how Whale On The Wharf burst from the dock to delight and educate passers-by on Water Street Pages 6-9
inside issue 135
University Of Sunderland In London
Secrets Of The Thames - Sudoku
East River Wharf - Crosswords
Mexico Vivo Fest - Myma London Craft Beer Festival
Yummzy - Stitches In Time
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue
Call our team on 020 7205 4021 or email cmiller@kiddrapinet.co.uk, ypatel@kiddrapinet.co.uk or mzvarykina@kiddrapinet.co.uk
celebrating the best of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the new east London people - events - treasure - property - foolishness
Call our team on 020 7205 4021 or email cmiller@kiddrapinet.co.uk, ypatel@kiddrapinet.co.uk or mzvarykina@kiddrapinet.co.uk
Image by Jon Massey
GIG | Sonique
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place
Known for her stratospheric hit It Feels So Good, the singer is following spots at the Royal Festival Hall and Glasto with an up-close gig on the Wharf. May 15, 9pm, from £38, boisdale.co.uk
Docklands West India Quay
TALK | Crimes Without Criminals Delving into the conscious glori cation of oppressive gures like Edward Colston and Robert Milligan, this talk examines contrasting legacies. May 10, 1.45pm, free, londonmuseum.org.uk Where?
Where? Everyman Canary Wharf Crossrail Place Where?
| Ocean With David Attenborough The celebrated broadcaster and lmmaker reveals how his lifetime has coincided with a great age of ocean discovery. Includes exclusive footage. May 8, 6.45pm, £21.40, everymancinema.com
puts its success down to moving with the times toniandguy.com Scan this code to read our interview with Carl and nd out more about the salon and its new look
How the University Of Sunderland In London’s new £10million campus on the Isle Of Dogs enables the organisation to build on some 13 years of sustained success in E14
Welcome to issue 135 of Wharf Life. The theme of this paper is very much the changing tides, whether it’s the arrival of an epic new artwork at Wood Wharf, the mudlarking at London Museum Docklands or the launch of a new campus on the Isle Of Dogs by the University Of Sunderland in London... Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue will be catnip for kids How East River Wharf is o ering buyers £5,000 to help with
on the radar
need to know
The Silvertown Tunnel is up and running and with it Canary Wharf’s new bus route. Superloop 4 is currently free to use and goes between Canary Wharf and Grove Park, with stops at Blackheath Station and East India DLR. Doesn’t stop at Greenwich though... t .gov.uk
The Alchemist has opened a new terrace space overlooking Reuters Plaza. Also, from April 17-22 the bar is serving The Egg cocktail with Hendrick’s
Why the portions at Myma could do with being a bit bigger
The London Craft Beer Festival is coming to Greenwich Peninsula with 800+ brews to try and a hospitality o ering that’s ideal for summer socials with colleagues or friends
doing the deals
get more for less on and around the Wharf
New arrival Pitch at Churchill Place is o ering Wharfers a free indoor golf bay booking in April before 5pm on Weds and Thurs with code WHARFFREEBAY pitchgolf.london
Get that sombrero out for Mexico Vivo Fest at Hackney Bridge
subscribe to our Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly
A rare happy hour because it’s available every day is in operation at Feels Like June on Wood Wharf. Get two cocktails for £15 from 5pm-7pm feelslikejune.com
+ TESTED
Black Rose + Pistachio Doughnut Yummzy yummzy.co.uk
Jon Massey The black rose and pistachio doughnut costs £5.80
reviewing food is personal taste. Everything’s subjective. One person’s delicious treat is another’s foul abomination. There’s no squaring that circle. Just because I believe liquorice to be a pestilence upon the tongue doesn’t mean others should or must. I make no claims to be the arbiter of any kind of objective truth here. For me though, this sweet o ering doesn’t feel or taste much like a doughnut in the way I understand the word to refer to a leavened dough creation that’s been fried. Yummzy specialises in free, gluten free, organic and high protein desserts and promises its recipes don’t sacri ce avour as a result. But there’s little rose on the tongue and only a hint of pistachio. It’s a pretty looking thing – complete with a sprinkling of edible petals and a dusting of crumbled nuts – but with limited structural integrity beneath the slate grey topping it lacks the springy bite of a traditional doughnut. Instead the texture is moist, mildly granular and not terribly satisfying.
write me words you don’t know you need
subscribe to our FREE Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly
noun, fake, from Latin
The warm feeling stealing (or steeling?) over the suppliers of materials like iron ore and coking coal as they realise the only working blast furnaces in the UK are keen to splash Government cash on supplies
noun, real, from Latin and Greek
A term for those sharing feelings, especially those of joy and sorrow amongst a group of people. In some contexts it’s used to describe the empathetic understanding of another’s emotional experiences
If it’s table tennis you prefer to free minigolf, rejoice. Canary Wharf’s brightly-coloured ping pong tables are back in action at Montgomery Square. The facilities are free to use although players need to bring their own bats and balls. Access is on a rst-come, rst-served basis as space is limited. Top tip, check the wind forecast before arranging a sporting date.
Immigration Solicitors
WATCH OUT
Summer Screens Canada Square
Another set of early diary dates with news that Canary Wharf’s giant screens will return to Canada Square from May 29 to September 27. Wharfers can expect the usual mix of sporting xtures, lm screenings and the return of the Mario Kart Championship. All events will be free to attend with visitors encouraged to bring picnic blankets and sun block NOW OPEN Ping Pong
Our immigration team has earned its strong reputation for providing expert legal advice and practical support on a wide range of immigration issues. Trust us to help you make the right application. 020 7205 2896 kiddrapinet.co.uk
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf is set to host a tasting of Provençal Rosé in early May. Image may not reflect venue’s actual view
TASTE IT
Château Minuty + Friends Provence Rosé Tasting
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf boisdale.co.uk
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf is one of the few places in Canary Wharf where, on a sunny day, Wharfers can more or less guarantee a few hours after work under the warm rays. Apt then, that the venue is set to host a tasting of arguably the most summery of drinks – Provençal Rosé. On May 7, from 5.30pm, the restaurant will welcome ambassadors from Château Minuty who will guide guests through a tasting of four wines.
Tickets for the event cost £15, with attendees getting to sample Château Minuty Prestige, Château Minuty Et Or, Rock Angel and Whispering Angel. Whether you’re “dreaming of Côte d’Azur sunsets or simply love a good glass of rosé, this tasting promises sophistication, discovery and a touch of Provençal magic” apparently.
Canary Wharf’s partnership with Love Open Water is set to resume this summer following the opening of Eden Dock and the installation of the new pedestrian bridge.
Open water swimming sessions are expected to begin from June 4, with swimmers now able to explore the new installations from the dock itself.
As before, those taking a dip must be NOWCA members (which costs £15 for a year), with sessions charged on a pay-as-you-swim basis thereafter. Lifeguards are on hand for all activities with swimmers required to wear bright headgear and use
Tonnes of waste were pulled from the Paci c and Atlantic for use in the creation of Canary Wharf’s newest sculptures
seeing the
how Whale On The Wharf has leapt into the minds of east London carrying a message
by Jon Massey
Just ask Jonah, whales are messengers. The largest creatures on Earth have inspired countless works of art and fiction, often used to draw attention to matters of importance. In the Hebrew scriptures, Jonah finds redemption in the belly of a great sea creature, having turned back to a righteous path.
There’s Moby Dick and Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan too, but we needn’t get bogged down with revenge, obsession and highfalutin social philosophy.
More recently, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home saw Captain Kirk and crew forced to time travel back to 1986 on the silver screen to pick up a pair of humpback whales, thereby averting ecological disaster after an alien probe comes seeking the ocean giants, only to find them extinct in 2286.
That’s almost as far-fetched as everyone running around with
hand-held communication devices and tablet computers...
Recently unveiled on Water Street, Whale On The Wharf, then, belongs to that proud tradition of leveraging the largest animal on the planet as a lodestone for attention and it’s exactly what StudioKCA’s intallation does.
Leaping from the waters of the dock close to Marceline and Dishoom, the 12-metre high sculpture successfully breaches the consciousness of passers-by.
“We’re telling the story of how we live, what we use, where it ends up and what we should do about it,” said Jason Klimoski, who along with his wife Lesley Chang run the Brooklyn-based art and design studio that created the piece.
“It’s about the 150million tonnes of plastic in the ocean and the 8million we add to that each year. A lot of that is hidden, so bringing some of it here hopefully helps people visualise it.
“The plastic used in the sculpture comes from the Pacific and
We understand the power that art holds. It can provoke emotion and it can create change
Sophie Goddard, Canary Wharf Group
the Atlantic. We worked with the Hawaii Wildlife Fund to collect about five tonnes of plastic.
“We cleaned it, organised it by how long it had been in the water, sorted it by colour and cleaned it piece by piece.
“We chose to make a whale because, pound-for-pound, the plastic in the ocean weighs more than the total of all the whales on the planet.
“We thought it would be the perfect metaphor to help people understand the scale of the problem.”
While the leaping creature is the public-facing portion of the work, Whale On The Wharf is also a creation of significant depth.
Canary Wharf Group’s commission is about a lot more than adding to its extensive public art collection. Wharfers sipping coffee on the estate and then discarding their cups in its waste bins have contributed to its construction.
The sculpture sits on a foundation of concrete made with continued on Page 8
Jason Klimoski of StudioKCA, the creators of Whale On The Wharf
Image by Jon Massey
from Page 6
biochar, a material that replaces sand in the mix and is made from those discarded grounds. This also prevents CO2 being released when the coffee breaks down and reduces demand for the extraction of traditional raw resources from the Earth.
“We understand the power that art holds,” said Sophie Goddard, director of environment, social and governance at Canary Wharf Group. “It can provoke emotion and it can create change. With this project we’ve really pushed the boundaries of what can be achieved.
“We thought about how we can take the principles of the circular economy and push those forward. We’ve locked up spent coffee in the foundation and we’ve been able to do that through the efforts of our in-house waste management team.
“They hand-sort the rubbish that goes into our bins and their work means we’ve sent no waste to landfill since 2009.”
On top of the concrete, Whale On The Wharf is supported by a braced steel structure made from recovered and reused steel to further reduce its environmental impact.
Jason said: “Inside the sculpture there’s a steel spine that supports the structure and aluminium armature to make the shape of the whale.
“Onto that we attached each of the pieces of plastic using steel ties and screws.
“We really want people to see the things they use every day, to recognise them and then wonder what happens to them. How did the things that make up this sculpture get here? What was their journey?
“There’s a car bumper, a kid’s toilet. It’s really the items that relate to children I find both funny and sad. Hopefully there’ll be a conversation at home after, especially with the kids, about how we use plastic and what we do with it afterwards.
“When we were building it, we were focussed on the scale of the issue, not necessarily on the thing itself. We have a son and so we have to think about the stuff we buy him and what will happen to it.”
Now Canary Wharf has both a head-turning artwork and also a constant reminder of the consequences of unbridled consumption on our planet.
As well as its role in drawing attention to environmental issues, the installation is a significant addition to the estate’s sculpture collection – the largest publicly
Metres Whale On The Wharf curves up from the waters of the dock at its Wood Wharf home
Whale On The Wharf or ‘Bruce’ in all his glory
We’re telling the story of how we live, what we use, where it ends up and what we should do about it
Jason Klimoski, StudioKCA
accessible collection of outdoor works in the UK.
“The whales is a landmark, it’s visually stunning and it really stops people in their tracks,” said Lowri Harries, associate curator of public art at Canary Wharf Group.
“That’s exactly what we want. Since our initial call with Jason, the installation has involved pretty much every part of our business.
“Construction, development, sustainability, marketing and communications as well as all the external contractors that have worked on the project.
“It’s taken a village to make this happen and we’re really thankful to everyone involved.”
Coinciding with the launch of Whale On The Wharf, Canary Wharf Group is also hosting Refuse, an exhibition of works by artists Poojan Gupta and Ashley Cluer who both work with reclaimed materials.
Visitors can expect to see a selection of sculptures including a vast chain made from medicine blister packs and vibrant lime green shapes made from cement, newspaper and recycled wood. Free to access, the exhibition is on display at Broadwick Studio.
Perhaps when prompted by all these signs, we might take more notice of the way we’re living as a species and even avoid alien annihilation in the future.
PS, at Wharf Life we’re calling the Whale Bruce. You didn’t hear it from us...
key details
Whale On The Wharf is located on the corner of Water Street and Park Drive in Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf. The installation is free to visit.
Refuse is in place until April 26 and is open from 10am-6pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at Broadwick Studio on the corner of Water Street and Charter Street in Wood Wharf.
Go to canarywharf.com for more information
Scan here to nd out more about Whale On The Wharf
Beneath the water, the sculpture is supported on concrete and steel
The sculpture is entirely clad in plastic objects reclaimed from the world’s oceans
Every object included was cleaned sorted and selected by StudioKCA
Images by Jon Massey
Time the practice of mudlarking was first recorded in London, although it had probably been going on well before this 1800s
A 16th century dagger goes on display at London Museum Docklands’ exhibition
A late medieval mid-15th century gold ring with pink ‘spinel’ stone is displayed beside an engraved band with the inscription ‘Pour Amor Say Donne’ – For Love I am Given –at Secrets Of The Thames
The exhibition includes a recreation of the Thames foreshore for visitors to explore
how Secrets Of The Thames at
London Museum Docklands celebrates the
culture of mudlarking along the foreshore
by Jon Massey
The tide has washed over the space set aside for major exhibitions at London Museum Docklands and left behind it a rich haul of finds, information and art.
Unveiled this month, Secrets Of The Thames is a hymn to the capital’s longest archaeological site – the river’s foreshore – and those who prowl the edges of the water in search of its treasures.
The exhibition, which runs until March next year, is a celebration and revelation of the long-observed practice of mudlarking – raking through stretches of land that are exposed as the tides reveal London’s beaches and mudflats twice a day.
To that end, curators have combined a vast array of finds with a recreation of the exposed riverbed, artworks and a technical window into how the museum works with the beachcombers to catalogue and preserve historic pieces rescued from the depths.
Today mudlarking is popular – it’s regulated by the Port Of London Authority, which issues 4,000 permits for enthusiasts each year. It has suspended new applications at present due to a waiting list now exceeding 10,000.
But while 21st century archaeologists, artists and social media producers are driven to dig in the soggy stuff for a variety of lofty motivations, those who went before were often simply scratching a living.
“We tell the whole story from the earliest mudlarks who were first recorded in the 18th century” said Thomas Ardill, curator of paintings, prints and drawings at London Museum.
“It was probably going on long before that too. These people were just searching for useful things to sell – bits of coal and steel, for example. They were scavengers, sometimes children, sometimes women – but as they were finding useful objects, they were also digging up historical pieces. This was in a period when antiquarians were starting to get interested in London’s history and mudlarks found they could sell artefacts.
“In the exhibition we’re showcasing not just what objects were found, but also the people who found them. The earliest mudlarks were entrepreneurs, and they were creative and inspired by what they found.
“Some were conning the art world by creating fakes, but that also showed their creativity and ingenuity.
“A lot of the mudlarks today are fantastic artists and it’s an exhibition that you see through their eyes. It’s about the joy of discovery as much as it is about the objects.
“About five years ago, we touched on mudlarking a bit and realised it had potential –Secrets Of The Thames has been a long time in the making.
“We’ve been working closely with Stuart Wyatt, London Museum’s finds liaison officer, whose job it is to record the finds made by mudlarks with permits.
Thanks to the dedication and expertise of today’s mudlarks, we are constantly uncovering new objects
Kate Summnall, London Museum
“One of the things I really like in the exhibition is the finds desk. It reveals how we record objects and will feature rotating exhibits. At the moment, there’s an Italian ceramic water vessel, which is one of four or five discovered in a particular spot on the Thames over the years. There’s definitely something interesting going on in that location.
“Stuart thinks what might have happened is a box containing a shipment may have been broken and been dumped over the side of the ship that was carrying it.”
With brightly-lit cabinets full of deeply personal items – false teeth, rings, bones and even phallic fertility symbols – it’s also a chance for Londoners to get a sense of the city’s former inhabitants.
“We are lucky in London to have this amazing tidal river environment that has preserved so much of our past,” said London Museum curator Kate Summnall. “It is the longest archaeological site in the capital and here we find an unbelievably rich selection of finds, from beautifully worked prehistoric arrowheads to a small, ivory sundial used to tell the time.
“Thanks to the dedication and expertise of today’s mudlarks, we are constantly uncovering new objects that inform our understanding of history.
“Above all this exhibition is an exploration of love and desire, faith and loss, migration, community and culture – the stories of generations of people who have visited the city or called it home.”
With many mudlarks using their finds to create art, the museum has chosen to embrace their creativity and showcase their talents as part of the exhibition. continued on Page 12
revealed by the
Images by London Museum except portrait of Thomas by Jon Massey
London Museum curators
Thomas Ardill and, below, Kate Summnall
A fake historical artefact by mudlarks Billy Smith and Charley Eaton goes on show
350+
Objects featured in the exhibition recovered from the Thames foreshore
from Page 11
Amy-Leigh Bird is a printmaker, sculptor and artist who regularly scours the foreshore in search of inspiration and materials. One of her pieces is included in Secrets Of The Thames.
She said: “I started mudlarking as a kid, inspired by going to see an exhibition by artist Richard Long at Tate Britain. There was a beautiful piece he’d made out of red bricks and so I went down onto the foreshore with my dad and made my own little piece there – that was my rst work.
“Then I went to university and started collecting in the rivers in Glasgow, collecting ceramic and glass objects. I also found a gun.
“When I came to London, it just seemed instinctive to go mudlarking. At rst I was just aimlessly collecting – stu I was interested in, but that did include bones and teeth, and this grew more into my practice. Other mudlarks were looking for coins, pins, garnets and cameos – which are all beautiful and exciting – but I like objects that are uglier.
“We’re all made of bones and teeth come from the mouths of living, sentient beings. Animal bones and teeth in the river might have come from meat markets that would feed the people of that time. They link back to us, which is really beautiful.
“Coming from a small town, I nd that London can be an assault on the senses – it’s relentless. When you go mudlarking, there is this wonderful moment, highlighted in the exhibition, when you leave the chaos and noise behind.
“Once you’re on the foreshore, the sounds are di erent. It’s the the waves lapping, the gravel beneath your feet. I end up being there for hours and the time just ies.
“Finding something feels euphoric. It’s personal, it’s mine. I lost a lot of my childhood toys in a house move, which was sad. So when I nd something mudlarking it’s a sign to me that the object has in some way chosen me, which is a beautiful experience.
“My favourite object in the exhibition is a neolithic bone. It’s such a simple object but it’s made me wonder how many of the bones I’ve picked up for my collection are neolithic.
“I originally started making
Artist and mudlark
Amy-Leigh Bird at the press preview of Secrets Of The
“In lockdown, when I couldn’t go out or mudlark, I was stuck at home with a big box of bones and started to think of how I could create work di erently. That was a shift in my work as an artist, to go from 2D work to sculpture.”
Amy-Leigh’s piece, Ancient Ruins, 2020, is included in Secrets Of The Thames.
key details
Secrets Of The Thames will be at London Museum Docklands until March 1, 2026 and is accessible during normal opening hours. Tickets are cheaper if booked online in advance and start at £16 for adults.
Go to londonmuseum.org.uk for more information
Scan this code to nd out more about Secrets Of The Thames work by nding things and making prints out of them. I’d put bones, clay pipes and things together, photograph them and then translate that image into a photo-polymer etching.
Image of Amy and Ancient Ruins by Jon Massey
Amy’s Ancient Ruins 2020 is included in the exhibition
Thames
Mudlark Alessio Checconi explores the Thames foreshore at low tide in search of treasures washed up by the ever-churning waters Image by John Chase / London Museum
PAPER LOVES TREES
European forests, which provide wood for making paper, paper packaging and many other products, have been growing by 1,500 football pitches every day!
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
Where?
GIG | Da o
The George Tavern Whitechapel
Philadelphia-born artist, Gabi Gamberg, promises equal parts introspection and bombastic expression. Support comes via a spot by Jo From School. May 13, 7pm, £14.03, thegeorgetavern.london
Where? Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping
STAGE | The Rape Of Lucrece Camille O’Sullivan writes and performs as both Tarquin and Lucrece in this musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragic poem of lust and politics. May 13-17, times vary, from £14, wiltons.org.uk
| Beirut
Where? Troxy Limehouse
Zach Condon brings his musical project to east London as a supplement to the band’s sold-out show at Brixton Academy. Likely to be popular. May 9, 7pm, from £53.71, troxy.co.uk
ash back
Wilton’s Music Hall is set to host three performances of Dear Loll from May 30-31, a play based on a rediscovered cache of letters between a husband and wife during the Second World War wiltons.org.uk
Scan this code to read our interview with Dear Loll’s writers and nd out more about the show
The Stitches In Time: Millennium Tapestries exhibition is free to visit
50 tapestries were created for the Millennium
Stitches In Time runs workshops, classes and projects from its Limehouse base
Scan this code to nd out more about the exhibition
GIG
Image by Suzi Corker
Thousands of east Londoners worked to create tapestries in celebration of the turn of the century
showing the
how the Stitches In Time tapestries are set to go on show at St Anne’s
by Jon Massey
St Anne’s Limehouse is set to be lled with tapestries when a new exhibition arrives in east London this month. The church’s neighbour, textile and creative arts charity Stitches In Time is set to showcase the fruits of its Tapestry For The Millennium project at the venue from April 24.
Originally commissioned as part of the Millennium Celebrations, more than 3,000 people in east London contributed to the creation of 50 works depicting the history of Tower Hamlets from Roman times right up to 2000.
Archived at Stitches’ base in Limehouse Town Hall, they have been rarely seen in public since the turn of the century they were created to mark.
The exhibition launch day will run from 10am-4pm, with visitors able to enjoy Bengali refreshments.
Between 11am and 2pm, women from Stitches will be demonstrating their work at St Anne’s.
Over the course of the exhibition, which will be open on Fridays and Saturdays, a series of workshops will also be held and will be available to book from May for those keen to have a go at stitching.
The charity continues to build on the work of its late founder Diana England, having grown out of her experimental work with sewing from 1993.
It o ers workshops and classes, with thousands participating in its activities each year.
The exhibition is being held in collaboration with Care For St Anne’s Hawksmoor300 campaign – a project that aims to take the church o English
Heritage’s At Risk register and enshrining its uses as a community and cultural hub. The scheme includes plans to clear and refurbish the building’s crypt to enable it to serve as a multifunctional space for the bene t of local people. The campaign is currently seeking support from local organisations and individuals to help it achieve its aims.
key details
Stitches In Time: Millennium Tapestries is set to go on show at St Anne’s Limehouse from April 24 until September 2025. The exhibition will be open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-4pm. Admission is free, but donations to the Hawksmoor300 campaign are encouraged.
Go to careforstannes.org for more information or to make a donation
Images by Stitches In Time
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | G&T The Mixer
Where?
Poplar Union Poplar
“Creative facilitators” Gar eld and Taku return to Poplar for another edition of their open mic night. Expect upbeat vibes, food and drink. May 2, 7pm, free, poplarunion.com
Where?
The Space Isle Of Dogs
STAGE | Feminal
The Space is set to host “a ercely vulnerable doublebill of dance-theatre and intrigue” – brough to east London by Enactor Productions May 7-10, 7pm, £16, space.org.uk
GIG | Niamh Bury
Where?
Theatreship South Quay
The Irish folk singer promises richly textured music alongside her singular voice as she continues to tour following the release of album Yellow Roses May 3, 7pm, £13.75, theatreship.co.uk
English National Ballet at London City Island runs Dance For Parkinson’s, a programme aimed at delivering physical and social bene ts to those su ering from the condition. Classes begin on April 23 ballet.org.uk Scan this code to read our interview with ENB’s director of engagement Fleur Derbyshire-Fox
how the University Of Sunderland In London has opened a new £10m student campus on the Isle Of Dogs
by Jon Massey
Alan Hardie is, at least in part, powered by Irn-Bru. The Glaswegian beverage famously “made in Scotland from girders” is an on-brand drink of choice for the man in charge of the University Of Sunderland In London for two reasons.
Firstly, the orange liquid fits neatly with the institution’s colour scheme. Secondly, the ammonium ferric citrate that gives it its bright and fizzy hue recalls the steel necessary to make a success of launching a London campus – steel is an alloy rich in strength and flexibility.
And what a triumph the University Of Sunderland’s campus in the capital has been. Since its launch in 2012 at a building on Marsh Wall on the Isle Of Dogs, the campus has seen more than 28,000 students pass through its doors.
The University Of Sunderland In London started off with four programmes, expanding over the years to 31. It currently has around 6,000 students with an expectation to “grow significantly”.
That forecast has led to an expansion, with a £10million investment in new space at Harbour Exchange – a facility that was officially opened on March 27.
“We needed to move because our existing building was tired and it was time for a change,” said Alan, who is the university’s pro vice-chancellor for international office and branch campuses.
“The other thing was there just wasn’t the space for some courses and there was nothing else we could do to improve it. Those were the things driving us to do something better.
“We chose this location because it’s a great part of London with fantastic transport links and we already had thousands of students coming here – we didn’t want to say to them that we were making life more awkward by relocating somewhere else.
“I’m amazed at the facilities we’re now able to offer. I was able to take one of my deputy directors – Lynsey Bendon – away from her student role temporarily and the job she and the team have done on the new campus is outstanding.
“When I first saw it finished, I was genuinely blown away – we couldn’t be happier. It’s light, it’s funky and everything’s been
o cial opening at Harbour Exchange
>> The University Of Sunderland In London’s new campus was o cially opened on March 27 by secretary of state for education, Bridget Philipson MP.
She said: “As a Sunderland MP, it does give me such pride to see the university going from strength to strength.
“The investment here is the stepping stone to even more growth, excellence and opportunities for people to study.
“I know the impact the university has for local economies, for driving growth both in the north of England and in London.
“It’s more important than ever that our universities are nancially sustainable and that means stepping up, as Sunderland has, to drive forward growth, opportunities and productivity – that dynamism that the sector can bring. I think we all know we have to do more to narrow those gaps where it comes to inequality and educational opportunity.
“The University Of Sunderland has always been at the forefront of driving that forward and I’ve seen that impact, not just for young people, but for all the adults who have had the chance to go back into education and get on and everything that means for them and their families as well.
“That’s what the university is doing with this new building and I’m so excited to see it put to such good use. We can all feel what that means in terms of possibilities for those who come to study here from overseas and also from local communities.”
done to a high standard. There are lots of areas for students to work together and on their own and a great staff area too. Hopefully it projects confidence, that we’re serious about what we’re doing. We’ve got the space to be even more successful – to prove ourselves – and I think we can.”
Based on the last 13 years, that’s an aim that seems eminently achievable, given the progress already made. For Alan, the London campus’ growth has been a story of adaptability – being able to rapidly change course.
Years since the University Of Sunderland In London opened its doors on the Isle Of Dogs
The new campus is at Harbour Exchange
Ample classrooms
Breakout areas
Lecture theatres
Healthcare teaching facilities
Image by Andrea Behrends
space to
”Here we always want the student to be at the heart of any decisions we make,” said Alan, who is originally from Newcastle and has a private sector background working in human resources.
“If that means paying for extra staff to ma e things more efficient, then that’s what has to happen.
“As we’re a smaller part of the overall organisation, we’ve managed to speed things up that would otherwise have to go through a committee for approval.
“What we’ve been fairly good at is taking time to understand our student demographic, which is different from some other universities.
“If people come through the door we should treat them really well and, in general, I think we do that. If you go into a supermarket, for example, they say they’re doing things for the customer, but the way the store is laid out is really in the company’s interests.
“We choose to operate the campus in a way that works for our students, many of whom are older and may be fitting their education round jobs and childcare. It’s important they don’t feel bounced around and that we run as a one-stop-shop.
“Over the 13 years, it’s been key that we’ve learned how to do things ourselves and change where necessary.
“We have a variable intake model, meaning we welcome new groups of students three times a year. We have people coming into the campus and leaving all the time with students at all stages of our courses.
“What that allows is for us to identify what is and isn’t working within a 12-week window three times a year, rather than waiting to assess things at the end of a full 12 months. It means we can quickly adapt and iron out any problems if necessary ready for the next intake.
“That’s been incredibly rewarding as a process and it’s relied on having a team of likeminded people.
“We’re 252 miles from the mothership and while the original idea was that the campus would run with a small group of staff with services provided remotely from afar, it became clear after a few
Here we always want the student to be at the heart of the decisions we make. If people come through the door we should treat them really well
Alan Hardie, UoS In London
weeks that wasn’t going to work. So we learned how to be more self sufficient and that’s been a theme during our time in the capital.
“We want to celebrate our students. We switched to using Southwark Cathedral for our graduation ceremonies, which is an iconic venue. Previously we used local hotels, but moving things takes us to another level, which is what we’re always trying to do. The question for us is always: ‘Why should students come here?’. It’s up to us to create the answers. We’re not for everybody. Some institutions have better programmes or a greater legacy – it’s our choice whether we want to challenge that by doing things differently.
“Initially when we opened with just 199 students there was a kind of modesty – a lac of confidence – for the first couple of years. ut with support from our base up in Sunderland we’ve continued to grow and expand.”
With such stellar facilities now on tap, the university is clearly on a sure foundation to build on that even further.
key details
The University Of Sunderland in London is based at Harbour Exchange on the Isle Of Dogs and offers courses in business, finance, management, tourism, hospitality, events, engineering, project management, nursing and health as well as postgraduate research. Go to london.sunderland.ac.uk for more information
Scan this code to nd out more about the university
Alan Hardie, pro vice-chancellor for international o ce and branch campuses
Secretary of state for education, Bridget Philipson MP, opens the new campus in the presence of University Of Sunderland chancellor Leanne Cahill, vice-chancellor Sir David Bell, Alan, deputy director of the University Of Sunderland In London, Lynsey Bendon, and head of marketing, recruitment and admissions, Jelena Miljanic
Image by Jon Massey
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | Denys Baptiste Quartet
Where?
Corner Corner Canada Water
Expect a mix of new compositions, standards and tracks from the back catalogue. Rich sax and piano at south-east London’s newest cultural spot. May 10, 8pm-11pm, free, cornercorner.com
Where?
The Albany Deptford
CIRCUS | Showdown
Billed as a “high-energy spectacle that combines jaw-dropping circus stunts with razor-sharp humour” it’s a competition for performers. Witness... May 1-3, times vary, from £12, thealbany.org.uk
COMEDY | Ten Songs About Moths
Where?
The Pen Theatre South Bermondsey
Michael Brunström sings the ditties in a surreal comic presentation that explores obsession, the moods of ying insects and camou age. May 8, 7.30pm, £8.30, thepentheatre.com
back
Uber Boat By Thames Clippers is gearing up to launch London’s rst all-electric ferry. Orbit Clipper is expected to begin taking cyclists and foot passengers between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe this summer thamesclippers.com
Scan this to read our interview with Sean Collins, co-founder and CEO of the Thames Clippers
review: Minecraft Experience Villager Rescue at Corner Corner in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre
by Jon Massey
Is it really any wonder that a movie tied to the best-selling video game of all time has already more than doubled its $150million budget, even though many critics have branded it cash-in dross? That A Minecraft Movie appears to be a creative mess is largely irrelevant given the passions its source material stirs in its youthful fan base and their eager-to-please parents. Commercially it’s as close to a sure bet as you can make in the arts. How hard would it be to take a kid-friendly brand, established on a foundation of more than 300million games sold – plus all its associated merch and tie-ins (Lego, I’m looking at you) – pump it full of film stars and still come out with a proposition that wasn’t at least mildly appealing to guardians’ wallets? It doesn’t have to be particularly good for companies to collect that sweet, easy cash.
The same logic applies to Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, recently installed at Corner Corner in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre. Here, in a space once occupied by The Range homeware store, we walk down a dimly lit corridor to a desk where bright smiling folk supply us with glowing cubes –fastened to our wrists presumably to prevent them flying off and hitting a llama in its digital eye.
Initially it feels pretty cool. The game’s pixelated aesthetic is well reproduced as we’re introduced to two avatars on a big screen who, it’s explained, will lead us on some sort of quest, or something.
If you find vagueness of plot troublesome, this isn’t the experience for you. Initially we’re corralled in a sort of holding room. It’s not immediately clear what we’re supposed to be doing other than ta ing selfies with a couple of giant game characters. The lit cubes allow us to interact a bit with a Minecraft forest which coats one wall but it’s a clunky experience and there doesn’t seem to be an obvious pay-off for chopping down the trees.
No matter though. The kids in our group are already fully immersed. For them it’s a first taste of climbing inside the game and it keeps them occupied for a spell.
Cost of an adult ticket to Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue. Kids cost £22
Some rooms feature interactive walls and oors for visitors to chop at and ‘collect’ materials
Interaction is mostly achieved via glowing cubes
Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey
Eventually our cubes go green and the steward indicates it’s time to move to the next room. Here things are better. We use our orbs to transport materials to make things to crafting recipe specifications. There’s probably some kind of story we’re following, but it gets lost to the background noise and instead another steward jollies us into picking up sticks, wood and stone. Pleasingly the cube changes colour once loaded with items and there are rewarding chimes when we get the mix right.
But overall, as we move through further rooms, it’s patchy. There’s no obvious tally of what we’re collecting and making (let alone, why we’re bothering). It feels very much as though we’re mindlessly completing a series of scheduled operations to little clear benefit. We wave our orbs about to defeat an unnecessarily relentless stream of enemies, we combine water and lava to make a portal (albeit one with disappointingly low production values).
But, unlike the actual game, there’s no jeopardy, no suspense and – worst of all – no building. At least 60% of Minecraft is about creative construction. It’s like digital Lego, a tool for minds to make whatever a person can imagination.
t one point the floor is digital lava and we’re encouraged to hop from safe block to safe block as they appear. Or not. Walking across the room works just as well. No materials must be harvested and no bridge built to cross successfully. What a wasted opportunity.
That said, for younger kids this is a delight. It looks like their favourite game and delivers just enough to make it seem as though they’ve stepped into the screen. Its creators, though, could have dug more deeply and made a better world.
★★★✩✩
key details
Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue is located at Corner Corner in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, a short walk from Canada Water station until June 25.
The experience is suitable for all ages. Under 2s go free and there are discounts for ids aged -1 . Tickets start at £27 for adults and £22 for children including booking fees. Family tickets for four people (max two adults) start at £92. The per person price on group tickets for 7-1 people drop as low as £21. 0 per head.
Go to minecraftexperience.com
Scan this code to nd out more about the experience
Images by Minecraft Experience Villager Rescue / FKP Scorpio
stepping into the Some
summer special
hospitality o erings at the festival
>> For groups of eight or more, the festival o ers Group Hospitality Tickets
Alongside all beer and cider, these also include fast track entry, a main dish and side per person from the food traders, two vouchers for non-beer drinks (think
cocktails and spirits), a guided festival tour with a beer sommelier on arrival and a dedicated meeting point and host for your group.
Tickets cost £105 per person including VAT. Ideal for a summer celebration.
how the London Craft Beer Festival is set to bring the party to Greenwich Peninsula when it returns this July
by Jon Massey
what’s all this?
It’s only the return of the London Craft Beer Festival, back in the capital, but this year in a completely new location
where’s that then?
For 2025, the event has moved to Magazine on Greenwich Peninsula, just across the Thames from Canary Wharf.
when’s it taking place?
Visitors to the festival are invited to survey and sample its delights from July 18-19, with afternoon and evening sessions on both days.
hese last for five hours from 11.30am-4.30pm and 6pm-11pm on both the Friday and Saturday.
so what’s on o er?
Tickets of all types include all beer (and the occasional craft cider), with more than 00 different brews on offer presented by over 100 breweries.
whet my whistle...
The list is extensive, but the festival will include a strong showing from some of London’s celebrated brewers including DEYA (voted top at last year’s inaugural Top 50 UK Beers awards), Verdant and Tiny Rebel. There will be international visitors too with beers from the USA, Europe and Australasia including New Zealand’s Garage Project new for this year.
what if I don’t like beer?
Fear not, cider, sake, spirits and more will also be available for those who prefer alternative refreshments.
will we starve?
Certainly not. To help soak up the
beer, the festival will be serving up ramen from Bone Daddies, chicken from Chick N’ Sours, BBQ courtesy of From The Ashes, burgers by Meltdown Cheeseburgers and seasonal dishes from 10 Greek Street.
More food traders will be announced in due course.
and the dancing?
Promising to keep the party pumping, a programme of DJs, live music and other entertainments is planned.
how best to attend?
There are a number of ticket options for visitors to choose from. Standard tickets cost £64.50 per person (did we mention every ticket type includes all beer and cider?). Group tickets for four people cost £59.50 per person.
There are also options for fast-track entry and hospitality packages for larger groups.
how do I get there?
Magazine London isn’t a publication, but a purpose-built event venue, clad in black, right beside the river.
It’s located on Greenwich Peninsula, a short walk from North Greenwich Tube station, which is served by the Jubilee line and numerous bus routes.
Visitors can also travel to North Greenwich Pier on the Uber Boat By Thames Clippers River Bus service or from Royal Docks to the Peninsula via the Thames Cable Car.
key details
The London Craft Beer Festival runs at Magazine London from July 18-19. Individual tickets cost £64.50 per person with other options available for a five-hour session.
For more information go to londoncraftbeerfestival.co.uk
Minutes the Jubilee line journey from Canary Wharf to Greenwich Peninsula takes. Magazine London is a few minutes’ walk from the station
Visitors will be able to indulge in a wide range of food from on-site traders
The festival programme will feature DJs and live musice
More than 100 breweries will be on hand to share their creations
Scan this code to nd out more about hospitality at the festival
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | Tarkan
The German-born Turkish singer-songwriter, dubbed the Prince Of The Bosporus, comes to London following the release Kuantum 51 last year. May 11, 6pm, from £89, theo2.co.uk
taste maker
STAGE | Parlour Song
Jez Butterworth’s play gets a south-east London revival with audiences treated to a black comedy rich in deceit, paranoia and desire. May 2-24, times vary, from £26, greenwichtheatre.org.uk
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Why aren’t you funny yet? Perhaps they are. This double-bill o ers the comedians to presents works in progress ahead of the Edinburgh Fringe. May 8, 7.30pm, £13.20, woolwich.works
Running until June 25, Secret 7” is now on show at Now Gallery on Greenwich Peninsula with record sleeves designed by artists that will eventually be auctioned o to raise cash for charity. Free to view nowgallery.co.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about the exhibition and the fundraising drive in aid of War Child
COMEDY
Bella Hull
Matt Forde
The London Craft Beer Festival welcomes groups, with hospitality tickets available for parties of eight or more
This summer, the festival will be held at Magazine London on Greenwich Peninsula
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
STAGE | Boom Bang A Bang
Where?
Brick Lane Music Hall North Woolwich
The story of Eurovision gets the Vincent Hayes treatment, promising “dazzling performances and side-splitting comedy”. Plenty of Bucks Fizz. May 7-10, times vary, from £45, bricklanemusichall.co.uk
Where?
Excel London
Royal Victoria Dock
EVENT | The Watercooler
This two-day experience promises visitors the chance to explore e ective ways to create workplaces to help people thrive. Around 6,000 attendees expected. May 7-8, 9.30am, from free, excel.london
CLUB | Metalheadz
Where? Fold Canning Town
Potent forces in drum and bass are set to gather with sets from DJ Storm, Doc Scott, Grooverider, Diverge, Visionobi and Blackeye MC scheduled. May 10, midnight-6am, from £28.80, fold.london
try this
Immerse LDN (the riverside bit of Excel London) is hosting Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition until June 29. Visitors can expect to see artefacts replicas and VR vistas of ancient Egypt tutankhamunexperience.com
Scan this code to nd out more about the exhibition or to book tickets for this limited run
Royal Docks - Canning Town
how Myma restaurant in Canning Town delivers on the flavour-front, but scrimps on portion sizes for the prices
by Jon Massey
Myma is a small “Japanese inspired” restaurant, arranged over two oors in Canning Town. First impressions are good. The sta are friendly and the decor is pleasingly minimal – redolent of many a Tokyo eatery.
Its tables come dressed with sushi rolling mats and there’s a video of cherry blossom projected on a large white wall in the upstairs dining room, where we sit.
The menu is comparatively short, comprising a selection of small plates – mostly crowdpleasers such as gyoza and soft
shell crab plus a small selection of sushi and mains of Japanese curry, hirata bao buns, donburi and ramen.
The sushi we order to start is presented perfectly – long dishes with exactingly cut rolls. The avours are delicate and the textures well balanced, even if the portions are a little meagre.
This goes on to be the theme with my main of chicken katsu curry. At £15 it’s a Wagamama price but a slender portion. While cleanly arranges on a sakura-themed dish, there’s little depth to the portion of rice and the breaded breast appears to have come from a bird that had only a shake for breakfast and lunch for most of its life.
where less isn’t
For £35.50 a head including a drink, it’s one of those meals that really should have been more lling for the cash outlay. Snacks required later.
key details
Myma is located in Caxton Street a few minutes’ walk from Canning Town station. The restaurant is open 5pm-10pm on weekdays and from noon10pm at weekends. For more information go to mymasushi.co.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about Myma in Canning Town
Myma serves up pretty food that tastes great, it’s just a shame the portions are on the slim side
how Mexico Vivo Fest is set to bring heat, music and central American culture to Hackney Bridge over two days
by Jon Massey
Hackney Bridge is preparing for two days of celebration, marking the anniversary of the Battle Of Puebla. Cinco De Mayo is held each year in remembrance of Mexico’s victory over the French in 1862 as well as being a reminder of the resilience of the central American country’s culture and history for expatriate communities around the world.
Mexican Vivo Fest, running over May 4-5, pledges to transport visitors to “a vibrant, colourful world, where Mexican traditions come alive”.
Sponsored by Chili Maven and Sweet Nibble the event promises plenty of street food – think tacos, tamales and pan dulce – as well as live music and dancing.
There will also be an arts and craft market, as well as workshops and activities (including an opportunity to bash a piñata).
There will also be something of an afterparty
on the Sunday (May 4), with Cumbia Mi Amor taking over festivities from 7pm. Expect Argentinian ‘cumbia trash’ artist Rolando Bruno playing solo as well as DJ sets from Bolivian producer Susobrino and researcher and activist Hija del Nopal. The evening will also feature a performance by Gypsy Box, hosted by Mexican soundsystem specialist Krea.
key details
Mexico Vivo Fest is set to be held at Hackney Bridge from May 4-5. Entry is free and activities will run from noon-7pm.
Cumbia Mi Amor Fiesta takes place on May 4 from 7pm. Tickets cost £13.20 and the event is for those aged 18 and over. Go to hackneybridge.org for more information
Scan this code to nd out more about both Mexico Vivo Fest and Cumbia Mi Amor at Hackney Bridge this May
celebrating
Stratford - Bow - Hackney Wick
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
STAGE | The Next Act
This fundraising evening for the venue will feature a performance of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, followed by zz and fun. Donations invited. May 8, 6pm, £26, theyardtheatre.co.uk
DANCE | Kabel
Brothers Anthony and Kel Matsena bring you a reimagined telling of the tale of Cain and Abel. Expect jealousy, rage and redemption live in movement. May 5-7, 7.30pm, from £15, sadlerswells.com
STAGE | Tambo And Bones
Returning to east London this show promises to blow “the roof o our present and imagines an explosive future for our world and for theatre”. Apr 2-May 10, times vary, from £10, stratfordeast.com
petrol heads
Fans of older motors are invited to A Classic Car Sunday With The East London Car Club, which is set to be held from 9am-noon on April 20 at Fabwick. The display is free to view and other vehicles are welcome to come down... fabwick.co.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about A Classic Car Sunday at Fabwick in Hackney Wick
Mexico Vivo Fest is coming to Hackney Bridge from May 4-5
Sudoku
Take a break from that phone
How to play
To complete Sudoku, ll the board by entering numbers one to nine such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.
More to play
You can nd more Sudoku puzzles and a wide selection of other brainteasers available to download for free at puzzles.ca
Notes
crossword
Cryptic
Across
1. Those keen to shunt seats, I add (11)
9. A silent woman in the family (3)
10. Fear gent in a Latin country (9)
11. Instruction for consumption (3,2)
13. See 15dn, 3dn 14, 18acc. Produce and repair temporarily (4,2,3,4)
16. Person in charge is confused about trading (6)
18. See 14acr
19. Hunting for this narks Lewis Carroll (5)
20. Small letter beneath a ] printer’s type tray (5,4)
21. Gratitude for road surface, we hear (3)
22. I am lacking proportions about mysteries, I find 11
Down
2. Usually goes falsely before a plume (3)
3. See 13acr. And 15 down
4. Find this indicator in Walsingham? (6)
5. Scots arboreal possession for the races (7)
6. Isle Of Man only has one of these (9)
7. Blame empire for not being able to get through (11)
8. Uncles? (11)
12. Dismantle with insults? (9)
15, 13acr, 3dn. Sad demise from cardiac fracture (3,4,1,6,5)
17. IT commercial for AE ward? (6)
19. Cut the wool? Hears a share! (5)
21. Sounds like a drink on the golf course (3)
beating the whether you’re cryptic sleuth or synonym solver in it for quick wins, this should satisfy
