KIDS | Seaside In The City Booking is required for these free pop-up beach activities for babies and youngsters aged up to eight. Expect crafts, activities and sensory play. Aug 10, 11am, free, museumo ondon.org.uk
GIG | Boney M
Of
Wharf
left of the eclectic disco giants – think Daddy Cool, Rasputin, Sunny and Brown Girl In The Ring – return to the Cabot Place stage. Aug 16, 9.30pm, from £79, boisdale.co.uk
beleveuk.org
on the radar
There’s still no o cial opening date, but Marceline in the oating pavillion o Water Street must be close to launch in August with the delivery of its menu box and the removal of vinyl from its windows. We’ll keep you updated on developments marceline.london
need to know See artwork by Luba, an artist and refugee from the war in Ukraine
For fans of bears from darkest Peru, Jo Malone in Cabot Place is currently selling a limited edition candle and perfume inspired by Paddington’s passion for orange marmalade sandwiches. Not cheap, even 30ml of cologne costs £58. Hard stare... jomalone.co.uk
Excel’s Damian Green talks footfall and evolution as the venue launches Immerse LDN complete with Friends and F1 experiences along a kilometre of Royal Docks waterfront
Skuna BBQ Boats can be booked for 2, or up to guests100
doing the deals
Pick any ve grazing plates at newly opened venue The Cube in Wood Wharf and get the cheapest for free. Anyone can visit – you don’t need to play... bookthecube.com
Download the Canary Wharf App for 50% o at Coach in Cabot Place. The o er applies to selected lines only and is for a limited time. Go on, snag a bag... canarywharf.com get
Get that Soca sound as Nadia Batson prepares to take the Troxy stage
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me words you don’t know you need
noun, fake, from North American
A person who has had a great opportunity dumped upon them with a certain lack of organisation and grace, but is nevertheless still expected to make the most of things and rise to the challenge despite scant time to prepare
verb, real, from Middle English
To exist as an inner activating spirit, force or principle within a person. Exactly the sort of thing a harrish might need if they are to overcome a great big orange Trump in an election that looms ever closer...
Lia, a world-weary former school teacher, has promised to ful l her recently deceased sister’s last wish – to nd her long lost daughter Tekla. Together with Tekla’s former neighbour, an out-of-luck young man called Achi, they navigate Istanbul together in search of her niece. See this movie at the Crossrail Place venue on August 12 at 11.15am. Tickets cost £16.55
Modern Indian restaurant Kricket is set to open its doors, rst for a soft launch in August (with very limited availability via sevenrooms.com) and then properly from September. Nestled beneath the DLR overlooking West India North Dock, visitors can expect stu ed squid, mutton chop qorma and Biada Roti – a thin bread lled with minced rabbit. GIG
Docklands Sinfonia Concerts Jubilee Park, free canarywharf.com
Musicians from Docklands Sinfonia continue their series of free Wednesday lunchtime gigs with brass and string performances that are sure to blow away the cobwebs. First up, on August 14, an ensemble of brass musicians will play a mixture of jazz and popular classics from the movies. Then, on August 28, the orchestra’s string quartet will perform an eclectic range of pieces including pop hits and tracks from well-known lms. Founded in 2009 by musical director Spencer Down, Docklands Sinfonia has played at venues including the House Of Lords, the Royal Albert Hall and Buckingham Palace (you know, for the Queen. Concerts are free and run from 12.30pm to 2pm
STAGE
Hello Box O ce
Crossrail Place Roof Garden, free canarywharf.com
Presented in partnership with The Space arts centre on the Isle Of Dogs, this devised play imagines a world where Andrew Lloyd Webber has sole power for investing in the UK theatre industry. The latest cuts send shockwaves through the sector and push three competing box o ces to ght to the death for survival. Dystopian, comic silliness with a potent message about the importance of culture. Show on Aug 14 at 7pm. Book now...
REVIEW
Five Guys
Jubilee Place, Canary Wharf veguys.co.uk
Something extremely weird happens at the till in Five Guys. While ordering for two, the woman serving actively dissuades me from ordering two large portions of fries (£6.65 each). It’ll be too much, she says. What’s more, she’s right. In tandem with a cheeseburger (£11.75) and a strawberry milkshake (£6.25), half a portion – plus the bonus scoop the brand pops on top – is more than enough.
Being down-sold is an unusual experience on the Wharf and not one that’s unwelcome. Why wouldn’t I listen to someone who knows what they’re talking about? It’s an ethos re ected by the excellent value Five Guys o ers. Despite the rapidity of cooking in the open kitchen, this feels miles away from more arti cial forms of fast food.
Burgers come with unlimited toppings – lettuce, tomato, pickles, jalapenos, mushrooms, mustard and many more... –while the twice-cooked fries are chipped from potatoes grown in Herefordshire and, skin-on,
maintain an earthy taste that’s pepped up by salt and peanut oil. While the patties could be left a little pinker, the burgers remain a juicy experience, with plenty of cheese oozing out and a real depth of avour.
So next time you’re hunting a guilty pleasure at lunchtime on the Wharf, you now know where to go.
★★★★✩
Jon Massey
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how UCL School Of Management studies human behaviour at its Canary Wharf lab
by Jon Massey
On the 38th floor of One Canada Square in Canary Wharf, two young men are attempting to build a structure. Having only just met, they’ve been tasked with raising a marshmallow as high as possible using just dried spaghetti, string and masking tape. They’re told their creation must stand without support for 10 seconds and be as creative as possible. They have five minutes... It’s a sticky session. Ignoring the tape and string at first, they tear into the marshmallow, employing it as a kind of gum to bind the lengths of pasta into flimsy tetrahedrons. Attempts to go higher expose
the sweet’s limitations as an adhesive and, as the clock ticks down, they tape a single length of spaghetti onto the top of one tripod and place a blob of mashmallow on its end. They’re done.
The table is sticky with effort, but the task is complete and there are smiles all round.
While I’m not privy to the goings-on in all corner offices on the 50 floors of One Canada Square, I’m willing to bet this is the only one that’s a venue for pasta construction. It’s a reflection perhaps of the growing diversity of the Wharf with financial services firms increasingly sitting alongside organisations specialising in education, life sciences, technology and construction.
What I’ve just witnessed is a session organised at UCL School Of Management’s Behavioural
of taking the importance
UCL School Of Management
behavioural research lab manager
Sharmay Mitchell is inviting Wharfers of all kinds to participate in studies
Research Lab. Designed to allow the study of how and why humans do what they do in specific situations, the facility is run by Sharmay Mitchell.
“Once the professors have designed the studies, they come to me to recruit the participants and work out the logistics,” said the psychologist, who has more than 13 years of experience presiding over such experiments.
“Having run hundreds of studies, I think of the things other people might not. For example, a study might require that two participants be strangers, so you wouldn’t want them talking before the session.
“I’d also be watching to see if they were already friends and then split them up and put them with someone else, if needed. continued on Page 8
from Page 6
“It’s also my job to ensure people have consented to being involved and to collect the data for the researchers, so it can be analysed.
“We always need more participants. Anyone over 18 can take part, although people need a good command of English so they can interact with others and understand instructions.
“It’s something completely different for people to do – something novel. Many don’t know UCL is here in Canary Wharf, so it’s an opportunity for them to find out what kind of research is happening on the estate.
“It’s exciting too. You get to meet new people who may be working or studying here and most of our studies last up to an hour, so it’s something that can be done in a lunch break. We usually give participants £10 in cash or a gift card for studies of that length, as a thank-you for their time.”
Studies can be in person or online with participants typically unaware of why they are being asked to complete the tasks they are given.
“Everyone gets a debrief at the end so they can understand what they were doing and why,” said Sharmay, who studied at the University Of Westminster, UCL and King’s College London, before embarking on a career in academia at the London Business School.
“It usually takes a while for the analysis and write-up to come through – sometimes a year – but once a study is published I always like to send out that information so participants can discover the findings and how their contribution to knowledge has been used.
“All of our studies are approved by UCL’s ethics committee and the data is anonymous – each participant has a unique ID number and that’s how I’ll refer to them in the data.
“At the start we usually describe studies in general terms. For example, we wouldn’t tell them that they’ll be using spaghetti to build a tower, just that they’d be taking part in a creative task within a group.
“I find it fascinating that some people get so dedicated to the tasks they are given – but I like that they take it seriously as well.
“Once there was a study where people were asked to build a house out of Lego, with as much time as they liked. One participant spent two hours doing it because they were so into it.
“When participants are being observed they definitely behave differently and, if they think they’re not being observed, they do all sorts of things.
We always need more participants. Anyone over 18 can take part. It’s something completely different for people to do – something novel
Sharmay Mitchell, UCL
“In the previous lab I worked at, we ran a study where participants were asked to throw a ball into a basket and tell us how many times they managed to get it in. They got 10p for each successful attempt.
“The ones who thought they were not being observed mostly lied about the results, although a small percentage told the truth.”
Tasks in studies vary greatly. Sometimes participants will fill in digital surveys or may be asked to do things on their own or in groups. People wishing to take part enter their details on a database that Sharmay uses to source participants.
“That generates a research account for them where they can log in and choose studies they are interested in,” she said.
“We also send out emails about other studies as well to recruit people. There’s no limit to the number of studies a person can participate in. It can be as many or few as they wish, but some studies will have specific criteria.
“For example, the researcher will be looking for people who are in work full-time or things like that. The more people we have signed up, the more studies we can run.”
key details
The Behavioural Research Lab is part of UCL School Of Management, which is located on the 50th and 38th floors of One Canada Square. Anyone over the age of 18 can sign up to participate in its experiments. Those wishing to do so can sign up via the QR code below or are welcome to email mgmt-lab@ucl.ac.uk for more information.
UCL School Of Management offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and executive programmes in management, entrepreneurship, information management for business, management science and business analytics. Go to mgmt.ucl.ac.uk
Scan this code to find out more about taking part
PhD student and teaching assistant Velvetina Lim is studying how personal interactions alter feedback around creative tasks in her experiments
case study: the point of building towers with dried pasta...
by Jon Massey
Velvetina Lim is a PhD student and teaching assistant at UCL School Of Management. When I arrive at One Canada Square, she’s the one conducting the experiment with the spaghetti, which I witness – a task preceded by a short session where the two male participants ask each other searching questions.
“We try to do interactive tasks – where participants might do things with their hands, conduct surveys, evaluate ideas or have group discussions – and this ranges across di erent topics, such as social relationships or negotiating in job interview situations,” said Velvetina.
“My PhD is in social networks and creativity – exploring how connecting with each other can help us to discover the big ideas and how evaluating those ideas together strengthens social bonds.
“My hope in conducting these experiments is to see what speci c aspects of an interaction we can isolate and manipulate and how that transfers onto speci c outcomes, such as how much participants were talking to each other while trying to solve particular problems.
“Ideally during the experiments I’m in the room, but
We try to do interactive tasks across di erent topics such as social relationships or negotiation in job interview situations
Participants complete a creative task at UCL School Of Management’s Behavioural Research Laboratory
in the corner to make things as realistic as possible. With these experiments, the idea is you’re isolating variables in a controlled environment.
“However, hopefully they are also simulations of situations as well – in this case emulating a product design team checking in with each other at the start of the week before engaging in project meetings.
“The rst part of the experiment uses established research tasks where strangers ask intimate questions to get them to be friends and really foster a social relationship.
“Sometimes one person in the group might secretly be part of the experiment so I can manipulate what questions are asked and whether the feedback they give is positive or negative. That allows us to investigate how those interactions relate to problem solving with the spaghetti.
“One of things I’m looking at is what happens if we label an idea ‘creative’ – how would that feed back into how the next idea is produced?
“I think this is a pertinent question about the relationship between feedback and creativity. When we’re looking at startups or advertising agencies, for example, we often notice how such iterative interactions across time have an impact on the creative ow that creatives experience. This helps shape the way managers and leaders feed back to them.
“I would certainly recommend people come by and participate in these sorts of tasks.
“It’s not just one way to earn a bit of quick money, but it’s a nice thing to do on a lunchtime break. I think that sometimes doing these tasks can help participants discover who they are or let them learn new things about themselves. It can also help people focus on things they might ask one another when forming new friendships.”
Velvetina Lim, UCL
how Henry Gibbs’ Get Real is a subtle, queer celebration of Pride on Canary Wharf’s walls
by Jon Massey
Generally Pride Month celebrations in Canary Wharf feature vibrant colours. From the rainbow pedestrian crossings to the multicolour triangles of Lothar Götz, subtly recalling the abuse of LGBTQIA+ people at the hands of the Nazis.
But Henry Gibbs Get Real, painted on three walls at Wren Landing overlooking West India North Dock, presents a different take on queer relationships and intimacy. Pass by close up and his monochrome dots may well be incomprehensible – a random pattern in black and white. But move further away and things start to come into focus.
“While I was painting it, I hadn’t really comprehended the image because I was very close to it all the time,” said Henry, who spent three weeks creating the work.
“When I felt something from it was when I went over to the other side of the dock. That action of taking a step back is when the emotion comes, not necessarily one particular feeling, but really trying to understand something and getting to know it.
“The act of abstraction and including hidden references is a very queer thing. I could say that the dots are a queer abstraction, which is a theory in itself.
“Then there’s the use of colour in the work – I wanted to create something more understated for this commission.
“With the black dots I was thinking about light, so I used aluminium reflective paint as the base, which literally takes light and colour from the sources around it.
“That’s a queer thing in itself, because of the constant change that is being influenced by the painting’s environment.
“The black dots are also like a newspaper-style print and the mural as a whole has this aspect of absorption, which is a reflection of queer identity.
“The aluminium paint will pick up some colour in different lights – at sunset it can have an orange glow and there will be a similar
Weeks it took Henry to create the work at Wren Landing near Fairgame and Clays
Artist Henry Gibbs with detail from Get Real, a work commissioned by Canary Wharf Group to mark Pride Month that is now part of the estate’s permanent collection
on the walls
effect at five in the morning as well as the glow of artificial lights at night.”
Henry is the second artist to create work on the estate through Canary Wharf Group’s partnership with Pictorum Gallery, following the unveiling of Lydia Hamblet’s Together, Basking On The South Quay in 2023.
A recent graduate of Central Saint Martins, he said he’d developed an increasingly mechanical way of painting, having become interested in technology as a medium.
“I developed this dot technique, using found imagery and photography I do myself,” he said. “I half-tone and then project them onto a canvas to create a distorted, abstract look up close.
“Then at a distance – or if you view it online – you get a sense of the image that’s there. That’s also the technique I used for the mural.
“The title comes from the film Get Real, which is about coming out in school – it’s quite a raw 1990s movie that was cheaply made but has a real impact and a strong message about growing up gay.
“The painting’s title is also about Jacques Lacan’s psychoanalytic theory of The Real – that your self comes from within and is not influenced by anything else.
“I don’t really believe in coming out, but my real self is found in the images in the work. It features my friends Ed and Tommy as well as me on the thinner wall.
“It references my own queer friendships and intimacies, which have only developed quite recently, so there’s discovery too, which I wanted to celebrate.
“It’s a strange feeling to have this mural in Canary Wharf. It’s my thing, but it’s also such a public display of the work.
It references my own queer friendships and intimacies, which have only developed quite recently, so there’s discovery there too
Henry Gibbs, artist
“I would have to go and see people looking at it to understand how that feels – I can’t really imagine it.
“I found the process of doing it very exposing, because there were people watching me doing it. It did feel good to complete it. My friends and family all came to the launch and I felt pleased with what I’ve done.
“I’d never been to Canary Wharf before this project, I didn’t know who I’d be working with or where. There were a lot of late nights, a lot of work, but we got it done and I feel very accomplished.
key details
Get Real can be seen at Wren Landing (between Cabot Square and West India North Dock. It is a permanent part of Canary Wharf’s public art collection and will be on display for the foreseeable future.
Go to canarywharf.com or @henrymgibbs on Instagram for more information
Scan this code to find out more about Get Real
Henry’s work is located across three walls at Wren Landing but can perhaps best be viewed from West India Quay where his seemingly abstract dots coalesce into images of himself and his friends Ed and Tommy. The work features reflective aluminium paint, so will change colour with the lighting conditions during the day and pick up artificial light at night
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RITUALS
Jubilee Place Body Cream, £17 rituals.com
Limited edition for the summer – The Ritual Of Karma is a deep hydration for the body with an exotic, oral scent of lotus ower and white tea
with the sun finally getting its act together and summer in full swing, Jess Maddison has scoured the local malls for beauty products and skincare to maximise your radiance this season
SPACE NK Cabot Place Maison Margiela Under The Lemon Tree Eau De Toilette, £120 spacenk.com
The weather might be letting us down, but at least we can still smell like we are sitting under a lemon tree o the Amal coast
BOOTS Canary Wharf Carmex SPF15, £3.49 boots.com
Lips need protection too –Carmex has plenty of summer avour SPFs and my favourite is strawberry
West eld Stratford City Sephora Collection Bronzer Shimmer, £15.99 sephora.co.uk
A gorgeous, natural bronze, available in light and dark, comes with several shades that can be doubled up as eyeshadow
SEPHORA
getting greener
by Sophie Goddard
Something I’ve been reflecting on recently is the importance of playing our part in connecting our communities and customers in areas where we can make a positive difference. The resources, support and networks in our communities are such a crucial part of creating spaces where people feel welcome and able to reach their full potential.
Throughout Canary Wharf Group’s history in Tower Hamlets, supporting those around us has been a part of what we do. As part of this ongoing initiative, in 2023 we launched our revamped Community Grants Programme. The programme is designed to support organisations in our community with grants across three key themes – Education, Skills And Employment and Wellbeing And Biodiversity.
We identified these key areas by engaging with local residents and organisations and bringing in expert support to help us understand where we could have the greatest impact, specifically in Tower Hamlets.
Last year, we supported 67 community organisations. One grant recipient, Newark Youth London’s The Homework Club works to provide coaching and one-on-one support to children struggling to complete their schoolwork. By helping children get back on track with their studies, the organisation is also working to improve students’ overall wellbeing and reduce anxiety.
Another organisation, City Gateway, received funding to run a project to support people into employment by providing training on things like writing a CV, interview techniques and business planning. We were also able to support City Gateway by bringing them into our offices and having some of our CWG colleagues share their professional experiences with the group.
According to one attendee: “The opportunity to network with the staff from CWG
Canary Wharf Group has a long history of supporting the local community within Tower Hamlets, whether it’s helping create employment opportunities or funding local projects. Its latest Community Grants Programme is now open for applications
was extremely valuable. All of them were very professional, super friendly and gave some great real-life examples and insight of their day-to-day duties in the workplace.”
It’s incredibly inspiring to see the work our community partners are delivering in Tower Hamlets and I’m honoured we are able to support this work through the grants programme.
I would also like to extend my thanks to the East End Community Foundation (EECF), which we have partnered with this year to deliver our grants. With a strong 30-year track record of working in the East End, we are so proud to strengthen our Community Grants Programme through EECF’s expertise.
We are currently accepting applications for our third funding round of the year, closing on September 2. I invite you to scan the code below to find out more about the programme, eligibility criteria and how to apply.
Sophie Goddard is director of sustainability at Canary Wharf Group and can be contacted via sustainability@canarywharf.com
a tradition of support
Go to canarywharf.com for more information
Scan this code to find our more about CWG’s Community Grants Programme 2024
viewpoint
by Chris Ezekiel
Voice technology has only recently really come of age. For as long as I can remember, there’s been the promise of being able to speak to our devices and to actually be understood. Several decades ago, technology companies were touting the benefits of being able to write columns like this with the most natural of human communication methods – our voices.
But now, several technologies have converged to not only make voice plausible for dictating, but also for having “real” conversations with an organisation. This coincides with a moment in the world where there’s less time to type.
For Creative Virtual, the conversational AI company that I run, it’s resulted in voicebots becoming greatly in demand. Just like chatbots, these are engaging in human-like conversations.
Gone, however, are the days of the robotic, synthesised voice. Voicebots are now humansounding and change intonation, pitch and pace depending on the conversation context and the emotions of the customer.
Understanding accents, slang and multiple languages is much less of a problem for today’s products, powered by the most advanced AI and voice technologies.
Suppose the customer interrupts the voicebot mid-sentence? No problem. The voicebot can easily switch topics and respond to the interruption seamlessly.
Changing tack and topic mid-conversation, is a natural human trait, and voicebots can now take it in their stride. They are also adept at moving the conversation towards a satisfactory resolution for both parties.
In the age of the customer experience economy, businesses that don’t have a voicebot are at a major disadvantage
calls the right
We are fortunate at Creative Virtual to have been researching this technology for more than 20 years. Being able to bring together expertise in voice, conversational AI and know which AI platforms to use are the foundations for a voicebot that will deliver tangible business value.
This foundation must, of course, be supported by an experienced conversational AI team, who are qualified and understand how to engineer industry specific voicebot solutions that engage in the personalised, human-like, natural way that every customer expects.
In the age of the customer experi ence economy, businesses that don’t have a voicebot as part of their digital toolkit to serve customers are at a major disadvantage. While text communication remains an important part of the market, make no mistake, consumers want to talk to the companies they are dealing with.
Scan this code for more information about Creative Virtual or follow @creativevirtual and @chrisezekiel on X
Companies are increasingly turning to chatbots to help field customer contact as the technology comes of age
virtual
Chris Ezekiel is founder and CEO of customer engagement solutions specialist Creative Virtual based at Canary Wharf’s Cabot Square
Chris Ezekiel, Creative Virtual
Cost of a ticket to see Nadia and the other artists at Troxy in east London £30.09
by Jon Massey
Singer and songwriter
Nadia Batson is set to perform at a pre-Notting Hill Carnival Soca Market at Troxy in Limehouse. Having spent years behind the scenes penning ditties for other artists, in recent years she’s become a leading exponent of the Caribbean genre with multiple hits released from her base in Trinidad And Tobago.
Known for songs such as My Land and Caribbean Girl, she also wrote and produced Go Ahead And Do Dat for Soca diva Michelle Sylvester. Appearing live in east London, the promoter is also promising performances from the likes of Pumpa,
Problem Child, One The Band, Trini Boi Joocie and Pahjo with more to be con rmed. A mini-festival of sound before the carnival itself arrives with its usual vibrancy on August 25.
key details
Nadia Batson is set to perform at Troxy in Limehouse’s Commercial Road on August 23. Doors open at 7pm and tickets cost £30.09. Go to troxy.co.uk for more information or to book tickets
Scan this code to nd out more about the gig how Nadia Batson is set to bring a set of sassy Soca with a full backing band to Limehouse’s Troxy in preparation for
Nadia Batson is set to play Troxy ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival, along with many other Soca artists
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | Man/Woman/Chainsaw
Scan this code to nd out more about AGL Airsoft and read our interview with founder Peter Fernandes Wapping - Limehouse - Whitechapel -
Where? The George Tavern Whitechapel
Violin, guitars and avours of AC DC, Cyndi Lauper, Blondie and many more, this band o er something fresh, punky and unashamedly original. Aug 15, 7pm, £6.50, thegeorgetavern.london
Where?
Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping
STAGE | The Parson’s Pirates Opera Della Luna promise “the funniest” production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates Of Penzance, celebrating the company’s 30th birthday. Aug 27-31, times vary, from £17, wiltons.org.uk
Where? Tobacco Dock Wapping
EVENT | London Craft Beer Festival Try more than 800 beers from more than 100 breweries at this annual celebration of craft, hops, bitter and inventive spirit. Drinks included. Aug 9-10, times vary, from £59.50, londoncraftbeerfestival.co.uk
back
Test your skills and re exes at AGL Airsoft near Aldgate – a subterranean facility o ering a selection of ranges to shoot Airsoft pistols and ri es at digitally connected targets. Perfect for team building or parties aglairsoft.co.uk
be part of the Canary Wharf conversation
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Years since Luba was forced to ee Ukraine for a temporary home in London due to the Russian invasion
by Jon Massey
Work by Ukranian refugee and artist Luba is currently on show at Poplar Union, the venue for month-long exhibition
Fragile: A Journey Of Resilience. Having ed her home
see the work
country following the Russian invasion, she has decided to share her experiences in a blend of art and storytelling that aims to re ect the strength of survivors in the face of war.
She said: “Two years ago, I encountered the most broken version of myself—but also the strongest. Now, I am ready to share my journey.
“I have lived a double life. One life now exists only in memory, lled with the warmth of home.
“The other is my present
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
STAGE | Glitch
Sophie Huggins’ latest play gets a reading (plus a Q+A afterwards) as audiences are invited to see a relationship progress at speed, when something really isn’t right. Aug 9, 7.30pm, free, space.org.uk
STAGE | Nye From The National Theatre Join Sisata for a fresh retelling of JM Barrie’s classic tale complete with original live music and song. This two-hour show is suitable for the whole family. Aug 17, 6pm, from £5, poplarunion.com
TRY | Pilates For Women
This regular class for those aged over 50 takes place on Mondays at 11am, run by instructor, Fola Ademoye, who has decades of experience in the industry. Mondays, 11am, free, womensreachpilates@gmail.com
reality, a stark contrast to my past. This new existence challenges me every day, yet it is also where I discover resilience and the hope to rebuild amidst the uncertainty. I hope to convey the profound journey of navigating these two worlds, honouring the strength and hope that sustain us.”
key details
Fragile: Journey Of Resilience is on show at Poplar Union until August 17 and is open daily from 9am-5pm. Entry to the exhibition is free Go to poplarunion.com scan this code for full details
The University Of Sunderland In London recently presented Docklands Victims Association founder and president Jonathan Ganesh with an honorary fellowship for his work supporting those a ected by terrorism lonond.sunderland.ac.uk
Scan this code to read our interview with Jonathan and the full citation for the award that he received
how The Paci
c Tavern near Canada
Water o ers free wheeling cuisine and a party atmosphere inside and out
by Jon Massey
There’s something about e acific a ern.
It might be that the place is essentially an islan c t off rom its surroundings by road an a constr ction site. t co l
e t e e pansi e ec e an co ere area o t ac t at eels somewhere between beach club an otanical gar en.
Then there’s the rough-hewn plan s o tim er s spen e on concrete t at ma e its seating sing lar an e en t e rig t images o pacific estinations t at a p its toilets.
t s all t ese t ings o co rse an more. eca se at o n er o i man as manage to fill t e en e it is a goo ose o p re ol as ione so l.
Purpose-built as a pub in the 1 s t e ac a as ormerl no n as t e e ec r e e ore spen ing 14 ears as a ietnamese resta rant.
o a o e er it as res legs as a pub, restaurant, bar, gig en e s n trap or st a place to gra a coffee.
Toby is, in many ways, its ideal am assa or. i e is en e e comes across as lai ac a man with a sunny disposition ready to warmly welcome anyone who ants to isit or ate er reason. e e create a local ta ern pulled together a classic bar and rin s list it a goo co ple o cra t eers an res ene t ings p it some elicio s coc tails e sai . e re t e in o rin s t at co l transport o to eeling li e o re on oli a .
“On the space that used to be t e car par e e ilt a eat erproo 1 co er terrace it alls t at can e remo e an a co ple o s ipping containers in the open-air part with an outdoor ar an a stage or m sicians D s actors an come ians to per orm on. t s n o co l e on a eac .
“When we built it we thought e mig t a e a ternoon an a
parties with people dancing on t e ta les an eeling ree e ents ere e er one is elcome. e re starting to ac ie e t at and people are really starting to enjoy the music we’re programming. ere are no r les. o ant some oo gra it. o ant a eer a e one. ere are no constraints it s li e a comm nit all.
at oc s on meeting customers’ needs when they want is in o s ospitalit D . riginall rom e ealan e came to on on age 1 ta ing is first steps in t e in str e ore ret rning ome to p rs e a career in t e sector.
si mont stint or ing on rs
si mont stint or ing on a oot catamaran in reece saw him return to Europe, e ore a temporar trip to on on to see a rien on t e a ome. n t e en e ne er le t. at as 15 ears ago. a some rien s o were starting an antipodean restaurant in the capital in 1 e sai .
t t e time t e coffee ere as mostl rea l restaurants were opening or l nc closing t en reopening or inner it was all white tablecloths and there wasn’t much cas al ining. rea ast was either in a hotel or a or ers caff. ne er n erstoo why all-day dining wasn’t pop lar. at as t e i ea e in ara an. e i ea as t at li e t e cara ans t at tra elle t e il oa it pic e p a o rs rom across t e orl .
e first one opene in E mo t ar et an as ea o operations rom 11 ntil a o t a ear ago elping it expand and generally muddle along. e opene ing s ross in 1 an it gre rom t ere.
t attracte a melting pot o creati es or ers e a goo coffee goo eer an great pi a. Today, there are eight branches,
Kiwi pie of the day with tomato relish and fries, £13
Grilled squid in a ponzu sauce, £7
The Paci c Tavern is located on the Rothehithe Peninsula
The venue features an extensive covered garden as well as an open-air space
Founder of The Paci c Tavern, Toby Kidman has brought food, drink and entertainment back to the building, with plenty of events planned over the summer
Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey
The courtyard is covered so we can have it open all year round and that’s where we have our outdoor barbecue where we do all our cooking
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
Where?
Little Nan’s 2.0
What is completely new, however, is the freedom of the oo offering ic eli er ately sets the Pac Tav apart.
“The courtyard is covered so we can have it open all year round and that’s where we have o r o t oor ar ec e ere e o all t e coo ing sai o .
“We wanted to come up with a menu that didn’t restrict the c isine so o a e t e a ilit to se ingre ients o can get from all over the place.
GIG | Tiara Night
Promising a night of music from “iridescent souls” this gig will feature the likes of Mazz, Taj, Aduke, Romaya and LoisLana amid the kitsch overload. Aug 15, 7pm, from £6, @tiara_nights on Insta
Where?
Odeon
Surrey Quays
Surrey Quays
FILM | Screen Unseen
Enjoy living life on the edge? Odeon’s new viewing option lets you preview a movie early. The catch is, you won’t know what until the screening. Aug 6, 7.45pm, £7, odeon.co.uk
“So, fun, simple, honest coo ing. e a e e Zealand’s answer to the Cornish pasty – a shortcrust pastry pie it fillings s c as mince an cheese, steak and cheese. acon an egg is a er tra itional i i pie filling there we have pie warmers in e er p an off licence. o can gra one or rea ast l nc or inner. E er t ing is coo e o er ames t e i ea is t at e ta e ingre ients rom aro n t e acific cean an present t em in a a t at tastes great.
dinner menu had people
incl ing anar ar and Covent Garden. remem er en p tting a oca o on toast on a lunch and dinner menu had people on ering at e ere oing. t t e i ea as a o t not restricting cuisine – it’s still a very e citing ran . o ne oger
Madelin – joint head of British Land’s project to – from the latter’s time at
Madelin – joint head of British Land’s project to regenerate ana a ater – from the latter’s time at rgent or ing at oal Drops ar in ing s ross ere ara an ecame an earl an potent s ccess. n ite o n to so t east on on to c ec o t at o l ecome t e Pac Tav, he immediately saw the potential. e il ing itsel as a real so l an eart to it sai o . o al close o r e es or a secon o can st imagine at used to happen here when it was t e e ec r e.
ome o t e ol reg lars are still ro n ere an a e een happy to see it revived. There are some great stories.
“We also have an open kitchen so people can go p tal to t e chefs and even order a chef’s plate it ate er t e e got on. t s a o t a ing t e tra itions o a p it t at acific t ist to it. at s in all o r is es.
And what dishes they are. Seafood features heavily with t e li es o sea ream cr o in coconut milk and lime juice it corn or cr nc an grille octop s s e ers. co l rite a o t t e men all a t it s etter i o go an tr it.
key details e acific a ern is open rom 1 am rs a n a it closing times p to mi nig t epen ing on t e a . t s open from noon on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and is closed on Mondays.
e est a to eep p it events is to follow the venue on nstagram t epacificta ern. Go to pacifictavern.co.uk for more
Scan this code to nd out more about The Paci c Tavern
| Shades Of Dire
Where?
The Albany Deptford
Paying tribute to the Deptford band, this out t from Norway are set to play all the hits at a venue once graced by Knop er and the others. Aug 15, 7.30pm, from £12, thealbany.org.uk
This is PR supremo and comedian Ben Goldsmith, who is taking CrimeLandTown – his a ectionate spoof of mobster culture on lm – to the Edinburgh Fringe in August following previews in south-east London linktr.ee/bengoldsmith90
Scan this code to read our interview with Ben and nd out more about his journey as a performer
GIG
Straits
Toby Kidman, The Paci c Tavern
The Paci c Tavern is located roughly 10 minutes’ walk from Canada Water Tube station
Seabream crudo in coconut milk and lime juice, £13
Lamb sausages with yoghurt, tomato and herbs, £12
Whole grilled seabream from the BBQ with Pac Tav butter and lemon, £26
David Lefebvre Sell
Having a growth mindset is all about accepting the possibility of change and development
Recently, the nation went to the polls, in order to answer that age old question: “Is it possible to achieve orgasm through schadenfreude?” But wanting to see someone else fall is the hollowest of victories, without the belief that we can succeed and lift ourselves up.
Mozart said: “Love, love, love – that is the soul of genius.” If that rings true, then is hatred the source of ineptitude? I have a theory that most people who believe they are bad at maths, had a terrible maths teacher at some point.
So much of our internal experience is determined by our external feedback, including what we think we are good at.
You may have heard the terms, “growth mindset” or “ xed mindset”. These are the di erence between believing that we can learn and change or believing that we can’t. They can be di erent depending on the challenge or the time in our life.
Some people would think nothing of learning a new physical skill but would atly refuse to believe they could learn a new language. Others would have no issue picking up a new skill for work, but wouldn’t go to therapy to save their relationship. These areas should make us curious. Why do you think you can’t get better at a particular skill or rise to meet a challenge? Where do you nd yourself jealous of other peoples’ success? This is where you have a xed mindset, probably learned from somewhere.
Perhaps the most important application is to start with the idea you can change your mindset. What if things can get better?
David Lefebvre Sell
This isn’t to say that you don’t have limitations. Anyone can play music, but not everyone is going to play the Electric Ballroom.
Having a growth mindset means acquiring new skills or achieving good outcomes is simply a matter of time and e ort. Perhaps the most important application is to start with the idea you can change your mindset. What if things can get better?
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
£22
Starting price for tickets to Beauty And The Beast at Greenwich Theatre, running from Aug 2-25
putting on the
how Greenwich Theatre is preparing for a run of Beauty And The Beast in August with a fresh, distinctive, musical flavour
take a breath by
David Lefebvre Sell is a Greenwich-based psychotherapist and Yoga instructor who teaches at Third Space in Canary Wharf
by Jon Massey
Greenwich Theatre is set to host a new adaptation of perennial classic Beauty And The Beast this August. The family show, written by Sidonie Welton and Brad Tutt gives the tale a musical, magical makeover with plenty of comedy under the guidance of the venue’s artistic director James Haddrell.
The production will feature panto favourite Louise Cielecki – most recently seen as Muddles in last year’s award-winning production of Snow White – as Belle and Ed Tunningley as the Beast.
This is part of the venue’s commit-
ment to staging year-round children’s theatre, building on the legacy of other summer productions such as Cinderella, Treasure Island, Pinocchio and The Wolves Of Willoughby Chase. The cast of actor musicians will also feature turns from Tony Mooney, Michaela Murphy, Ines Ruiz and Lucy Mae Carpenter in her professional debut.
James, the director, said: “I am excited to unveil this brilliant new script by Sidonie Welton and Brad Tutt.
“It upends the classic gender expectations of so many fairytales and subverts the usual understanding of ugliness at the heart of this story, giving us a powerful Belle and a far more nuanced Beast.
“With such a fantastic company
Cast members for Beauty And The Beast rehearse for the new musical adaptation at Greenwich Theatre
of musicians carrying us through the tale, this promises to be a great summer celebration of theatre at its best.”
key details
Beauty And The Beast is set to play from August 2-25 with shows at 2pm Tuesday-Thursday and 1pm and 5pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets start at £22. The theatre is a short walk from Cutty Sark DLR station. Go to greenwichtheatre.org.uk for more information
Scan this code to nd out more about Beauty And The Beast
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
The artist, recently nominated for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards is set to bring his We’ll All Be Here Forever World Tour to London. Aug 21-22, 6.30pm, from £78, theo2.co.uk
EVENT | Turning Tides Music Festival
Headlined by Girl Ray, this event will see Design District transformed into a vibrant melange of music, food, drink and community celebration. Aug 10, from 1.30pm, free, greenwichtpeninsula.co.uk
| Olcay Bayir
London-based singer and songwriter Olcay Bayir is set to perform a free outdoor gig this summer. Her music is rooted in her Anatolian heritage. Aug 18, 3pm, free, woolwich.works
Firepit Gallery on Greenwich Peninsula is hosting Art Of Being, a free summer exhibition of work, until September 24. Expect a rolling programme of events alongside the show repit.art
Scan this code to nd out more about Art Of Being at Firepit Gallery on Greenwich Peninsula
GIG | Noah Kahan
GIG
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
SWIM | Royal Docks Summer Splash
Where?
Royal Victoria Dock
Royal Docks
A di erent kind of immersive experience. All ages can take a dip in the pop-up lido with a special shallow end for kids. Then unwind locally, afterwards. Jul 27-Aug 18, times vary, free, royaldocks.london
Where?
Immerse LDN
Royal Victoria Dock
SEE | Friends: The One In London Could it be any more like the sitcom? Channel the 1990s, sit on the sofa, imagine the smell of a malodorous feline. It’s all here and you can take part. from Aug 12, from £20, london.friendstheexperience.com
EVENT | Thaw
Where?
UEL
Royal Docks Campus
See an eight-hour performance atop a giant block of melting ice as the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival returns. This one is not to be missed. Aug 24-25, 1pm-9pm, free, festival.org
ash back
Cody Dock’s plan to create a heritage centre for Newham with a rather unusual roof is set to go ahead thanks to a £1.6million grant from the National Lottery. Expect a new structure and plenty of activity over the next three years codydock.org.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about the project, via our interview with Simon
160,000
by Jon Massey how Immerse LDN’s attractions will provide a constant draw for visitors to Excel’s campus
Something momentous is underway at Excel London. Despite a footfall of more than 4million visitors each year, the Royal Docks exhibition and conference centre has historically been somewhat inward-looking.
As a venue, it was built to contain and host temporary gatherings, often appealing to a very speci c audience, rather than being a perennial attraction. If you’re on the DLR or Liz Line, MCM Comic Con’s cosplayers are easy to spot when the show comes to town. A gathering of property professionals or cardiovascular surgeons, not so much.
But all this is set to change, with Excel gearing up to attract an additional 2.5million people to east London with a signicant change in strategy.
Along a kilometre of waterfront, the venue has created Immerse LDN, a new entertainment district with purpose-built spaces to host both attractions and hospitality o erings.
“Excel can be very busy, whether it’s Comic Con or the World Travel Market, but then we have quiet periods when exhibitions are being put up or broken down,” said Damian Norman, director of immersive entertainment and events at the venue.
“That doesn’t work well for attracting quality hospitality businesses, because they need consistency of footfall.
“I joined Excel about ve and a half years ago, with a background in consumer events, to look at capitalising on the arrival of the Elizabeth Line – the big transport gamechanger for us.
“There are things that are done exceptionally well in London – theatre in the West End, West eld’s shopping centres and live music at The O2, for example.
“So what is Excel’s niche? What do we want to be?
Square footage of the space Excel has dedicated to Immerse LDN and its attractions at Royal Victoria Dock
Immerse LDN will include a series of spaces for immersive experiences that will attract a steady stream of visitors to the Royal Docks
I’d been thinking about an always-on entertainment o ering and there are trends so I went to see an immersive Van Gogh art exhibition in Hyde Park.
“It was very impressive, with pictures projected on the walls. But there was also a light-bulb moment for me when I was watching a lady in her 70s and a child of about ve – and I saw their interaction with the images and with the music that went with them. It clearly had universal appeal for di erent demographics. Something cool that was di erent to looking at a static painting with various elements blended together to make it immersive.”
In 2022, Excel tested the theory, hosting Jurassic World: The Exhibition, which broke European records for ticket sales. This was followed by Disney 100: The Exhibition – a celebration of a century of creativity featuring 250 objects
from the Walt Disney Archives –which was a similar commercial success.
“These gave us the impetus to approach our owners with a strategic development opportunity to redevelop the waterfront,” said Damian.
“Previously it was an area that had been under-used, with little investment made in it. Instead we wanted to create spaces – we refer to them as chapters – that are blank pages for great storytellers to come and do their thing.
“We’ve found best-in-class operators who have committed to those spaces and that’s how we will set a new benchmark for immersive entertainment as a destination in the capital.”
Initially Immerse LDN will launch with two experiences, one inspired by evergreen sitcom Friends and the other a collaboration with Formula 1, featuring rare cars and a plethora of singular exhibits
Myers
a promise to
We
don’t take this development lightly. We want to create jobs and boost tourism locally, which is very important
Damian Norman, Excel
expensive – not accessible for a lot of families and enthusiasts.
“People might have a Sky subscription to watch the races, but not a physical connection to them. I think this brings that accessibility – something they can touch and feel – at a price point that will be really welcome.”
As welcome for local residents, visitors to Excel and those working in Royal Docks will be Waterfront Street Kitchen And Bar. Curated by Kerb, this market hall will feature the likes of Duck Shed, Masa Taqueria, Nazari and co ee from Hej to help keep people refreshed.
Ambitions for the future include making use of oating amenities on Royal Victoria Dock to complement the brick arch frontage, inspired by the epic regeneration of Coal Drops Yard in King’s Cross.
Damian said: “We don’t take this development lightly. We want to create jobs and boost tourism locally, which is very important.”
from the history of the global motorsport brand.
“Friends has now become a multi-generational sitcom – not many have stood the test of time, but this one has,” said Damian. “A similar immersive experience has been running in New York for four years with a consistent annual audience of about 230,000 people.
“The London one will be 40% bigger with a number of new sets for visitors to explore. It’s about going and being in that thing that you loved, grew up with and watched your children grow up with. It’s an experience that encourages visitors to open the fridge in the apartment, to buy a co ee in Central Perk or sit on the sofa.
“F1: The Exhibition was a long time in the making, with hugely successful runs in Madrid and Vienna. It has simulators for people to drive the tracks and unique cars for people to see. Going to a Grand Prix can be
Further attraction announcements are expected in September and November. Watch these spaces...
key details
Immerse LDN is located on the Excel London Waterfront, overlooking Royal Victoria Dock. It’s most easily accessed via the Elizabeth Line or DLR to Custom House.
The Friends Experience: The One In London opens on August 12. The rst ve days are sold out with tickets available from August 17 costing £32. Tickets start at £20 for other dates.
F1 The Exhibition opens on August 23. Tickets start at £25 with prices dependent on date. Go to immerseldn.com for more information and listings
Scan this code to nd out more about Immerse LDN
An artist’s impression of how Immerse LDN’s waterfront space will look along a kilometre of dock edge
Damian Norman - director of immersive entertainment and events at Excel
free
Hip hop dance events are set to take place in Stratford during August, organised by Sadler’s Wells East
Academy Breakin’ Convention is set to host free summer sessions for teenagers at East London Dance on Sugar House Island
is set to host hip hop themed games, summer sessions and watch parties as breaking makes its Olympic debut
new ground
August is set to be a month of movement as Sadler’s Wells East brings hip hop dance events to its Stratford home
by Jon Massey
The arrival of Sadler’s Wells East at Stratford’s East Bank is already injecting fresh moments of movement as part of the area’s summer programme. A trio of hip hop dance events are set to take place in August, with breaking at their heart.
● First up, Stratford Waterfront – right outside the new theatre, London College Of Fashion, BBC Music Studios and V&A East, –will play host to the the Hip Hop Games on August 3.
From 2pm-7pm, krumpers and poppers will go head-to-head in dance oor battles and tests of improvisation and creativity as Sadler’s Wells and Breakin’ Convention ll the space with vibrant performance. Afterwards, BBC 1Xtra DJs are set to keep the party going with plenty of space for everyone to get in their groove. The contest is free for spectators to attend.
● Academy Breakin’ Convention
will also be hosting a series of free summer intensive hip hop theatre sessions from August 5-8.
For 14 to 17-year-olds, the four days will break down the basics of breaking, DJ-ing, emceeing, gra ti, music production, popping and hip hop social dance – exploring them all through a theatrical lens. Participants hoping to attend the sessions at East London Dance on Sugar House Island must register by July 31, so don’t delay. Days run from 10am-3pm.
● Finally, in celebration of hip
hop dance becoming an Olympic sport, Sadler’s Wells and Breakin’ Convention are set to host Breaking Olympic Watch Parties on August 9 and 10.
The venue for these will be recently opened bar and restaurant Riverside East, just across the water from East Bank.
Running from 1.30pm to 10pm, the sessions will feature hip hop media platform The Capsule featuring panel talks including breakers involved in Olympic qualifying sessions.
Attendees will then watch the games live streamed on a big screen from Paris, before enjoying music provided by BBC 1Xtra DJs.
key details
Stratford - Bow - Hackney Wick
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
EVENT | UK Black Pride
Returning to Stratford for a third year running, the organisers are promising the biggest and boldest celebration yet in a safe space for all attendees. Aug 11, noon-8pm, free, ukblackpride.org.uk
GIG | Lilypads Sesh Vol 4 Dive into an intimate rendezvous lled with musical enchantment from a band that specalises in infectious melodies and dynamic stage antics. Aug 9, 7.30pm-7pm, £4, rulezero.co.uk
STAGE | Oestrogeneration X Pole Dolls 2 An event by and for trans women and their allies as the likes of Karlie Max and Harietta on the decks support Harper, Bambi and Willow on the poles. Aug 15, 8pm, £10, theyardtheatre.co.uk
now open
To nd out more about any of the hip hop events listed visit Sadler’s Wells’ website.
Go to sadlerswells.com for more information
Scan this code to nd out more about Sadler’s Wells East events by
Sugar House Island has welcomed Hypha Studios to the mix, a group o ering free art installations for public view in commercial units at the Stratford scheme. Expect the rst clutch of shows to run until Aug 3 hyphastudios.com
Scan this code to nd out more about Hypha Studios and its work at Sugar House Island in Stratford
Sudoku
Take a break from that phone
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
beating the whether you’re cryptic sleuth or synonym solver in it for quick wins, this should satisfy
Cryptic Quick
Down
This cure might give you the needle (11)
Source of protein to cheer you on? (3)
Asinine politicians across the pond (9)
Employ everyone sounds normal (5)
Short poem about a pig and mare (7)
It has a confusing role and hangs around (6)
Alan or Elizabeth? It’s a family name (6)
Daily help is a puzzle, we hear (7)
A fountain for coins? (5)
Unusual neckwear could be trinkets (9)
Long period for a backward existence (3)
A line of men are cosmetically sharp, sort of (11)
2. A toothy one in the wheel (3)
3. Sounds like selling on two wheels (5)
4. Numerical loss of feeling (6)
5. Diplomatic roofing is touching (7)
6. Move around a cooker at the back (9)
7. US politicians concerning innkeepers (11)
8. I’m very rhythmic in equal measures (11)
12. Simple creatures open to higher education (11)
