as a place where people can come together to make friends and connections through tness

Matt Lo, Outrivals

Outrivals is located on Greenwich Peninsula overlooking the Thames

Gym-only memberships start at £30 per month for those working, studying or living in Greenwich

Matt Lo is the founder of Outrivals in Greenwich

memberships are £55. Small Group Training memberships start at £60 per month for four classes with eight session and unlimited options also available.

One-to-one personal training packages start at £99 per month with three hour-long sessions included.

“We also offer dedicated packages such as our 12-week strength, weight loss or post-natal programmes,” said Matt, who also runs Choy House, an Asian street food restaurant now based at Design District’s food hall Canteen, a little further south on the peninsula.

“We feel we’re on a really good journey here at this gym. When I first came here there weren’t many buildings – the community was very new. Since then lots of people have moved in and lots has been built.

“To help boost that we create events, summer socials and charity challenges that help bring people together, not just in the gym but outside it as well.

“Personally, I understand the importance of fitness although I admit I’m hit and miss with how much I train.

“When I miss a session, though, I really feel it both mentally and physically, so I know what an effect it can ha e.

“Ultimately I’d like to grow the brand, launching in other new developments so we can widen out the community and bring even more people together – whether that’s in London, other cities or even internationally.”

Outri als has a number of offers for those considering taking out a membership. Prospective clients can try out the gym’s facilities for three consecutive days, including open access to training spaces and small group classes.

Members can also get up to £50 cashback for referring new clients who then take out a membership.

On the personal training front, in addition to packages for indi iduals Outri als offers sessions for couples or people who simply want to train together. A £150 per month fee covers two sessions for two people with an Outrivals coach. Packages covering more sessions are also available.

For individuals who need more flexibilit the g m also offers blocks of personal training that can be used over a two-month period instead of the usual one-month expir date. Go to outrivals.com for more information

Greenwich - Peninsula - Woolwich

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

Where?

The O2 Arena Peninsula

Can you feel that Eurovision buzz? The Italians arrive in London on their Loud Kids tour as they continue to go from strength to strength. Selling out fast. May 8, 6.30pm, from £166.87, theo2.co.uk

Where? Greenwich Theatre Greenwich

STAGE | The Dumb Waiter + Slight Ache

A double-bill of Harold Pinter’s dark comedies exploring the political machinations of those in power and those who are powerless. Don’t miss it. May 12-Jun 3, times vary, £27, greenwichthreatre.org.uk

Where?

Visitors’ Book Cafe Woolwich Works

A young creator in jazz, the 21-year-old saxophonist and singer from Leeds writes danceable songs that have gone down very well on social media. May 13, 6.30pm, £10, woolwich.works

ash back

This is Harry Major and

Scan this code to read Wharf Life’s interview with Harry and Veronica and nd out more at wharf-life.com

want more? @wharfwhispers

Veronica Loweco-founders of Wizard Works on Greenwich Peninsula, which produces hand made bike packing bags in its light and airy workshop at Design District wizard.works

GIG | Maneskin

GIG | Parthenope

by Jon Massey

There’s about to be a lot going on to the east of Canary Wharf.

The Royal Docks Team (RDT) has o ciall un eiled its At The Docks programme – an umbrella for numerous e ents and attractions set to come to fruition in E16 between May and September.

hese include the likes of the reenwich ocklands International esti al the ondon - rix the ock ards Summer Series and ewham Heritage Month.

It also includes Sea Change – an RDT collaboration with ni ersit College ondon (UCL) that has seen four new artworks commissioned.

hese ha e been curated b In isible ust which has brought together a quartet of artists with scientists at UCL to respond to the climate crisis. inall after what feels like a bli ard of stakeholders and acron ms that leads us to a - une when these installations will be a ailable to iew for free.

ather than a galler howe er three of the works will be on show at The Greenhouse heatre a ero-waste tra elling enue that e en as ou read this is being built at hames arrier ark. a ing spent time in Canar Wharf in 0 it’s a structure t picall used as a space for li e performances which has meant a few changes for its latest incarnation.

“We’ll be this reall exciting creati e hub for those weeks down in hames arrier ark a space where people can engage with the amazing artworks that In isible ust has programmed said Oli Sa age co-founder and artistic director of The Greenhouse Theatre.

“ h sicall this is the same enue built from rec cled materials – but there will also be some new spaces for 2023.

“One of the pieces Flotilla by Melanie Manchot – will be shown in our new screening space a er lo el repurposed shed. We’re also introducing our first ero waste bar on site where people can come and hang out and sta sustainable while the ’re ha ing a drink.

“Our message is that the site is open – we’re encouraging people to come down and en o

planet’s future. full schedule of e ents is set to be announced soon. s part of the o erall programme he reenhouse will be hosting a free youth festi al on a aimed at people aged - 0.

“ his will be a full da with workshops e ents and refreshments a ailable said Oli. “ here will be li e music too and this is er much b and for people aged - 0 we’d lo e a great crowd of oung people along to come and hang out with us.

“In fact we want as many people to come down and see us as possible throughout our time here. It is a lo el lo el park on the ri er and right beside the Thames Barrier itself – an iconic piece of architecture so we’re really lucky to be there.

“There’s also a fantastic communit locall which we’re reall excited to engage with and ser e.

The Greenhouse Theatre is also expecting to return to Canar Wharf in une before heading to attersea in ugust.

all the things that are on offer. We want to make it a space that people reall want to come and spend time in.

The core of Sea Change will be four artworks with three housed at he reenhouse.

Biotopes b Simon aithfull explores habitats with the artist using printed sculptures of his bod adapted for other species to reside in.

Power In b ana Ol rescu promises an exploration of energy equity with input from local people.

Manchot’s Flotilla comprises a film of local women afloat on boats on the night time waters of the o al ocks inspired by the history of protests for equality in the area.

The fourth artwork – The Waves Are Rising b aqs edia Collecti e will be iewable at o al ictoria ock and sees an augmented realit wa e superimposed o er li e ideo footage of the still waters in front of City Hall. All are free to access.

Sea Change will also include Forecast 2023 on May 19 – a s mposium during which writers artists scientists and cultural commentators can explore the nature of stories and how the might shape the

“We’re expecting the Wharf run to go ahead which will be a return to theatrical programming with a festi al feel said Oli. “We’ll ha e two or three shows each da a range of different fringe artists alongside headline show To The Ocean which will be on at pm.

“It’s a modern retelling of the Selkie m th a musical about how we connect with each other with famil and with the natural world.

“It will feature original music and it’s all about a oung girl’s ourne to find herself who on her th birthda disco ers her dad hasn’t been entirel truthful about where she’s from.

“She sets out on a m thical magical ourne to the ocean to meet her mother and disco er her roots.

“One of the reall exciting things is we’ll be holding open rehearsals people can come to for free while we’re in Royal ocks as well as pre iew performances at a reduced rate from une - . Go to royaldocks.london or thegreenhousetheatre.com for more information

how The Greenhouse Theatre is set to host artworks and more as At The Docks’ Sea Change installations and events arrive at Thames Barrier Park to kick off the summer

A series of indicative images from the artists featured in Sea Change showing, clockwise from top left, Biotopes, Power In, The Waves Are Rising and Flotilla

Scan this code to nd out more about Sea Change

The Greenhouse Theatre is a zero waste venue made from recycled materials

Of the four Sea Change artworks will be on display at The Greenhouse Theatre in Thames Barrier Park from May 11-29. The venue will be in place until June 4

We’ll be this really exciting creative hub down in Thames Barrier Park where people can engage with amazing artwork

Co-founder and artistic director of The Greenhouse Theatre

Oli Savage says the team are really excited to be bringing the nomadic venue to Royal Docks in May

Royal Docks - Canning Town

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

Where? Wonderful Things Canning Town

TRY | Meditation For Self-Expansion Workshop

Katie Mantwa George is set to host an educational and practical session aimed at exploring the impact meditation can have in all areas of life. May 13, 2pm-5pm, £55, beinghumanwell.com

Where?

Excel Royal Victoria Dock

EVENT | Grand Designs Live 2023

TV architect and problematic developer Kevin McCloud’s live spin-o of Grand Designs is set to return to east London for budding home builders. Apr 29-May 7, daily, from £13, granddesignslive.com

Where? Social Convention Canning Town

GIG | Bavvn

Billed as Late Night Lock

In 5, this evening of live music features a London-based indie pop singer, songwriter and producer with something to say. May 12, 8pm, from £5, socialconvention.org

looped in

The Mayor Of London’s Superloop bus service is set to connect outer boroughs and includes stops in Royal Docks and Canary Wharf –albeit the point at which the loop breaks to form a sort of Pac-Man shape t .gov.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about the Superloop and when consultations on the new services will start

want more? @wharfwhispers

Portrait by Matt Grayson – nd more of his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta

Oli Savage, The Greenhouse Theatre

£8.50

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

Where? Printworks

London Canada Water

EVENT | Brew LDN

Around 12,000 people are expected to come and worship at the temple of craft beer as this two-day festival returns to the vacant press halls. May 5-6, times vary, from £21.25, printworkslondon.co.uk

Where?

Brunel Museum

Rotherhithe

EVENT | Loudspeaker Orchestra

The chamber is set to become an immersive listening space for a new work for trumpet and electronics by Bede Williams and Andrew Knight-Hill. May 17, 7pm, £5, thebrunelmuseum.com

Where?

The Albany Deptford

Price

at Mouse Tail, which comes with a co ee on the side

EVENT | A Big Conversation Finale

An opportunity for arts organisations, politicians, healthcare workers and civil servants to hear from young people on the mental health crisis. May 11, 6pm, free, thealbany.org.uk

move fast

There’s still time to participate in We Move –an initiative by The Albany for young people aged 16-25 to see their ideas for improving the borough of Lewisham workshopped and realised. Find out more online thealbany.org.uk

Scan this code to discover more about We Move and how to get involved at The Albany

want more? @wharfwhispers

by Jon Massey

Rodents are well known for their ability to chew through the toughest of substances. While you may not need the front teeth of a beaver to gnaw through the Tomato, Mozzarella And Pesto Sandwich at Mouse Tail Co ee in Canada Water, you should come prepared for a serious oral workout.

The avourful lling may be soft enough, but the robust sourdough doorstops that surround it do require some signi cant worrying.

Persevere though and you will be rewarded with a decent feed, made all the more generous by the cafe’s o er of a “free co ee” with the food.

a clever wheeze on the part of the business to ensure diners enjoy a hot beverage with their snack.

The co ee, admittedly, is excellent – a regular serving in contrast to the vast buckets served by Starbucks and their ilk. But Mouse Tail’s chief attraction is really its location. Found a short walk from Canada Water station (on the way to Surrey Quays), it boasts a substantial,

although unsheltered outdoor space overlooking the waters of the former dock.

On a sunny spring day it’s the ideal place to people watch or survey the impressive collection of duck and swan islands that have been installed to help boost local biodiversity.

On a hot summer’s day it’s easy to imagine it becoming a must for iced refreshment.

Then again it also serves beer and wine, for those looking for a weekend session.

Go to mousetail.co for more information about this Rotherhithe cafe

Scan this code to nd out more about Mouse Tail Co ee

Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey

of a Tomato, Mozzarella and Pesto Sandwich

how Mouse Tail Coffee serves up a decent sourdough deal even if the power of your bite will be well tested

Mouse Tail Co ee is located overlooking Canada Water, a short walk from the station

food and

rediscovering the big

how Stratford Picturehouse is set to give classics and gems an outing at full size and resolution in April + May

by Jon Massey

Stratford Picturehouse is encouraging audiences to come to big screen showings of classics and gems with its ReDiscover season. The cinema is set to screen a selection of films – namely American Honey, The Lighthouse, The Last Black Man In San Francisco, The Florida Project and The Farewell – on dates in April and May to appeal to fans of cerebral film.

The feature that caught our eye, however, was The Lobster – a deeply strange black comedy that’s set for a showing on the big screen on May 19 at 2.30pm.

Yorgos Lanthimos’ absurdist

flick follows Colin arrell and Rachel Weisz as they attempt to na igate a societ fixated on the virtues of couplehood.

Much of the action takes place at a last chance saloon hotel where singletons must pair up to avoid the peculiar fate of being transformed into an animal.

Here individuals desperately thrash around trying to identify similarities in others to use as the basis for a trial relationship.

Con ersel a group of loners act as prey for the hotel guests to round up as well as a resistance group – banding together with the exact opposite iew of how society should be, essentially that all relationships are wrong and should be shunned.

While horrific in its scope The

Lobster is a powerful satire on the way we structure our societies and the beliefs we hold about who should and shouldn’t be allowed to couple up.

It’s also a beautifully shot, austere film that deser es a performance at maximum si e and resolution.

Times vary for the showings, which take place between Apr 23 and May 28 at Stratford Picturehouse. Tickets cost £8. Go to picturehouses.com for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about the screenings

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

Where? Cart And Horses Stratford

SING | Karaoke Night

Croon along to your favourites at the pub where Iron Maiden rst played. Apparently there will be a special prize for the best costume, so dress up. May 6, 9pm, free, cartandhorses.london

Where? Stratford Picturehouse Stratford

FILM | UKAFF: Whispers Of A Storm

Set in the cyclone-devastated villages of Odisha in 2019, this lm follows a photographer hoping to make their name from capturing the disaster. May 9, 8pm, £8, picturehouses.com

Where? Theatre Royal Stratford East Stratford

STAGE | Ballet Black: Pioneers

Now in its 21st year, Casa Pancho presents Then Or Now and Nina: By Whatever Means in a double bill of classical ballet, artistry and activism. May 10-20, 7.45pm, from £10, stratfordeast.com

ash back

This is Alexa Ryan-Mills, a designer who is creating a garden in celebration of the arrival of Sadler’s Wells East in Stratford, which is set to go on show at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May with plants going to School 21 alexaryanmills.co.uk

Scan this code to read our interview with Alexa and nd out more about her project at wharf-life.com

want more? @wharfwhispers

Price of a ticket to see The Lobster at Stratford Picturehouse

The Lobster stars Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz in a deeply strange satire on society