Wharf Life, Sept 6-20, 2023

Image by Matt Grayson

WEDNESDAY 27.09.23

Serenity Sips: Navigating Wharf Wellness through Cocktails

4 – 5pm

Feels Like June, 15 Water Street

Professional mixologists will unveil the secrets of crafting 3 low or non-alcoholic cocktails during this masterclass event.

Third Space: Yoga & Pergola on the Wharf

5.45 – 7pm

Crossrail Place Roof Garden

Enjoy an extra special 45-minute Vinyasa yoga class led by Third Space expert instructor Trina Sutcliffe. Afterwards, head to Pergola on the Wharf for a complimentary drink from a specially created menu.

THURSDAY 28.09.23

FRIDAY 29.09.23

Dip ‘N’ Sip

7.45 – 8.45am Middle Dock Whether you’re new to open water swimming or a pro, take a dip in Canary Wharf’s popular outdoor swimming spot, Middle Dock. Postswim, head to Caravan for a free smoothie or juice.

Barry’s Outdoors

12.00 – 12.50pm

Canada Square Park

Barry’s, The Best Workout In The World hosts an exclusive workout on the sand of our pop-up beach volleyball court in Canada Square Park.

Rooftop Boxing with Sweat BXR

8 – 9am

Crossrail Place Roof Garden

Rise and shine with BXR for a knockout morning rooftop boxing class! Afterwards enjoy a post-class breakfast pot from Fresh Fitness Food.

Intro to Padel Tennis

2 – 3.30pm

Padium, Bank Street Park

SATURDAY 30.09.23

Sound Journey with King Yin

6 – 7.30pm

Mandala Lab, Union Square

Warm up the body and connect with your breath, this Sound Journey will encourage insights, re ections and inspiration.

Mindful Eating Supper Club

6 – 7.30pm

Gallio, Cabot Place

Listen to wellness coach Jesus Agudo at Gallio’s Mediterranean healthy supper club.

An intro to Summer Rolls: at mallow Canary Wharf

12.30 – 1.20pm

mallow, 12 Park Drive

Learn how to make Vietnamese summer rolls with the mallow team. Once you’ve nished making your batch of summer rolls, you can enjoy them in the class or take them home for later.

Spin to Win Pop-Up with Nuf eld Health

All day Canada Place

Play the interactive game which offers you the chance to win either a 2 or 3-day pass for Nuf eld Health.

Skin Retreat with Bobbi Brown - Makeup Masterclass

5.30 – 7.30pm

Pedler, One Canada Square

Enjoy a private masterclass and Q&A with Bobbi Brown’s senior Pro artist Warren Dowdall. Discover steps to creating a fresh, natural looking makeup look.

Open Heart, Open Voice with King Yin

6 – 7.30pm

Mandala Lab, Union Square

Liberate your heart and voice with movement, breath, sounding & mantra singing.

Cork & Canvas

12 – 1.30pm

Crossrail Place Roof Garden

Unleash your creativity with this fun and therapeutic acrylic painting session whilst sipping on drinks from Pergola. No previous painting experience necessary and there will be a guide to help you.

Barry’s HIIT Workout

1.45 – 2.45pm

The Red Room, Level -2 Crossrail Place

Experience the most fun you’ve ever had working out in Barry’s Red Room.

Learn the core rules, scoring system and techniques of Padel Tennis from the experts at Padium, followed by a social match. All

Kids Yoga with Wee Movers

2:30 – 3.30pm

Crossrail Place Roof Garden

A playful, energetic children’s dance and yoga class which includes gentle stretches, dance techniques, storytelling and adventures.

Sound Journey with King Yin

6 – 7.30pm

Mandala Lab, Union Square

Warm up the body and connect with your breath, this Sound Journey will encourage insights, re ections and inspiration.

Where? Union Square Wood Wharf

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Welcome to the 96th issue of Wharf Life. It’s back to business and that means making plans – our Party Season feature is all about helping you get ahead in the race to secure the best festive bookings before they get snapped up. Then kick back with a Third Space Sound Bath or watch some ballet, it’s your choice..

VISIT | Mandala Lab

Billed as a place where emotions can become wisdom, explore this sensory installation to stimulate your mind. Opens until 8pm on Thursdays. Sept 16-Nov 25, noon-6pm , free, canarywharf.com

Where?

Museum Of London

Docklands West India Quay

KIDS

| Stories From The Sea

Aimed at under 5s, join storyteller Wendy Shearer for a session of Caribbean folktales with music, colourful props and plenty of songs. Sept 27, 10.30am, 11.30am, free, museumo ondon.org.uk

Where? Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Square

GIG

The enduring trio comes to Cabot Square with latest line-up including Valerie Holiday, left, who sang on many of the group’s hits and Freddie Pool, right. Oct 4, 9.30pm, from £29 (show only), boisdale.co.uk

Taking stock: We catch up with all things West eld Stratford City as Europe’s busiest shopping centre continues to focus on community, sustainability, young people and even housing 50

Mitchell and nd out how to get involved

4246

How Ballet Nights is set to bring principal dancers to the Island

How you can help the GCDA

| The Three Degrees

set up show in Greenwich

on the radar

need to know

It’s coming back – Ice Rink Canary Wharf is set to return to Canada Square, complete with apres ski lodge at The Grandstand Bar from October 21 to February 24. Themed skating sessions will include Halloween and 80s and 90s nights, apparently. icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk

Us – how a project on Millwall became a book

Bake Rose Ricciarelli cookies with Mallow’s delicious recipe

That’s right, it’s here. Subway – reputedly the largest global chain on the planet – has landed in s Crossrail Place. Serving salads, wraps and, of course, subs – there are multiple options. Just go for a Subway Melt on Hearty Italian. If you know... subway.com

Proof positive that Party Season is on the horizon –start planning your festive bash now to avoid missing out on the best venues and dates with our handy guide

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

style it

If you haven’t been living under a rock this year, you will have noticed that the Barbie movie has had a big e ect on shopping habits and style trends. Not just for little girls, Barbiecore is everywhere. The signature colour – pink – has been seen all over the red carpets, and even in home decor. Not one to shy away from bright colours, I have fully embraced this, but there are also options out there for those that only want to dip a toe into this trend.

l Oliver Bonas boasts a wide range of dresses and tops in magentas, baby pinks and peachy pinks. The Drop Shoulder Pink Sweatshirt, £45, looks so cosy for the coming autumn days, but could also be smartened up by tucking into tapered trousers or a miniskirt. In addition, how sweet is the Ava Heart Pink Opal Gold Plated Statement Ring? Priced at £45 as well, you can nd these gems at the store in Jubilee Place.

l I’d been looking for a new modestly priced garden furniture set and I found it at Robert Dyas in Canada Place. The Paci c Pink PU Rio 4 Piece Seating Set is stylish and sturdy, consisting of two chairs, a sofa and a co ee table with a glass top. I’ve just added some cushions and a throw and the scene is set for summer cocktails in the garden. What’s more, it’s reduced from £345.99 to the bargain price of £277.99.

l The aforementioned throw is from The White Company in Jubilee Place. The Heirloom Dusty Pink Blanket, crafted in lightweight cotton costs £34 and is perfect for warming up when the evenings get cooler. While at the store, I spotted the Silk Classic Piped Pyjama Set in Vintage Pink, priced £198. These are truly luxurious, with mother of pearl buttons, and are de nitely on my Christmas list. Wink, wink.

l Did you know that a 2012 study commissioned by Cotton USA found that men who wear pink earn about £1,000 more each year than those who do not? According to Stephanie Thiers-Ratcli e, Cotton USA’s International Marketing Manager “pink is a colour more men have been embracing recently and it’s encouraging that they are not afraid to experiment with brighter colours”. Charles Tyrwhitt in Canada Place clearly got the memo. The Tyrwhitt Cool Polo in pink, £59.95, is 100% cotton and moisturewicking. Versatile enough for a round of golf or a summer barbecue. Because real men wear pink.

Natasha Maddison @pazzanatasha on Insta

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

hot list

rumours tips and rankings

NEW STUFF

After a lengthy wait, padel tennis club Padium has opened its doors at Bank Street Park. Expect extensive facilities including indoor and outdoor courts, a pro shop and plenty of changing rooms, towels and showers

OUR PICKS

If you do nothing else on the Wharf this fortnight, try these

1. God, just go and eat two courses for £16 at Fish Game already. This is, head-and-shoulders, our favourite deal on the Wharf right now – shgamerestaurant.co.uk

2. The summer ain’t done yet. Celebrate the heatwave by grabbing ingredients at Waitrose for a picnic – waitrose.com

3. Book your classes and events for Wharf Wellness on the Canary Wharf App – canarywharf.com

food review

Nutty Ham Focaccia Sandwich, Bread And Tru e, £10.95

by Mary Tadpole

Island Poke in Crossrail Place has expanded its menu so with bao buns on o er as well as its selection of poke bowls. There are four options –tuna, salmon, chicken and aubergine, all priced between £6.45 and £6.95. I get the Yuzu Salmon Bao Bun as it’s the most expensive and I deserve a treat.

At rst, £6.95 seems a tad pricey for a single bao bun, until I receive my order and notice rstly that it comes tucked up neatly in it’s own little box and second that it’s basically a richly

is thick and spongy, with a generous amount of salmon and an abundance of seaweed (said to be great for your skin, hair and nails) inside.

It all comes soaked in a sauce that is absolutely delicious, which I assume is the yuzu dressing.

As a lunch option it’s too lavishly packed with ingredients to be a graceful food-on-the-go alternative to a poke bowl, but it’s a delicious little treat for eating in.

Sit on the swings and imagine you’re overlooking a Hawaiian beach. Go to islandpoke.com for more information or to order online

by Jon Massey

As part of Wharf Life’s ongoing, completely selfless and altruistic mission to taste all the new treats available on the estate so our readers know where to spend their hard-earned dollars, we popped down to recent arrival Bread And Tru e in Canada

Place for lunch.

At £10.95 its Nutty Ham Focaccia Sandwich isn’t cheap, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad value. The presentation and design of the outlet is oddly minimal for a place that serves what can only be described as agstone-size slices of the Italian bread.

The generosity doesn’t stop there, either. Inside its signature sandwich are layers of ricotta, mortadella ham, pistachio pesto

and crumbled nuts. The avour is rich, creamy and shot through with the subtle punch of the meat. It’s a ludicrous portion to eat in a single sitting – but this is all to the good because the sane, sensible Wharfer will wind up with a decent chunk left over for later.

Alternatively, you could take the glorious, gluttonous route like me and sco the whole thing down. Just make sure you clear your diary for at least an hour in the afternoon for a decent, digestive nap.

Go to breadandtru e.com for more information

by Jon Massey

How often do we get the opportunity to take an hour for ourselves?

The modern world is busy. There’s information overload. We, as individuals, have the ability to be in touch with more people now, than at any time in human history. There’s more content from media sources – social and traditional – all with ideas, advice, entertainment and distraction, screaming for attention than ever before.

We can be at work 24-hours a day, pretty much anywhere in the world. Phones can even be used in the shower. It’s all an endless, demanding torrent of stuff. That is life in 2023.

It’s also, perhaps, why Third Space’s Sound Bath sessions are proving so popular. With its Canary Wharf branch the largest luxury health club in Europe – arranged over three floors above Waitrose in Canada Square – it boasts a grand list of facilities. There’s a climbing wall, an enormous functional training space called the yard, a boxing ring, a swimming pool and that’s before you even start digging into the extensive free weights, resistance machines and cardio options on offer.

There’s also a densely populated timetable of classes with names like Sweat X, Hardcore Cycle and Speed Fiends, keenly focused on helping its members get a serious sweat on.

“We do that really, really well –those high energy sessions when you look at the breadth of that offering,” said Gillian Reeves, head of group exercise at Third Space. “There’s a whole plethora of options – strength classes with weights, HIIT classes, cycling classes – which is brilliant for overall health.

“Then you go towards things like Yoga, which can also be high energy with practices like Vinyasa. Then at the rest end of the spectrum we have Yin Yoga, which is really popular here because it’s much slower and people know intuitively that they need to stretch.

“But we thought: ‘Why stop continued on Page 10

2Sound Bath classes take place each week at Third Space Canary Wharf, driven by enthusiastic demand from members

Trained Yoga teachers deliver Third Space’s Sound Bath classes using a variety of instruments in the Mind And Body Studio at Canary Wharf

how Third Space’s sound baths offer peace, relaxation and tranquillity amid a bustling world

the sounds that

from Page 8

there?’. Let’s keep going and offer something beyond that. People, especially in Canary Wharf, work really hard and have very active lives. There’s lots going on and they really need that balance with rest and recovery.

“We decided to put on some trial Sound Bath classes and the waiting lists were really big – the demand was there, people wanted to do it and it confirmed what we were thinking.”

The Canary Wharf club is currently offering hour-long Sound Baths twice a week on Monday evenings and Saturday afternoons – but what actually happens in a class?

“It’s our way of offering peace and meditation to balance out all the activity – work, stress and exercise – a time once a month or a fortnight to find some stillness,” said Gillian.

“We think it might be seen as the least intimidating form of meditation – there’s something intuitive about sound and music. People really relate to that and so they’re prepared to give it a go –they aren’t faced with complete silence for a long period of time.

“You can turn up wearing whatever you want, because essentially you’re just lying down or, if preferred, sitting on a chair. We want you to be really comfortable on the mat so there are bolsters and blankets.

“There’s an introduction from the teacher, which deals with safety – the practice is not recommended for people with mental health issues, those with metal plates around joints or women who are pregnant, unless a doctor has said it’s OK.

“Then there’s a general overview of the class so people know what to expect. At launch, all of our teachers will use a common structure with a variety of instruments, but this will evolve over time. The classes will start either with a gong or crystal bowls and there will usually be a crescendo towards the middle of the time. Then there can be a fade out with some chimes to finish.

“Sometimes a teacher will stay at the front the whole time, and

Minutes each Sound Bath class at Third Space lasts, with members either lying down or sat on chairs to listen and relax

Participants are invited to get as comfortable as possible for the sessions with bolsters and blankets available

Mind And Body master trainer, Clare Walters, plays crystal bowls during a Sound Bath class at Third Space

The classes will start with a gong or crystal bowls and there will usually be a crescendo towards the middle of the time

Gillian Reeves, Third Space

sometimes they’ll walk around the class with small percussive instruments. At the end there will be silence and then some recorded music to signal the end of the session.

“What people will get from a class depends on them and their intention. For some it may be more spiritual and for others it’s relaxation. It might be a physical rest or allowing yourself to be still for mental health – if you just want a lie down, then that’s great.”

Third Space’s Yoga teachers have undergone extensive training with musician Tim Wheater and sound artist Cherub Sanson – the former a pioneer of sound healing in the west who has been engaged in it since 1982. The club’s classes make use of crystal bowls from Cherub’s brand Cherebella.

“Because of the vibrations of the different instruments that we use, it will shift people into more of a theta brainwave state – on the cusp of wakefulness but deeply relaxed,” said Gillian. “It has a similar effect to practising meditation and has a lot of benefits for reducing stress and anxiety.

“Our bodies are really clever – if something needs repairing or healing, then they can do that. If

we’re not running around and doing stuff, then they have the chance. Deep sleep, where the body produces delta brainwaves, is really good for us too – people who have participated in the classes have said they sleep better after a Sound Bath.

“The main thing is for people to come with as few expectations as possible – with an open mind, a sense of curiosity – and see what happens. As with everything we do at Third Space, our hope is that members feel better. With Sound Bath, they should feel good, more relaxed and calm.

“Like all holistic practices, attending a session won’t mean all the problems in your life are magically better, but it can certainly help. You might be having a bad time and find your perspective shifts, you could have a great thought or come in with a problem that you’ve solved by the time you leave. So far the feedback has been really positive.”

Go to thirdspace.london

Scan

Third Space membership for the Canary Wharf club costs £200 per month, inclusive of all classes. Bene ts include 25% o Third Space Spa and a pair of guest passes on joining

make it

try this recipe from plant-based restaurant Mallow in

how the Museum Of London

Docklands’ Mudlarking Weekend is set to celebrate foreshore combing

by Jon Massey

The banks of the Thames are a treasure trove of artefacts telling some 2,000 years of human history,” said Douglas Gilmore, managing director of the Museum Of London Docklands.

“Much has been learnt from discoveries along the foreshore and our Mudlarking Weekend will be a chance to see some of these finds first hand and hear from the people who unearthed them.”

Mallow’s recipe is for a plant-based version of these classic Italian cookies, flavoured with rose water and rolled in icing sugar before they are baked

rose ricciarelli cookies

this recipe makes 24

>> Soft, chewy and infused with fragrant rose water, these are Mallow’s take on the classic Italian cookies. They are traditionally made with egg whites, but the restaurant uses aquafaba – the water strained from chickpeas. You can use the water from a good quality jar of unsalted chickpeas. The protein from the chickpeas acts like egg white, allowing you to whip it into thick peaks and create a truly authentic tasting macaroon consistency.

ingredients

250g ground almonds

170g caster sugar

2 tbsp aquafaba

2 tbsp rose water zest of an unwaxed orange

100g icing sugar, sifted pinch of salt

method

>> In a mixer with the whisk attachment, or using a handheld electric whisk, whip the aquafaba until stiff peaks appear.

>> Add the caster sugar and whip until a pale white colour is achieved.

>> Add the rose water and orange zest.

>> Using a spoon or spatula, mix in the ground almonds.

>> Mix well until the dough is slightly sticky.

>> Measure out 20g dough balls for each biscuit and roll into icing sugar before baking.

>> Place on a baking tray and bake at 180ºC for 15 minutes.

visit the venue

Mallow Wood Wharf

Find the restaurant on Park Drive, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 8am-11pm on weekdays, 9am-11pm on Saturdays and 9am-10pm on Sundays

Go to mallow london.com

scan this code to find out more

Taking place on September 30 and October 1, the West India Quay institution is set to host a celebration of the work of those who comb the shores of the Thames and the treasures they uncover.

Part of Totally Thames Festival 2023, the museum’s Mudlarking Weekend will feature a two-day free showcase of finds discovered on the banks of the river that defines the capital.

Thousands of historic artefacts will be on display with some friendly mudlarks also on hand to chat with visitors about their finds.

There will also be a range of drop-in workshops, with participants invited to get creative with foreshore find-inspired materials to make mosaics, greeting cards and prints.

Also on offer will be chances to get up close to artefacts, with visitors able to sculpt replicas of medieval pilgrim badges and recreate the design of a whole porcelain plate from a single shard found in the river.

A virtual mudlarking machine will also be available for those who fancy seeing what digital artefacts they can uncover. The real-life practice is, of course, restricted to those with a permit to help protect and conserve London’s archaeological history.

In addition to the free showcase and activities, the museum will be hosting three special events over the course of the weekend:

Mudlarking Into The Future

Sept 30, 2pm, £10 (£5)

This panel discussion explores the role of mudlarks in uncovering London’s history, its potential impact today and in the future.

Over the past 40 years, members of the Society Of Thames Mudlarks have found and recovered thousands of historically significant artefacts from the black mud of the Thames’ foreshore.

Their work has contributed numerous priceless objects to many public collections including the Museum Of London.

This panel discussion will ask whether mudlarking finds could promote more progressive understandings of historic Londoners and raise questions about social justice and inclusion today.

The panel will include moderator Tom Chivers, author of London Clay, Museum Of London finds liaison officer Stuart Wyatt, mudlark and Tideline Art artist Nicola White and Society Of Thames Mudlarks chair Tim Miller and board member John Dunford.

Working River And London’s Docklands

Oct 1, 2pm, £10 (£5)

Join mudlark and author Jason Sandy for a lecture on Docklands history and see some of the artefacts he has uncovered.

London has been an important port city for nearly 2,000 years. In its heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries, the capital was the largest port in the world and precious commodities constantly flowed into the city from around the globe.

In this lecture, Jason – author of Mudlarks and co-author of Thames Mudlarking – takes us on a journey down the Thames, exploring the Docklands and the traces left behind.

He will be joined by mudlarks Graham duHeaume and Monika Buttling-Smith, who will display their collection of tools, personal items and other artefacts dropped or discarded by the dock workers.

This lecture and object handling session will be a unique opportu-

Much has been learnt from discoveries along the foreshore and our Mudlarking Weekend will be a chance to see these finds first hand

Douglas Gilmore, MOLD

Wood Wharfe

we’ve teamed up with Mallow to bring you a recipe for these delicious cookies – so sweet

Paid for events will take place over the weekend alongside a free, two-day showcase of finds, finders and activity workshops

shore scouring the

The museum is hosting a two-day focus on mudlarking, the practice of scouring the Thames foreshore for treasures

nity to get close to extraordinary artefacts that reveal the maritime activity along the working river and provide insights into the lives of the dock workers.

Wapping Foreshore Walk Oct 1, 9.30am, £25 (£20)

Archaeologist Mike Webber is set to lead this walk, which will take participants to the Thames foreshore in Wapping alongside ceramic education and public arts specialist Clayground Collective. Participants will be invited to explore the history of London through the discovery of pottery fragments found on the beach.

Mike’s knowledge of the area and Clayground’s expertise promise “fascinating insights” into the development of international trade on the river.

The Mudlarking Weekend also forms part of the Museum Of London Docklands’ programme to mark its 20th anniversary, having spent two decades showing how international trade, migration, enslavement and the river Thames have all been integral in shaping the capital.

You can find out more about the events at museumoflondon.org.uk and also book tickets for the talks and walk

Scan this code for more about the Mudlarking Weekend

Mudlark and artist Nicola White hard at work

The Mudlarking Showcase is ideal for those aged 7+

by Jon Massey

Wharf Wellness is set to arrive across the estate with free classes, taster sessions, talks and discounts over four days. Taking place from Wednesday, September 27, to Saturday, September 30, the festival will feature a multitude of Canary Wharf-based brands including Third Space, Feels Like June, Mallow, Nuffield Health, Bobbi Brown, Randox Health, Love Open Water and recently launched padel tennis club Padium.

Ahead of the event, however, we’ve decided to focus on Barry’s, which will be running three taster sessions – one outside on the sand of the pop-up beach volleyball courts in Canada Square Park and the other two in its Red Room studio on the lower level of Crossrail Place.

Zoe Rogers is the instructor tasked with leading the outdoor session. Originally from Essex, she discovered the Red Room having moved to London to go to drama school.

“I’d been involved in fitness one way or another since my teens,” she said. “I actually started out selling gym memberships through cold calling – it was absolutely horrendous.

“I heard about Barry’s on the grapevine and this thing they do called ‘Hell Week’ – seven classes in seven days. Living in London, I couldn’t afford to go very often as a student, but I could afford to do Hell Week every single time it was on.

“So, I’d be at drama school, save up my pennies and go and do those seven sessions. I remember my first class so vividly – it was with a trainer called Alex Castro and it was phenomenal.”

Zoe ended up taking a job front-of-house at Barry’s in Canary Wharf, while continuing to pursue a career as an actor. She then decided to train as an instructor – a role she’s now been doing for two years.

Splitting her time mostly between Soho and the Wharf, she’s also taught classes on the main stage at Pacha in Ibiza. continued on Page 16

Classes Barry’s will be offering as part of the Wharf Wellness festival towards the end of September

how Barry’s is all set to offer a trio of sessions for Wharfers to try out its hardcore, upbeat workouts

Barry’s instructor Zoe Rogers is set to take charge of a Barry’s taster session for Wharf Wellness outdoors on the sands of pop-up beach volleyball courts in Canada Square Park

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

from Page 14

From noon on September 28, Zoe will be in command of a 50-minute class for 60 on the sand in Canada Square Park (with mats to protect participants).

“We’ll have big speakers –participants will hear me out loud and the music will be pumping,” she said. “We’ll have long resistance bands and mini bands to work the glutes and the legs and I’ll be running a total body workout – we’ll hit absolutely everything.

“The great thing about Barry’s is it gives you a fantastic structured workout that you know is going to do the job every time.

“The product is flawless and with the tunes, the atmosphere is fantastic, it’s almost like being in a club when you’re in the Red Room. Then there’s the community, which is very important to people who have just moved to London or to the area. That develops organically and it’s something I’m personally really grateful for, as I’ve made some great friends.

“No-one can really define what they mean when people talk about ‘The Barry’s Feeling’ but there’s this buzz that just makes you want to come back for more.

“It’s magical, everyone feels it at the end of a class and that sense of community is beautiful. You don’t have to think – we do the work and you can just rock up and put in the time.”

FFellow Canary Wharf instructor Craig Waters will be running the Barry’s session at 9am in the venue’s red-lit studio for Wharf Wellness.

Originally from Nebraska, he found his way to Barry’s through Yoga, Pilates and cycling classes before training with the brand.

He said: “It will be the classic Barry’s experience. Every day we have a different focus, so you can get all your muscle groups taken care of over the course of a week.

“For Wharf Wellness, I’ll be teaching a chest, back and abs-focused class.

“It’s an upper body workout using different types of rows, dumbbells, both heavy and lighter weights, as well as resistance bands to cycle through those muscle groups.

“Then, as a way to give your arms a bit of a break, we have core-focused abdominal exercises.

“Classes are typically spent half doing interval-based runs on the treadmills and half doing exercises on the studio floor. That means you get the best of both – it really is the best workout in the world.

“You can start off either on

Minutes each Barry’s three taster sessions will last for Wharf Wellness. The studio also offers 60-minute classes on its standard timetable – for more about Barry’s go to barrys.com

Barry’s instructor Craig Waters will be leading one of two classic Barry’s workouts in the Red Room for Wharf Wellness Follow

the floor or on the treadmill and then go back and forth. While running, your instructor will give you options for your speed with different patterns on incline and velocity.

“These can be tailored to an individual’s needs or preferences, which means everybody can participate. For people who are new, it’s about getting used to the instructions as there’s lots of activity in the room.

“It’s a nightclub vibe, the lights go low and the music goes loud, with every instructor allowed to select the tracks they like to bring their personality through.

“You might have someone who plays techno and drum and bass or, like me, who prefers fun pop remixes so people can lose themselves. I sing along in almost every class – it’s about enjoying the moment.”

Craig said that while Barry’s workouts were tough, people at any level of fitness could benefit from them.

He said: “The workouts are hard, so I always tell people doing it for the first time to pace themselves and go at a rate that works for them – to enjoy it as much as they can.

“People feed off each other’s

energy, which is why group fitness, for me, is the best way to train. Personally, I get more out of a session when someone has put it together – it’s also a great way to hang out and meet people too.

“My main thing is that I don’t ever want someone to come out of a class feeling defeated. We celebrate whatever happened. It’s always the case that what you did was amazing.”

A third Barry’s class will take place on the Saturday, with times set to be confirmed this week.

Throughout Wharf Wellness, brands such as Atis, Pure, Farmer J, Urban Greens, Le Chalet Cryo, Rituals and Space NK will be offering a series of special offers and discounts.

l Full details of all these, other events and how to book classes will be available exclusively on the Canary Wharf App from Wednesday, September 6. Go to canarywharf.com for more information about downloading the Canary Wharf app

Scan this code to find out more about Wharf Wellness

Wharf Wellness presents a rare opportunity to take an exercise class in Canada Square Park

Barry’s classes are typically split between interval training on treadmills and exercises using weights on the floor

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

Follow Zoe on Insta @ zoehrogers

welcome to season

book early for the very best festive celebration venues in Canary Wharf and beyond

September is here and with it the start of conversations about what Christmas will bring. Venues in Canary Wharf, east and south-east London have been working hard on their offerings for 2023 and we’re pleased to present some of the finest options available from - P18-40

how Electric Xmas at Magazine on Greenwich Peninsula offers a high voltage extravaganza

by Jon Massey

Events venue Magazine

London is gearing up for two massive shared festive parties on Greenwich Peninsula. Taking place on Thursday and Friday, December 14 and 15, under Smart Christmas Parties’ Elexctric Xmas branding, the venue is all set to welcome tables of eight or more to share in a night of entertainment, dining, dancing and neon.

Located a single stop from Canary Wharf on the Jubilee line – a few minutes’ walk from North Greenwich Tube – Magazine offers views of the Isle Of Dogs and City skylines from its position overlooking the Thames.

The Electric Xmas festivities kick off at 6.30pm with a hot and cold canape reception to the electronic beats of a live orchestra, before party-goers are invited to enter “a neon urban wonderland, with towering ceilings”. There, groups will take their place at tables ready for dinner at 8pm. Although this is a shared event, tables will be exclusive to each party.

The tickets, which cost £100pp+VAT, cover three courses from in-house caterer Moving Venue, which prides itself on its focus on provenance of ingredients and sourcing from local suppliers.

Entertainment will include a beatbox trio, a pianist and a 12-piece orchestra with the dancefloor popping up at 10pm with a DJ and full light show pumping out the beats, complete with swirling glitter ball effects. Midnight will come and go with the evening drawing to a close at 1am.

Tickets include use of the party’s table throughout the event, food as stated and free cloakroom facilities.

A number of extra packages are also available for groups who’d like to tailor their experience.

discover these restaurants, bars and venues

l Phantom Peak - P20

l Sticks’n’Sushi - P22

l Clays - P31

l Mallow - P32

l Platform - P34

l Hawksmoor - P36

l Bokan - P38

l The Gun - P40

VIP private drinks receptions can be arranged for up to 50 guests including 1.5 glasses of sparkling wine, a roped off area and a dedicated member of security –contact the organisers for a quote.

Also on offer are table drinks packages from £95+VAT so guests can have wine and water waiting

Phantom Peak

Hawksmoor

Mallow

And now for something completely di erent. How Phantom Peak o ers full-on festive immersion - P20

lemons and limes plus 10 glasses. The premium version costs an extra £22.50+VAT.

● Magazine is located a few minutes’ walk from North Greenwich Tube for easy access via the Jubilee Line

● Whole venue hire is also available for larger celebrations

● The shared party experience on December 14 and 15 runs from 6.30pm until 1am

● Unlimited drinks wristbands can be purchased for the group at £44pp+VAT

at their table on arrival. Then there’s an option to give guests unlimited drinks wristbands covering house wine, bottle beer and soft drinks at the bars for £44+VAT. There are also options to purchase drinks vouchers, beer buckets and even an After Dinner Drinks Chest. The latter starts at £100+VAT with the house package including a spirit of the party’s choice plus mixers, crushed ice,

DISCOVER

Last but not least, there’s an option to bolt-on an extra food course. For £50+VAT, a selection of fine cheeses from the British Isles and beyond will be brought to your table to round off the dinner. These come served with crisp artisan biscuits and sweet ale chutney.

In addition to catering for smaller parties, the whole venue can be booked out for those considering a bigger bash. Magazine can host up to 1,200 people seated or 2,000 for a reception. Other venues are also available.

Smart Christmas Parties is part of Smart Group – a collection of hospitality, catering and event management businesses that offers full-service solutions planning and logistics, through to catering and entertainment. Go to smartparties.co.uk or call 020 7836 1033 for more information or to make a booking

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CELEBRATE THE FESTIVE SEASON AT BOKAN WHILE ENJOYING SKY-HIGH VIEWS OF LONDON

WE HAVE A FULL AND EXCITING PROGRAMME TO SUIT EVERYONE, SO WHY NOT BOOK YOUR FESTIVE EVENT WITH US?

7 COURSE TASTING EXPERIENCE + 2 AND 3 COURSE SET MENUS AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER BOOK NOW TO

useful stu need to know

by Jon Massey

The parties that stand out are the ones in unusual locations where memorable things happen. So, how about booking your festive bash at a place that’s guaranteed to be like nowhere else in London with an immersive experience that’s completely packed with strange and mysterious goings on?

Phantom Peak offers exactly that, located five minutes’ walk from Canada Water station on the Rotherhithe Peninsula – a 10-minute journey from Canary Wharf.

Its creators – specialists in the worlds of escape rooms and theatrical props – have put together a complete, intricately detailed town that’s part real-life video game, part puzzle, part theatre show and part platypus fishing experience. Completely open-world, visitors are free to explore, talk with the quirky characters that inhabit its streets and shops or follow intriguing trails to solve some of its puzzles.

useful stuff need to know

l Phantom Peak welcomes party bookings of any size. It’s close to Canada Water Tube station

l Whole venue hire is available for parties of 75 or more

l The experience is open Thurs-Fri 6pm10pm, Sats noon-4.30pm and 6pm-10.30pm and Sundays noon-4.30pm

l Tickets start at £19 (£16 with the WHARF20 discount)

Everyone is invited to play their part in the adventures and storylines or to simply hang out by the town’s network of canals, play arcade or carnival games, sip drinks or enjoy the various food options on offer.

The venue also boasts several private areas that can be hired for parties of various sizes, with packages available to suit a wide range of requirements.

Mysteries and quests at Phantom Peak are centred on corporate entity Jonaco, which keeps a benevolent (or sinister grip) on things (depending on your point of view), which rebuilt the town after a suspicious blimp accident.

Founded and controlled by the buff, messianic figure of Jonas, its representative on the ground is the mayor – who may be an all-round good chap or a wrong-un in a fancy jacket.

Exploration and guidance is provided via a no-download web app, which quizzes attendees about what kind of story they might be interested in following. Then it’s off on the chase to gather intel and dig deeper.

There are many paths to take, meaning two people who visit on the same evening might have radically different experiences and encounters along the way.

At least four hours is allowed for each show, with things always drawn to a finish with a mass closing ceremony – tying up loose ends, or not, as the case may be.

If you’re looking for something truly out of the ordinary this year for your festive celebration, then Phantom Peak is ideal.

Go to phantompeak.com or email enquiries@phantompeak.com for more information

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how Phantom Peak delivers a party venue like no other, complete with canals, robots, platypuses and stories

Discover robotic healthcare

Black canals

Strange characters

Sinister mysteries

LIGHT UP YOUR WORLD THIS CHRISTMAS!

EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRIFYING CHRISTMAS PARTY AT MAGAZINE LONDON. CONVENIENTLY LOCATED ONLY 10 MINUTES AWAY FROM CANARY WHARF. ENTER INTO A NEON URBAN WONDERLAND, WITH TOWERING CEILINGS AND STUNNING PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE THAMES, CANARY WHARF AND THE CITY BEYOND.

DELICIOUS HOT & COLD CANAPÉ RECEPTION EXCEPTIONAL THREE-COURSE DINNER

LIVE PIANIST ACCOMPANIED BY A 12-PIECE ORCHESTRA

SENSATIONAL BEAT BOX TRIO STATE-OF-THE-ART LIGHT SHOW GLITTERING DANCE FLOOR & DJ

by Jon Massey

Available 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. But first, let’s take a look at the food...

The Holly Menu

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

xmas with a

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 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 plant-based 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.

useful stuff need to know

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. The restaurant’s bartenders have come up with a pair of cocktails specifically aimed at bringing the restaurant’s cuisine and the festive season

l Sticks’n’Sushi’s festive season runs from November 27 to Christmas Eve inclusive

l The restaurant also offers catering services for events with a range of menus available

l Just to reiterate, book a table of six or more on a Monday or a Tuesday during the festive season and you’ll get a complimentary bottle of Champagne

l Sticks’n’Sushi is open daily from 11.45am with closing times typically 10.30pm or 11pm

together in a glass. Kiramsu Fizz is a blend of Prosecco, Chambord, Gin and Yuzu, suitable for getting any party started.

There’s also the Gingerbread Sour, a spiced twist on a classic whisky sour that comes garnished with a toasted marshmallow.

Something Special

In addition to the attractions above, 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. Sticks’n’Sushi’s location on the Canary Wharf estate means it’s perfectly placed for local businesses looking to celebrate. It’s a few minutes’ walk from the Jubilee and DLR stations, while Elizabeth Line trains depart literally a few floors below.

The restaurant has no cancellation fee for small tables, with 48 hours’ notice requested for larger parties, should plans change. Go to sticksnsushi.com or email reservations@sticksnsushi.com for more information.

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Take aim for the festivities at Clays in Canary Wharf, a digital clay pigeon shooting experience - P31

Special Christmas menus on offer at Sticks’n’Sushi in Canary Wharf this festive season

how Sticks ‘n’ Sushi is set to bring Wharfers a Japanese twist on some festive classics

by Jon Massey

There’s only one place where partygoers can wield real shotguns in pursuit of digitally rendered spinning discs of clay this festive season. Clays, located at One Cabot Square in Canary Wharf o ers eight shooting pegs, two bars and an outdoor terrace overlooking North Dock.

While the venue’s arsenal of weapons may have been decommissioned, a huge amount of work has gone into making its o ering as realistic as possible and there are ve games on o er for shooters to try out their aim, each testing di erent abilities.

While each has a competitive edge, at its heart, Clays is simply about having fun and that plays perfectly into party season.

Available from Monday, November 20, the venue is

o ering ve party packages with each including unlimited game play for a set duration. These work out as follows:

● Champagne Shot, £45pp 90 minutes

Bacon or vegetarian roll

Glass of Moet plus two premium drinks

● Frosty Shot, £65pp

As above, but a set menu

● Sparkle Shot, £85pp

Two hours

Set menu

Glass of Moet plus owing premium drinks

● Merry Shot, £120pp

As Sparkle, but three hours

● Jolly Shot, £145pp

As Sparkle, but four hours

>> Clays in Canary Wharf can accommodate parties of

All packages at Clays include unlimited game play in its private or semi-private shooting pegs

scan this code to nd out more about festive celebrations at Clays

between 15 and 200 in its ve semi-private pegs with guests able to use its main bar and events area.

It also boasts a private shooting room with three pegs, which includes its own dedicated bar and an entertainment area that can be separated from the rest of the venue.

Also on o er is exclusive hire of the whole venue, which can take up to 300 guests. This includes use of the outdoor heated terrace area.

Clays’ festive menu includes starters such as Flamed Celeriac Chimmi Churri and Salmon Cone, mains of Crispy Chicken Sliders, Beef Croquettes and Sweet Corn Ribs, all nished o with Mini Mince Pies.

The Canary Wharf venue is within easy walking distance of the area’s Jubilee line, DLR and Elizabeth Line stations.

The brand also operates a branch in Moorgate, which can accommodate up to 400 guests over its 12 pegs. It also has a private room for up to 100 guests.

Both o er a range of events packages to cater for groups of all sizes, if you just can’t wait for Christmas to get blasting away at those digital clay pigeons. Go to clays.bar or email events@clays.bar for more information or to make a booking

Shooting pegs at Clays’ Canary Wharf venue, which can handle up to 300 guests for events

by Jon Massey

The festive season is traditionally awash with plant life. Wreaths festoon doorways, homes fill with Christmas trees and pine branches, Yule logs are cut, ready for burning on December 25, kisses are exchanged under the mistletoe and people sing of the holly and the ivy (admittedly, the lyrics don’t actually have much to say on the latter).

Then, of course, there’s the part vegetables and fruits play in the flavours of the season. Nuts are cracked and eaten, dates are consumed, plum puddings are stirred and spices of all kinds find their way into cakes, biscuits and occasionally onto the tree itself.

That’s before you even get to the sprouts, parsnips, potatoes (sweet and roast, if you’re doing it properly), cabbage, sage, onion – I could go on... Point being that plants, their, scents, flavours and foliage, are everywhere as the

useful stu need to know

● Mallow is located on Wood Wharf, about 10 minutes’ walk from the whole Canary Wharf estate

● In addition to table bookings, its rst oor dining room can be hired for private events

● Parties of up to eight can book online, larger groups should email

● Mallow is open Mon-Fri 8am-11pm, Sat 9am-11pm and Sun 9am-10pm

year draws to a close. So where better to celebrate than a restaurant that puts them at the heart of everything it does?

Mallow – located on the corner of Park Drive and Water Street in Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf, is that place. Operating on a

Price per head for Mallow’s ve-course tasting menu over the festive season

minimal waste basis, with every dish served made only from plants – its two-storey venue is a sea of warm wood, golden metal and soft light and comes complete with a first floor dining room ideal for private events.

For the festive season, Mallow will be serving a five-course tasting menu, priced at £60 per person. It will be available for two or more guests from Monday, November 20 until Christmas Eve, with a wine pairing menu also offered at an additional cost.

It’s billed as a “plant-based love letter to winter time in the city”, with dishes as follows:

The Wood Wharf restaurant is o ering a plant-based, ve-course tasting menu (plus an amuse bouche) from Monday, November 20

book a

with the plants

christmas lights (amuse bouche) game chip, herb cream cheese, cranberry chilli caviar

one - wreath bitter leaves, glazed parsnip, apple, hazelnut foam

two - gift root dauphinoise and porcini walnut lattice, plum apple ketchup, sautéed cavalo nero, roast roots, red wine jus

three - gs & honey blue cheese, fig, charcoal olive oil crackers, rosemary agave ‘honey’

four - snow & grit

dark chocolate ganache, cherry gel, white chocolate snow, malt crumbs

ve - gold & coal crystallised ginger yuzu nuggets, cassis anise pâte de fruit

scan this code to nd out more about festive dining at Mallow in Canary Wharf

Tables for up to eight people can be booked online and via email for larger parties. Mallow is located on Wood Wharf, a few minutes’ walk from the Montgomery Square exit of Canary Wharf’s Jubilee line station.

The venue is the brand’s second in the capital, having opened the first purely plant-based restaurant at Borough Market in its 265-year history in 2021. The east London branch welcomed its first guests in June. Mallow – named for the wholly edible plant that was once used to make marshmallows – is part of Mildreds, a chain of five vegetarian restaurants that started with a single establishment in Soho in the late 1980s.

Today, food for both brands is created by head development chef Sarah Wasserman, who has worked for Mildreds for 17 years and has authored both of its cookbooks.

She said: “I want people to feel joyful, satisfied and surprised when they come to eat at Mallow. My favourite thing is when someone tells me they’ve brought a non-vegetarian to the restaurant and that they couldn’t believe how much they enjoyed the food.” Go to mallowlondon.com or email hello@mallowlondon.com

how Mallow in Canary Wharf is o ering diners a ve-course feast of plant-based dishes this festive season

Mallow’s rst- oor dining room is a exible space seating up to 50 that’s available for private hire all year round

PRIVATE DINING IN CANARY WHARF FOR CHRISTMAS

Why not head down and log in for some seriously fun gaming adventures at Platform in Crossrail Place? - P34

THEHAWKSMOOR.COM

HISTORIC RIVERSIDE GASTRO PUB

Whether it’s The Cabin Room, The Red Room or The River Room for indoor dining, the Riverside Terrace or the Garden Bar for time beside the Thames or simply the pub’s bar and dining room, The Gun – just 10 minutes’ walk from Canary Wharf –is the ideal venue for your next event

how Platform offers spaces and packages for 24 to 260 guests at its subterranean party venue in Canary Wharf

by Jon Massey

Oering a multitude of gaming and entertaining experiences, Platform at Crossrail Place is logged-in and ready to host festive bashes, with dedicated spaces from 24 to 260 guests at its split level venue. In short, it o ers multiplayer console video gaming on both Playstation and Nintendo Switch, food, drinks and music with plenty of funky neon lighting thrown into the mix.

It’s very exible on the packages it o ers – the venue could easily cater for a team night out for six people, for example – and has created two o erings speci cally aimed at the 2023 Christmas season.

Mario Xmas £45pp

This package includes two drinks tokens per person, valid for house beer, wine or single spirit and mixer, a selection of starters including nachos, sausage rolls, meat skewers and popcorn, a selection of pizzas (including ones with festive toppings), a choice of brownie or ice cream and a special Christmas mystery gift box.

Final Boss £60pp

This package is the same as above, but also includes a zz reception (Prosecco or Bellinis) and four drinks tokens per person.

>> Partygoers will bene t from dedicated games masters looking after every semi-private

booth, plus order-at-table tech for seamless refreshment while busting heads in Mortal Kombat. Set at street level and in an expansive basement space, Platform o ers a total escape from Canary Wharf, taking visitors into a colourful alternative reality inspired by the video games available on its consoles.

The Christmas packages are available in December and details may be subject to change. Check with the venue when booking.

For more information email events@experienceplatform.co.uk or go to experienceplatform.co.uk

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Cost of Platform’s Mario Xmas package, which includes drinks and food for guests

Book Queenie Watts, Hawksmoor Wood Wharf’s 20-seat private dining room named after a bawdy landlady - P36 Platform boasts

Hawksmoor

approach to party season with private hire options galore

by Jon Massey

who’s this Queenie Watts?

Born Mary Spenton in 1923, she was a singer, songwriter, actor and self-confessed “bawdy landlady” of the Iron Bridge Tavern on the Isle Of Dogs’ East India Dock Road.

a local?

Certainly, and a TV and film regular appearing in productions by the likes of Joan Littlewood and Ken Loach as well as the star of 1964 short A Portrait Of Queenie alongside her husband Slim, who explored their early lives and their struggle to scrape together enough cash to buy the pub.

Queenie regularly sang in other local boozers to earn a living and also performed in her own.

why is she in this feature?

The private dining room at Hawksmoor Wood Wharf has been named in her honour. In addition to her work on screen, her pub was a magnet for rowdy dockers, thrill-seeking high society types, celebrities and even gangsters, including the Krays.

so you can hire it and be like them?

In a nutshell, yes. The room seats up to 20 and promises low lighting, elegant decoration (including a picture of Queenie) and a dedicated waiter “ready to answer questions and set a laid back mood”.

useful stuff

need to know

l Hawksmoor Wood Wharf is located on a floating barge off Water Street in Canary Wharf’s newest district

l The venue boasts a private dining room with seating for up to 20 guests

l Larger parties can be accommodated at The Lowback, with room for up to 230

l Hawksmoor is open daily for lunch and dinner and from noon8pm on Sundays

Celebrate in style, high above the city at Bokan, with views from levels 37, 38 and 39 - P38

a room fit for

tell me more

About Queenie? She also ran the Rose And Crown in Poplar’s Pennyfields and sang with an eight-piece band to pull in the punters when she wasn’t appearing in the likes of Dad’s Army, Dixon Of Dock Green and Steptoe And Son no, about Hawksmoor. I’m hungry I see. Well, there’s not long to wait. The restaurant will be taking festive bookings from Monday, November 13, all the way through until January.

great, what’s on it?

It’s billed as “a gentle nod to the festive season” with dishes like Cows In Blankets, all centred around the grass-fed beef the venue is known for, alongside seafood from the south coast and a carefully curated selection of wines. Expect family-style service with highlights such as Roast Scallops, sharing puddings and steaks cooked to order, sliced and served on cast iron skillets. The feel is frill-free and packed with big flavours.

what about larger bashes?

If seated tables in the private dining room or main restaurant

why

is offering a no-frills

Maximum capacity of The Lowback bar at Hawksmoor Wood Wharf for a standing reception

perform in her East End pub

Desserts at the Wood Wharf restaurant are made for sharing

Hawksmoor Wood Wharf’s private dining room is named ‘Queenie Watts’ in honour of the performer and east London landlady

don’t fit your requirements, the venue also has The Lowback.

The Lowback?

It’s Hawksmoor’s bar, located on the lower floor of the floating restaurant. Think sour cherry Negronis, shiny gold fittings and velvet booths.

what’s on o er

Plenty of space to swing your hips with a nine-metre bar, a dark green marble floor, an outdoor terrace and a polished timber ceiling all at water level.

what sort of space are we talking?

The venue is available for semi-private events for groups of between 30 and 80 people. It’s also available for exclusive hire for up to 230, which includes the terrace and use of the venue’s sound system.

anything else?

Hawksmoor’s also open for New Year’s Eve and Hogmanay celebrations. Go to thehawksmoor.com for more information about the venue or to make a booking

Queenie Watts

Dishes at Hawksmoor are served family-style for diners to enjoy

Of Dogs tower

by Jon Massey

Blockbuster is the word for the views at Bokan Little wonder, perhaps, that the three-floor bar and restaurant – which tops off the Novotel London Canary Wharf on the Isle Of Dogs – lists the times for sunrise and sunset on its website.

But whether the sun is up, down or somewhere in between, this venue is the only one in the local area that offers panoramic views of London from a significant height.

Its vistas include the glorious curve of the Thames as it winds its way to the City skyline and The Shard.

Arranged over the 37th,38th and 39th floor of the tower, it boasts a restaurant, bar area and open-air terrace respectively resulting in a plethora of options for individuals or organisations planning events.

For the festive season, the venue has created a special menu for the last month of the year with two courses for £49 and three for £59.

Its December offering includes starters such as Organic Egg With Winter Truffle, Venison Tartare With Croissant Pudding And Avocado and Squid, Chorizo And Williams Pear.

Mains include Trout, Potatoes With Bergamot Crème Anglaise, Red Mullet With Fennel And Cauliflower and Organic Turkey Breast With Dates, Chestnuts And Berries. An extravagant selection of desserts includes the Bokan Christmas Tree, a Chocolate Sensation and Bûche De Noël With Apple Cider Sorbet. There’s also a seven-course tasting menu for £99, showcasing the talents of executive chef, Robert Manea, who has worked at the venue since it opened in 2017.

He followed its original executive chef Aurelie Altemaire from L’Atelier De Joel Robuchon and now has the top job.

Born in Romania, his passion for food was inspired by his mother. Having relocated to London in 2013, he worked at The Ledbury before joining

Maximum capacity of Bokan’s bar for private hire. Facilities include AV equipment and a DJ booth

dine with the

how Bokan offers unmatched views over London from its three floors at the top of an Isle

One of the views from Bokan

Food and facilities at Bokan Discover the Tardis-like interior of historic riverside pub The Gun, just 10 minutes from Canary Wharf - P40

useful stu need to know

● Bokan’s bar is open Mon-Weds 4pm-11pm Thurs 4pm-midnight Fri 1pm-1am Sat noon-1am Sun noon-11pm

● The restaurant is open Tues-Sat 6pm-11pm and for brunch sittings on Sat 12.30pm-4.30pm

● Bookings for more than eight should be made via email

● De nitely try and catch a sunset at Bokan, if you can manage it

L’Atelier and spent ve years there before joining the team that launched Bokan.

The restaurant itself seats up to 60 guests, with exclusive hire by arrangement.

The bar and terrace on the two oors above boast a maximum capacity of 150 guests with a wide range of drinks and refreshments available and facilities such as a DJ booth and AV equipment available.

Bokan is located less than 10 minutes’ walk from Canary Wharf Jubilee line station and is about ve minutes from South Quay and Heron Quay DLR stations on foot.

Special menus at Bokan are also available for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day (from £99) and New Year’s Eve with early and later sittings available for the latter. Prices start at £130.

Go to bokanlondon.co.uk or email events@bokanlondon.co.uk for more information or to make a booking

Scan this code to nd out more about Bokan’s o ering

get two cocktails per person & 90 minutes of video gaming in your own private booth

experienceplatform.co.uk/cocktails-controllers

Standing capacity of the main restaurant area at The Gun, which also boasts three private dining rooms and a riverside terrace

by Jon Massey

In keeping with a rich history that has flowed like the Thames through its walls, The Gun in Blackwall has breadth and depth, making it appear larger on the inside than a cursory inspection of its exterior might suggest.

Named in honour of the cannon that announced the opening of the West India Docks more than 300 years ago, it unfolds into a series of rooms and spaces, all of which can be hired for events, parties and celebrations.

There’s the Red Room, with a capacity of 20 seated or 22 standing, the Riverside Terrace – complete with fully retractable walls and roof to protect from the elements –which takes 40 seated or 70 standing, or the Cabin Room for 22 seated or 25 standing. Featuring taxidermy,

so many different to explore

riverside views towards Greenwich and a ceiling hung with pewter tankards, respectively, each has its own distinct character.

Then there’s the River Room – located up a secret staircase, this was reputedly once the venue for local resident Lord Nelson’s secret assignations with Lady Emma Hamilton. Today it caters for 16 guests as a private dining room overlooking the Thames.

There’s also The Gun’s

main restaurant itself, which can hold 70 seated or 100 standing, for a substantial celebration. Exclusive hire of the whole pub is also available by arrangement.

The Gun will be offering a Christmas Dining Menu this year with three courses for £59. The offer also includes a glass of Prosecco on arrival and an amuse bouche.

Starters include the likes of Crispy Ham Hock Terrine, Dashi Poached Prawn Cocktail

and Roasted Beetroots with mains to follow of Roasted Pumpkin And Sage Ravioli, Venison Loin and Pan Roasted Coley And Crispy Potato – all served with roast potatoes and seasonal veg.

Turkey will also be available with all the trimmings including pigs in blankets, chestnut and apricot stuffing plus cranberry and mandarin jam.

Rounding things off will be a selection of desserts such as

Christmas Pudding, Charred Mango and a 70% Chocolate Cremeux.

The Gun is also offering Christmas Day dining with five courses for £110.

With open fires, upholstered seating, wood panelling and soft tablecloths, the pub offers a classic, traditional backdrop to festive celebrations of all kinds.

It is located 10 minutes’ walk from the centre of Canary Wharf through the rapidly evolving streets of Wood Wharf. Alternatively, Blackwall DLR station is also close by.

Go to thegundocklands.com or email Gun.Docklands-Events@ fullers.co.uk for more details or to make a booking

Scan this code for more on Christmas at The Gun

how The Gun offers private rooms, riverside views and festive flavours for party season

The Cabin Room at The Gun and, below from left, the main restaurant, the Red Room the Riverside Terrace and the River Room

Wapping - Limehouse - Shadwell

£40 out of this

Cost of a ticket to see Walk O The Earth at Troxy in Limehouse in October

how Troxy is set to host Walk Off The Earth as the alternative indie popsters from Canada come over

by Jon Massey

Having risen to fame through cover versions spread via social media, Walk O The Earth continue to potter around their indie niches complete with a bizarre collection of instruments.

Formed in Canada in 2006 (with only Gianni Nicassio still in the line-up), the band are known for playing whole songs together on a single guitar and exploiting and exploring the tones of instruments such as the ute, theramin and ukulele to great e ect.

With an extensive back

catalogue of studio albums including the likes of REVO, Sing It All Away and Here We Go, audiences can expect an eclectic set of numbers on the night.

Most likely this will include material from recent release Stand By You, which came out last month. This follows two albums for kids entitled Romeo Eats Vols One and Two, with songs about the lead singer’s three-year-old trying di erent foods.

The band’s colourful career have seen them release numerous hit singles and collaborate with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Sarah Silverman, Keith Urban, Steve Aoki and Lukas Graham.

Online, they’ve been

watched by more than a billion people on YouTube and 200million on TikTok with latest single My Stupid Heart streamed more than a million times a week since its release. This is a chance to see a band that continue to rise despite having already achieved signi cant success in their career.

Walk O The Earth are set to play Troxy on October 17 with doors opening at 7pm. Tickets for the gig start at £40 Go to troxy.co.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about the show

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

Where?

St Anne’s Limehouse Limehouse

GIG | Limehouse Creates

You’ll need to move fast to get to this one, but Limehouse Town Hall and St Anne’s Limehouse are hosting an arts and crafts market this weekend. Sept 10, noon-6pm, free, limehousecreates.carrd.co

Where?

Troxy Limehouse

GIG | Dear Jane

The Hong Kong band, formed in 2003, are set to perform live in east London with songs from their full, nine-album back catalogue in the set. Oct 1, 5pm, £89.50, troxy.co.uk

Where?

Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping

STAGE | Margaret Thatcher Queen Of Soho

Following a sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, this show transfers to the smoke as Maggie gets lost in London and accidentally becomes a cabaret star. Sept 25-30, times vary, from £16.50, wiltons.org.uk

move fast

If you’re reading this, there may just be time to catch the St Katherine Docks Classic Boat Festival at the Wapping marina with more than 40 vessels participating in the event over September 9 and 10 skdocks.co.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about the event, which is free to attend and runs from 11am both days

want more? @wharfwhispers

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

Where? The Space Isle Of Dogs

STAGE | Oubliette

In the deepest depths of a castle dungeon, two prisoners try to keep each other sane through play. Expect magical realism and fantasy on a grand scale. Sept 28-30, times vary, £15, space.org.uk

Where?

Poplar Union Poplar

KIDS

Suitable for children aged 4+, this session will teach participants how to dye items. Poplar Union’s Yoga blankets will also be dyed during the workshop. Sept 23, 3pm-6pm, £4, poplarunion.com

Where?

Trinity Buoy Wharf Leamouth

Programmes will be performed during Ballet Nights’ current season, with six dates in total at Lanterns Studio Theatre 3

Principal dancer of The Royal Ballet, Steven McRae, will perform in all three Ballet Nights programmes at Lanterns Studio Theatre on the Isle Of Dogs

by Jon Massey

Following a pilot last year, Ballet Nights is set to explode into east London with a trio of programmes featuring dancers from the likes of The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Northern Ballet and even Britain’s Got Talent.

“The Lanterns Studio Theatre on the Isle Of Dogs is a very intimate and exciting environment,” said Jamiel Devernay-Laurence, founder and creative director of the platform.

“Ballet Nights presents classical ballet and contemporary dance up close and without compromise, featuring some of the best performers in the world, in what I’m calling ‘theatrical widescreen’.

Prize

See 124 works by 111 artists shortlisted for the prize at this annual celebration of mark making and drawing – a barrage of creativity and invention. Sept 29-Oct 15, daily, free, trinitybuoywharf.com

ash back

Discover how Mudchute Kitchen works to welcome the whole community in its tasty corner of Mudchute Park And Farm, complete with a slumbering husky, generous portions and freshly prepared dishes mudchute.org Scan

“We have a very large, 289sq m stage, with front row seats where audiences’ toes are touching the performance surface. There are no bad seats in the house and it brings the artists to eye level – it’s all about that connection. Having this space means we can present these big dance stars as you would see them on stages across the world.”

Following his own dance career with Scottish Ballet, Jamiel has turned his talents and experience to creating new paths of development for artists and new models for programming and staging performances.

With investment secured, the three Ballet Nights programmes will all be performed for two nights on September 29-30, October 27-28 and November 24-35, respectively.

Each will be compered by Jamiel and feature 10 performances – ve either side of an interval, with all six shows starting at 7.30pm.

“Rather than presenting one production, this enables us to bring together world ballet stars alongside brand

want more? @wharfwhispers

leading the

SEE | Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing

| Natural Dye And Stitching Workshop

how Ballet Nights is set to bring some of the world’s best dancers to the Isle Of Dogs

Image by Mich Rose

new emerging talents – a taster platform that’s never really been around for dance before,” said Jamiel.

“I’ve been asked how we can include so many di erent and diverse performers in each of the programmes? The answer is that this is led by artists, it’s for them, by them and celebrating them – that’s the key element.

“We’re not here to have Ballet Nights in capital letters – the artists are the most important thing. We’re more like a TV channel – putting the performers at the centre and giving audiences the opportunity to see their favourite artists and be introduced to new ones.

“The compère provides an introduction or reintroduction to each artist and that gives them a voice.”

The rst programme alone features Steven McRae, Melissa Hamilton and Ryoichi Hirano of The Royal Ballet, rising contemporary dance star Jordan James Bridge and former Royal Opera House concertmaster and international violinist Vasko Vasilev as well as award-winning performer Constance Devernay-Laurence.

“When you want the best performers, you start with the best companies in the world and many are having a push towards professional development,” said Jamiel.

“The directors of these companies understand that this is a great opportunity for choreographers and dancers to have a chance to go out and experiment.

“Steven McRae, for example, who is a principal at The Royal Ballet is not doing what he’d do at the Royal Opera House, he’s presenting a tap number with music from Vasko. It’s a real opportunity for artists to blow o steam and to present themselves to audiences in di erent ways – to take risks and be celebrated.

“On stage, at the major venues, there’s quite a

Ballet Nights is led by the artists, it’s for them, by them and celebrating them – that’s the key element

distance between performers and the audience. Here it’s like when a big comedian goes and tries out new material at a smaller, intimate stand-up club.

“Constance, who is also my wife, has left Scottish Ballet to pursue a career on screen, so this is a chance for her to appear on stage as an independent principal ballerina –Ballet Nights is a vital platform for artists like this in the heart of the Canary Wharf area.”

Future programmes will feature the likes of Katja Khaniukova, Aitor Arreita Coca and Ivana Bueno of London City Island-based English National Ballet (November) and Musa Motha of Rambert Dance Company (October).

The latter, originally from South Africa, had his left leg amputated at the hip when he was 11 due to bone cancer, but forged a career as a dancer – appearing in Peaky Blinders: The Redemption Of Thomas Shelby on the West End stage.

He then found wider fame on Britain’s Got Talent before going on to win the Emerging Artist category at the National Dance Awards earlier this year.

At Ballet Nights, he will present Depth Of Healing, a piece he has choreographed himself.

Tickets for Ballet Nights at Lanterns Studio Theatre on the Isle Of Dogs start at £65. Go to balletnights.com for full listings, more information and bookings

Scan this code to nd out more about Ballet Nights

Jamiel Devernay-Laurence

Ballet Nights founder, Jamiel Devernay-Laurence, will compere the shows

Ballet Nights will feature Constance Devernay-Laurence, left, Musa Motha, above and Ivana Bueno, right

Image by Sian Trenberth

by Laura En eld

The old adage “don’t judge a book by its cover” comes into focus as I chat to photographer Jerome Favre. He spent three years trying to capture the true face of Millwall FC fans on their home turf in Bermondsey.

The aim was to take a closer look at modern day supporters and whether they deserve the reputation that has dogged them for years.

“I’m a huge football fan and a fan of football culture,” he said. “I moved to England in 2005 – New Cross in 2013 – and the stadium is really close to me.

“I’d heard about the reputation of Millwall fans and was interested to go and see for myself and to have an honest look at them.

“The aim of the book was to evaluate their reputation in contemporary football culture.”

Thousands of camera clicks later, his self-published photobook No One Likes Us contains more than 200 images taken in and around the South London stadium between 2018-2022.

He photographed ageing die-hard fans, fresh-faced teens, families and everyone in between, all proud to wear the blue and white and many grateful for the chance to show there was more to them than tattooed hooligans.

ut to be successful, first erome had to overcome the fan’s initial judgments of him.

“I went to The Den with a couple of cameras around my neck and my French accent,” he said. t first I hung around with the supporters and then I started going in the stadium as well.”

He usually had no more than a minute to pitch his idea to passing fans and try and take their photographs. Unsurprisingly, he was told to ‘do one’ on more than one occasion.

“Some asked me if I was the Old Bill and things like that,” said the 46-year-old. “They were a bit suspicious, but I didn’t mind because I’d be the same if a photographer approached me on the way to a game.”

It took a lot of rejection before

he got the ball rolling, with Jerome estimating only 1% of people he approached said: ‘Yes’.

“Sometimes they didn’t have time, sometimes they didn’t want their photos taken and I had to be patient and ask a lot,” said the photographer, who took up the profession 10 years ago.

“I didn’t really have time for long conversations with people because they were drinking with their friends or going places.”

The first person to say yes was a dapper gent named Morris.

“When I explained what I was doing, he said: ‘Yeah, why not?’ I wouldn’t say he was super keen though,” said Jerome.

But the photographer persisted because the project had personal connections. Jerome grew up in the north of France supporting his hometown club of RC Lens – which he said had striking similarities to Millwall.

“It was set up by a mining company and for decades, both players and fans were coal miners,” he said. “Millwall was founded by the workers of JT Morton’s canning and preserve factory, on the Isle Of Dogs.

“I was fascinated by the fact that Millwall was, and still is, a working-class club and a tight-knit community. It also has a terrible reputation, and I was curious to cast an honest look at this football community.”

Even across the Channel, he had heard about the stigma of violence attached to the club.

That reputation can be traced back more than 100 years, when supporters of Millwall and local rivals such as West Ham were primarily made up of dockers who worked for opposing firms, often vying for the same business.

The association with hooliganism came to prominence in the 1970s largely due to The Millwall Bushwackers – one of the most notorious hooligan firms in the UK. Sustained criticism of their behaviour in the press and media perpetuated an image of them as violent thugs.

In response, fans created the infamous chant “No-one likes us, we don’t care” – often belted out with pride at matches.

Despite his positive intentions

Photographs of fans and their favourite haunts are featured in the book

It’s undeserved but taken with a sense of pride now and they use the slogan to enforce the community so it feels even more tight-knit

Jerome Favre, photographer

walls breaking down

how photobook No One Likes Us attempts to move past the stigma attached to Millwall FC fans and offers an honest look inside their community

Charlie. Charlie and Lucas, have supported Millwall FC their

entire lives

Jerome Favre

for the project, Jerome said he found it hard to ust shake o the negative image of fans that has lingered for so many years.

”I was nervous when I started going down there, especially bearing in mind their reputation,” he said.

“There is one photo of a guy called Daniel who is covered in tattoos and looks menacing. I was scared to approach him, but he let me take his photo and it was memorable. I was really, really happy I got that one.”

Fans eventually got used to Jerome hanging around and the project ended up becoming a lot easier than he anticipated.

“A lot of people were genuinely interested and there’s a few people that I met, I’ve got really good memories of,” he said.

“The gentleman on the cover of the book with the tattoo on the back of his skull is a nice story. My friends were surprised I approached him because, of course, he looked a little bit intimidating. But he was so polite and so nice. After the book came out, his wife got in touch with me and said how exciting it was to have him on the cover.”

Many of his subjects are almost glaring into the camera, which does little to dispel the hard image, but Jerome said he always tells his subjects not to smile

“Because then you lose them,” he said. “It immediately turns cheesy and you don’t really see their personality. So I asked people to have a neutral expression and look straight into the camera for most of the shots.”

So what did the fans he met think of their reputation?

“It’s undeserved, but it’s almost taken with a sense of pride now,” he said. “They have turned it on its head and use the slogan to enforce the community so it feels even more tight knit.

“I think there is a sense of frustration that they’re always portrayed in that way in the media because they have been demonised and it is such a tiny minority. That’s why there was a lot of interest in my book.”

Jerome said he achieved what he set out to do with his project, to a degree.

“I’m not saying I’ve revolutionsed football culture, but it’s something that’s never been done before,” he said.“It’s not trying to be positive or negative. It’s just a neutral look at them.”

Jerome’s book is available through his website, price £15. Go to jeromefavrephotography.com

Scan this code to nd out more about No One Likes Us

Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey

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

Where? The Albany Deptford

STAGE | The War Inside

This wild ride through a body’s anatomy is inspired by Albany associate artist Camille Dawson’s experiences of struggling with autoimmune disease. Sept 26-30, times vary, £12-£14, thealbany.org.uk

Where? Sands Films Studios Rotherhithe

MUSIC | Lettera Amorosa

Hear soprano Angela Hicks perform Monteverdi’s Lettera Amorosa and other pieces for voice and harp in this concert of baroque music. Oct 1, 8pm, donations, sandsmusic.eventive.org

Where? Canada Water Theatre Canada Water

APPLY | Incubation

Canada Water Theatre is under new management, with Theatre Peckham taking the reins. It is now o ering free research and development options. Ongoing, theatrepeckham.co.uk

ash back

This is Nick Moran, co-founder of Phantom Peak, a frankly bonkers immersive experience centred on a mysterious town and its inhabitants. Expect thrills, canals and, well, platypuses in abundance phantompeak.com

Scan this code to read our interview with Nick and to nd out more about Phantom Peak

want more? @wharfwhispers

Richard, a lifelong supporter

Daniel, a lifelong Millwall fan

Dave, a fan since 1967

Keisha, a lifelong MFC fan

how GCDA is appealing for help with its forthcoming relocation to the Old Police Station on Greenwich’s Royal Hill

by Jon Massey

Change is in the air at Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency (GCDA). Having spent more than four decades helping people in the borough through its community hubs, free training programmes, enterprise support and food projects, the organisation is set to open a new base of operations on Royal Hill.

Located on the ground floor of London Square’s Old Police Station development, the new facility will provide o ce space for GCDA alongside a classroom, gallery, training kitchen, shop and cafe area. Construction training organisation Flower Skills has already contributed extensive free labour on the build-out of the unit, to get walls in place and plastered. Now the charity is appealing to the community and local businesses via a crowdfunding campaign for help in raising £10,000 to complete the fit-out.

“That’s our ambition and it would be fantastic if we can achieve it,” said Claire Pritchard, GCDA director. “We launched the campaign to our members and the people who have benefited from our work in August, and achieving that total will take us a long way to getting the project finished.

“We’re doing the work in stages the o ce space, which was formerly the developer’s marketing suite, will be finished by the end of September, hopefully the kitchen and training room by the end of November and then the shop and cafe space by the end of January. In February we should be fully operational.”

The new facility will see GCDA’s Made In Greenwich shop relocate to the new hub and will also allow the organisation to move out of its current premises at Greenwich Centre Business Park.

“The building in Royal Hill is beautiful and we’re really excited about moving from the industrial estate to a place in the heart of Greenwich,” said Claire. “It will also give us full disability access, which we didn’t have before at either of those two buildings.”

The money from the appeal will go towards decorating and furnishing the various spaces, with fire doors and kitchen units

also on the wish list so GCDA can get on with its work – helping support local enterprise, train local people and promote healthy lifestyles.

e’ll be o ering some of our cooking and chef skills training sessions here as well as creative courses such as sewing, hat-making, creative arts, drawing and writing,” said Claire. “There will also be the business start-up courses, which I run.

“Helping people start their own businesses is so important there’s a real social benefit to it. On the courses, sometimes as many as a third will start their own operations and we can support them in that with things like start-up space on the markets we run to help them de-risk.

“That includes food businesses, street trading and general market trading, for example. People come to us for all sorts of reasons – they might want a change of career, have been made redundant or have caring responsibilities that a ect what they can do.

“Beyond that, there will also be volunteering opportunities and this will be a great place to volunteer as they will be really supported – there will be up to 10 sta based in the building so there will always be people around.”

That, in fact, is the other key aim of the new facility. One of GCDA’s main missions is to bring people together at community hubs – something it already does in Woolwich and Kidbrooke Village.

“A lot of people have said to us they need a centre for the community, a place to hang out and be part of, so this could be a place which local people could enjoy,” said Claire.

“We want to bring everyone together. We spent a year working on a project called High Streets For All about West Greenwich – this area – and looking at the markets.

“We found that in come cases local communities feel displaced by change and sometimes they don’t. We’ve met people who love living in this historic place and others who say there’s nothing here for them.

“We have always wanted to ensure that our main hub is open to everyone and the move from the industrial unit in Norman Road will mean that we can achieve that goal.

“Moving Made In Greenwich

£10k

Fundraising target for GCDA’s new community hub, which will see the ground oor unit kitted out as an o ce, shop, training space, cafe and gallery

Claire Pritchard of GCDA says the new facility will be a place for the community in West Greenwich to come together

GCDA will have o ce space, kitchen space, below, and gallery space, bottom, at its new hub

Work by Flower Skills has seen the unit take shape with the plastering done and GCDA is now looking to press ahead with a full t-out

getting for a new life

Greenwich - Peninsula - Woolwich

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

Where? The O2 Arena Peninsula

here means we won’t have to subsidise it in commercial premises and can continue to support the artists and makers.

“I’d also love to see local artists using the gallery space we will have. We will be able to host more exhibitions in a really beautiful space, perhaps even following our original vision, which was to focus on exhibiting works around things we especially care about such as vulnerable people, property, equality and sustainability as well as challenging the economic system

“Made In Greenwich was always a campaign – to value what is made locally and to support the people who create those products and artworks.

“We’ve had brilliant support with this from Greenwich Council, which commissioned things from us and, more recently, we’ve had talks with The O2 and a local hotel to help drive it forward.

“We discovered that whenever the hotel has special guests, it would buy products specially from Made In Greenwich because there’s that real value in having goods created by artisan makers locally.”

The crowdfunding campaign is ongoing to help raise cash for the project, but Claire said funds were not the only thing needed to help the new hub come to fruition.

“We know that times are extremely tough for people, but even a few pounds will help us make a real di erence, she said.

“In addition, if you have any useful practical skills, then we’d love to hear from you too. We appreciate every contribution.”

Visit GCDA’s website online or via the QR code below for more details of the crowdfunder and how to get involved.

The site also o ers full listings for GCDA’s various activities and facilities, such as room hire at its venues and kitchen space. For more information on its markets go to gcdamarkets.org.uk. Go to gcda.coop for more information

Scan this code for more about the crowdfunding campaign

The alternative space rockers pitch up at the tent as they tour ninth album The Will Of The People. Just don’t expect the tickets to be cheap. Oct 1-2, Oct 10, 6pm + 6.30pm, from £90, theo2.co.uk

Where?

Old Royal Naval College Greenwich

TALK

Architectural historian Simon Thurley is set to deliver a talk on Sir Christopher Wren, focusing on his life as a courtier and its impact on his work. Sept 20, 6.30pm, £10, ornc.org

Where? Greenwich Theatre Greenwich

STAGE

Gutter Street theatre company invite responses from creative audience members to Ellen Maslin’s tale Life Inside The Radio, which will be performed as well. Sept 30, 7.30pm, £13, greenwichtheatre.org.uk

book quickly

The Greenwich Comedy Festival is returning to the grounds of the National Maritime Museum with more shows than ever from September 13-17 - some are already sold out, however, so move fast greenwichcomedyfestival.co.uk

Scan this code for full festival listings or to book tickets for the event. Expect to pay £26 for entry to all shows

want more? @wharfwhispers

GIG | Muse

| The Red Road Response

| Wren London Series

We know times are tough for people, but even a few pounds will help to make a real di erence. We appreciate every contribution

Claire Pritchard, GCDA

GCDA’s new hub is located on the ground oor of London Square’s Old Police Station development on Royal Hill in Greenwich

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

Where? Social Convention Canning Town

SEE | Unconventional: The Drag Show Performers will include Duac, Meatgirl, Rosalinda Travesti and Xena Morph with hosting from ART Attack and drag royalty Big Jay. Sept 22, 7.30pm, £8-£10, socialconvention.org

Where? Excel Royal Victoria Dock

the

EVENT | Helitech Expo Head over to Royal Docks for all things related to rotorcraft. Entry also includes the DroneX conference and the Advanced Air Mobility Expo. Sept 26-27, 10am, registration, excel.london

Where? Good Hotel Royal Victoria Dock

SEE | Millennium Mills: Feeding Industrial London Book a free ticket for this virtual reality digital experience centred on one of the icons of the Royal Docks and its place in the food chain. Sept 23-24, 11am-5pm, free, royaldocks.london

be quick

by Jon Massey

Abody of work by artist Simon Faithful is set to arrive in east London this month. 0º00

Navigation comprises three strands relating to two trips tracing the 0º line of longitude through England, Europe and Africa.

The rst is the installation of 38 paving stones along the River Lea towpath near Cody Dock in Canning Town, each engraved with drawings made by Simon while he

journeyed through France, Spain, Burkina Faso, Togo and Ghana. These form a semi-permanent addition to The Line art trail along the river and will be available to view from September 17.

Also on show at Cody Dock from September 17-October 1 will be a lm and a series of photographs capturing the artist’s two journeys.

Then, on September 17 at 2pm, Simon is set to give a “performance lecture” about the project before visitors are invited to walk down the river past his installation to The House Mill for The Lay Shaft Drive Is Down, a new

site-speci c spoken and sung word performance by Helen Cammock.

Simon said: ““This is the perfect site for an artwork that traces a journey following the Greenwich Meridian southwards across Europe and Africa. The Lea is only 500m away from the Meridian itself in the city that imposed it upon the planet.” Go to the-line.org for more

Scan this code for more about Simon’s lecture

Artist John Lord’s work is the subject of the latest exhibition at Art In The Docks on Royal Albert Wharf, with Arrivals And Departures set to be on display at the creative collectivedriven venue from September 11-24 artinthedocks.com

Scan this code to learn more about Arrivals And Departures at Art In The Docks this month

want more? @wharfwhispers

how 0º00 Navigation by artist Simon Faithful takes inspiration from the invisible north-south meridian

along

Number of paving stones engraved with Simon’s drawings that have been laid along the River Lea’s towpath near Cody Dock

Detail from Le Baobab by Simon Faithful, one of the drawings for his 0º00 Navigation installation

by Jon Massey

Katie Wyle never intended to go into retail. Growing up, she worked in the village shop her parents ran and swore o the sector when she went to university to study English and drama.

“But what do you do as a student? You work in shops,” she said. “I worked for Tesco, Jigsaw, Disney and more. I did a wonderful ski season after university, but then realised I had a loan to pay o so I went to work at Marks And Spencer, initially in the men’s pants and socks department as a Christmas temp.”

It was the start of a journey that would see her rise to deputy manager of the brand’s Bluewater store. A stint at Fortnum And Mason followed and then Selfridges as assistant store director before she became assistant general manager of estfield Stratford City in 2014.

Now head of shopping centre management for the whole of the at nibail- odamco- estfield (URW) – the company that runs the massive malls – her responsibilities include overseeing its east London operation, the busiest in Europe by footfall. And, despite the pressures of catering for more than 51million visitors each year, she’s smiling.

“It’s just so varied,” she said. “You can come in, have a conversation about toilets, fire safety, Christmas, the community, capital investment or how we’re planning our budget processes for the next five years.

“You have to change your thought processes completely

from one meeting to the next and the people we work with are all so genuinely passionate about this business.

“I think everybody should work in retail and hospitality at some point because they give you experience of so many areas.”

The passion of her colleagues is one reason Katie continues to smile throughout our interview. estfield naturally faces problems and challenges, as any business does – especially on a site welcoming millions and employing thousands.

But there’s an underlying pride in the mission, which is about much more than providing retail units to big brands.

“We take being part of the community very seriously,” said Katie. “That’s not just the managers in the centre, but everyone in the team – we are all focused on the social impact of our roles.

“The company set itself objectives when it first came into the UK from Australia – to create jobs and value locally around each of our centres.

“We have a community manager and her job is to work at grass roots level with individuals, organisations, local employment support groups and schools. We are so focused on improving our social value every year – what we can do to keep it going and build on that.

“We assess what’s going on in the community and where investment and support is needed. She then works up a community resilience action plan for each centre that is bespoke to its needs.

“That’s in partnership with the London Borough Of Newham here and Hammersmith And

how West eld Stratford City strives to reduce its e ect on the environment while increasing its community links

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

West eld Stratford City is the busiest shopping cente in Europe with an annual footfall of more than 51million

ulham over at estfield London. Then we measure that impact. That’s not just URW, that’s our contractors as well. If you talk to anyone here, community and sustainability are our biggest themes, as they a ect everybody.

On the community front, Westfield tratford ity is a founding partner and o cial sponsor of the Foundation For Future London – a charity founded in 2015 to connect the various cultural institutions that are coming to East Bank with local people.

“The team here has done this huge project with the East Bank Creative Futures Fund –£10million of investment – which is now in its fourth year,” said Katie. “It’s phenomenal, with 155 community organisations funded and more than 23,000 participants.

“Each year the applications for funding are open for small, medium and large projects, ranging from £3,000 to £50,000.

“So far they’ve awarded more than £2.5million for a wide spectrum of organisations including community facilities for cycling and skateboarding, local creative businesses and talent development programmes.

“We know our customers want to feel more holistic and joined-up when they come here and the regeneration of both Shepherds Bush and Newham has been a testament to the success of the estfield centres.

On the sustainability front, URW is pressing forward with its Better Places 2030 strategy, which aims to reduce its centres’ environmental impact.

“It’s the right thing to do,” said Katie. “It’s not just about reducing the energy we use, but making sure we’re only getting it from green, renewable sources.

“We already operate with zero waste to landfill all of our food waste, for example goes into a digester which processes it down into pellet form and now we’re working on how we can transform that into compost so customers can come and take a bag for their

gardens. We want to create a complete cycle. There are so many initiatives – we already have rainwater harvesting and we’re looking to install ethically sourced solar panels on both Stratford and Shepherd’s Bush this year. It’s vital we know where they are coming from and that there’s no involvement with modern slavery.”

It’s this attention to detail that indirectly should also prove attractive to future residents of Coppermaker Square – URW’s residential venture in Stratford.

“This is somewhere you can now live, work and play,” said Katie. “They are fabulous buildings and the scheme will be finished next year. There are nine blocks and it’s the first time we’ve done build-to-rent in the UK so it’s really exciting for us.

“Why would you not live somewhere like this? The facilities will blow you away. There’s a co-working space, a fitness centre, lounge, roof garden, outdoor terrace, concierge service – it’s what people expect now.

“The surrounding area is so beautiful with the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and all the other attractions of east London.

“It’s incredible and has transport connections to Essex, ent and all across London including the Elizabeth Line from east to west, which is amazing.

“Our centres continue to have major brands invest in them, showing their trust and faith in what we’re doing. or example, Sephora is set to open its second UK store at Stratford in November and we’ve already seen the halo e ect with other beauty brands doing well around it after it opened in Shepherd’s Bush.

“Westfeld Stratford City is a beautiful shopping environment and, while retail is having a tough time at the moment, that means we need diversity.

“Young people don’t necessarily just want to come and spend money on buying things – they want experiences and we need to cater for that too.”

Younger shoppers are very much on estfield’s radar, with another of its Future You events set to take place from October 19-22 aimed at engaging with 12-to-18-year-olds.

Katie said: “We’ll be putting on loads of free activities. Last year there was a really popular one with influencers and inTokkers, although I’m not really cool enough to know about that.”

As a measure of the success of Olympic legacy and regeneration, it all makes for an impressive achievement.

The centre works hard to reach out to local people and to minimise its environmental impact

l Prices for homes at Coppermaker Square start at £2,480pcm. For more information go to westfield.com or coppermakersquare.com

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

Where?

Stratford Picturehouse Stratford

FILM | Tokyo Story

Japanese director Yasujiro Ozu’s carefully crafted work charts an ageing couple’s journey into the city to visit their children who fail to nd time for them. Sept 22, 12.30pm, £8, pictruehouses.com

Where?

Cart And Horses

Stratford

GIG

The original lead vocalist for Iron Maiden returns to the pub that birthed the band as he recovers from knee surgery and kicks o his latest tour. Sept 24, 8pm, £27.50, cartandhorses.london

Where?

Theatre Royal Stratford East Stratford

STAGE | Beautiful Thing

Raphael Akuwudike and Joshua Asaré play lovers Ste and Jamie in this 30th-anniversary revival of Jonathan Harvey’s iconic, coming-out and coming-of-age story. Until-Oct 7, times vary, from £10, stratfordeast.com

ash back

With demand continuing to build, Stratford Padel Club is planning to expand its facilities as interest in the sport grows. The organisation already has 11,000 registered players and needs more courts stratfordpadelclub.org

Scan this code to read our interview with the club’s co-owner Anka Mandelson online at wharf-life.com

want more? @wharfwhispers

| Paul Di’Anno

UnibailRodamcoWest eld head of shopping centre management for the UK, Katie Wyle outside its Stratford mall

If you talk to anyone here, community and sustainability are our biggest themes, as they a ect everybody

Wyle, Unibail-Rodamco-West eld

Sudoku

Take a break from that phone

How to play

To complete Sudoku, ll the board by entering numbers one to nine such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

More to play

You can nd more Sudoku puzzles and a wide selection of other brainteasers available to download for free at puzzles.ca

Notes

crossword

Cryptic Quick Down

Across

. I find nice stu is enough 0

. equired for maths to grow

8. enevolent and crimson ll is relative

0. No tax with no obligation 8

. The lowest fish

3. The must buy something it’s tradition

. rare artist is behind with the rent

. irst person at auction is from the same place

8. ngry at renting omewhat hawkish for a male 8

2 . small round lump from alifornia

22. dvert supporting aureen

23. tops confused rende vous with railway service 0

. Nose gives the game away

2. peedy nourishment you shouldn’t eat ,

3. likely Yorkshire town It’s a mix-up . nd outs . ort out and tell me about a nearby rodent

. I push a nobleman to make something, as it were 0 . onfused about directions se tact 0

2. It’s cra y to break crockery 8 . isrupt the news and put a lid on it- it’s a con

. The cerebral opposite of old onald . eaver’s machinery is threatening

20. Top notch fruit

Across

. The last book 0 . aying

8. Huge

0, . illiam’s record 8, . eyboard key

3. ptimistic . Thought to be . ee 0

8. est Indian 8

2 . omposer

22. Lake

23. Earliest western plays , Down . orry

2. broad 8

3. eal . bominable snowman . Holy refuge . Poor sailor 0

. cottish 0

2. oman hineland 8 . Edge, say , . Historic T , . ee

20. Trek

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