Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
inside
A Womb Of One’s Own Grand Designs Live Seven Deadly Sins Walk To Work Day Wellbeloved Pies Martin Gettings Doner & Gyros David Galman King Hedley II Chase Evans ObjectTech The Gun Puzzles L&Q
cuts the sharpest
we pop into English Tailoring to talk style, bespoke suits and full canvas construction with the tailor of Canary Wharf
celebrating the best of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the new east London people - events - treasure - property - nonsense
Image by Matt Grayson – find his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta
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Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
read
fortnightly find
this issue’s Tiger Treasure
14 days later
plan your life from May 9-23 where? Crossrail Place Roof Garden Canary Wharf
feast your eyes on these
We all deserve a sports car – a slick drop top ride that we can zoom around town in. Maybe rev the engine as we cruise Canary Wharf so everybody knows how cool and powerful we are... Well now there’s an opportunity to build your own, although it might not win you quite as many admiring looks as a Lamborghini... Saml Selv-Sportsvogn, £2 Go to uk.flyingtiger.com
ART | Paint Jam London Channel your inner Pollock or Picasso with this art class that offers participants the chance to create in a number of styles. Includes two drinks May 23, 6pm-9pm, £25, canarywharf.com
Stores will be
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Why Martin Gettings is acting like the house is on fire
offering discounts of up to 30% across the estate
where? Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Square
from May 2-4
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GIG | Nicola Roberts We’ve had Mel C and Brian McFadden. Now it’s Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts gracing the Scottish stage with a medley of hits from the group. May 9-10, 9.15pm, from £25, boisdale.co.uk
style that summer
where? Crossrail Place Roof Garden Canary Wharf
SEE | Jon Udry Punches Gravity In The Face Stand-up meets juggling as the British Young Juggler Of The Year brings comedy and balls to the performance area amid the plants May 17, 7pm, free, space.org.uk
to do in the coming days
spend thrifty
Canary Wharf’s Summer Fashion Event - across the estate
Three days of discounts are set to arrive in Canary Wharf from May 2-4. A series of daily fashion shows will feature the latest collections from Canary Wharf’s leading womenswear, menswear and accessory brands such as The Kooples, Maje, Orlebar Brown, Sandro Paris, Reiss, Karen Millen and Ted Baker. In the estate’s stores, discounts of up to 30% will be available throughout the event as well as exclusive promotions, pop-up boutiques and giveaways. Shops are open 9am-8pm weekdays and 10am-7pm on Saturdays Go to canarywharf.com for full details If you’re not already aware of it, the London Marathon is set to flow through Canary Wharf and much of the rest of Docklands on April 28. Competitors reach the estate at around 10am. Many road closures apply virginmoneylondonmarathon.com
Meeting Ray Roberts, the master tailor of Canary Wharf
get in touch
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Editorial email stories@wharf-life.com call 07765 076 300
we want to hear from you
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Delivering difference when it comes to a doner (and gyros)
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
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The Breakfast Club is one of those rare venues that’s all it’s cracked up to be thebreakfastclubcafes.com
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Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
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Canary Wharf
£2.25
on the radar
looking to the future Regulars at the Henry Addington may have realised that in place of Relais De Venise L’Entrecote, a new wine bar is set to open on the Wharf in the coming months. A warm welcome to Humble Grape, with bottle shop and tastings aplenty humblegrape.co.uk
42 It will have been and gone before you know it but Jools Holland returns to Boisdale for his annual Boogie Woogie Spectacular on May 7. All hands to the keys for an international line-up. Tickets start at £45 without food boisdale.co.uk
Base price for the dish, which comes with a single topping
dine
Chop’d breakfast
Funny and feminism as Wonderbox perform A Womb Of One’s Own
Canada Place is less fertile territory for morning sustenance with Eat undergoing a refurb. So we visited Chop’d instead. The steamed eggs with a topping of bacon and feta smelt alright. But digging deeper revealed a lake of sweaty water with submerged spinach at the bottom of the pot that did little for the dish. The sharp taste of the cheese (an extra 50p on the £2.25 base price) delivered some flavour but the mass beneath lacked seasoning. Final verdict: A protein fix only for emergency use. Make the trip to Farmer J instead. Go to chopd.co.uk
The steamed eggs with bacon and feta from Chop’d
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Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
doing the deals
hit the Wharf’s malls and restaurants for less
set
5m
Items of single-use plastic eliminated or recycled since the Helpful app went live
getting greener
by Martin Gettings
Try the spring set menu at Plateau in Canada Square with two courses for £16 or three for £19. Includes confit duck risotto and heritage tomato salad plateau-restaurant.co.uk
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Why Canary Wharf’s Brian De’ath walked 30 miles to get to work
Ask yourself what you can do to make a positive change? If you’ve never engaged with sustainability before, the time is now
free
Unwind with Prosecco and macarons between noon and 5pm on Saturdays at Molton Brown in Jubilee Place. Then purchase some soap if you like moltonbrown.co.uk
Martin Gettings, Canary Wharf Group
The final straws? Canary Wharf Group is working towards ridding the estate of single-use plastic
L
ondon and the world recently saw thousands of people take to the streets to once again highlight the danger we all face from Climate change and environmental degradation. Seeing young and old from all walks of life engaged in peaceful protest is thought provoking and motivational, especially when the message comes from the young. Last week Greta Thunberg, 16 delivered a compelling address to the European Parliament. Her emotional speech called for us all not to hope, but to take action “as if the house was on fire – because it is”. Canary Wharf Group is working towards the achievement of Plastic Free Community status from leading environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage, and we’re about to host a breakfast briefing to communicate our progress to our tenants. I’m particularly looking forward to meeting 10-year old Oskar, a plastic waste pioneer who has taken matters into his own hands to raise awareness. He’s a prime example of how anyone can make a difference, and has set out to ensure the younger generation is educated about plastics. Oskar will be at the event alongside Sky Ocean Rescue and our new restaurant, Farmstand, based in Cabot Place. All will be sharing their journeys towards a plastic-free future. At the event, we will also be announcing our first Breaking The Plastic Habit flagship partners. These are tenants who have committed to collaborate
and together we’ll discuss the progress we have made across with the aid of the Helpful app. Since its implementation, people using it have contributed to more than 5million items of single-use plastic being eliminated and recycled. The message is clear. We need to take action. Ask yourself what you can do to make a positive change? If you’ve never engaged with sustainability before, now is the time. It doesn’t cost the earth, but it will if we do nothing. We are all leaders, we can make sustainability real. To enact change, collaboration is the key. So, if you would like to speak to us about how you can get involved, or have any questions about our journey, email sustainability@canary wharf.com or go to breaking theplastichabit.co.uk.
Martin Gettings is group head of sustainability at Canary Wharf Group Go to canarywharf.com or breakingtheplastichabit.co.uk
Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
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Canary Wharf
why the arrival of a Seabin on the estate is both good and bad news bin spotting
London’s first Seabin at Good Hotel in Royal Victoria Dock
The installation of a Seabin in Canary Wharf’s Middle Dock is both excellent and distressing news. On the one hand the technology – a floating bin that pumps and filters water to extract rubbish, plastics and even oils – is perfect for the large bodies of water in and around the estate. Seabins offer an opportunity to trap waste material locally before it gets into the Thames and washes out to sea where recovery is far more difficult. They are also the perfect solution to the
unsightly slicks of crisp packets, bottles, bags and coffee cups that accumulate in the corners of the docks, gently pulling the detritus in via an electric pump with sufficient oomph to generate a current. Beyond the Wharf, this is a technology that should clearly be rolled out to improve both the health and aesthetic of the docks – are you listening Canal And River Trust? The distressing part is this material is still flowing into our waterways in such quantity. One of the aims of the Seabin Project is to make its product redundant
through a sustained campaign to deal better with waste on land and so prevent it entering the waterways to start with. Canary Wharf estimates that, with its 25,000-litre per hour pump, its newly installed bin (running 10 hours a day to reduce carbon footprint) will collect 75 tonnes of waste a year. With initiatives such as Breaking The Plastic Habit and the Helpful app up and running, these bins could act as an indicator of progress. One day they might even be switched off... Jon Massey Go to seabinproject.com
75
Tonnes of waste the Seabin is expected to suck in over a year
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Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
Canary Wharf
4-5
Number of weeks it typically takes English Tailoring to make a bespoke suit
Master tailor and English Tailoring shop manager Ray Roberts has 56 years experience and clearly relishes delivering
how English Tailoring delivers one-off garments as standard for those in search of bespoke style
quality to the firm’s clients
by Jon Massey
T
sew everything just
Image by Matt Grayson – find his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta
he window displays at English Tailoring on South Colonnade are proof positive that subtle marketing works. Filled with rich reds and blues alongside the more sober dinner suits and business attire, they’ve been a feature of my patrols round Canary Wharf for more than a decade. I’d always meant to go in and have a nose. Finally, the thought had nagged long enough and action was taken. The light wood panelling of the shop’s interior is in contrast to the cool marble, steel and glass aesthetic of the Wharf – a warm, honeyed cocoon away from the rush of the estate outside. For 22 years it has been the domain of master tailor and shop manager Ray Roberts. Following a six month stint in ladies fashion in 1963, he won an apprenticeship at Hector Powe and studied at the London College Of Fashion before going on to train tailors for his employer. Hector Powe was also where he met English Tailoring founder Stephen Williams who worked in the company s design o ce. “Stephen started after myself – I’m the old boy,” said Ray. “In 1978 we decided we would do it for ourselves and I’ve been with him ever since. “We’re only a small workforce, everything is done in-house. We don’t farm out work anywhere and the people who work with us, we’ve all been together all that time. It’s a real family business.” The Canary Wharf premises are used for meeting clients, taking measurement, fittings and the final construction of the garments, while the rest of the team are based at a workshop where cloth is cut and seamstresses labour. I realise, halfway through asking the question, how ridiculous trying to compare something bought off the peg with what this shop sells is. English Tailoring’s suits start at , . ut the service it offers is totally individual, designed to result in a garment the client is completely satisfied with. There s no settling here. Its walls are thick Continued on page 8
Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
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from Page 6 with books of fabric samples and customers are surveyed by portraits of Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. It’s an understated temple to sartorial elegance and personal style. Then there’s Ray himself. Beyond the cloth, the work and Stephen’s expertise, customers get all 57 years of Ray’s experience in taking clients through the process of having a suit made. “You walk through the door for the first introduction and I will then ask ‘What do you want the suit to do for you?’,” he said. “If it’s a business suit, do you want something that’s hardwearing? How does your metabolism run? Are you a hot person or cool? Then we can establish the weight of cloth and, obviously, budget is important as well. “We discuss that and compact it within a price range that is comfortable for you. “Then we start the process – choosing the patterns, the lining, the design – everything is individual. For example, where do you want the pockets? Do you want a mobile pocket? A pen pocket? “We’ve had clients over the years that have made requests for special widths. This is what people love about our business – they get that individuality. “Once you’ve made the decision on the style and everything else, I will then measure you. “While I’m measuring you, I will then go through the styling again, just to make sure that everything is fine. The moment that a client walks through the door, I assess their figure, the way they stand, their posture. “The beauty of a bespoke suit is that you want the client to be relaxed when you’re measuring, and they have to have the posture that they’re going to maintain when wearing the suit. “I always remember when I first started in tailoring and the master of the class measured all the students. I stood to attention, puffed my chest out and had a completely different posture, so I made a beautiful jacket but it was miles too big for me. It fitted my father and that was the first one I made for him. “Clients have got to relax, because what we want to do is enhance their figure. Once I have measured and got all the details about a client’s posture, then we arrange a time within four or five weeks for them to have a first fitting. They then come to the shop and we will have the garment ready for a fitting. “Once I have observed everything and seen if there is any
Image by Matt Grayson – find his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta
fine tuning that has to be done – any re-cutting, for example – then we can take the garment to a finished stage. “On the day of the delivery, clients come in and we’ll do another fit. If everything is ideal, the garment is all ready for them to take. We tend to only get one criticism – clients say: ‘There’s only one thing wrong with your suits – you can’t wear them out,’.” The creation of a garment is not prescriptive at English Tailoring. Instead, it’s a process of discovery, designed to bring out what clients are after and to then supply that.
“We never tell a person what they should wear, because that is the wrong approach,” said Ray. “What we do is we listen and we can then advise. “We find with the younger men – I was young once so I do understand – they want everything close fitting, trousers for example, and that’s fashion. “As tailors we want to enhance the figure and create and build that garment – that is the difference of the bespoke journey. “Years ago, with some tailors, you just had to have this or that, but you couldn’t have anything
“
When clients come for their first fitting, the garment seems to transform them. They come out of the fitting room and they seem to grow Ray Roberts, English Tailoring
else. Today people are more astute – they want what they want. “I always say – and a lot of people have pinched my little saying – fashion you buy, style you possess. People have their own personal style, and others love that because it is a person’s identity. “In the end, you’re investing in your appearance, and it makes you feel good. I’ve been tailoring for 57 years and I still love putting a new suit on. It’s still got that feeling that I had all those years ago. I walked through Saville Row when I was 14 and I looked in the windows, and I thought: ‘One day,
Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
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Canary Wharf
Measurements made: Ray says a client’s posture during the process is critical to the result maybe, I’d love to be able to do that’. All these years later, I’m still doing it.” While Ray admits to experiencing a few more aches and pains in recent years, working as a tailor remains “the reason I get out of bed”. “My favourite thing is the creativity – it’s being able to produce that garment and make people feel good about themselves,” he said. “I can’t tell you the amount of young men who have gone into the fitting room, and tried on something special, perhaps for their wedding. “When they first come in and they’ve got their jeans on, they’re just normal people. But when they come in for that first fitting, the garment seems to transform them. “They come out of the fitting room and they seem to grow – they stand there and look in the mirror and there’s that person that’s looking back – they fall in love with themselves all over again. “When you see that, it’s really rewarding and makes it worthwhile. We’re all a little vain, let’s face it, and when people experience that moment they become clients for life, which is nice. “That is the reward of being able to do something that is special, and with something you’ve created with your hands. It’s not only me, of course, it’s the team. “We all rely on one another. Stephen is an incredible designer and pattern cutter – we complement one another. The creativity obviously starts with a at piece of cloth lying on the bench. “Even today Stephen says he still can’t get over the wonder of it, from when he’s marking the garment in and then, within a few days, seeing the three-dimensional garment being formed. “That is the difference – we see the journey with the client from start to finish – measurement, fitting and then final completion. We’re not happy until the client’s happy.” Customers can opt to receive WhatsApp messages showing the creation of their garments and English Tailoring pledges to do anything up to and including making an entirely new suit should a client not be completely satisfied with their purchase. Ray said some customers still had suits the company made 24 years ago. Payment plans to spread the cost without interest are available by arrangement. Go to english-tailoring.com or call 020 7512 9991 for more information
value added In a world where humanity’s insatiable appetite for throwaway products is catching up with us, there’s something to be said for splashing some cash on garments that could last a
quarter of a century. Should a suit from English Tailoring last less than half that, £186 per year over a decade looks like a lot of value. Just a thought... JM
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Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
how ObjectTech is working to give people power over their personal data in a safe, online locker By Elisabeth Newfield
I
‘m watching a promotional video. A young woman arrives at an airport in Dubai, her identity checked automatically as she breezes through border control. At her hotel she is greeted by name and given a digital room key. When she walks into shops, personalised rewards are automatically offered to her. This is not a scene from dystopian sci fi film Minority Report – where optical recognition is used to track citizens’ every moves – it’s a future ObjectTech CEO Paul Ferris and his company are actively trying to create. They say it’s nothing like as sinister as the movie. “The problem with the Minority Report idea is that some big brother was deciding whether Tom Cruise gets on the train and what sort of advertising he gets as he walks through the mall,” said Paul. “All that data was held centrally
but what we are saying is you should hold your data and I should hold mine. Then you and I can decide whether to give an advertiser my information.” The concept is known as self-sovereign identity and ObjectTech has created the video to demonstrate how it is using AI, biometrics and blockchain to provide the tools for individuals to store their identity data in their own remote platform known as a locker. It has developed an application programme interface (API) which allows people to provide proof of their identity without the need to share actual data. Paul said: “At the moment you give all the details of who you are and your documents and things to a bank or insurance company – to numerous people you’re spreading your identity around to get their services. “That has drawbacks because there are at least 40 organisations and companies that have that info and spend a lot of money to keep
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it safe and some of them don’t keep it safe. We’re having our identifiable information hacked, it’s happening all the time. “Instead of doing that let’s turn the whole thing on its head. You keep one copy of your information, we’ll give you the tools to keep it safe and secure and you can pass it to whichever service provider you want for them to use and then throw away. “Then, if someone was to hack your system they only actually get the identifiable information that belongs to you so it reduces the risk. It makes your system very secure because if they have to put in as much effort to break into your system as a bank, which has a million records, then they will probably go to the bank because the pay off is a million records whereas the pay off with you is only one.” So what tools does it actually use? “We use a super secure data store – there are a number of different ways we hold your data depending on the nature of it – that is spread right around the world and can be kept within the EU so it complies with GDPR but is sharded and encrypted so there’s nowhere the data is actually held in common text,” said Paul. “People are calling us a blockchain company and we do use it, but mostly to make sure that when you give companies your data they can trust that it is yours and nobody has changed. Blockchain gives provable immutability and provides an audit trail. But we don’t put personal data on the blockchain itself.” Paul has degrees in electronic and mechanical engineering and worked in finance and big banks for years before co-founding the tech firm almost a decade ago. “The story of my life has been to get things moving and to make things happen but banking isn’t the easiest place to deliver innovation,” said the 58-year-old. “We all worked in financial services previously and were putting together a pre-paid card, which back then was fairly out there. Someone emailed
“
We are linking your own biometrics – everything from your fingers to your face – with highly secure systems that are future proof Paul Ferris, ObjectTech
www.creativevirtual.com | 020 7719 8332 | info@creativevirtual.com @creativevirtual
saying they wanted to recharge it with bitcoin and everybody recoiled with horror. But that is when I started looking at where distributed ledgers had got to and thought: ‘There is something you can use with a perennial problem right across most systems’ development – this idea of identity and things’. When we all returned to the UK I found that here nobody could really talk about blockchain. “So we spent a fair amount of time lobbying the Government and were very involved in helping swing ministers behind the technology as something that could be used for good. “We worked with the FCA very closely five years ago to prove what we are doing and develop our architecture legally and on the regulatory side, which is as important as the technology.” Previously based at tech accelerator Level39 in Canary Wharf, which explains why its promotional video features scenes on the estate, today ObjectTech has around employees and o ces overlooking London Bridge and at Plexal in Stratford. It moved to the innovation hub after being selected by the Government in December 2018 to be one of the 10 companies within the second ondon O ce or Rapid Cybersecurity Advancement (LORCA) cohort, the UK programme dedicated to industry-led cybersecurity innovation. “Cybersecurity is a fast moving area and we are engaged with a number of top universities here and in America and the Middle East and North Africa region,” said the Isle Of Dogs resident. “We are sponsors of work in all the countries we operate in and are developing future road maps for security that covers quantum computing and cyber security. “We are linking your own biometrics – everything from your fingers to your face – with highly secure systems that are future proof.” e said the firm had clients in industries including telecoms, financial services, oil and commer cial and industrial sites that re uired identification for those crossing a border or boundary. “It’s a broader sense of identifying not just people but companies, things and, pretty uniquely, processes,” said Paul. He said working with a top-class team was the greatest pleasure of his job and added: “We have some of the best people in the world who are also convening further standards in privacy and security. “One of my co-founders runs an international standard on all use cases that impact the blockchain world. We are based in London,
Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
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Technology
5
Companies Forbes has identified as ones to watch in 2019 including ObjectTech which is good for legal and regulatory reasons – The FCA gives us a huge advantage as a country because we regulate in a sensible and unitary manner.” He said it was a 20-year system development project to make the technology integrate around the world and it would evolve along with whatever smart devices people were using. Now, almost halfway through that mission, Ob ectTech has been identified by Forbes as one of the Five Young
Companies Making An Impact On The World To Watch in 2019. Paul said: “I think this is the only way forward. I hope there’s never a centralised database of every human being in the world, or even a few corporations or governments that decide who you are and how you interact with the world. The way we are doing it is completely individual and empowers people to do what they want with their own lives.” Go to objecttechgroup.com
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Canary Wharf
is Canary Wharf ready for Doner & Gyros? Numan Choudhury thinks his healthier take on kebabs is spot on
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Branches of Doner & Gyros in the UK so far located on West India Quay and in Aylesbury Doner & Gyros director Numan Choudhury wants the chain to grow to be as big as Domino’s across the UK and has chosen West India Quay as the location for his second restaurant
by Jon Massey
N
uman Choudhury is on a mission. A month on from winning the best newcomer at the 2019 British Kebab Awards, he’s keen to refresh and rehabilitate the act of going for a doner following the opening of his second restaurant in the listed warehouses of West India Quay. oner yros is a global affair and some distance from a late night kebab joint. The brand was created in the Middle East to serve versions of kebabs and sandwiches created not in Turkey and Greece, but in Berlin and Chicago. As director, Numan is responsible for the franchise rights for the UK and, with a ourishing business in ylesbury and a spot next to Temple Lounge just over the water from Canary Wharf, his eyes sparkle with the possibilities of growth and success. “Doner & Gyros is a fresh type of concept,” said Numan, 27. “Straight away you would associate it with kebabs from the name, but we’re different from that. “Our whole motto is: ‘Doner & Gyros, from Berlin and Chicago’. The meat and the bread are German for the doner and the gyros (pronounced yros) were created in Chicago from a Greek concept – they’re very popular in reece now. o one is offering these foods in the UK combined together. “The difference between the two is the type of bread. The doner comes freshly baked and we import the gyros from Greece. “We actually toast the doner bread a little bit, so it’s crispy on the outside and nice and soft on the inside. “The doner comes with our custom sauces – spicy, lime and herb and a garlic sauce. They are not your normal condiments and they’re unique to us – there s a lot of avour and texture in them, everything s different about it. “In the gyros, you get a tzatziki sauce, which is a natural Greek product. It’s yoghurt-based with cucumber. “Those are the two main products we do. Obviously the meat in them makes a big difference. With erman meat, the uality and avour you get is totally different from the local takeaway. “Also, we sell beef instead of lamb unlike most kebab shops. It is very different – there is more avour, it s a little bit uicier. amb gives off a smell some people don’t like, but the beef is pure meat and it’s lean. With everyone
“ doner a fresh take on the
Our restaurants are designed for everyone, from people working in the office, to families or those on a night out Numan Choudhury, Doner & Gyros
Images by James Perrin – find his work at jamesperrin.com or via @millerjamesperrin on Insta
leading healthier lives, we’ve noticed people want that. There is a place for this in the market. It is healthier, not as oily, and we typically use 98% lean meat and we don’t mix it with anything else so we can offer a clean product. “There are a lot of food places here in anary Wharf, but nobody is offering doner kebabs and gyros this close to the estate.”
T
he fit out of the West India Quay branch is testament to the brand’s freshness. Bright orange upholstery, clean white tables and neat wooden boxes of condiments are a far cry from late night kebab oints filled with confused looking men battling the effects of overindulgence and making poor nutritional choices. “As soon as you walk in you get the atmosphere,” said Numan. “It’s different from a normal kebab shop. “Our colour scheme, the orange, the grey, the black, the white – it stands out. In a standard kebab shop you see a lot of machinery, not much nice seating.
“Our restaurants are designed for everyone, from people working in the o ce, to families or those on a night out. We have an open kitchen, which is so important because a customer should be able to see how their food is being made.” As for the future, Numan is keen to continue the brand’s expansion and to hear from those interested in opening franchises. It’s in his blood. “I see myself continuing in the kebab trade,” he said. “Right now my focus is all in Doner & Gyros. We want to take it to the next level and be like Domino’s.
The West India Quay restaurant
“It s di cult to say how many stores we will open, but the long term plan is for a restaurant in every city and town. “It all started off from my grandfather and my father. Dad had 25 Indian restaurants without franchising. I believe that was the largest Indian restaurant chain in the UK. We’ve grown up in the food trade. My brother’s got a couple of restaurants too. “I went to university, graduated and was working for another company before this but I was always helping out in the restaurants from age 14. I used to go with my dad even younger than that. We’ve got a passion for it – the food trade – it’s something we’ve always been into. Now it’s time to bring something different and it s working well in both our locations. “Our win at the British Kebab Awards was a big step for us because we’ve only been trading a year in the UK, and to get that recognition was amazing.” Both doner and gyros cost £5.49 on their own or £7.49 as a meal. Go to donerandgyros.co.uk for more information
Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
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Wapping - Limehouse
£95
Price for gala night tickets with proceeds going to registered charity the Viviana Durante Company to fund future work
ballet legend Viviana Durante brings Brecht and Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins to Wilton’s Music Hall
14 days later
plan your life from May 9-23 where? Troxy Limehouse
SPORT | UCMMA 59 Dave O’Donnell delivers another series of bouts in the octagonal cage. Expect loads of ink, muscles and an unreconstructed approach to gender. May 11, 5pm, from £27.40, troxy.co.uk where? Jamboree Three Colt Street, Limehouse
Top billing goes to singer and cabaret artist Meow Meow and Royal Ballet Principal Laura Morena
By Jon Massey
B
ringing ballet to places it often doesn’t reach,” may have echoes of Heineken advertising about it, but it’s one of Viviana Durante’s stated aims in choosing to put Seven Deadly Sins on at Wilton’s Music Hall. The production, which runs from May 8-18 at the tumbledown Wapping venue, is a restaging of Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s version of the ballet chanson by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill. Fusing dance with satirical song, it tells the story of Anna, an only child sent out to make her family’s fortune. She dances her way through seven American cities, encountering a sin in each that stands between her and success and prompts an internal struggle as her two opposing personalities clash. Royal Ballet Principal Laura Morera takes on the role of Dancing Anna, an open-hearted, creative beauty, while singer and cabaret artist Meow Meow portrays Singing Anna, a sensible bourgeois girl at odds with her
GIG | New Orleans Post Roast Special Players from The Gator Dog Snappers and Tantz join forces for an afternoon of jazz, drinks and fun. Expect swing and a characterful atmosphere. May 19, 3pm, free, jamboreevenue.co.uk
sins original
carefree side. Viviana, herself a former Royal Ballet Principal and highly acclaimed dancer, will direct the production, which is presented in association with Sir Kenneth’s widow Deborah and includes some scenes only seen before in a 1984 televised performance. Viviana said: “I’m proud to restore this remarkable work to the stage, working closely with Deborah MacMillan, the extraordinary Meow Meow and with Wilton’s, to bring ballet to places it doesn’t often reach.” Also performing will be Royal Ballet Soloist Melissa Hamilton, Royal Ballet Principal Nehemiah Kish and Ballet Black’s José Alves who won the Critics’
Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Male Classical Dancer in 2018. A further four singers, three musicians, an actor, and 10 young dancers complete the cast. The performance, set in an immigration facility includes a poignant and beautiful MacMillan pas de deux for two deportees, performed by Nehemiah and Melissa and set to music from the Threepenny Opera, also by Brecht and Weill. Evening performances are at 7.45pm during the run with Saturday matinees at 4pm. Tickets start at £12.50. A gala night will be held on May 16 including prohibition cocktails and Weimar music with Viviana and the cast, for £95. Proceeds will go towards future work. Go to wiltons.org.uk
where? St Katherine’s Precinct Limehouse
EVENT | Sonic Meditation Study Group Join this regular meet up exploring the compositions of composer Pauline Oliveros and her contemporaries. Get some serious chill May 16, 7pm, free, precinct.rfsk.org
diary date
Pencil in May 25-June 1 for the Birmingham Stage Company’s Terrible Tudors in the dry moat of the Tower Of London, drawn from its Horrible Histories stable. Tickets are £12 for adults and £7 for kids, five and over hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london
spot check worth a visit The prospects look good at Wapping’s historic Prospect Of Whitby greeneking-pubs.co.uk want more? @wharflifelive
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Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
By Jon Massey
14 days later
plan your life from May 9-23 where? The Space Isle Of Dogs
STAGE | Sink In the haze of a bathroom at a house party, friends discover sex, drugs and whether you can still be manly with a glittery butterfly drawn on your face. May 21-25,7.30pm, £15, space.org.uk where? Poplar Union Poplar
WALK | Street Safari Join Poplar resident, sometime comedian and sustainability campaigner Bob Gilbert for a guided tour of local flora and fauna. Lasts about 90mins. May 12, 2pm, free, poplarunion.com where? The Gun Blackwall
DINE | Gourmet Night Taste the best of head chef Matt Colk’s food with this six-course tasting menu with wines in the River Room. Dishes include, ceviche, mallard and souffle. May 17, 6.30pm, £100pp, thegundocklands.com
to do this fortnight
Visit The Space on May 5 for its Summer Season Launch Party, which delivers a taste of the delights to come at the Isle Of Dogs arts centre for a mere £5. There’s no word on whether watermelon carving is involved space.org.uk
spot check Head to Capeesh for pizza, pasta, music and cocktails from 8pm, Wednesdays capeesh.co.uk want more? @wharflifelive
S
ince the early 18th century Londoners have been taking drink by the Thames at The Gun in Coldharbour. While much has changed since Lord Horatio Nelson used to frequent this watering hole making regular use of its upstairs room to secretly meet Lady Emma Hamilton, presumably to discuss naval tactics), the delights of the river running past have remained a constant. Current owner Fuller’s has embraced the spirit of The Gun since taking it over in , preferring to polish a jewel rather than re-cut the gem entirely. Their work has included a sensitive refit, lifting the decor while managing to preserve the pub’s essential features and leaving its atmosphere largely unmolested. It has also continued the tradition of opening up the summer terrace space, opting once again for the familiar comfort of a Gin Garden right by the entrance to West India ocks. The Gun’s sales and events manager ike Televantou said “The Gin Garden has launched and we’ve brought back ipsmith to sponsor it along with Fever Tree – the perfect combination of gin and tonic. “It’s going to be open whatever the weather – we have our marquee over the top so there’s no need to fear if there’s a shower. We’re protected. “It’s open whenever you want to come down and is ideal when the weather is good. “We’ve had the herb garden re-planted so the terrace really smells and feels like a gin garden. “The herbs go in some of the dishes created by head chef att olk and also in the cocktails, so it s a func tional garden, it’s not something that’s just for show. “The gnomes that guard it are all individuals, they’ve all got their own personalities, and they will be looking after the herbs and keeping things going throughout the summer. “When the weather gets a little bit better later in the year, we’ll have some fruit and veg going in too. People should just come and enjoy it. “We have heaters so even if it gets a little chilly later on people can stay outside by the water and we have plenty of furniture outside as well so come over and relax. ipsmith gins on offer include the brand’s classic London Dry, Lemon Drizzle, Orange And Cacao, Sloe, London Cup (blended with Earl Grey tea and borage) and VJOP – which stands for Very Junipery Over Proof and isn’t for the faint hearted. While all have suggested pairings
200
Maximum capacity of the terrace for events at The Gun in Coldharbour
back and the terrace is
Sipsmith supports as The Gun reopens riverside Gin Garden
The Gun offers a wide selection of canapes for events on its terrace
with Fever Tree mixers, customers can choose their own from a selection including Indian, ight, lder ower, Sicilian Lemon and Aromatic tonic waters, ginger ale and lemonade. Beyond the booze and the river slipping by (quite enough already in my opinion), The Gun will also be hosting attractions to tempt in further trade. “We will be showing Wimbledon – getting the screens out – especially in finals week, said ike. “There will be live music every
Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
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Isle Of Dogs - Poplar - Blackwall | presented in association with mortgage specialist Bennison Brown
The Gin Garden will be open until at least September with screenings of Wimbledon and live music on Sundays
“
People should just come and enjoy it. If there are any companies looking to hold a summer party it’s a great spot by the river Mike Televantou, The Gun
The historic pub in Coldharbour has been serving Londoners since the early 18th century and hosted local resident Lord Horation Nelson regularly
Sunday so people can come and have a roast dinner and then enjoy the band in the sunshine. “We will also be doing Shakespeare In The Garden over two Fridays in July again although the final dates have yet to be confirmed. “It’s Romeo And Juliet this year, so a classic that everyone knows, and we’re planning a couple of other events as well.”
Mike Televantou is sales and events manager at The Gun
The Gin Garden can be hired. With Canary Wharf rearing up in the background, it’s an ideal venue for companies in celebration mode looking to host a seasonal bash. Mike said: “If there are any businesses looking to hold a summer party, this is a great spot by the river, looking over to The O2. “I can go up to 200 people and anything from 50 and upwards is a good number of people in the outdoor space. “We generally treat the Gin Garden as much more of a relaxed area than the pub itself. It has a casual feel. “We can do anything from canapes to bowl food and we do mini-slider burgers as well. There’s tapas and cheese platters, basically anything you want. Speak to us and we can work out the details.” The terrace also offers guests some fresh air should they be attending a dinner in one of The Gun’s many private dining rooms including the River Room frequented by Nelson, which can accommodate up to 16 diners, The Red Room, which takes 20 seated or 25 standing, The Cabin Room for 22 or 25, the main dining room for 80 or 120 and the pub’s main restaurant terrace for 30 or 70. These spaces are able to cater for parties, business meetings, celebrations and even weddings. Canary Wharf workers concerned about the distance from the estate need not worry. The un offers weekday diners ordering from the a la carte menu between noon and 4pm a free return taxi to the pub from anywhere in E14 including Canary Wharf. And if that wasn’t enough to tempt customers, the pub also has two offers that are well worth making use of for walk-ins who enjoy liquid refreshment. On Wednesdays staff select a wine from the bar and offer it at off and on Fridays diners ordering two or more courses from the a la carte menu will receive a free cocktail for their trouble. That’s quite enough, I’m running to The Gun for a drink. Go to thegundock lands.com or call 020 7519 0075 for more information
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Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
Creative space
this space is yours
use it to create your very own analogue webcomic – share your works with @wharflifelive or #keepittoyourself – don’t like, subscribe or comment below
WORKING TITLE
Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
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Rotherhithe - Bermondsey - Deptford
£2.50
What price a freshly baked meat pie? Look to the left, obviously
Golden delicious: A meat pie freshly procured from
14 days later
WH Wellbeloved
plan your life from May 9-23 where? Canada Water Theatre Canada Water
STAGE | A Self Help Guide To Being In Love With.. Jeremy Corbyn sees Jess Green and her band tackle the jam-maker’s raw socialist magnetism. Will the party ever win another general election? May 9, 8pm, £14, thealbany.org.uk where? The Albany Deptford
taste
STAGE | Working Class Dinner Party Former social housing resident Scottee reflects on the C-word, class and explores how learning to be posh in the arts gets you places. Takeaway ordered. May 11, 7.30pm, pay-as-you-feel, thealbany.org.uk where? Deptford Cinema Deptford
testing the
CINEMA | The Cabinet Of Dr Caligari See Robert Wiene’s 1920 classic with a live soundtrack written and performed by Matt Harding, something he’s been doing for six years. May 18, 8pm, £6, deptfordcinema.org
coming up
why a WH Wellbeloved pie will make you feel good inside
I
t may not be the most glamorous looking dish on the planet but purchasing a pie from traditional butcher WH Wellbeloved is something of a satisfying experience in itself. The shop, tucked away on Tanner’s Hill is everything you’d expect from a business that’s been trading in the area since 1829. Even though it’s only been open 20 minutes or so when I visit, only a small selection of pies remain. Sadly, I’ve missed the steak and kidney. Thankfully there’s a minced beef still up for grabs. I also take a chicken and mushroom in case of emergency and a pork pie due to a persistent addiction.
Reheated at home, the beef is rich and seasoned – a sizeable beast and filled to the brim. Its aroma promises much and delivers heartily in the mouth. For a mere £2.50 it’s whole worlds away from the mass produced products gracing the shelves of chains. And its taste is enhanced by the memory of
buying it in a shop that’s just as far removed from the carbon cut-out retailers. It’s not flash, it’s not perfect. Somehow it reminds me of the gravel in Tom Waits’ voice when he sings “Chilli in a bowl with burgers and fries, What kind of pie?” during his excellent Eggs And Sausage from 1976. But it is handmade satisfaction. Something real and solid in a world of temporary ephemera. Perhaps that’s why local powerhouse Little Nan’s has started serving them up alongside its earthy collection of nick nacks by the railway station. Highly recommended. For more information go to wellbelovedbutchers.com
A pair of cabaret titans team up for The Coccoa Butter Club x The House Of Burlesque at The Albany on May 17. Tickets cost £14 for the 8pm show that aims to break boundaries and ruffle feathers thealbany.org.uk
spot check worth a visit Street food, bars, wines – find it all at Hawker House in Rotherhithe streetfeast.com want more? @wharflifelive
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Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
baby the power of
14 days later
plan your life from May 9-23 where? The O2 Arena Peninsula
GIG | Olly Murs Proof that being a runner-up on a talent show isn’t the kiss of death for your career, Murs brings his tour to the world’s most successful venue. May 17-18, 6.30pm, from £36.25, theo2.co.uk where? Greenwich Theatre Greenwich
talk
co-founder of Wonderbox discusses bringing abortion to the stage and how humour can help us all deal with the most difficut situations Image by Bethany Blake
By Jon Massey
STAGE | Salomé Originally banned in Britain, Oscar Wilde’s provocative play is brought to the stage in Lazarus Theatre Company’s exotic and exquisite show. May 14-25, times vary, from £11, greenwichtheatre.org.uk where? Indigo At The O2 Peninsula
COMEDY | Wahala Comedy Clash Jamaica takes on Africa as Lim, Kojo, White Yardie, Kane Brown and Dizzle take to the stage with a promise to offend and settle which country is best. May 11, 6pm, from £30, theo2.co.uk
to do before May 9
Take That and party or stand on a rock gazing into the middle distance. The three remaining members are set to perform their greatest hits at The O2 on May 2-5 and 7 from 6.30pm. Tickets start at £62.25 theo2.co.uk
spot check one to try Some distance from the ship, The Cutty Sark is riverside pub heaven cuttysarkse10.co.uk want more? @wharflifelive
A
bortion. It can be a di cult issue to write about or discuss publicly. o Wonderbox s decision to write and produce a piece that partly deals with the issue through humour is brave. One uarter of the all female theatre company, anica orns, took time to talk over their forthcoming performance of A Womb Of One’s Own, set to play at reenwich Theatre on ay . “This is a story that s semi au tobiographical by our writer laire ammelkamp based on her experience of having an abortion at university, said anica. “When we set up Wonderbox, we were looking for our first story and laire came forward with this. “I guess in a therapeutic way, writing about her experience helped her process what she went through. “When she presented it to us, it was ust so funny and talked about such an important and serious topic but in a way where we weren t being attacked or lectured. It was hilarious. “It follows a character called
“
While we do use humour, we are very sensitive about abortion and at no point do we mock anyone’s feelings or their way of dealing with things Danica Corns, Wonderbox
Wonderbox will perform A Womb Of One’s Own in Greenwich on May 29
From left, Carla Garratt, Olivia Early, Danica Corns, Claire Rammelkamp abygirl and it s a four hander – four actors who all play the same character. “There s a main storyteller and laire takes on that role. The other actors, including myself, bring other aspects of her character to life as well as this absurd cast of characters. We multi role to tell the story. abygirl s been brought up by her atholic grandparents, they re elderly and very strict. “There s a really nice doctor, an awful receptionist and the different guys she meets when she arrives at university and she s exploring sex and irting and her sexuality. “It starts off as a coming of age piece. he didn t have much freedom growing up so she gets to university and it s overwhelming. “There are familiar scenes to us all in there – scenes in clubs meeting guys, she s going through all of that. Then she meets someone but also discovers she s pregnant. Without giving too much of the plot away, the audience is invited to oin abygirl as she s forced to deal with that situation alone, unable to tell her grandparents.
ut rather than being a grim tale of strife and woe, the piece takes a different stance. “It s a dark comedy, said anica. “I think humour is a way we deal with painful situations as human beings. “There s a moment in the play, for example, where abygirl okes about her mum being dead. “It s one of those moments where if your parents aren t dead you might think you couldn t do that. We had someone in the audience one night whose mum had died and found that oke hilarious. “Other people aren t sure whether they re allowed to laugh at it. I think there s a sense of community in humour and a way we process emotions through comedy in our own lives. I think theatre and plays are absolutely another way to do that. “ robably laire feels she can be funny with it because she s been through it. If I was writing the piece, because I haven t, I wouldn t know where the line was. aybe there is an element of knowing the boundaries because laire is one
Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
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Greenwich - Peninsula - Woolwich
Danica Corns is co-founder of Wonderbox, which brings A Womb Of One’s Own to Greenwich on May 29 of the people who’s experienced it. The idea is we want to create a sense of community for people who have been through it but also to educate those who haven’t. “I’ve learnt so much from putting the play on and from speaking to Claire and it helps a lot that she has those permissions to write about it and make it funny.” Previously performed at The Space on the Isle Of Dogs, there are plans to take the production to Edinburgh. Wonderbox was created in 2016 after its four members met at the National Youth Theatre. A Womb Of One’s Own was the first piece they worked on. “It’s had various iterations,” said Danica. “The version at The pace would have been different to the one we’re performing in Greenwich. “We’re constantly developing it so it’s as strong as it can be when we take it to Edinburgh. We’ve had overwhelming support for it and it’s done exactly what we wanted it to do, it’s encouraged those conversations. A friend of mine saw the play and came up to me afterwards and I found out she’d had two abortions; something I’d never known before. “One of the figures we uote in the play is that one in three British women have an abortion That’s so shocking because we just don’t talk about it. While we do use humour we are very sensitive about the issue and at no point do we mock anyone’s feelings or their way of dealing with what they’re going through.” Wonderbox became associated artists at The Space at the end of 2018 and are now a supported company at Greenwich Theatre. They will travel to Edinburgh with a grant from the Charlie Hartill Special Reserve Fund to perform at leading venue the Pleasance Theatre. “It just feels like we’ve been gaining more and more traction over the last year,” said Danica. “We’re likely to return to The Space in autumn – as we’re associate artists, that means all our new work like FFS, for example, which was on earlier in 2019, appears there first. “They’ve been instrumental in nurturing us and we really work in partnership with then. “But before people should see A Womb Of One’s Own as that’s where our immediate attention is. They can expect something fearlessly funny and fabulously feminist.” Tickets for A Womb Of One’s Own cost £13 and are on sale now. Go to greenwichtheatre.org.uk
4
Number of women who formed Wonderbox to create new theatre
Danica says becoming associate artists at The Space on the Isle Of Dogs and a supported company at Greenwich Theatre has helped Wonderbox grow and develop with shows at Edinburgh planned for later in 2019 Images by Holly Cant - find more of her work at hollycant.com or via @hollycantphoto on Insta
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Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
Advertising Directory - Acknowledgements
find our advertisers’ messages here in order of appearance Chase Evans print Pages 1, 13, 28, 29 online chaseevans.co.uk
L&Q print Page 21 online southernspace.co.uk
The Gun print Page 3 online thegundocklands.com
Southern Home Ownership print Page 23 online shosales.co.uk
Kidd Rapinet print Pages 4, 7, 34 online kiddrapinet.co.uk
Telford Homes print Page 25 online telfordhomes.london
Capeesh print Page 5 online capeesh.co.uk
Berkeley Homes print Page 26, 27 online berkeleygroup.co.uk
Efendi Dry Cleaners print Page 9 online efendi.co.uk
Southern Space print Page 31 online southernspace.co.uk
Lime Bar & Restaurant print Page 11 online limerestaurant.co.uk
Galliard Homes print Page 36 online galliardhomes.com
Bennison Brown print Page 15 online bennisonbrownmortgages.co.uk Vantage Properties And Management print Page 20 online vantage-uk.com
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 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
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Canning Town - Royal Docks
we find out what Grand Designs Live at Excel has to offer 14 days later
plan your life from May 9-23 where? Excel Royal Docks
EVENT | Salesforce World Tour 2019 For all users or those thinking of using the brand’s customer success platform, this is the place to be for hands-on sessions, keynote speakers and tips. May 23, 8am, registration essential, excel.london where? Excel Royal Docks Doors of perception: A wide range of products for the
home home will be on offer
making a
By Jon Massey
S
tuffed with everything from advice on self build mortgages to door manufacturers, upcyclers, kitchen retailers and eco friendly companies, rand esigns ive returns to xcel from ay . Oncer again led by T presenter and architect evin c loud, the event is intended as a one stop shop for anyone thinking of constructing their own property or upgrading their existing home. amiliar features abound with firms hand picked to appear by the figurehead himself in evin s reen eroes, The rand Theatre, which offers visitors the chance to hear from industry experts and some of the people who ve shared their stories via the T show and the self build clinic, which offers advice for those embarking on a pro ect. ew for however, is a tie up with riends Of The arth
TV presenter and architect Kevin McCloud will once again lead the event at Excel
for its reen inger ampaign, offering tips on creating wildlife hotels and sowing wild owers plus The pcycling ub where designers working with previously owned materials will be giving visitors an insight into their craft through live demonstrations. They will also be showcasing pieces not yet on the high street, which will be available for purchase. nother fresh addition is The nder The tairs ro ect, which sees interior designers compete to make best use of this often overlooked space. The competition will be udged
by evin, arbara handler from the vening randard and enny ibbs from the chool of esign. “With the increasing trend towards smaller homes every bit of space needs to be put to use, said enny. “This is a really fun and inter esting challenge and I am looking forward to seeing how the entrants solve some of the related practical problems and the creative ideas that emerge. In addition to these attractions, visitors can simply stroll through the halls perusing stands from suppliers, architects, retailers offering everything from exten sions to stainless steel swimming pools, furniture, sculptures or even ars of moonshine. Tickets for the show start at with premium options available. The show is open daily from am with closing times varying between pm and pm depending on the day. Go to granddesignslive.com for more information
EVENT | The Business Show 2019 Only on its 41st edition, this conference and networking event is designed to help startups, small and medium-sized firms grow. May 15-16, 10am, free, excel.london where? Excel Royal Docks
EVENT | London Motor And Tech Show Petrol heads can expect the usual blend of static automobiles and screeching tyres as some of the world’s most incredible cars arrive in Royal Docks. May 16-19, times vary, £20, excel.london
to do before May 9
Pop along to club RA Fold in Canning Town, on May 3 to hear tunes from Caecus Animi, Mannella and headliners Parassela, a collaboration between Blawan and The Analogue Cops. Tickets are £20, 10pm start zzetta.co.uk
spot check worth a visit Fancy something spicy? Stalwart Nakhon Thai delivers solid classics nakhonthai.co.uk want more? @wharflifelive
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Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
ÂŁ10
Price of the cheapest tickets available to see King Hedley II at Theatre Royal Stratford East
From left, the cast of King Hedley II are Dexter Flanders (Mister), Martina Laird (Ruby), Lenny Henry (Elmore), Aaron Pierre (King Hedley II), Lenny Henry as smooth hustler Elmore in a publicity shot for the show
king Cherrelle Skeete (Tonya) and Leo Wringer (Stool Pigeon)
the return of the
Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
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Stratford - Bow
revival of King Hedley II shows there’s ‘liberation in community’ By Jon Massey
Y
our story is valid – write – don’t wait for someone to know your experience better than you do. Find your tribe, people you can align yourself with that champion you and, in that space, you will do your best work. Don’t accept no for an answer and be kind to yourself.” Cherrelle Skeete, who will play the part of Tonya in Theatre Royal Statford East’s forthcoming production of King Hedley II, wastes no time answering when asked what she’d say to a young black woman thinking of becoming an actor. As our conversation progresses, it becomes clear that for the 30-year-old actor, playing a part in August Wilson’s tale of a 1980s Pittsburgh ravaged by the Reagan administration, chimes neatly with much of what she’s doing outside the rehearsal room. “I run an organisation, a collective for black female actors, called Blacktress UK,” said Cherrelle. “We’re trying to make the industry and the stories that we tell across the board re ect the society we live in, so we give a platform specifically to black actors and mixed-race women of the African diaspora. “We have meet-ups and workshops, and we collaborate with other organisations as well like the Royal Shakespeare Company. “We also encourage intergenerational conversations, so we’ve got everyone from the ones who are about to start drama school to those who are stepping into the industry and others who have been doing it for something like 20, 30 or even 40 years. It’s like a sorority, generating that sense of community. “I think every story is valid. The thing I love about London and Birmingham where I’m from originally, is that when you walk down the road, you’re seeing people from all different backgrounds, of different genders, from all walks of life and parts of the globe and of all ages. “I want to see them all represented on stage and screen. That’s basically it – having that level of equity across the board. “I want young people who maybe thought that the theatre wasn’t a space for them to come and watch King Hedley II, like it and think: ‘You know what, if Cherrelle can do it, then I can do it’. “A lot of young people maybe think
acting or the theatre isn’t a space for them, because that’s how I felt until I watched A Raisin In The Sun by Lorraine Hansberry, at the Belgrave Theatre. It was there that I saw myself on stage for the first time. The other thing those young audience members might find, should they buy tickets to see the play in Stratford, are parallels between the storyline and Cherrelle’s passion for the power of community and the good it can do in people’s lives. “The play is the penultimate work in August Wilson’s cycle of 10 – one per decade from the 1900s through to 1990,” said Cherrelle. “So we’re in 1985 during the Ronald Reagan administration in an area of the city called the Hill District. “The lead character, first name King, second name Hedley, is a young man trying to find his place in the world. He’s from this community of people who have been affected because of the president’s policies, which broke up a lot of families when a lot of young black men were thrown into jail. That really ripped out the heart of many communities. “Because of that there was economic hardship in the communities – people were not able to get jobs because of the cuts that were made to the local area, educational programmes, and so on. “It was very di cult to try to make it as a working class person, an African-American person. King has been in jail for seven years but he’s now out and is trying to find his way in the world and rebuild his life. “I play his wife, Tonya. She’s been waiting for him during his sentence. She has a teenage daughter – she was a young mum herself – and she’s just trying to survive. “A lot of the time, when these men have been taken away, much of the pressure fell on the women to provide for their families. So she has a job – she’s an insurance clerk in the city. “I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but she’s the one who really sees the potential in her husband. “When the rest of the world tells him ‘no’, she wants to be able to tell him ‘yes’ and for him to see his inner potential, which can be frustrating because at the time he doesn’t see it in himself. “She really is devoted and she loves him. But it’s tough love, a way of surviving. “I think that what August has done is show the real pain of generational trauma – things that were not dealt with generations and generations ago, are able to trickle down. “Tonya is very articulate, and she can see and understand the circumstances that she lives
Cherrelle Skeete plays Tonya in King Hedley II
“
I think we can all help and support each other to be better versions of ourselves, not making the same mistakes generation after generation
14 days later
plan your life from May 9-23 where? Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Stratford
Cherrelle Skeete, Theatre Royal Stratford East
in and the world around her and the knock on effect for all of that. “It still doesn’t take away the anguish and pain of feeling almost helpless, but there is always hope – in action that always exists. “That’s something audiences will relate to. In these uncertain times we are living in, you can envisage families being broken up, thwarted. “I don’t know what’s happening with Brexit – we don’t know what it is, or what it means, or whether it will affect us now, or the next generation. “All these systems which we don’t understand, but that affect us on a daily basis, mean there’s uncertainty in the air – we can all feel hopeless. “The play is about love ultimately. It s about finding a sense of humanity, and about the importance of community and joy. “Writer and feminist Audre Lorde said there was liberation in community and I think King Hedley II shows that – what can happen when we learn from our elders. “I think that’s really important, building on intergenerational conversations between elders and youngers, and creating that dialogue, because I think we can all help and support each other to be better versions of ourselves, not making the same mistakes generation after generation. We can learn and move forward.” Cherrelle, whose credits include The Seagull at the Lyric Hammersmith, Harry Potter And The Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre and Three Days In The Country and The Amen Corner at the National Theatre, said she d experienced the benefits of a supportive community growing up in Birmingham. “It’s so good for that sense of community, bringing people in and just saying: ‘You know what, just try things’,” she said. “What’s nice about being in this company is you’re exploring these themes that all of us can connect to and understand, and we’re getting to do it in the way that director Nadia Fall is running the rehearsal room. It’s a very safe and nurturing environment and that’s going to lift the piece even more.” Kind Hedley II is set to run at Theatre Royal Stratford East from May 17-June 15. Ticket prices start at £10. Go to stratfordeast.com
RUN | Olympic Park 5k And 10k Run a chip-timed 5,000m or 10,000m past the venues used to host the London 2012 Olympic Games. Water, fruit and medal all included. May 11, 9.30am-noon, £24, runthrough.co.uk where? Bow Arts The Nunnery Gallery, Bow
SEE | Raw Materials: Plastics Explore the “forgotten history of plastics in east London and the River Lea” including Parkesine, Xylonite and Halex in this topical exhibition. May 17-Aug 25, daily, free, bowarts.org where? Stratford Circus Stratford
STAGE | As A Tiger In The Jungle A trio of Nepalese performers explore child trafficking into Indian circuses using words and movement. Expect a raw tale based on a true story. May 17-18, times vary, £13-£15, stratford-circus.com
to do before May 9
Libby Liburd’s Fighter runs at Stratford Circus from April 25-27, a play dedicated to the battles single mothers fight. It was inspired by pioneering female boxers. Tickets cost £15, performance times vary stratford-circus.com
spot check try this place out Roof East has returned to Stratford with a fresh set of games and food stalls roofeast.com want more? @wharflifelive
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Wharf Life Apr 25-May 9, 2019 wharf-life.com
SUDOKU
Crossword - Sudoku
Easy
6
4 9 5 7 3 2 8 1 6 Sudoku 2 a6break 1 from 9 5 that 8 phone 4 7 3 Take 7 3 8 6 1 4 9 2 5 How 6 to8 play 9 2 7 3 5 4 1 To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 7 such 5 that 8 6each 3 row, 9 2column and 3x3 box one1to4nine contains every number uniquely. 5 2 3 1 4 9 6 8 7 1 find 4 strategies, 3 6 7 hints 2 5and9tips online You8can at sudokuwiki.org 3 5 2 4 9 1 7 6 8 9 to 7 play 6 8 2 5 1 3 4 More
8 5 6
9 4 4 6 8 7 1 3 6 5 8 3 7 6 4 9 6 5 8 7 2 4
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
that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. Notes
© 2019 Syndicated Puzzles
2 5
Previous solution - Very Hard
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 1. . 9. 11. . . 15. 17. 18. 20. 22. .
As the top man at this moment I should be inside (9) oal to finish with Functioning surgically? (11) Remote fort doesn’t get incoming mail? (7) olitician drowned in beer? That’s quite enough! (5) Include me on return with corpse Posted to warehouses Yet not moving (5) The team having batted are in the field, not the pavilion (7) Not having much enthusiasm only partly listen to dward Some horseshoes may be seen in the garden bit of rough fun in cavalry drama (9)
Notes
Down . . . . . 7. 10. . . . 19. 21.
s seen on a rake s tombstone I take degree and leave perfect insect state (5) lunderingly sets about team but lives winter form of goods (7) he gets many a ring, no doubt (11) The corresponding receiver (9) Settled Leeds habits (11) anagement blunder (9) he didn t want her boy friend to have long hair! (7) he has children not the same Tantalising person finishes off feat with comfort (5) It’s not compulsory to leave 9 for a long time
Quick Across 1. . . 11. 12. . . 17. 18. . . .
Sleepy (9) egret In ammable Alleviate (7) Set of bells (5) oorway etract Sped (5) College (7) is ointed abulous bird opeless
Down . . . 5. . 7. 10. 11. . . 19. .
elf evile uster Compartment (7) light Passionately (9) Sin (11) Storehouse (9) hecked accounts Indian city Entertain (5) Take food
Across: 1 Lethargic; 8 Rue; 9 Combustible; 11 Relieve; 12 Chime; 13 Portal; 15 Recant; 17 Raced; 18 Academy; 20 Interrupted; 22 Roc; 23 Desperate. Down: 2 Ego; 3 Abuse; 4 Gather; 5 Cubicle; 6 Predicament; 7 Fervently; 10 Malpractice; 11 Repertory; 14 Audited; 16 Madras; 19 Amuse; 21 Eat.
Across
whether you’re cryptic sleuth or synonym solver in it for quick wins, this should satisfy
Cryptic Solution
Cryptic
beating the
Across: 1 President; 8 End; 9 Operational; 11 Outpost; 12 Ample; 13 Embody; 15 Depots; 17 Still; 18 Outside; 20 Half-hearted; 22 Hoe; 23 Horseplay. Down: 2 Rip; 3 Imago; 4 Exists; 5 Tinware; 6 Telephonist; 7 Addressee; 10 Established; 11 Oversight; 14 Delilah; 16 Mother; 19 Tease; 21 Era.
The solutions will be published here in the next issue.
Quick Solution
No. 423