Wharf Life, Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023

+ Chris Ezekiel on the need to balance tech with other things for kids Page 12

Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

how Fashion City explores Jewish Londoners’ impact on making the capital a global style icon Pages 6-11

inside issue 99

Husk Brewing Ltd - Naru Naru - The Light Princess Waitrose Winter Food And Drink Festival - City Cruises Humble Grape - Ping Pong - Sticks’n’Sushi - Crosswords Sudoku - Museum Of London Docklands Royal Observatory Greenwich Jack And The Beanstalk Wardian London Goodluck Hope Feels Like June

styling

Man’s maxi-smoking dress with beaded panels by designer Mr Fish from the museum’s Fashion City exhibition

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

Probate Support or Advice on Wills or Lasting Powers of Attorney Contact Erica John-Marie to arrange a free consultation.

Call 020 7205 2783 or email EJohn-Marie@kiddrapinet.co.uk

kiddrapinet.co.uk/familylegacy Download our 8 STEP GUIDE TO MAKING A WILL

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read

feast your eyes on these

what’s on

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

Museum Of London Docklands West India Quay

TALK | Fashion And Migration This panel discussion looks at the new arrivals to the East End and beyond who made London the fashion destination it continues to be today.

Nov 14 , 6.30pm, £12, museumoflondon.org.uk

Welcome to the 99th issue of Wharf Life. This issue is all about going out and having a good time, whether it’s a visit to the newly opened Fashion City exhibition at the Museum Of London Docklands, planning those festive celebrations for Christmas and New Year’s Eve or just dropping into Husk for a pint...

04

Make your life on the Wharf that little bit sweeter with our hacks

Where?

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place

06

GIG | Shola Ama The You Might Need Somebody singer, who’d won a Brit and two MOBO awards by the age of 18 returns to the Canary Wharf venue next month.

Nov 3 , 9.30pm, from £29, boisdale.co.uk

How Fashion City looks at the impact of Jewish migrants on style

Where?

MMy Wood Wharf Wood Wharf

GIG | Soul Train The Temple Of Art And Music Vineyard, found in the venue’s basement, promises a jazz-infused tribute to some musical legends from this band.

Nov 16 , 8pm, £15, tam.tv

42

We catch up with the couple behind Naru Naru, who are growing a cute, cuddly brand with an edge from their east London home on the Isle Of Dogs

flash back

14

Isn’t it time you got that festive party sorted?

Here’s our guide

the joy of six

38 How the Mandala Lab at Union Square on Wood Wharf offers a place for people to explore their emotions and find wisdom through its installations covering pride, envy, anger and attachment rubinmuseum.org Scan this to read our interview with Tim McHenry of The Rubin Museum Of Art, discussing the pop-up want more? @wharfwhispers

Get that festive look sorted for party season at Jon Hala

23

Pay for a penthouse? But how much? We consider two options in E14

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 41

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 Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

3

Canary Wharf - West India Quay

£17.95

Visit Boisdale Of Canary Wharf between Tuesday and Friday and indulge in a two-course set lunch.

The offer is available between noon and 5pm at the Cabot Square venue boisdale.co.uk

48

How independent craft brewery Husk has opened a new taproom right next to Canning Town station as it expands its production at a new site in Royal Docks

46 Experience the wonder of the cosmos as the Royal Observatory Greenwich celebrates photography of the night sky

45 It’s showtime and The Albany in Deptford has The Light Princess to delight kids over the Christmas season

Scan this code to download the Canary Wharf app for access to these offers as well as others from the likes of Hackett, Mallow, and Sweat

By BXR

free

Go skating at Ice Rink Canary Wharf then show your ticket at Pedler in One Canada Square and you’ll get a free glass of mulled wine for your trouble. Available Oct 24-Feb 24 pedlercanarywharf.com

4

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

write me

words you don’t know you need

invitlation noun, fake, from Modern English subscribe to our Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly

An invitation to a promotional event received for the first time the day before or on the day of the gathering – essentially confirmation that you’re a second or third choice guest as they need to make up the numbers

Bluey, pictured at the recent Boisdale Music Awards

grioffonage noun, real, from French

Coming from the French word griffoner – to scribble or scrawl – this term denotes illegible handwriting, the kind a lifetime of typing on a computer or a medical degree might lead one to develop

BOOK NOW Citrus Sun ft. Imaani Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Nov 15, 9.30pm, from £19 boisdale.co.uk

Humble Club members get two glasses of wine per week at any of the brand’s locations

Health conditions can change your future and your capacity to make decisions but creating a Lasting Power of Attorney ensures you control who makes decisions on your behalf should you be unable to do so.

like and subscribe

Humble Club at Humble Grape, £25 per month >> We increasingly live in a world of subscriptions.

There are multiple ways to stream TV shows and movies, watch unlimited films at the cinema or even get access to creative software – Wharf Life is produced on Adobe applications paid for via a monthly retainer.

So why not wine? That’s exactly what Humble Grape thought and so created the Humble Club. For £25 per month, members get two glasses of wine a week at any of its six locations – Battersea, Islington, Fleet Street, Liverpool Street, Crouch End and, of course, Canary Wharf. That alone is worth up to £80.

Other benefits include 10% off event tickets and shopping online as well as a free bottle of wine (or £35 off a tab) when dining on your birthday.

Go to humblegrape.co.uk for full details

Download our FREE Guide to Making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

kiddrapinet.co.uk/understandinganlpa

Your options can start here.

Download our free guide or book a free consultation with our private client team. Call 020 7205 2896 or request an appointment online at kiddrapinet.co.uk

FARNHAM

HI GH W YCOM BE

Humble Grape Canary Wharf offers all sorts over the festive season, find out more - P16

Formed by musician Bluey in the late 1990s, this group are set to present music from their latest album with inspiration from guitarist Jim Mullen. Expect jazzy numbers such as Mais Uma Vez and Calling Mr Wolf from the rhythm section and star of Incognito, fresh from winning the Instrumentalist award at Boisdale.

Have you helped your loved ones to help you?

AY L E S B U RY

diary dates, listings and ideas to make your Canary Wharf sweeter..

LO N DO N

M A IDE N H E A D

S LO U G H

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

5

Canary Wharf - West India Quay

skate

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Ice Rink Canary Wharf Canada Square has been covered, the water is being pumped in and the skates sharpened, all ready for the return of Ice Rink Canary Wharf. The attraction returns to the heart of the estate from October 21 until February 24 with brightly-lit sessions protected from the elements by a giant roof. As ever, The Grandstand Bar will be serving up refreshments to cater for all tastes for those who need to warm up or cool down after a session carving up the ice.

Adult and teen tickets cost £20.95 with children (under 13) costing £15.95.

Family tickets are available for £59 Go to icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk for more information Scan this code to find out more about what’s on offer

Oysteria is located close to the South Quay foot bridge HAPPY HOUR 2-4-1 Cocktails Oysteria Daily, 3pm-6pm oysteria.co.uk Looking to catch up with friends over cocktails? Seafood restaurant and bar, located on the Canary Wharf side of the South Quay foot bridge, has unveiled its happy hour with 2-4-1 house cocktails available from 3pm-6pm every single day. The offer includes Espresso Martinis, Negronis and if you like Pina Coladas, well...

game review

Mario Kart, Switch – at Platform, Crossrail Place

>> My weapons? Green shells, red shells, blue shells and banana skins. This isn’t my first rodeo on the track and Princess Peach stands no chance, for I am Wario, scourge of the track, especially when I’m swollen to upteen times my size and flattening my opponents...

Nintendo’s Mario Kart has long been a console staple and the latest version on the Switch has wisely avoided changing very much at all.

It’s unlikely to win any prizes for innovation, but then why change something that’s arguably the perfect, jaunty, amusing racer?

It’s cartoony, packed with familiar characters and twisting tracks that are just challenging enough to make

things interesting without tipping over into serious difficulty.

If you’re all about high octane action in supercars, this isn’t the game for you.

But if you fancy splatting an opponent or two, safe in the knowledge that they will pick themselves and their absurd little dodgem back up and continue the race, it’s ideal.

Besides, they might just knock you off your perch with a mighty blue shell and then you’ll have to start climbing back up the positions – a pretty fun and silly predicament to be in.

Jon Massey >> For bookings or more information about Platform in Crossrail Place, go to experienceplatform.co.uk

Major new exhibition 13 October 2023 – 14 April 2024 6 minutes from Canary Wharf Elizabeth Line

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Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf - West India Quay

200,000

Jewish migrants arrived in London from the mid-19th to the mid-20th centuries – more than 50% worked in the fashion, clothing or textile trade

This image from 1917 shows workers at Schneiders Garment Factory in Stepney. The clothing industry dominated the Jewish East End

Scan this code to find out more about Fashion City

Image from the Museum Of London

how the Museum Of London Docklands’ Fashion City exhibition showcases and celebrates the contribution and verve of Jews working and innovating in the capital’s garment industry

by Jon Massey

I

t’s been 20 years since the Museum Of London had a major fashion exhibition and this is the first time we’ve hosted one at Docklands – it’s also the first time we’ve done a major exhibition with London’s Jewish population at its centre,” said Dr Lucie Whitmore.

“The Museum Of London Docklands is the perfect place to share this story, because it’s about migration and creativity blossoming at the heart of east London.”

Lucie is curator of Fashion City at the West India Quay institution, a special exhibition that explores the impact of Jewish Londoners on global style, that will be in place for visitors to enjoy until April 14, 2024.

“It’s a celebration and recognition of the contribution that these individuals have made to

recognising the

the industry. We’re thinking about this in a very broad sense.

“We wanted to go beyond the stereotypes or what we think people might expect about the relationship between Jewish people and making clothes in London.

“We aim to encourage people to really think about how diverse our garment industry is and how many people are responsible for making the capital a fashion centre with an international reputation.

“To do this we’re taking our visitors on a bit of a journey.

The exhibition is not structured chronologically, as people might expect, but geographically.

“So we have an East End and a West End and the places and spaces of London inform our structural approach.

“There are a lot of misconceptions and stereotypes – and sometimes anti-Semitic thinking – about Jewish people in the east of London, what is known as ‘sweated labour’, for example.

“That’s the idea of Jewish people either being poor and persecuted without agency, working in horrible conditions, producing cheap clothes in the East End. “At the opposite end of that scale, there are misconceptions about wealthy Jewish people profiting from the work of others.

“We really wanted to dig into Jewish life and work in the East End, and show that it wasn’t like this. Obviously there were people continued on Page 8

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BOOK ONLINE AT LONDON-OKTOBERFEST.CO.UK

EALING WALPOLE PARK OCT 19-21

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FINSBURY SQUARE (MOORGATE) OCT 26-28 + NOV 2-4 HAL

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Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

from Page 6 who were treated very badly in the trade, but there were also people who had amazing agency and set up their own businesses, not just in tailoring, but also in accessories, leather-work, dressmaking – there’s a lot more to the story.

“We also wanted to show just how important Jewish makers and retailers have been in the West End, which has a glitzier reputation. People think about grand department stores, high street chains, couture, the pinnacle of London fashion – and Jewish makers are really important in that story as well.

“Although we don’t go into it in great depth, I was really keen for people to know that there was a big and really important resident Jewish population in the West End. People had settled there for quite a long time, particularly in the late 19th and early 20th century. Soho and Fitzrovia were predominantly Jewish areas, and a lot of people don’t necessarily know that.

“The other reason for structuring Fashion City this way was that it allows us to examine different pockets of the industry by place, bringing together designers who knew each other and worked together or, perhaps, who were around at different times but did similar things.

“Visitors will be able to walk into an East End tailor’s workshop, step into the luxury of a couture salon and have a bit of a dance in our Carnaby boutique.”

20

Years since the Museum Of London last curated a fashion-focused exhibition

Gold kaftan and maxi smoking dress with beaded panels

by Mr Fish

Scan this code to find out more about Fashion City

Image from the Museum Of London

W

hile fashion is the core of the exhibition, there’s a thread of music running through things too. The playlist includes the likes of the Mamas And Papas, The Beatles, David Bowie, The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds who all wore clothes by designers featured in the exhibition.

“There’s Adam Faith too, who was a great customer of menswear shop Cecil Gee and we’re really excited to be featuring them all in Fashion City,” said Lucie.

“It was also irresistible to include designer Mr Fish, who was in the spotlight in such a huge way in the 1960s.

“He was extraordinarily creative, known for his flamboyant menswear.

“He starts in Colette’s department store in Shaftesbury Avenue, moves around various retail jobs and eventually becomes established as a shirt maker.

“Then we get this classically trained designer who has developed all his skills and plays with

Moss Bros overcoat

Part of the Fashion

dating 1901-1920

City exhibition

Image from the Museum Of London

Image from the Museum Of London

Wearing Mr Fish Image by Jimmy James/ANL/Shutterstock

The exhibition is open

Kipper tie by Mr Fish

Image from the Museum Of London

Image from the Museum Of London

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

9

Canary Wharf + West India Quay The umbrella shop of JH & M Fischer in Spitalfields pictured in 1919

Bengali seamstress Anwara Begum’s sewing machine from her East End home

Epicentre of fashion - Carnaby Street at the height of its 1960s power

Henry Grant Collection/Museum Of London Image from the Museum Of London

Image from the Museum Of London

Fashion City curator Lucie Whitmore, left, whose family story features in the exhibition with leather goods maker Molmax and its re-establishment in London after her great grandparents fled the Nazis

Image by Jon Massey

the designs – subverts them, and then puts his creations in front of a different audience. He also invents the kipper tie.

“He gains the attention of several high-profile customers, such as Sean Connery and Barry Sainsbury, of the Sainsbury family, who goes into business with him.

“They open a boutique on Clifford Street between Jermyn Street – the traditional home of shirt making – and Carnaby Street.

“It’s the peacock revolution, with young, stylish customers – musicians, sports stars and actors – it’s also a place to hang out. There’s a story that an Italian film crew came to London to film in Mr Fish’s boutique, because they saw it as the downfall of British society and they wanted to capture the end of it.

“They saw Mr Fish as a beacon of change. He was doing skirts and dresses for men and felt that the male body was better suited to them – he called the garments powerful and virile.

“He wasn’t the first to do that, but the spirit behind his clothes was fascinating and heartfelt.

“Some people want to dismiss him as a bit of a

He was doing skirts and dresses for men and felt that the male body was better suited to them – he called the garments powerful and virile Lucie Whitmore, Museum Of London

novelty, but actually the quality of the design and the creativity, and how much he believed in it shows it wasn’t frivolity – it was fashion.

“The skirts and dresses were very popular and worn, very famously, by David Bowie and Mick Jagger. We also have a wonderful picture of an Arsenal footballer wearing one.”

T

he exhibition is filled with glamour. There are evening dresses, high-end hats and exquisite couture pieces. The exhibition includes a coat by David Sassoon of Bellville Sassoon worn by Princess Diana and another continued on Page 10

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This coat by David Sassoon of Bellville Sassoon, as worn by Princess Diana is on show at Fashion City

Image by Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images

Image from the Museum Of London

Hats by designer Otto Lucas, bottom left, who was known as the milliner millionaire.

His creations graced the cover of British Vogue and were stocked in the likes of Harrods

Image from the Museum Of London

Image by Ron Stilling/ANL/Shutterstock

Image from the Museum Of London

from Page 9

by EastEnders royalty Dot Cotton in tweed by Alexon. But Lucie and her team were keen to showcase the stories of real Londoners alongside the glamour.

The exhibition opens with the story of the 200,000 Jewish migrants arriving in the capital between the late 19th and mid-20th centuries through personal artefacts. More than 50% would come to be involved in the fashion, clothing and textile trade.

Items include a small travelling case used by a child who came to London on the Kindertransport – the rescue effort to send children out of Nazi-controlled territory from 1938-39.

More than four years of research has gone into Fashion City and Lucie said one of the reasons she and collaborator Dr Bethan Bide of the University Of Leeds has wanted to explore the topic was the high level of resonance.

“We’d both done quite a lot of talking about it publicly and there was a lot of personal interest in the subject matter,” said Lucie, who began her career as a designer and became increasingly interested in the history of fashion. “People who came to our talks recognised their own family stories and would feel quite emotional and proud of them.”

That’s partly true of Lucie herself, whose own family feature in the exhibition.

“They were Jewish refugees from Vienna,” she said. “I should make it clear this isn’t a biased move on the part of the curator.

We really wanted a story about leather goods and bags, and we didn’t have those objects already in our collection, but the story of my family fits perfectly in the narrative of the exhibition.

“The material was reviewed anonymously by an external reviewer for suitability before I put my great-grandfather in there.

“The family had already made one big move from Ukraine to Austria where they westernised their names. In Vienna they set up leather goods business Molmax, which was initially a big producer of sportswear, Alpine skiwear and leather goods.

“Then they moved into luggage, and they won a really big reputation internationally. But in 1938, after the German invasion, my family survived at great risk.

Because my great-grandfather was a businessman, people would phone them and warn them when there was going to be a raid on their buildings, so they needed to be away. There’s an extraordinary story, which we do touch on in the exhibition, where some Nazi officers knocked on the front door of their home and demanded to be

My great grandmother was left to pack up the family home and make her own way over – they were very lucky that they all reached Britain safely Lucie Whitmore, Museum Of London

taken to the factory immediately.

They took my great-grandfather and great uncle there in a van and took pretty much all their stock with no payment, nothing.

“Then they took over and Aryanised the factory. My grandmother and her brother left on the Kindertransport and my great grandfather managed to obtain a business visa which was how he managed to escape.

“My great grandmother was left to pack up the family home and make her own way over, and they were very lucky that they all reached Britain safely.

“There they re-established the business in London, starting off in Holborn. My great uncle, who was only 16, was the only one who spoke English and so he was doing all the work of translating and finding producers and places to work. They managed to get it going and moved to Quaker Street, just off Brick Lane. They managed to grow another international business, with offices in New York, exporting all over the world, before it closed in the early 1980s.”

There is, of course, more. The Rahvis sisters who designed clothes worn by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell.

The flamboyant hats of Otto Lucas and an exploration of the connections between the Jewish community and other immigrant populations from the Caribbean and Bangladesh – seamstress Anwara Begum’s sewing machine is on display, which she used to make garments for local businesses at her home in Quaker Street.

There’s far too much on show to truly do the exhibition justice here – you’ll just have to go and see it for yourself. Then for even more depth, you can dip into Lucie’s book, written with Bethan, to accompany the exhibition.

Standard entry to Fashion City costs £12 for adults and £6 for children.

Go to museumoflondon.org.uk

Scan this code to find out more about Fashion City

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

11

Canary Wharf + West India Quay The Museum Of London Docklands can be hired for events, including Christmas parties.

Find out more in our festive feature - P20

This silk evening gown by Rhavis dates from 1952 and is one of the key pieces in the exhibition

Image by George Harris/ANL/Shutterstock

Designer Raemonde Rahvis, who worked with her sister Dora to create pieces worn by the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell

Image from the Museum Of London

Left, a dressmaking student learns embroidery at Shoreditch College in 1958 Far left, a wedding dress

by Jewish designer Neymar, dating from the 1970s

Image from the Museum Of London

Image by Henry Grant Collection/Museum Of London

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60

Seconds – will this be the limit of our attention spans if we continue down this path with technology

virtual viewpoint

by Chris Ezekiel

E

lectricity and automation are woven into all aspects of our lives. Having two boys - one just over two years old and the other eight months – it’s interesting to see how they interact with simple toys versus ones with batteries. Limiting screen time is a constant challenge for parents as it’s often the easy option when trying to settle them – especially during the terrible twos.

What gives me hope for With the emergence of humankind is watching artificial intelligence, more aspects of our lives are my two boys get so becoming automated. much enjoyment from What gives me hope for humankind is watching playing with nonmy two boys, Matthew and Harry, get so much electric toys enjoyment from playing Chris Ezekiel, Creative Virtual with their non-electric toys.

Pushing little cars around imaginary roads and trains around a wooden track.

Matthew, the eldest, loves building different track layouts and can amuse himself for a long time playing out a completely imaginary story – pushing his trains over bridges, through tunnels and picking up people from the station. My fear is that children will quickly lose this ability if we don’t consciously shield them from too much technology.

It is a balance – technology will play a positive and important role in their development.

As adults, we are overwhelmed with the stuff, whenever we’re not asleep. Social media platforms are designed to give quick-fix bits of news and entertainment.

But there’s a real danger that we will lose our ability to concentrate on tasks that are longer than 60 seconds. Creativity requires imagination, and that requires time to concentrate and contemplate.

Technology provides great tools to help us be more creative, but there’s also the risk that an over reliance on technology will take away our ability to imagine.

There’s much talk about AI taking over creative tasks from humans, but I think the greater risk is the way technology and, in particular, social media reduces our attention span. Adults, as well as children, need regular time-outs. We need to let our imaginations breathe and run wild.

Chris Ezekiel is founder and CEO of customer engagement solutions specialist Creative Virtual based at Canary Wharf Follow @creativevirtual and @chrisezekiel on Twitter Scan this code for more information about Creative Virtual

how to a balance

Matthew hard at work in an imaginary world where the trains run on time with no cancellations

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

13

Tech Focus

400+

People attended Innovate Finance at the East Wintergarden in Canary Wharf – find out more online at innovatefinance.com

another level

by Amy French

W

e recently hosted our long-term industry partner, Innovate Finance, for their Fintech As A Force For Good Forum in Canary Wharf.

For those of you who read this column, you’ll know that Level39 is a community of fintech entrepreneurs and technology businesses in One Canada Square.

Its aim is to convene and connect thought leaders, decision makers, investors and other stakeholders to help guide and assist our members on their growth journey – and the forum enabled just that.

The day-long event welcomed more than 400 attendees to East Wintergarden in Bank Street. The agenda focused on the role of fintech innovations in helping to tackle one of the biggest socio-economic challenges facing the world today – the cost of living crisis.

We were joined by speakers from the Financial Conduct Authority, Visa, Lloyds Banking Group, Evelyn Partners, as well as fintechs including Manigo, Zilch, Truelayer, Zopa, and Clear Score – all discussing the need for our financial services industry to innovate and better serve the consumer, enabling greater access to better products at a lower Competition cost, for everyone.

I chaired a discussion alongside collaboration on the power of industry was also highlighted partnerships and their role in developing fintech for as a requirement good. to drive I was joined by speakers from SWIFT, Leeds Building innovation Society, Aquis Exchange, Amy French, Level39 and Liberis – all whom were laser focused on the need for collaboration between fintechs, traditional institutions and corporates to create solutions that solved real problems for their customers.

Our conversation included the need to help more first-time buyers into home ownership, as well as the provision of accessible and responsible finance. Competition, alongside collaboration was also highlighted as a requirement to drive innovation and create a market for the future. One comment particularly resonated with me on the day: “To go forward, we must go together”.

Amy French is director at Level39 in Canary Wharf – follow @Level39CW on Insta and Twitter + @Level39CanaryWharf on LinkedIn Go to level39.co for more information about the One Canada Square-based tech community Scan this code to find out more about Level39 and its work to foster and grow tech in Canary Wharf

the connections

Amy moderates the discussion at Innovate Finance in Canary Wharf

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Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

Party Season

Discover Humble Grape’s offering ★ Page 16 ★

sort those

whoever you’re celebrating with, it’s time to organise that Christmas or New Year’s Eve bash with our helpful guide

Festive fashion for party season ★ Page 22 ★

Party Hair with Jon Hala ★ Page 38 ★

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

15

A JAPANESE FEAST WITH A NORDIC TWIST

BOOK NOW

1 CROSSRAIL PLACE, E14 5AR sticksnsushi.com

16

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160

Maximum capacity at Humble Grape Canary Wharf for a standing reception.

The venue can handle up to 90 seated

how Humble Grape is set to serve up seasonal classics with plenty of wine from small producers for Xmas

by Jon Massey

A

The festive menu can be served feasting-style

Humble Grape’s private dining space

legendary wine-fuelled extravaganza” – that’s what Humble Grape is promising businesses, organisations and parties of guests who choose to celebrate at its Canary Wharf wine bar this Christmas.

The Mackenzie Walk venue, located on the edge of Middle Dock, has plenty of festive treats to turn Wharfers’ heads this year.

Central to its offering is a menu of more than 450 carefully selected wines from small, family-run organic vineyards around the world – often champions of biodynamic and sustainable processes.

Humble Grape’s festive food offering – available from November 13 – includes a seasonal a la carte menu for groups of up to six and a special Christmas set menu for parties of six or more.

Costing £55pp, the three-course option requires 48-hours notice when booking and includes starters such as beetroot carpaccio, ham terrine or smoked mackerel pate, mains such as roast turkey, celeriac and squash ballotine or chestnut crusted cod and desserts such as chocolate torte, sticky toffee pudding or Christmas pudding.

All mains come with a selection of maple glazed root vegetables, sprouts with cranberries and roast potatoes. A fillet steak main and a dessert of seasonal cheeses are also available for a supplementary charge, as are croquettes filled with cheese or chorizo as pre-starters.

The menu will also be available served feasting-style and canape and sharing platter options can be arranged for more informal celebrations.

Humble Grape offers several flexible spaces for parties including exclusive venue hire for

Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a huge bash, we have private and semi-private event spaces to suit parties of all sizes Alex Walsh, Humble Grape

useful stuff

need to know l Humble Grape is located in Mackenzie Walk in Canary Wharf, overlooking Middle Dock l The venue is within easy walking distance of the DLR, Jubilee and Elizabeth Line stations l Opening hours are 4pm-11pm on Mondays, noon-11pm TuesdaysSaturdays, noon-10pm on Sundays l The three-course Xmas set menu costs £55pp for groups of six or more 90 seated or up to 160 standing. It also boasts a private dining room (22 seated or 25 standing) as well as a semi-private event area, with its own access to the wine bar’s waterside terrace, for up to 50 standing.

Bespoke tasting sessions are also available at the dedicated wine table in the middle of the venue’s retail area – surrounded by its extensive collection of bottles.

Humble Grape general manager, Alex Walsh, said: “Our Canary Wharf waterside wine bar is the perfect setting for your Christmas party.

“Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a huge bash, we have private and semi-private event spaces to suit parties of all sizes.

“With over 450 sustainable wines to choose from, wine enthusiasts will be in heaven and our festive dishes are designed to make your celebration truly unforgettable.”

The venue still has some availability for Christmas parties and events over the festive period.

Those keen to book should get in touch with Humble Grape’s events team by email to events@humblegrape.co.uk.

Mention WHARF LIFE when booking an event before the end of October and Humble Grape will waive its room hire fee – 10% of agreed spend.

Go to humblegrape.co.uk

Scan this code to find out more about Xmas at Humble Grape

Humble Grape is offering multiple dining options at its Canary Wharf branch this festive season

The wine bar will be bringing guests a selection of traditional puddings as part of its set menu for parties of six or more

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Party Season

other offers

Humble Grape for Christmas Humble Grape is offering two festive wine packages available to order through its online shop: Sparkling Christmas Case £224 (free delivery) This six-bottle collection features two bottles of three types of fizz, namely Genevieve Cap Classique Blanc de Blancs NV, Bot River, South Africa, Domaine Allimant Laugner Cremant d’Alsace Rosé NV, Alsace, France and Soutiran Premier Cru Alexandre Brut, NV, Ambonnay, Champagne, France.

Classic French Trio £127 (plus delivery) This three-bottle selection features Bernard Lonclas Cuvée Prestige NV, Champagne, Domaine Luzy-Macarez St Veran ‘Conquette’ 2021, Mâconnais, Burgundy, France and Château Puy Mouton, Allégorie, Saint-Émilion 2016, Bordeaux, France.

Order at humplegrape.co.uk

Share a little joy This Christmas at Ping Pong St Katharine Docks From lunch gatherings to dinner celebrations, we got SUM-thing special to please one and all this festive season!

SCAN & FIND OUT MORE

DIM SUM & DRINKS PACKAGES starting from

£ 20.00 per person

How Sticks’n’Sushi is offering a Japanese twist on festive celebrations for Wharfers - P18

BOOK YOUR PARTY events@pingpong-group.com

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£40

Cost per person of The Holly Menu at Sticks’n’Sushi in Canary Wharf’s Crossrail Place as well as The Evergreen Menu, its plant-based counterpart. The Mistletoe Menu costs £66pp

dish focus

this anarchic little plate exemplifies Sticks’n’Sushi’s refreshing approach

There’s nothing wrong with a roast turkey and all the trimmings. It’s a tried and tested crowd-pleaser. But then there’s the thrill of innovation and Sticks’n’Sushi’s Miso Sprouts may be the brand’s best festive example of its “anarchic approach to Japanese cuisine”. A key part of its seasonal offering, the dish is a statement of intent as it strives to refresh the famously divisive Christmas vegetable. It says: “The flavours of yuzu miso and soy sauce work really well alongside the bitterness of the sprouts. They are deep fried, which not only adds a crispiness to the soft texture, but a great nutty flavour too. The soy and sesame finish them off with a little umami hit.” Surely a must-try...

by Jon Massey

A

vailable from Monday, November 27, Sticks‘n’Sushi in Crossrail Place is set to serve up a trio of Christmas menus. The Canary Wharf restaurant’s Sticks‘n’Santa offering at the Japanese-inspired restaurant promises a twist on tradition with classic ingredients incorporated in innovative ways. The venue will also be running a series of offers to further entice Wharfers through its doors. Here are the menus on Sticks has prepared...

The Holly Menu A gastronomic journey, £40pp This menu promises an array of dishes “that redefine festive indulgence” including Miso Sprouts plus Yellowtail Kingfish and Grilled Pepper Nigiris. There’s also the Chicks‘n’Blankets stick – a whimsical take on a beloved Christmas dinner staple.

The Mistletoe Menu Luxurious festivity, £65pp For those seeking opulence, this menu promises a symphony of flavours including Wagyu Temaki (a marriage of seared Kyushu Wagyu beef, sushi rice, soy, and crisp nori). There’s also the Aka Ebi yakitori stick – a showcase of Argentinian red shrimp with spicy gochujang and garlic butter.

The Evergreen Menu Vibrant plant-based delights, £40pp For those who prefer to dine exclusively on plantbased ingredients, Sticks‘n’Sushi has created a special festive menu to ensure all palates are catered for. This option promises a celebration of the best nature has to offer, allowing the restaurant to demonstrate its commitment to serving everyone’s tastes.

In addition to the three special menus, Sticks’n’Sushi will also be offering a three wise men-inspired Seasonal Sampler of Wagyu Temaki, Miso Fried Sprouts and Kakiage Tempura with Ikura over the festive season.

Sticks’n’Sushi’s location on the Canary Wharf estate means is a few minutes’ walk from the Jubilee and DLR stations, while Elizabeth Line trains depart literally a few floors below.

Go to sticksnsushi.com

SOMETHING SPECIAL Champagne To Start Sticks’n’Sushi is offering a further incentive with bookings of six or more on Mondays or Tuesdays receiving a complimentary bottle of Telmont Champagne

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Party Season

SEASONAL LUXURY The Kiramisu Fizz Sticks’n’Sushi’s bartenders have been busy creating Christmassy tipples including this slender offering – a marriage of Prosecco, Chambord, Gin and Yuzu topped with a holly leaf – the best way to kick things off

flavours serving the finest

how Sticks’n’Sushi offers a twist on traditional festive treats, with three menus influenced by Japanese cuisine

FESTIVE INDULGENCE The Gingerbread Sour A spiced take on a classic whisky cocktail that comes garnished with a sweet, toasted marshmallow

Scan this for more about festive dining at Sticks‘n’Sushi

How the Museum Of London Docklands offers celebrations surrounded by history - P20

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how Museum Of London Docklands offers exclusive access and parties in an historic setting

£92

hosting the

by Jon Massey

T

he festive season is filled with sweet and spiced flavours, so where better to host a party than in a Grade I listed former sugar warehouse at West India Quay – a dockside that saw all manner of cargo from around the world unloaded and stored?

The Museum Of London Docklands, which tells so many of those stories across its extensive displays, has created a special Christmas package for businesses and organisations looking to hold seasonal celebrations.

Guests will enter through the venue’s Muscovado Hall – decorated with twinkling lights on its historic pine columns and a Christmas tree – before taking a glass of sparkling wine to explore the galleries.

The party will then move to the main reception space where food will be served either as a sit-down dinner, food stations or as a standing event.

Organisers can choose the Riverside Room, which includes its own entrance and private terrace with an hour’s access to the museum’s second-floor galleries.

Alternatively, the Wilberforce Room comes with an hour’s access to the No 1 Warehouse gallery, which tells the story of how London’s docks and wharves operated at the height of their success.

The museum has worked with catering partner Bovingdons to offer a package for this year’s festivities at £92pp+VAT, with minimum numbers required on certain dates.

Museum Of London sales and marketing manager Raffaela Pozzi said: “We’re really looking forward to another busy Christmas party season this year, as organisations recognise the importance of celebrating their staff and thanking them for their hard work.

“We’ve designed our packages in collaboration with our fantastic partner – Bovingdons Catering – to make the most out of our stand-out event spaces and ensure a memorable celebration that can

Per person cost, excluding VAT, of the special Christmas party package at the Museum Of London Docklands with Bovingdons catering

Sugar and spice: The Museum Of London Docklands has a range of spaces that can be hired for festive parties

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

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Party Season Taking a look at what’s on offer at Wood Wharf venue Feels Like June - P32 Guests can be treated to sit-down dinners or enjoy standing receptions at the historic venue

useful stuff

need to know ● The Museum Of London Docklands’ spaces come with stateof-the-art audio visual equipment as standard ● Guests can enjoy an hour’s private access to the venue’s galleries to begin the celebrations ● Access to the museum’s Fashion City exhibition is on offer ● Unlimited drinks wristbands can be purchased for the group at £44pp+VAT be enjoyed with delicious food and drink options.”

A range of upgrades can also be arranged at the venue including extended hours until 1am, guided tours for guests through the museum, Champagne on arrival and a spirits bar for after-dinner digestives.

Actors and actresses in costume can also be hired to mingle with guests to create a more immersive atmosphere. Goody bags and live

We’re looking forward to another busy Christmas party season this year as organisations recognise the importance of celebrating their staff Raffaela Pozzi, Museum Of London

entertainment are another option through the venue.

Following the recent opening of the museum’s Fashion City exhibition – featured towards the front of this issue – organisers are also able to arrange exclusive access to see this blockbuster in all the glory of a private view.

For more information about festive celebrations at the Museum Of London Docklands, call the events team on 020 7814 5789 or email venuehire@museumoflondon.org.uk

Scan this code to find out more about hiring the museum

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style and get the best seat in the house for London’s spectacular fireworks! cityexperiences.com/NewYearsinLondon

Gala Dinners | Live Entertainment Thamesjet Speedboat Rides | Private Hire

Learn More

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Party Season

Waitrose Canada Square Mango Bilma Wrap Midi Dress, £59.99 johnlewis.com

Maje Jubilee Place Asymmetric Dress, £179.50 uk.maje.com

Mango Canada Place Asymmetrical pleated dress, £109.99 mango.com

Dune Cabot Place Agency Heel In Red, £125 dunelondon.com

we’ve scoured the Canary Wharf malls in search of styles to suit a variety of occasions whether smart or casual...

Waitrose Canada Square Black Mini Shir t Dress, £129 johnlewis.com

Coach Canada Place Mira Shoulder Bag, £395 uk.coach.com

Reiss Jubilee Place Tgiana High Neck Draped Midi Dress, £228 reiss.com

Waitrose Canada Square Ghost Ellie Shirt, Olive, £34.50 johnlewis.com Styles for gentlemen to impress over party season, Christmas and New Year - P31

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

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Party Season

Charles Tyrwhitt Canada Place Liberty Fabric Floral Print Semi-Cutaway Collar Shirt In Navy, £7 9.95 charlestyrwhitt.com

Barker Shoes Cabot Place Bailey - Navy, £350 barkershoes.com

Moss Canada Place Charcoal Velvet Jacket, £199 moss.co.uk

Hawes And Cur tis Canada Place Silk Tie, £35 ley Pais Red hawesandcurtis.co.uk

we’ve scoured the Canary Wharf malls in search of styles to suit a variety of occasions whether smart or casual...

Hackett Cabot Place Marbled Wool Jumper, £145 hackett.com

Hawes And Curtis Cabot Place Green And White Botanical Slim Shirt, £69 hawesandcurtis.co.uk

Paul Smith Cabot Place Tailored-Fit Wool-Mohair Suit, £875 paulsmith.com

Boggi Milano Canada Place Black Wool Dinner Suit With Peak Lapels, £928 boggi.com

How Feels Like June promises a relaxed set of options to make your party planning that little bit easier - P32

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Maximum standing capacity of the restaurant and bar at Feels Like June, which also has a heated terrace that can take up to 120 people

by Jon Massey

L

ocated on the ground floor of the Tribe London Canary Wharf hotel on Wood Wharf’s Water Street, bar and restaurant Feels Like June is aiming to add a little shine to festive gatherings. So what’s on offer?

What’s the space like?

Think high ceilings, tiled panels and upholstered sofas snaking their way through the place.

Feels Like June features plenty of greenery, mushroom-shaped lights and metalwork above its expansive bar.

Tell me more The restaurant can cater for up to 80 guests seated or 200 standing plus there’s an outdoor heated terrace that can handle 76 diners of 120 for a reception – a little warmth to ensure it still, well, feels like June. It is a California-inspired venue, after all.

Feels Like June is located on the ground floor of Tribe hotel in Water Street

Is there anything Christmassy amid the sunshine?

Naturally, tis the season, after all, and the venue is promising guests will feel “holly and jolly” over the last two months of the year. Specifically, Feels Like June has created a Festive Feast Menu. It will be available from November 13 until December 25 and costs £49 per person.

That sounds perfect, what’s on the menu?

It’s three courses plus a pre-starter of sourdough bread.

Starters include mushroom and truffle arancini and creamy clam chowder, the selection of mains features lamb shank with mashed polenta or duck breast fillet with rhubarb and there are desserts of red velvet cake and spiced choco mousse. Plantbased alternatives are available.

how Feels Like June is set to serve up plenty of festive warmth and cheer at its Wood Wharf venue this Xmas

Anything else?

The venue is used to catering for events and can easily help companies add a little extra something to their parties.

Options include DJs, live music, cocktail masterclasses and photobooths.

How do I get there?

Feels Like June is located a few minutes’ walk from the eastern exit of Canary Wharf’s Jubilee line station. It’s also within easy walking distance of the Elizabeth Line and the DLR and on a road for those who prefer to do their travelling in taxis.

The venue can also help organise entertaiment including DJs, live music, cocktail masterclasses and photobooths Embark on a festive trip on the Thames to celebrate with the team or mark Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve afloat with City Cruises - P34

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Party Season

Can I stay over?

Obviously. In Tribe, Feels Like June boasts the only hotel actually on the Canary Wharf estate.

Just make sure you book ahead to ensure a room. It’s the only venue locally to provide guests with the option of checking in and getting ready on-site, ahead of a party and then staying in the building after. You could even have breakfast there the morning after.

How do I book Festive options at Feels Like June can cater for tables of two right up to exclusive hire of the whole venue. Smaller parties can book online or by email to hello@feelslikejune.co.uk. Larger parties should email sales.canary wharf@mytribehotel.com to enquire about availability.

Go to feelslikejune.com for more information Scan this code for more about Christmas at Feels Like June

JOIN US FOR A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM BOOK YOUR CELEBRATION IN OUR GRADE I LISTED WAREHOUSE

Located on West India Quay, the Museum Of London Docklands offers a range of options for your festive party, with a capacity of up to 1,500 guests for drinks receptions or 240 guests for dinner. Prices start at £92+VAT per person (minimum numbers apply).

Contact us by email: venuehire@museumoflondon.org.uk call: 020 7814 5789 or go to museumoflondon.org.uk for more details

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City Cruise trips to choose from on New Year’s Eve, all with views of the festive fireworks. A Thamesjet experience is also available

Christmas on the

how City Cruises offers celebrations on the Thames throughout the festive period and into the New Year

by Jon Massey

I

t’s party season and that means sightseeing river boat operator City Cruises has a packed schedule of excursions throughout December. The firm’s managing director, Kyle Haughton, said: “Our Christmas cruises are more than just an experience; they are a journey into the heart of the holiday season, filled with joy, laughter, and the beauty of London’s iconic landmarks.

“These cruises provide a unique opportunity to savour the magic of Christmas while gliding along the Thames.

“With breathtaking views, sumptuous cuisine, and enchanting entertainment, our cruises offer a perfect blend of tradition and innovation.

“We invite everyone, whether you’re seeking a festive Christmas celebration or a memorable night out with a twist, to join us on the water and create cherished memories that will last a lifetime.”

So, just what’s on offer up and down the Thames over Christmas and New Year?

Christmas The mainstay of City Cruises’ schedule are its Christmas Lunch and Christmas Dinner trips – both running from December 1-18 (with certain exclusions for dinner sailings). Both depart from Westminster Pier.

The lunch cruise lasts three hours, includes a three-course traditional Christmas dinner and a welcome glass of sparkling wine with DJ entertainment and dancing. Prices start at £62 per adult.

The dinner cruise starts at £84 per adult with sailings at 7pm lasting four hours. Alongside a three-course meal, there will be live entertainment and dancing.

Both are ideal for team lunches or festive family gatherings, with the sights of London slipping past as the ship sails the Thames.

City Cruises also offers private

City Cruises offer guests an opportunity to explore the sights and landmarks of London from the Thames hire of its vessels to accommodate larger parties or events.

Then there’s December 25 itself, with the firm offering two Christmas Day cruises. Its lunch trip (from £145 per adult) lasts three and a quarter hours and includes a traditional four-course dinner, a welcome glass of sparkling wine, festive entertainment and carols.

There’s also a one-hour sightseeing cruise with commentary departing at a range of times.

Prices start at £27, under-5s go free.

Scan this code for more about Christmas trips with City Cruises

We invite everyone, whether you’re seeking a festive celebration or a memorable night out, to join us on the water and create memories Kyle Haughton, City Cruises

New Year With London the epicentre of New Year’s Eve celebrations in the UK, demand for cruises on the Thames to experience the festivities and watch the fireworks, is high.

City Cruises offers a wide selection of options ranging in price from £245 to £499 per adult.

There are six options available including a premium five-hour gala dinner cruise with live music and dancing. All offer views of the fireworks from the water and refreshments, with most including either live entertainment or DJ sets. Sailings are from Tower Pier.

The company also offers a Thamesjet experience for £369 per adult, which includes a speedboat ride on the Thames, a celebration hamper for two and a VIP grandstand position to take in the fireworks.

Full listings for City Cruises’ New Year’s Eve options can be found online.

For more information or to make a booking go to cityexperiences.com

Scan this code for more about New Year’s Eve trips with City Cruises

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Party Season Enjoy a festive set menu or bottomless dumplings for New Year’s Eve as Ping Pong goes Merrily On High over party season - P36

further afield

trips in York and Poole In addition to excursions in London, City Cruises is also running festive trips in Poole and York.

Its Sail With Santa Poole Cruise offers a leisurely trip around Brownsea Island and the Sandbanks Peninsula with Father Christmas on board, over various dates in December. There’s also a Christmas Party option.

In York, the brand is running Christmas Nights Afloat on the River Ouse from November 18 with a two-course meal and festive songs. There are also Festive Sightseeing Cruises with commentary available.

Go to cityexperiences.com

Scan this code to find out more about City Cruises range of trips

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£35

Cost per head of the festive set menu at Ping Pong, available in all its branches including St Katherine Docks in east London

how Ping Pong is putting food and drink at the heart of its Christmas and New Year’s Eve packages

by Jon Massey

F Ping Pong’s festive set menu

don’t forget the

lavour” is the key word at Ping Pong over the festive season. The restaurant group is set to kick off its Christmas celebrations from November 14, catering for everything from lunch gatherings to larger parties.

The company, which has a waterside branch in St Katherine Docks, has created a selection of special dishes for diners to enjoy over the festive season.

Chilli Pork Tender Loin, marries the meat with a chilli marinade served on lettuce leaves and sprinkled with sesame seeds, thinly chopped spring onion and fresh chilli.

Chicken And Truffle features a thin wrapper filled with a blend of minced meat and aromatic truffle. Luxury Mushroom Dumpling, sees Chinese mushrooms cooked with Asian spices and wrapped in a purple beetroot pastry.

Then, for dessert, Chocolate Dorayaki comes in two fluffy golden pancakes with a chocolate ganache filling and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Ping Pong has also created a set menu for diners to enjoy, costing £35 per person. This features the following: NIBBLES Prawn crackers CRISPY Honey glazed spare ribs Crispy duck spring roll Vegetable spring rolls

Ping Pong’s St Katherine Docks restaurant

STEAMED Har gau Spicy vegetable dumpling Chicken and truffle dumplings Luxury mushroom dumpling Seafood sticky rice DESSERT Mini chocolate fondant Mini cheesecake The group’s bartenders have also been busy, partnering

Turned out nice: How Jon Hala in Jubilee Place is all set to get you looking your best for every possible festive bash - P38

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Party Season

The Ping Pong Merrily On High festive cocktail

Luxury Mushroom Dumplings at Ping Pong

Celebrate C hristmas at The Wharf’s hoest wine bar Mouth-Watering Dishes 450 Divine Wines | Outstanding Event Spaces Book your Christmas party now: events@humblegrape.co.uk Humble Grape Canary Wharf, 18-20 Mackenzie Walk, E14 4PH

with Vivir Tequila to create the limited edition Ping Pong Merrily On High. This includes an infusion of raspberry tea, mixed with cranberry juice, a dash of lime, and homemade agave-picante syrup, plus a touch of CBD oil and a candy cane.

This, or a selection of other mixed drinks such as the venue’s Lychee And Roses Martini, can fill its towering cocktail trees which hold 10 glasses and start at £65. CranMerry Shots are also available for £5 each or for £40 for 10.

For those who prefer not to celebrate Christmas, a range of set menus can be booked for tables of eight or more people, starting at £20 per person.

Ping Pong has branches across the capital and, as 2023 draws to a close, diners will be able to take full advantage of New Year’s Eve falling on a Sunday, with the company’s unlimited dumplings offer available at its Soho, St Katharine Docks, St Christopher’s Place and Southbank sites.

For £26.95 per person guests

get bottomless dumplings and can choose to add free flowing bubbly, wine or beer for £30 per head.

Ping Pong’s flagship Southbank branch will only be running this offer up until 1.30pm on the day because it then becomes the venue for the brand’s ticketed New Year’s Eve Party, which includes a live DJ until 2am.

Tickets cost £150 and include VIP access to an exclusive fireworks viewing area, a complimentary photobooth and a glass of bubbly at midnight to see in 2024.

The package also includes a dim sum set menu and an open bar until midnight for gold ticketholders.

For more information about these packages, special events or to make a festive booking go to pingpongdimsum.com Scan this code for more about festivities at Ping Pong

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4

Years since Jon Hala opened its doors in Canary Wharf this month

Chloe has created a cascade of soft waves for Christmas

making those

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

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Party Season

how Jon Hala in Jubilee Place is the ideal place to get prepared for a festive season party

by Jon Massey

W

e offer very sexy, sassy, voluminous, on-trend looks,” said Jon Hala, owner of his eponymous salon in Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Place mall. “The current fashion is that clients don’t want to look like a model on the cover of a magazine. They want that beachy-ness, the just dropped-out-of-bed look.”

As with so much in the hair and

Chloe Payne is style and colourist director at Jon Hala in Jubilee Place.

Having previously worked for Sean Hanna, she has eight years’ experience as a hair stylist and has spent her whole career working in Canary Wharf.

Challenged by Wharf Life to create a style fit for a festive Christmas party, she chose to showcase a head of soft waves to accentuate the model’s balayage highlights.

“With Jada, we started off with a wash and blow dry to make the hair nice and smooth and so that everything was sitting nicely,” said Chloe.

“Then I’ve used the tongs to create a lovely soft wave, going in all sorts of directions that make it move in a really natural way, while still looking structured.

“We didn’t want to do anything too glamorous, just a style that creates a bit of movement that’s perfect for the festive season. Everyone is loving waves at the moment.

“Balayage is very much in at the moment – it’s a low maintenance option that grows out very nicely and it’s great value.

“To do a colour treatment like this, it would take around three or four hours and then about 45 minutes for the blow dry and styling.

beauty world, however, a less structured, careless look takes serious work, skill and time to achieve.

“We can create any look here at the salon, catering for those who like to wear their hair down, up or even in a half-up do,” said Jon. “With Christmas parties very much returning to normal this year, it will be interesting to see what our clients are asking for.

“At the moment, the trend we’re seeing is that women want to have long, wavy, tousled hair – often worn in a balayage style. That means creating a soft fade of

lightness towards the tips with darker roots. It looks amazing and we to a lot of work with the wave tongs to make it sit perfectly.

“We also offer beauty services, including being the only salon on the Wharf to offer eyelash extensions with a cashmere classic full set available from £130. Clients can come here, get their lashes done, have a facial and then a blow-dry and that’s them ready for their night out.”

The salon, which is located on Jubilee Place’s main level opposite HSBC, close

to Marks And Spencer, offers a wide range of services and boasts a private VIP room. A ladies cut and blow dry starts at £75, with blow dries and styling available from £45.

You can find more information about the salon or make a booking online at jonhala.com

Scan this code to find out more about services offered by Jon Hala in Canary Wharf

We didn’t want to do anything too glamorous, just a style that creates a bit of movement that’s perfect for the festive season. Everyone is loving waves at the moment Chloe Payne, Jon Hala

Chloe Payne, challenged to create a look for the forthcoming festive party season in Canary Wharf, came up with soft waves to accentuate balayage highlights

“When clients come to us, what they want varies – and we offer many different options, including waves, big fancy blow dries or something straight and sleek, a bit more mature.

“We can recommend styles and that’s very much on a client-by-client basis because it depends on the shape of a person’s face and how they like to look and feel.

“I came into the industry through an apprenticeship and have been working in it for about eight years now, commuting into the Wharf from Kent. I love working in this area, it’s full of different people and there’s lots of opportunity here. Typically, our office clients come to us when they want to look nice and they are meeting people professionally.”

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

where would you like your brand to be seen

delivering to Docklands

15,000 copies every issue

Image by Victor Huang

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Wapping - Limehouse - Shadwell - Tower Hill

£25

Starting price for a standard ticket to the festival on the Sunday. Tickets for Friday and Saturday are from £30

The festival takes place from November 24-26

what’s on

at Tobacco Dock

things to do, places to go, people to see

in Wapping

Where?

The George Tavern Shadwell

GIG | Nightbus Expect breathy tales of small hours adventures and disasters from this Manchester trio, already selling out venues in the north and gigging in France.

Nov 2, 7.30pm, £11, thegeorgetavern.london Where?

Troxy Limehouse

merry making

how the Waitrose Winter Food And Drink Festival is gearing up for four sessions of seasonal flavour in Wapping

by Jon Massey

G

et into the Christmas spirit (literally if that’s your preferred tipple) with the Waitrose Winter Food And Drink Festival at Tobacco Dock in Wapping next month.

Held from November 24-26, the event promises opportunities to meet the supermarket’s suppliers, try their products and indulge in a little seasonal cheer with wines, spirits and beers all on offer.

There will be a Waitrose Christmas Room for food sampling, John Lewis tableware, demos with the brand’s wine

experts and masterclasses from its cookery school chefs. Oh, and there will also be a dedicated cheese room.

Over both Saturday sessions, visitors will be able to join DJ Nick Grimshaw and chef Angela Hartnett for a live instalment of their Waitrose podcast DISH. A Champagne bar will be available throughout the festival and there will be a mini golf course hosted by vodka brand Absolut – after all, who doesn’t play better after a shot or two?

Suitably refreshed and entertained, visitors will also be able to visit the festival’s extensive gift shop, aimed at helping people get ahead with their Christmas shopping.

The festival takes place over four sessions, 5pm-9pm on the Friday and Saturday plus 11am3pm sessions at the weekend.

Tickets start at £25 for the Sunday with other sessions from £30 per person.

The price includes entry to the event and a goody bag to take away when fully sated and an Uber home beckons.

Go to tobaccodocklondon.com for more information about the event or waitrosefestivals.com

Scan this code to find out more about the festival

GIG | Oliver Tree The American musician and performer presents, in his words, “a movie, TV show, concert and broadway play all in one” as he performs Alone In A Crowd.

Nov 9, 7pm, £37.80, troxy.co.uk Where?

Half Moon Theatre Wapping

STAGE | Hot Orange Two girls meet on a scorched basketball court, shoot hoops and discover shared obsessions. But will faith and dark reactions get in the way? Suitable for 13+.

Nov 9-14, Dec 2, times vary, £7, halfmoon.org.uk

don’t forget

Come rain or shine, Wapping Docklands Market at Brussels Wharf offers a wide range of produce, crafts, street food and German beer brewed in East Anglia every Saturday from 10am until 4pm. Expect live music too themarketnetwork.co.uk Scan this code to find out more about the market and see the kinds of traders represented on its stalls want more? @wharfwhispers

42

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

what’s on

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

The Space Isle Of Dogs

how an east London couple created Naru Naru to spread positivity and are growing the brand

5

Naru Naru characters created by Shannon and Angelo as they work to develop their brand – Blue Naru was the original

The current crop of Naru Naru characters

by Jon Massey

STAGE | Newbie This fast-paced climate change comedy sees a first day drone pilot lose his whole unit and embark on a search mission that could change everything.

Nov 7-18, 7.30pm (3pm matinee), £8-£20, space.org.uk Where?

Poplar Union Isle Of Dogs

EVENT | Morning Walk And Stretch Stretch coach Nicole Buning will offer guided stretches during the course of this walk, which sets off from and returns to Poplar Bakehouse.

Nov 3, 7.30am-9am, free, poplarunion.com Where?

The Space Isle Of Dogs

STAGE | Alex And Maggie Go Ghost Hunting This new play is set in a sleepy Yorkshire town as a brother and sister attempt to investigate the paranormal in an old school hall.

Oct 31-Nov 4, 8pm, £15, space.org.uk

flash back

Organised by Craft Central-based artist Carolina Kollmann– whose work is pictured above – The Forge Art Fair is set to take place at the charity’s Westferry Road base from October 20-26. Find out more online forgeartfair.com Scan this code to read Wharf Life’s interview with Carolina and discover the full programme of events want more? @wharfwhispers

I

t all started with a doodle of a dinosaur. It was as a pupil at St Angela’s And St Bonaventure’s sixth form in Newham, that graphic designer Angelo a essar rst be an dra in a cute little cartoon character. Back then he had spikes down his spine and forearms like a T-Rex. “My teacher didn’t really like it be a se it asn t traditional art – painting portraits or things like that,” he said. Things could well have come to a rest there. Angelo went on to study graphic design at a ensbo rne ni ersit in Greenwich, going on to launch a reelan e areer rst be ore moving on to work for Savills estate agency. Today he’s senior creative and visual designer at a en esara b t alon it his partner and former schoolmate Shannon Hayes, he’s also something else.

The couple were living in East Ham when lockdown struck and de ided to d st off n elo s old character. Freshly fashioned into a narwhal, they started chronicling Naru Naru’s adventures, posting cartoons on Instagram with positive messages.

“We decided to give him a a eli t and a bit o a reboot said Shannon, who did a foundation o rse in art at a ensbo rne be ore o pletin a de ree in jewellery at the London College Of Fashion.

“The idea was to draw him as a cute little character, to spread a little bit o o and eer everyone up. Before we knew it, we had thousands of followers worldwide, so we decided to eep oin . t as all abo t positivity and posting these sweet little drawings and last year, we de ided to e pand a bit and be an making some merchandise.”

That journey has seen Shannon leave her role as a teaching assistant to concentrate on developin t e brand ll ti e ro the couple’s home on the Isle Of o s. it s pin bad es and noteboo s in t eir ran e ar ar as been a it at e ents s as MCM Comic Con, Hyper Japan and Brand Licensing Europe and t e o ple are st abo t to la n their latest range of plushie toys.

from doodle to

The latest Naru Naru posts

Plushie toys

on Instagram

Attending MCM Comic Con

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

43

Isle Of Dogs - Poplar - Blackwall

They are these strange little narwhal characters – they are based on the whales but have arms and legs so that they can do more things Angelo Ramessar, Naru Naru

“We were so hyped up. When e did t e rst o i on e had a few people who followed s on nsta ra o a e to see s b t ost people ad no idea o e or ar ar ere t e didn’t know anything about s b t it resonated it t e straight away,” said Shannon. e pl s ies ere in off t e s el es. e no a e a ne i pro ed pl s ie and e re al a s tr in to i pro e e er t in e do. e a se e did so ell initiall e an rein est ba into t e a e t e loo e en better and or on ore er andise. e p raded to s should be on the website at the end o o e ber. e o ple bot dra ar ar and a e no e panded t e brand to e ara ters. ildren s boo is in prod tion and t e e also ad s ess li ensin t e brand to pro e t i ni erse. t all started be a se e anted to spread so e positi e essa es said n elo. e are these strange little narwhal ara ters t e are based on t e ales b t t e a e ar s and le s be a se t e loo te and so t at t e an do ore t in s.

“Naru Naru has gone through ario s iterations t e li bs a e ot bi er so t e an do t in s like play the guitar. e e alread ritten t e ain stor or t e boo i entres on t e ara ters olle tin spirit r stals. t s t e tale o a illain o is lo ed p in a r stal e s bein reed o er ti e and to reseal i ba in e spirit r stals le t b a in st be olle ted.

“I would say to anyone who eels li e t e ant to reate t eir o n ara ter t at t e s o ld o on t is o rne . t s an a a in e perien e and it s so et in o an be reall pro d o to or on a ara ter o reated and to a e o r o n prod t. o an still or a ll ti e ob and de elop so et in o tr l belie e in en o and lo e. eel li e e er one s o ld be li e l e ar e s bra e eno to a e t at p and do it. e belie es e an do an t in i e p ts is ind to it. e also

belie es in e er one else and t eir abilit to do ate er t e ant to do in life. e ade no one ro at e ere doin at rst. e ere doin it or n on nsta ra and people were saying it was great.

That was enough for us.

“We used to think when we rea ed ollo ers t at e d a e so e pin bad es t en so e T-shirts. en e too t e leap to a e so e pl s ie to s and t e sold o ti ediatel at o i on.

Shannon added: “We try to a e t e posts on nsta ra as relateable as possible so e er one an see t e sel es in Naru Naru. t i t be t in s li e lying in bed and dropping his phone on his head. Or there’s one where he’s holding up a si n sa in o an do it . ne o o r ost pop lar ones is i an in on a little tree bran sa in ‘Hang in there’.” e o ple said t eir ara ters appealed to people of all ages, it t e ost pop lar posts and er andise eat rin ee iness or iolen e. spe iall at o i on t ere s an a dien e or so et in reall te doin so et in not so te said annon. e a se e a es a broad a e ran e in o r ans ar ar is in so e a s nostal i or ad lts t e ids st lo e t e pl s ie to s. e li e to reate t in s to ater for all our followers and we also lo e to ollo trends and attra t new people.

“We do work really well to et er o r personalities at and e bo n e off ea ot er it ideas or posts and prod ts. n elo added t s st a ood ti e part n part nn . e throw silly ideas around about what we should post. e bot lo e li in on t e sland at ore o ld o as for? There’s lots of inspiration all aro nd s it s a er pea e l pla e to li e and or . e o ple s i ediate priorit is t e prod tion o t eir stor book, with both agreeing that the lti ate ai o ld be a s o or o ie to e plore t e ar Naru world in greater depth. ntil t en e pe t to see plent ore ro t ese little reat res as t e brand ro s and de elops.

For more information about Naru Naru or to buy merchandise, go to naru-naru.co.uk or follow @narunaruofficial on Insta

Scan this code to find out more about Naru Naru

The Isle Of Dogs residents create Naru Naru together. Posts often start with Shannon sketching ideas on her phone with Angelo working up the final versions and adding animation

44

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

Advertising Directory - Classified be part of the Canary Wharf conversation To advertise here call Jess Maddison on 07944 000 144 or email jess.maddison@wharf-life.com

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The premises are situated at: The Grandstand Bar, Canary Wharf, Canada Square Park, London, E14 5AB. The licensable activities and timings are: Supply of alcohol: Sun-Tue 10:00-23:00 hours Wed-Sat 10:00-00:00 hours Late night refreshment:

Thurs-Sat 23:00-00:00 hours

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Anyone who wishes to make representations regarding this application must give notice to: Licensing and Safety, Environmental Health and Trading Standards, 4th Floor Tower Hamlets Town Hall, 160 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1BJ Website: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk Tel: 020 7364 5008 Representations must be received no later than: 02/11/2023 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).

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, nor endorses products or services alluded to by such material

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

45

Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey

£12

Price of a ticket to see The Light Princess at The Albany

The Light Princess is set to run at The Albany from

what’s on

December 2-24 with two

things to do, places to go, people to see

shows most days

Where?

The Albany Deptford

KIDS | PEA Discover the story of fairytale enthusiast Tiffany who can’t sleep because of the things under her bed including wise Memory Foam. Ages 4-10 Nov 5, 1pm, 3pm, £8.50, thealbany.org.uk Where?

Sands Films Studio Rotherhithe

trying out

how LAStheatre’s The Light Princess promises a gentle exploration of numerous themes for the festive season

by Jon Massey

T

he Albany will be hosting a reimagining of a classic fairy tale, complete with upbeat electronic score, puppetry, bears and turnips for kids aged 3-7 this festive season.

Set in a snowy, wintry landscape, The Light Princess is set to run from December 2-24, with performances on most days at 11am and 2pm.

The show follows the tale of a prin ess o oats and er mother, the queen, who wants to keep her little girl’s feet on the ground.

Her daughter, however, has ot er ideas and st ants to free.

Created by LAStheatre from East Kent, the show promises gentle explorations of individuality, friendship, creativity and the social model of disability.

The company develops its shows with local communities and primary schools via participation projects aimed at allowing those taking part to contribute to the creative process.

The Light Princess, for example, included input from Tidemill Academy in Deptford, Snaps in Stockton and Village Primary in Thornaby as well as Garlinge Primary and Drapers Mills in Margate.

There will be a relaxed performance on December 20 at 11am preceded by a touch tour with families able to explore the set and get their hands on the props and costumes, starting at 10.15am.

This can be booked via email to reception@thealbany.org.uk.

There are also two BSL interpreted shows on December 17.

Tickets for the hour-long show cost £12 and can be booked online.

Go to thealbany.org.uk for more information

Scan this code to find out more about The Light Princess

GIG | David Gordon + Tenor Madness Piano meets bass drums, harpsichord and viola da gamba in this tribute to Elizabethan improviser William Byrd in his 400th anniversary year.

Nov 17, 7.30pm, donations, sandsmusic.eventive.org Where?

The Albany Deptford

STAGE | Black Sheep Livia Kojo Alour promises to take her audience on a journey from overcoming institutional racism to leaning into racial vulnerability in this new show.

Nov 10, 7.30pm, £12, thealbany.org.uk

flash back

This is Sean Collins, CEO of Uber Boat By Thames Clippers, with the river bus service’s latest addition to its fleet. Earth Clipper cuts CO2 emissions by 90% as the company targets net zero by 2050 and is in service now thamesclippers.com Scan this code to read Wharf Life’s interview with Sean about Earth Clipper and electric ferries want more? @wharfwhispers

46

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

take a breath

by David Lefebvre Sell

£10

Cost of entry to see the exhibition at the Royal Observatory Greenwich

Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty’s winning photograph – Andromeda, Unexpected – captures a huge plasma arc beside the swirling galaxy

What roles do you habitually play in relationships and is there a way to step outside them?

A

common problem that tends to bring people to therapy is the tendency to repeat certain dynamics in relationships. A powerful tool to understand conflict in relationships is called The Drama Triangle, a concept developed by Stephan Karpman. The three roles of the triangle are Persecutor, Rescuer and Victim.

The Persecutor’s position is: “It’s all your fault”.

They tend to be superior, critical, angry and blaming. The Rescuer’s position is: “Let me help”.

They tend to be compassionate and feel guilty but at the expense of taking responsibility for their own needs.

The Victim’s position is: “Poor me”. They tend to feel powerless, ashamed and have difficulty taking responsibility for their own suffering.

It’s important to note that these three positions are comfortable roles that anyone might slip into, depending on the situation. Obviously, there are situations The Drama where someone is Triangle helps us to an actual victim, or a persecutor, but The understand how we Drama Triangle helps us to understand how we might be drawn into might be drawn into relationship roles these roles repeatedly.

I’ll give you an repeatedly example. Let’s say we David Lefebvre Sell have someone with a tendency to play the victim – we’ll call him Chad.

Chad can’t hold down a job because all his bosses have been out to get him, the work has been too hard, or whatever. One day Chad meets Trixie. She has a tendency to play the rescuer with men. And so begins a dynamic whereby she plays the rescuer to his constant victim – except when she tries to gently suggest that Chad should get off the PlayStation and find a job.

Then she becomes the persecutor. And around, and around we go. Dynamics like this continue in relationships because people are unable or unwilling to step outside of these roles. So what’s your favourite role?

David Lefebvre Sell is a Greenwich-based psychotherapist and Yoga instructor who teaches at Third Space in Canary Wharf Follow @davetheyogi on Twitter and Instagram and @DavidLefebvreSellYogaAndPsychotherapy on FB Scan this code for information about David’s work as a transpersonal counsellor and psychotherapist

Taken near Nancy, France, August 2–November 1, 2022

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

47

Greenwich - Peninsula - Woolwich

what’s on

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

Fireworks Factory Woolwich Works

how the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Astronomy Photographer Of The Year competition celebrates space

by Jon Massey

T

he star of the show at the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s Astronomy Photographer Of The Year exhibition is, undoubtedly, space itself. Now in its 15th year, the contest celebrates the work of the astronomers, enthusiasts and stargazers working to capture images of the heavens, with a top prize of £10,000.

The 2023 winner was recently announced as Andromeda, Unexpected, an image of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) by Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty. Their photograph captured a new discovery – a huge plasma arc beside the galaxy which scientists are now collaborating globally to investigate as possibly the closest

such structure to the Earth in the Universe. Their image is currently on show, alongside the winners in 10 other categories at the Royal Observatory, with the exhibition set to remain in place until January 7.

In addition to galaxies, photographers could submit images of aurorae, the moon, the sun, people and space, planets, comets and asteroids, skyscapes and stars and nebulae. Prizes were also awarded for best newcomer, innovation and young photographer.

Dr Ed Bloomer, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich said: “Once again, entrants to the competition have conspired to make things difficult for the judges, with a flood of highquality images covering an amazing range of targets.

“The highlight of this year is perhaps a number of genuine

discoveries being imaged, but we’ve had wonderful efforts in every category and I’m particularly pleased to see the continued strength of our young entrants and those eligible for The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer.

“It has led to some intense debate amongst the judges as we try to choose the very best of the best – but we don’t mind.”

Held in association with BBC Sky At Night magazine, the exhibition of the winners costs £10 to enter.

For more information about the exhibition or to book tickets go to rmg.co.uk

GIG | Games That Byte This concert of horror video game music features the London Video Game Orchestra (who else?) as they celebrate Bioshock, Dead Space and the like.

Nov 11, 6pm, from £18, woolwich.works Where?

Indigo At The O2 Greenwich Peninsula

GIG | Blockparty NYC vs LDN Fun Loving Criminal Huey Morgan goes up against the Jungle Brothers with David Rodigan and more in tow. Expect a decidedly New York vibe on the night.

Nov 17, 8pm, from £35, theo2.co.uk Where?

Greenwich Theatre Greenwich

Scan this code to find out more about the exhibition

Neighbours by Paul Montague was highly commended in the Galaxies category

QUIZ | The Mess Around By Gutter Street This quiz night for creatives promises games, live music and prizes with poetry and performance in the room. A place for like-minded people to connect.

Nov 4, 7pm, £8 per person, greenwichtheatre.org.uk

flash back

As Antony Costa, formerly of Blue, joins the cast of Mamma Mia! The Party, we catch up with the boy band star and Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA to talk music, Greek heritage and how the show captures fans’ imaginations mammamiatheparty.co.uk Taken in Bendleby Ranges, South Australia, May 26–28, 2022

Scan this code to read Wharf Life’s interview with Björn and Antony, marking the singer’s arrival at The O2 want more? @wharfwhispers

48

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

70

Maximum seated capacity of Husk’s new Canning Town taproom, which will be realised when the brewer expands its team

how independent craft beer brewery Husk has opened up a new tap room as it grows and expands its operations

by Jon Massey

P

ower is the thing on the mind of Christiaan Van Der Vyver. The co-owner of Husk Brewing Ltd is a laid back, jovial man, but there’s at least mild frustration that he’s currently unable to make beer.

Formerly located in a unit nder t e il erto n a o er the business has had a challenging few years. Founded in Royal Docks in 2015, it built a passionate local following and had upgraded its taproom with a mezzanine and per anent ood offerin st in time for the pandemic to shut everything down.

Then the spur of North Woolwich Road outside its door was closed for work on the Silvertown nnel s ttin off r ial footfall and custom from passing cyclists.

“We thought it would just be for one year and we could have survived that – but it turned out it was six and then the location didn’t make sense any more,” said Christiaan, who runs the business with his wife Marta.

Then some good fortune.

The couple were increasingly sceptical about full relocation to The Factory Project because of its comparatively remote location on the Tate & Lyle site in North Woolwich. However, the scheme’s CEO, Nick Hartwright, revealed he’d taken on commercial spaces at Brunel Street Works right next to Canning Town station.

It was settled. The brewery would open at The Factory Project and supply a new taproom on a bustling street in a densely populated location.

A few weeks ago, Husk opened its new taproom at the location and is very much looking to the future.

The only catch so far is that, until the National Grid hooks

We make great beer but we also wanted to do food that complements it and burgers are a perfect choice for that Christiaan Van Der Vyver, Husk

up a high voltage power supply, the brewery can’t make any beer, so it’s currently having to buy in kegs from elsewhere. Delays notwithstanding, though, the early signs are very positive and there’s a lot more to come.

“There have been a lot of delays – but in the end we love the new taproom,” said Christiaan. “It’s a big, open space and we’re running it at the moment as a 40-seater while we build up a bigger team.

Then we can bring that up to 70 seats.

“We’ve got regulars coming almost every day and we have people who have followed us from our previous location. We’ve always been a community-minded business and we’ve got to know everybody in the area.

“There are some amazing people here, very diverse – we attract a really mixed crowd from people in their 20s to their 70s.

“We love this community and it’s interesting to see how it’s growing and changing. When I rst a e ere none o t ese residential buildings existed. It was just dilapidated old warehouses.

It’s been transformed – it seems like it takes only a year to build a tower these days.”

With the neighbouring Brunel Street Works marketing suite set to be removed, Husk will have the opportunity to expand into landscaped outdoor space with plans for an American-style smoker. It’s also expected that TfL will open an access point to Canning Town station that’s practically at the venue’s back door, ensuring even greater footfall.

For now, though, the focus is on serving up pints, with Marta heading operations in the kitchen to produce sustaining burgers and portions of fries, both with a multitude of toppings.

“We make great beer but we also wanted to do food,” said Christiaan, who came to the UK from South Africa in 1996 and used to run a nightclub and late night restaurant in South ensin ton. e anted to offer something that complements beer, and burgers are a perfect choice for that. We buy all our meat from small producers who rear rare breeds of British cows, which are allowed to graze naturally.

“For our patties, we mix in 5% bone marrow to help intensify the a o r o t e eat and t e i iness. e an r n at a lo er pro t margin, making sure the prices are reasonable by subsidising our

Husk Brewing Ltd co-owner Christiaan Van Der Vyver says the new taproom is already getting very busy as local residents discover what it’s offering

turning on the

The unit Husk has taken is part of Projekt’s Brunel Street Project, run by the same organisation as The Silver Building and The Factory Project in Royal Docks The taproom’s exterior is decorated with mascots from the brewer’s selection of locally made beers

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

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

49

Royal Docks - Canning Town

Husk’s new taproom can also be hired for events

Serving up beer, burgers, fries and games, Husk has taken over a ground floor unit at Brunel Street Works in Canning Town

sales with what we make on the beer.”

While Husk is currently buying in tipples from other craft producers, Christiaan can’t wait to et a in t e st ff a ain a in acquired extra capacity from the demise of Three Sods Brewery in Hackney. e taproo is er a temple to its creations, with mascots of beers such as Dock Life Pale Ale, Lockdown Sour and eli er a aison adornin its windows. ndependent bre ers a e ad a tough time lately, with Brexit and a changing marketplace seeing many close their doors.

With strong demand at the new site o e er ristiaan is optimistic.

“The whole market has changed, but making sure you’re the right size has always been a tricky one,” he said. “Before, they used to say that you should get as big as you can, but the problem is that if you get a 10 or 20 barrel brewery, you would need to shift 200 kegs just from one batch of one beer.

“If you’re selling to craft pubs, then they want a range, so they’ll only take a couple of kegs of one beer. If you’re smaller, like us, you can brew more styles and it’s easier to sell the product.

“It’s also a problem if you’re selling to mainstream pubs because many are tied to breweries. If they’re worried about their targets, then they will close their lines to smaller producers to ensure they hit their targets for their two-year contracts. ese da s o a e to a e a taproo to s r i e and t en it becomes about how many sites you can open.

“When we’re up and running at The Factory Project, we’ll be able to produce 8,000 pints a week, so then we’ll start looking for a site for another taproom. That’s really what we want to do. e d lo e t at to be lose b be a se e li e in ritannia illa e in o al o s and lo e that I can cycle to work.”

With craft beer breweries increasingly being swallowed up b bi b siness t in ea er town, Meantime and Camden it s re res in to nd one t at s making it work in east London. ● Husk is currently on the loo o t or staff in l din es for its taproom in Canning Town. onta t details are a ailable online.

Go to huskbrewing.com for more information

Scan this code to find out more about Husk in Canning Town

what’s on

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

Excel Royal Victoria Dock

EVENT | Plant Based World Expo Targeting buyers and food and beverage professionals from across the retail and hospitality sectors, this is the show if you want to avoid animal products.

Nov 15-16, 10am-5pm, registration, excel.london Where?

Excel Royal Victoria Dock

EVENT | World Travel Market Anyone who’s anyone in the international leisure travel community will be in east London for this global expo – 184 countries represented.

Nov 6-8, 9.30am, registration, excel.london Where?

UEL Canning Town

EDUCATION | Open Day Explore the university’s three campuses including its facilities on the edge of Royal Albert Dock. Staff will be on hand to showcase courses and amenities.

Nov 11, 10am-3pm, free, uel.ac.uk

booking now

Marking a century of entertainment, the Disney100 exhibition at Excel in Royal Docks is now booking into January. Visitors can expect 10 themed galleries exploring the history and growth of the Disney empire disney.co.uk Scan this code to find out more about Disney100 or to book tickets for the exhibition in east London want more? @wharfwhispers

50

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

£10

Starting price for tickets to see Jack And The Beanstalk at Theatre Royal Stratford East from November 18 until January 6 Nathan Kiley, also known as drag performer Topsie Redfern, will play dame Milky Linda in Jack And The Beanstalk

making the magic grow

Wharf Life Oct 18-Nov 1, 2023 wharf-life.com

51

Stratford - Bow - Hackney Wick

what’s on

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

Copper Box Stratford

SPORT | Billie Jean King Cup Play-offs See GB and Swedish tennis players face off as they compete for a place in the 2024 finals. The Brits face an uphill battle having lost to France in April.

Nov 11-12, times vary, from £10, lta.org.uk Where?

London Aquatics Centre Stratford Nikhil Singh Rai will play the part of Jack in Stratford East’s panto this year

EVENT | Marathon Swims Last chance to sign up for a 1k, 5k or 10k dip – includes charity places in support of the Alzheimer’s Society. Spectators can book in too.

Nov 11, times vary, from £14.75, marathonswims.com

how Jack And The Beanstalk at Theatre Royal Stratford East promises a giant romp through Splatford and its magical mud

by Jon Massey

I

n case the extensive festive party feature in the middle of the paper wasn’t a big enough clue, it’s getting to be the time of year to start making plans for the Christmas season. Coincidentally, Theatre Royal Stratford East recently announced the cast for its latest pantomime – one of the big three shows in this part of London, alongside those at Greenwich Theatre and Hackney Empire.

Jack And The Beanstalk is set to run from November 18 until January 6 at the venue. It will star Nathan Kiley – known for his drag cabaret alter ego Topsie Redfern – as the dame, Milky Linda, alongside comedian, actor and writer Lucy Frederick as Flesh Creep and Nikhil Singh Rai in the titular role of Jack.

The show features book and lyrics

by Succession and Killing Eve writer Anna Jordan, plus lyrics and music from panto veteran Robert Hyman.

It’s set to welcome audiences to Splatford, where Jack lives with his mum, Milky Linda, and their cow, Winnie The Moo. The inhabitants are plagued, however, by the high rents and pollution of Giant Belch who

dominates the sky above the town alongside hateful henchwoman, Flesh Creep. Enter a handful of beans, an unexpected beanstalk from magical mud and a journey of discovery and heroics for Jack.

“I’ve never written a panto before,” said Anna. “Right at the beginning I put together a panto manifesto which I shared with the creative team.

“It stated that, because panto is er o ten people s rst e perien e o theatre, it doesn’t make it as important as an ordinary play, it makes it more important. It also stated that every child or young person that comes to our show is a VIP. We really hope they enjoy what we’ve made as much as we’ve enjoyed making it.”

Robert added: ““It’s incredible

Panto is very often people’s first experience of theatre – that makes it more important than an ordinary play. Every child that comes is a VIP Anna Jordan, Theatre Royal Stratford East

to think that this is my 25th year making panto at Stratford East.

“But the truth is nobody does it like Stratford, with its unique blend of original music and unexpected surprises. It truly is a show for absolutely everybody. It’s what Christmas is all about and, for me, it wouldn’t be Christmas without it.”

The cast also includes Max Gill in t e role o ill a anna effre as Winnie The Moo, Billy Lynch as Junior and Eli London and Jamie Tait in the ensemble. The show is directed

by Denzel Westley-Sanderson, who said: “I’m very much looking forward to working with this incredible cast and creative team as we deliver a fresh and bold retelling of this iconic story” Performance times vary, with selected shows scheduled with sign language, audio description, captions and with a relaxed atmosphere to allow as many people as possible to enjoy the story. Tickets start at £10.

Go to stratfordeast.com for more information or to make a booking

Scan this code for more about Jack And The Beanstalk

Where?

Stratford Picturehouse Stratford

SCREEN | Don Quixote Live from the Royal Opera House, see the Royal Ballet bring this 19th century production to life, as Carlos Acosta’s exuberant epic fills the stage with action.

Nov 7, 7.15pm, £22, picturehouses.com

see this

The Yard Theatre in Hackney Wick is set to host the premiere of The Flea, a play that unpacks and unpicks the Cleveland Street scandal including possible Royal visits to a homosexual brothel in Fitzrovia theyardtheatre.co.uk Scan this code for more information about the production or to book tickets for shows until November 18 want more? @wharfwhispers

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Crossword - Sudoku

Sudoku

Take a break from that phone How to play To complete Sudoku, fill 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 find more Sudoku puzzles and a wide selection of other brainteasers available to download for free at puzzles.ca last issue’s solution Oct 4-18

Notes

crossword beating the

Cryptic

Notes

What to make when it’s sunny (3) 3, 19, 14 acr. Ursine conviviality – don’t let them see you! (5,5,6) 4. Make the governor stand out with me (6) 5. Why I should confuse 19 across with a curry? (7) 6. Sounds like you use a grainier wood for violins (9) 7. Pie and port get mixed up in my inappropriate behaviour (11) 8. Beneath the money, but there’s never enough! (11) 12. Unkind life may be messed up but is pro table 15. A stake in new arrivals might be confusing (7) 17. Optical permission to thread a lace? (6) 19. See 3 dn.

21. A stitch saved, but one extra? (3)

1. Playwright (11) 9. Cardinal error (3) 10. Northern city (9) 11. Musical drama (5) 13. Make void (7) 14. Ask (6) 16. More nervous (6) 18. Satanic (7) 19. Vision (5) 20. Those favouring relatives (9) 21. In the past (3) 22. State of opposition (11)

Down

2. Female chicken (3) 3. African country (5) 4. Cutting wood (6) 5. Facilitated (7) 6. Selling (9) 7. Amazing (11) 8. Dried out (11) 12. Wrapped round (9) 15. Prickly plant (7) 17. Pursues (6) 19. Woman’s name (5) 21. Donkey (3) Set by Everden

Quick Solution

2.

System errors make keen photographers (11) 9. A month, perhaps? (3) 10. Roman round the bend makes a dog breed (9) 11. Vintage cars are there for the tennis? (5) 13. Certain leg joints native to America, we hear (7) 14. See 3 dn 16, 19. A snake’s movie satire on religion (4,2,5) 18. Carelessly painted – it’s a mess (7) 19. See 16 20. Stair-like symbols mean the Isle of Man (9) 21. Neck and neck – couldn’t be more apt! (3) 22. My vocal at the end having emotion (11)

Across: 1 Shakespeare; 9 Sin; 10 Newcastle; 11 Opera; 13 Nullify; 14 Invite; 16 Edgier; 18 Hellish; 19 Sight; 20 Nepotists; 21 Ago; 22 Adverseness.

Down: 2 Hen; 3 Kenya; 4 Sawing; 5 Enabled; 6 Retailing; 7 Astonishing; 8 Dehydration; 12 Enveloped; 15 Thistle; 17 Chases; 19 Susan; 21 Ass.

1.

Across

Cryptic Solution

Down

Quick

Across: 1 Shutterbugs; 9 May; 10 Dobermann; 11 Rally; 13 Shawnee; 14 See 3 dn; 16, 19 Life Of Brian; 18 Inaptly; 19 See 16; 20 Triskelia; 21 Tie; 22 Sensitising.

Down: 2 Hay; 3, 19, 14 Acr Teddy Bears Picnic; 4 Emboss; 5 Biryani; 6 Guarnieri; 7 Impropriety; 8 Underfunded; 12 Lucrative; 15 Intakes; 17 Eyelet; 19 See 16 acc; 21 Ten

Across

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

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Training for life

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