Wharf Life, Mar 2-16, 2022

+ Humble Grape serves up a column of wines made by women Page 6

Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

why Emilia’s Crafted Pasta – which recently opened at Wood Wharf – pays close attention to the combinations it serves up in its bowls Pages 6-10

inside issue 58

The Well Bean Co - Natasha Maddison Brookfield Properties Craft Award La Nina Caffe And Mercato - Vertus The Rattle - Dirty Apron - Cutty Sark David Galman - Wharf Life Hacks - Crossword An Unfinished Man - Sudoku

shapes and

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

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

Fast, affordable, conveyancing services Call our team on 020 7205 4021 or email cmiller@kiddrapinet.co.uk, ypatel@kiddrapinet.co.uk or mzvarykina@kiddrapinet.co.uk

kiddrapinet.co.uk

2

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

sign up here to get Wharf Life’s free, weekly newsletter in your inbox

read

feast your eyes on these

what’s on

support your local institutions Where?

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Canary Wharf

COMEDY | Kempinska Comedy Club Hosted by Mark Dolan, this evening of stand-up is set to feature Geoff Boyz, pictured, Mike Gunn and Earl Okin plus the possibility of special guests.

Mar 29, 8pm, from £19, boisdale.co.uk

Welcome to Wharf Life. Our 58th issue is filled with potent food and drink, from Emilia’s Crafted Pasta, La Nina Caffe And Mercato, Dirty Apron and The Well Bean Co, plus just a little madness from The Rattle at Tobacco Dock and vibrant beauty from the winner of the Brookfield Properties Craft Award

05

Amy French writes her first column for us from tech hub Level39

Where?

Museum Of London Docklands WIQ

06

TASTE | The Living Tea Experience Enjoy a selection of cakes and a warming cup of tea while learning about the infusion’s origins, then try five varieties as part of an ancient ceremony.

Mar 19, 3pm, £55 , museumoflondon.org.uk

Attractions galore as we head over to Emilia’s Crafted Pasta

Where?

25 North Colonnade Canary Wharf

FOOD | Market Halls Located in the newly refurbished Cargo building off Adams Plaza, this food hall is set to offer 20,000sq ft of restaurants and bars.

Open late March, 8am-11pm, markethalls.co.uk

34

Monica Olivieri and Alberto Pagliara have relocated La Nina Caffe And Mercato to Skylines Business Village on the Isle Of Dogs, spreading Italian culture and food over three floors

flash back

12

Brookfield Properties announces the winner of its third Craft Award

the joy of six

36 Canary Wharf’s latest arrival is Malmin Dental – a brand new clinic spread across two units at South Colonnade offering a full range of diagnostic services and treatments plus TVs so patients can watch while the dentist works thirdspace.london Scan this code to read our interview with Malmin Dental founder Dr Minesh Talati about the opening want more? @wharflifelive

How Dirty Apron in Deptford grew from a university friendship

40

Why fire won’t stop The Well Bean Co serving up vegan chocolate

Every issue Wharf Life covers six areas surrounding Canary Wharf to bring you the best of what’s going on beyond the estate From Page 32

get in touch

correct us

Editorial email info@wharf-life.com call 07765 076 300 Advertising email jess.maddison@wharf-life.com call 07944 000 144

Our editorial team works hard to ensure all information printed in Wharf Life is truthful and accurate. Should you spot any errors that slip through the net or wish to raise any issues about the content of the publication, please get in touch and we will investigate

Go to wharf-life.com for more information

Email info@wharf-life.com

we want to hear from you

need something fixed?

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

3

Canary Wharf

launch

Wave your phone camera over the code and all we’ll need is an email address

MadeFor Across Canary Wharf

Visit Waitrose’s Tasting Bar Waitrose, Canada Square Head to the rear of the most successful branch of Waitrose in the UK to delight and surprise your tastebuds. In the space formerly occupied by the steak and oyster bar, the supermarket has created a Tasting Bar which will be offering samples of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and pairings with food from Mon-Fri, 6pm-8pm.

Canary Wharf Group has launched MadeFor – a series of flexible, fully fitted and managed office spaces across the estate to meet the demands of organisations.

Currently available are workspaces at One Canada Square, 20 Water Street, The Columbus Building and 40 Bank Street. Banking giant Citi has taken 95,000sq ft in the latter while its tower at 25 Canada Square is being refurbished.

Canary Wharf Group CEO Shobi Khan said: “We now offer our customers any type of solution to meet their needs – from taking a few desks in our Level39 community to managed services via the MadeFor platform to a bespoke sustainable build to suit.

“CWG can deliver a sustainable solution to meet the exact needs of the customer and we can do it with benefit of decades of in-house experience.”

Go to made-for.com for more information

sign up here to receive more of this sort of thing via Wharf Life’s free weekly newsletter

A range of MadeFor spaces are available in Canary Wharf

Scan this code to find out more about MadeFor in Canary Wharf

read on

Neat Burger Atrium Kitchen Cabot Square, neat-burger.com For those who prefer their fast food to be entirely made from plants, the chain backed by F1 driver Lewis Hamilton has opened its doors.

Expect a full range of burgers, fries and sauces plus absolutely gorgeous tator tots (little balls of deep fried potato, ideal for dipping).

Shakes and hot dogs also available.

OFFER | Lunch For £9.95 Pop up to Atrium Kitchen, which is what they’re calling the top of Cabot Square these days, walk into Gallio between 11am and 5pm and get any seasonal salad or Mediterranean bowl plus a can of soft drink for less than a tenner. The deal can be preordered online for organised readers.

Go to gallio.uk

Get out of office and explore all these places from Page 32

>> diary dates and ideas to make your life in Canary Wharf just that little bit sweeter

Limehouse + Wapping Isle Of Dogs + Poplar Rotherhithe + Deptford Greenwich + Woolwich Royal Docks + Canning Town Stratford + Bow + Hackney Wick

Canary Wharf Comedy Club East Wintergarden Apr 1, 6.30pm, £16

Left to right: Comedians Felicity Ward, Milton Jones and Shaparak Khorsandi are set to play the Wharf

Live comedy returns to Canary Wharf on April Fool’s Day (we assure you this isn’t an early hoax).

Aussie comedian Felicity Ward takes charge of proceedings, with broadcast heavy-hitters Milton Jones and Shaparak Khorsandi also on the bill. Drinks and snacks will be available from the bar. Theatre-style seating allocated on arrival.

Go to canarywharf.com

4

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

words you don’t know you need

cosmute

verb, fake, from Old English subscribe to our newsletter and get Wharf Life content in your inbox each week for free

To travel into work with the specific aim of going for cocktails with colleagues, specifically several rounds of Cosmopolitans, you know like they did in the 1990s. A pleasure those working permanently at home miss out on

>> T

style it

write me

whelve

verb, real, from Old English This marvellous, archaic term means to bury something deep and has its origins in a term for turning something upside down (such as a dish or bowl) to hide something else. Use in relation to Downing Street fines

The pack contains a face mask and an ampoule of hyaluronic acid to put on first

Help your loved ones to help you kiddrapinet.co.uk/understandinganlpa

You can’t control what the future holds, but you can control who makes decisions on your behalf.

Download our FREE guide to MAKING A LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY (LPA) Book a consultation with rica o n arie today on 020 7 or email e o n arie@kiddrapinet.co.uk

here’s been a buzz in recent years in the UK around all things South Korean. K-pop boyband BTS made history as the first ever Korean group to headline and sell out Wembley Stadium in 2019.

Squid Game, the terrifying survival drama television series, also hailing from Korea caused quite a stir when it became the moststreamed show on Netflix.

Naturally, when I heard of the K-beauty phenomenon, my interest was piqued.

Dissimilar to beauty trends in the UK, which mainly focus on the use of makeup to enhance appearance, K-beauty concentrates on creating the perfect natural canvas – beautiful skin. The fad has gained popularity worldwide, with beauty consumers striving for a youthful, dewy, healthylooking complexion.

There are many Korean beauty brands available in the UK these days, one of which is Dr.Jart+. Founded in Seoul, the brand is now available in more than 40 countries and claims to take skincare’s best ingredients and innovations and join them with artful experiences to create highperformance derma skincare with a playful twist that brings a smile to your face. Essentially, it aims to make beauty products that work, but that also have a sense of humour.

Dipping my nose into K-beauty, I choose to try the Dr.Jart+ Cryo Rubber With Moisturising Hyaluronic Acid Face Mask (£10). The packaging depicts a blue rubber baby with a cold thermometer in its mouth – perhaps that Korean sense of humour?

Pretty unsettling, but I decide it must mean the product is amazing. I am open to trying anything – the winter weather has not been kind to my skin, and I am recovering from a cold, so I hope that the mask will quench my thirsty pores and tone down any redness.

The first step instructs me to apply a highly concentrated moisturising ampoule of hyaluronic acid to my face. This substance is said to have a firming effect on skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while also soothing redness.

It’s a white serum that sits on my face but doesn’t seem to sink in. There is a lot of it and I use it all, trying to spread it out evenly.

The next step is to apply the rubber mask. It’s apparently made of 85% natural ingredients including sea kelp extract.

This aquatic plant apparently helps the skin retain moisture, so the effects last longer.

The mask comes in two parts, one for the upper part of the face, and one for the lower, which I like as it seems to create a better fit. The directions suggest leaving it on for 30-40 minutes, so I relax and get down to some Instagram scrolling.

Given the name of the product and the use of the word “Cryo”, I expect to experience a cooling effect, perhaps a tingling sensation, but this doesn’t materialise.

It stays on well, however, and after 40 minutes I remove it and follow the instructions to lightly pat the skin to help absorb the remaining product.

My skin feels a little tacky but, looking in the mirror, I can see a visible difference. My previously tired dry skin looks firmer and more youthful, like it has been given a new lease of life.

The tightening effect is incredible, almost akin to having injectables. I remain very impressed and plan to try other products in the Dr.Jart+ range. The mask I used is available from Boots stores across Canary Wharf. Just don’t be put off by the scary packaging.

Natasha Maddison @pazzanatasha on Insta

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

5

Canary Wharf

another level

by Amy French

Amy will be writing

I

about Level39’s activities, ’m pleased to welcome you to my first Wharf Life members and themes column from Level39. My name is Amy French and I’ve been director of Level39 since 2020, having that emerge from joined the team in 2014. If you are someone their work that lives, works, shops, or visits Canary Wharf frequently, you may not be aware of the thriving technology community sitting 39 floors above street level.

First, I’d like to give you a short preview of what you can expect from Level39 in Canary Wharf, and how this column will evolve over the next few months.

Level39, launched by Canary Wharf Group in 2013, boasts a thriving community of around 180 companies situated across three floors of One Canada Square.

In recent years, it has diversified to welcome companies beyond fintech, to include innovators in green tech and smart cities, blockchain, life sciences and more.

At Level39, there are various collaborative spaces, including co-working, Expect to see a lot of offices, meeting rooms and breakout activity in 2022 with areas.

There’s a real sense of energy and an array of events and buzz from those working for the startinitiatives supporting ups and fast-growth businesses that occupy the space. tech firms in Canary Main reception for Level39 is on the 39th floor of One Canada Square, Wharf and beyond which is also home to Cafe39 – a popAmy French, Level39 ular spot where members can hang out with colleagues, host visitors and enjoy the impressive panoramic views of the London city skyline. The café often doubles as an evening events venue and we recently hosted a members’ breakfast there, welcoming many back to the office with free pastries and coffee which was, unsurprisingly, incredibly popular.

Our members not only have access to unparalleled facilities, but also to a connected network, events and opportunities with fellow entrepreneurs who call Level39 home.

Our ecosystem is made up of member companies as well as an enthusiastic pool of mentors, investors and partners, who offer support, advice, services and often funding to these ambitious businesses.

You won’t be surprised to hear that Level39’s curriculum and content moved online for much of the pandemic, offering continued opportunity to engage during a time of prolonged home-working.

During this period, our virtual membership was born, formally welcoming companies from across the UK and overseas to the community.

Expect to see a lot of activity from Level39 in 2022, with an array of events and initiatives supporting our community of tech firms in Canary Wharf and beyond.

In these columns I’ll dive into specific themes and initiatives we’re working on at Level39, and a selection of our members will be featured to give you an insight into the journeys of these ambitious innovators.

You can follow us using the info below or contact us via enquiries@level39.co if you’d like to hear more.

“

Amy French is director at Level39 in Canary Wharf – follow @Level39CW on Instagram and Twitter and @Level39CanaryWharf on LinkedIn Go to level39.co for more information about the One Canada Square-based tech community

e e r f n gi ling p m a s -store in Find us on Mall Level -1, Cabot Place, Canary Wharf

Scan this code to find out more about Level39’s work and the activities of its member companies and tech startups

bullardsspirits.co.uk

@bullardsgin

6

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf

by Nico Trevisan

3

Branches of Emilia’s Crafted Pasta in London – at Wood Wharf, St Katharine Docks and Aldgate Images by Matt Grayson – find more of his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta

grape expectations International Women’s Day falls in March and, what better way to celebrate inspirational female talent than by recognising some of the amazing women in winemaking? Our picks below celebrate just that and, trust me, these females know a thing or two about their grapes... ● Azienda Agricola Magda Pedrini, Ad Lunam, 2020, Gavi DOCG, Piedmont, Italy - £22.25 When winemaker Magda Pedrini planted her Cortese vines at Cà da Meo in the heart of Gavi, the vineyard resembled lunar craters.

But it’s not all about looks.

Named Ad Lunam in Latin, which means “to the Moon”, this Gavi hits you with fresh fruit and herbaceous aromas that it gets from the local soil and the breeze from Liguria. Magda’s estate consists of 11 hectares of vines producing grapes that exemplify Gavi – think, fresh-cut white flowers, fruit and wet pebbles. Pulchra. ● Winzer Familie Gregor Schup Chardonnay, 2017, Thermenregion, Austria - £24.25 The Schup vineyard is a real family affair. The estate is run by father Gregor the IV, son Gregor the V and daughter Joanna – the first woman to become a winemaker in the history of the family. She is the brains behind this beautiful Chardonnay, which delivers sunshine, tropical fruit and coffee in every glass. Like breakfast in Costa Rica, but in lederhosen... ● Domaine Armelle Et Bernard Rion, Chorey-lesBeaune, 2019, Burgundy, France - £42 Founded in 1896 by Pierre Rion, the former sharecropper of the Château De La Berchère who had acquired its vines, this family winery now has five generations of winemakers to its name.

Today, three sisters – Alice, Nelly and Melissa – lead operations, with Alice in charge the main winemaker. And what a job they’re doing. This outstanding Burgundy is one of the most food-friendly – scrumptious and bursting at the seams with red fruits, certain to spice up any dish it’s paired with.

Nico Trevisan is a personal wine specialist and tasting host at Humble Grape, which operates five bars and wine shops in London including one in Canary Wharf All of the wines featured in this column are available to buy from Humble Grape in store or online – scan this code to find out more ● IN STORE Join us on March 14 for our International Women’s Day £10 tasting with three wines and cheese from Mouse & Grape – book online

Emilia’s Crafted Pasta has opened at 12 George Street, split into a restaurant and bar with plenty of food available in both

it’s time to

discover Emilia’s Crafted Pasta and the reason why it pairs particular shapes with its sauces to maximise taste

by Jon Massey

Y

ou’ve seen Hawksmoor’s barge floating in the dock from Montgomery Square.

You’re aware Amazon Fresh has a walkin, walk-out convenience store opposite. But now is the time to explore a little deeper into Wood Wharf. Water Street, Park Drive, Harbour Quay Gardens and George Street – these are the locations you need in the back of your head.

Right now it’s the last of these that should be on your radar because, after much pandemicrelated delay, Canary Wharf’s emerging residential district has its first bricks and mortar restaurant and bar. The doors to Emilia’s Crafted Pasta have finally opened at 12 George Street offering Wharfers a place to eat and drink their fill and maybe play on what’s believed to be the first table bocce set in the UK. For Andrew Macleod, founder and CEO of the

business, which has branches in St Katharine Docks and Aldgate, it’s a welcome site.

“There were times when I didn’t know whether the day would come - the build took six months,” he said.

“We’ve tried to create a very laid-back, rustic feel, where customers feel a bit of a buzz, a bit of action, but a bit of calm too.

“This is not a big fancy restaurant with lots of finesse. We’ve used natural materials throughout, with various types of wood and a terracotta plaster from Cornwall, to recreate that look you see in Italy alongside tiles from the country itself.

“We also like to pay homage to the local area and what’s here – that’s the reason we have kept a lot of exposed concrete throughout the interior – it’s because that is what this area is about, the big new buildings. We’ve even left the builders’ pencil markings on the walls from George Street’s original construction.”

The undisputed chief attraction, however, is Emilia’s dedication to the core dish on its menu – pasta made continued on Page 8

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

7

REGISTER NOW FOR FREE www.thepashow.com

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Or use the code PA2216 for 10% off your delegate pass

I am the power behind the throne I am the budget holder I am the decision maker I am Raju Salique, Private PA

After leaving the corporate finance world and moving to the concierge & lifestyle industry, I have assisted my Principal in real estate management including purchase of holiday homes, arranging private air charter, personal shopper duties, restaurant reservations, sourcing luxury gifts, hospitality tickets and most importantly supported the family in their day-to-day lives.

To meet andlike 3000 me, speak to Sheila SRamaiya@mashmedia.net Join yourme peers Rajuothers at Thelike PA Show this March, it’sRamaiya where the Executive Support Community go toexhibiting learn, network and inspired! about at The PAget Show – it’s where I go to get my inspiration!

Connect Connect with uswith

us

REGISTER NOW FOR FREE www.thepashow.com www.thepashow.com Or use the code PA2216 for 10% off your delegate pass

8

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf

8 from Page 6 fresh every day on-site and paired with specific sauces. It’s a process diners and drinkers at Emilia’s can watch taking place.

“When they come in, they find the premises split into two parts – one a fully open bar and the other a trattoria-style dining area with a fully open kitchen,” said Andrew. “On one side you can watch cocktails being made and drinks being served and on the other you can see the activity in the kitchen.

“In terms of the pasta, the first thing to say is that all shapes are not made equal. I would never tell people what they can and can’t pair with what – that’s their choice. All I can say is what we do here.

“In my opinion, and the opinion of many chefs, you can optimise taste based on the geometry of the pasta you use with a particular sauce.

“When we look at different pasta shapes and sauces, we’re trying to make it so that in every mouthful the customer gets a full set of flavours. If you’re ever served a bowl in a restaurant and the sauce and pasta have completely separated then you have a problem.

“It could be the pasta hasn’t been made fresh, that the pasta water hasn’t been used in the sauce or that the wrong shape has been used for the pairing. What’s vital is getting the sauce to stick – you shouldn’t see sauce at the bottom of the bowl, oil around the side and the pasta on top.

“I’ve picked three of the dishes we serve to explain why we serve pasta the way we do.”

Scan this code to find our more about Emilia’s Crafted Pasta at Wood Wharf, to view the menu or to book a table

Pasta dishes on the main menu at Emilia’s Crafted Pasta in George Street

play table bocce Emilia’s Crafted Pasta - Bar In addition to the food and drinks on offer, Emilia’s Crafted Pasta boasts a set of table bocce – a miniature tabletop version of the classic Italian game After rolling the blue Pallino ball down the table, players take it in turns to try to get their bocce balls as close to it as possible or to knock their opponent’s balls out of the way If a player knocks the Pallino off the end of the table, the opponent gets two points After both teams have rolled all their balls, points are scored. In each round, only the player with the ball closest to the Pallino wins points, getting one point for every bocce closer to it than their opponent’s closest ball The winner is the first to score 13 points. Loser buys the drinks

one homemade basil pesto, £12 pasta - casarecce “We serve our pesto with casarecce – a strange, twisted shape,” said Andrew.

“It’s a very creamy thin sauce and with this shape of pasta you have lots of twists and turns so, when you mix it in the pan, you get the pesto on every millimetre of the pasta.

“If you had a much thicker sauce, it wouldn’t get into these ridges. There’s also a shape called trofie, which is similar.

“When you serve this sauce with either of these two shapes they pick the sauce up and you get the full set of flavours in your mouth.” continued on Page 10

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

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

9

Republic A State of Independence for an Independent State of Mind Home to a new wave of award-winning bars, restaurants, gyms and retailers.

TATI The Greenhouse A brand new incubator space for local entrepreneurs and start-ups with networking events and business support.

Contact: greenhouse@republic.london

Micro Studios 500 to 1,000 sq ft all-inclusive studios with full access to Republic’s events and meeting rooms.

Contact: laurence@trilogyproperty.com

Directly adjacent to East India and Blackwall DLR stations. republic.london

10

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf

two bechamel bolognese, £12.70 pasta - pappardelle “This pasta – pappardelle – is like tagliatelle but wider,” said Andrew. “The bolognese or ragu has a lot going on. We cook it for four hours – there’s tomato, vegetables and meat. It’s a very hearty sauce.

“What happens with a big ribbon like that is that everything sticks to it.

“If you take a strand up with all the chunks of veg and meat sticking to it, then you roll that and you eat it, so you have the whole ragu.

“If the pasta isn’t made fresh, the sauce won’t stick so well. Of course, some people like this sauce with spaghetti and I’m not saying there’s only one right way to eat it, but for us this is the combination that works.”

three tomato sauce with basil, £8.50 pasta - radiatori “The final pasta I want to mention is the radiatori – so-called because it’s shaped like cast iron radiators,” said Andrew.

“I loved the novelty of it – a shape you’re not likely to have seen before – and that’s what we’re about at Emilia’s.

“We’re trying to create a pasta experience which is familiar, but a bit different. We serve our tomato sauce with the radiatori.

“It’s quite thin, but the shape of the pasta is able to capture it perfectly. Then you have small chunks of Mozzarella in the bowl and you need to get one of those with a piece of pasta to get the best from the dish.”

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

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

The operating hours have reduced The central London Congestion Charge now operates Monday-Friday 7am-6pm, weekends and bank holidays noon-6pm. The daily charge is £15.

This will help reduce congestion during the day, and support the night time economy.

For more information, search TfL Congestion Charge.

11

12

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf

by Erica John-Marie

how Brookfield Properties works to give makers greater exposure and reward them for their creations

£60k

Brookfield Properties curatorial director Saff Williams

by Jon Massey

Erica says loved ones lack legal authority to act without lasting powers of attorney

W

hat would happen if I lost mental capacity and did not have a lasting power of attorney in place?

If you lost mental capacity and did not have either a lasting power of attorney for financial decisions or for health and welfare decisions, your loved ones would not have the legal authority to help you with your daily needs.

For example, they would not be able to do any of the following things on your behalf: ● Access your bank accounts to pay for your food shopping, home care, cleaners or to pay your bills. ● Sell your property in order to obtain the funds to move you to a care home. ● Speak to your GP or medical professional about your continued care and make decisions about any type of treatment you may need.

This can cause a lot of stress and anxiety for your loved ones, I would recommend as they would have to getting lasting powers consider paying out of their own pocket or of attorney in place seeking assistance from the local authority. to give you and your Communication with loved ones peace the local authority would also be limited of mind because you did not Erica John-Marie, Kidd Rapinet have a lasting power of attorney in place in the first instance.

In order to get the legal authority for your loved ones’ needs, you would have to submit an application to the Court Of Protection for a Deputyship Order.

This procedure is more costly than getting a lasting power of attorney in place and it can take months before an order is obtained.

I would therefore recommend getting lasting powers of attorney in place to give you and your loved ones peace of mind.

“

Erica John-Marie is a wills and probate solicitor at Kidd Rapinet Solicitors, based at Harbour Exchange on the Isle Of Dogs. She’s available on 020 7205 4191 Scan this code to find out more about the services offered

by Kidd Rapinet including lasting powers of attorney

Prize money for the Brookfield Properties Craft Award

H

ow do organisations best support and encourage the arts?

Having long brought art into its buildings, the natural step for Brookfield Properties was to recognise makers’ achievements with an annual prize.

The company, which co-owns Canary Wharf Group and is based at One Canada Square, teamed up with the Crafts Council to do just that, recently naming its latest winner.

“We came up with the Brookfield Properties Craft Award in 2 2 ,” said Saff Williams, curatorial director at Brookfield.

“It came out of a collaboration with the Crafts Council. We’ve always hosted free exhibitions in our buildings – it’s part of the Brookfield experience where you have all sorts of things such as art shows, events and wellness seminars.

“I needed work for those exhibitions and people were asking why I was putting pieces in these spaces and what the decision making process was.

“I’d been having an ongoing conversation with the Crafts Council about collaborating and renting pieces from their private collection to show.

“They told me about Collect craft fair, which showcases the best works from makers in this country and internationally. So we developed the concept of a prize to be awarded to an exhibitor at the show.

“Brookfield would then acquire the winner’s works, show them in a free public exhibition and gift continued on Page 14

supporting arts and

Image by James Perrin – find more of his work at jamesperrin.com

legal matters

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

13

14

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf

5

Makers were shortlisted for the Brookfields Properties Craft Award 2022

from Page 12 them back to the council’s public collection so they can be shown elsewhere. So that’s how it started and it’s accidentally become one of the biggest craft prizes in the UK.” Won by makers Matt Smith in 2020 and Anna Ray in 2021, Christian Ovonlen received the 2022 award at Collect, which was held at Somerset House last month.

The prize is for £60,000, split between the maker and their gallery, which in Christian’s case is IntoArt – a visual arts charity based in Peckham that works with people who have learning disabilities.

“We work collaboratively with the Crafts Council to decide the winner,” said Saff. “Their curator – Annabelle Campbell – shortlists hundreds of makers at Collect – the top artists they want to add to their collection.

“Then we come up with a shortlist of five, based on work Brookfield would like to show and, after the winner is announced, we buy the work and build an exhibition.

“This year we were lucky enough to be able to go to the studios, see the artists in their space and speak to them about how they make their work, so that helped us identify a winner.

“It’s also a chance for us to talk to them about their story and define who we think has the best work from our perspective of adding to the collection.

“All of our shortlisted artists would have made incredible shows, but with Christian’s work there was such a kind of joi-devivre about the light and his colour – a new way of exploring screenprinting in ink.

“I remember when we went to IntoArt, we were blown away by the colour. His work is so beautiful, and he is so prolific in his desire to articulate his work in different media, in silks and also in his drawings.

“It was exciting and I got caught up in it – I thought it was exactly the kind work we should show – the kind our community and tenants would really respond to.

“Art is subjective in so many ways, but Annabelle and I thought

All of our shortlisted artists would have made incredible shows, but with Christian’s work there was such a kind of joi-de-vivre Saff Williams, Brookfield Properties

Christian creates drawings as well as silk screen printing onto fabric

Above, Christian Ovonlen working on a drawing at IntoArt and, right, some of his prints on silk

Scan this code to find out more about Christian’s show at 99 Bishopsgate

Christian’s work was so moving and very exciting.

“Because he does his screenprinting on silk, his pieces have this kind of movement about them.

“A lot of them are figurative works, inspired by the Ballets Russes and a lot of research he’s done at the V&A. “There’s something about the nature of his brushstrokes, that made them feel like figures dancing.

“Even in his drawings of flowers, for example, the petals were almost falling off.

“There is something very gestural about his work. I feel so many artists try to achieve that, but he seems to do it naturally.”

Alongside Christian, makers Anthony Amoako-Attah, Dawn Bendick, Cecilia Charlton and Irina Razumovskaya were shortlisted for the 2022 award.

“What we do is often quite bold and colourful,” said Saff. “If you’ve got 9,000 or 3,000 people coming to work in a building on a particular day, then not everyone is going to like everything, but it’s so important to get art into these environments.

“In the wake of the pandemic, people’s expectations when they go to the o ce are so much greater now.

“At the beginning people thought it was great to work from home, but now they want to go into work because they can see friends or drop in on a pop-up exhibition opening and have a drink.

“When people hadn’t been into their o ces for months and months and saw a show with work by our 2021 winner Anna Ray – so bright and vibrant – people emailed saying that seeing her pieces really helped them.”

As part of the award, Christian’s work will be shown by Brookfield Properties at 99 Bishopsgate in the City during the summer.

Go to 99bishopsgate.com continued on Page 31

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

31

Canary Wharf

from Page 14

becoming an ambassador for equity in the arts and for charity IntoArt Brookfield Properties Craft Award winner 2022 Christian Ovonlen makes his work in Peckham with charity IntoArt. Director Ella Ritchie said: “I co-founded the charity with Sam Jones when we left art school. Based on our experience of volunteering with people who have learning disabilities, we really wanted to make a change because there was no resource for those people to have access to art education as adults.

“We are ultimately an alternative art school that has the same rigour you would find at an art school.

“We introduce people to materials, techniques and opportunities. Our vision really is about equity in terms of access, learning and ambition in the arts.”

Christian joined the collective in 2013 and has been developing his practice for the last nine years.

Ella said: “Most people start with us on a foundation course so they’re learning lots of different techniques, they may never have done much art – it’s very much about exploration and opportunity.

“Over this last three years Christian has taken his drawing practice into this really unique language of textiles, which I think is what has excited people.

“They’re very large scale silks that hang as though they are the drapes of theatre backdrops. The series he made for Collect is inspired by the Ballets Russes – the performers, the scenography and the costumes.

“He starts with drawings and silk screen prints them onto silks using a very delicate dye technique.

“The resulting textiles are

Above, Ella and Christian at IntoArt with some of his work. Below, one of Christian’s drawings

Winning just blew Christian away. It gave him a direct relationship with the other makers and galleries at Collect – he went round to talk to them as a fellow practitioner and that comes back to that equity Ella Ritchie, IntoArt

Scan this code to find out more about IntoArt

very light and really float in their settings.

“Everything is made by hand including the dyes he uses – he controls the vibrancy and strength of the colours and how that is translated onto the fabric.”

Ella said the prize clearly recognised Christian’s work as on a level with other makers at Collect She said: “Winning just blew him away. It gave him a direct relationship with the other makers and galleries at Collect – he went round to talk to them as a fellow practitioner and that comes back to that equity. Christian is an internationally recognised maker and an ambassador for all of us and our mission to challenge the notion of who can be an artist, maker or designer.

“For me personally, I feel that’s been a long time coming. I’ve always known this work is amazing and the people we work with have such potential.

“I think when people see it, they get it and what’s great about this award is that Christian’s exhibition will be so public and so open to people.”

Go to intoart.org.uk

32

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

9k

people have applied to be part of The Rattle but just 600 have succeeded in five years

how The Rattle, an experiment in investing in weird humans based in Wapping, is set to become an international player in music

by Laura Enfield

S

omething is growing in Tobacco Dock. Tucked away in one of its workspaces is The Rattle – a company that wants to give creatives the same power as tech CEOs. Deliberately mysterious, its website and social channels are almost barren and membership is notoriously hard to come by. In five years, it has vetted 9,000 applicants and taken 600 members.

But with founders Chris Howard, 40, and Jon Eades, 38, about to land $10million in funding for an international expansion, the subversive ploy seems to be bearing fruit. So what the hell do they actually do?

“I began investing in weird humans in 2017,” said CEO Chris. “I had this personal belief that startups are really boring and every single one was yet another Uber for olives or etflix for donkey saddles, just the same company over and over again.

“So I gave money to musicians and authors, comedians, math olympiad competitors and psychologists. I wanted to see what happened if you joined their team for six months and, it turned out, it was really cool stuff. It shows if you place the same trust you would in a tech nerd in a crazy creative type, they can create something just as valuable and socially powerful as Mark Zuckerberg.”

The premise is simple, at least on the surface. Members of The Rattle pay a fee and can drop into the Wapping site anytime between 8am and 10pm.

It comprises two small studios for writing or recording demos, a live room for up to 10 musicians, which can be used for live streaming and video shoots, and a well-equipped production room for recording and later stage production. It sounds pretty standard, but under the surface there is much more going on.

“The Rattle is deliberately mysterious and secretive,” said Chris. “We want people to find it hard to oin because it implies a certain character type.

“It’s important to us that every member is fucking crazy and has a world view that makes you go: ‘What?’.

“Then they have to be insanely talented

Our mission is to help the next generation of artists, hackers and inventors become disruptive founders.

They are the ones who change society Chris Howard, CEO The Rattle

at something, particularly something creative, or have made something really special. Finally they need to have this magnetism that draws people in.”

So how do you nurture such a diverse mix of people without stifling them “We’re not trying to make another Abbey Road,” said Jon, referencing the studios where he worked for a decade.

“This is a very fluid, very human environment where you are free to experiment and not count the clock or be hyper-conscious of how much it’s costing you. It’s a laboratory free from stress for prototyping and experimenting.”

While members casually chat, live stream, record and write, behind the scenes a team of 20 experts is busy documenting every move in order to “engineer serendipity”.

“It’s behind the scenes puppet mastering,” said Chris. “That sounds weird, but all our members know we do this and the huge wealth of data we track allows our team to understand who needs to meet who and under what conditions.

“Then, for around 20% of our members that move into the venture side, we have a veteran team of about 20 ex-hackers, founders, music folk and tech developers whose job it is to co-create these projects that we think can change the world and transition them into companies. That’s our primary business.

“The last thing we do is connect the outside works into The Rattle so we curate investors and superstars that have done incredible things to come and inspire our members to be more daring and break as many rules as humanly possible in a safe and responsible way.

“Our entire mission as a company is to help the next generation of artists, hackers and inventors become disruptive founders. We think they are the ones who change society and the economy and we want to make sure this category of human has a chance.”

The co-founders have very different roles, defined by their obviously contrasting personalities and the diverse paths they took to find each other.

“Day to day, Jon focuses on getting the machinery working well together,” said Chris. “My job is to make sure the right humans are in the mix from a team point of view and that the people who give us money don’t have too much influence over what we do. So I’m kind of like the shield and Jon’s the sword.”

Neither can keep a straight face at this point but while Chris guffaws with laughter, Jon gives a wry grin.

He grew up playing in orchestras, studied music and sound engineering at the University Of Surrey and pretty much walked straight into a technical role at Abbey Road Studios. He went on to discover a passion for startups and launched Abbey Road Red, an incubator for tech entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, Chris

Jon Eades, left, and Chris Howard of The Rattle outside their Tobacco Dock base

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

investing in the

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

33

Wapping - Limehouse - Shadwell

member radar The Rattle

Get on Google and broaden your horizons with: Our Man In The Field “Instead of signing a record deal he formed a limited company, sold shares and raised £150,000,” said Phil Jon.”That enabled him to explore business models and he grew a super fan community using WhatsApp and other platforms and built his whole operation around figuring out what they were interested in buying from him and being quite high touch about it. He isn’t very famous, but he has built up a really solid business.”

Volta “Created a platform that allows people to create immersive 3D experiences really easily so musicians can perform inside interactive worlds and make live streaming less dull.

They are just closing out a big round of investment.”

Feed Forward “Using AI to improve music search and retrieval, which sounds quite boring but is quite impactful.”

Too Many Ts “They call themselves high five hip-hop. It’s throwback 1990s where they are quite irreverent and write songs around topical themes. They did one for World Bee Day. They have built up a core of fans and throw house parties with beer pong and Super Nintendo.”

Volleyball “British psychedelic band trying to revive that golden age of the 1970s. Saw other bands doing it and incited a whole lifestyle around tiedye and slow living.”

was the council estate kid with a music A R dad who he defied to become a moderately successful singer-songwriter.

But believing he was “too shit or too ugly” to make it work, he jacked it in and, on completing a degree in physics and a Ph.D in computational physics, ended up across the pond at MIT conducting research into the online psychology of motivation and social influence “because why the hell not?”.

He spun this into tech company ibboo, which identified audience trends and helped a thousand authors sell their books. But when it began to fail, alongside his marriage, he landed back in England at Tobacco Dock, as MD of the UK arm of MassChallenge, a global network for entrepreneurs. It was through their shared passion for music and startups that the two finally crossed paths.

“Having the Abbey Road business card meant I attracted a lot of people and one of those was Chris,” said Jon. “Most people don’t forget their first meeting with Chris and I certainly didn’t.

He ust tells it how it is and suffers the bullshit less than some. As a young founder if you have a meeting with Chris, you get the truth and sometimes it stings.”

Chris said “I ust sent on a random email saying Hey, you don’t know me but...’ He had his guard up, but I decided to ust keep trying and finally he invited me in. I just had the impression that he thought Urgh another one desperate to be involved’. So I ust thought Fuck it, I’m not going to sell myself I’m ust going to say what I think’. Fair to say I didn’t play it cool. I’m not cool.”

They kept in touch as The Rattle first took root and, when it secured its first investment at the end of 2 1 , on decided it was time to leave the “safe haven” of Abbey Road and follow his “entrepreneurial urges”.

“That’s how The Rattle started o cially – on February , 2 1 ,” he said. “It was a quick turnaround and at this point Chris decided to get married and go on honeymoon to Thailand.”

Chris, who now lives in Bath and juggles jetting round the world with parenting, laughs gleefully at this point and shortly afterwards dashes off unexpectedly once again to do a pitch to an investor. Man on the ground, on, notes his business partner has a “love-hate relationship” with raising funds, but his brilliance at doing so should soon land them enough cash to launch the next phase of The Rattle. on, who lives in Peckham, said it started with founding members as “an experiment” and they had made tonnes of mistakes along the way, but by the end of 2 1 had raised 2million, which allowed them to open a second location in Silverlake, os Angeles, in March 2 2 .

“Most people remember that week,” said on. “I got the last flight back as America was closing its borders and we had to put a blanket over it for four months, but our founding members all stuck with it and so did the London crowd. There is this real feeling of belonging and being chosen.”

That nurturing environment is now evolving into an ecosystem that he wants to see spread across the world.

“In 2 1 , we started to explore the notion of venture building where you oin someone’s team, temporarily, parachute in and leverage everything you have to help them. The other people who tend to provide that sort of thing in music are managers, labels and lawyers. Our offering was such a breath of fresh air and we were amazed by the results – that’s become the seedling of everything we have done since.

“Really what The Rattle is today is a venture studio where we can explain our world view about drawing on expertise from the startup world and approach funding in different ways to see how it can benefit them. Once you have built that trust you can partner with them and now we are taking long-term positions with people. They stop paying us and we take a bit of ownership and hope in five years they become profitable.”

Today it has members per location and has started roughly 2 ventures that it thinks will help change the world.

“It’s not about trying to become famous and high numbers,” said on. “Streaming only really makes sense for the Ed Sheerans and Dua ipas of the world.

“But if you really know who you are and how to engage with high-value fans, there’s real money to be made and a social impact that really affects people’s lives.

“We are the first ones who have found a way to show people a different path, which is all about behaving like a founder, taking responsibility and not handing over control to people prematurely and being taken advantage of.

“If members choose to interface with the existing industry then so be it – we are not anti-label – but we want people to do it from a position of strength so they know what they are getting involved in.”

Everything The Rattle does is on an equitable basis. They never touch revenue or rights, but become shareholders, so are the last to get paid if there is any profit.

“That means we can give honest advice because if we screw the artist we are screwing ourselves,” said on.

“Although we are down every month from a cash flow perspective, we are signing more and more equitable agreements with people, so the assets we are accumulating are increasing.

“At the moment, we are trying to close out 1 million, so that’s really exciting and we’re also trying to lead the way by doing a crypto raise, which is attracting more new investors. Having that money will mean we can refresh our spaces, maybe even move to new facilities and set-up New York and one or two more within the next couple of years and for the first time be on the map as a real challenger.

“We have been this scrappy outsider so far, but now it is really starting to come together and we can start to challenge some of the bigger record companies and offer the best people a real alternative.”

Go to wearetherattle.com

Scan this code for more information about The Rattle

what’s on

things to do, places to go, people to see where?

Wilton’s Music Hall Shadwell

STAGE | Sasha Regan’s All Male HMS Pinafore Expect mischief and surprises when this award-winning company performs the classic comic operetta about love between social classes.

Mar 16- Apr 9, various, from £12.50, witlons.org.uk where?

Troxy Limehouse

MUSIC | Ninho This French rapper with more than 2 billion views on YouTube, returns with an album and a tour that promises to be in his image: Grandiose!

Mar 27, 7pm, from £39.70, troxy.co.uk where?

Tower Millenium Pier Tower Bridge

EVENT |Silent Sounds Boat Party Hop aboard a two-storey party boat and float by iconic London landmarks while choosing the soundtrack to your night at a silent disco.

Mar 19, 7-11pm, from £25, designmynight.com

flash back

Sup on Italian pizza at Tondo in Wapping – a venue born of a shared love for this most Italian of dishes. Expect a warm welcome and food to be sustainably served on reusable wooden trays and paper @tondopizzalndon on Insta Scan this code to read our interview with Tondo founder Gregorio Carullo about all things pizza want more? @wharflifelive

34

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

Alberto Pagliara and Monica Olivieri have relocated La Nina from Pepper Street to a three-storey unit at Skylines Business Village

For those who don’t know us, we’re a place where people can experience Italian culture through food, art, music and people Monica Olivieri, La Nina

a project and renewed

how La Nina Caffe And Mercato is ready to welcome customers of all ages at its new Marsh Wall location

I

t was ancient Greek philosopher Plato who wrote: “Our need will be the real creator”.

Necessity has also been the mother of invention for Monica Olivieri and Alberto Pagliara.

Having opened a ina Caffe And Mercato last year in Pepper Street on the Isle Of Dogs, the Italians were forced to look for a new home for their business towards the end of 2021.

Developers were set to start work on demolishing their previous premises to preserve long standing planning permission for blocks of flats, sparking a search for a new space.

That need has resulted in a move into one of the sharply angled buildings at Skylines Business Village – not, perhaps, the most obvious choice for a cafe and food shop. But La Nina’s new home presents a welcoming face to Marsh Wall and comes with about triple the space of the original business and that brings fresh opportunity.

“It’s best to think of Pepper Street as the pop-up store that launched us,” said Monica. “This is the settled version of La Nina because we’ll stay here for five years.

“For those who don’t know us, we’re a place where people can experience Italian culture through food, art, music and people.

“We’re Italians and we’re here to share our background with our customers.”

As with the previous location, that means an extensive range of edible products, carefully sourced from Italian suppliers, art on the walls, fresh coffee, wine and plenty of food to try. But with the extra real estate, everything has intensified.

“On the ground floor we have the coffee shop and the grocery, on the first floor we have a seating area with tables and a separate kids room, and at the top of the building we have a small cooking school, where clients can learn to make very simple recipes with the help of our chefs,” said Monica.

“Downstairs we have tables outside and also something very new – a machine to roast our own coffee.

“We have partnered with a company called URoast so we’ll receive green coffee beans, roast them daily and have our own La Nina blend.

“In the shop we also have a new machine that can make an express tiramisu, which customers

can customise with pistachio, strawberry or just enjoy the classic flavour.

“Of course, we have a range of fresh products made by our chefs including cakes, pastries and pasta dishes.

“Then there are the products we sell, which are sourced from small suppliers – we have one in Puglia where I’m from, for example, that produces food exclusively for us.

“And on the walls downstairs we currently have paintings from Stefano Pallara, an artist who is from my home town of Lecce.

“Upstairs in the dining room we have work from an Italian photographer – Francesco Congedo. It’s a place where people can relax, have a drink, read a book, do some work using our wi-fi connection and en oy what’s on the walls.

“Across from the dining room we have the kids room where they can come and play. We can have parties here and also there will be kids cooking sessions.

“Next is something I really want to introduce people to because it’s completely new. On the third floor we have our cooking school – it’s cosy, we can only take six people, but it’s a great way to learn to use our products.”

Sessions have already started running at the venue with many more planned. Classes already scheduled include hour-long tutorials on carbonara, amatriciana and puttanesca sauces for £40 per head on March 4 and kids classes on fresh pasta and pizza and focaccia by arrangement.

“We’ll also be hosting live events,” said Monica. “There will be live music every Friday and stand-up comedy too, as well as storytelling for kids and sessions where they can make their own T-shirts.

“We teamed up with fashion designer Roberta Ripa and got our youngest customers to come up with designs for cushions. We printed them and now they’re in La Nina.

“I also have an idea that I want to teach kids to create their own kites for Easter because in Italy, after you’ve eaten your chocolate egg, you make one out of the silver paper and fly it to launch the spring season.”

That spirit of invention is also present in the fabric of La Nina itself with some of its tables made from doors Monica and Alberto found in their new unit.

“Alberto loves carpentry and he

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

35

Isle Of Dogs - Poplar - Blackwall

3

Floors of space dedicated to Italian culture at La Nina Caffe And Mercato at Skylines Business Village on the Isle Of Dogs The cooking school space

has built everything from scratch,” said Monica. “He is the person who has physically made La Nina.

The space was used for a clinic before we came here and we used some of the old doors as tables.

“We left the handles on because I wanted to leave a little of the history of what the tables were before so people understand things can be reused.

“It’s good to have a business partner who is also a life partner because Alberto can translate all the ideas I have in my mind. This is not so easy to find.”

A For the kids

Seating and tables upstairs

The shop and coffee roaster

lso in the o ng is a long-awaited return of an event that had its debut on the Isle Of Dogs in 2019. Monica’s first Carbonara Day In London, held at Mudchute Park And Farm, attracted more than 3,000 people and she is working on a second edition to take over Island Gardens in the summer.

“We hope to hold this on July 16 and 17, hopefully in that location,” said Monica. “It’s a beautiful view of Greenwich and is close to the DLR. I really want the Isle Of Dogs to be seen as a live place for food.

“Carbonara Day is a festival in honour of this iconic dish where people can taste the correct recipe made with the best Italian ingredients. Chefs will be coming from Rome and they will cook for our attendees. We will also have chefs from London cooking their carbonaras.

“It’s something I’m passionate about – that people can try the real thing and that’s true at La Nina too. For example, here we don’t serve hot drinks flavoured with syrups or anything like that.

“There’s no chicken in our lasagne or with our pasta because if you went to Rome, Florence or Bologna you’d never find that.

“I want to show people the right way to eat Italian food and it can be a hard mission, but we’ve already had some of our old customers come and visit as well as new clients and curious people.

“I’m sure we will have a line of people very soon, the more we increase the communication of what we’re doing and word spreads – it’s just a question of time.”

La Nina, named after Monica’s grandmother, is open daily from 8.30am Monday to Saturday and from 9.30am on Sundays. It closes at 8pm except on Fridays and Saturdays, when it’s open until 9.30pm.

Go to laninacaffemercato.co.uk

Scan this code to find out more about La Nina

what’s on

things to do, places to go, people to see Where?

Poplar Union Poplar

GIG | Samba De Raiz This afternoon of traditional samba is being held in celebration of International Women’s Day and promises Brazilian music, culture and community.

Mar 20, 3pm, £10, poplarunion.com Where?

The Space Isle Of Dogs

STAGE | Piss And Bile This piece, billed as a hilarious show about being sad in your 20s, follows two women as they navigate the monotony of working in the service industry.

Mar 22-26, 7.30pm, £15, space.org.uk Where?

The Space Isle Of Dogs

STAGE | Definitely Maybe Actually Nevermind Drag artist Crystal Bollix takes on romantic comedies via the medium of a cabaret extravaganza. Expect gorgeous costumes and dazzling lip sync.

Mar 29-Apr 2, times vary, £15, space.org.uk

flash back

This patch of concrete on the Isle Of Dogs behind Vanguard Self Storage has been acquired by Skyports and could become a hub for electrical aircraft as the company builds a network of vertiports skyports.net Scan this code to read our interview with Skyports’ Damian Kysely and discover the skies of tomorrow want more? @wharflifelive

36

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

1.5m

length of the sausage roll Suzie made for a collaboration with a brewery

how Dirty Apron evolved from student dinners into a beloved local cafe that puts people at its menu’s heart

by Laura Enfield

C

when the supper club wave hit, they decided to jump on board.

“We would meet up at the pub and organise these themed events over a bottle of wine,” said Suzie.

“It picked up some traction and it was when we did an Orange Is The New Black-themed event and 200 people came to this church hall in Limehouse that we knew we were on to something.”

Next came a six-week stint at Brick Lane Market where they cooked “way too much food” and it was a “bit of a slog”.

But rather than taking a breather, they Googled small festivals and booked every available pitch at events in the south under £100.

“Every weekend

roissant crumbs surround Suzie Pennington. But, when you run a cafe called Dirty Apron, a bit of mess and chaos is part of the fun. “There was a show on at The Albany, so we’ve had loads of kids descending on us,” she said as we sit down to chat about her operation.

The 18-seater venue has been part of the Deptford Market Yard community since November 2016 – more or less when the arches first started opening up – and Its customers are very much at the heart of what the business does.

“A lot of the other vendors that opened with us were from food trucks, so were one-dish orientated,” said Suzie. “But we’re more like a classic cafe with specials, a soup of the day and a brunch that changes as tastes change.”

Dishes draw inspiration from the season, feedback from regulars and what the local greengrocer has on offer.

“We like classics with a twist, “ said the 38-year-old. “Not just British but European and Asian and we try to keep all our mains under £10 to make sure the cafe is affordable for the length and breadth of Deptford folk.

“We’re not faddy but, if there is a trend that looks interesting, and our customers ask for it, we will make it because we like to have a two-way relationship.

“We plan the menu around what our customers’ favourites are and speak to the regulars and see if they want anything revisited.”

The Anglo-Indian said her love of cooking started during her childhood in Essex.

“My mum cooked loads of Indian food growing up and I learned how to make lots of dishes quite young,” said Suzie.

“I was about eight when she first told me to make what I wanted from the fridge. She also ran a nursing home and I would hang out in the kitchen and learn how to do a lasagne or a roast. So I have always been around food and professional kitchens and got the interest and love from there.

“She’s really proud of me. One of the good things about having a cafe is everyone knows I run one so all my friend’s parents talk to me about it. Everyone is always interested and I love talking about food and Deptford and Suzie takes inspiration for I really think everyone secretly wants to open a cafe.” her dishes from customers The seeds of her own venture were and Tony’s Daily greengrocers planted when Suzie met co-founder Holly Williams at Bournemouth University. in Deptford High Street “I studied sports science and Holly was doing animation. We met on the ladies football team. I think I tackled her and that’s how we became friends.

“We both just had a love of food and, when we weren’t in lectures, we would go to the local supermarket and try and do student dishes on a budget for the team and make them as exciting as possible. We would do big extravagant roasts and lasagne. It was a chance to cater for numbers and was really fun and this working relationship kicked off naturally.”

After graduating they both moved to London and,

for one summer we were somewhere different, “ said Suzie. “It was exhausting but by the end, we decided we were up for the challenge.”

That meant getting proper kitchen experience, so Suzie ditched her job in public health and spent two years at Riley Rocket on the Kingston Road, working her way up to become manager.

When Holly saw the arches in Deptford were being developed and rented, the duo decided it was time to take the plunge.

Suzie said the name Dirty Apron summed up their humour and was a nod to classic greasy spoon cafes.

Over the years they have built up a family of loyal regulars, one of whom has even written a poem in tribute to the £5 coffee and bap deal.

Holly, who now lives in Brighton, manages the business side of things and New Cross resident Suzie takes charge of the cooking and supplies, which come from Tony’s Daily on the High Street, Bread Bread Bakery in Brixton, Ruby’s Of

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

37

Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey Dirty Apron is located in Deptford Market Yard

what’s on

things to do, places to go, people to see where?

Canada Water Theatre Rotherhithe

London in Greenwich and Alchemy Coffee Roastery in Wimbledon.

Suzie said: “Our main food is hearty brunches and we always have a vegan special, meat special and a soup of the day. We do a curried cauliflower, spinach and sauteed halloumi wrap served with fresh mint yoghurt and a really good tofu scramble with heavily spiced peppers and onions and lovely sourdough and salad and homemade relish.”

In winter, they serve up meat and vegan pies but, now the warmer weather is finally appearing, warm salads with ingredients such as quinoa, roasted broccoli, salsa verde and beetroot will be appearing on the menu.

“I love going out for food and cafe culture to get inspiration,” said Suzie. “I go to all of the places around here and we are all really good friends, that’s one of the nice things about Deptford.”

The area’s social calendar is also a pivotal part of her planning.

“When the London Marathon goes past we know that we’ll need six people a day to cope with the demand and when Amal the doll came through recently I have never seen anything like it,” she said.

“There were tens of thousands of people. So you have to look at the schedule for what’s going on in Deptford and tailor the rota for the occasion.”

Suzie loves to bring people together

and has collaborated with Villages Brewery, creating a 150cm sausage roll for their harvest festival, with plans to hold events for the New Cross and Deptford Free Film Festival and for Lewisham London Borough of Culture 2022. When summer hits, capacity at the cafe will double because of the outdoor seating.

“We are very lucky because it’s very rare in London to get such a large off-road space,” said Suzie.

“It means we don’t have to hurry people. Food can take a while because sometimes we can be a 40-seater restaurant, but people can sit in the sun, have a coffee and enjoy themselves.

“Because it is one room and an open kitchen I’m good at spotting if someone needs someone and everyone does the same – there is lots of communication and chat and customers can basically talk to us from their table. There’s that real dynamic vibe.

“A lot of our customers are regulars so they get to know each other.

“I’ll often be having a conversation with someone on table six and someone from table five will chime in and then they end up talking to each other and then someone else will come and join in.

“Before you know it the whole place is involved in the same conversation, which I think is just the best thing about working here.”

Dirty Apron is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9.30am-4pm.

Follow @dirtyapronuk on Insta

LECTURES | Mayflower 400 Christopher Jones Discover the secrets, voyage, legacy and relevance of the ship and her Rotherhithe-based master, Christopher Jones, in a series of five talks.

Mar 2-Jun 29, 7.30pm, £3.75, canadawatertheatre.org.uk where?

Canada Water Theatre Rotherhithe

COMEDY | Arabs Are Not Funny British-Lebanese comedian Isabelle Farah is on the bill alongside observational stand-up Esther Manito and emerging talent Celya AB. Mar 25, 7.30pm, £15,canadawatertheatre.org.uk where?

Dock X Canada Water

EXHIBITION | Titanic: The Exhibtion Extended due to demand, this exhibition shows the human side of the tragedy with 200 objects from passengers plus life-size recreations of rooms.

Until Apr 17, from £27.90, titanicexhibitionlondon.com

discover this

Scan this code for more information about Dirty Apron in Deptford Market Yard

Artist Paul Malone, pictured, recently curated Periastra – an exhibition of work by artists and scientists exploring methodologies of curiosity within the fields of art and astrophysics. Investigate below cipango.co.uk

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

Scan this code to find out more about Periastra and see some of the artworks displayed as part of it want more? @wharflifelive

38

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

11

Miles of rigging at Cutty Sark, used to set around 32,000sq ft of canvas split into 32 sails to help the vessel achieve up to 17 knots

The Rig Climb Experience takes visitors up the Cutty Sark’s ropes to the tops platform before they descend via zip line to street level

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

39

Greenwich - Peninsula - Woolwich

how visitors to the Cutty Sark in Greenwich will soon be able to get a completely fresh perspective on the ship and the area

conquering

what’s on

things to do, places to go, people to see

the

Where?

The O2 Arena Peninsula

GIG | Planet Earth II Live In Concert See the BBC documentary on an enormous LED screen while the soundtrack is played by a live orchestra – rescheduled from the pandemic.

Mar 20, 1.30pm, 6.30pm, from £35, theo2.co.uk

by Jon Massey

Where?

Beanfest Woolwich Works

M

embers of the public will soon be able to scale the masts of a Greenwich landmark.

Set to launch on April 2, The Rig Climb Experience offers visitors the chance to explore one of the fastest tea clippers of its day in a completely new way.

The experience starts with a briefing under the ship’s hull before participants are kitted out with harnesses and taken up onto the main deck.

From there, they step onto the Cutty Sark’s ratlines and shrouds (the rope ladder-like rigging leading up its masts) to the tops platform.

After admiring the view, climbers will then descend via zip line to street level beside the historic vessel.

An extended experience is also available – called Plus it sees visitors climb higher and out onto the ship’s lower topsail yardarm before returning to the tops platform and descending via zip line.

Prices for the experience start at 1 for adults, 1 for those aged 1 -2 and 2 for children aged 12-1 . The Plus option is 1 more per person.

Cutty Sark general manager Emma Massoud said: “We’re so pleased to be able to offer such an exciting and authentic experience at Cutty Sark. “ ow our visitors can get an insight into what it would have been like to be a sailor in the 1 ’s.

“It goes against all your survival instincts to be up that high, but if you like an adrenaline rush and beautiful views, this is the experience for you.

“The sunsets from up on the rigging, with the red skies over ondon sites such as St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and The Shard, are truly spectacular.”

The experience is the first time members of the public will be able to climb the ship’s rigging since its arrival in Greenwich in 1 .

Famed for its speed during its working life, Cutty Sark was able to reach the dizzying velocity of 1 knots in part thanks to the modern engi-

GIG | The Music Of Missy Elliott Book early and prepare to get your freak on as a live jazz band from Berlin take on Missy’s output.

BackTracked come straight from a sell-out tour.

Mar 18, 8pm, from £10.50, woolwich.works Where?

Beanfest Woolwich Works

“

It goes against all your survival instincts to be up that high, but if you like an adrenaline rush and beautiful views this is the experience for you Emma Massoud, Cutty Sark

Two experiences are available, taking visitors to different heights neering techniques used in its rigging.

The vessel has more than 11 miles of rigging, used to set some 2, sq ft of canvas, split into 2 sails.

Its main mast rises to 1 2ft, with visitors who venture up to its lower levels rewarded with views across Maritime Greenwich, the Isle Of Dogs and Greenwich Peninsula.

Built on the River even in Dumbarton in Scotland in 1 , she was one of the last and fastest tea clippers ever built – the culmination of many years of evolution in the design and development of sailing vessels.

As steamships took over the tea trade from China via the Suez Canal, she switched to carrying wool from Australia – holding the record time to Britain for a decade.

But steamship technology marched on and she eventually fell out of use as a cargo vessel, acting instead as a training ship until she found home in dry dock at Greenwich.

One of only three composite clippers still in existence, Cutty Sark’s design represents the pinnacle of fast commercial sailing ship design with its iron frame and wooden hull protected by a copper sheath.

Go to rmg.co.uk

Scan this code for more info on The Rig Climb Experience

STAGE | Big Smoke Brass The London-based horns outfit interpret classic pop tunes, delivering performances packed with energy and feel-good vibes (no actual percussion).

Mar 26, 8pm, £13, woolwich.works

watch this

In celebration of Women’s History Month, the National Maritime Museum is running a series of online talks titled Rebel Women And Female Pirates from March 2-23. Prices range from pay what you can to £10 rmg.co.uk Scan this code for more information about Rebel Women And Female Pirates at National Maritime Museum want more? @wharflifelive

40

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

by Jon Massey

3

Months since fire forced the closure of The Well Bean Co at Royal Albert Wharf - but don’t worry, it will soon be opening its doors again

T

The Well Bean Co

he story of The Well Bean Co at Royal Albert Wharf starts with its founder’s social anxiety. Suffering badly from an early age, Charlie Claydon struggled to make and sustain friendships.

“By the time I was 1 or 1 , I was not in a good place with my mental health,” he said. “I had considered taking my life – it was a really tough time.

“I ended up getting into drugs and alcohol really badly at a young age, because it was my way of medicating myself. I didn’t know much about mental health at the time – it wasn’t really talked about in school then.

“So I went down that path, making things worse and worse for myself until I realised that enough was enough. My life was pretty bad, my relationships with my family and friends had broken down and that’s when I decided I needed to change direction.” an opportunity Charlie moved away from the village where he grew up, stopped drinking, smoking and taking drugs. He also found a ob.

“I managed to get a position at a bank – the manager was a lovely lady and, even though I didn’t have the qualifications, she believed in me and gave me the ob,” he said. “Within six months I was stepping in as deputy assistant manager – she’d given me a chance, something I’d not experienced a lot before.

“A lot of people had said I wouldn’t amount to much and I’d started to believe that. I didn’t particularly like the financial world, but it was good money, I was good at it and I didn’t have many options open to me, so I kept working, moving into insurance and investments and doing some event management on the side.”

Eventually his career led him to London and a role with the Financial Ombudsman Service, based on the Isle Of Dogs. gut feeling “I started off as an ad udicator – it was in the midst of the PPI scandal so they were employing lots of people from the industry,” said Charlie. “I was assessing cases and trying to figure out if people had been mis-sold policies.

“It was the first time where I had a ob where I was helping people and doing something positive.

“I quickly grew in the role and ended up becoming a lead ad udicator, making key decisions on cases, which was really exciting.”

At the same time, Charlie continued to struggle with anxiety, trying multiple strategies

Cafe is set to reopen in March, once again ready to serve hot beverages, food and vegan chocolate made with mental health in mind

I want to say a huge thank you to the local community, because, when we had the fire it was devastating.

“This was because of the potential danger to the people who live above it, but also because my business was on fire, my livelihood, and I’d just finished refurbishing two days before.

“I didn’t want to come back.

But the number of people who messaged me daily to say they’d help me rebuild made me realise people loved what we’d built and that it was worth bringing back.

“They raised an incredible amount of money to help me pay staff for a bit longer and, to this day we get people coming by saying how good it is that we’re reopening and offering help. The support has been amazing.”

Charlie Claydon, The Well Bean Co

The big clean up: The Well Bean Co founder Charlie Claydon sets about painting his unit for the reopening Images by Matt Grayson – find more of his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

41

Royal Docks - Canning Town

remedies to cope. It was at this time he read an article about an entrepreneur who’d treated his bipolar disorder through diet.”

Long story short, Charlie tried a similar approach.

“I wasn’t really drinking or smoking, so I gave up coffee, sugar, wheat, and within a week I felt like a completely different person,” he said.

“It made sense to me – your brain and your gut are super connected, they’re both signalling each other all the time. I kept experimenting and then, I remember waking up for the first time and not feeling anxious in the morning. Suddenly I felt calm, I even wanted to go and hang out with people, having spent my whole life avoiding it. Over the years it has kept improving.” shed heaven Charlie’s focus on his diet and mental health became the foundation of the business he runs today.

“I was getting into plant-based food to help with my mood,” he said. “I was experimenting in the kitchen of the shared house I was living in – I’d never eaten plant-based food and it was tough to get my head around not having meat on my plate.

“Then I realised that I was also going to start missing things like chocolate, because it had dairy in it.

At the time I couldn’t find anything on the market so I looked on YouTube to see how people made it, bought some ingredients and had a go.”

The experiment became a quest.

Having failed to get great results with a bowl and spoon, Charlie continued on his mission to create quality vegan chocolate, buying machines to help with production.

Eventually, to save his relationship with his house mates, he negotiated with his landlord to build a small shed in the garden and kept going. Recipe after recipe followed and he eventually took some into work for his colleagues to try. Positive feedback sparked a change in direction.

I thought it could be a business,” said Charlie. “I was already looking for a way out of the finance industry, because I wanted to do my own thing.

“I was already volunteering and I thought I was going to be fully immersed in mental health but, actually being in that industry can be really hard, especially if you’re sharing your story the whole time.

“Having the chocolate was the balance – it was fun, so I thought I’d do a few markets and see how it went – people loved it. Because I’m impatient, I handed in my notice and decided to go for it.” bench mark Despite the concerns of family and former colleagues, Charlie sunk all the money he had into equipment and negotiated some table space in a cafe run by Bow Arts at Royal Albert Wharf. The idea was that it would be a cheap option for his fledgling business and fun for customers coming in.

One table turned into two, then three, then four. Eventually Charlie wound up taking over the whole unit. cafe community “Then Covid hit and it was a really scary time,” he said. “We weren’t big enough for people to look for us online, and all the shops we were stocked in closed.

“We’d watched this balance sheet going up, we were really excited, we were doing very well, we’d put all our energy into it, we’d done markets, we were trying to branch out and we were having meetings with Selfridges.

“It was an exciting time, and then it all just stopped. The money just went

chocolate factory “When I realised that I was creating a product that was pretty delicious,

how The Well Bean Co is set to reopen its cafe and manufacturing operation following a devastating fire in December

Scan this code to find out more about The Well Bean Co

what’s on

things to do, places to go, people to see overnight and it was a very tough time. All I could think was that I needed to save the business.”

The solution, it turned out, was for Charlie to take over the cafe, opening the doors during the pandemic to serve the local community. Teaming up with actor Oscar Balmaseda – out of work due to Covid restrictions – the pair “fought like cats and dogs” as they served lines of hungry and thirsty locals, growing the business and working seven days a week.

In a year the business went from two to nine staff and Charlie had turned his thoughts back to chocolate as the pandemic receded. cruel flames “It was time to get back to chocolate – we had two people and a production plan up on our whiteboards with a smart social media strategy in place,” he said.

“We’d ust finished refurbishing the cafe and then two days later the fire happened.”

Disaster. In December in the run-up to Christmas a faulty new machine in the chocolate factory overheated one evening and caught fire. Fortunately, the unit’s fire suppression systems kicked in limiting the spread of the fire, but smoke and water damage was extensive. Worse still, the business was under-insured leaving a hole in its finances – a mistake made amid the chaos of the pandemic and the company’s rapid growth. back once again However, the fire will not be the end for The Well Bean Co and its cafe.

Ceilings, floors and surfaces have been scrubbed. Furniture has been cleaned, repaired or replaced.

The local community pitched in, raising money to help Charlie, and he and Oscar (who has also gone back to his regular job, performing in Mamma Mia! The Party! at The O2 in Greenwich) are busy getting the cafe and factory ready to re-reopen “We’re painting this huge building, we’ve got a new counter made of scrap wood and I’ve had to learn new trades I’ve never tried in my life before,” said Charlie. “But that’s being an entrepreneur – you have to be savvy and learn loads of skills.

“Some things will be the same – we’ll still be serving our amazing hot chocolate that people travel miles for, but we’ve also taken the opportunity to change the menu. We’ll be doing plant-based lunch bowls, breakfast bowls and toasties – all super delicious and healthy.

“The factory hasn’t had its day yet, either – there are more plans we have for it – but I believe with a bit more love and attention, it can really soar.”

Go to wellbeanco.com

Where?

Royal Docks Online

EVENT | Royal Docks And Beckton Riverside Sign up for a series of online webinars to have your say on the Royal Docks And Beckton Riverside Opportunity Area Planning Framework.

Mar 3, 12, 15, times vary, free, royaldocks.london Where?

RA Fold Canning Town

CLUB | Fold Presents Mannequin Records Reka Alessandro Adriani, Phase Fatale and JASSS are all set to perform as the Italian record label comes to London for the very first time.

Mar 26, 10pm-6am, £30 on the door, ra.co Where?

Excel Royal Victoria Dock

EVENT | London Produce Show And Conference Buyers and sellers of fruits and vegetables from across the UK and around the world are set to gather to do business and network.

Mar 21-23, 10am, registration, excel.london

sign up

There’s still plenty of time to sign up for The PA Show at Excel in Royal Docks. Attendance at the two-day event is free, while full delegate passes start at £149 – use code PA2216 to get 10% off thepashow.com Scan this code to read our interview with Liz Agostini about putting on The PA Show and register to attend want more? @wharflifelive

42

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

Advertising Directory - Classified

PUBLIC NOTICES LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS LICENSING ACT 2003 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE

find our advertisers’ messages here

Notice is given that: Azize Avmedoska has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets Licensing Authority for a Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003.

The Pearson Room print Wrap online thepearsonroom.co.uk

Hamptons print Pages 24, 25 online hamptons.co.uk

Kidd Rapinet Solicitors print Pages 1, 4, 15, 26 online kiddrapinet.co.uk

NU Living print Page 30 online nuliving.co.uk

Licensable activities and timings are: Opening times: 07:30 to 00:30. Late night refreshments: 23:00 to 00:30

Bullards print Page 5 online bullardsspirits.co.uk

National Landlord Investment Show print Page 29 online landlordinvestmentshow.co.uk

The PA Show print Page 7 online thepashow.com

Galliard Homes print Page 30 online galliardhomes.com

Anyone who wishes to make representations regarding this application must give notice in writing to: The Licensing Section, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG or Email: licensing@towerhamlets.gov.uk Website: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk Tel: 020 7364 5008.

Representations must be received no later than 10/03/2022.

Republic print Page 9 online republic.london

Simon Bradford print Page 42 online handyman-services-london.co.uk

TfL print Page 11 online tfl.gov.uk

Fiona Campbell print Page 42 online info@fionacampbellcoaching.com

Premises: Brick Lane Coffee Shop, 47 Brick Lane, Spitalfields, London E1 6PU.

The Application Record and Register may be viewed between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday during normal office hours at the above address. It is an offence under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the offence is up to level 5 on the standard scale (unlimited fine)

Emilia's Crafted Pasta print Page 13 online emiliaspasta.com Alex Neil print Page 22 online alexneil.com L&Q print Page 23 online lqgroup.org.uk

IMPROVE YOUR HOME

be part of the Canary Wharf conversation To advertise in Wharf Life call 07944 000 144 or email jess.maddison@wharf-life.com

HYPNOTHERAPY / NLP

ANNOUNCEMENTS I lost my Iraqi passport Name: Zahraa Hayder Abdulhussein Al-Azza Passport number: A11234160

Wharf Life is published by Massey Maddison Limited and printed by Iliffe Print Cambridge. Copyright Massey Maddison Limited 2021 In regard to advertising material submitted by third parties and printed in Wharf Life, each individual advertiser is solely responsible for the content of such material Massey Maddison Limited accepts no responsibility for the content of advertising material, including, without limitation, any error, omission or inaccuracy therein

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

43

Stratford - Bow - Hackney Wick

60

Minutes of beautifully-paced, moving and challenging theatre from Dipo Baruwa-Etti

what’s on

things to do, places to go, people to see Where?

Westfield Stratford City Stratford

EVENT | London Job Show Billed as the UK’s most attended recruitment event, the London Job Show is set to offer thousands of employment opportunities at all levels.

Mar 11-12, 11am-5pm, free, londonjobshow.co.uk Selina Jones’ Itan battles Fode Simbo’s troubled Kayode in the pool of his own depression

the hidden

Where?

Stratford Picturehouse Stratford

FILM | Encanto Head to the Picturehouse for this special screening aimed at those with autism and their carers.

Disney’s 2021 film is all colour and song.

Mar 20, 11am, £3, picturehouses.com Where?

Cody Dock Bow

how An Unfinished Man turned The Yard’s cosy, Hackney Wick auditorium into a swirling cauldron of uncertainty

by Jon Massey

T

here will always be a danger in theatre when a production relies on a strong visual metaphor.

For almost the whole performance of Dipo Baruwa-Etti’s new play – An n ni e an – central character Kayode (Fode Simbo) appears centre-stage, knee deep in the waters of a sunken pool.

Troubled and out of work for seven years he’s shown as isolated – apart from the characters of his wife, mother and a local pastor.

But is his situation the result of a juju curse – vengefully applied when he was a baby – or simply the result of his ongoing struggles with depression?

Is he wallowing in his condition or sucked back into the depths by forces and spirits?

This powerful, 60-minute meditation on the explanations we offer up for the way we are and why things happen twists and turns like a restless river, tortured

and squirming as it navigates its way between the two potent points of view.

Kayode’s mum wants her pastor to perform something akin to an exorcism to rid her son of his demons. His wife, a tight bundle of frustration and incredulity played with subtle skill by Teri Ann Bobb-Baxter, wants him to get professional medical help.

Baruwa-Etti pours confusion in for the audience with the other near-constant presence on stage of Itan – an imperious, physical and stately Selina Jones.

Only we and Kayode see her, but is she hallucination, viscous spirit or metaphor for his inner dialogue? The joy and thrill of this play is in its complexity and lack of answers. Itan is at times loving and caring for Kayode in the pool of his misery.

She’s the only one to enter it, to caress and embrace him. But after injury through prayer she takes a sinister turn, fighting with the man who looks increasingly like the host of a sinister, violent parasite.

The waters change from placid

blue to the dirty brown of a polluted stream. Blood is coughed up the wall. This is a brutal piece about a man trapped by his battle, seemingly unable to escape.

But it’s also perfectly offset by a few fluttering moments of comedy.

Kayode is funny, he dances, he gyrates, he answers inane interview questions blasted over the PA. A little like Simbo’s feet after the show, this is a piece with wrinkles – some amusing, some sharp and some frightening.

In the end, just as it’s not that important which explanation is accurate for Kayode’s condition, whether he’s able to escape or not is a moot point. The work here is all about the process. n n ni e an runs at The Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick until March 12. Tickets cost £21.

Go to t e ar t eatre.co.uk

Scan this code for more info about the play

VOLUNTEER | Cody Dock As the regeneration project marches on, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer including work to restore the dock’s historic wall.

Ongoing, times vary, free, codydock.org.uk

visit it

Head to Rule Zero in Fish Island for a bamboozling selection of cocktails, board games and working-from-the-pub options.

Also includes a secret basement venue that hosts a range of events rulezero.co.uk Scan this code to find out more about Rule Zero, its events listings or to make a booking want more? @wharflifelive

44

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2021 wharf-life.com

SUDOKU

Crossword - Sudoku

5 1 9 3 7 6 1 3 1 7 5 4 9 7 2 6 7 5 6 2 1 9 2 1 5 8

Previous solution - Tough

8 3 1 7 4 6 5 9 2 Sudoku 9 a7break 2 from 8 5 that 1 phone 3 4 6 Take 5 4 6 9 2 3 7 1 8 How 2 to9 play 7 1 8 5 4 6 3 To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 8 such 4 6 9 row, 5 7column and 3x3 box one3 to1nine that2each contains every number uniquely.

6 5 4 3 9 7 2 8 1 8 find 3 strategies, 6 7 9 hints 1 and 2 5tips online You4can at sudokuwiki.org 1 2 9 5 3 8 6 7 4 7 to 6 play 5 2 1 4 8 3 9 More

6

SUDOKU

You can find more Sudoku puzzles and a wide selection ofTo others available in apps and books at str8ts.com. This complete Sudoku, fill the board Sudoku is supplied by Syndicated Puzzles. by entering numbers 1 to 9 such

No. 1397 that each row, column and 3x3 box

3

Very Hard

8 3 1 7 4 6 5 9 2

6

5 1 9 972851346 5 4 6 9 2 3 7 1 8 For many strategies, hints and tips, 3 7 6 2 9 7 1 8 5 4 6 3 visit www.sudokuwiki.org 3 1 8 4 6 2 9 5 7 6 5 4 3 9 7 2 8 1 1 3 If you like Sudoku you’ll really like 4 8 3 6 7 9 1 2 5 ‘Str8ts’ and our other puzzles, Apps 1 2 9 5 3 8 6 7 4 1 7 7 6 5 2 1 4 8 3 9 and books. Visit www.str8ts.com 9 7 5 4 To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such whether you’re beating the that each row, column and 3x3 box 2 6 contains every number cryptic sleuth oruniquely.

7 5 synonym For many strategies, solverhints inand tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org 6 2 1 it forIf you quick wins, like Sudoku you’ll really like and oursatisfy other puzzles, Apps should 1 5 8 9 2this ‘Str8ts’ and books. Visit www.str8ts.com

crossword The solutions will be published here in the next issue.

The solutions will be published here in the next issue.

Cryptic Across

Down

1.

2.

Confused phone call makes you laugh (4) 8 & 10. But bush provides double value (1,4,2,3,4) 9. William hides his win in Hastings (8) 10. See 8 across 12. Fold paper three times to get this (6) 14. Makes a troubled mind smaller (6) 15. Sounds like this stretch of water should be (6) 17. Socrates said he was one (6) 18. Smelly river? (4) 19. Horned stork is lost in A&E? (8) 21. Groups entrust afternoon refreshments, sort of (10) 22. Children mess up the CD (4)

last issue’s solution

Previous Feb 16-Mar 2solution - Tough

contains every number uniquely.

Notes © 2020 Syndicated Puzzles

3

Very Hard

© 2020 Syndicated Puzzles

No. 1397

Quick Across 1.

8. .

10.

12.

14.

15.

17.

18.

19.

21.

Roman 57 (4) Scottish celebration (5,5) French police o cer Teller of tales? (4) Residential road (6) Mythic sea monster (6) Wool (6) Bakers (6) Isaac’s brother (4) Every four years (8) February days in 2020? (10) 22. Hut (4)

Corroded Catherine sent down (10) 3. Complains about confusing problem (4) 4. Two excited to be lost in the pool (6) 5. Incorporate eras into sayings (5) 6. Secured the butter? (8) 7. Heavy metal breaks deal (4) 11. Bewildered by subtractions, not additions (10) 13. Crossword confusions? (8) 16 & 20. Punish by leading to work (4,2,4) 17. Full up with Cheddar? (6) 18. Extinct birds, we hear, in Middle Earth? (4)

Down 2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

11.

13.

16.

17.

18.

20.

February 14th (10) From the same place (4) The Ark’s terminus? (6) Measure (6) Rainy February? (8) Celebrity (4) Loyalty (10) Speaks well (8) Bowling lanes (6) Free (6) Consumes (4) ___ Saint Laurent (4)

Set by Everden

ACROSS: 1 Grin; 8 & 10 A bird in the hand; 9 Stashing; 12 Octavo; 14 Shrink; 15 Strait; 17 Gadfly; 18 Oder; 19 Keratose; 21 Committees; 22 Kids.

DOWN: 2 Rusticated; 3 Nags; 4 Libido; 5 Adages; 6 Anchored; 7 Lead; 11 Nonplussed; 13 Anagrams; 16 & 20 Take to task; 17 Gorged; 18 Orcs.

Cryptic Solution ACROSS: 1 LVII; 8 Burns Night; 9 Gendarme; 10 Liar; 12 Street; 14 Scylla; 15 Angora; 17 Greggs; 18 Esau; 19 Leap Year; 21 Twenty nine; 22 Shed.

DOWN: 2 Valentines; 3 Ibid; 4 Ararat; 5 Assess; 6 Filldyke; 7 Star; 11 Allegiance; 13 Eloquent; 16 Alleys; 17 Gratis; 18 Eats; 20 Yves.

Quick Solution

Notes

Now open

SPECIAL COVER

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

Now open 16-19 CANADA SQUARE, LONDON E14 5ER (ABOVE WAITROSE) THEPEARSONROOM.CO.UK

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

SPECIAL COVER

Now open 16-19 CANADA SQUARE, LONDON E14 5ER (ABOVE WAITROSE) THEPEARSONROOM.CO.UK

Wharf Life Mar 2-16, 2022 wharf-life.com

SPECIAL COVER

BOOK A TABLE A casual, yet sophisticated restaurant & cocktail bar, situated in the heart of Canary Wharf, tucked away from the hustle and bustle.

16-19 CANADA SQUARE, LONDON E14 5ER (ABOVE WAITROSE) THEPEARSONROOM.CO.UK