The Alchemist - Boisdale Of Canary Wharf as GDIF returns, we take a look at some highlights for 2024 such as a melting aerial stage Pages 30-31
celebrating the best of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the new east London people - events - treasure - property - foolishness
Fast, affordable, conveyancing services
Call our team on 020 7205 4021 or email cmiller@kiddrapinet.co.uk, ypatel@kiddrapinet.co.uk or mzvarykina@kiddrapinet.co.uk
Call our team on 020 7205 4021 or email cmiller@kiddrapinet.co.uk ypatel@kiddrapinet.co.uk or mzvarykina@kiddrapinet.co.uk kiddrapinet.co.uk
| South Asian Heritage Month Canary Wharf and Penguin Books are o ering
Docklands West India Quay
FAMILY | Festival Of Caribbean Culture Enjoy a weekend of workshops, performances and activities as the newly named museum celebrates the impact Caribbean culture has had on the capital. Aug 23-24, 11am-4pm, free, londonmuseum.org.uk Where? Short Story Stations Canary Wharf Where?
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place
The Street and Easier Said Than Done to be on the setlist. Sept 4, 9pm, from £19, boisdale.co.uk
We catch up with Vertus to nd out how Canary Wharf Group’s residential rental business is constantly evolving its o ering to keep up with growing demand for homes on the estate 13
Welcome to issue 118 of Wharf Life. Evolution and change are in the air on these pages, whether it’s new locations for GDIF, educational opportunities at William College, a fresh look for 8 Canada Square, short stays with Vertus or just giving an old pair of trainers a good clean with W’air. Read on... Greenwich + Docklands International Festival returns with potent force
William College adds law to Planet Education Networks’ portfolio 30 34
on the radar
need to know
Visit the very centre of Canada Place and you’ll nd something new in the mall. Stackable skincare and makeup brand Trinny London is now serving Wharfers with products, advice and testers from a bright and glossy unit in the middle of the footfall trinnylondon.com
Enjoy the grilled esh of dead animals at Meatopia in Wapping 27
Having departed Canada Place some years ago, Next is set to make a return to the Canary Wharf estate with a new store in Jubilee Place.
Britian’s largest clothing retailer will join recent arrivals such as Swarovski and Henry Richards in the mall next.co.uk
How Alison Lowe and the team at UEL are aiming to open doors to careers and collaboration with September’s Creative Industries Festival 32
doing the deals
get more for less on and around the Wharf
Download the Canary Wharf App for a wealth of o ers on the estate including glasses of wine at Humble Grape on weekdays from 5pm-6pm for a ver canarywharf.com
£5 £9.99
Sample Nepalese cuisine at Canada Water Market on a Sunday 29
Thunderbird Fried Chicken in Wharf Kitchen is o ering ve strips, fries, XL gravy, mini slaw and a soft drink for under a tenner, weekdays, 11.30pm-5pm thunderbirdckn.co.uk
subscribe to our Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly
write me words you don’t know you need
subscribe to our FREE Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly
noun, fake, from German or French
The anger whipped up in gullible folk who should know better by manipulative, dog-whistle wielding oiks that feed o the politics of division to further their own cause at the expense of our whole society and the rule of law
noun, real, from Middle English
An obsolete 1500s word for a cry of despair. What better term to sum up the idiocy, barbarism and ignorance seen on the streets of the UK in recent days. Perhaps Tory cuts to the education system weren’t such a great idea?
See the movie that slandered the Great White as a homicidal killing machine in all its cinematic glory (gory?). The special Sunday screening at 7.30pm on September 1, is set to put all those rows of mean big teeth back on the big screen for all to shudder at. Throwback tickets (how appropriate for a movie about a sh) include a free drink and popcorn for £16.60
Just a friendly reminder, that Canary Wharf’s epic lunch market takes place every Thursday over the summer until September 26. Running from noon-2.30pm, Wharfers can expect to nd a broad selection of dishes from street food traders brought to the estate by Karnival. If the food isn’t enough, there’s always the free Minigolf By Craig And Carl to take advantage of
conveyancing solicitors are ready to support your next move.
The Alchemist’s Screwball is a blend of Absolut Raspberri Vodka, Mouse Kingdom Blue Bubblegum, apple, lime and white chocolate foam
OFFER
Screwball Cocktail for free on Aug 21 or 99p on Aug 27
The Alchemist thealchemistbars.com
Fuelled by nostalgia for the 1990s (aren’t we all?) The Alchemist is set to embark on a Summer Of Screwball from August 12 to September 8. In addition to its classic Screwball, the venue has created two additional mixes, the Brill and Mint Choc Chip to channel the vibe of Mr Whippy vans pulling up on the corner. Each will cost £12 during the run.
However, there are a couple of ways you can sample the delight of a Screwball for free or signi cantly less. Firstly, on August 21, The Alchemist will be popping up at Adam’s Plaza (under the funky footbridge) to hand out free samples to thirsty Wharfers for our favourite price – free
If that rst taste gets you hooked, all branches of The Alchemist, including the one in Canary Wharf’s Reuters Plaza, will be selling Screwballs for 99p (you know, like a Flake) between 5pm and 7pm on August 27. Sweet...
subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter for a chance to win a Hot Tub or BBQ Boat cruise worth more than £300
set sail for an epic summer
Ready to make this summer one for the books?
Enter Skuna Boats and Wharf Life’s third prize draw for a chance to win an exclusive Hot Tub Boat or BBQ Boat hire experience in Canary Wharf, worth more than £300. This prize promises fun and excitement for the whole family. Whether you’re lounging in a oating hot tub or grilling up a storm, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable adventure. Don’t miss out on the opportunity...
how to enter
Entering is easy – simply subscribe to Wharf Life’s free, fortnightly Wharf Whispers newsletter before August 21 for a chance to win. The winner can choose either a Hot Tub Boat experience for up to seven people, or a BBQ Boat Experience for up to 10. Booking will be by arrangement with Skuna. The winner will be selected by Wharf Life and contacted on August 21. There’s no cash alternative. The editor’s decision is nal.’ Find out more about Skuna Boats at skunaboats.com
scan this code to subscribe to Wharf Life’s Wharf Whispers newsletter for free
Five wines for £10 plus canapes on the side? A pretty decent cost of living hack for a Tuesday
BOOK EARLY Wine Tasting Boisdale Of Canary Wharf bosidale.co.uk
Join Harry Christie of Davy’s for a tutored tasting of ve wines from Tenuta Montauto, a vineyard in Maremma – a wild and unspoilt slice of Tuscany. There, winemaker Riccardo Lepri makes delicate vintages with concentrated avours via organic production. Tickets for the event, which takes place on September 10 at 5.30pm, cost £10 and include small canapes alongside the drinks.
COMPETITION TIME
Nature Framed Across Canary Wharf canarywharf.com
One for all the Grammers out there, Canary Wharf Group is currently running a photography competition where entrants have the chance of winning a £1,000 gift card to spend at a retailer on the estate.
Nature Framed invites Wharfers to snap pictures inspired by local ora and fauna, then submit them by August 30. Shortlisted entries will then be displayed in a free exhibition at One Canada Square from September 30 to November
Scan this code to nd out more about the competition
1, coinciding with the launch of an enhanced Middle Dock – a new public space created in partnership with The Eden Project. Entry couldn’t be simpler. All prospective participants need to do is take their nature related images in Canary Wharf and post them on Instagram. The @canarywhar ondon Instagram account must be tagged in the post and #NatureFramedCW must be used for images to be considered. Images will only be accepted from public pro les.
Top spots on the estate to nd plants and animals include Crossrail Place Roof Garden, Jubilee Park and Canada Square. You can nd full competition details online.
Hot Tub Boat cruises last 75 minutes with up to seven people per boat
BBQ Boat sessions are 100 minutes with space for up to 10 people – food packages are available
how W’air Sneaker Laundry helps extend the life of trainers with services to clean and refresh
by Jon Massey
The world increasingly lives in trainers. Rewind 20 years and a typical Tube train on a weekday would be filled with commuters in smart leather shoes. This was the boom time for cobblers and manufacturers of shoe polish.
But the world turns. The pandemic accelerated a process that was already well underway. A more casual attitude to clothing in many workplaces has now found its feet – for comfort, for style and for simple economic reasons, the trainer has won out.
The logic of having a completely separate wardrobe for work and play, when so many industries no longer demand it is faltering. But that also leaves us with a problem. While a brush and a pot of polish were enough to refresh a pair of brogues, sneakers come in a much wider variety of styles and materials, providing a greater challenge when it comes to cleaning.
One might spend a painstaking evening with an old toothbrush, purchase an esoteric collection of products for the purpose or chuck them in a washing machine in a pillowcase – the latter not great for either the footwear or the appliance.
But there are other options. Recently opened in Canary Wharf, W’air Sneaker Laundry offers services specifically tailored to shoes featuring fabrics in their design – elements that are especially prone to staining. It all started with a machine developed to clean clothes.
“The device started life at Unilever, where it was designed before being picked up by Pilot Lite Ventures, which launched it as the world’s first eco-friendly handheld fabric care device,” said Kate Rixon, retail lead at W’air Sneaker Laundry. “It uses cold tapwater and air with a bit of detergent, so it got its name as a blend of water and air.
“I’d spent 30 years working for retail giant Arcadia until it went into administration in 2021 and joined Pilot Lite as a consultant.”
Initially, Kate sold the W’air continued on Page 8
2
Branches of W’air Sneaker Laundry, under Canary Wharf’s One Canada Square and at West eld Stratford City
why cleaning is
Wharf - West India Quay
Operations manager at W’air Sneaker Laundry, Oliver Grout uses the machine to clean a pair of trainers at the company’s Canary Wharf branch under One Canada Square
Scan this code to nd out more about W’air Sneaker Laundry
from Page 6
services into retail businesses such as Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, using it to spot clean stains and refresh garments in their stores.
“The whole ethos of W’air is sustainability,” said Kate. “Garments in shops can get stained from children’s sticky fingers, make-up and even blood.
“Historically, those might be sent to landfill if they weren’t cleaned. W’air is about preventing that and also about reducing water use. Often garments don’t need washing, the stain just needs to be removed.
“The W’air device only uses cold water and air plus a mild detergent which gives clothes a fresh smell so you’re saving on water and electricity.”
Adding another string to the company’s bow, the decision was made to target trainers with a consumer-facing venture.
“We decided to diversify into sneaker cleaning and opened a kiosk at Westfield Stratford City to test the market,” said Kate. “Now we’re in Canary Wharf too.
“People are wearing trainers a lot more now, so that’s one reason we went down this route alongside our garment cleaning business.
“The W’air device is a pressure pump and it works a bit like a steam cleaner only with cold water. It flushes out stains on fabric like oil, make-up, red wine and soy sauce.
“Then you just need to let whatever you’re washing dry overnight and it’s ready to go. Because there’s a slight fragrance with the detergent, it also refreshes clothes and sneakers, removing any odours without using chemicals like Febreze.”
As operations manager, Oliver Grout is the man charged with running the Canary Wharf and Stratford sites. Now aged 21, he embarked on a retail career with Waitrose before swapping the supermarket for W’air.
“After training, we started off in Westfield and had a really good year before deciding it would be worth dipping our toes in Canary Wharf,” he said.
“The W’air device is part of our cleaning toolkit – it’s not a magic machine that can get rid of everything.
“But it does an amazing job on fabric trainers including suede and canvas, where the dirt can be embedded.
“It’s a targeted cleaner, and works very well with old stains which might otherwise be difficult to remove with your normal
Starting price for trainer cleaning services at W’air Sneaker Laundry in Canary Wharf and Wesfield Stratford City £30
W’air Sneaker Laundry
operations manager Oliver Grout is in charge of running the Canary Wharf and Stratford branches
With the W’air device, you aim it at the dirt and it blasts it up and away from the shoe rather than smudging it in
equipment. That’s where it really shines.
“It’s also good at removing excess dirt. If you’ve been out in fields with your shoes caked in mud, using a brush can just embed the dirt more deeply in the fabric.
“With the W’air device, you aim it at the dirt and it blasts it up and away from the shoe, rather than smudging it in further.
“In addition to cleaning, we also offer deoxidisation. For example, white soles on trainers can start to bleach from exposure to direct sunlight, so we have machines which will reverse that process and restore the shoes back to their proper colour.
“Having had staff members with connections to Canary Wharf, we thought it would be a good area for our services. You get a lot of people passing through the malls whether they live here, work here or are just visiting.
“It’s hard to pinpoint our typical customer, but we see a lot of lifestyle sneakers because they get taken out and worn so much.
“People do bring in shoes that have been lying there for ages or hidden away in cupboards for anything up to a year. We won’t always be able to make shoes look like new, but we can smarten them up so they can be worn again.”
W’air recommends purely leather trainers are best taken to the cobbler, as its technology is much more geared towards cleaning fabric. To that end, the firm also offers spot cleaning for garments and handbags at its sites. The focus, however, is on trainers and W’air will be popping up outside Waitrose on August 14 to demonstrate its cleaning powers to Wharfers in more detail. Alternatively, drop into one of its branches.
key details
You can find W’air Sneaker Laundry’s Canary Wharf branch in the mall underneath One Canada Square. The business is weekdays from 8am-6pm and from 10am on Saturdays and 11am on Sundays with the same closing time.
Standard cleaning services for sneakers start at £30. The business also has a branch at Westfield Stratford City. Go to sneakerlaundry.co.uk for more information
Scan this code to nd out more about W’air Sneaker Laundry
Oliver Grout, W’air Sneaker Laundry
Left, the W’air device uses air, cold water and a mild detergent to clean fabrics of all kinds
W’air Sneaker Laundry in Canary Wharf
why a reimagined
8 Canada Square
offers a bold glimpse of the Wharf of tomorrow
by Jon Massey
Canary Wharf was built on big dreams. When Sir George Iacobescu, then of Olympia And York, rst came to the derelict, abandoned docks in the 1980s, he had trouble nding a cab that would even take him to the Isle Of Dogs.
Without people like him, who believed redundant pieces of infrastructure might be repurposed as the foundation for something better, the estate we have today would never have been built.
That journey has been one of innovation and reinvention, a process that every city district must go through sooner or later to match the relentless drive of technological advancement. It’s inevitable, as our species thrashes about coming up with new things and trying to establish exactly how we all want to live and work with each other at a pace that’s ever increasing.
Parts of the Wharf are now outdated. How could they not be? They were created before the Internet was really a thing. But that doesn’t mean the estate itself is obsolete.
Quite the reverse, in fact. Quietly buildings across its footprint have been undergoing refurbishment. Citi’s tower, 25 Cabot Square, One Cabot Square and 25 North Colonnade, for example, have all had the builders in. 30 South Colonnade is now called YY London and has been completely recon gured with Wharf-grown challenger bank Revolut happy to stamp its name on the top.
A steady stream of life sciences companies are moving in too, attracted by Canary Wharf Group’s (CWG) warm invitations as the estate’s owner looks to diversify the kind of tenants in its buildings.
The decisions of the few rms that have left or are leaving, look increasingly perverse, given that the estate has clearly never been as pleasant as it is right now. Hooked up to the vital, pumping arteries of the DLR, Tube and Elizabeth Line, Canary Wharf is in the best shape of its life in terms of connectivity and amenities.
That’s why it’s so desirable as a place to live – see Pages 14-16 to hear about the booming demand for Vertus’ rental properties, for example. Change, however, presents a tantalising proposition. With HSBC departing, 8 Canada Square is about to become 45 oors of opportunity from 2027.
Now owned by the Qatar Investment Authority and managed by CWG, a vision for the tower has been unveiled. Architects Kohn Pedersen Fox won a global contest to convert the tower into a mixed use building and have produced these visuals.
While nal plans have yet to be submitted, it’s thought the project could take three years and cost between £400million and £800million to complete.
But forget the detail and the economics for a minute. Just look at this dream for Foster + Partners’ rather dull oblong block, with its noughties rounded corners.
It’s a vision of expansive terraces and bold cutaways. Imagine striding past it, knowing that within are not only cutting-edge commercial lets but spaces for leisure, entertainment, education and culture.
These proposals are perhaps the clearest statement that Canary Wharf is no longer a one-dimensional place, lled with a monoculture of nancial services rms.
That hasn’t been the case for years, of course – but perception always lags reality. 8 Canada Square could well be a 1.1million sq ft public manifestation of the kind of agile, quick-witted change that has been going on here since well before the pandemic. After all, who wouldn’t want to pop up to one of those terraces or discover whatever is planned for the top oor?
There’s a serious point too. Keeping the carbon locked up in this tower’s superstructure is also a smart endeavour. Where would we be if we simply knocked down every vacant building after three decades?
No, this imaginative, creative approach should be celebrated for what it is, a potent, unabashed vision of a bright and varied future.
Scan this code to see Canary Wharf Group’s release on 8 Canada Square
Plans for the building have yet to be nalised, but these visuals are a statement of intent
The tower as it stands today
in of progress
Architects Kohn Pedersen Fox’s vision for 8 Canada Square in Canary Wharf
Includes the full Afternoon TeaQuila plus a Margarita. A number of bottomless drinks options are also available
we try the Afternoon TeaQuila at NYX London, just up the Elizabeth
by Mary Tadpole
Hop on the Liz Line to Tottenham Court Road, take an 11-minute walk and you can be at NYX London. Go through this hotel’s delightfully quirky lobby –complete with a graffiti-covered throne bearing (weirdly) an image of King Charles – and head up to its rooftop bar, The Glasshouse.
Since last month, NYX has been serving an Afternoon TeaQuila menu high above the city streets – something a little spicier than crustless cucumber sandwiches.
For £35 per head you get a Margarita and a selection of savoury and sweet morsels. The blend of food and Cazcabel spirit is fun and the menu nods to the traditional afternoon tea, without sticking too closely to the rules.
For example, because no cake stand would be complete without it, there
sampling the
are scones with clotted cream. But the jam is infused with tequila. There are also Modelo beer battered prawns with avocado salsa – these don’t reference anything traditional but get an honourable mention for their rich flavour. While the pulled beef taco with mayo and spring onion is difficult to eat without making a mess (maybe only go here with people that already like you for who you are), the spicy rice, red bean, avocado and cheese
burrito is filling and generously filled. The sweet section of the menu includes fried churros, agave-glazed fruit tarts (yet more tequila influence) and a lime, raspberry and chilli posset.
To finish there is a shot glass of tequila and lime jelly, which proves warmly alcoholic with a citrus zing.
The venue itself is a little oasis from the bustle of Holborn, especially on a hot day. There’s shade, breeze and wonderful skyline views – definitely
If you’re looking for a decent central London skyline, you could do a lot worse than NYX
Line in Holborn
worth a trip on the Liz Line. For an extra £15 the TeaQuila can become bottomless, with classic Margaritas or Prosecco for 90 minutes. Non-alcoholic options are also available. This is a brilliant deal considering a decent Margarita in London is £10-£15 and The Glasshouse version is all the sugary, salty, sour gloriousness anyone could want.
Please drink responsibly or you’ll forget to take a hilarious selfie on the King Charles throne when leaving.
key details
The NYX Afternoon TeaQuila is available at weekends, 1pm-5pm, priced £35pp plus £15 for bottomless. For more information go to nyx-hotels.com/londonholborn
Scan this code for more information about the TeaQuila or to make a booking
Image by Victor Huang
Wharf Life
Massey Maddison Limited
Massey Maddison Limited
Maddison
(not bullets) Starting price for entry to the Tobacco Dock festival £32.10
by Jon Massey
AScan this code to nd out more about Meatopia how Meatopia promises four days of carnivorous festivities complete with ‘live
mixed grill might not be the traditional prelude to getting a serious groove on, but the organisers of Meatopia have other ideas. On August 29, the venue will once again be lled with carnivores and more than 70 chefs all keen to feed them the cooked esh of dead animals before everyone enjoys a nice dance.
Then, for the next three days, everyone does it all again until the meat sweats have built to a state of near total delirium. The festival promises to only serve responsibly sourced ingredients to ensure as guilt-free a melange of food, drink, re
and music as possible in the circumstances.
Visitors are encouraged to eat meat, repeat, with dishes all created over charcoal or wood res for that potent smokiness. It also allows them to refer to “live re” to seem cooler.
key details
Meatopia runs from August 29-Sept 1 at Tobacco Dock. Times vary. Tickets start at £32.10 with various options o ered. Go to meatopia.co.uk
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
Where? The George Tavern Whitechapel
The Australian rock quartet, featuring Kai James, Jayden Williams, Fraser Bell and Aunt Liss, come to Whitechapel riding high o the release of Hello. Sept 3, 7pm, £14.85, thegeorgetavern.london
Where?
Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping
STAGE | Frank’s Closet
A soon-to-be groom with a closet full of frocks prepares to marry his beloved partner, necessitating a donation to clear space. Expect fantasy and magic. Sept 3-14, 7.30pm, from £14.50, wiltons.org.uk
EVENT | Lonely Fest
Where? St Anne’s Church Limehouse
Expect performances from the likes of Mnelia, Samson and Mya K, Ronnie Scott’s House Band and street food at this day-long festival and lock-in. Aug 31, 11am, from £15, hawksmoor300limehouse.com
up
Get in that carnival state of mind with Nadia Batson and a host of Soca artists as they take over Troxy in Limehouse. Tickets are still available for the gig on August 23. Doors open at 7pm and tickets cost £30.09 troxy.co.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about the gig or to secure tickets for this east London concert
GIG | Girl And Girl
More than 70 chefs will use ames and charcoal to cook food for visitors to Meatopia over four days
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
STAGE | Shakespeare’s Gunpowder Plot
Workspaces are currently available to rent at Trinity Buoy Wharf in Leamouth
Container City 2 is one of the focal points of the area and has been entirely built from shipping containers
This story about the dangers of artistic freedom, tensions, reversals, treason and gallows humour sees the bard forced to rewrite Macbeth in light of an explosive scheme. Aug 27-Sept 7, times vary, from £10, space.org.uk
Theatreship Isle Of Dogs
FILM | Mystery Cinema
The oating arts centre’s season of free lm screenings continues with three more Wednesday evenings. Book in, turn up and watch an unexpected movie. Aug 14, 21, 28, 7pm, free, theatreship.co.uk
TRY | Pilates For Women
The Space Isle Of Dogs Where?
The Space Isle Of Dogs
This dark tale in Russian re ects on the price of truth and freedom in a country grappling with war and repression. Expect a touch of absurdity and disarming sincerity. Aug 20-23, 7.15pm, from £12, space.org.uk
Poplar Union is hosting Fragile: A Journey Of Resilience, an exhibition of work by Ukrainian refugee and artist Luba, who ed her home country following the Russian invasion. The show runs until August 17 poplarunion.com
Scan this code to nd out more about the exhibition, which is open daily from 9am-5pm
rent these
by Jon Massey
Acurrently home to the o ces of Uber Boat By Thames Clippers.
The slightly larger of the two spaces is in Container City 2, a brightly coloured building that houses some 22 studios. It features a lift and full disabled access and was built in eight days in 2002. Perhaps the most photographed shipping container building in the world it is one of the focal points of Trinity Buoy Wharf.
art installations that all form part of a vibrant, creative community on the Thames.
key details
Scan this code to nd out more about the spaces a couple of spaces at Trinity Buoy Wharf are now available for rent, with no business rates to pay
pair of units are now on the market at Trinity Buoy Wharf. The studio spaces both boast sinks and can be rented for £730 (267sq ft) or £600 (233sq ft) per month, both excluding VAT. The smaller of the two is located at Clipper House – a structure recycled from the 2012 Olympic broadcasting studios in Stratford. Fashioned from old shipping containers, the building is
Operated by Urban Space Management, the area is home to London’s only lighthouse, a cafe and numerous
Both studios are available at Trinity Buoy Wharf in Leamouth, one in Clipper House and one at Container City 2 on the banks of the Thames. Go to trinitybuoywharf.com
how Hamro Maya at Canada Water Market delivers boxes of satisfying comfort food to fill you right up
by Jon Massey
Hamro Maya’s tagline is:
“Where love meets avour” and so the feeling of polite, reserved warmth emanating from those operating this street food stall at Canada Water Market feels especially authentic. One of many options available at Deal Porters Square on a Sunday, the business o ers a range of Nepali dishes including chowmein, fried rice and chapate.
It’s something called the MO:MO Combo that catches my eye for £12. For reasons that can probably be explained by a deep dive into my psyche, I tend to order the
second thing down on the menu at street food stalls in the quite possible mistaken belief that all the value will be found just behind the most popular item.
What turns up is a punnet of dumplings garnished with a bright orange chutney and a serving of chilli chicken.
The latter are surprisingly lling, each a little pocket of well-seasoned meat that sits happily alongside the richly vegetal avours of the sauce and a couple of glossy chunks of sweet pepper.
Better still, however, are the still juicy chunks of chicken
Scan this code to nd out more about street food locally
that enjoy a thick carapace of solid avour.
While these are dishes that, as Hamro’s logo would suggest, might normally be enjoyed at signi cant altitude surrounded by snow-covered peaks, they make a decent showing on a hot summer’s day in south-east London.
It’s testament to the market’s ongoing success that it continues to attract a steady stream of hungry locals and visitors to the area.
Little wonder then that British Land is set to install a market hall-style establishment at Surrey Quays shopping centre – ideal for those who can’t wait for a Sunday to indulge.
Hamro lacks a standalone online presence so please visit themarketnetwork.co.uk for more information
Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
EVENT | Music Is A Social Space
Where?
The Albany Deptford
Sound activist and musician Charles Hayward returns with his popular evening of music that pushes some boundaries. Jazzy. Aug 30, 7.30pm, from £10, thealbany.org.uk
Where?
Surrey Quays
Shopping Centre
Rotherhithe
ART | Life Drawing
Capture the human form on paper with this class. Includes all materials (easels, paper, charcoal and pencils) plus a half time cup of tea. Refreshing. Sats + Suns, 5.30pm, 12.30pm, £10, meetup.com
EVENT | Arty Farty Makers Market
Where?
The Albany Deptford
Purchase ceramics, clothing, art prints, jewellery, stickers, stationery and much more at this pop-up market with more than 40 traders attending. Aug 31, 11am-5pm, £1, thealbany.org.uk
ash back
This is the Paci c Tavern, a soulful venue that brings food, drinks, music and events together under one roof, 10 minutes from Canada Water station. Expect a vast covered terrace and an outdoor kitchen paci ctavern.co.uk
Scan this code to read our interview with Toby Kidman of the Paci c Tavern at wharf-life.com
Cost of the MO:MO Combo from Hamro Maya at Canada Water Market
take a breath
by David Lefebvre Sell
David says some people show the best version of themselves when they travel – others the worst
Holidays are an odd concept, aren’t they? We are pressed into lives of indentured drudgery by the cost of living in London – so much so that we need to pay even more money to escape from it for a little while. Well, that’s a bit cynical, but even the most ful lling vocation and the most inveterate Londoner needs a break sometimes.
Possibly the greatest luxury is to be able to take a break. It’s so important not to take it for granted. And isn’t it fascinating the di erent ways people take breaks? I know people at Third Space who travel just to do Cross t or triathlons overseas. I mean, have you tried just laying on a beach and eating crap all day? I think you’d like that better. But then I shouldn’t talk, I love visiting old churches and I’m not even a Christian.
Travel gives us the opportunity to take a break from our routine and ourselves. We get to experience a di erent way of living and the anonymity of being a stranger gives us the licence to realise a di erent self.
Unfortunately, just like on social media, many people use this as an opportunity to be absolute cunts.
Some will always show you their true selves when they travel. Give them a little inconvenience, a language barrier and the entitlement of having paid a good chunk of money and some people become the worst version of themselves. Others become their best. Holidays can make or break relationships, but they can also change the relationship we have with ourselves. The headlong ight of our lives doesn’t give much time for introspection and our brains weren’t formed by evolution for the demands we place on them.
When you settle down a bit and start having good conversations with yourself, make sure you listen
David Lefebvre Sell
So you nd your preferred way of slowing down, of reconnecting to life – I hope that you get to do that enough. When you settle down a bit and start having good conversations with yourself, make sure you listen.
David Lefebvre Sell is a Greenwich-based psychotherapist and Yoga instructor who teaches at Third
Follow @davetheyogi on X and Instagram and @DavidLefebvreSellYogaAndPsychotherapy on FB
Scan this code for information about David’s work as a transpersonal counsellor and psychotherapist
how the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival is celebrating a year of change with its free events
by Jon Massey
Once again areas across south-east and east London are set to be lled with free, often breathtaking performances. ow in its th year the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival (GDIF) is back, bringing its traditional blend of awesome spectacle and thought pro o ing shows to locations straddling the Thames.
n charge since the ery rst show artistic director radley emmings and his team ha e put together a series of bloc busters and smaller happenings aimed at delighting residents local wor ers and isitors. e sat down with him to go o er a few of the highlights to help you plan your diary.
e e long been associated with ery surprising and unusual e ents that pop up and happen in locations across reenwich and east London,” he said.
his year we re opening with a phenomenal performance by a rench company – es ommandos ercu. he show is called Silence and will ta e place at . pm on ugust at the oyal rtillery arrac s in oolwich.
his awesome parade ground space will be lled with a fusion of pyrotechnics and percussion. ith people going though di cult times ha ing something oyous and uplifting li e that will be ust the tonic. hey re a company we e wor ed with before – way bac in – so we re ery much loo ing forward to welcoming them back.”
the small things e wor across all sorts of different scales it s not all about large spectacles said radley or many people who come to the festi al it s about ha ing transformational e periences that disrupt the rhythm of the e eryday.
his year s theme is ll hange – we re inspired by andhi s message to be the change you want to see. e re going through seismic times and something that brings people together to reflect thin and ha e a great time is really important. ne of the highlights for me will be smaller in scale but ery intimate and considered. World
Kiosk will be in reen treet from noon pm from ugust to eptember . t in ites people to ta e a breath – a moment outside the busyness of life – and pro ides a window into other people s li es. isitors are welcomed to the ios which then ser es them tea in a ery ritualistic and beautiful way. hen they listen in to oices from people in other parts of the country who ha e been through this same process, sharing stories. t s a sublime and beautiful e perience a wonderful reprie e from daily life.
melting away t the other end of the scale at oyal lbert oc we ha e an e traordinary spectacle from an ustralian company called egs n he all called Thaw,” said radley his production ta es place on a . tonne bloc of ice suspended abo e the doc on a crane. ach day it runs for eight hours with a performer on top trying to na igate the changing shape of the bloc as it starts to melt. here s a sense of eopardy but also a wonderful soundscape that pro ides a chance to reflect and thin ery hard about what s happening to the planet and the climate emergency.
thin this will be one of the abiding images of this year s festi al – it runs on ugust and from pm pm at the ni ersity f ast ondon s oyal oc s campus.”
miraculous movement n eptember from pm pm a number of areas in tratford will be awash with many forms of mo ement.
“Dancing City is an e ent that is really dear to my heart said radley. e set it up at anary harf in and people ha e come to really lo e that e ent. his yearit will ta e place at ast an the ueen li abeth lympic ar and in tratford town centre. here s a phenomenal range of dance companies taking part.
“ e re wor ing ery closely with adler s ells ast and ast ondon ance as well as other partners including tratford ross and the ondon ollege f ashion.
hat will be wonderful about it is that it will be ta ing place in the midst of the aralympic Games in Paris. I co-directed
Thaw will take place from August 24-25 from 1pm-9pm at the University Of East London’s Royal Docks campus as part of GDIF 2024
Space in Canary Wharf
GDIF artistic director Bradley Hemmings
Silence in Woolwich
and spectacles
We aim to create something miraculous and wonderful that reveals the story of this emerging part of London
Bradley Hemmings, GDIF
the London 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony, so there’s a personal history there and we’ll be presenting work led by deaf disabled artists. It feels wonderful to be continuing that Olympic legacy 12 years later.
“One of the pieces is called Synergy and has been choreographed by Mark Smith, who worked on the Paralympics with me.”
more this year and next “One of the things that we will be doing next year is marking our 30th anniversary,” said Bradley. “It’s enormously satisfying to see that GDIF is still there thanks to our partners. It seems to me that this will be a moment where we should be taking stock and thinking about what the next three decades will look like.
“Back to this year and we have A Ballad Of Thamesmead on September 6 and 7 at 8.30pm. It typi es what we aim to do – to create something miraculous and wonderful that reveals the story of this emerging part of London.
“Dante Or Die have created a piece around a clock tower, which originally sat in Deptford before the GLC transported it by barge down the Thames and rebuilt it as the centrepiece of Thamesead town centre. An 18th century structure improbably located in the middle of the 1980s development.
hen my nal highlight is festi al of family fun – Parkworks, which takes place on August 25 and 26 from 1pm-6pm in Stratford Park. There will be a giant interactive climbing frame built from bamboo and parents with prams choreographed with headsets.”
key details
The Greenwich + Docklands International Festival runs from August 23 to September 8. All events are free to attend. These highlights are the tip of the iceberg. Find full listings online.
Go to festival.org
Scan this code to nd out more about GDIF 2024
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | Niall Horan
The former One Direction star is set to play the tent with songs from all three of his solo albums (yes, apparently he’s had that many). Rock on. Sept 3, 6.30pm, from £45, theo2.co.uk
STAGE | When Atlas Met Tantalus
This play follows two men trapped together facing a secret and takes in issues of queer identity, public outing and the way that history shapes our present. Aug 20-24, 7.30pm, £16, greenwichtheatre.org.uk
Founder Emmanuel Okine and his family are set to bring a series of spectacular performances and West African music to the courtyard of the arts centre. Sept 1, noon-2pm, free, woolwich.works
Running until August 25, Beauty And The Beast at Greenwich Theatre is a new, musical take on the classic tale starring Louise Cielecki as Belle and Ed Tunningley as the Beast. Tickets start at £22 greenwichtheatre.org.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about Beauty And The Beast, which is at Greenwich Theatre this month
CIRCUS | UK African Acrobats
World Kiosk at Green Street
Dancing City in Stratford
Parkworks in Stratford Park
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
STAGE | Myrninerest
how the Creative Industries Festival is set to bring a host of organisations and individuals together in the Royal Docks
by Jon Massey
Where? Art In The Docks
opportunities and helping brands communicate their stories to customers.
OThis play by James Kenworth is focused on the life of legendary Newham artist Madge Gill and how she worked under the control of her spirit guide. Aug 27, 3pm, donation, artinthedocks.com
Immerse LDN
Royal Victoria Dock
SEE | F1: The Exhibition Strap into the driving seat for the second immersive exhibition to come to Excel’s new entertainment district. This one’s sure to burn rubber in the mind. from Aug 23, from £25, f1exhibition.com
Royal Albert Wharf Where? Fold Canning Town Where?
CLUB | Anabel Arroyo + Alba Heidari
See the two residents play back-to-back from Saturday night through Sunday. Expect plenty of techno and industrial beats from both DJs. Aug 31, 11.39pm-noon, from £11.25, fold.london
ash back
Excel in Royal Docks has unveiled a kilometre of waterfront entertainment. Branded Immerse LDN, this month’s launch will see experiences themed around Friends and F1 go live, plus a new market hall by Kerb immerseldn.com
Scan this code to nd out more about the project, via our interview with Damian Norman
ne of the biggest challenges in the creati e industries is not nowing who to connect to – it s still ery much who you now said lison owe director of careers and enterprise at the ni ersity f ast ondon s chool f rts nd reati e ndustries. he other main one is con dence.
oth howe er will be rmly in the crosshairs early ne t month as s Creative Industries Festival arri es at the institution s oyal oc s entre or ustainability.
illed both as a careers fair and a ma or networ ing opportunity the four day e ent aims to attract those wor ing in art architecture performing arts fashion media ad ertising illustration and business as well as those see ing opportunities in those sectors.
hile it was my idea we ha e an ama ing group of students and interns that ha e wor ed on it – it s really all about their generation said lison. nyone who is creati e can come along. or students and alumni it will be about getting on the career ladder. e ll ha e recruiters here and talent scouts loo ing for the ne t generation of talent so it will be a brilliant opportunity.
hen there will also be lots of wor shops learning and networ ing. t s tough to get a ob in the creati e industries and there s often a gap with graduates not ha ing the right contacts so we want them to come along and meet people.
t will also be for people wor ing in the creati e industries. t s not always easy to see who s doing what so we want lots of big organisations to come along so we can all learn about each other – what are we doing and how we can collaborate.
t s an area that lison is well placed to operate in ha ing spent much of her career connecting creati e people with employment
started in performing arts at at the irmingham ep as an actress she said. had no training went along to an audition and got my rst ob. wor ed in performing arts for se eral years and disco ered m also a natural entrepreneur. fter a few years realised that while could always nd wor a lot of people new couldn t and they were far better actresses and singers than was.
o started helping other people and founded my rst business hameleon which was a recruitment consultancy for creati e people. e had se en businesses all of them consultan cies or recruitment rms.
y last business elicities ran for years supporting fashion designers which saw me awarded an for ser ices to the industry.
nitially came to to write some new programmes such as an in fashion entrepreneurship and an in creati e enterprise and came to the director s role from that.
he festi al will be partly a path to obs but also to help build relationships within the creati e sector.
uc ily with the wor e done e got uite a lot of connections so can reach out to people and as if they ll be part of it so it s building those commu nity lin s.
t s also to get the young people in and as them what their challenges are – to nd out what they are trying to o ercome in when they re trying to get an inter iew or an audition.
omething that learnt many years ago when was starting out was to tell people was an actress rather than tal ing about whate er other wor might ha e been doing to pay the bills.
he word now is manifesting . remember going to a party and someone as ed me what did. said was an actress and felt
We want it to be fun and to have a real creative buzz. We’ve invited as many people as possible from the creative industries – join us
Alison Lowe, UEL
such a twit saying it, because I’d nished the irmingham ep ob and there wasn t another one to follow it.
ut he said h are you and turned out to be a director so wor ed for him for the ne t two years. he lesson is that if you don t say what you are it won t happen. f you are con dent about who you are and what you do other people will belie e you.
thin that s a real challenge for a lot of our students at . erhaps they come from more disad antaged bac grounds and might often be rst generation creati es – they may ha e rela ti es as ing them when they re going to get a proper ob because they don t ha e any e perience of these industries.
hen there s the challenge of actually getting paid. s a young fashion designer for e ample e eryone wants you to do e erything for free. ut getting paid is about aluing yourself and what you do. t s ital.
artners for the Creative Industries Festival will include an a ego ast an the oundation or uture ondon ine ircle he e eloping oom and creati e . he three day programme at oyal oc s boasts free wor shops tal s panel discussions installations performances a pop up shop hac athons showcases and a creati e talent careers fair.
e want it to be fun and to ha e a real creati e bu said lison. e e in ited as many
Alison has spent much of her career helping to connect entrepreneurs and creatives with opportunities in the arts sector
UEL’s Creative Industries Festival is set to bring a diverse range of people and organisations together to help foster collaboration
people as possible from the creative industries.
“For the Community Day, we’ll be working with Stratford Originals who will be coming up with a map for people to go around different creati e spaces in Stratford.
e ll be starting off at t ohn s Church Yard, with activities for all the family at the different creati e businesses participating. It’s really about fostering that community spirit.”
Another key focus for the festival will be how business and creativity interact.
“Entrepreneurs are creative people, so the festival is also about creative thinking in business,” said Alison.
“What we’ve learned over the last few years is that we have to be creative in our business activities to succeed.
“In a nutshell, the festival presents a platform for change, where creative talent, policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs and students will come together
to share knowledge, develop collaborations and initiate innovations.
“Come and join us to make positive changes throughout the creative industries.”
need to know UEL’s Creative Industries Festival takes place over three days at the Royal Docks Centre For Sustainability from September 4-6. Times ary. ou can nd more details and listings online.
This will be followed by a ommunity ay at t ohn s Church Yard in Stratford, running from 11am-2pm on September 7. Tickets for the festival are free. Go to uel.ac.uk for more information about the festival or to register for free tickets
Scan this code to nd out more about Creative Industries Festival
how William College in Stratford is ready to start welcoming its first cohort of students this September
by Jon Massey
William College is set to open its doors in Stratford, welcoming students on its rst two courses in September. The campus will initially offer an in law o er three years plus a business and management (law) course with a foundation year o er four. oth will be accredited by a leading uni ersity.
The launch is the latest from Isle Of Dogs-based Planet Education Networks (PEN), which now operates a total of se en organisations including the Elizabeth chool f ondon and the ictoria College Of Arts And Design.
PEN director, Professor Cedric ell said illiam ollege will be where we ha e our law criminal law, policing and criminology courses to complement what we’re doing with business and management at the Elizabeth chool f ondon.
here is a real synergy between business and law and the latter is ery popular with our student constituency. e don t tend to ha e traditional uni ersity students – ours are often older, in their mid-to-late 20s or early s and ha e domestic caring responsibilities.
lot of them are interested in studying law, whether to become solicitors in their own right or because they want to pro ide support for people in their communities on human rights or immigration issues.
a ing been a lawyer myself at one stage, I see it as a good uali cation. t opens up a range of great career opportunities.”
s philosophy is ery much about pro iding opportunities for lifelong learning as an agent of societal ad ancement – an ethos common across its operations and one that especially resonates with Cedric.
ha e a sympathy with people who may not ha e attained their full potential as yet,” he said. struggled academically when I was younger – I couldn’t read until was se en – and the teachers at the school I attended in elfast were not een to encourage me because they felt I wasn’t up to it.
did better at e el than was expecting and, as a result, I felt studying law was more
realistic and attainable. I decided to take my future into my own hands and went to uni ersity.
don t thin you can udge a person by what they e achie ed in their teens or when they were younger. That’s why we’re keen on widening access to gi e people a genuine opportunity to ful l their dreams.
y and large the students we ha e ta e a conscious decision. They don’t rush into it. For many who ha e been away from formal education for a number of years, it’s a huge step of faith to come bac into it – but once they nd they ha e the courage to do that and once they realise they’re in a supporti e en ironment they wor ery hard because they’re more conscious of the commitment. or this reason we re comfort able about offering law because it’s a serious discipline, and it resonates with some of the decision-making of our students.”
The new campus is based on tratford igh Street, a few minutes’ walk from the area’s main station offering connections to the li abeth ine ubilee erground and national rail ser ices.
he facilities we offer are e cel lent illiam ollege is ery well appointed said edric. e ha e a large reception area and spaces o er a number of floors which all emphasise that students are in an en ironment where they can connect with other like-minded people a place that s conduci e to their needs.
e e put a lot of resources into it, which we’re happy to do, because we’re in it for the long term. Choosing Stratford was both historical and an extension of our philosophy at . e e always been in east ondon so our roots are ery much here and we re ery committed to wor ing with those from less fortunate backgrounds.
f you loo across the group we e positioned our campuses in big cities so the communities we want to ser e can access them easily.
tratford is also ery good in terms of tra el – it s become a thri ing place. early all our campuses concentrate on attracting students from the UK rather than people from o erseas. ncreasingly more and
Courses that will run initially at William
I always say to young people: ‘Don’t put a glass ceiling over your head’. If you aspire to do something, you’re more likely to achieve it
Professor Cedric Bell, PEN
more young people are asking themselves why they should do a degree course. What I’ve found is they ask two questions – will this course increase my employability and is it good value for money?
“The two main dynamics are employability and affordability. I’m not saying that a university degree is the best way forward for everyone.
“But I always say to young people: ‘Don’t put a glass ceiling over your head’. If you aspire to do something, you’re more likely to achieve it.
“The majority of people who studied law with me at university expected to practise as solicitors or barristers throughout their careers and I’m sure most have done that.
“But I enjoyed teaching law more than practising as a barrister and I had an opportunity within business and I built up a company, working in Malaysia and Africa.
“I can’t say that I thought while I was at university that my career would take the steps it has done.
“While law will obviously be our flagship course – with policing and criminology an extension from that, forming a group of courses – business and management are natural partners too. I work on the principle that you might be a very distinguished and capable musician, but to harness those talents you need to know something about how to run a business.
“An awful lot of law in practice is dealing with business, so we want to optimise our students’ skills for their post university careers.”
need to know
William College is located in Stratford and is currently offering two degree courses, one in law and one in business and management (law). Both will be accredited by a leading university.
For more information go to williamcollege.com or pengroup.com
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
The Mayor Of London might be working to bring WWE to the capital, but in the meantime, this promotion will see the likes of Michael Oku vs Luke Jacobs. Aug 24, 4pm, from £39.60, revolutionprowrestling.com
The classic rockers are set for an album launch party at this east London stalwart. Expect plenty of golden vibes and support from Jules Gardner Music. Aug 30, 7pm, £10, cartandhorses.london
| Abigail’s Party Starring Tamzin Outhwaite and Kevin Bishop, this revival of Mike Leigh’s play set in Essex 1977 features plenty of cocktail snacks and Demis Roussos. Sept 6-Oct 12, times vary, from £10, stratfordeast.com
You’ll need to move fast, but there’s just time to catch Sadler’s Wells East’s Breaking Olympic Watch Parties at Riverside East on August 9 and 10. Catch all the action from Paris and enjoy panel talks and DJs sadlerswells.com Scan this code to nd out more about the watch parties and other events at Sadler’s Wells East over the summer
EVENT | Revolution Pro Wrestling
STAGE
GIG | Son Of Man
Scan this code to nd out more about William College
Above, Professor Cedric Bell, director of Planet Education Networks says the launch of William College ts perfectly with the group’s aim to support lifelong learning, especially for those from less fortunate backgrounds
William College boasts extensive facilities in a building o Stratford High Street, located minutes from the main station on foot
Sudoku
How to play
To complete Sudoku, ll the board by entering numbers one to nine such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.
More to play
You can nd more Sudoku puzzles and a wide selection of other brainteasers available to download for free at puzzles.ca
Notes
crossword
Down
Take a break from that phone Across 4. It’s a barrier to handling stolen goods (7)
beating the whether you’re cryptic sleuth or synonym solver in it for quick wins, this should satisfy
Cryptic Quick
1. Getting the gist of a toe is self-centred (7)
8, 9. Playing with the monarch’s chairs on TV? (4,2,7)
10. US soldier mixed up with a wagon is sad (6)
11. Untied can mean joined up (6)
12. Without joins might appear fewer, we hear (8)
18. Bank clerks arrange discharge (8)
20. In charge of smoothing clothes can be funny (6)
21. Greek goddess confuses de nite and inde nite articles (6)
22. Sounds like a question of sickness is illegal (7)
23. Consumed food in the pub? It’s natural! (6)
24. Electronic surveillance? (7)
2. Antelopes that look like they’ve been speared (7)
