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113
the best of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the
people - events - treasure - property - foolishness
The Felix Project an
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inside issue
Sweheat Sauna - Strategia Data Sciences Mallow Supper Club - Wharf Life Hacks
how Chloe Redmond built The Body People to bring multiple forms of tness together at East Wick And Sweetwater Pages 38-39
Brutalism In Colour - The Silverton The Watermans Arms - Sudoku David Lefebvre Sell - Crossword Square Roots Lewisham The Ninety Third - Tower Bridge One Goodmayes
Image by Jon Massey
| Designing Dreams
Canary Wharf
Of London Docklands West India Quay
Welcome to issue 113 of Wharf Life. Whether its a toasty sauna next door to Sadiq Khan, a bombastic dance class at The Body People in East Wick And Sweetwater or membership to a new club for shows at The O2, this is a time to get out and about. Don’t forget to enter our prize draw to win a Skuna Boats cruise...
Booking online is essential for these interactive storytelling sessions inspired by the classic tale of The Emperor’s New Clothes. Participants create an out t. Jun 2, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm, free, museumo ondon.org.uk WATCH | Summer Screens
The big screens are set to return. Take special note of a packed lm club programme this year, kicking o on June 4 with Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle May 30-Sept 8, times vary, free, canarywharf.com GIG | Sofar Sounds
A series of monthly secret gigs kicks o next month in Canary Wharf. You don’t know exactly where or what you’ll be seeing, but apparently it will be good. Jun 5, 7.30pm, £24, canarywharf.com
Stephen Sharp and Strategia Data Sciences is using AI to help address mental health issues in children with My Friend –an app they can talk to through their school
a
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call 07944 000 144 Go to wharf-life.com for more information 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 Email info@wharf-life.com get in touch correct us we want to hear from you need something xed? read Enter our prize draw for a chance to win a hot tub cruise on the dock We sample the rst in a series of supper club menus at Mallow How you can get involved with The Felix Project to distribute surplus food 04 10 12 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 29 the joy of six feast your eyes on these Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 2 what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see want more? @wharfwhispers ash back How Roe restaurant in Wood Wharf aims to attract up to 2,000 diners a day with its servings of snail vindaloo atbread, cuttle sh and venison. You can nd it on the lower levels of cylindrical residential tower One Park Drive roerestaurant.co.uk Scan this code to read our interview with James Robson, one of three people behind the launch of Roe sign upto get the Wharf Whispers fortnightly newsletter in your inbox FAMILY
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Where? Museum
Where?
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06
We
look at two schemes set to launch from Fairview New Homes
out
new members club for shows at The O2 Arena
Why
on the radar
need to know
More news of Marceline, a French brasserie that’s set to open in the second oating barge next to Hawksmoor in Wood Wharf. It will launch in August under chef Robert Aikens, whose twin Tom used to have a restaurant at Westferry Circus back in the day marceline.london
Gail’s bread is already on sale in Canary Wharf Waitrose, but the bakery is set to open a branch at the supermarket in Canada Place. We don’t know the opening date yet, but hoardings have gone up and sta are currently being recruited for the site gailsbread.co.uk
How Sweheat Sauna is boosting its presence in Royal Docks to bring east Londoners even more steam, sweat and cold, refreshing plunges on the edge of the water
doing the deals
Enjoy a glass of organic wine at Humble Grape in Mackenzie Walk for £5, available 5pm-6pm on weekdays. The venue is also o ering two small plates for £10 humblegrape.co.uk
Head to Charles Tyrwhitt in Canada Square and get £100 o when buying two or more suits. O er available via the Canary Wharf app charlestyrwhitt.com get more for less on and around the Wharf
Why The Watermans Arms’ sh is a golden crispy curl of delight
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Catch
33
Brutalism In Colour at Gareth Gardener Gallery
36
29
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write me words you don’t know you need
gadder
noun, fake, from Scottish
An entertainer who carelessly uses and embellishes stories of real people without properly considering the consequences should their targets be identi ed later on by a credulous audience seduced by promises of truth
otiose
adjective, real, from Latin
To be at leisure, idle or indolent.
In an ever more connected and furiously busy world, there’s a question as to whether such a state is even possible. Perhaps this should be repurposed as “time away from screens”
Everyman Canary Wharf, Jun 12, 7.30pm everymancinema.com
Join Josh O’Connor’s Arthur, a British archaeologist recently released from prison and grieving his lost love who soon falls back in with a gang of petty thieves plundering tombs in the Italian countryside. Expect hijinks and a mystic connection to the graves that could be either his doom or his salvation. Grown up Indy. Tickets for the showing cost £19.90.
your next
EVENT
Cigar + Gin Tasting Boisdale Of Canary Wharf boisdale.co.uk
Although the world is saturated with the stu , World Gin Day continues to celebrate a spirit that is probably past the point of needing further encouragement.
Nevertheless, Boisdale Of Canary Wharf is taking the opportunity to mark June 11 with a ight of three cocktails featuring Whitley Neill’s spirit.
But, as ever, the singular Scottish-tinged restaurant is doing things its own way by pairing the drinks up with a tutored sampling of La Flor Dominicana Andalusian Bull – a
brand of cigar with a tricky to order name, for the uninitiated. Fortunately, the smokes will be provided alongside the tipples so attendees need not fear actually having to remember their moniker.
Tickets for the gin and cigar tasting, which will take place at 5.30pm, cost £55. Those wishing to stay for live music afterwards can pay a £49 supplement to enjoy the sounds of the Rat Pack. As a side note, for those who prefer to sample their tobacco with whisky, two types of Glen Moray will meet My Father Le Bijou Torpedo (another snappily named cigar) at the venue on July 9. Tickets for this event are a little dearer at £60.
Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 4
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move. Whether it’s your first home purchase, a move up the property ladder or a property sale, you can trust our conveyancing specialists to help you buy or sell your home for a sensible fixed fee. 020 7205 2896 kiddrapinet.co.uk AYLESBURY FARNHAM HIGH WYCOMBE LONDON MAIDENHEAD SLOUGH diary dates, listings and ideas to make your Canary Wharf sweeter..
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FILM
La Chimera
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sail, soak, sizzle
Get ready for an unforgettable summer adventure with Skuna Boats and Wharf Life’s promotional giveaway. We’ve teamed up with the West India Quay-based business to o er readers a chance to experience the thrill of cruising around Canary Wharf in either a Hot Tub Boat or BBQ Boat. Picture yourself relaxing in gently heated water while enjoying breathtaking views of Canary Wharf’s skyline or hosting the ultimate barbecue party on the water with friends and family. Don’t miss out on this fabulous, family-friendly opportunity to tick o your bucket list this summer.
how to enter
Entering the draw is easy – simply subscribe to Wharf Life’s free, fortnightly Wharf Whispers newsletter before May 28 for a chance to win. The winner can choose from either a Hot Tub Boat experience for up to seven people lasting 75 minutes, or a BBQ Boat Experience for up to 10 people lasting 100 minutes – both worth over £300. Booking will be by arrangement with Skuna Boats. The winner will be selected by Wharf Life and contacted on May 29, 2024. There is no cash alternative and the editor’s decision is nal. Find out more about Skuna Boats at skunaboats.com
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LAST CHANCE
Priscilla The Party Here At Outernet, Soho, via Tottenham Court Road Station (12mins) priscillatheparty
One of the joys of having the Elizabeth Line station in Canary Wharf is the ability to rapidly access whole swathes of London in minutes – including Soho for all the shows and delights of theatre land. Our pick for this issue is the nal few performances of Priscilla The Party, an extravagant display of eye-popping costumes and musical routines inspired by cult classic Priscilla Queen Of The Desert. Performance times vary and tickets start at £45 for two hours of entertainment.
Hot Tub Boat cruises last 75 minutes with up to seven people per boat
BBQ Boat sessions are 90 minutes with space for up to 10 people – food packages are available
Canary Wharf - West India Quay Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 5
how Strategia Data Sciences is using AI to help tackle mental health problems in children
Strategia Data Sciences
CEO Stephen Sharp
wants his company to use technology for the good of society making
a
Image by Jon Massey
by Jon Massey
It took me a while to get what Strategia Data Sciences’ project is all about. The company, which has offices at Canary Wharf’s tech community – Level39 – has created My Friend, a digital platform aimed at helping identify and address mental health issues in children.
This is a big problem. In 2022 about 25% of those aged 17-19 were thought to have a mental health disorder (up from one in six in 2021). Around half of such issues are thought to become established before the age of 14 and about 10% of children aged five to 16 in Great Britain may have a clinically diagnosable mental health problem.
I realise after my interview with Strategia CEO, Stephen Sharp, that comprehending what he and the team are trying to do is tough because it requires confronting an unpleasant admission that – despite the backdrop of grim statistics – kids are being failed by what’s currently in place and things seem to be getting worse. It’s not that the idea of using an AI-powered avatar to help children with their mental health is better than face-to-face human interaction. It’s that, for many, right now there isn’t really a lot of help available – few nets to catch this sort of thing early.
“Strategia was set up to create innovative technology in areas such as health, education, sustainability and the environment,” said Stephen. “I spent about 40 years working in investment banking technology and had a good career in that.
“But I wanted to do something that could give back to society, that would help people in need. A colleague of mine who works in Dubai had been talking to a school out there about something completely different but there were some proper horrors that really resonated with him.
“So we started talking about how we could build a solution –an application – that might help kids in school.
“We did some research and found there were lots of textbased things where kids could send questions and get answers. But then, the next thing was they were being told they should talk to a psychologist for $150 an hour.
“We decided we didn’t want to go down that path. Instead, we’ve been working with conversational artificial intelligence since January. AI is transformational continued on Page 8
Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 6 Canary Wharf - West India Quay
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from Page 6
and we’ve got to the point where we’re running a pilot in a number of countries with children talking to our app and getting the right responses.
“It’s built on the back of ChatGPT – as everything is these days – but we’ve created the model in the middle, which controls the input and output. It’s always supportive, passive and acts as a friend.”
Specifically, My Friend features Kano, an avatar designed to appeal to the app’s audience of eight-to-12-year-olds.
“We’ve gone with a non-gendered super hero teddy bear and his pet dog,” said Stephen. “We didn’t want there to be any gender or race barriers to using the app or to get involved with political issues in what we’re doing.
“The platform works in partnership with a child’s school. Staff can monitor the conversations a child has with it so, if a kid is being naughty in class, for example, they might be able to see why. It’s important, of course, that the children know this up front – that they’re aware their issues can be addressed. The platform forms a neutral, objective interface between the child and the school and removes any bias.
“It’s also designed to remove any concern a child might have about talking to an adult if they have a problem.
“With My Friend, they’re talking to a character who’s on their wavelength. It’s not just communicating about their challenges either – during testing, children have asked Kano about dinosaurs, for example, and the platform can give them information like this too.
“At present the application is browser-based, but we’re working on turning it into an app which could be accessed via the iPads kids are routinely given. Today there are 740million children in primary schools – if we help only 0.01%, that’s beginning to change the way people think.”
Much has been written about the potential fragility of AI – it’s capacity to simply make up plausible-sounding facts and present them as truth in what the tech community charmingly refer to as “hallucinations”. But the Strategia is well aware of the potential pitfalls and believes it has created enough safeguards and guide rails to prevent My Friend pushing out nonsense.
“We’ve been really prescriptive about the responses it gives,” said Stephen. “If a kid wants help,
Percentage of children aged five-to-16 thought to have a diagnosable mental health problem in Great Britain
Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 8
10%
The My Friend platform is not intended to replace mental health services or face-to-face interaction with children, but to act as a tool that schools can use to identify potential problems and then take appropriate action
We’re precise in what we do, so our first question was how we get the technology to stay honest and protect the children using it
Stephen Sharp, Strategia Data Sciences
the app will seek to understand what the problem is and present a congenial approach to the conversation. Everything we’ve seen it produce has been accurate – we’ve asked it all kinds of nasty things, including whether it will help build a bomb and we’ve always had the right responses. In that case, it simply told me it was illegal and changed the subject.
“We’re precise in what we do, so our first question was how we get the technology to stay honest and protect the children using it.”
My Friend is still at the testing phase so Stephen and the team don’t yet have all the answers. They’re still working on how schools will use the platform, which might see conversations colour-coded to help organisations identify potential problems – but feedback has been very positive. Stephen was keen to stress that no personal data on the children is collected by Strategia, with only the schools able to see who is talking to Kano.
Based at Level39 since October, the team is keen to collaborate locally as the project unfolds.
“We’re trying to build something that can address a whole spectrum of problems children face,” said Stephen. “I live in a small village in Buckinghamshire and, until I spoke to a local school, didn’t realise the poverty in what I thought was an affluent area.
“There, a single parent might have three jobs – their child might have to go to school alone, come back alone and cook their own tea. If that’s a seven-year-old, for example, that neglect is frightening. For children everyday life can be a problem and we want to help. If we save one life by doing this, it will be worthwhile.”
key details
You can find out more about Strategia Data Sciences and My Friend via the company’s website as it continues to develop and trial the technology. Go to strategiadatasciences.com
Scan this code to find out more about My Friend
Canary Wharf - West India Quay Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 9
the anatomy of
how Mallow is hosting monthly tasting menus at its Wood Wharf restaurant that come packed with flavour
Upstairs at Mallow, there’s a dining and events space that, of late, has been used by the plant-based restaurant as a base to tempt Wharfers inside. There’s been sake pairing and bottomless brunches as well as a wine and painting evening scheduled for May 21.
But perhaps the main foodie draw on the calendar is the introduction of Mallow Supper Clubs, which are taking place every two weeks on a Wednesday.
There’s a theme to the dishes, around eight courses (it really depends how you define a course and a welcome drink for £55 per head, with at least two diners needed for the minimum booking. el essly putting my tastebuds on the line, I popped along to the first of these to chec out the deal and help readers assess whether it’s worth spending £110.
Hakka Night was the theme of the evening. Billed as a celebration of Indian and Chinese cuisine – the inspiration was a little narrower than simply drawing on avours from two vast portions of Asia. The focus was the Manchurian cuisine of kolkata where Chinese immigrants to India created a heady blend of techniques and spices. The menu promised high-impact colours and avours spread across separate offerings.
First of all, the negatives. Despite a platoon of pleasant, down to earth staff, the service felt clunky at times. Multiple men and women came and went, often offering to ta e orders again that had just been placed or, curiously, failing to suggest refills when collecting empty glasses.
These are little things and perhaps forgiveable given the first night vibe. owever, they did give an impression of confusion –hardly desirable when dining. Instability is the last thing a customer wants to feel at a
welcoming table, but delivering dishes in a different order to the menu without explanation creates such an atmosphere.
Fortunately, the vegan food was potent enough on the plate and tongue to almost make us forget the bumbling.
Mallow creates miracles in the mouth. It’s the kind of cooking that can completely transcend any silly debates about whether using animals in a kitchen is necessary.
Plainly it isn’t. Even shards of simple Papad to start were show stoppers, pepped up by mint and tomato chutneys with richly concentrated avours.
“Opulent” is the word to sum up more or less the whole of the savoury part of the menu. There wasn’t a dish that didn’t feel luxurious and toothsome.
Chilli Corn Chaat was shot through with spice and a smoky sweetness. Gobi 65 turned out to be a succulent pair of cauli ower orets with a seductive hint of coconut, while Sag Smash Cucumber delivered spiced
Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 10
of a Mallow
Club per head, including all food and a welcome drink £55 MammaMiaTheParty.co.uk | The O2, London
Cost
Supper
by Jon Massey
Shiitake Momo
Chilli Corn Chaat
Sag Smash Cucumber
spinach in tight, generous rolls of cucumber on a garlic raita. The main, if such a thing really exists on any tasting menu, married the warming ummami notes of Veg Manchurian – plant balls in sweet and sour sauce with bright green fried rice laced with garlic, tenderstem broccoli and chives.
All were very agreeable, but paled in quality when placed against the second plate we were given to eat. Shiitake Momo – a Tibetan steamed dumpling filled with finely chopped ingredients –was a complete revelation.
Presented on a puddle of zingy orange sauce, this came as a squat black swirl of dough with what appeared to be gilt spray as decoration.
Concealed within was a wonderful combination of vegetable and fungal matter – yielding
the kind of forkful that immediately demands a repeat. Married to the lashings of bombastic condiment, it really was the star of the evening.
Now, Mallow likes pretty. Its dining room is all woods, golds and deep reds. There’s a luxury about just being inside the restaurant. Even its unisex toilets are fitted out with exquisite soaps from Aesop.
But pretty isn’t always good enough. Its stylish petri dish water glasses (a fashionable if ludicrous trend in venues across the capital) are woefully small and require constant topping up –even if they look nice on the table. That can be true of the food too. A shot of Hibiscus Jal Jeera, included on the supper club menu presumably as a palate cleanser, looks great with its spicy
powdered rim but is curiously underwhelming on the flavour front even when biting into the wedge of fresh lime is taken into account.
Similarly, the Burnt Rasmalai Cheesecake (which, naturally contains no dairy products), looks spectacular – a beige wedge adrift on a small lake of saffron sauce, rose petals and saffron – but fails to follow through on the punch in the taste department. Then, the less said about the pink cubes of Rose Karachi Halwa – a challenging gelatinous blend of rose and cashew nuts, the better.
In conclusion however, there will always be light and shade on a tasting menu – dishes that are preferred, combinations that really come off and offerings that miss the mark.
With the service sharpened up a bit, Mallow Supper Club should provide a convivial evening in pleasant surroundings with some fabulous food. Plus there’s a great Szechuan Martini. It’s really very good value, all-in.
need to know Mallow Supper Clubs run on Wednesday evenings fortnightly from May 22. Service kicks off at 6.30pm. Dates are currently bookable until July 31, costing £55 per person, including a welcome drink. A £30 deposit is taken to secure reservations. The events are for a minimum of two people and last approximately two-anda-half hours.
Go to mallowlondon.com for more
Scan this code to nd out more about Mallow Supper Clubs
Canary Wharf - West India Quay Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 11
The Szechuan Martini at Mallow contains gin, lime, peppercorn and passion fruit
Burnt Rasmalai Cheesecake
Veg Manchurian
Gobi 65
getting greener
by Sophie Goddard
Imagine a community where you play a crucial role in rescuing over 7,000kg of food from being wasted whilst also directly impacting the lives of those who need it most. As Canary Wharf Group’s partnership with food distribution charity The Felix Project marks its one-year anniversary, we’re so pleased to announce that we’ve delivered enough surplus food to make 16,556 meals for local community organisations via our Green Scheme. This support is part of our commitment to driving a circular economy and supporting the communities in which it operates. I’m sure we can all agree that this is an outstanding figure reached by our incredible volunteers – but there’s always more we can achieve together.
By dedicating just 30 minutes of your time you can become a Green Scheme volunteer and make a difference. After signing up, you’ll have the flexibility to select a pickup time convenient for you. Simply grab a Felix Project high-vis vest and delivery bag from our designated collection point at Canada Place car park.
Then proceed to one of our partnering retailers to gather surplus high-quality food. Finally, transport it to a nearby community organisation via walking, cycling or using a dedicated electric van for a quick drop off – it’s that easy.
Some of our fantastic customers have already gotten involved. Sam Clark, head of facilities and business operations at Clifford Chance, said: “I think it’s really important that a big commercial area like Canary
Do you have time to help surplus food reach those in need? The Canary Wharf Green Scheme has already delivered enough food to create 16,556 meals locally, but there’s still more to do
Wharf makes a contribution, especially in a borough like Tower Hamlets where we know the need is high and that need is just round the corner.
“Being part of the scheme gives us a chance to make a contribution to those less fortunate and I happen to like the walk. The whole thing takes about an hour and it’s never a bad thing at the end of the day to have the opportunity to do a walk and do some good.”
If you fancy doing a little good this summer, scan the QR code below for more information.
Green will look great on you this summer.
Sophie Goddard is director of sustainability at Canary Wharf Group and can be contacted via sustainability@canarywharf.com
Go to canarywharf.com for more information
Scan this code to find our more about getting involved with The Felix Project at Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf - West India Quay Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 12
trying on for size
serving up
why your money will be well spent for dinner at The Watermans Arms on the Isle Of Dogs eastern edge
by Jon Massey
It was in 1993 that Tesco took the word “value” and, through appending it to numerous products with utilitarian blue and white stripes, transformed its meaning in the British public’s consciousness to “cheap”. While some Tesco Value products were decent enough, others weren’t – I have a dim memory of spooning yoghurt into my mouth, which left the texture of chalk dust on the tongue.
Inevitably, with common branding, the bad infected the perception of the good. Little wonder, perhaps that today those same lines are now sold under made up brands such as Nightingale Farms, HW Nevill and Cream elds or Tesco Essentials, mirroring Waitrose’s approach.
Nevertheless, the damage was done in the minds of a generation. The word “value” was associated with poor quality at a rock bottom price. But it’s time to reclaim it. The idea of spending a certain amount of cash and getting something of better than expected quality should, especially in these challenging times, be at the heart of our recommendations to each other.
For those with a spare £17 and in need of dinner, my current top tip is to head onto the Isle Of Dogs and travel to the environs of Newcastle Draw Dock. There, enter The Watermans Arms – an expansive establishment run by Laura Lythall and Sam Hawkes – who also operate The Ship, locally.
Then order a plate of London Pride Battered Cornish Haddock, which comes with chunky chips, mushy peas and
tartare sauce. Much nonsense is written about sh’n’chips, most commonly focusing on the idea that the only place it can properly be prepared is in the deep fat fryer of a downto-earth chippy.
The Watermans’ version is a crispy golden curl of llet, as recalling the lithe twisting and turning of the haddock at play in the water.
Simply put, both the sh and the chips are excellent – both well-seasoned and avourful with no need to rely on heart-attack baiting quantities of salt and vinegar to pep them up. It’s a dish that’s excellent value. The feel in the mouth and the scents from the plate are of quality ingredients and the condiments that come along for the ride are able warriors in the taste department.
True, the mushy peas might be unrecognisable compared to the chippy staple, in that their texture and taste resembles something that
might once have been in a eld with an overwhelming impression of nourishment and sustenance.
But at £2.50 cheaper than a similar dish in a nearby chain pub over the water, it also represents a potential yearly saving of £130 for those who eat fried sh once a week.
key details
The Watermans Arms is located in Glena ric Avenue on the Isle Of Dogs within 10 minutes’ walk of Island Gardens DLR station. It is currently open from 8am on weekdays and from 9am at weekends. It closes at 11pm Tues-Sat and at 10pm on Mondays and Sundays.
For more information go to thewatermansarms.co.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about The Watermans Arms
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
STAGE | The Illustrious Reign Of King Louis XIX Presented in its entirety – 20 minutes – this show promises merriment, sex, death and a coronation as a singular regal story is told in full. Jun 11-15, 3pm, from £10, space.org.uk
| Vocal Workshop With Olga Vocalist and vocal coach Olga Wozniak o ers a fun session on singing to help participants with their con dence, skills and projection. Jun 5, 6.30pm, £11.55, goodluckhope.com Where? The Space Isle Of Dogs Where?
DANCE | ENB Roadshow Dancers from the English National Ballet o er a workshop for youngsters aged 11-19 aimed at giving participants insights into the company’s work. May 31, 11am, free, poplarunion.com
Leslie Nkansah is
to take over the
at The Space Bar on the Isle Of Dogs, aiming to create a community hub. He brings a wealth of experience having worked with John
Isle
Dogs
Poplar - Blackwall Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 29
Of
-
want more? @wharfwhispers ash back
Scan this code to nd out more
o er
TRY
Poplar Union Poplar Where? The Lantern Room Goodluck Hope
set
kitchen
Torode,
Gordon Ramsay and Henry Harris space.org.uk
about Leslie’s forthcoming stint at The Space Bar and what will be on
Cost of haddock and chips at The Watermans Arms near Newcastle Draw Dock £17
A leaping curl of haddock and chips at The Watermans Arms
130
Years since Tower Bridge o cially opened to the public as a route across the Thames between Southwark and Tower Hamlets
Above, crowds of men arrive to try out the new crossing
The descendants of Tower Bridge resident engineer Edward Cruttwell, left, discovered these photographs, which have never been seen in public before
Right, the images will be shown in a free exhibition from June 22
capturing a at launch
Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 30
Workers put nishing touches to Tower Bridge in 1894
how a free exhibition at Tower Bridge offers a window onto the lives of ordinary Londoners 130 years in the past
by Jon Massey
Here’s a little bit of unexpected history to look forward to and – better still – it’s free. Tower Bridge is celebrating its 130th birthday with an open-air, public exhibition of photography taken when the crossing rst opened in 1894.
Launching A Landmark:
The Unseen Opening Weeks will see a selection of images captured during construction and the bridge’s earliest days of operation.
The photographs, which will be displayed along the landmark’s pavements, were only recently discovered by the Molineux family – descendants of Tower Bridge resident engineer Edward Cruttwell – and had lain hidden and undocumented for decades.
In contrast to the grand depictions of its royal opening, they show nishing touches being applied to the structure before members of the public arrive to cross over for the rst time.
Cruttwell’s great grandson, Patrick Molineux discovered the photographs. He said: “My
mother had stored the photos for decades in an archive box, and we were pleasantly shocked to discover that they’d never been seen publicly.
“It’s always been a source of pride for our family to have such a connection to an icon like Tower Bridge so we couldn’t quite believe that we’d discovered such a piece of history. We can’t wait to see them on display and to bring this rich history to life with the exhibition.”
The bridge remains a functional crossing and a popular tourist attraction, welcoming nearly a million visitors each year.
Designed by Sir Horace Jones and John Wolfe Barry, it took eight years to build and was the largest bascule bridge of its kind on opening.
The exhibition coincides with the launch of a new website for the attraction which promises a forthcoming display of video aimed at delving deeper into the history of the bridge and what
Scan this code to nd out more about the exhibition
life was like for Londoners 130 years ago.
“Launching A Landmark: The Unseen Opening Weeks is like nothing we’ve staged at the bridge before,” said Chris Earlie, Tower Bridge director.
“Having newly unearthed photography and innovative digital content is incredibly exciting, and the team here has worked hard to be able to tell the personal stories of the diverse workers and local communities too.
“We’re proud to be celebrating the workers who helped build Tower Bridge and the Londoners who were the rst to cross it with local communities this summer.”
need to know
Launching A Landmark: The Unseen Opening Weeks is set to arrive on June 22 and will run until September.
The open-air exhibition is located on the pavements of Tower Bridge and is free to visit. Entry to Tower Bridge itself and the engine rooms costs £13.40 for adults and £6.70 for children. This includes access to its glass oors 42m above the Thames, which opened in 2014.
Go to towerbridge.org.uk for more
on things to do, places to go, people to see
The headliners who have emerged from the current Bristol scene celebrate the release of their EP, Back To Shilmarine, with support from Unlucky and Sulk. Jun 6, 7.30pm, from £10, thegerogetavern.london
The hit show returns to Half Moon with Naz, Iggy and their eight friends once more enjoying adventures under and over the covers as bed beckons. Jun 4-10, times vary, £7, halfmoon.org.uk
ART | Gavin Jantes: To Be Free!
This retrospective of the Oxfordshire-based South African painter and printmaker covers works created between 1970 and 2023 – his largest solo show. Jun 12-Sept 1, Tues-Sun, from 11am, whitechapelgallery.org KIDS | Ten In The Bed
Head over to Wilton’s Music Hall for a night of secrets, sensuality, dance and drink as The Monocle takes over the venue. Expect lesbian cabaret and plenty of jazz at this show on May 17 at 7.30pm. Tickets start at £11 wiltons.org.uk Scan this code to nd out more about The Monocle at Wilton’s Music Hall or to book tickets
Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 31
want more? @wharfwhispers be
what’s
quick
Wapping
Limehouse - Whitechapel - Tower Hill
-
GIG
| HAAL + Unlucky + Sulk
Where? Half Moon Theatre Limehouse Where? The George Tavern Whitechapel Where? Whitechapel Gallery Whitechapel
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Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 32 Meetings&Networking JobInterviews Presentations Onlineconversationclasseswitha nativeEnglishteacher argutalanguages@gmail.com BuildconfidenceandfluencyinEnglishfor: Bookafree30-minuteconsultation ArgutaLanguages COURSES PUBLIC NOTICE LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS REPORT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SOCIAL CARE OMBUDSMAN The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has issued a report following its investigation of a complaint about London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The complaint was about Housing. The Ombudsman found that there had been fault on the part of the Council, and this had caused injustice to the complainant. The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has agreed to take action which the Ombudsman regards as providing a satisfactory remedy for the complaint. The Council must now consider the report and tell the Ombudsman within three months (or such longer period as the Ombudsman may agree) what it proposes to do. Copies of the report will be available for public inspection during normal office hours at the reception desk of the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road E1 1BJ for three weeks starting 23rd May 2024. Anyone is entitled to request copies of the report or extracts from it. Copies will be supplied free of charge.
combined
Christopher Hope-Fitch has turned his lens on urban architecture
beauty in the
how Brutalism In Colour presents vivid images of more than 100 locations captured by Christopher Hope-Fitch
by Jon Massey
Deptford’s Gareth Gardener Gallery is set to host a new exhibition in the coming weeks. Brutalism In Colour forms part of the London Festival Of Architecture and features images from more than 100 locations, all captured by photographer Christopher Hope-Fitch.
Intended as a provocation to the viewer to consider buildings they may have dismissed as boring or bland, the vivid portraits of the structures present a different perspective on structures both well-known and obscure.
hile at first glance, hristo pher’s work might be mistaken for thermal images, these are, in fact, long-exposure shots taken at night over the past seven years.
The colour variations, which come from a multitude of light sources, have then been amplified in post production to create the finished wor s.
Places featured in Christopher’s work include Welbeck Street Car Park, Coventry’s disused Elephant Building and the former Museum Of London building.
The photographer’s work is a reaction to his past experience as a monochrome hand printer and has also been in uenced by the supersaturated images of Italian Giallo movie directors such as Mario Bava and Dario Argento.
The exhibition will be accompanied by the launch of a limited
Scan this code to nd out more about Brutalism In Colour
edition book featuring a selection of images from Christopher’s show.
Gareth Gardener Gallery is owned and operated by curator, architectural photographer, filmma er, writer and gallerist, Gareth.
Recent exhibitions have included Close To The Hedge, exploring the world’s relationship to living barriers and Boundary Conditions: Reframing The Pepys Estate, which featured images of a nearby south-east London residential scheme and some of the people who live in it.
key details
Brutalism In Colour will be on show from June 7-16 at Gareth Gardner Gallery in Resolution Way, Deptford. The exhibition is free to visit.
Go to garethgardner.gallery for more information
Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
CONCERT | The Lark Ascending
Where?
Brunel Museum Rotherhithe
The choral scholars of St Martin-In-The-Fields are joined by violinist Michael Trainor for a programme of music including Vaughan Williams’ classic. Jun 6, 7pm, £15, thebrunelmuseum.com
Where?
The Pen Theatre South Bermondsey
COMEDY | Zoe Brownstone
Join the veteran standup for a work in progress show as she continues to unlock the mysteries of the heart while remaining certain there’s more to learn. Jun 8, 7pm, £7.21, thepentheatre.com
GIG | NU Jam
Where? Villages Brewery Deptford
Head to the brewery’s Deptford taproom for an evening of electric musical jamming. Bring your ears and instruments and make some sounds until close. May 30, 7.30pm, free, villagesbrewery.com
ash back
French cycling brand Van Rysel has opened its rst UK store at Decathlon in Canada Water. The shop now stocks bikes, clothing and accessories as well as o ering tting and workshop services decathlon.co.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about Van Rysel at Canada Water’s branch of Decathlon
Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 33
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take a breath
by David Lefebvre Sell
Do not go gently: Why the ‘council of the years’ is a boot up the backside after the ush of youth
I’m turning 50 this year and I have to say, I’m not looking forward to it. Oh, I know getting older is a privilege and all that – I’m happy with the state of my life. It’s just that 50 seems like such a serious number.
It’s the kind of age where you have to start watching your cholesterol, and consider getting your prostate checked. Suddenly I have to worry about my nose hair, not in my nose, on my nose.
It’s horri c, one day you look in the mirror and you’ve got three honking great black hairs sticking out of the bridge of your nose. How long have they been there? Who knows? My massive, wizard eyebrows I can deal with, but this is too much. Growing up we had a copy of Desiderata by Max Ehrmann on the bathroom wall, to this day I can quote most of it. There’s one line that has always stuck in my head a little more though, it goes: “Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.”
That’s some philosophical heavy lifting right there. Does anyone gracefully surrender youth? What is the right amount of acceptance to growing older? For many people ageing is some kind of failure – poor skincare, not watching what you eat or not enough time in the gym.
I’m all for raging against the dying of the light – and the machine – but not so much that I have to weigh my meals
David Lefebvre Sell
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for raging against the dying of the light – and against the machine – but not so much that I have to weigh my meals. For me, life is often the struggle to nd a healthy balance between growth and contentment. I tend to favour contentment, so “the council of the years” usually feels a lot like a boot up the backside, and it’s pretty tough to take that kindly.
It’s under appreciated that self care is often about letting something go, and letting go usually involves some kind grief. So, by all means, ght the ageing process – but know it’s going to happen anyway.
David Lefebvre Sell is a Greenwich-based psychotherapist and Yoga instructor who teaches at Third Space in Canary Wharf
Follow @davetheyogi on X and Instagram and @DavidLefebvreSellYogaAndPsychotherapy on FB
Scan this code for information about David’s work as a transpersonal counsellor and psychotherapist
how the Ninety Third offers audiences a completely new way to experience shows at The O2 Arena all year round
by Jon Massey
Su ce to say, with packages starting at £15,000 per seat (excluding VAT), the Ninety Third is not a budget option. The O2 on Greenwich Peninsula – in partnership with Qatar Airways – has unveiled its latest premium o ering for those keen to secure access to every public show in the Arena.
Created by amalgamating a series of luxury boxes, the private members club features banks of seats on the centre line of the venue in a commanding position overlooking pretty much the whole auditorium.
But what makes the Ninety Third stand apart is less the seats themselves, but rather what lies behind them.
Here a series of bars and lounge spaces has been created to water, feed and allow members to relax before the show.
The spaces are jazzy, tastefully lit and furnished with an emphasis on marble, golds and blacks that very much push the image of a high-end night spot.
Trophies celebrating artists such as Take That, Prince and Michael McIntyre – who have all performed 21 shows or more in the arena – are tastefully displayed. In the restaurant, lyrics from Bon Jovi and Led Zeppelin adorn the walls.
There are also shots of musicians giving it some welly while on stage at the venue dotted around – a simple reminder of potential delights to come.
With security-controlled entrances and rich decor it makes a pretty good st of feeling like a club. On the night we visit there’s an informal feel about the place, with audience members free to relax and take advantage of its exclusive extendible gantry that stretches out into the Arena
before the performance – a gimmick, but a welcome one in the age of the sel e.
While the walkway is retracted for the show itself, this addition does make proceedings feel a little extra special.
The true bene t of Ninety Third membership, however, is in its lounges and restaurant. Here there’s no stress at all related to pre-show dining.
No members are left anxiously wondering whether food will arrive or bills will come on time. There’s no hectic scramble to get to the venue and nd seats. Once inside, there are calm, warmly lit bars and it’s impossible to get much further than a minute away from the very place you’re booked in to watch the show.
Sometimes such arrangements can mean compromising on quality, but not so here. The restaurant o ers a surprising burst of quality with exemplary service and a clutch of sophisticated dishes.
We’re well beyond burgers and Buds here. It’s pricey (small plates range from £11.50 to £18.50) but quality is assured.
A potent bowl of Harissa Prawns, for example, bathes the shell sh in a rich, spicy sauce, while Cured Trout comes with ribbons of cucumber fresh and pickled alongside pert chunks of grapefruit.
Surprisingly, for an establishment at a big venue, the dishes feel creative and playful in contrast to a world where all that matters is the bottom line. The venue promised the catering would be next level and it delivers.
We also try larger dishes. New
is a solid creation and Roasted Layered Cabbage is a generous, zingy plate of food.
Best of all, however, is a small plate of watermelon and Barrel-Aged Feta dressed with honeycomb and fresh nasturtium leaves.
It’s a subtle, complex combination of ingredients and a true luxury when served so close to our seats.
The show – comedian Peter Kay doing one of his monthly residencies – passes o without a hitch. It’s perfect for those who enjoyed his nostalgia-heavy act a decade ago, recalling much of his watch from the
Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 34
Forest Wild Mushroom Ravioli
Layered
Barrel-Aged Feta
The retractable walkway is ideal for sel es
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | J Balvin
The Colombian is set to bring his live show to the tent as his star continues to ascend. Expect the likes of Sheeran collaborations Sigue and Forever My Love. Jun 5, 6.30pm, from £78, theo2.co.uk
STAGE | Roger McGough Is Alive And Gigging At 87, Roger remains a potent force in spoken word. This show celebrates the release of his collected poems with a burst of Lily The Pink and more... Jun 9, 7.30pm, £23.50, greenwichtheatre.org.uk
old schtick with a bombastic nale that brings the real Noel Gallagher together with Kim Jong Un’s image, incongruously.
But really it’s the club that shines, making a trip to The O2 e ortless – as it should for the money. The restaurant even serves little bags of brownies and pick’n’mix to take to the seats. Something sweet for the show.
need to know
You can nd out more about the Ninety Third and enquire about membership online. The venue o ers a host of other premium seating options at various prices for every show.
Peter Kay is currently performing one show a month at the venue – the rst artist to do so.
Go to the o2.co.uk for more information of to make a booking
Scan this code to nd out more about the Ninety Third
KIDS | The Magic Word
This family show, with two afternoon performances promises a magical forest with a beautiful queen who decides to visit a woodland elf. Follow her story. Jun 1, 1pm, 3pm, £12 (£10 kids), woolwich.works
catch this
Greenwich Peninsula is set to welcome the return of Urban Village Fete on May 19 with events kicking o at 11am. Expect music, dancing, street food, stalls and plenty of activties to get involved with greenwichpeninsula.co.uk
Scan this code to nd our more about the multitude of events that will be taking place at the fete
want more? @wharfwhispers
Where? The O2 Peninsula Where? Woolwich Works Woolwich Where? Greenwich Theatre Greenwich Greenwich - Peninsula - Woolwich Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 35
The Ninety Third in full swing
The restaurant at the Ninety Third Roasted cabbage
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
WALK | The Line
Line Stratford To Cody Dock
Join this community engagement wellbeing walk along the River Lea art trail from the Splash Fountain in Stratford to Cody Dock. Likely to last 90 minutes. Jun 6, 2.30pm-5pm, free, royaldocks.london
Victoria
EVENT | Elevate
Fitness professionals and businesses are invited to attend this event that brings 250 suppliers and more than 200 speakers together. Get moving... Jun 12-13, 9.30am, free (registration), elevatearena.com
CLUB | 10 Years Of Time Passages
Celebrate a decade of parties at the Star Lane location with techno and house from the likes of Binh, Bobby, Colin Chiddle, Lumiere, Vass and Vladimir Ikovic. Jun 8, 11.59pm-11am, from £15, ra.co
Scan this code to read our interview with Alex, nd out more about the event and how to access it
how
Sweheat Sauna in Royal Docks o ers the simplicity of hot and cold alongside a packed events programme
by Jon Massey
Sadiq Khan has another four years as Mayor Of London and doubtless, a long list of things to attend to from his base at City Hall at The Crystal in Royal Docks. One way to tackle that stress might be to pay a visit to near neighbour Sweheat Sauna, a mostly open-air installation just outside Expressway on the edge of Royal Victoria Dock.
While Sadiq’s popularity has won him a record third term in o ce, demand for weheat’s services is also growing with a second sauna and a plunge pool both set to arrive on site in mid-June, boosting capacity from its existing 12-seat facility.
There’s also talk of a hot tub, should Sadiq prefer to support a growing business by immersing himself in a warmth beyond that of the London electorate.
The whole installation is the work of sauna activist and entrepreneur Victoria Maddox. Having discovered a passion for the waterways of east London while working at the Alfred Le Roy cocktail barge in Hackney Wick and as a gardener at ecological regeneration project Cody Dock, she had her first wood fired sauna in a converted horse box on the banks of the River Lea.
“It was called Warmth and was owned by women who wanted me to get naked before wrapping me in a bundle of leaves – it was 100ºC, right on the edge of the river,” said Victoria.
“Working at Cody Dock was uite a different environment from where I live in Croydon – it broadened my horizons a lot. There we were, taking saunas and throwing buckets of cold water over each other.”
on a journey
Hooked, she joined the owners and helped take the sauna to Brighton in 2018. Its success and the growing interest in woodfired sauna, led her and others to create the British Sauna Society – originally a Facebook group that became a not for profit organisa tion in 2020 aimed at developing and promoting sauna culture in the UK.
Before this, however, Victoria had already acquired the sauna that stands in Royal Docks today for her first company, ature pa. “Dunck” started life as a horse
sauna in ottinghamshire – built in Germany to aid the animals’ recovery after races. But with its four-legged clients less than keen, it had become a toasty hangout for stable hands and was up for sale on eBay.
Once bought and converted for human use over the pandemic, Dunck entered service touring to Warleigh Weir near Bath, the town of Glastonbury, Gloucestershire, Cornwall and Dorset.
Spells at Community Sauna Baths in Hackney Wick (where Victoria was a founding board member and the ew oc lands Steam Baths in Canning Town followed before relocation to Royal Victoria Dock when Sweheat opened up 10 months ago.
“We are an arts and culture facility – our sauna can be used as an amphitheatre – a crossover between a space to relax and a place of entertainment,” said Victoria.
“We have a wonderful list of events, but in between that, what I like to do here is to get people to enjoy their natural experience close to the lovely water of the dock – there’s an energy that makes everything so much more relaxed here.
“It’s grounded and it’s not pretentious. Social pressures should be off when we’re in the sauna, so I tell people when they come in that it’s not about endurance, it’s about enjoyment –that they should make themselves at home. There’s even a kettle, so they can make a cup of tea.
“People do chill out and have conversations – then, after 90 minutes, it’s done and they feel a million dollars.”
free and healthy
Bathing costumes are required at Sweheat, although clothing optional sessions are also offered.
“That first sauna with atie Bracher and Warmth at Cody Dock changed everything – none of the other saunas I’d had before this really did it for me,” said ictoria. “It gave me a different perspective – seeing people I worked with running around naked. Having a sauna session is an investment in health and wellness, primarily because it de-stresses you. Secondly, and what most people don’t understand about sauna is that it’s a sweat-bath – it’s about detoxing your body and cleaning it from the inside out.
Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 36 Cost of a full, 90-minute sauna session at Sweheat £19.99
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This is Alex Stein, director of the London Blockchain Conference, which is set to take place at Excel from May 21-23, exploring the technology’s potential and myriad applications in multiple sectors londonblockchain.net
Where? Fold Canning
Excel
Where? The
Town Where?
Royal
Dock up turning the heat
Sweheat Sauna CEO Victoria Maddox
Dunck can hold up to 12 people at one time at Sweheat Sauna, with further capacity coming to the site
“Sweating pushes the muck out, so you couldn’t get any cleaner, even if you were to sit in a bath for hours, or have a really hot shower.
“Sauna is the cleanest you’ll ever feel – have a sweat-bath and a really good scrub down. Your skin will feel amazing for days.”
experience and events
Sweheat, which is run by Victoria and her son Aron Rogers, offers the simple combination of saunas in Dunck and a cold water plunge. Clients are invited to repeat the process as many times as they like during a 90-minute session.
Located close to both watersports centre WakeUp Docklands and Love Open Water’s swimming facility at the western end of Royal Victoria Dock, it naturally complements their cold water offerings.
Beyond that core, however, the facility offers a programme of events aimed at allowing people to experience different aspects of sauna culture. These include a Full Moon Sauna Ceremony which combines the core offering
Sauna really liberates you when you’re very hot and then step
out into the elements. It’s magical
Victoria Maddox, Sweheat
with guided meditations, performances, live music and nature immersion. Mythic Sauna features storytelling, while GermanStyle Sauna is for enthusiasts of aufgass, a practice that uses essential oils and traditional towel wafting. There are specific sessions for men and women and Queer Tales For Queer folks – billed as an evening of sweat, relaxation and storytelling.
“Our standard price is £20, which is affordable when compared with a meal or a night in a the pub,” said Victoria.
“Taking a sauna will get you some fantastic health benefits and you’ll feel amazing afterwards.
“I feel Sweheat is a bit anarchic – we’re doing something different and it’s all about how we interact with each other socially. We’re also right next door to the Mayor Of London.
“Saunas make people shelve their ego a bit and allow them to connect more on a human level – participants can forge bonds of friendship and trust that might otherwise be a struggle to create.
“This is the first sauna I’ve operated on my own and it feels fabulous. Every day is perfect for a sauna. In Britain we have this mindset that you can’t do anything unless the weather is good. But sauna really liberates you when you’re very hot and then step out into the elements. It’s magical.”
key details
Sweheat Sauna is located on the edge of Royal Victoria Dock beside Nakhon Thai restaurant on land belonging to Expressway.
Standard sessions cost £19.99 for 90 minutes of sauna and cold plunging. Events start at £24.99. The sauna is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 4.30pm-10pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am-10pm. Sessions at 8.30pm are clothing optional, with clothing required at all other times.
Go to sweheatsauna.co.uk for more
Scan this code for more about Sweheat Sauna in Royal Docks
Royal Docks - Canning Town Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 37
The sauna includes a large plunge pool
how The Body People provides a welcoming space to host movement classes in a multitude of disciplines
by Jon Massey
The Body People is my baby,” said Chloe Redmond. “She’s my first experience of owning a studio – a place where I could bring all forms of movement together, fitness, aerial disciplines and dance. ut I also wanted it to be a space where you can mix and blend – focus on spo en word, photography exhibitions or rehearsals, for example – a place that would be multi faceted.
And The ody eople in ast ic And weetwater – a residen tial development on the western edge of the ueen li abeth lympic ar – is ust that. ale green sil s hang neatly braided from the ceiling, s uares of wax print fabric in green, gold, white and blac hide exercise bi es from view and golden poles run oor to ceiling in readiness for forthcoming acrobatics. very where there’s wood, splashes of colour and foliage.
or studio owner hloe, it’s a dream made real – the culmi nation of years wor ing as a dance and fitness instructor in and around her native althamstow.
“I’ve always moved, she said. “I’m dyslexic and have certain processing disorders that meant I was classed as a dumb person at school. ut I was strong and fast.
“I was really fortunate to be supported by my parents and to be able to do everything from gymnastics to athletics and dance.
“I graduated as a filmma er, but I decided teaching people dance and fitness was what made me feel alive – it too me to another
I just love seeing people’s eyes come alive when they feel good. Also, you get applause at the end – you don’t get that in every job
Chloe Redmond, The Body People
level. hen I came bac from university, I thought I ought to do some dance classes and – when I couldn’t afford my gym member ship any more – they said that they’d heard I taught and that, if I were to teach classes, I’d get access for free.
“ o I retrained. I ust love seeing people’s eyes come alive when they feel good and experience that confidence. Also, you get applause at the end – you don’t get that in every ob.
nding a spot
“ hen you’re ust a teacher on your own, running around to other gyms, you’re limited in what you can do, said hloe.
“That’s why I started loo ing for a space. I new I wanted somewhere I could pull commu nities together, somewhere I could put my uni ue blac woman’s touch on – a place I could ma e beautiful the way I wanted it.
“ ut I struggled to find some where – I had so many offers re ected in althamstow. Then this place came up and it made sense, being in the middle of tratford and ac ney ic .
“ ou’ve got the old and the
Years since Chloe began teaching tness and dance classes – she opened The Body People in E20 last year
The Body People’s owner,
Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 38
Left, the studio brings together aerial, tness and dance in a single east London space
Right, The Body People hosts a wide range of classes, including matbased Pilates sessions
lling
her with movement
14
Chloe Redmond
new here, which is important to me – those born to the sound of Bow Bells and people who have moved out of the City. It’s really nice to be a part of creating this new community.
“We’ve had a lovely reaction from the local residents who live above and around us.”
interior vibes
Since opening the doors in November, Chloe has unquestionably put her stamp on the place, creating a backdrop packed with personality.
“It’s important to me that people come in and see a well-seasoned place – we have hot sauce in the fridge,” she said. “I didn’t want it to be bland, sterile or stagnant because that has been my experience in some places.
“It was a concrete shell, and I wanted to keep something of that in the studio. But It was also important to me to get my Africa-print fabric from a Nigerian woman in Liverpool Street and to include items such as masks and fans that have been in my family from Ghana or Kenya for years.
“My background is also English and Irish and I wanted a place where people could walk in and feel a black woman’s touch – that it’s in the textures of the plants and the things I’ve put in here. We’ve got boxes and baskets for people’s belongings while they train instead of lockers, to create a woody, earthy feel.
“Then there are bolsters for Yoga made by my mum, Jo Redmond. One thing I do know is that when other black women come here there is this connection – a moment of things looking familiar to them.”
class complement
At the core of The Body People’s offering is its class timetable, with a wide range of sessions on offer.
“You can be up on the ceiling, down on the oor, on a bi e, working out on a mat or moving to music,” said Chloe.
“What you want to do depends on their interests and background. Some people may come in and say they’re bored with the gym – that they want something exciting and different and want to do it with a group of people led by an instructor.
“For them, we might recommend the more exotic classes like aerial silks or pole dancing.
“Then there are people who are pregnant or who have just had a baby and want pre or postnatal classes, which we also offer.
“Some people have become die-hards and this studio is now their second home. Others just fancy a nice mixture of things like a step class, which is much more dance-like than it was back in the day – a lot less robotic. We also
offer dancehall and commercial dance for those who want that variety.
“When designing the timetable, I wanted a full spectrum, imagining someone who would be able to come to a class every day and do something different.
living the dream
“I am a very sensitive and emotional person and I feel it’s important to champion more women who are business owners and in touch with a full range of emotions,” said Chloe.
“I’ve had moments where I’ve been in tears – happy and sad –times feeling really chuffed with myself or frustrated with the little things. But I have to keep going –life isn’t perfect.
“There have been some really lovely moments where I’m teaching a Pilates class and thinking that 14 years ago I started this kind of movement, knew I wanted my own place and now I’m in it and it’s beautiful and lovely.
“For the most part it’s a really happy experience. Every morning I walk in and say hello to my baby – the studio – and she speaks back to me when the music plays.
“Everyone who comes in feels they have come into a tranquil space – it just feels safe and inclusive. While I don’t have a favourite class – that would change daily – I have had some very special moments teaching Pilates when it’s felt like things have come full circle.
“I remember feeling nervous and anxious in the earliest days of teaching Pilates at my mum’s health practice in Walthamstow, but also that I loved it – supporting others. I knew then that I wanted my own place, not just for Pilates, but for dance and fitness too.
“I was always keeping my eye out for spots which were coming up, and teaching here – 14 years later – means I’m getting my dream. Now I just want to keep doing what I’m doing.”
need to know
The Body People is located in Copper Street at East Wick And Sweetwater and operates a varied timetable over seven days.
Standard single session prices start at £13. Memberships start at £146 per month, with full gold membership covering all classes in both E20 and Walthamstow is £162 per month.
Go to thebodypeople.co.uk for more information
Scan this code to nd out more about The Body People
Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 39 what’s
want more? @wharfwhispers catch this The
revelpuckcircus.com Scan this code
top in Stratford
Stratford - Bow - Hackney Wick
on things to do, places to go, people to see
Revel Puck Circus is set to bring spectacle and delight to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from May 16-Jun 2. Expect contortions, acrobatics and plenty of swinging from the big top. Tickets cost £24 for adults
to nd out more about the performance or to book seats in the big
STAGE | Black Is The Color Of My Voice
Apphia
Campbell’s play follows
a successful
singer
and civil rights activist as she seeks redemption after the untimely death of her father. Jun 11-15, times vary, from £10, stratfordeast.com
See
theyardtheatre.co.uk Where? Theatre Royal Stratford East Stratford Where? London Stadium Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Where? The Yard Theatre Hackney Wick
SPORT | Major League Baseball
the New York Mets take on the Philadelphia Phillies at this international xture. Clearly one team has already won the battle of the inventive names... Jun 8-9, 6pm, from £54, mlb.com CLUB | Beachcore Internet Culture invites you to dance to the latest hyperpop, hardstyle, breakcore, hard tech and jungle dressed for the beach, or whatever. May 31, 10.30pm-3am, from £11.50,
Find the studio in East Wick And Sweetwater
A step class
Spinning
Pole dancing
Aerial Silks
Sudoku
Take a break from that phone
How to play
To complete Sudoku, ll the board by entering numbers one to nine such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.
More to play
You can nd more Sudoku puzzles and a wide selection of other brainteasers available to download for free at puzzles.ca
Notes
crossword
Cryptic
Across 6, 7. Tube station to make them jealous, we hear (7,5)
9. Internal hostelry? (3)
10. Broke at the start, but snug all over (4,5)
12. This man will always win the race (11) . ou will find a prescient but fussy American (11)
17. My song about a girl might be about a fish’s innards
19. Alternative mineral? (3) . ingular antipodean makes fresh air (5)
22. Might be calmer but may sound more stupid
Down
. Incendiary poet . inal purpose . ee dn . udge the download speed , . tation is eco friendly Liz as well, we hear (7,5)
8. Obsessive clothing? (6) . Insect puts down offspring nmelodic sound . Interrogates a dish , . Time phone call and leave your car at the Tube (7,4) . ee dn
. Immediate data . onfused cat expresses surprise
beating the whether you’re cryptic sleuth or synonym solver in it for quick wins, this should satisfy
Quick
Across . ortable computers 7. Journal (5) 9. Donkey (3) . ountain disaster . The bard . Record catalogue . ecome involved when one is not wanted 19. Chemical state (3)
21. Cornish city (5) . Ill mannered
Down , . A ’s swan song , . onsumed . ide boy , . hildren’s classic (6-3-4) . ee dn 8. US state (6) , . Ibsen drama , , . Rwandan capital 14. Evening meals (7) . ee dn . ee dn
Painting (3)
Notes
Crossword - Sudoku Wharf Life May 15-29, 2024 wharf-life.com 40
20.
Quick Solution Across: 6 Laptops; 7 Diary; 9 Ass; 10 Avalanche; 12 Shakespeare; 15 Discography; 17 Interlope; 19 Gas; 21 Truro; 22 Boorish. Down: 1, 16 Daisy, Daisy; 2 Ate; 3 Spiv; 4,
18 See 4; 20
18 Winnie-The-Pooh; 5 See 11 dn;
8
Alaska; 11, 5 The Cherry Orchard; 13 Kigali; 14 Dinners;
16 See 1;
Art.
Cryptic Solution
Across: 6, 7 Turnham Green; 9 Inn; 10 Skin Tight; 12 Gingerbread; 15 Persnickety; 17 Isinglass; 19 Ore; 21 Ozone; 22 Balmier.
Down: 1 Burns; 2 End; 3 See 14 dn; 4 Arbitrate; 5, 16 Bethnal Green; 8 Anorak; 11 Dissonant; 13 Grills; 14, 3 Belsize Park; 18 Stat; 20 Omg.
last issue’s solution May 1-15
Set by Everden