Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3

Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

+ Martin Gettings on laying out a path for the future Page 5

out of the darkness

how Connected By Light is shining hope for the year across Canary Wharf Page 14

inside issue 37

Sticky Rice - Sumus - Waterstones - Rice Guys Greenwich Peninsula - Grand Union Orchestra - Republic Gaff - Get A Drip - View Tube Cafe - Sugar House Island Chris Ezekiel - David Lefevbre Sell - 10 Park Drive East Wick And Sweetwater - Pilpel - Puzzles

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

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

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read

feast your eyes on these

four focus

support your local institutions Where?

Canary Wharf Across the estate

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SEE | Looking Up: Helaine Blumenfeld While taking your daily exercise, pause for a moment on your walk or run to discover the power of Helaine’s dramatic sculptures.

Until May 31, free, canarywharf.com

How Rice Guys brings comfort food to hungry Wharfers

Where?

Ole & Steen Crossrail Place

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GRAB| Pastries Grab a coffee, a fresh pastry or any of the Danish bakery’s delicious offerings. We especially love the toasties. They don’t look much, but they’re great.

Open daily, oleandsteen.co.uk Don’t forget, you can still visit attractions in Canary Wharf for reasonable exercise

Pilpel steals the falafel crown with its flavourful and lavish portions

Where?

Shake Shack Canary Wharf

EAT | Black Truffle Chick’n Burger Order the poultry-based special edition burger for £9.50 or its beefy cousin. Special fries are also available dressed with the pungent fungus.

Open daily, shakeshack.co.uk

at home

Wolford, £30 Well, here we go again – when we started work on this issue of Wharf Life society was under tier pressure but parts were still operating. Covid-19 case numbers continued to rise over the festive period and we now all, rightly, find ourselves in lockdown for the third time in less than 12 months.

With a programme of vaccinations offering at least some light in the darkness, it’s our hope that 2021 will be significantly brighter than 2020 and there’s good reason for optimism. But until those measures exert their effect, and cases fall, we’d urge everyone to follow the Government guidance in staying at home as much as possible.

We’d also urge readers to engage with local businesses at this difficult time.

Order from restaurants, buy local products and, if they aren’t open, send them an encouraging message on social media and put them on your bucket list for when the restrictions lift. We’ve tried to keep up with the changes for all of the pieces featured in this paper, but please check directly with a business or event organiser if you’re making plans. We live in a time of shifting sands but we’ll all get through it together Jon Massey editorial director

Enjoy a flavour of Boisdale Of Canary Wharf at home with ingredients delivered straight to your door including black truffles, Dunkeld smoked salmon and Buccleuch Scotch beef.

Perfect for those favouring indulgence boisdaleathome.co.uk Scan this code for more information about the products offered

by Boisdale At Home want more? @wharflifelive

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How Get A Drip aims to deliver optimum nutrition via a needle

the joy of six Every issue Wharf Life covers six areas surrounding Canary Wharf to bring you the best of what’s going on beyond the estate From Page 29

get in touch

correct us

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

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

Go to wharf-life.com for more information

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Canary Wharf

on the radar

doing the deals

get more for less in and around the Wharf

need to know

1p

One of our favourites – Island Poke – has released its Veganuary special bowl for all those eschewing animal products for the first month of the year. Pay £8.85 on Deliveroo for this blend of zero calorie noodles, mushroom and oat balls and kimchi islandpoke.co.uk

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Head to branches of Holland & Barrett in Canary Wharf across the estate for its penny sale – buy one product and get the second for just 1p. Expires Jan 26 hollandandbarrett.com

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Trilogy CEO tells us how his firm is refurbishing office space at Republic

Apartments at Canary Wharf’s 8 Water Street have gone on the rental market with studios up to three-beds available via Vertus. Rents start at £1,950 at the Wood Wharf scheme which is pet friendly for residents who want to bring furry friends thisisvertus.com

This bubble and squeak from Gaff is a must for after lockdown

3hrs

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How Paew Ford turned a lockdown hobby into a business serving up Thai food with her brand Sticky Rice to Royal Docks, Canary Wharf and east London

Spend £10 in any of Canary Wharf’s stores and get Three Hours Free Parking on the estate. The offer has been extended until at least January 31 canarywharf.com

don’t let poor marketing be a barrier to your success

email advertising@wharf-life.com to find out how we can help you reach our audience through our 15,000 papers or directly via letterbox

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words you don’t know you need

dispuise verb, fake, from Latin

To allow one’s repugnance for others who disregard Covid-19 rules around face coverings to play across one’s lower face while wearing a mask, so none can see your horror or astonishment.

Ideal for nosers on buses

book it

write me

“

In a world where so much is uncertain, this book resonates tremendously Jenn Tibbits, Waterstones

Wharf Life has teamed up with Waterstones in Canary Wharf’s Cabot Place to offer fortnightly book recommendations by staff Jenn Tibbits book seller

agastopia

ON

noun, real, modern English

Love or admiration felt for a particular part of someone else’s body. The natural home of those with a conventional fetish, but equally applicable for those who just appreciate a really shapely knuckle or heel

The Memory Police Yōko Ogawa paperback, £8.99 published by Vintage Publishing

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

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

Download our FREE guide to MAKING A LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY (LPA) Book a consultation with Tatiana Zenia today on 020 7925 0303 or email tzenia@kiddrapinet.co.uk

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his book was originally published in Japan in 1994, but has only just recently appeared in English this year, translated

by Stephen Snyder. It was also shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2020.

On an island set in an unnamed country, things “disappear” from the world and from memory.

A novelist finds out her editor is not forgetting, but rather, remembers everything.

She worries that the Memory Police will come after him, so she makes a desperate attempt to save him.

There are some parallels to be drawn here with George Orwell’s 1984, but instead of focusing on the mechanics of an authoritarian, all-seeing regime, it focuses on humanity’s individual connections to objects through memory and what it means when these disappear.

Indeed, the world-

building is subtle and it’s not worth thinking too hard about the logistics of how things are literally disappearing and how people lose their memories related to these objects.

Instead, what’s significant is that in losing these objects imbued with memory, the people lose far more than their independence and the objects themselves – they are losing their very identity and what it means to be human.

The translation is beautifully done. The writing comes across as clear and concise and takes the reader along the story’s journey smoothly and easily.

I was instantly drawn in, and keenly felt the impact of each disappeared object.

In a world where so much is uncertain and events occur that cause us to re-examine our lives and what’s truly important, this book resonates tremendously.

Go to waterstones.com

ice cool

the sweetest treat Pistachio Buontalenti / Chocolate Badiani, Canada Place, £4.50 It’s a time of small rewards. As the second wave of the pandemic bites, there’s no shame in allowing oneself small treats every now and then.

Arguably the greatest of these to be found in Canary Wharf right now is a little pot of two flavours from recently arrived gelato brand Badiani.

With lineage that dates back to the Florence of 1932, this company’s stall is opposite Waitrose’s main entrance and exit and does a decent trade in shoppers congratulating themselves on a successful sweep of the supermarket. I opted for the signature Buontalenti Pistachio – a rich and deeply creamy affair, offset with a mound of potent, almost bitter dark chocolate. Eagerly shovelled in with a little spade, the sweet luxury of Badiani’s products was nearly enough to make me forget that it came served with a singleuse plastic implement. Must try harder.

Jon Massey

Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Canary Wharf

2030

The year Canary Wharf Group is targeting for the estate to reach net zero carbon emissions

getting greener

by Martin Gettings

T

here’s no doubt 2020 was a challenging year for all of us. The pandemic impacted our lives in ways we never could have predicted. In a year that was meant to be the start of a decade of action on the climate crisis, the fight against Covid-19 took up a lot of time and attention internationally.

I want to start 2021 with a look at what we accomplished last year, and what we’re doing this year and beyond. Last month, Canary Wharf Group published its Net Zero Carbon Pathway – a set of tangible steps to get Canary Wharf to net zero by 2030.

This follows on from our Science Based Targets, which we published in July, and will help drive decarbonisation not only in our organisation, but across our community and in our supply chain.

In support of this, Canary Wharf Group also signed The Climate Pledge, joining Amazon and others including Coca Cola, ITV, Microsoft, Uber and Unilever, in pledging to achieve net zero carbon at least 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement.

In 2020 we received a Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) Five Star rating, placing us among the top 20% of all GRESB respondents. We also received our highest ever score of 84 points – 14 points higher than the GRESB average – and 10 points above our peer group average.

Last summer we were honoured to receive a Global Good Award and an IEMA Sustainability Impact Award for Best Campaign for our Breaking the Plastic Habit programme, as well as another IEMA Sustainability Impact Award for Construction Project of the Year for our One And Five Bank Street project. We have now built more than 10,000,000sq ft of sustainably certified floorspace, making us the most sustainable developer in the UK which we are very proud of.

This includes One And Five Bank Street – our first BREEAM Outstanding certified development.

We’re incredibly proud of this achievement too and we have many more exciting, sustainable projects

We know we can’t achieve this alone, which is why collaboration is a key component of our strategy – we are strongest when we work together Martin Gettings, Canary Wharf Group

Canary Wharf Group has pledged to reach net zero carbon 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement While Covid-19 has taken up a lot of time in the past year, it’s vital we don’t forget the existential threat of the climate crisis as the world recovers

better build back

in our pipeline. Our Net Zero Carbon Pathway sets out the steps we need to take to achieve Net Zero Carbon by 2030.

We know we can’t achieve this alone, which is why collaboration is a key component of our strategy – we are strongest when we work together.

Over the next 12 months, 2021 is our year to build back better. We hope you’ll join us on our journey to net zero carbon and help us leave a healthy and sustainable planet for our children. To get in touch and find out how you can be part of our net zero carbon journey, email us at sustainability@canarywharf.com

Martin Gettings is group head of sustainability at Canary Wharf Group Go to canarywharf.com or breakingtheplastichabit.co.uk Scan this code for more information on sustainability in Canary Wharf

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Canary Wharf

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Year since Rice Guys set up a permanent home at one of the Reuters Plaza street food kiosks

how Rice Guys moved online to help weather the ongoing storm of the Covid pandemic

In Chinese food, rice is always the main thing you have and all the other dishes change Vanessa Goh, Rice Guys

by Jon Massey

C

onnoisseurs of Canary Wharf street food will already be familiar with Rice Guys. The brand’s food trucks have been regular participants at events and markets over the past few years.

Having finally put down permanent roots on the estate in one of the Reuters Plaza kiosks in December 2019, things were looking bright. But trading was slow in the early months of 2020 due to the outdoor location and then the pandemic arrived forcing closure.

Despite months of hobbling restrictions, the business has continued to trade and is currently serving up dishes via Deliveroo – ideal for those once again trapped at home locally.

Vanessa Goh founded the brand with friends Kea Teo and Andrew Yu after spotting a gap in the market.

“We started it about three years ago,” she said. “Kea and me were working together at EY in Churchill Place in Canary Wharf, while Andrew was at Deloitte.

“My background was in corporate tax. It wasn’t exciting, but it was a steady job. You always knew what your pathway was and what you had to do to get there.

“I always knew that it wasn’t really

what I wanted to do forever although I did get to work with a lot of smart people.

“The three of us all had a passion for food but when we were all in our office jobs, we felt there weren’t any good Chinese restaurants around – we thought that was missing from the market.

“The Japanese have quick service restaurants and we wanted to build something like that but with healthier, well-balanced dishes that you could just grab and go.

“I’m originally from Malaysia and grew up in an entrepreneurial family. My dad has his own businesses, and, as I was growing up, he would talk to me about different things, so I had a mentor in that sense.

“Kea’s background is similar and, having teamed up with Andrew, street food was a way for us to get entry into the food business and get some experience.

“We’d never have been able to take a lease out because you have to show past performance to landlords.

“Operating from a van also allowed us to see whether people liked the food and to play around with portion sizes and pricing.

“We’re still serving the first thing we had on the menu though – the smoky barbecue pork rice bowl.”

With restrictions tightening once more, the food at Rice Guys is aimed at warming reassurance for those who fancy a break from their Christmas cookery books.

“We fall into the Chinese comfort food Continued on Page 8

food comfort

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

Rice Guys: supplying warmth and, crucially, big portions of rice to hungry Wharfers and local residents

Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Years since Vanessa, Kea and Andrew founded Rice Guys, having left their careers in professional services to do so

from Page 6 category – dishes that we would eat at home,” said Vanessa. “When we were working, we always said that we didn’t have the time to cook this sort of thing at home and, wouldn’t it be great if we could pick something up that would still taste authentic?

“So we’ve made the menu very comforting and well balanced. I like the Hainanese chicken and rice best. It’s normally poached but to bring it to the masses, we think the roast version is better.

“Our smoky barbecue pork is more influenced by the south-east Asian version, which is a little bit stickier on the outside. The roast chicken and rice has been our most popular item but the main attraction with it is the rice, so the chicken itself is pretty simple and straightforward.”

Anyone who’s walked past one of Rice Guys vans or stalls will be familiar with the potent smell of the ingredient that lies at the base of its dishes – also the inspiration for its branding.

“I think the name just sort of popped up, but we had to check other people weren’t using it before we went public,” said Vanessa. “It’s a pun on ‘nice guys’ and it works because, in Chinese food, rice is always the main thing you have and all the other dishes change.

“At a family meal there will always be rice on the table – the side dishes will be different and

you can take what you want, but that will be the constant.”

In addition to working with Deliveroo, Rice Guys has also dealt with the pandemic by offering its products via online platform Pezu – started to provide an extra stream of revenue for the business.

“We wanted a space where people could come and buy all their favourite sauces for their restaurants in one place, so that it would be cost-efficient,” said Vanessa. “It launched in July – we probably should have launched it earlier, but it took some time to figure out what we wanted and how we were going to do it.

“We started with pantry items, because they are easy to store and deliver. We’d all been in lockdown for three months and that meant we were familiar with the issues people were facing.

“We started to do chilled meals as well – ready-to-eat dishes from the different brands of restaurants we were working with, and we deliver nationwide.

“Our thing when we started the business was always to be in the City and Canary Wharf and to open our stores in those locations. As people are working from home, maybe it’s time for us to look outside London too and plan for the future.

“For now, the pressure is in trying to cover our overheads and looking at how we can be more efficient. “ Support them by placing an order.

The Rice Guys kiosk in Reuters Plaza is open, providing takeaway dishes for collection and delivery Scan this code for more information about Rice Guys and Pezu

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Canary Wharf

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Different hummus feasts to choose from at Pilpel and that’s before we even get to the pitta and salad bowl options

Scan this code for more on Pilpel Left, the enormous hummus feast with falafel and, below, the side salad

how Pilpel’s menu is a confusing, filling delight for the senses

by Jon Massey

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‘m sorry Garbanzos, Canary Wharf’s falafel crown has passed on. There’s a new player on the estate and, despite the mass-produced feel of the branding, it’s got the goods.

The Canada Place branch of Pilpel opened during the challenging trading conditions of 2020 and it deserves Wharfers’ support.

Here’s why.

Fortunately there’s another customer being served when I pop in to grab some lunch. This only gives me a few seconds to peruse the bewildering array of falafel, hummus and salad combinations available.

The masked lady behind the counter begins her interrogation. The experience is similar to Farmer J or Tortilla.

I panic and order the hummus and falafel feast

(£6.49). Then madness, will a feast be enough? I don’t know, I’ve never been here before. I add a side salad for £2.99, sweating in my mask.

Outside I survey the spoils. The quantity of food is enormous. At least two meals. The bowl of creamy, unctuous hummus is dotted with crisp, delicious falafel balls and served with a big old pitta.

The salad is, as promised, fresh and crunchy. The pickled chillies are impossibly moreish. On a grey day, it’s a burst of flavourful joy.

our verdict

London City Airport looks to the future London City Airport has published its new master plan following a 16-week consultation last year. We would like to thank all those who provided feedback during the consultation period, these views have helped to shape our future growth ambitions.

The new master plan is a non-statutory document that presents a long-term vision for how the airport considers it could grow in a sustainable and responsible way and:

Provide capacity for up to 11 million passengers and 151,000 aircraft movements each year with more cleaner, quieter, new generation aircraft

eaten outside on the Wharf

Contribute to the recovery of the local economy,supporting thousands of jobs.

Quality ★★★★✩ Quantity ★★★★✩ Value ★★★★★ Overall ★★★★✩

Reduce carbon emissions by achieving net zero by 2050 and targeting 90% of journeys to and from the airport being made by public and sustainable transport modes.

Star ratings are Wharf Life’s opinion and are in no way robust or scientific

For a copy of the master plan and our consultation report, please visit our website https://www.londoncityairport.com/corporate/master-plan

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Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

why the launch of Get A Drip in Canary Wharf could see you taking vitamins in a different way

£75

Cost of a basic hydration drip at Get A Drip in Canary Wharf

Richard created the company after feeling the benefits of IV treatments in hospital

by Jon Massey

R

ichard Chambers knows intravenous drips. His experiences as a type one diabetic with “loads of complications” mean he’s no stranger to hospitals or to having liquids arrive directly into his bloodstream.

Having felt rapid benefits, he became curious around 2015 and found the only similar privately available treatments were at Harley Street clinics for “around £600 or £700”.

“I thought: ‘Why don’t I make one that I can use?’,” said the former civil engineer and accountant who left his job with professional services firm PwC to start his own business.

“We launched Get A Drip in October 2017, but I’d started doing the heavy work on it in 2015 during evenings and weekends – writing the business plan and networking and trying not to spend any money because we didn’t have any.

“We tried to pitch the idea to British Land initially, but they weren’t interested. We then thought we’d put a clinic in a shipping container and drop that off in different places. But nobody wanted to host it. Then we thought about a hangover bus – a similar model to the US – but that’s a very limited market.

“In the end, we designed a clinic on wheels – a van converted for the purpose – and we found a space in Shoreditch, a tiny little place with a cafe and they let us put it there – that was our first location.

“The launch went well – we had loads of celebs down – and then we were asked if we’d like to open at Boxpark in Shoreditch.

“We got a loan from the bank, and, in May 2018, we had our first proper clinic there.

“That was going really well when a lady from Westfield walked past and then dropped me an email saying she really liked our concept and asking if we would like to open in the Shepherd’s Bush centre, so we said, yes.

“We didn’t have any money so we raised some funds, got that in place and opened there in May 2019. From there, people have

boosting nutrition with every

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

Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Canary Wharf

approached us about opening new locations ever since. At the beginning of 2019 we’d had a small branch on South Quay near Canary Wharf but we didn’t really have enough custom to make it work.

“Later we talked to Canary Wharf Group about getting a site on the estate and we were going to be down near Black Sheep Coffee in Jubilee Place, but that didn’t happen because of Covid. “ hen we were offered the unit by the entrance to the DLR on the first oor of Cabot Place.”

G

et A Drip opened in October, following a fit out that includes extensive imitation vegetation, dark blue tiles, reclining chairs for clients to receive their drips in and bright neon rigging to suspend the bottles.

Staffed by ualified nurses, the process is simple. Appointments should be booked ahead. On arrival customers go through a uick medical consultation and a health check and then, all being well, are hooked up to any one of a wide range of IV drips starting at £75 and topping out at £850.

Booster shots, IV extras, DNA testing and even Covid tests are also available to purchase.

“Our aim is to provide optimum nutrition to people,” said ichard.

“The NHS, alongside life-saving care, offers basic health advice such as eating five portions of fruit and veg per day.

“We’re offering something beyond that, asking what happens if you eat 1 or get the e uivalent nutrients from them?”

“We can do diagnostic testing, blood testing, DNA testing, and then give people tailored drips, based on the results.

“Typically it’s people who aren’t feeling great that will come and see us. They might be hungover, et lagged or suffering with an underlying medical condition.

“We give them a lea et and talk them through the options to explain what products could make them feel better.

“Our energy drip is very popular – a big seller, as are our Vitamin D injections. They contain 30,000 units, and release 1,000 a day into

“

Our aim is to provide optimum nutrition.

We can do diagnostic testing and then give people tailored drips based on the results Richard Chambers, Get A Drip

your system, so you don’t need to worry about taking a tablet.

“Instead of the saying: ‘You are what you eat’, our nutrionists say: ‘You are what you absorb’. These products are taken straight into your bloodstream, so they’re more immediate.

“With the test we offer, you do it and you get the report which tells you what vitamins you can and can’t absorb well through your gut.

“If you take tablets filled with vitamins your body finds it hard to absorb, then it’s pointless.

“People really vary a lot. We work with a company called Lifecode GX, and their tests are 99% accurate. Each client gets a detailed report that will tell you what vitamins your body may struggle to get enough of.

“The good thing about DNA is that it never changes in contrast to ordinary blood tests where results uctuate. Once you have your result, that’s it, you never need to do it again and it gives you nutritional advice.

“The DNA Silver test costs £249, but people who are more into health and wellness will want to know more about their genes, so you’ll get detox reports and other reports as well which will give you more insight, and that’s £499.

“We don’t make a big margin on it, because we’re trying to use the data to provide our customers with the drips they need and that will make them feel good. People say it’s expensive, but you only ever need it done once.”

H

aving already grown the company to a workforce of 27, Richard has big ambitions for the future and has already taken Get A Drip beyond the borders of the UK. “We’re franchising at the moment, so success is bringing our services to as many people throughout the world as we can,” he said.

“We’ve just signed up Dublin, which will open in a week or two and that will be our first international outlet.

“When you open a shop, you have a 10-year lease, which is a good deal. We’re actually using the downturn to secure prime retail assets, which others are leaving for various reasons.

“We’re trying to build the base in these locations, so we’re looking at Westfield Stratford City and the likes of Selfridges now.

“Westfield White City has been busy – the model there is a concession stand in the middle of the mall outside Boots, so people can come and see us.

“We’ve designed the clinic very cleverly so that you can’t see the Continued on Page 12

3

Years since Richard opened his first Get A Drip clinic

The Cabot Place facility features comfortable chairs for clients to sit in while drips flow into their veins

Need help delivering better customer service in 2021?

Partner with the UK’s leading chatbot, virtual agent & live chat experts

info@creativevirtual.com | 020 7719 8332 www.creativevirtual.com

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Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

“

The thing that makes us different from others in the market is that, on our website, we tell you all the vitamins that go into our drips Richard Chambers, Get A Drip

from Page 11 people who are in there. The uptake at that site has been massive.

“The thing that makes us different from others in the market is that, on our website, we tell you all the vitamins that go into our drips.

“Some companies don’t do that, they ust give the drip a fancy name. When you compare us, we’re actually a lot cheaper. Many drips have maybe 10 ingredients, but might have 45, so – on a like for like basis – we’re about half the cost and we’re happy to disclose what nutrients we’re giving people.

“I think it’s really bad that some firms don’t tell you what they’re putting into your veins. So that’s the big selling point for us and we think we’re the best value for money in the market.

“We should have maybe 10-12 franchisees this time ne t year and then we just want to continue to grow our product offering and e pand.

“We also want to make different testing options available so that we can make what we do even more tailored and personal, in order to help people achieve optimum health.”

During normal operation drip treatments take around 45 minutes and can be administered to individuals or groups (abiding by whichever pandemic restrictions are currently active, naturally).

When the law allows, Get A Drip also offers in home or o ce drip services to anywhere within the M25, although a minimum spend of 12 and call out fees between 0 and 100 apply.

Vitamin drips and booster injections are not regulated as medicines in the and Wharf Life recommends consulting a doctor before embarking on a course of treatments if readers have even the slightest health concern before trying one.

Clients get a health check, above, and are then hooked up to their drips by a qualified nurse, below, who monitors the process throughout

Scan this code for more information on Get A Drip Images by Matt Grayson – find more of his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta

Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Canary Wharf

40m virtual viewpoint

by Chris Ezekiel

H

appy New Year. I’m sure 2021 will be remembered as the year that we defeated this awful pandemic. Hats off to the remarkable scientists, their teams and the vaccine trial volunteers.

A new year brings new hope, and we can see the dawn of the vaccine rising above the horizon. While we also reflect on the devastating suffering and loss of life, let’s hope some of the good things, like the renewed community spirit, stay with us forever.

It’s been amazing to see the global scientific community coming together and doing an absolutely remarkable job to produce multiple vaccines in unimaginable timeframes.

On the one hand, we are reminded of the vulnerability of human life.

On the other, we have come so far, considering the incredible vaccine progress and comparing that with other pandemics over the centuries.

Education and curiosity are what drives human endeavour. When you consider the world’s greatest inventions and advancements, whether it’s down to a lone genius or collaboration and teamwork, one thing is for sure – the education and business environment needs to be right to enable such individuals and teams to flourish.

Governments around the world have had to put unprecedented amounts of money into supporting economies. Eventually, the books will need to be balanced, but we owe it to the generations to come to maintain a healthy environment where our scientists and innovators can flourish. Let’s celebrate the quirky ones who dare to try new and unconventional things.

And let’s remember that quite often we need to fail before we can succeed.

Let’s support individuals and businesses that are changing the world for the better. That would be a fitting legacy to the pandemic of 2020.

Doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine ordered by the UK Government

hope a new

Chris Ezekiel is founder and CEO of customer engagement solutions specialist Creative Virtual based at West India Quay’s Cannon Workshops Follow @creativevirtual and @chrisezekiel on Twitter Scan this code for more information about Creative Virtual

Chris says supporting individuals and businesses that change the world would be a fitting legacy for the Covid pandemic

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Canary Wharf

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Installations that can be found across the Canary Wharf estate with nine new works installed for Connected By Light

connected Tetra Park at Westferry Circus features a series of geometric installations that cycle through periods of order and chaos at the roundabout’s centre

get yourself

how Canary Wharf is shining plenty of bright lights for visitors to the estate in a bid to encourage calm contemplation and outdoor exploration over the first months of 2021

by Jon Massey

W

hile Canary Wharf’s annual blockbuster Winter Lights festival, which has drawn thousands of people to the area in previous years, has been postponed, the estate is currently hosting a smaller collection of installations intended to delight visitors.

A total of nine new works are already in position and are set to stay on show until February 27, shining out from dusk until 10pm on a daily basis.

Together with eight existing illuminated installations, they form Connected

By Light – a trail across the estate with 17 stops. This includes permanent favourites such as Bit.fall by Julius Popp, which projects words from the digital news feed of The Times onto glistening droplets of water falling from a gantry beneath the DLR bridge over Middle Dock where it meets Chancellor Passage.

The focus for seasoned Wharfers, however, will likely be the newly arrived pieces that encourage exploration beyond the shopping malls and main thoroughfares. top three If you’re only in Canary Wharf for a short visit, our top three installations are these must-sees:

Neon Tree in Canada Square Park by Hawthorn

Tetra Park at Westferry Circus. Check out Mandylights’ geometric installation as the lights ow ash through periods of order and chaos.

Murmuration at Montgomery Square.

Winter Lights favourite Squidsoup has suspended hundreds of networked, glowing orbs performing a sequence of light and sound inspired by the ight patterns of ocks of starlings.

Newfoundland Reflections viewed from Mackenzie Walk. See the whole diamond-faced structure cycle through purples and blues as Middle Dock becomes a giant re ecting pool for Hawthorn’s work.

Other highlights to be found include Parker Heyl’s Office Party with vivid Continued on Page 27

Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Canary Wharf

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Light source is responsible for the patterns generated by Colour Cubed, bottom left

from Page 14 colours illuminating the rectangular windows of 20 Water Street and Colour Cubed by Mandylights at Wren Landing, which explores the beauty created by a single light source shining from within a stained glass box.

Elsewhere Curious Fluorious sees Baker & Borowski transform the Crossrail Place Roof Garden with Alice In Wonderland-inspired sculptures and Ghost Trees sees neon spirals submerged in Middle Dock – ghost stumps from a long-since harvested forest.

While visitors are invited to explore Connected By Light, naturally social distancing must be observed and Canary Wharf reserves the right to make changes to or turn off installations in line with Government guidance.

Hopefully that won’t come to pass and Wharfers and residents will be able to enjoy the brilliant colours and thrills of the installations for another couple of months.

Scan this code for more information about Connected By Light

Parker Heyl’s Office Party installation at 20 Water Street brings Wood Wharf into the mix

Above, the orbs of Squidsoup’s Murmuration glow in Montgomery Square while, left, Colour Cubed paints the ground at Wren Landing and, below, stalwart Bit.fall beams words into existence over Middle Dock

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Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

Creative Space

this space is yours

working from home or in the office? take a break for some colouring in – share it with @wharflifelive or #keepittoyourself

Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Wapping - Limehouse - Shadwell

explore scan, walk,

listen and

four focus

support your local institutions ONLINE Jamboree Limehouse

LISTEN | Ewan Bleach Sunday Serenade Join the musician online every week for two hours of jazz and swing. While performances are free, donations are welcome via PayPal. Sundays, 8pm, jamboreevenue.co.uk TAKEAWAY Cinnamon Coffee Shop Wapping

One of the trail’s QR codes in position

TRY | A Brew And A Bite Pop down to Wapping Lane for a break during your daily exercise and support a family-run business.

Investigate the courgette and avocado cake.

Open daily, cinnamoncoffeeshop.co.uk

at Wilton’s Music Hall

Grand Union Orchestra creative director and composer Tony Haynes says following the trail From Cable Street To Bethnal Green is a ‘perfect pandemic pastime’

how Grand Union Orchestra has placed a trail of QR codes to help entertain and educate East End walkers

by Jon Massey

E

xercise is essential in these times of lockdowns and tiers and with gyms closed, there’s every reason to strap on some shoes and get some fresh

air.

For those who like to combine pounding the streets with audio entertainment and a little discovery, east London-based Grand Union Orchestra has created an interactive musical trail suitable for pretty much all levels of pandemic-related restriction.

From Cable Street To Bethnal Green features music and songs by creative director and composer Tony Haynes, with walkers able to

access the pieces by scanning QR codes at 10 locations.

The route starts outside St George In The East and, via the likes of Wilton’s Music Hall, Altab Ali Park and Weavers Fields winds its way through east London to St John On Bethnal Green.

Tony said: “From Cable Street To Bethnal Green is truly a show for our times.

“London’s East End is alive with the generations that came before us. People from across the globe have shaped this neighbourhood

Scan this code for an interactive map of the trail’s East End route

and brought with them countless stories and their ancestral culture.

“We invite people to discover the culture, heritage and historic landmarks of this part of the capital.

“A specially curated selection of videos from the Grand Union Orchestra’s theatre shows will be your companion and personal guide – the perfect pandemic pastime.”

Tackling such topics as the Battle Of Cable Street, the fight for Bangladesh’s independence and the decline of the UK’s textile industry, the collection of pieces are as broad in their scope as the multicultural makeup of the Grand Union Orchestra itself. ou can find out more about its work at grandunion.org.uk.

ONLINE Regent’s Canal Limehouse

JOIN | Regent’s Canal: Haggerston to Limehouse Zoom with Footprints Of London for this illustrated virtual journey along one of the capital’s most celebrated waterways. One hour with discussion.

Jan 21, 4.30pm, from £6, eventbrite.co.uk

fingers crossed

While live performance seems a distant prospect we’re listing Camille O’Sullivan at Wilton’s Music Hall from March 9-13 in the spirit of optimism. The singer is set to perform against a piano. Tickets start at £20.50 wiltons.org.uk Scan this code for more information about Camille’s set, likely to include Cave, Cohen and Bowie want more? @wharflifelive

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720k how Republic’s latest launch brings a fresh set of flexible, refreshed and refurbished spaces to East India Dock

by Jon Massey

P

ossibilities light up the eyes of Robert Wolstenholme. Even through the muted medium of Zoom, the founder and CEO of property firm rilogy is a picture of animated enthusiasm, set against a backdrop of glossy images showing the latest building to be released at his company’s Republic development in east London.

A phased regeneration of the ast India ock o ce comple , which dates from the early 1990s, the scheme has already seen a significant chunk of the area trans formed with a striking e terior paint ob, e tensive water gardens with free Wi fi and plenty of wood inside and out.

When complete, the development will see the four buildings completely reconditioned providing a mi ture of o ce space and retail units. It’s all part of an ambitious plan to draw both a fresh crop of tenants to the area, and also to engage the ever-growing pool of surrounding residents and get them onto the estate. he first piece of the puzzle – an update of the Import building to provide 220,000sq ft of space – was in place by 2018 and now houses organisations such as digital agency hreepipe, Lebara Mobile, Deliveroo and workspace social enterprise he rampery.

More recently, rilogy has opened the doors to the port building, just across the boardwalk from its forerunner, which offers a further 175,000sq ft towards the scheme’s total of 720,000.

Originally conceived as a cheaper alternative for companies facing steep price hikes in Shoreditch and Clerkenwell. Robert is happy – even e cited – to admit the mission at Republic has been refined by demand.

“When we started the project, it was a deeply soulless, boring place,” he said. “It was character-

ised by disaster recovery occupiers, so nobody e cept empty desks and the local authority – that was it.

“In my previous role with property firm Resolution I’d done a lot in Shoreditch and the business plan for Republic was: ‘Can we deliver space at half the price and bring all the people who were getting priced out of that area?’.

“In truth, we can say that didn’t really work.

“It turned out the people who were in Shoreditch and Clerkenwell were quite content to keep paying more and more. “ he few people who were looking for better value were going to Bethnal Green, Hackney Central or London Fields.

“So we had a little bit of a period while we were finding ourselves. What happened was the occupiers who had been attracted to us were generally involved in further education.”

Having let to the likes of Anglia Ruskin University London, the University Of West Scotland, the Global Banking School and apprenticeship and traineeship charity City ateway, rilogy has gone on to win planning permission to allow it to further e pand in this area with permission to change the use of 70,000sq ft.

new

Square footage of space the Republic project will provide when all four buildings have been refurbished

What we want to be is a place for upskilling, where we’re helping people get to the jobs. Next we want to conquer the tech sector Robert Wolstenholme, Trilogy

Scan this code for more information about Republic

space for old

The main atrium at Export cuts through the centre of the building bringing natural light to all floors

Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Isle Of Dogs - Poplar - Blackwall

Trilogy’s work has included adding pavilions to the existing buildings

The Export building can be configured in many different ways

Reach out: Trilogy founder and CEO Robert Wolstenholme is keen to engage with local businesses at Republic Republic has extensive outdoor water gardens with running water and covered spaces to work under

“The local authority is very keen for Republic to remain a place that is going to provide jobs,” said Robert. “What we want to be is a place for upskilling, where we’re helping people get to the jobs.

“We’ve been talking to more universities about coming in and playing the upskilling game with us and a lot of that has been about financial services. e t we want to conquer the technology sector – that’s the way we’re going.”

That isn’t to say Republic is about to become a one-dimensional estate. Robert is clear he wants it to be a broad church, welcoming passers-by with independent restaurants, cafes and bars and, perhaps, a craft beer brewery in the future.

“These buildings that were built in the 1980s are e tremely large,” he said. “You’d need to take 30,000sq ft and be employing 300 or maybe 400 people to take space in their standard configuration.

“With port, we wanted to break the building down and sub-divide it into smaller suites.

If you’re a business with only one or two employees, we can do that, or if you’re a company of 10, we can cater for that too as well as the larger tenants. “ t the ground oor level, I’d like to find small, local businesses from around the area who’d want to come and talk to us about starting something here.

“We can break up our spaces in all sorts of ways and I’d like it to be driven by the kinds of things a building community would want and also what the people living in the ats around here would like.”

Robert said Republic was consciously trying to do something different to Canary Wharf rather than competing with its “highly polished” offering.

Instead, he said the future of the East India scheme lay in providing a thoughtfully created and, crucially, sustainable, training space both for local residents looking to access careers on the Wharf but also for corporates looking for convenient facilities off the estate but within easy reach.

“The predecessor on this development was going to knock over these buildings and construct 1million sq ft of apartments,” said Robert. “That’s throwing about 100,000 tonnes of carbon up into the atmosphere.

“Instead we’ve kept the buildings and added to them using timber, which sucks carbon up and puffs out o ygen while growing.

“At Trilogy we like to buy unloved, forgotten buildings and to see what the possibilities are in a very careful way.” ow open for port, there’s a sense that anything’s possible.

Various spaces at Republic are available, with full details at republic.london

four focus

support your local institutions WORKSHOP Poplar Union Poplar

ATTEND | Moving Beyond Labels Join performer Katie O’Brien for this creative workshop as she develops a solo show about drug addiction, recovery and mental health.

Feb 27, 11am-4pm, pay as you feel, poplarunion.com EAT Moira Isle Of Dogs

ORDER | Turkish Food Hop on Deliveroo and place an order with this excellent restaurant. Our favourite is the lamb beyti – minced meat wrapped in a flat bread with yoghurt.

Ongoing, moirarestaurant.com WATCH The Space Isle Of Dogs

STAGE | Outside Gabrielle MacPherson’s first self-penned solo show delights in unsettling its audience as Willa’s dark secret is revealed after 30 years of confinement.

Feb 16-20, times vary, £15, space.org.uk

in the arts

Performances at The Space will either go ahead live or be streamed online depending on restrictions with tickets valid for both.

Check out lyrical A Place To Fall To Pieces from Feb 9-13 for £15 space.org.uk Scan this code for more information about Isobel and Anna Hughes’ folk and spoken word production want more? @wharflifelive

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Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

four focus

support your local institutions ONLINE WSET Bermondsey

how Gaff is serving up tradition with an edge in a plantstrewn cafe in Creekside

10

Years since Jed and Rebecca met each other in Deptford

by Jon Massey

DISCOVER | Tokaj Join Budapest sommelier Annamaria Panka Juhasz for an exploration of the intricacies of this famous Hungarian region. Sweet stuff!

Jan 25, 6pm, registration needed, wsetglobal.com ONLINE The Albany Rotherhithe

LOCAL | Pizza And Pitches Party Artists pitch for a £600 grant for their project.

Participants Zooming in vote on the ideas and are in with a chance of winning free pizza. Details online.

Jan 20, 7pm, free, thealbany.org.uk ONLINE Buster Mantis Deptford

STAGE | Drawing Shunga: The Art Of Pleasure The collective who normally run drawing classes at this Deptford bar offer a workshop on this explicit form of Japanese art. Sheer joy and openness.

Jan 28, 6.30pm, £15, londondrawinggroup.com

take a tour

A

ppropriately, aff is filled with lush plants – the bright greens of their leaves popping against the grey tiling of its walls and the warm whites of its tables. Like them, it has deep roots.

Located on the ground oor at the front of the Fuel ank shared workspace building in Creekside, the venue is a oint venture between ebecca Molina and ed Harris.

Opened first in February last year and hobbled since by pandemic related restrictions, aff nevertheless embodies the kind of optimism and drive necessary to make a hospitality business work right now. desire to push through the tough conditions today, to brighter times ahead.

While unpredictable tier and lockdown restrictions make it impossible to know uite what to e pect on a visit, readers should reach the end of this article in no doubt as to whether it’s worth making the trip in the first place. a bit of history “ ed and I have known each other for about 10 years now,” said ept ford resident and co owner of aff, ebecca. “We worked together on he eptford Pro ect, which was a significant development that changed the High Street area and saw eptford Market ard created.

“My other ob is running a design studio, called Studio aw, and we’d been approached by a developer to temporarily occupy a space on that site.

“Our proposal was to have a cafe and a 7 seater train carriage there. he reason was that the site includes the very first carriage

Join Footprints Of London for Charles Booth’s Victorian Deptford – a virtual tour of the area based on the poverty maps made by the reformer. Tickets cost £6 for the hour-long event on January 18 at 7pm footprintsoflondon.com Scan this code for more information about the virtual tour or to book a place online want more? @wharflifelive

Jed spent seven years running a coffee stall at Deptford Market

gaff discover our

ramp in London, dating from 18 , linking to the trains but also to thinking about the idea that one person’s rubbish is another’s treasure. “ here’s a very prominent ea market ne t to the eptford Market ard, where you find lots of crap, and you can rethink it, re design it, own it. “ here was a real sense of anarchy – there always is in and around eptford – so the whole idea was that a 7 seater train carriage ticked all those bo es and, most significantly, it was some thing that had itself been thrown away in Shoeburyness. So we moved it, loved it and restored it. “ here was a sense of magic, an innocent attitude behind it all, and also this subliminal message that it wasn’t a permanent thing, because it didn’t uite belong there – it was

a train carriage which is constantly moving. ed said “I’d gone back to stud ying when I was 27 in 2010 and I ust wanted a part time, e ible ob, while I was doing that.

“I approached a lot of different cafes, but I was never given an opportunity. Having moved to eptford, I was wandering down the High Street one afternoon and came across this random train carriage, and I’d never seen anything like it before, so I approached ebecca and she gave me a ob. I’ve been really into coffee ever since.”

While the train carriage moved on as the developers continued with their plans, ed remained close by, operating a coffee stall on the market for seven years until ebecca spoke to him about a fresh opportunity.

Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey

Business partners Jed Harris and Rebecca Molina have had a tough first year but can’t wait to welcome more customers to the cafe and the market stall they run as 2021 gets into gear

Bubble and squeak Gaff-style

“

When you have a brand, you can reach out, invite other people to own the space – that expands it and diversifies it Rebecca Molina, Gaff

a certain audience, with their laptops, we wanted it to be a bit more inclusive.”

Rebecca added: “The pandemic has created an opportunity for people to work from home, so they can come here and do that. It’s a really nice, relaxed environment, with no thumping music.

“We’re really conscious about the current climate – we have everything in place – hand sanitiser, constant cleaning and enough space that people can keep their distance.

“We have masks, so if anyone forgets their mask, they can still come in. I think it’s those small things that people have really appreciated.

“Although they might have been anxious about stepping out, some of our customers have said they feel like nothing’s going on when they’re here because they’re in a cafe space.”

the big idea “We both agreed that if we were going to start aff together, it wouldn’t be about hand to mouth,” said Rebecca. “We’d treat it like a business with a brand and a concept so that we could position ourselves – a sort of grown up version.

“We want to create a space that fosters a sense of nostalgia. You go in and you’re comforted by that looking to the future because it’s a representation of While aff is fully licensed, oppor someone’s home. tunities to explore its potential as “ aff is Cockney slang, but most an evening venue serving alcohol importantly what we wanted to have been limited by Covid create was a way to bridge the restrictions during its first year of gap between the more operation. trendy types of cafe “We did have a and older venues. couple of events We wanted to – jazz nights create a place – when it was where all allowed,” said people could Jed. “Those were come – a tradi really nice, but tional cafe with a tricky to organise. modern day twist.

A Gaff “When it was nice “So, at aff you weather, we had get dishes like seasonal bowl them outside in the bubble and squeak, seating area and we bottomless tea and offered some alcohol then. all these components that “We’ve also trialled a few allow people to identify it with different opening hours – opening what they know, but those dishes later towards the end of the week. will be made with high quality We sell bottles of wine to take ingredients and look top notch, away, and cans of beer, rather than while still being very affordable. having people sit in with it.

“It should make you feel special Our wines come from Theatre and you won’t walk away feeling of Wines in Greenwich so that’s full of grease.” a little bit unusual – that’s what Visitors can expect the likes we try and do with everything – of sausage rolls with cheddar, traditional with an edge.”

Branston pickle and meat from Other collaborations have seen eptford stalwart WH Wellbe the space host work by local artists loved (£3.50) sitting on the menu and even jewellery workshops. alongside toasties .9 filled “When you have a brand, you with fish fingers, streaky bacon, can reach out to individuals tuna mayo or – Wharf Life’s pick – and invite other people to own brie and chutney. the space – that expands it and The bubble and squeak (£6.50) diversifies it,” said ebecca. comes as a tower of potato cakes With vaccinations continuing topped with kale and a poached to roll out, let’s hope it’s not egg sitting in a spicy bath of sauce. too long before aff can throw Few carnivores will be able to open its doors unencumbered by resist a pair of bacon rashers for an restrictions. Until then, pop by for extra £2. There are also seasonal a coffee and a toastie. bowls, typically packed with vegetables and grains with the option to funk things up with a topping of meat or an egg.

Scan this Jed said: “At the market I code for more was doing really nice coffee to a information good standard, so that’s what we about Gaff wanted to marry with the food.

“We didn’t want it to cater to

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Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

take a breath

by David Lefebvre Sell

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Years’ experience Janice Thomas has working in education

Janice says the facilities at Sumus should make students feel appreciated

Tackle your stress levels by breathing deeply

T

here is a good chance you’ve been fed a lie – or at least outdated research – about stress. It isn’t necessarily bad. Stress is how we experience the need to adapt to change. It was stress that changed a flipper into a hand.

What can make it a bad thing is the story we tell ourselves about it, or how our ability to turn off our fight or flight response may be compromised.

We are not designed by evolution to stay in our stress response all the time. Over exposure to stress hormones affects digestion, sleep, mental health and our immune system, but there is a solution – good breathing.

You’ve probably heard that before, but are you actually practising it? When was the last time you stopped to notice your breath?

Bad breathing tends to be shallow and irregular.

Good breathing aids digestion and lymphatic transfer and helps to turn off the stress response.

Bad breathing tends It starts deeper in the abdomen and to be shallow and is slow and smooth. irregular. Good Understand that this is not a magic, one-time breathing helps to switch. Good breathing turn off the stress as a practice should be seen like diet and response exercise. It’s about long David Lefebvre Sell term physiological change.

The first thing you need to do is check that your diaphragm works, you might want to be somewhere private for this part.

Just put your hands around your waist and breathe down into your belly. Do you feel your abdomen expanding in all directions? Good. If not, keep working on that until you get it.

After that, start to count your breaths. Let’s say that when you start with your inhale-exhale count is two-two, try to make it four-four inhale and exhale and then a slow six count for each, if possible. Keep it up for about five minutes and then go about your day. Use a breathing meditation if that helps. Do this twice a day for a week and you’ll notice a difference in your stress levels.

Understanding that we do have some control over ourselves is one way of changing the powerless narrative you might have when facing difficulties.

David Lefebvre Sell is a Greenwich-based psychotherapist and Yoga instructor who teaches at Third Space in Canary Wharf Follow @davetheyogi on Twitter and Instagram and @DavidLefebvreSellYogaAndPsychotherapy on FB Scan this code for more on David’s work as a psychotherapist and details of his online Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga classes

teach the drive to

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

Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Greenwich - Peninsula - Woolwich

how Sumus UK is set to offer an educational boost to young people in Woolwich through its nurture-based tuition sessions

four focus

support your local institutions

by Jon Massey

O

ver the course of 2020, the education of the UK’s children and young people in the face of the pandemic has seldom been out of national headlines. Should schools close? Can teaching be done effectively online? What impact will missing so much time in the classroom have on pupils’ futures?

How can grades be awarded without exams?

With London schools remaining closed for much of January (at least), the latest measure in a bid to stymie the progress of the more aggressive strain of Covid-19 that’s sweeping through England, there remain more questions than answers.

Sumus UK in Woolwich will undoubtedly be in the mix of solutions sought by parents, anxious to mitigate the damage to their offspring’s futures. he first in a pro ected chain of centres offering tuition in nglish, maths and science for primary school pupils right up to those studying for A-Levels, its south-east London branch has facilities able to accommodate around 100 children under normal circumstances.

While the centre’s launch has been hobbled by constantly shifting restrictions – much like the rest of society – the facility stands ready to welcome students again when conditions ease up, having already operated for a month before the November lockdown.

The facility is backed by property company Paradigm Land and forms part of its development of a former cinema site in Wellington Street.

“Sumus in Latin means: ‘We are’,” said Janice Thomas, the executive headteacher and former Ofsted inspector who is leading its operations together with head of centre Tim Murphy. “We wanted a name that was generic and slightly mysterious, but not too obvious,” she said. “We are tuition, we are education and we are care. I’ve got 26 years teaching

I want Sumus to be seen as a community facility that can make a difference. This is not replacing what children do at school, it’s a bit extra Janice Thomas, Sumus UK

experience and Tim has 30. What we’re trying to do is to give parents and their children a very professional, academic experience with good pastoral care as well.

“As an organisation, we are part of Nurture UK, and they work on the premise that, for children to learn well, they have to feel comfortable, cared for, understood and communicated with. We’re developing our provision to be an holistic approach, it’s not just about cramming for an exam.

“It’s about coming somewhere and feeling appreciated, loved, and then wanting to be here. We’re trying to offer something slightly different from students just coming in and doing past exams. We want to know where the children are at and where they want to go so we know what knowledge and skills they need to be able to get there.

“We treat them as individuals and we want them to have that understanding about their own education and take control of their learning – the more involvement they have, the more effective the teaching is.”

J

anice’s career has seen her work extensively in London after moving down from the Lake District to qualify and then teach in Barking And Dagenham. Most recently she’s been running a federation of schools and children’s centres in Hackney as executive headteacher.

“Running that organisation means I understand that communication is key,” said Janice. “We’re partners with the parents – we want to understand their needs and what they want for their children.

“In some organisations it’s an us-and-them situation, and we don’t want that – we want them to feel that we’re with them in this and we want to help their child move forward.

“Success for Sumus looks like a child having choices and options so that they’re able to go out into the world and be happy and successful at whatever they choose to do.

“A failure is where a child leaves school and they don’t have any options or they’re forced down one route. If you open up a world of opportunity to a child through education or experiences, then they’re able to go out and be happy and fulfilled, so that – wherever they are – they chose to be in that place.

“Young people understand that the way they’re going to be successful is through education. Much earlier on they’re being forced to have a plan – to know what career they want.

“When I went to school, a very long time ago, it was just about what subjects you wanted to do, rather

than what you were going to be. Now, even in primary, you’ve got children as young as 10 and 11 thinking that if they want to go to university, they have to study to get good sets of results and then be focused at secondary school.

“At Sumus, it’s about teaching transferable skills that can go with any subject. Students need to learn how to take notes, how to study in 10-minute blocks – those skills that will help them in the future. We are focusing on the core subjects at the moment, but, if there is a demand for other subjects, then we will explore that.”

When conditions allow Sumus to open again, the centre will offer tuition after school in two-hour slots from 4.30pm and 6.30pm.

Janice said: “We are aware of the gaps in learning given the current situation and we recognise that education is a priority in this community.

“Many of the children and parents who are coming to us are very aspirational about where they want to go with their education, but they need more support.

“Sumus came about because Tim and I decided there needed to be some more provision of a high quality and we were offered the opportunity of working out of this building. We took it and developed the idea from there.

“A lot of tuition happens in rundown buildings with just some tables and chairs. In Woolwich we have the chance to give children the facilities and provision they deserve so they know they’re coming somewhere that they are appreciated.

“We have an organisation we work with to cover health and safety and we operate a Covid-secure building with hand sanitiser and an extensive cleaning regime. Masks are worn and everything is wiped down between sessions. It’s something that’s a huge priority for us, in the same way that safeguarding is.

“In the long-term, I want Sumus to be seen as a community facility that can make a difference. his is not replacing what children do at school, it’s a bit extra, giving them that boost.”

As for the future, despite launching at a tricky time, Janice remains optimistic the model can be rolled out on a wider basis.

She said “In five years time we would like to have a whole string of Sumus centres run on the same principles.”

Two-hour tuition sessions at Sumus UK cost £20.

Scan this code for more information about Sumus UK

ENTER Royal Observatory Greenwich

SNAP | Astronomy Photographer Of The Year Taking images of the sky isn’t currently outlawed in any tier, so here’s your chance to submit up to 10 images for the Royal Observatory’s 2021 contest.

Jan 11-Mar 5, rmg.co.uk ONLINE National Maritime Museum Greenwich

EXHIBITION | Exposure: Lives At Sea With museums currently shut, explore images from this excellent aquatic selection online instead with everything from penguins to storms.

Ongoing, rmg.co.uk PLAY Greenwich Theatre Greenwich

STAGE | Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope Who knows what tier we’ll be in, but here’s hoping Mark Farrelly gets to perform his one-man, uplifting take on an extraordinary man.

Feb 6-7, 7.30pm, £16, greenwichtheatre.org.uk

look around

Tough tiers in operation, but that doesn’t mean you can’t tour The Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College for free from the comfort of your desktop, complete with hi-res visuals and Tara Fitzgerald’s voice ornc.org Scan this code for the 360º tour or find out about viewing the Thornhill’s work in VR on a phone want more? @wharflifelive

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Posts on Instagram since Sticky Rice opened for business in August

how Sticky Rice was born from a lockdown hobby and captured the tastebuds of east London

Paew Ford started Sticky Rice, serving up Thai snack food from E16 and operates from her Royal Wharf home with support from her partner

by Jon Massey

W

rice serving up the

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

ith a fresh lockdown breaking across the UK, Paew Ford’s story is a reminder that positive results can come out of periods of adversity.

The Royal Wharf resident had forged a successful career in the hospitality industry, leaving her native Thailand to study hotel management in Amsterdam followed by a year working in the Dutch city. From there, it was on to Paris for 12 months and a year in Portugal before moving to the UK three years ago.

“My job took me to those countries,” she said. “I was mostly dealing with food and beverages, starting as a supervisor and then becoming a general manager.”

The pandemic arrived in March and Paew found her professional life on hold. She was made redundant in August and promptly launched online food delivery business Sticky Rice, having spent the intervening months planning and experimenting.

“I’d been hoping that I would get back to work, but during lockdown I felt that I should do something for the community, because I love food so much – it’s part of the culture in Thailand where I grew up,” she said.

“I started out perfecting loads of recipes at home, doing something to keep my mind busy – it was a hobby project, really.

“I love mango sticky rice so much and eat it all the time, but I’d never found a proper version here.

So I thought it would be cool to create a cute little brand around it.

“The business idea began as

“

Having started on a small scale like this, I have a feeling of euphoria – it’s empowering. Making decisions for myself has been great Paew Ford, Sticky Rice

Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

37

Royal Docks - Canning Town

£6.50

Price of Paew’s dishes, plus £3 delivery within three miles of E16

four focus

support your local institutions ONLINE Royal Docks Across the area

SEE | Dock Lands People View photographer Michele Turriani’s collaboration with Trinity Art Gallery digitally celebrating the area for the Join The Docks festival 2020.

Ongoing, docklandspeople.com WALK Royal Docks Across the area

AUDIO | This Is Who We Are Arts organisation Arch 468 has released five audio dramas by local writers for Join The Docks 2020, accessed by scanning plaques across the area.

Ongoing, also available online, royaldocks.london Above, tofu larb comes with rice and a mango rose Left, the dish that started it all – Paew’s sticky rice and mango

just snack food, revolving around mango and sticky rice - my two favourite Thai ingredients.

“It’s mostly seen as a dessert by those who don’t really know it, but it’s a snack that can be eaten throughout the day.

“The sticky rice is marinated in creamy coconut sauce, that’s supposed to be a balance of sweet and savoury. Then you have juicy mango on the side.”

The likes of spicy Thai mango salad, tofu larb and chicken skewer – all £6.50 – have since been added

to the menu. Her business, which operates entirely via Instagram, has a loyal, local following, some drawn by nostalgia for the avours of Thailand and others by Paew’s bright and colourful posts.

Paew said: “In August, the first hour was a bit scary – you’re super-anxious because you don’t know who’s going to buy from you. Then there was one order and after that a complete in u , so the first day was a huge success – I couldn’t have asked for more.

“It was almost like a validation

that this is something the local community wanted and liked.”

Paew said she saw demand peak during periods of lockdown with orders coming in from Royal Docks, Canary Wharf, the Isle Of Dogs and Rotherhithe.

With the future uncertain, she’s not quite sure what’s in store for her business, but she’s enjoyed the experience of striking out on her own.

She said: “Having started on a small scale like this, I have a feeling of euphoria – it’s empowering. Making decisions for myself has been great. It’s definitely taught me loads of skills and, having learned from my hotel work, customer service has been very important to me.

“If I were to take Sticky Rice, forward, I’d definitely want to expand into my own stall at one of the really cool markets. Then I would get in there, see what the market was like, see if people would travel down to see us.

“Then I’d love to open up a store – not a restaurant – I would make it like those bubble tea shops, really cute, warm and welcoming.

There is fear in taking that next step so I’m sitting tight for now.”

Scan this code for more info on Sticky Rice or to place an order

ONLINE RAW Studios Royal Albert Dock

SEE | Living Histories View images from photographer Selina Mayer, captured using a glass plate camera dating from the year the Royal Docks were built.

Ongoing, part of Join The Docks, royaldocks.london

watch this

Discover Musicity X Royal Docks – six site specific musical works commissioned for the Join The Docks festival 2020 and available online. Why not walk to the locations suggested and have a lockdown listen? royaldocks.london Scan this code for the video of Al Macsween’s Deep Time, performed in Woolwich Foot Tunnel want more? @wharflifelive

38

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Advertising Directory - Classified

find our advertisers’ messages here Kidd Rapinet print Pages 1, 4 online kiddrapinet.co.uk TfL print Page 7 online tfl.gov.uk London City Airport print Page 9 online londoncityairport.com Creative Virtual print Page 11 online creativevirtual.com Landmark Estates print Pages 24, 25 online lmlondon.com Galliard Homes print Page 26 online galliardhomes.com

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

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by Iliffe Print Cambridge. Copyright Massey Maddison Limited 2021

leafleting and publication distribution quotes via urbanfox@wharf-life.com

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39

Stratford - Bow - Hackney Wick

if it’s closed in lockdown, put View Tube on your list for a visit in 2021 to support it

6

Varieties of Cubanos to work through at the View Tube Cafe

four focus

support your local institutions SKATE Hackney Bridge Stratford

by Jon Massey

A

lighting from the train at Pudding Mill Lane DLR station always feels a little post apocalyptic. While the ripples of development spreading out from the big bang of the London 2012 Olympic Games are lapping at its shores, the place is often deserted.

When we arrive there’s a lone stallholder selling artisanal bread outside a pop-up hotel built from shipping containers. Despite his efforts, it’s still not the kind of place you’d expect to pay £8.50 for a sandwich.

That would be steep in Canary Wharf, but, honestly, I’m not complaining and that’s down to the View Tube Cafe. Found on the lower oor of a sprawling complex of more shipping containers, bolted together on a bluff overlooking the unimagina tively-named London Stadium, this Bra ilian oint is part caff, part bar, part restaurant and all bright colours.

With plenty of space in its conservatory, garden and seating area, fresh owers on the table and bold art on its walls, it’s a welcoming prospect for those seeking solace from the concrete expanses that surround the nearby station. Serving up South American dishes as well as bagels, burgers, cakes, breakfasts and superfood (some sort of berries in a bowl), it caters for both those operating out of the string of container units and walkers and cyclists exploring the area. Having only the night before watched the late Anthony Bourdain consume one in Miami, I can’t resist ordering my first Cubanos Classico, wincing slightly at the tariff.

Arriving in a sizeable cardboard covering, I unbox to discover a ciabatta like bread roll completely stuffed with roast pork. t first glance, it’s not an especially impressive sandwich. The colours are pedestrian and there’s no

Scan this code for more about the View Tube Cafe in Stratford

SHOP | Big Aye Skateboards Looking for bespoke, custom-made skateboards?

Check out this specialist store at Hackney Bridge, located right beside the canal near Here East.

Check online for opening, bigayeskateboards.co.uk SHOP View Tube Pudding Mill Lane

full Slip inside this unlikely outpost, hewn from containers in Stratford, and your reward will be a more than ample pork sandwich

BUY | Market Find stalls selling food, freshly grown produce, crafts, fashion and textiles. While traders vary, this is an excellent excuse to go and then visit the cafe.

Thurs-Sun, noon-6pm, theviewtube.co.uk HEALTH Westfield Stratford City Stratford

stuffed

greenery. But such minor qualms entirely miss the point. little like the ardis, it uickly becomes apparent that what can be seen on the outside of a Cubanos belies the quantity and quality of filling within.

And what a filling it is. Soft, avourful meat, pepped up with mustard and gherkins abounds, set off with cheese and moist, pink ham.

The result is a richer, distant cousin of the salt beef beigels found in Brick Lane.

I know, economically speaking, it wouldn’t be viable to roast a whole hog, selecting only the very finest 10 of its esh to make this sandwich.

But if that was the claim, I’d believe it.

It’s luxurious, balanced and, curiously – despite, its size – manages to dodge monotony. I find myself idly contemplating a move to Stratford, just to be closer to the source.

The, frankly, awesome Cubanos Classico, £8.50

DONATE | Give Plasma Those who have had and recovered from Covid-19 may be able to donate anitbody-rich plasma to help treat those battling the disease. Get tested.

Ongoing, full details at nhsbt.nhs.uk

and in the arts

Early doors, but check out The Sun, The Moon, And The Stars – set to arrive at Theatre Royal Stratford East from February 3-20.

Tickets for socially distanced performances start at £10. Expect rage and trauma stratfordeast.com Scan this code for more information about this performance at Theatre Royal Stratford East want more? @wharflifelive

40

Wharf Life Jan 6-Feb 3, 2021 wharf-life.com

SUDOKU

Crossword - Sudoku

asy

5 2 4 9 1

6

3

5 9 1 7 2

5

SUDOKU

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

No. 929 that each row, column and 3x3 box

5

contains every number uniquely.

Notes © 2020 Syndicated Puzzles

8 9 2

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Tough

3

1.

7.

8.

9.

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11.

12.

15.

17.

18.

19.

21.

Notes

2.

3.

4. . .

7.

10.

13.

14.

16.

20.

No place for a private secretary? (6,6) Which gives needlesharp sight? (3) Swollen – caused by drug (6) Consciousness that a fight has a strange sense (9) Heal about five in part of circle (5) Sun fills Bess with joy (12) Alice is out to get her (5) Spot a prophet who likes to see things? (9) Insinuate in a devilish way? (5) Compact, but three miles long (6) I assess as angry... (5) ...in harassing animal (3)

9 2 7 8 5 6 4 3 1

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4 1 9 7 6 2 3 5 8

5 3 8 1 9 4 6 7 2

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Quick Across 1.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

15.

17.

18.

19.

21.

Proportional (12) Measuring instrument (5) Corn (5) Decay (3) Fragrance (9) Economy (6) Game-bird (6) Ill-fame (9) Enemy (3) Sully (5) Assign (5) Unremittingly (12)

Down 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

10.

13.

14.

16.

20.

Penitence (12) Newt (3) Long step (6) Evenly (9) Coach (5) Beforehand (12) Machine (5) Allusion (9) Sick (5) Leave (6) Commerce (5) Falsehood (3)

Across: 1 Commensurate; 7 Meter; 8 Grain; 9 Rot; 10 Redolence; 11 Thrift; 12 Grouse; 15 Notoriety; 17 Foe; 18 Stain; 19 Allot; 21 Relentlessly.

Down: 1 Contriteness; 2 Eft; 3 Stride; 4 Regularly; 5 Train; 6 Antecedently; 7 Motor; 10 Reference; 13 Unfit; 14 Depart; 16 Trade; 20 Lie.

1.

8 4 5 2 1 3 7 9 6

Cryptic Solution

Down

2 9 6 5 4 7 1 8 3

Across: 1 Protest march; 7 Clear; 8 April; 9 Ill; 10 Spineless; 11 Orange; 12 Relief; 15 Faintness; 17 Pal; 18 Crate; 19 Gravy; 21 Fearlessness.

Down: 1 Public office; 2 Eye; 3 Turgid; 4 Awareness; 5 Curve; 6 Blissfulness; 7 Celia; 10 Sightseer; 13 Imply; 14 League; 16 Irate; 20 Ass.

Across

7 8 3 6 2 1 5 4 9

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The solutions will be published here in the next issue.

Cryptic

Demonstration in favour of month on trial (7,5) Justify putting the French in the vehicle (5) A foolish time? (5) I shall be in need of a doctor (3) Weak and apparently not prickly (9) Nothing on the mountains but fruit? (6) Plain alleviation? (6) Fan is sent to restore indistinct appearance (9) Friend of father approaching 50 (3) Trace packing box (5) Gravity lacks it (5) False sense leading to intrepidity (12)

7 4 3 beating 2 4the 8 7 5 2 5

1 5 4 9 3 8 2 6 7

2

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

last issue’s solution

Previous Oct 23-Nov 4solution - Medium

© 2019 Syndicated Puzzles

5

Previous solution - Very

Quick Solution

No. 93