Wharf Life, Jun 14-28, 2023

Sophie Goddard on why we must stop using so much stu for the sake of the planet Page 31

inside issue 90

The Felix Project + Canary Wharf Group - Sudoku

Lady Inger - Wood Wharf Kindergarten - Hacks

flavour lled with

Mansimble Tea And Estate - Queer Jazz

Tuned In London - Crossword

The George Tavern Tambo & Bones

how Mallow is set to put veggie cuisine at the heart of Wood Wharf - Page 10

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

Image by Jon Massey

Where?

Jubilee Park Canary Wharf

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Welcome to the 90th issue of Wharf Life. Care is the de ning word, whether it’s looking after babies and young children at Wood Wharf Kindergarten, feeding the hungry with Canary Wharf Group and The Felix Project, low waste dining at Mallow or Mansimble’s ethical teas. Discover them all

STAGE | The Greenhouse Theatre

The zero waste venue is back, this time with a zero waste bar. Expect a fabulous selection of shows in a venue constructed from recycled materials. Jun 19-Jul 14, times and prices vary, canarywharf.com

Where?

Mystery Location Canary Wharf

GIG | Sofar Sounds

Just a reminder that the next Sofar Sounds gig is set to arrive in early July followed by performances on August 9 and September 6. Book early. Jul 5, 8pm-10pm, £23, canarywharf.com

Where? Canada Square Canary Wharf

FILM | Kinky Boots

Settle in for this true tale of drag and its regenerative e ect on a Northampton shoe factory. A stone cold classic, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Joel Edgerton. Jun 27, 7pm, free, canarywharf.com

This is Tomaso Portunato, co-founder of console gaming bar Platform, which recently opened its second branch at Crossrail Place in Canary Wharf – serving up pizzas, Playstations and Nintendo Switches to punters experienceplatform.co.uk

this code to read our interview with Tomaso and to nd out more about Platform in Canary Wharf

Find a home in a Ford’s iconic former HQ in Warley near Brentwood

Why The George Tavern is the perfect champion of live music

How Ashlea Cromby won over a University Of East London panel to receive a grant of £5,000 to invest in Mansimble Tea And Estate, an importer of Kangra tea from India

Canary Wharf - West India Quay

on the radar

need to know

There’s excitement in the air on Wood Wharf as Fish Game is set to open its doors, hot on the heels of plant-based powerhouse Mallow (see Page 10). Fans of Roberto Costa can expect the new venue to arrive towards the very end of June shgamerestaurant.co.uk

From

activism with Tambo And Bones in Stratford

Possibly as an antidote to Greggs, superfood brand Acai Berry is set to open its doors in Canada

Place promising bowls of fresh fruit, toppings and the tricky to pronounce ingredient, packed with antioxidants. Health bene ts have yet to be established scienti cally @acaiberryfoods on Insta

Discover the darkness at Ottisdotter brings Henrik Ibsen’s Lady Inger to The Space on the Isle Of Dogs – a complex, brutal play with a shocking twist

doing the deals

Time-limited o er. The rst 20 people to ask for Wahaca’s Terrace Bar from 5pm-7pm on June 14-17 at its Park Pavilion restaurant will get a free cocktail – £6 otherwise wahaca.co.uk Get

Queer Jazz comes to Woolwich Works for three hot concerts

LADIES CUTS FROM £75 MENS CUTS FROM £50 + AESTHETIC TREATMENTS

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write me

words you don’t know you need

al-ex

noun, fake, from American English

A disgraced person who hectors their successor from the sidelines despite having been found severely wanting while in the post themselves following several scandals. Think Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, for example

hot list

rumours tips and rankings

NEW STUFF

In addition to Emilia’s festival, there’s more pasta news as Coco Di Mama (cocodimama.co.uk) is preparing to open in Canada Place. For those who prefer actual clothing, just across the way Italian fashion chain Boggi Milano (boggi.com) is fitting out a new store with the aim of opening over the summer. In addition to the recently opened Zara, Canary Wharf shoppers can also look forward to a new branch of Pandora and more tea from YiFang too...

OUR PICKS

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

wazzock

noun, real, from Old English

An idiot. See above. Allegedly, this Yorkshire insult comes from the habit of medieval kings to defecate on a shovel before “wazzing” their turds out of the window. True or not, it’s a powerful metaphor

FREE ENTRY

On July 16, Emilia’s Crafted Pasta is set to host the second iteration of its Pasta Festival at its Wood Wharf restaurant and in Harbour Quay Gardens. This will include music from X-Factor finalist Davide Shorty, other musicians, street food and picnic areas plus paidfor masterclasses that should be booked in advance. The event is set to run from noon-8pm with plenty of deckchairs, wine, riverside benches and places to dance the day away Go to emiliaspasta.com for more information or book via the QR code to the right

BURNOUT ADDICTION STRESS CRISIS RELATIONSHIPS ANXIETY

1. Check out reduced items at M&S’s Crossrail Place food store. Tucked away, there are often yellow label bargains to be had in the evenings – marksandspencer.com

2. Catch The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert at Everyman Canary Wharf in Crossrail Place on June 25 at 8.45pm for £16.50 – everymancinema.com

3. Visit The Lunch Market on Thursdays in Montgomery Square (near 640East) from noon-2.30pm for a flavourful street food hit – canarywharf.com

diary dates, listings and ideas to

Canary

GIG - Omar

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf, Cabot Square

Jul 12, 14, 9.30pm, from £29 (show only) boisdale.co.uk

The classically trained soul man returns to Boisdale for two dates in July. Expect a string of hits in the set possibly including the likes of There’s Nothing Like This, Mr Postman and You And Me. With four decades in the business, this is a performer at the height of his powers

GIG - Cuban All Stars

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf, Cabot Square Jul 1, 9.30pm, from £19 (show only) boisdale.co.uk

Regulars at the Cabot Square venue, the band are set to celebrate Cuban independence day with an energetic performance of Latin music and rhythms. Audiences can expect tracks from the likes of Afro Cuban All Stars, Celia Cruz and many more.

make your

Wharf life that bit sweeter in the coming weeks...

Months since Wood Wharf Kindergarten opened its doors in Canary Wharf, providing care for babies and children aged 0-4

Learning at Wood Wharf Kindergarten is always play-based with an emphasis on enjoyment, fun and exploration

by Jon Massey

Humans change physically, mentally and emotionally at a faster rate in their first few years than at any other point in their lives. The experience and stimulation they encounter during this formative time plays a crucial role in their development, laying the foundations for the people they will later become and the individuality they will express.

the power of and joy

These are facts that are uppermost in the minds of staff at Wood Wharf Kindergarten, which recently opened its doors in Canary Wharf.

Arranged in generously proportioned surroundings over the two lower floors of 10 Park Drive, if offers childcare to babies and young children aged 0-4, 51 weeks of the year. ‘Tailored’ is the word that best sums up its approach.

“Getting to know the family and understanding what their

needs and their child’s needs are is the most important part,” said Heleanna Phair, nursery manager at Wood Wharf Kindergarten.

“The first thing we do is to invite parents in for the settling-in sessions, which we do together. A lot of nurseries will ask parents to bring their children in for an hour and then leave them at the door.

“We believe the parents should be in the room with the children to help them to become familiar with the environment and with

the staff – especially the key person who will be looking after them. Then, slowly, the parent moves away and stays downstairs so they’re on call if needed.

“We don’t allow any child to start unless they’ve gone through that settling-in process and we feel the child is emotionally ready. Of course, that looks different for each child and family.

“Once we’ve been through that process, parents have a key person who acts as the main point of contact and will send them daily information about what their child has been doing.

“We’ll let them know if the children are sleeping, if they’ve had a bottle or gone out for a trip – those notifications and photos go out throughout the day, which is a real comfort for people.

“Every six weeks we’ll write a long learning story, so parents get an update on their child’s developmental milestones, and then we’ll invite them in every three months for a bit of a parents’ evening for a catch up on how things are going.

“We have very strong parent partnerships here, and parents are continued on Page 8

how Wood Wharf Kindergarten tailors the care it gives children to help every single individual thrive

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

100% plant-based sustainable seasonal internationally inspired

from Page 6

always invited in at the beginning and end of every day for a verbal handover. It’s so important we work with them, that they know what their child has been doing and how they are developing.”

With a track record of achieving assessments of “outstanding” from Ofsted in previous roles, you don’t have to sit with Heleanna long to feel her obvious passion for the job she does.

“I’ve lost count of the number of years I’ve been in nursery management,” she said. “Of course there’s a lot of legislation to take into account, but I think that if you’re genuinely passionate about what you do and that you really think about the children and parents you have in your nursery then that’s what helps you gain this level of recognition.

“No nursery is the same as another – they all have challenges. My first management role was for a charity and, because many of the children were disadvantaged, what they really needed was feeding, love and attention.

“Here we have some children who have nannies, language classes and swimming lessons and have had the opportunity to travel a lot. So, for us, the challenge is to provide a curriculum that is exciting and engaging, because they have so many experiences in the bag already.

“To do that we make sure everything we do is fresh, current and child-led. There’s no top-down approach to our teaching at all. We see the children each day – discover what their interests are – and then plan learning opportunities for the next day.

“I always mention to parents when they come in at first that we may not move a child up from the babies room at 18 months because they might not be ready. Equally, we have a boy at the moment who is only 14 months, but is ready for the toddler room because he just wants more stimulation.

“Knowing the children and parents and reviewing the service as you go is really important. I once worked at a nursery that operated 12 rooms and the children were moved every six months. That was really bad for them emotionally because they were not forming attachments with the staff. Here we make sure that three moves is the maximum and we only make them when the children are ready, which means the age range in each room is quite broad but also that each child is in the right place.

“We have a qualified early years teacher in our pre-school room, which is a real benefit. They are responsible for our school readi-

ness programme. This, like all of our teaching, is play-based, but prepares the children for formal education with an emphasis on literacy and numeracy.”

While staff at Wood Wharf Kindergarten preside over a curriculum that includes Spanish, Mandarin and even Yoga, the overwhelming atmosphere is one of fun. Softly furnished rooms are filled with wooden toys, books and activities intended to sneak a little knowledge in while the kids are simply having a good time. But the nursery is about more than just the building itself.

“We’re an outdoor learning nursery and we go outside in all weathers,” said Heleanna. “We don’t keep them in if it’s a bit cold outside and we are in the process of securing a permanent outdoor space next to the nursery with a temporary one set up at Union Square in the meantime.

“I’m always very clear with parents about this because I really believe in it. It’s the same with messy play. We always ask that the children should be dressed in old clothes – nothing precious.

“It’s so important not to have barriers to learning so if the children don’t want to wear aprons, then we won’t make them. Having a close relationship with the parents is really important so

Meals each day are included in Wood Wharf Kindergarten’s fees, cooked up by head chef Mitchell Wilkinson

Wood Wharf Kindergarten is located on the edge of Harbour Quay Gardens in Canary Wharf

The nursery takes children outside to play twice a day whatever the weather

Wood Wharf Kindergarten manager Heleanna Phair

The nursery’s main entrance is off Park Drive in Wood Wharf

Wooden toys rather than plastic ll the nursery’s spaces with children encouraged to learn through play and having fun

places such as Mudchute Park nd arm on the sle f Dogs a favourite with everyone.”

Located on the edge of Harbour uay ardens overlooking West ndia South Dock, Wood Wharf Kindergarten sits on the quieter half of the estate.

Sta at Wood Wharf Kindergarten are full-time to ensure they are able to form consistent, long-term relationships with the children in their care

they understand our approach and its benefits. t’s the same across the curriculum. f any of the children don’t want to take part, then they don’t have to.

“ hat’s why we only have full-time sta because its so important for our key people to observe the children every day so they really know how they are doing. othing is structured, but there are always goals behind the activities to me outstanding’ looks like giving children the

Packed with toys and e uipment, it also o ers food to meet any dietary re uirement from head chef Mitchell Wilkinson a cook with decades of e perience working for the likes of Wimbledon and he Hurlingham Club before moving into educational settings.

“We do have some spaces at the moment and ’d urge parents to get in touch,” said Heleanna. “We can host them for stay and play sessions if they like because we know it’s important to be sure.”

Wood Wharf indergarten fees which include all meals, snacks, formula, nappies and trips are per standard day for under- s and for .

Go to woodwharfkindergarten.com

Scan this code for more about Wood Wharf Kindergarten

To me ‘outstanding’ looks like giving children the best possible experiences and we are so lucky to be here in Canary Wharf to do that

Heleanna Phair, Wood Wharf Kindergarten

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

Pulled Mushroom Biryani with plum tomato shorba, cucumber coconut sambol, cardamom raita and spiced almonds, £19

from the to the leaves

how soon-to-open, plant-based restaurant Mallow reduces food waste while focusing on flavour

by Jon Massey

Iwant people to feel joyful, satisfied and surprised when they come to eat at Mallow,” said Sarah Wasserman. “My favourite thing is when someone tells me they’ve brought a non-vegetarian person to the restaurant and that they couldn’t believe how much they enjoyed the food.”

As if Patty & Bun, Feels Like June, Dishoom, MMy, Hawksmoor and Emilia’s Crafted Pasta weren’t enough, Canary Wharf is set to get two new continued on Page 12

Branches of Mallow in London when the Wood Wharf site opens later this month – the other is in Borough if you just can’t wait

Mallow is set to open its second site in Wood Wharf

Image by Jon Massey

Number of cookbooks that Sarah Wasserman, head development chef for Mildreds and Mallow, has written

from Page 10

openings at Wood Wharf, just across the road from one another.

Roberto Costa’s Fish Game is coming at the end of the month, but it’s plant-based Mallow, which is taking bookings from Friday, June 26.

As head development chef for Mildreds restaurants and its sustainability focused o shoot Mallow, it’s Sarah’s responsibility – alongside partner in crime Alessandra Malacarne – to create dishes that will feed and delight the growing brands’ guests.

“I started out as an art school kid and spent seven years studying at places like St Martin’s and oldsmiths,” said Sarah.

“I realised during that time that I wasn’t going to make any money as an artist so I started working in food places. As a vegan, that included travelling round the States working in places where you grind your own our and make your own hemp sandals –all of that stu .

“I started out doing some shifts as a student when I was at the Royal Academy Schools and eventually became a manager in the original Mildreds restaurant.

Above, Shiitake Miso Croquettes with pickled shimeji, shiso and yuzu mayo, £9 at Mallow

Left, head development chef for Mildreds and Mallow, Sarah Wasserman

“After that I ran the salad bar, worked as head pastry chef and then as head of central kitchen. From there I co-authored three cook books and eventually became the development chef.

“Then I was allowed to bring in lly to help me, so that o cially makes me head of development for Mildreds and Mallow because there are two of us. I’ve worked there for 17 years now, on and o .”

For those who don’t know, Mildreds is a Soho institution, founded by Jane Muir and Diane Thomas in the late 1980s.

“They wanted to eat in a more compassionate, sustainable way but thought the whole vegetarian scene was so uncool, with wall hangings and things like that” said Sarah. “They wanted to eat in a great, contemporary place that just happened to have good vegetarian food. That’s the vibe – and to this day, nothing goes on the menu unless it tastes great.

“I didn’t even know it was vegetarian when I walked in – this was back in the time when you could just turn up with your CV and get a job – it just looked like a cool little place.

“All the big production houses and music o ces were there, so lots of people from those places would come and it was pretty cool to just pop in.”

As time has passed, Mildreds has e panded to five locations in the capital and in 2021 decided to try something new. I opened Mallow in a fine red brick building right across the road from Southwark Cathedral, right on the edge of the hustle and bustle of Borough Market. It’s this brand that is set to arrive in Canary Wharf this month – but what is it?

“When the original site in Southwark became available, we knew it had to be something special,” said Sarah. “ orough Market is where all the fruit and veg for London would have been coming and the basement of the building we have has been used as the banana store for the whole city.

“With Mildreds we already had something plant-based and internationally inspired and with continued on Page 14

watercolour by Ed Bucknall - edjbucknall.com

The founders of Mildreds wanted to eat in a great, contemporary place that just happened to have good vegetarian food

Sarah Wasserman, Mildreds + Mallow

Image by Jon Massey

from Page 12

Mallow we were really trying to expand on the potential of its location and the nearby suppliers – to do that with as little waste as possible.

“We took the name because it’s a plant you can use from the root to the leaves. Marshmallows also get their name from it because when you cook down the root you get a gelatinous substance that, before gelatin, was used to set jellies and sweets.

“That’s a tradition that had been lost and I think it’s great to bring back a seasonal ingredient like this. It’s a tweak we apply to everything – we try to use as much as possible of the produce we’re working with in the most interesting way we can.”

The plan with Mallow has always been to simply take seasonal produce and then create something fun and delicious with it, while also operating as close to zero waste as is practical.

Visitors to the forthcoming Wood Wharf venue can expect more of the same, with an expanded menu and the odd special event drawing inspiration from across the globe.

Working tirelessly alongside Sarah in that mission is fellow development chef Alessandra.

“Originally I wanted to be a doctor, but cooking has always been my passion,” she said. “I would always relax by cooking for myself.

“I was living in Pisa and looking for a job to make some money to get an apartment and that’s when I started in hospitality.

“It was everything I like – the food and the kitchen. I realised I didn’t want to live with my head in a book.

“I had no experience so I worked my way up – learning from a Michelin-starred chef. In one hotel I worked my way up from cleaning fridges.

“I’d never really felt at home in Italy but I loved London – I’d always dreamed about moving here. My best friend shared that dream and so we did it.

“After a couple of years working in restaurants I joined Mildreds because I wanted to be vegan.

“The thing for Mallow’s menu is that we don’t just stick with something we already know, we always like to change it up and that can be quite a challenge. We like to go from country to country and pull things together.”

“We have quite a bit of fun with it,” added Sarah. “We’re pretty irreverent – Mallow is much more fusion than Mildreds, more playful.

“For example we’ll be doing marinaded corn ribs cut through the centre so when you bite them they’re really juicy and flavourful. What we want is a good balance of international influences so there’s a nice flow of flavours from different places.

“There’s a nice sort of symmetry to the new site because the first restaurant is where much of the fruit and veg in London was sold.

“The docks would have been where it was coming into the city. As the first purely plant-based restaurant in Wood Wharf, we’re appropriate, because today Canary Wharf has a huge amount of people from all over the world working and living there and we try to cater for a very diverse range of tastes.

“Mallow in Wood Wharf will also feature some new dishes, an expanded wine list and some

new cocktails. Plus we also have a really fun tasting menu planned for August.

“We’ll be doing things like pumpkin blossoms that are similar to courgette flowers but served with a spicy, fresh Trinidad pepper sauce and fresh coconut to get that summer heat going.”

“We’re still working on the menu,” said Alessandra. “It will take place on August 16 – a celebration of the hot sun – the kind of weather where people stop working to take a holiday.

“Our plan is that there will be something grilled, something fresh and something fried so people will have a bit of everything but in a good amount that they can enjoy.”

Mallow is located in Wood Wharf’s 12 Park Drive and is set to open at 8am on weekdays and at 9am on weekends. For more information or to make a booking, go to mallowlondon.com

The thing about Mallow’s menu is that we don’t just stick with something we already know – we always like to change it up

Alessandra Malacarne, Mildreds + Mallow

Starting price for a cocktail at Mallow in Canary Wharf (a Sakura Spritz, specifically)

Sarah’s partner in crime and dish development, Alessandra Malacarne

Image by Jon Massey

PLATFORM BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH

GET

with unlimited Sunset Lager, Prosecco & Mimosas and a choice of pizza or nachos.

£35 / PP

per 90 minutes gaming.

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oc.mroftal ottob/ku m

Burnt Aubergine Muhammara Borek served with green tabbouleh, baba ganoush cream and ezme comes as a crispy curl of pastry atop its various accompaniments for £18

>> COOK IT

Wharf Life will be collaborating with Mallow to bring readers recipes from Sarah so you can bring avours from the restaurant into your home – pick up our issues in September for these delicious treats

Image by Jon Massey

Number of meals the Green Scheme will distribute every week to those in need when running at full capacity 1k

As part of the UK Government’s environmental noise requirements, London City Airport’s next 5-year Noise Action Plan will be updated for the period 2024 – 2028.

Our draft Noise Action Plan (NAP) sets out how we are planning to manage and reduce the impacts of aircraft noise over a five-year period.

LCY is seeking feedback from the local community on our updated NAP from Monday, 5th June – Friday, 11 August, ahead of submitting it to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Read more about our draft Noise Action Plan on our London City Airport corporate site or simply scan the QR code below.

Three public events are being held to discuss the NAP with the local community and to answer any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you there.

the things that can do to help

Canary Wharf Group announces long-term partnership with The Felix Project to ght food poverty

by Jon Massey

Volunteers needed. That’s the simple message from Canary Wharf Group (CWG) as it officially launches a long-term partnership with The Felix Project – a charity that rescues surplus food and distributes it to vulnerable people through front line organisations, schools and community initiatives.

Together they have unveiled the Green Scheme – an ambitious project to provide more than 1,000 continued on Page 29

Canary Wharf Group has teamed up with The Felix Project to launch the Green Scheme, battling food poverty in London

from Page 16

meals a week through around 10 local organisations, saving some 500kg of food that would otherwise have gone to waste.

To achieve that, they are looking to recruit as many as 1,500 people to ensure food is collected from retailers, restaurants and office kitchens on the Canary Wharf estate before transporting it to where it needs to go.

“What CWG is looking to achieve is really more than just having a positive impact in the buildings on the estate,” said Jane Hollinshead, managing director of people, culture and customer service at Canary Wharf Group.

“It’s about how we fit into the wider ecosystem in terms of being a responsible business.

“We’d had some conversations with The Felix Project about just doing some simple volunteering – that was really a corporate social responsibility thing.

“But this was at the time when the cost of living was really beginning to spiral out of control and there were huge issues around food waste, so I went over to see their warehouse in Poplar and it struck me what a natural partner Felix would be for all of the things that we as an organisation value.

“I thought that if we were to create something more strategic with them, then the reach we would get through their operations would be exponentially greater than if we were doing things on our own.

“From their side, our position as a landlord opens up opportunities for Felix because they are able to meet our customers, many of whom have surplus food at the end of the day – whether they are retailers or restaurants in offices.

“It’s a really symbiotic partnership – we both bring things to further each other’s purposes.”

While CWG and Felix are still exploring the full extent of what may be possible through their collaboration, the Green Scheme is the immediate priority.

Retailers including M&S, Joe Blake’s and Waitrose have already signed up, with support also coming from the likes of Morgan continued on Page 30

>> “Our purpose is to bring people together to enhance lives now and in the future,” said Canary Wharf Group CEO, Shobi Khan. “Through partnerships like this, we aim to ensure Canary Wharf is more than just a place to live or work, but a place where you can be connected to the local community and can have a positive social impact.

“The business community at Canary Wharf has a big part to play in making The Felix Project a success and indeed some of our local companies are already on board, including Morgan Stanley and Barclays. With such a concentration of retail and office businesses on the estate, a key part of our role as partner will be to introduce the charity to our wider community and bring the scale that’s needed to have a real, lasting effect on local people’s lives. We have so many people who can play their part, whether they work, live or regularly visit here – I urge anyone willing to spare a couple of hours to sign up to volunteer and help us get surplus food to those who need it most.”

The partnership is very much about setting out our stall to the outside world as an organisation – what our values are and what we stand for

Jane Hollinshead, Canary Wharf Group

Number of volunteers the Green Scheme is looking to recruit in Canary Wharf to achieve its food distribution target

From left, Shobi Khan, Charlotte Hill and Jane Hollinshead unveil the Green Scheme in Canada Square

Stanley and Barclays. The partners are now keen to attract more businesses and, crucially, volunteers to drive the project forward.

“For the Green Scheme, we will act as the hub,” said Jane. “That makes sense because we can keep the food fresh on the estate and then get it out faster than if it were sent to a warehouse first.

“It’s also about bringing the individual volunteers out to the organisations that we and Felix are supporting.

“What happens is that the food is collected from the retailer or office restaurant by the volunteer who then delivers it.

“We wanted that to be done in a sustainable way so it will be either on foot, by bike or via a dedicated electric van that we’ll charge up in our car parks.

“We are looking for anyone at all to volunteer for the Green Scheme – you might work or live in or near the Canary Wharf estate, or be a visitor.

“There are no boundaries when it comes to this kind of activity and we see it as a really good way to build relationships with the local community.

“We want as many people to help as possible – all volunteers have to do is to pass a health and safety induction and be able to carry a takeaway delivery servicestyle rucksack.”

CWG is clear. This latest initiative is very much looking beyond the borders of the estate in a bid to get as much of the community involved as possible.

“I think the benefit from the volunteers’ perspective is that they will be achieving something that’s meaningful,” said Jane.

“That comes back to what I increasingly see from our own employees and customers.

“When people come to their workplace, they want to feel they are doing something that really has value.

“When you have this huge cost of living crisis and you have in-work poverty – people who are relying on food banks even though they have jobs – then a partnership like this fulfils a purpose that is twofold.

“Firstly, it’s reducing food waste, because there is so much that would otherwise be thrown away.

“Secondly, because of the significant challenges the UK has faced over the last few years, food poverty is also coming through as an immediate crisis.

“The next generation particularly want to feel that they work for organisations that share their values. Part of that is having an impact in the community and a strategy for that.

“Here we are delivering something that works for our people and has benefits for CWG and our customers but also for the Felix Project and all the people and organisations it helps.”

While the Green Scheme itself is an ambitious project, Jane said it only represented the start of the collaboration between Felix and CWG – something that would grow in the months and years to come.

“We want to see how we can use the assets that we have as an organisation and explore how else we can help the charity,” she said.

“We’re looking at working with our office clients to see whether we can help them create a more diverse group of volunteers down at the Poplar depot.

“We’re talking to Morgan Stanley – which has a very effective volunteering strategy –about how that best practice can be shared.

“We’re also investigating how we can encourage people who are experts in their particular sector such as sustainability or professional services to volunteer their time to help the organisation.

“There’s a contribution of expertise, so it’s not just about the Green Scheme. It’s really about sharing knowledge and asking how we can involve our supply chain.

“Can we make use of small businesses locally to help them deliver what they are doing, for example?

“The partnership is very much about setting out our stall to the outside world as an organisation –what our values are and what we stand for.”

Those interested in volunteering with the Green Scheme should sign up online to find out full details of the project. Go to canarywharf.com for more information

Scan this code for more about volunteering with the Green Scheme

We are looking for anyone to volunteer for the Green Scheme – you might work or live in or near Canary Wharf, or be a visitor

Jane Hollinshead, Canary Wharf Group

People in the UK are struggling with the cost of food according to The Felix Project 4.7m

>>“In the UK, 4.7million people are struggling with the cost of food,” said Charlotte Hill, CEO of The Felix Project “This is an issue we cannot afford to ignore and the situation is critical as the cost-of-living crisis intensifies. Many Londoners are trying to feed themselves on less than £3 a day.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Canary Wharf Group as they’re in the unique position to be able to convene the hundreds of businesses, retailers, employees and residents on the Estate to tackle this issue together, meaning we’ll have a much greater social impact than we would otherwise. They have the access and logistics that we need to make the scheme a success at a time when the need is so high, and are committed to the same long-lasting, sustainable and meaningful change that we built our charity for.”

getting greener by Sophie Goddard

According to the World Economic Forum, we are now using 60% more resources than the Earth can regenerate every year. If we continue at this pace, we will need the resources of three Earths by 2050.

A big part of this problem is the traditional, linear economy, where we use materials without considering what to do with them once they’ve reached the end of their life.

Moving away from this and towards a circular economy –where we use resources more efficiently and for longer – is key to solving this issue.

This transition to a circular economy is a key focus for us at Canary Wharf Group. We are looking for ways to use materials for longer, reuse them wherever possible and find uses for them once they’ve reached the end of their original life.

This isn’t an easy job. Establishing new ways to reduce waste and minimise environmental impact requires a tremendous

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

Go to canarywharf.com or breakingtheplastichabit.co.uk

Scan this code for more information on sustainability in Canary Wharf

amount of collaboration. One of the ways we can work together with our communities is by tackling food waste. Across the UK, over 3million tonnes of food is wasted every year. At the same time, in London alone 400,000 children go to bed every day without a proper meal. We have an opportunity to tackle both issues at once, by working with retailers and community partners to make sure food doesn’t go to waste. That’s why we’ve partnered with The Felix Project.

Using the strength of the community here in Canary Wharf, we are supporting the charity by creating links with our customers and volunteers. We are keen to get as many people involved as possible.

That could be by supporting the Green Scheme or by volunteering at one of the Felix Project’s warehouses and kitchens – such as the one in Poplar – by preparing and sorting food for delivery.

I’ve already signed up to the Green Scheme to collect food and deliver it directly to local community organisations and I can’t wait to get started. You can find out more about volunteering yourself on the preceding pages. We know that the transi tion to a circular economy won’t be an easy one, but we at CWG are committed to playing our part.

Above, Shobi and Charlotte load an electric van with surplus food at a photocall to launch the Green Scheme Left, volunteers will collect surplus food from retailers and kitchens in Canary Wharf before delivering it to organisations identified by The Felix Project where it is needed most

Wharfers can volunteer to deliver food with the Green Scheme direct from Canary Wharf or may wish to consider other opportunities at The Felix Project’s nearby warehouse and kitchen in Poplar

Karaoke at The George Tavern on Commercial Road every Thursday evening free

how The George Tavern continues to provide a haven for live performers near Shadwell

by Jon Massey

The George Tavern is a venue as deep and rich as the layers of spray paint and stickers that adorn the walls of its gents toilet. These messages from gig-goers and the countless acts that have graced its stage over the years are a testament to the importance of such places – scratches where generations have made their marks. Located on Commercial Road, a short walk from Shadwell DLR station, The George’s three storey tower is a beacon, a brick-built reminder of Georgian London in a city where reinforced concrete is merely dressed up in skin-deep layers to recall such solidity.

But better than the chipped gran-

deur of the architecture, this is still a working building, its stage lled with performers most evenings.

Arrive before 7pm and entry is generally free for the gigs, which typically kick o around 8pm. There’s also free karaoke on Thursdays.

Inside there’s a generously appointed stage, phased coloured lighting and a dry ice machine recalling a time when such places were garlanded with a subtle fug of tobacco smoke.

At the back sits a wood-built bar, glowing golden in the dim light as well as soft leather seating for those in need of relaxation between sets.

There’s nothing contrived or staged about The George. It’s comfy, well worn and welcoming in a minimal way that lets its main purpose be the focus. Outside there’s a long strip of courtyard garden, complete with tree fern and discarded medical crutch –as though some punter, presumably lled with the spirit of the music, absent mindedly left it behind having been propelled to their feet by the beat. Long tables encourage mingling over a few drinks before and after the performances.

It’s those shows, however, that de ne the place. You could visit merely for a few beers in the garden, but it would be impossible to

ignore the buzz, the vibration that runs through the building’s very foundations.

With live music venues increasingly under pressure, here’s a place that provides a vital outlet for people of all kinds to get in front of a mic and an audience and do something.

On my recent visit, that person was So Naufal. Later, her Bandcamp bio tells me she’s a British-Lebanese musician and writer originally from London and now based in Berlin who uses her voice, guitar and eld recordings to play with “structure, time and melody” within the folk tradition.

I know none of this as I watch her, head bent, laptop open hunched over a guitar on The George’s purpledrenched stage.

The music is ethereal, gentle sparse guitar, mysterious harmonies welling up behind the notes and her delicate voice oating on top of the other ingredients.

The fty or so people watching are completely silent as she sits alone, softly singing to them. The lyrics feel brittle, raw – at once accusatory and riven with self doubt.

“Did you notice I’d been here? Did you notice I’d been here at all?” She sings on An Hour Spent – a song that alludes to a night time rendezvous

keeping music

and a rapid morning departure – a eeting relationship ended.

There’s a fragility to many of her creations, but also biting ashes of humour and a dash of acerbic observation.

Hushed, The George proves the perfect venue for these vignettes. The rich colours of its lights refracting through the smoke-laced air lend So ’s words a breathy focus as the last of the evening sunshine streams through the old pub’s windows.

It’s a reminder that venues like this o er something you can never nd digitally – the experience of sharing a space with others and seeing a performer communicating live with all your senses engaged. Long may it continue to provide this for the people of east London. Go to thegeorgetavern.london or follow @so .naufal on Instagram

The calm before

The golden glow of the bar

The generously appointed stage

So Naufal in action - listen via the code

Wapping - Limehouse - Shadwell

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

Where? Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping

FILM | The Silent Comedies Of Harold Lloyd Watch Speedy and The Freshman plus relevant shorts complete with live music as the Lucky Dog Picturehouse returns to the glorious, crumbling venue. Jul 3-4, 7.30pm, from £8, wiltons.org.uk

Where? Troxy Limehouse

PARTY | Mimi’s: Pride Featuring Peaches Mingle with thousands of sexy queer bodies as London Pride arrives in Limehouse. Expect a serious party with a 4am licence and killer DJs Jul 1, 9pm, from £62, troxy.co.uk

Where? St Katherine Docks Wapping

SEE | Wimbledon

It’s nearly that time of year and, if you can’t make it to Murray’s Mound or Henman Hill, why not catch the action on a oating pontoon. Come on Tim. Jul 3-16, daily, free, skdocks.co.uk

ash back

This is Toby Carr, adventurer and author whose book Moderate Becoming Good Later about sea kayaking the Shipping Forecast has been nished by his sister, Katie Carr, following his death from liver cancer in 2022 summersdale.com

Scan this to read our interview with Katie about his journey and his connection to Shadwell Basin

want more? @wharfwhispers

The George Tavern is to be found on Commercial Road, a short walk from Shadwell DLR

Scan this code to nd out more about The George Tavern

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

Where? Craft Central Isle Of Dogs

by Jon Massey

ART

This intricate exhibition presented in ve sections promises to carry viewers on a journey that will enhance their understanding of oriental art. Jul 4-9, noon-5pm, free, craftcentral.org.uk

Where?

Poplar Union Poplar

GIG

One for the early birds – go for a stroll with likeminded folk to start the day, followed by a co ee at Poplar Bakehouse. No need to book, just show up. Fridays, 7.30am-9am, free, poplarunion.com

Where? The Space Isle Of Dogs

The Space arts centre on the Isle Of Dogs is gearing up for 10 performances of a rarely seen work by Henrik Ibsen. Specialising in lesser known and obscure plays that feature the oppression and subversion of women in society, theatre company Ottisdotter is set to present Lady Inger as June turns into July.

“It’s by the second most performed playwright in the world after Shakespeare, but Ibsen is most famous for his last 12 works,” said Mark Ewbank, joint artistic director of the company.

“He actually wrote 26 and for a decade we have been exploring his earlier canon – the pieces he wrote while he was developing as a playwright.

“Lady Inger is fascinating because it is based on the history of Norway and people who actually existed.

“Ibsen took some liberties with the story to make it more dramatic, but in essence it is a medieval epic from the 1500s.

This hybrid performance featuring spoken word, visual poetry and amenco dance transports audiences to the Spanish Civil War. Jul 11-13, 7.30pm, £15, space.org.uk

ash back

This is Professor Anita Taylor, founder of what is now the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, a contest that this year will see a top award of £10,000 made to an artist. Anyone can enter although works must be in by June 30 trinitybuoywharf.com

Scan this code to read our interview with Anita and to nd

want more? @wharfwhispers

“Lady Inger is trapped between two opposing powers. Norway was a kind of region of Denmark at that time and the Norwegians were subjugated by both Sweden and Denmark.

“Lady Inger herself represents the nearest thing Norway has to a queen but, as it’s a regional province, she’s a bit like Nicola Sturgeon – the head of a devolved nation – and she has to make sure that everybody else is happy.

“Nils Lykke represents Denmark and has come to Norway to make sure Lady Inger is being consistent with what his country would like.

“There are also some Swedish rebels who want Lady Inger to support their cause, so that Norway can become free. In the play, she is really stuck between a rock and a hard place while trying to get the best for her country.

“Ibsen is famous for writing about women and this piece shows a female leader who is trying to do as well as possible for her people.

“The ultimate story of the play – without any spoilers – is

| Lost And Found

STAGE | The ‘S’ Is Silent

| Morning Walking Group

rooted in the

how Lady Inger is set to bring a medieval epic to The Space’s stage from the pen of a young Ibsen

Price of a standard adult ticket to see Ottisdotter’s Lady Inger at The Space from June 27-July 8

that everybody is undermining her and even her own people are sceptical about a woman being up to the job. You’ve got Denmark trying to play political games with her – to test her – and Sweden trying to work out if they should support her.

“One of the reasons it’s so rarely put on stage is that this is a medieval epic and most companies don’t want to do one. It’s very like Game Of Thrones – quite a big piece to put together.

“ t was the first play ttisdotter – which takes its name from Lady Inger’s surname – put on back in 2013 and it was a wild success.

“Lots of people are interested in Ibsen and wanted to see it – there was a gap in the market because everyone does The Doll’s House or Hedda Gabler, but not his early works.”

Helping esh out the story this time round are ristin Du y in the titular role and Ivan Comisso as complex antagonist and Danish emissary Nils Lykke.

“Lady Inger is like Hilary Clinton – someone who’s spent her entire life feeling the call to be a leader for her people,” said Kristin, who auditioned for the part after learning about the production via The Space’s newsletter.

“Despite her ualifications for the role, she’s continually brought down by the men around her. Like Hilary, Lady Inger gets a reputation as someone who is not always so kind but that’s because she’s constantly beaten down.

“When I saw this role come up, I read the whole script and thought it was such an interesting, three-dimensional character that I wanted to audition. The play is written in a way that makes portraying Lady Inger challenging because like all the characters, she is awed.”

“In the play, I’m very much the underminer,” said Ivan, who appeared in Ottisdotter’s previous show at The Space – Emilia Galotti in 2016 and recently starred in emerging et i rugby hit In From The Side

“You would consider Nils the

antagonist but he has his own agenda. Denmark is technically the owner of Norway at the time, so as a Dane he’s come in, sni ng out trouble from the Norwegians and the Swedish. He’s there to keep an eye on things.

“He’s a very interesting character. Ibsen portrays a lot of his thought processes and there are a few asides between him and Lady Inger. You can see these political titans going head to head and this is one of the main driving forces of the play. I always call it a political drama like House Of Cards. It’s fun to see these people circle each other – almost as equals, even though Norway is subjugated.

“This is what Ibsen does with women, he portrays incredibly powerful female characters who go head to head with men and convention.”

Key to Ottisdotter’s decision to revive the play is its continued resonance despite dealing with events hundreds of years ago.

“It’s exciting to see this play because it could be a contemporary work,” said Mark. “The play is set in 1528 and Ibsen was writing it in 1855, but you could say the things that happen in it are still happening to this day.

“It demonstrates the theatrical machinations that Ibsen had to go through to show that women are poisoned by society and could only succeed if they were not continually undermined.

“His work represented the birth of realism in the theatre and has that timeless quality to it. Every one of his works shows how Ibsen thought society shaped us and how it continues to do that.

“None of his plays needs to be situated in Norway, for example. They could be set anywhere in the world. His focus is on how people interact as human beings.

“We’re also lucky with the setting. The Norwegian Embassy sent me to Trondheim in 2013 to research our first production

Shadowy politics: Ivan Comisso and Kristin Du y are set to star in Lady Inger at The Space as Ibsen’s early work is presented on the Isle Of Dogs

the audience so they can really feel the energy.

“Without giving anything away, Lady Inger ends with a twist – there’s no happy ever after. It’s known as Ibsen’s most brutal play and it’s definitely one for audience members to digest.

“In a way, people have to provide their own ending –nothing is wrapped up in a bow for you and it continues to make people think long after they have seen it. It’s such a rich work that, even after all this time when we’re rehearsing it it’s still possible for me and the cast to find new things in the piece.

“Because we have a cast of such talented actors, they push our understanding of the piece. Come and see it for yourselves.”

so I’ve seen Lady Inger’s castle with its whitewashed walls and ironwork.

“The Space can easily represent a medieval castle so the work and the theatre go together really well.

“Ibsen plays are generally best when they are presented with minimalist design and we’ll be performing it in the round so the audience really becomes part of the production.

“The actors will be in amongst

● Lady Inger is set to run at The Space from June 27-July 8. Performances start at 7.30pm and tickets cost £16. Go to space.org.uk for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about Lady Inger

Ibsen’s work represented the birth of realism in the theatre and has that timeless quality to it

Mark Ewbank, Ottisdotter

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

Where? The Master Shipwright’s House Deptford

EAT | Dirty Brunch

While Dirty Apron may have closed its doors at Deptford Market Yard, it’s popping up again for a date in Deptford with food and a dash of Mozart. Jul 2, 11am-3pm, £35, theshipwright.co.uk

Where?

Deptford Lounge Deptford

GIG | Comfortable Classical Musicians from the City Of London Sinfonia put on a relaxed concert of live music for people of all ages complete with big cushions and conversation. Jul 3, 1.30pm, pay what you want, thealbany.org.uk

Where? The Albany Deptford

Cost of a ticket to see Namvula at the latest Tuned In London gig in Bermondsey £15

Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey

KIDS | Squid Ink

A DJ night for those aged 10-25 with disabilities or autism and their families, complete with performers from the Do Your Own Thing collective. Jun 30, 6pm, pay what you want, thealbany.org.uk

try it

We love value at Wharf Life and that’s something Co ee And Olive delivers in great big servings. Take its Falafel Box, for example. Costing £7.95 it’s a serious feed complete with a stick of fried halloumi follow @co ee.and.olive

Scan this code to nd out more about Co ee And Olive at Surrey Quays shopping centre

want more? @wharfwhispers

Namvula is set to play a gig at City Hope Church in Bermondsey on July 12

in Africa

how Tuned In London is set to host a Zambian and Scottish singer for an evening of music in SE16

by Jon Massey

City Hope Church in Bermondsey is set to reverberate to melodies and rhythms inspired by the traditions of Zambia and Scotland. Rotherhithe-based music promoter Tuned In London is set to host Namvula for a gig at the Drummond Road venue on July 12.

Kicking o at 7.30pm, the gig will feature music from the singer, songwriter and photographer as she explores her Zambian and Scottish roots through the medium of song.

Concert-goers can expect a blend of African sounds and

rhythms with Latin, jazz and folk in uences.

Her website says she crosses “boundaries with a refreshing honesty and evocative lyricism” to transport “listeners into di erent worlds while staying rmly rooted in African soil”. Tickets to see Namvula cost £15 for adults.

The gig is the last in the current series with more expected in due course. Go to tunedin.london for more information or to make a booking

Scan this code to nd out more Tuned In London

Singer, songwrither and musician, Namvula

Image by Lucie Evans

Inset image by Ottavia Castellini

£15

Price of entry to each of the three Woolwich Works Queer Jazz gigs

You’ll need to move quick to catch Villain Faker and Eliza Oakes, bottom left, as they are playing on June 15

Isobella Burnham is set to play with Jelly Cleaver, right, on July 13

Akin Soul is joined on the bill by Margomool, below for Queer Jazz on August 17

Scan this code to nd out more about Queer Jazz

grooves over three

Greenwich - Peninsula - Woolwich

how Woolwich Works is celebrating Queer Jazz with a series of gigs in its cafe space. Expect jams and panels...

The three-part season is set to be hosted by Tina Edwards and Jelly Cleaver and is aimed at providing a platform for both established artists and emerging acts to perform and reach new audiences. All shows start at 7pm with advance tickets costing £15 (£18.50 on the door)

Jun 15Jul 13Aug 17

South Londoner, vocalist and songwriter Eliza Oakes comes to the Works armed with tracks from her self-produced EP An Intuition and with a new record – Weight Of The World – in the release pipeline.

She’s joined on the bill by improvisational trio Faker Villain, namely Faye Thompson on sax, bass clarinet and electronics, Kavi Maraj on bass and gadgets and Dillon Harrison on percussion. Expect spontaneous bursts of electronica, jazz, metal and classical music.

Bassist Isobella Burnham is set to explore Caribbean rhythms, drawing on her childhood in Barbados. Now based in south London, she has immersed herself in the session world, playing for the likes of Connie Constance, Steam Down, Tom Misch and Poppy Ajudha.

For this gig, she’ll be joined by Jelly Cleaver on guitar, Mei Kirby on keys and Lya Reis Guerrero on drums – the queer-led house band for an open-genre jam. Anyone attending is welcome to get up and join in.

Blending boundaries between genres, genders, audiences and performers, Margomool promises a set of jazz-inspired breakbeat and house, layered with ethereal folk.

Also on the bill is Akin Soul, a Texas-born jazz and soul singer who plays multiple instruments and now calls south-east London home. In uences include Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and Corinne Bailey Rae. At 21 he’s already performed at All Points East, Glastonbury and The Great Escape.

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

Where?

The O2 Arena Peninsula

GIG | The Who

Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey prove they haven’t had enough of touring yet as they bring a set of classic tracks to the big tent in Greenwich. Jul 12, 6.30pm, from £78, theo2.co.uk

Where?

Now Gallery Peninsula

ART | The Shape Of Things

See Simone Brewster’s commissioned work at the gallery. Spots at the launch can be reserved online and include rum punch and a DJ set from Just Vibez. Jun 28, 6pm, free, greenwichpeninsula.co.uk

Where? Greenwich Theatre Greenwich

STAGE | Vincent River

This modern classic by Philip Ridley promises thrills, dark comedy and heartbreak as hate crime, prejudice and redemptive storytelling come centre stage. Jun 22-Jul 15, times vary, from £22, greenwichtheatre.org

see this

The Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Peter Harrison Planetarium is currently showing Moonbase, a lm narrated by former astronaut Nicole Scott about setting up a colony 250,000miles from Earth rmg.co.uk

Scan this to nd out more about the show or to book tickets at £12 for adults and £8 for kids

want more? @wharfwhispers

Eliza Oakes + Faker Villain

Isobella Burnham + Jelly’s Jams Margomool + Akin Soul

how Mansimble

And Estate

by Jon Massey

Business is about remaining agile. Mansimble Tea And Estate – an importer of rare Kangra tea from India – was founded by University Of East London alumni Ashlea Cromby and Vanessa Browne in response to a problem.

“I never thought I’d be in the tea business – my whole family is from Hainault,” said Ashlea. “I grew up wanting to be a hairdresser – a stylist at London Fashion Week, because I always had pretty high goals.

“But I went to Epping Forest College (now New City College) and studied piano, then came to UEL to read music as an undergrad for three years because it was the university closest to my house.

“That’s where I met Vanessa – we lived a bit of a wild life for a few years and then I started working in schools, teaching music. I’d been to India when I was 18 and volunteered in some local schools – then I went back in 2018 after my masters at UEL in special educational needs.

“On my last night during that second trip, I was speaking to the owner of the Mansimble Tea Estate and he told me he wanted to build a school – I said I’d love to work with him on that.

“We did extensive fundraising at UEL with cake sales, music events, fairs and auctions – and we built the school.”

But then a problem arose. The arrival of the global pandemic saw a drop in donations to keep the school running. Ashlea and Vanessa needed a plan to fund the school sustainably, protecting it from the ups and downs of charitable funding.

“It hit me like a lightning bolt that the estate’s Kangra tea could be used to fund the school,” she said. “I Whatsapped the owner and asked if he exported the tea to the UK and he said no, so I messaged to say: ‘Now you do’.”

Now studying for a PhD at UEL, looking at autistic identity and internet memes, Ashlea had no experience in the sector, but she and her business partner dug in and launched Mansimble Tea And Estate in 2021.

Awarded in grants by UEL and Ankh Impact Ventures as part of the university’s Female Founders Demo Day

Ashlea Cromby won a £5,000 grant from UEL to help develop tea import business Mansimble, which she co-founded with Vanessa Browne

making

time for tea

Tea

is on a mission to re-establish Kangra at the top of the market

“In the early days there were issues with borders – much of the world was still in lockdown – but we got the tea and launched it as an ethical brand targeting Yoga studios and hippy communities,” said Ashlea. “The estate is owned by Indians who pay the pickers a fair wage and provide free education for their children through the school.

“However, we did some market research, looking at the big afternoon teas at the Dorchester and the Ritz and we realised we could target them.

“These hotels always want rare teas that come with a story, so we looked at branching out o ering heritage and rarity, but also an ethical brand that is sustainable. Kangra tea accounts for less than 1% of production in India and our teas come in hand-tied cotton bags.”

Combined with a blossoming gin collaboration that’s set to be stocked by Sainsbury’s, this all makes Mansimble a compelling story of a business starting to gain real traction. That’s perhaps the key reason why Ashlea’s presentation to UEL’s Female Founders Demo Day – a competition that recently saw six women pitch their business venture ideas to win a £5,000 grant – won out.

Held at UEL’s campus on Royal Albert Dock, the contest saw a total of £10,000 in grants awarded to female entrepreneurs with support from Ankh Impact Ventures whose founder, Pierre Rolin, chaired the judges.

“The money will make a huge di erence to Mansimble,” said Ashlea. “It will allow us to pay up front for tea chests, that will help us to scale the business and then we can start really expanding.

“That will help the core part of the business, which is to raise funds for the school in India.

“With regard to the tea itself, we want to be the leading Kangra specialist in the world – the CocaCola of that business.

“We want to see it featured on as many afternoon tea menus as possible and to truly re-establish it. Going back to Victorian times, it was the most prized tea in Britain. It won gold and silver awards in Amsterdam in the 1840s and was the very best of the Victorian high society teas.

“Then there was an earthquake that hit the region where it is grown and, because of that, the British pulled out.

“They already had Assam and Darjeeling and the rest of India so they decided they didn’t want to waste their money on this tiny place and its crop of tea. Today

the estate is owned by Indians and it produces this incredible product.

“It is not bitter at all – it’s the smoothest, most amazing tea, served with no milk or sugar.

“If you liken it to the spirit world, then you’re getting a beautiful, full-bodied whisky.

“The tea itself – which is called a liquor when it’s brewed – is smooth, full of avour and amber in colour.

“What we want to do is return Kangra tea to where it used to be in the UK market – right at the top. As a brand we are doing something di erent to what’s out there. There are lots of ethical tea brands and there are many speciality, high-end tea brands. Then there are everyday brands like PG Tips and Typhoo.

“With Mansimble, we are both an ethical brand and one that is targeting the top end of the market. We are approaching tea in a di erent way, because the Indians are in control of the estate in contrast to its colonial past.” Follow @mansimbleteaestate on Instagram for more

● Two other students were also given grants at Demo Day. BSc computing for business student Nicole Ihemadu was recognised with £2,500 for her Uzuri Tribe venture aimed at using AI to create a bespoke selection of products based on customer preference and aimed at black women.

Kiri Scamp, who is studying business management at UEL, also received £2,500 for Millér, a brand developing muti-purpose, recyclable and sustainable makeup kits and vegan and ethical products to go in them.

Also presenting on the day were Angela Rixon with coaching venture My Wisdom Career, Jasmine Shroder’s trauma-based therapy business and Ashantae Samuel-Maragh of ASSM Waves, making workout gear from recycled fishing nets. Go to uel.ac.uk

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

Where?

Dockyards Royal Victoria Dock

GIG

|

A State Of Trance

Expect a three-stage showcase of trance gureheads including and stemming from the mind of Armin Van Buuren. Featuring Argy + Cosmic Gate. Jul 2, noon-10.30pm, from £39.50, dockyards.co.uk

Where?

Excel Royal Victoria Dock

SEE | The London Tattoo

Not a haven for the luxuriously inked, but a performance of marching bands to mark the end of London Band Week. Expect massed musicians. Jul 1, 7pm, from £17.50, londonbandweek.com

Where?

UEL Royal Albert Dock

FILM | Pearly Queens To Grime MCs

Join Newham Heritage for a screening of work by young creatives about the borough’s community plus a Q+A and an open conversation. Jun 29, 6.30pm, free, royaldocks.london

ash back

The future is here, as we reported last issue. The arrival of Market Express at Excel marks the opening of the rst frictionless store at a UK event venue. Tap your card, grab that shopping and just walk out. No till excel.london

Scan this code to read our interview with Phil Wetz of Excel about the opening at wharf-life.com

want more? @wharfwhispers

for more

It’s not bitter at all – it’s the smoothest, most amazing tea, served with no milk or sugar. When brewed, it’s full of avour and amber in colour

Ashlea Cromby, Mansimble Tea And Estate

cotton

Scan this code for more about Mansimble Tea And Estate

Mansimble is a business-to-business importer, bringing Kangra tea to the UK and targeting high-end hotel clients to raise money for a school in India

Starting price of a typical ticket to see Tambo And Bones at Theatre Royal Stratford East during its run £10

by Jon Massey

Ispent my formative years at Theatre Royal Stratford East, its philosophy is in my DNA,” said theatre director Matthew Xia. “I started in the Youth Theatre in 1993 and, by the time I left in 2010, I was the associate director. Stratford East is where I rst combined my love of theatre with my passion for hip-hop, making shows with ULTZ like Da Boyz and Jean Genet’s The Blacks (Remixed).

“It feels very full circle to return with the Actors Touring Company (ATC), which I now lead, with this playful and provocative hip-hop infused satire as part of our Transformation Season.”

The play he’s talking about is Tambo And Bones by slam poet turned playwright Dave Harris. A co-production between ATC and Stratford East, it follows a comedy double act turned hip-hop superstars who nd themselves trapped in a minstrel show.

Audiences are invited to join Tambo (Rhashan Stone) and Bones (Daniel Ward) on their journey to hip hop stardom and activism at the centre of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Tambo And Bones is set to run at Theatre Royal Stratford East from June 16 to July 15 at various performance times. Tickets start at £6 on June 19, but typically cost £10.

The run will also include the venue’s rst Black Out performance on July 5 at 7.30pm. This show is speci cally aimed at attracting a black-identifying audience, though anyone is welcome to attend.

Matthew said: “Over the last few years, a number of playwrights and directors in the US and the UK have created private and safe spaces for black theatregoers to experience productions that explore complex, nuanced race-related issues.

“I felt that with a play like Tambo And Bones which unpicks the complexity of Black performance in relation to the white gaze, it was imperative that we created such a space.”

Go to stratfordeast.com for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about Tambo And Bones including Black Out, relaxed and socially distanced performances

I felt that with a play like Tambo And Bones, which unpicks the complexity of black performance in relation to the white gaze, it was imperative that we created a safe space for black theatregoers

comedy from to activism

how Tambo And Bones at Stratford East mixes the lighthearted with some deadly serious issues

Rhashan Stone, left and Daniel Ward are set to star in Tambo And Bones at Theatre Royal Stratford East

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

Where? London Stadium Stratford

GIG | The Weeknd

Appropriately, Abel Makkonen Tesfaye will be playing Stratford on Friday and Saturday, leaving Sunday to recover from the weekend. Jul 7-8, 4.30pm, from £113.36, ticketmaster.com

Where? Bow Arts Courtyard Bow

TRY | An Intro To Botanical Bundle Dyeing

Join Mariana Leyva for this practical workshop where participants will learn about the practice’s history and how to dye a silk scarf. Eco-friendly. Jun 22, 2pm-4.30pm, £10, bowarts.org

Where? Cart And Horses Stratford

GIG | Existentialist

Less Sartre, more blackened death metal – the vepiece are supported by Sacri cial Slabs and Worship The Sacri ce. Basically a whole lotta sacri cin’. Jun 30, 7pm, from £6, cartandhorses.london

ash back

This is Alessandro Grappelli, the man behind the Grappelli Food Hall at The Gantry in Stratford. Recently opened, it o ers imported Italian avours and a wealth of dishes made from the produce on sale lapizzicheria.co.uk

Scan this to read our interview with Alessandro and to nd out more about the deli and restaurant

want more? @wharfwhispers

Matthew Xia, Actors Touring Company

Sudoku

Take

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

Cryptic Quick Down

1. Bright person needs an A to hack it (7)

2. Mix a stored chicken –it’s hot!

3. Cancels a wedding announcement? (5)

4. Confused? Learn anew about the land (7)

5. Rearrange the gates to perform (5)

6. Clip a dried plum? (5)

9. Insure a PM? A high place of worship (9)

14. Stan and Fay? It’s your imagination! (7)

15. Tie the tins together, as small as possible (7)

16. Very serious camping? (7)

19. That hill’s expensive (5)

20. Blow the drink! (5)

21. Sounds like a decorated daybreak (5)

beating the

whether you’re cryptic sleuth or synonym solver in it for quick wins, this should satisfy

find Wharf Life inside this special cover

CANARY WHARF GROUP JOINS FORCES WITH THE FELIX PROJECT TO TACKLE FOOD POVERTY

Help us in the fight against hunger and food waste – scan here

Canary Wharf Group and The Felix Project, a food redistribution charity, have joined forces to tackle food poverty in London.

The two organisations aim to deliver long term social impact while prioritising sustainability as they tackle this urgent issue, which sees around 400,000 children in the capital going to bed without eating a proper evening meal.

The rst major initiative will be the launch of the new Canary Wharf Green Scheme, which involves volunteers from the Estate delivering surplus food from retailers directly to local charities, schools and community organisations. Several retailers on the Estate have already signed up to the scheme, including M&S, Joe Blake’s and Waitrose. With over 70 cafes, bars and restaurants and eight grocery stores on the Estate, the two organisations are aiming for many more to come on board over the coming months.

At capacity, the Green Scheme will provide over 1,000 meals each week, through 10 different local community organisations, saving over 500 kilos of good food from going to waste. To make this happen, Canary Wharf Group and The Felix Project are aiming to recruit as many as 1,500 volunteers and need your help.

To nd out how you can become a volunteer and help us in the ght against hunger and food waste, please visit canarywharf.com/news/the-felix-project/

JOIN OUR FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER AND FOOD WASTE

400,000 adults in the UK can’t afford to eat every day.

4.7M

children in London go to bed daily without dinner

Support this important mission by volunteering and fundraising.

For more information scan the QR code below.

We waste over

3M TONNES

of surplus food every year

The brand new green scheme aims to eventually run per week

15 ROUTES

With 15 routes, we aim to rescue and deliver the equivalent of every week.

1,200 MEALS

SCAN HERE TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP US IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST HUNGER AND FOOD WASTE

Canary Wharf Group in partnership with The Felix Project