Wharf Life Nov 10-24

Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

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inside issue 51

Chris Ezekiel on how success drives us on to even greater heights Page 6

Jon Hala - Kidd Rapinet Wilton’s Music Hall - Jake’s London The Gun - Sharkbait ‘N’ Swim Greenwich Theatre - Cody Dock Poplar Harca - Royal Albert Wharf Puzzles - Vetro - David Lefebvre Sell David Galman - Wharf Life Hacks

how Rockar in Canary Wharf is pioneering a fresh approach to helping people buy vehicles Page 6

ahead ready for the road

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

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

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

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support your local institutions Where?

Crossrail Place Roof Garden + Crossrail Place Canary Wharf ART | Barter Auction Pat Wingshan Wong’s work, made in collaboration with Billingsgate Fish Market puts the voices and stories of fishmongers centre-stage.

Until Nov 28, noon-6pm, free, canarywharf.com

Welcome to the latest issue of Wharf Life. Our 51st issue encompasses the finer things, whether it’s the luxurious feel of a new car, the exquisite confidence a fresh haircut brings, handmade Ivy League-style shirts from the Royal Docks or high-end seafood in an intimate setting in Deptford

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lunchtime

Hacks to help – a page of tips to make your life better

Cumin Lamb Biang Biang Noodle, £8.50 Biang Xi’An Street Food, Wharf Kitchen, Jubilee Place

Where?

Museum Of London Docklands WIQ

by Jon Massey

XMAS | Victorian Santa’s Grotto The museum’s Sailortown Gallery has been transformed with festive decorations and a jolly, old, corpulent man handing out the presents.

Dec 3-23, times vary, £12.50, museumoflondon.org.uk Where?

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Canary Wharf

DINNER | Cigar Smoker Of The Year Awards Tom Parker Bowles hosts this event, regularly attended by a host of celebrities who indulge in a good puff – expect at least four cigars on entry.

Dec 6, 6.30pm, from £195, boisdale.co.uk

flash back

L

aced with the kind of chilli that slowly builds to a searing, eye-watering heat, this exceptionally wellbalanced dish deserves to be one of the Wharf’s lunchtime classics.

Staff hand-pull the noodles in the background as your order is taken, then a short pause as the bowl is filled and delivered. Packed with miscellaneous vegetables, pak choi, beansprouts and a mound of chilli atop the carbs, it’s a punchy, well-oiled concoction.

It’s also excellent value, with plenty of flesh for your hard-earned dollars, topping a deceptively filling mass of noodles below. Around about halfway through your stomach starts to feel full. The heat is increasing too, but there’s still so much more to go. Delightful crunches, the ever-present warmth of the cumin and the reassuring chewiness of the noodles themselves.

It might be a bit of a marathon to get to the end, but the sense of achievement at the finish is palpable. And you won’t need to eat again for a while. @biang_streetfood on Insta Scan this code to find out more about the brand via its Instagram account

Read our interview with Jonathan Shine of UFO Drive about the electric car hire brand’s expansion to Canary Wharf and how you can rent a fully charged Tesla Model 3 by the day from Canada Square car park ufodrive.com Scan this code to read this piece at wharf-life.com alongside a bunch of other digital content want more? @wharflifelive

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Why Rockar won’t try to sell you a vehicle if you visit its store

Why Steve McClarty is the chef to watch with the launch of his venue

the joy of six The bowl may not look that full, but don’t be fooled, your stomach soon will be

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 37

get in touch

correct us

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

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

Go to wharf-life.com for more information

Email info@wharf-life.com

we want to hear from you

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Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Canary Wharf

on the radar

doing the deals

get more for less in and around the Wharf

need to know

50%

Open just in time for Christmas (yes, it’s that time already) Bullards Spirits is selling its full range of flavoured and straight gins on the lower level of Cabot Place – pop in to sample the selection or buy some in a charming reusable bottle bullardsspirits.co.uk

44 Is it too early to be thinking about Burns Night? Boisdale Of Canary Wharf doesn’t think so as it’s taking bookings now for four-course dinners on Jan 25 and 26. Expect haggis, neeps, tatties, pipes and the fabled address boisdale.co.uk

With Hawksmoor set to open at Wood Wharf on November 25, sign up online to book soft openings with 50% off food when dining, or cocktails in the bar thehawksmoor.com

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Discover how Jake’s shirts are made by hand in the Royal Docks

50% 10

How Jon Hala in Jubilee Place is all set to get you looking your best for the festive season with cutting edge salon services and high-tech aesthetic treatments

There’s still time to book Skuna Boats’ hot tub and BBQ craft with half price deals on both running at the West India Quay-based business in November skunaboats.com

HATE THE HARD SELL? HATE HAGGLING? HATE CAR JARGON? HATE BAD COFFEE? HATE LONG, CONFUSING BILLS AND HIDDEN COSTS? HATE TEST DRIVES WITH A STRANGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT? HATE BEING PRESSURED INTO A CHOICE? HATE PAYING OVER THE ODDS? HATE OLD, JANKY WEBSITES AND CHEESY BROCHURES? HATE THINGS TAKING FOREVER FOR NO GOOD REASON? HATE COMPROMISING? WELL, YOU’RE REALLY GOING TO LOVE IT HERE. NOW OPEN. ONLINE & AT CANARY WHARF ONLY.

ROCKAR. LOVE GETTING THE CAR YOU LOVE. Rockar Jaguar Landrover, Cabot Place, Canary Wharf, E14 4QT.

Why Cody Dock is fundraising to finish its visitors centre

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write me

words you don’t know you need

meetaverse noun, fake, from German subscribe to our newsletter and get Wharf Life content in your inbox each week for free

The persistent fear of real, faceto-face human interaction – also the property necessary to fully buy into Mark Zuckerberg’s projected future of a metaverse where everyone spends more time in a virual world

stegophile noun, real, from Greek

A person who enjoys climbing up the outside of buildings. While the most famous is Frenchman Alain Robert, who has scaled One Canada Square, stegophilia is undoubtedly on the rise, fuelled by social media

SEE | British Mouth Painting Exhibition View artwork by mouth painters Tom Yendell and Keith Jansz at Jubilee Place retail unit this month. A 15% slice of sales goes to the Mouth And Foot Painting Artists Trust Fund, which provides financial assistance to disabled children in the arts.

Until Nov 27, Weds-Sun, 10am-5pm, free canarywharf.com

FILM | It’s A Wonderful Life Head down into Everyman Cinema at Crossrail Place for a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Christmas movie to rule them all. James Stewart’s frustrated but compassionate businessman is shown what life would have been like if he’d never existed to tear-jerking effect.

Dec 5, 3.45pm, from £18.90 (£14.90 kids) everymancinema.com

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

Winter Lights has drawn big crowds to the estate in previous years

diary dates and ideas to make your Canary Wharf life a little bit sweeter

like lilac

Geometric print dress £35.99, Mango, Canada Place Catch the eye at your festive work function with this fun, black and purple number Pillow Tabby Shoulder Bag £395, Coach, Canada Place A statement in vintage purple, this design harks back to a 1970s bag from Coach

Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Canary Wharf

booked in

New York Tasting Menu, £37 + £33 for wines Six By Nico, Chancellor Passage

Canary Wharf Winter Lights 2022 Across the estate

Arguably the biggest thing happening in January in the whole of London as everyone mitigates the damage of the festive season with abstemious pledges, next year’s festival has been officially announced as running from January 19-29.

Free to visit, the festival will see favourites from previous years alongside pieces new to the UK and some specially commissioned works to delight visitors as 2022 gets going.

Full listings are set to be unveiled this month with a downloadable map to guide visitors around the estate

Scan this code for more on the festival

JON HALA 45 BANK STREET JUBILEE PLACE CANARY WHARF LONDON E14 5NY

Purple Planet Decoration, £5 Waitrose, Canada Square It might be the attractive purple hue of this marvellous bauble that’s creating a certain bias in our heads, given Wharf Life’s regal branding, but if you really want your tree to stand out, it’s the only option.

There’s something of a fashion for things cosmic and celestial this festive season – check out The Gun’s heated terrace pop-up on Page 38, for example – so you know you’ll be on trend.

Like all planets, this is best paired with a few moons, the central point of a heavenly entourage...

On sale until December 12 at the brand’s Canary Wharf restaurant, Nico Simeone’s latest tasting menu pays homage to the mythology and cuisine of the original skyscraper city.

Diners can expect a refined take on crispy fried doughnut, Eggs Florentine, hazelnut ragu, clam and cod chowder, flat iron steak and a New York cheesecake dubbed “The Big Apple”, pictured below. A vegetarian option is also available with celariac risotto and sweetcorn chowder in for the steak and seafood.

As the Wharf gets busy, booking is advisable.

COLOUR SPECIALIST SALON

0207 719 1828

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LADIES CUT + BLOW-DRY FROM £70 MENS CUT + BLOW-DRY FROM £55

SCAN TO MAKE A BOOKING

COLOUR S PEC I A LIS T SA LON www.jonhala.com

COLOUR S PEC I A LIS T SA LON

jonhalalondon HAIR | BEAUTY | AESTHETIC TREATMENTS www.jonhala.com

jonhalalondon

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Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

virtual viewpoint

by Chris Ezekiel

why Rockar set out to change the way people buy cars by blending the digital and the physical

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Brands available to discover at Rockar in Canary Wharf

by Jon Massey

Moments in the spotlight can be fleeting, but the desire for more can drive us on

I

recently attended an awards dinner where Creative Virtual received a leader award for Conversational AI. It was such an honour to be recognised as a leader in a field that contains such technology giants as Microsoft, IBM and Google.

It was an unusual experience from the very beginning – putting on a business suit after more than 18 months of Covid-related lockdowns and restrictions and meeting so many people in such close proximity.

Some people wanted to shake hands, some preferred fist bumps, some wore masks between courses. It was a wonderful evening celebrating our success as a world leader in our field.

There were lots of jokes about suits shrinking during lockdown and nods of agreement to comments about the lockdown bulge.

I had recently taken part in the London Marathon so felt It’s such an honour somewhat smug. It did get me thinking about picking up an award on the cost of lockdown behalf of our amazing on our health, though.

As we move into team – so much effort the festive season, it’s goes into making that even more important that we get those runs, brief moment walks, trips to the gym Chris Ezekiel, Creative Virtual in to help keep our bodies and minds in peak condition.

It was such an honour picking up an award on behalf of our amazing team.

There’s so much effort that goes into making that brief moment when you step on stage to collect the trophy possible.

It’s the same with running a marathon. All that training, the big push on race day, culminates in crossing the finishing line and collecting your medal.

But I think the brevity of these moments makes them even more special. In our busy lives, when we’re in need of a boost, we can easily recall those climactic times that put a smile on our faces. And because these moments are so brief, that drives us to innovate more and train harder in order to experience as many more of them as possible.

“

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

W

hile recent arrival in Canary Wharf Rockar has a showroom full of gleaming Jaguars and Land Rovers and a full fleet of test drive models tucked away on the third level of Canada Square car park, it’s not like other dealerships.

“Rockar offers a new way to buy a car,” said Oliver Walters, head of business at the brand. “It was founded in 2014 by Simon Dixon, who had been very successful in the motor industry for 20 years before deciding to sell the businesses he owned in 2004.

“Over the intervening 10 years he’d become increasingly frustrated as a customer, seeing that the process for purchasing a car hadn’t changed – all the sales tactics were still in play that you’d get in a traditional dealership.

“So he decided to create something different and come back into the industry. That’s why he founded Rockar.

“He wanted to digitise car buying, so he knew he needed a digital platform, but he also wanted to create an environment for people to experience the vehicles and that’s why we have a physical store.

“Rockar’s aim is to offer a way for customers to fully enjoy the buying experience – they’re empowered to do it online or to come to the store and configure their vehicle there, then have it delivered free of charge.”

Having started the brand successfully selling Hyundai, before the marque bought out its business, Rockar currently works exclusively with Jaguar Land Rover, rising rapidly to become the top seller of Land Rover products in the UK. “When Simon set up the company, he didn’t want to employ people from a traditional selling background in the industry,” said Oliver, who began his career with sports retailer Decathlon.

“When I went for my interview with them, they didn’t tell me it was for a store selling cars. What we want to do is help people purchase a vehicle, whether that’s

A Jaguar F-Type waits patiently for a test drive in Canary Wharf’s Canada Square car park

The Cabot Place showroom is open now Images by Matt Grayson – find more of his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta

Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Canary Wharf

“

We don’t have any sales people in the store and we have a no haggling policy – it’s about being fair and completely transparent Oliver Walters, Rockar

Scan this code to find out more about Rockar and Jaguar

car where the

is the star

No sales people: Oliver sits in a Range Rover Evoque in the Canary Wharf store

online or in person. When we’re recruiting, it’s about finding people with great personalities who can talk to customers and make then feel at ease when buying.

“Jaguar Land Rover do a lot of training with our team so customers can be confident in our knowledge.

“We don’t have any sales people in the store, we don’t have targets and we have a no haggling policy.

“People can be sure whether they come in the morning or the afternoon they’ll get the same price, as when they buy online.

“We update the website with any campaigns the manufacturer is running – any finance contri butions, for example, or any additional support – that goes straight online so every customer can benefit.

“It’s about being fair and completely transparent. For us it’s all about customer service.

We help people buy cars but our main driver is that experience, so we monitor it every day and use our findings with our team to improve.”

Having had a busy first few weeks, with plenty of footfall in store and customers coming to see and try vehicles, Oliver said the decision to move to the estate had been a good one.

“The location is great for us – it’s the right demographic,” he said.

“We’re super excited to be here.

We’ve had lots of test drives and orders going through the store which is great – we’re really en oying ourselves so far. “ he new Range Rover, which has ust launched, is getting a lot of attention and the all electric Jaguar I ace is great for people looking at it on business contract hire because it only has 1 benefit in kind.

That’s been really popular, as has the Defender.

“We currently have one of the stunt cars from the latest James ond film, No Time To Die, in store at the moment.

“It’s slightly ad usted with the bucket seats and the roll cage and there’s quite a bit of mud on it. “ or me, Jaguar Land Rover is one of the most desirable brands globally and having cars like that in our showroom makes it a joy for us to come to work. It’s great to see Continued on Page 8

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Rockar’s physical store is all about experiencing the models it sells, whether that’s looking at the details or getting behind the wheel

from Page 7 customers coming in with a smile on their face, taking photos and videos with the vehicle.

“The store is just somewhere people can pop in, whether that’s to have a chat, find out more about the cars or about Rockar and our online operation, or book test drives.

“Out test drives are usually unaccompanied unless the customer wants a member of staff to go with them.

“We believe the people can expe rience the car best on their own or with a friend or family member to get a real feel for it. They get up to an hour to drive wherever they like. We can help people with some route options if necessary or they can choose their own.

“Obviously there are some insurance requirements but we call it ou Drive’, because we let the customer take control.

“We have a demonstrator for every single model in the range. est drives are generally by appointment, but we will always do our best to accommodate walk ins.

“Customers can complete a purchase in store or, if someone has opened an account, they can then go home, see the car they’ve configured and then decide to proceed in their own time. “ hey can also edit the finance options and then, when they’re ready, check out. Of course, customers can always pop back in store, take another test drive and make the decision in their own time.”

When vehicles are ready, Rockar offers the option of home delivery with a full handover and the new vehicle arriving on a covered trailer. Customers can also collect their car from Canary

Waiting to welcome Wharfers: Rockar is located in Cabot Place

1

Hour is the usual length of a solo test drive at Rockar

Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Canary Wharf

One of the Land Rover Defenders used during the filming of Daniel Craig’s last James Bond film, No Time To Die is currently on display at Rockar in Canary Wharf

“

Just as we’ve done with buying a car, we’re trying to make servicing your vehicle really convenient as well Oliver Walters, Rockar

Wharf, complete with a special bay equipped to reveal their vehicle.

All cars come fully fuelled and charged.

“Just as we’ve done with buying a car, we’re trying to make servicing your vehicle really convenient as well,” said Oliver.

“Our service centre in Bromley y ow is staffed by fully trained technicians and is located close to public transport.

“Whether they’ve bought it from Rockar or somewhere else, owners can drop off their Jaguars or Land Rovers there or bring them to Canary Wharf and we’ll take them there for you.

“That’s also great for people who don’t normally drive to work but are struggling to find time to drop it in for servicing.

“They can leave it with us and collect it at the end of the day. It really is a convenient option.

“We also do collections from customers’ homes, courtesy cars if you need one and whileyou-wait services too.”

Customers visiting the Canary Wharf store can explore every Jaguar Land Rover product, including the Special Vehicle Range, which Oliver said offered an “extra level of personalisation and luxury”. He also said Rockar would continue to evolve as the brand electrifies its vehicles.

“Jaguar already has the I-Pace and by 2025 will have a fully electric range,” said Oliver.

“Land Rover offers a plug in hybrid and mild hybrids across the range and the first all electric Land Rovers are set to go on sale in 2024.”

With a bright, shiny showroom filled with vehicles to investigate, sit-in and explore, Canary Wharf now has somewhere to find out all about these developments.

Scan this code to find out more about Rockar and Land Rover Images by Matt Grayson – find more of his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta

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Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

£100

cost of Jon Hala’s makeup and blow-dry package designed to get clients ready for events

the cutting edge of

hair

by Jon Massey

Y

“

We’re independent and completely focused on customer service – we’re certainly not an average salon. It’s about bringing Knightsbridge to Canary Wharf Jon Hala, Jon Hala London

ou can feel it, can’t you? With the decorations up throughout Canary Wharf’s malls, the festive season is upon us and, with last year’s celebrations curtailed by the pandemic, the estate is almost vibrating with anticipation for the parties and events to come.

Anyone who had previously taken winter festivities for granted has had a long 18 months of restrictions and lockdowns to provide a bit of perspective for 2021. Little wonder then that venues are already reporting a surge of bookings with home and office workers alike apparently desperate for a bit of real-life face time.

The gyms’ treadmills and weights machines are working overtime as bodies softened by Zoom calls in bed and too many takeaways are honed back towards something approaching shredded perfection.

With serious pent up demand, everybody wants to look and feel their best – after all, Christmas comes but once a year and this one has even more traction that usual.

“People in Canary Wharf want glamour,” said Jon Hala. “And that’s what we’re all about.

“That means bouncy, beach wave and editorial-style blow-dries – the kind of thing you’d see in Vogue.

“Our aim is to make everyone feel amazing – totally comfortable in their own skin.”

Jon opened his eponymous salon at Jubilee Place in October 2019 as the culmination of decades working at the very top of the industry.

Training with Vidal Sassoon was

&

followed by about 16 years at Nicky Clarke’s Mayfair salon, before going on to style A-list clients from the worlds of film and fashion.

As workers return to the estate’s offices and an increasing number of residents move to homes both on and close to the estate, Jon remains as determined as ever to deliver cutting edge services while remaining agile and adaptive to his client’s needs.

“We want to serve the people of Canary Wharf, to give them what they want as well as a great experience along the way,” he said. “We never turn clients away – we are very accommodating.

“If someone wants to come at 7am, they can – we call it the early bird appointment. It’s the same if it’s after hours and we never rush anybody.

“We’re independent and completely focused on customer service – we’re certainly not an average salon. We give clients little gifts, something they can take away as a thank you for coming here.

“It’s about bringing Knightsbridge to Canary Wharf – we have an amazing team who are all highly skilled and have worked in films, advertising and editorial.”

Those considering having their locks tamed by the salon can also be confident as staff regularly take time to consider trends, styles and fashions clients might want.

Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Canary Wharf

how Jon Hala in Jubilee Place is all set to get Wharfers looking their best for the festive season

beauty “Part of our training here is to hold monthly soirees, looking at magazines and working out what the next trends will be,” said Jon. “The evenings are fun but educational – we put bullet points on a mirror and discuss what’s coming through.

“As a result of lockdown, for example, men have become used to having longer hair and many found they liked it.

“For women, it’s been a case of short bobs in case another lockdown happened. As a business we work with a lot of high end brands including haute couture house Balmain, which we’re ambassadors for, so we’re very up on the latest trends – we have to be.”

The salon specialises in colour services and offers products from brands such as Shu Uemura, Oribe, Sknhead, Kerastase and American Crew as well as making its own Miracle Masque.

J

on has also tailored his business to meet the very specific demands Canary Wharf generates and, having spotted a niche, the salon has launched a hair and beauty package designed to get clients ready for events, whether that’s for Christmas or at any other time over the course of a year.

“We’ve come up with an affordable combination of hair and makeup – inspired by salons in west London that offer everything under one roof,” he said.

“It costs £100 and that’s split equally between a blow-dry and make-up. It’s a good deal because just having the latter done professionally can be more than £70 alone.”

The salon also now offers a range of aesthetic treatments overseen and delivered by Jon’s wife, Violeta.

Chief among the services it offers are a wide range of treatments using a NeoGen Plasma machine, which uses pulses of Nitrogen plasma aimed at stimulating collagen production.

“When people are over 30 or 35, they start to realise that they have to take care of their

skin, so we are providing a range of needle-free treatments using this machine,” said Violeta, right. “It can be used to improve darker patches of skin, to lessen the appearance of rosacea and even to lift the eyebrows.

“There is literally no pain and, after a few treatments, people will start to see the results.

“It’s ideal for anyone who is scared of needles and doesn’t want to risk bruising on their face.

“There’s no downtime, so people can even pop in and have a treatment during their lunchbreak.

It depends what we’re treating, but the process takes no longer than 40 minutes.

“The results are quite quick too – I would say three or four treatments to see improvements, so there’s still time to get it in time for Christmas.”

The salon also offers Mesotherapy for both beauty applications and to fight hair loss.

Violeta said: “We use nano-needles that are so small – so soft and tiny – that they don’t leave any bruising. We’re injecting 55 different vitamins, which includes four different amino acids into areas Continued on Page 12 Jon Hala in Canary Wharf offers hair, beauty and aesthetic treatments Images by Matt Grayson – find more of his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta

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Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf

40

legal matters

by Erica John-Marie

Minutes – maximum time taken to complete a NeoGen Plasma treatment at Jon Hala

Erica recommends keeping your will up-to-date, especially following life-changing events

T

here are many life-changing events that will have a major impact on your will and the decisions you made previously. Here are my top four and why I’d recommend reviewing your will, should they occur: ● Purchasing a property You should review and update your will if you have purchased a property in your sole name or with another individual.

This is because you will need to appoint executors to deal with your property to ensure it passes to your loved ones. It is especially important to review your will if you are cohabiting as, in the absence of a will, your property may not automatically pass to your partner. ● Getting married or a civil partnership When you get married or enter into a civil partnership, your will is immediately revoked unless it was made in contemplation of either of those When you get eventualities. In the unfortunate event married or enter of a breakdown in a into a civil relationship you should also review your will. partnership, your ● Having children will is immediately Following the birth of a new child you will revoked undoubtedly want to Erica John-Marie, Kidd Rapinet make provision for your child in your will by appointing trustees and naming your beneficiaries. Many individuals do not realise they can also appoint a guardian to care for their children in their will. ● Death of a close family member At a time of grief, it is unlikely that you will be considering your own will, however, it is possible that the deceased family member is a named executor or beneficiary and that should be something you address when you feel ready.

Kidd Rapinet has put together a digital guide to making a will. See below for details.

“

Erica John-Marie is a wills and probate solicitor at Kidd Rapinet Solicitors, based at Harbour Exchange on the Isle Of Dogs. She’s available on 020 7205 4191 Scan this code to find out more about downloading Kidd Rapinet’s eight-step guide to making a will

The salon offers a wide range of hair and beauty products

from Page 11 that require it. After three treatments you see amazing results and I would advise that it is repeated every four to six weeks.

“At the salon we also offer fat dissolving injections, which is a revolutionary new treatment that can be especially helpful after people have been sitting at home for long periods during the pandemic. It can be used to target anywhere on the body where fat has been stored – the legs, hips, chests, lower back, the arms, the knees and the chin – to break down the fat cells.

“Clients should see results after the second or third session but it has to be done gradually so your skin has time to adjust.”

Staff at the salon are happy to talk potential clients through the various aesthetic treatments offered and to explain in greater detail the sorts of results that can be expected.

Back on the hair side of the business, that’s also true as Jon always aims to give his customers what they want.

He said: “You can only ever suggest things to people – it’s about meeting halfway. I don’t ask a client: ‘What are we doing today?’. But I will recommend styles that will suit them. Then we do a two-step haircut where we take some off, then decide whether to go further. It always works out.”

Go to jonhala.com Scan this code for a full list of services offered at Jon Hala in Canary Wharf or to make a booking at the salon

Violeta delivers a NeoGen Plasma treatment, needle and pain free and guaranteed not to cause bruising to the face

Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Wapping - Limehouse - Shadwell

£12.50

Starting price of a ticket to see The Child In The Snow at Wilton’s Music Hall

four focus

support your local institutions Where?

Tower Of London Wapping

VISIT | Christmas At The Tower A magical festive experience is promised including elephants twinkling in a winter wonderland, polar bears roaming and, naturally, playful ravens.

Dec 1-Jan 3, daily, with admission, hrp.org.uk

thrills

Where?

Troxy Limehouse

The Child In The Snow is based on a Victorian ghost story by Elizabeth Gaskell

festive

why Wilton’s Music Hall is serving up a production of chills amid its ancient stones for 2021’s Christmas show

by Jon Massey

I

f you like a little spine-tingling action as Christmas rolls around, Wilton’s Music Hall is the place to be. Promising festive magic and mystery, The Child In The Snow is an adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell’s Victorian ghost story The Old Nurse’s Tale.

Running at the venue from November 26 to December 31, the production is set in 1918.

A young nurse, back from the front line, engages in a séance recalling strange memories of a lonely childhood Christmas on the Northumbrian moors, complete with a dark secret that refuses to remain in the past.

Adapted for the stage by children’s author Piers Torday, the show is being staged at the historic Wapping venue by the same team that put on The Box Of Delights and

Debbie Chazen will star most recently A Christmas Carol complete with female Scrooge.

“The Victorian age gave rise to the classic ghost story, yet shamefully few of the many great supernatural tales by women authors of the period have been anthologised, never mind adapted,” said Piers.

“I’m delighted to be correcting that in some way by bringing this ferociously and typically brilliant story by Elizabeth Gaskell to the stage.

“The Old Nurse’s Tale is a stone cold classic of the genre – a deserted country house on the snowbound Northumbrian moors, a horrific family secret, and a girl who won’t stop asking questions.

What is not to love?

“The idea of telling a ghost story at the magically atmospheric Wilton’s Music Hall over Christmas was irresistible, especially when I knew that Justin Audibert and the creative team behind The Box of Delights would be bringing it all to spooky life.”

Olivier Award nominee Debbie Chazen is set to take on the central role of Estelle Leanord with design

by Tom Piper and music from Ed Lewis. Tickets start at £12.50

Scan this code for more info or to make a booking

GIG | Marilia Mendonca The Brazilian singer, songwriter and Latin Grammy award-winner, known for her live performances stops off in Limehouse as part of her European tour.

Nov 25, 7pm, £50.70, troxy.co.uk Where?

Half Moon Theatre Limehouse

KIDS | The Elves And The Shoemaker Theatre Of Widdershins re-heel this well-loved tale for audiences of three and over, complete with a comic mouse and a kaleidoscope of tiny footwear.

Nov 27, 11am, 2pm, £7, halfmoon.org.uk

rising up

Find out how Robin Weekes and Clare Kelly make their Wapping Sourdough products and sell them from a vintage van at London Dock – a selection of loaves and baguettes truly flavoured with the place itself wappingsourdough.com Scan this code to read Laura Enfield’s interview with Robin and Clare online at wharf-life.com want more? @wharflifelive

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support your local institutions Where?

Poplar Union Poplar

why a mix of gin and cosmic decor makes The Gun the ideal place to celebrate over the festive season

£9.50

Cost of a Hendrick’s Lunar cocktail at The Gun in Coldharbour

by Jon Massey GIG | Centre Stage Xmas Special Put the date in your diary for Centre Stage’s festive celebration with its usual eclectic blend of r’n’b, hip-hop, soca and afrobeats. Line up to be confirmed.

Dec 4, 7pm, £5, poplarunion.com Where?

The Space Isle Of Dogs

STAGE | The Astonishing Singing Fish Expect great songs, very silly jokes and a healthy dose of visual gags from this heart-warming story of the uniting power of music. Relaxed shows available.

Dec 3-8, times vary, £15, space.org.uk Where?

English National Ballet Leamouth

TRY | ENBYouthCo-nnect Christmas Special This workshop – intended as a taster session for experienced dancers aged 12-15, is inspired by the ENB’s stage production of the Nutcracker.

Dec 10, 6.30pm, from free, ballet.org.uk

rice revelation

If you’re looking for a massive platter of sushi for a very reasonable price in a calm, gentle atmosphere, make a pilgrimage to Yuhoki at Meridian Place on the Isle Of Dogs – tucked away but well worth the effort yuhoki.co.uk Scan this code to find out more about Yuhoki or to order food from the restaurant online want more? @wharflifelive

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he Gun in Coldharbour has long been a haven of toasty cosiness from the chill of late autumn and winter. It’s a favourite of Canary Wharf workers and local residents, drawn by the heat from its fires and the warmth of its staff.

The pub was a venue for former local and column topper Lord Horatio Nelson’s secret rendezvous with Lady Emma Hamilton and it’s not much of a stretch to imagine both parties similarly drawn by the inviting atmosphere.

In more recent times the pub has become a celebrated events venue with its capacity in the colder months extended by a heated tent and dedicated bar on its terrace overlooking the Thames. his season is no different and current owner Fuller’s has teamed up with a gin producer to launch the Hendrick’s Lunar Winter Marquee, a space capable of holding up to 100 people for a standing reception.

“We’ve teamed up with Hendrick’s to celebrate their new, limited edition gin, which we will be showcasing with four special cocktails,” said Mike Televantou, sales and marketing manager at Fuller’s.

“They’re going to be on the menu and people can come down and try them in the pub and the marquee.

“We thought Hendrick’s would be the ideal partner this winter.

They’ve gone for a celestial theme in the marquee itself and, with the Royal Observatory just across the Thames in Greenwich, we thought it would tie in particularly well.

“It’s beautifully decorated – one of the best winter spaces we’ve

“

Hendrick’s have gone for a celestial theme in the marquee itself – it’s beautifully decorated, one of the best winter spaces we’ve had Mike Televantou, Fuller’s

find The Gun has teamed up with Hendrick’s Lunar Gin, billed as delectably cosmic, for cocktails and decor in its winter marquee – now available for party hire

a space to

that Christmas spirit

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Isle Of Dogs - Poplar - Blackwall

had. We’ve tried to bring the outside in, while still keeping it nice and cosy. There will also be a Christmas tree arriving over the next few weeks, adorned with celestial decorations.”

Partygoers and visitors to the pub can expect a backlit hemisphere depicting the moon, plenty of antique leather, brass, ornaments, books and even a few pine trees inside the tent, which has wooden walls to keep out the elements.

The four special cocktails, priced at £9.50, are the Starry Sky Old Fashioned, the Moonlight Buck, the Bee’s Knees and the Blackberry Cracker.

“The space is available for private hire, but will be open to the public whenever possible,” said Mike. “People will be able to come to The Gun and grab a cocktail out there. The pub isn’t ust about the open fires – this is a new winter space, it’s heated, it’s very cosy and you get the riverside views too. The marquee is already

Scan this code for more info on festive parties at The Gun

proving popular with companies in Canary Wharf and we can tailor events to a client’s needs whether that’s buffet food, sharing platters or canapes. Of course we’ll also be serving lots of gin and tonics and can easily put together a drinks package for a party. “ ood wise we offer a wide range of options. Always well received are our mini burger platters with fillings of beef, pulled pork and falafel.

“There are also charcuterie boards and cheese platters, which are very popular in winter, especially with a glass of port.

“We can cater for whatever you need, whether it’s on the menu or something even fancier.

“We have just launched so there is currently availability – we’re happy to talk through the options with people.

“At present we’re pretty flexible but that is likely to change in the near future as bookings come in.

There’s a lot of pent up demand – this winter, people are ready for two years’ worth of partying in one, they’re really keen to get out.”

Email gun.events@fullers.co.uk for event bookings at The Gun

The Hendrick’s Lunar Winter Marquee at The Gun boasts an illuminated moon and plenty of curiosities

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support your local institutions Where?

The Albany Deptford

STAGE | The Snow Queen Yorkshire-based theatre company Wrongsemble present a musical re-telling of this classic tale, created sustainably for the whole family to enjoy Dec 4-31, times vary, £10, thealbany.org.uk Where?

Canada Water Theatre Rotherhithe

KIDS | The Ballad Of Rudy Those aged three and over can expect a reindeer with musical talent who goes on an adventure with a jazz penguin and sings the blues with a polar bear.

Dec 8-12, times vary, £10, canadawatertheatre.org Where?

The Brunel Museum Rotherhithe

FILM | The Man Who Invented Christmas Dan Stevens stars as Charles Dickens in this 2017 movie covering the story of how he came to write A Christmas Carol. Shown in the Grand Entrance Hall.

Dec 1, 6.30pm, £10, thebrunelmuseum.com

play right

Find out how actor, director and composer Phil Willmott created Rotherhithe Playhouse to provide work for creative artists and give people a chance to see classic plays performed live in the area rotherhitheplayhouse.com Scan this code for our interview with Phil about his plans for the future at wharf-life.com want more? @wharflifelive

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

£9.50

Cost of the priciest sharing plate on the menu

food for the love of

how Steve McClarty turned a passion for cooking into a dream and then a reality with Sharkbait ‘N’ Swim

by Jon Massey

S

teve McClarty – remember that name.

Growing up in Croydon, he left school with no GCSEs. A turbulent home life led to him becoming homeless at 17. A diet of McDonald’s and Subway left him craving nourishment. Living in hostels, he started to cook for friends and fellow residents.

“At 19 I was at a stage in my life where I decided to move out of London for a bit to get my head in gear and sort my life out,” he said.

“So I moved to Margate on my own – left all my mates behind.

It was either a shared house in Croydon for £500 a month or a one bed flat overlooking the sea with a balcony for £350.

“But I also knew Thanet College was just down the road in Broadstairs and it was really good for catering. I spent two years studying to be a chef and really found my calling.

“My passion for food came into its own – I found there was something I was good at, that I loved doing and that I wanted to pursue as a career. I was fully immersed in it, obsessed – winning distinctions and getting loads of opportunities. “ hen I went into my first restaurant and that’s where the real learning started.”

Steve said he found a sense of comradeship he’d never experienced before working in kitchens and winning promotion to the level of sous chef.

Having gained extensive experience in seafood, cooking in Michelin-starred establishments, he applied for and was cast in BBC2’s The Chefs’ Brigade, travelling across Europe under the guidance of chef Jason Atherton.

“It all happened very quickly, from Italy to Norway, Spain and then the final in aris.

“At the end of it all, Jason gave me this bible of all of his recipes, congratulated me on the telly and

offered me a ob at his flagship restaurant, ollen Street Social in Mayfair. But I knew I always wanted to do what I’m doing now and so I decided to decline it.

“Instead I got a job as an events chef at Google, which was a completely different style of cooking. I was running the operation between five buildings – making sure all the produce and chefs were in the right place.

“There was a lot of logistics involved and I really enjoyed seeing a different side of the industry.”

It would also prove invaluable experience for the realisation of his long-term dream – to open his own restaurant.

A

brick arch in Deptford Market Yard is where we pick the story up, with a sandwich board outside, a lobster pot resting casually against it and a pink and blue neon sign that wouldn’t look out of place in 1980s Las Vegas.

Sharkbait ’ Swim first launched over lockdown. It went a little something like this: Restrictions arrive and Steve’s girlfriend Maria Leach joins him in a shared house in Brixton. The couple decide to escape by buying a narrowboat named Roz to live on. They dislike the name and plan to rechristen her Damp Squirrel at the earliest opportunity.

On the day she sets sail, Steve proposes. Now engaged, the couple sail around southern England, still both working from home for Google and eventually pitch up in Guildford.

Once there, Steve opens up the duck-feeding hatch and starts selling seafood orzo to passers-by with Maria taking payments via a card reader in the bow of their

Scan this code to discover Steve’s restaurant on Instagram

Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

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boat. Following this success, Steve secures a pop-up in Lewisham and storms Model Market.

“Four weeks ago we got the keys to this space at Deptford Market Yard and we’ve done a complete kit-out in three weeks,” said Steve.

“We’ve just opened and we’ve been sold out every night.

“Sharkbait ‘N’ Swim is my baby. This is my dream, it’s what I’ve always wanted to do. It’s an intimate, small sharing plates restaurant serving fresh oysters, really fresh seafood, some vegan options and a couple of meat options too – something for everyone.

“I wanted an environment where people could sit together, share the food and get talking about it.

There are four of us – me, another chef and we’ve just taken on an extra person front of house.

“Maria is the operations manager/absolute legend.

She’s been so supportive

Steve with a selection of his dishes from Sharkbait ‘N’ Swim in Deptford Market Yard of my dream and she sees my vision – I’ve got big plans, to make a name for myself here and then expand to multiple sites.”

I could try to convey Steve’s passion for the food he creates and cooks in print, but printed words could never do it ustice. He fi es with excitement as he runs through lists of ingredients, foraging trips and inspiration – driven, focused, inventive.

Fortunately Sharkbait ‘N’ Swim has an open kitchen so he can interact with diners while making plates of smoked salmon croquetas, skate wing with cod roe in a caper beurre blanc or Goan curry mussels with a fresh naan bread puffed up on the barbecue.

Deeply rooted in sustaina-

“

Sharkbait ‘N’ Swim is my dream, it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.

It’s an intimate sharing plates restaurant serving fresh seafood Steve McClarty, Sharkbait ‘N’ Swim

bility, the name of his restaurant reflects his view that nobody should be eating an apex predator (or tuna), accompanied by the ripples in the water his and Maria’s home makes as it moves around.

“I want to take people on a journey to all the places I’ve been and cooked in – I want to put my personality on the plate,” said Steve. “This is a fun, sociable restaurant serving sick food, mate.”

That says it all. Having sampled some of Steve’s menu, I’ll be back for the rest and, frankly, just to have his vegan vanilla poached pear with a chocolate mousse made from tofu and maple syrup again. Go now.

NURSERY OPEN DAY

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Are you looking for a new nursery? At Hatching Dragons, we offer a caring and engaging environment for children aged 6 months to 5 years, where they can grow and learn about the world in 2 languages, English & Mandarin.

COME AND JOIN US

NOVEMBER THE 20TH

from 10:00am to 13:00pm

Activities include: · Water calligraphy · Gardening · Shadow puppetry

We are located in Canada Water, at Lavender Pumphouse

· Mandarin circle time · Construction Play · Much more!

There are limited spaces, so register now: Learn more about us at hatching-dragons.com

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take a breath

by David Lefebvre Sell

2

Festive shows at Greenwich Theatre that are booking now – full details below

dame and villain return for latest Greenwich Theatre panto as The Queen Of Hearts opens up Rewards can help overcome procrastination

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his article is going to be a bit hypocritical, because I thought I should write about some strategies to deal with procrastination – that’s a little like Boris Johnson giving relationship advice. Or maybe it’s not all that hypocritical, after all. Who better to give advice than someone who has intimate knowledge of their own failures?

People who struggle with procrastination generally have an unhelpful concept of what it is and how to deal with it.

They will tend to see themselves as weak or lazy and believe that the only way to deal with said flaws is to berate themselves into action. Because we all know how motivating verbal abuse is, right?

Your negative self beliefs might have to be confronted. Do you feel like nothing you do can be good enough?

Or that you can’t be good enough? Why would anyone take up a difficult task if Start small. Answer they knew they were emails, start that going to fail? Such narratives rob us of the dreaded project, smash ability to imagine good outcomes to our strugthe patriarchy, then eat gles and can trap us the chocolate. Eat in cycles of avoidance and disappointment. all the chocolate Part of the problem David Lefebvre Sell is a poor work-rest-play balance. When we rest, we think about work and, when we’re at work, we think about how we would rather be playing. If you find it hard to force yourself to complete tasks, check in with your stress levels.

Proper, guilt-free rest and fun makes us more productive, not less so. If you’re going to waste an hour watching YouTube, really enjoy it. Play is psychologically important.

It’s also important to make use of your naturally productive periods. This might not always be possible in our working lives, but it’s useful to notice if you’re generally more productive in the mornings, right after exercise or whenever. Finally, start small and reward yourself. Answer emails, start that dreaded project, smash the patriarchy, then eat the chocolate. Eat all the chocolate.

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

by Jon Massey

I

t’s over there – look behind you. Following last year’s enforced pause, panto is back at Greenwich Theatre with two of the best in the genre centre stage. Andrew Pollard has been writing festive shows and pulling on all manner of costumes as the dame to delight audiences for as long as anyone can remember.

His 2019 extravaganza – a Russian take on Sleeping Beauty featuring Ivan The Slightly Irritable, Swedish au pair Bjorn and himself in the role of Fairy Faberge – won Best Pantomime at the Offies.

While that award recognises the depth of quality shown by the whole production – Wharf Life saw it and it was fabulous – there’s no doubt that the presence of Anthony Spargo’s dastardly villain Rasputin took everything up a level.

Great news then that Pollard’s latest work, The Queen Of Hearts, is also set to feature his bombastic evil snivellings.

Running from November 19 to January 2, the show will also see musical director Steve Marwick and designer Cleo Pettitt reprise their roles alongside the promise of some “dazzling new faces”.

Pollard said he couldn’t wait to get the family back together for another traditional pantomime, tricked up with the usual spread of satire and cultural silliness.

Audiences can expect to meet the Knave Of Hearts – a bit of a joker, apparently – who’s in love with the Princess Of Diamonds.

While she has a boyfriend already, the Prince Of Spades, there’s a chance the Queen’s secret jam recipe might win her over. But then there’s the King of Clubs who’s also desperate to get his hands on the secret recipe.

Greenwich Theatre artistic director James Haddrell said: “Having had a long time to think about the best way to

Andrew Pollard, left, and Anthony Spargo – seen here in 2019’s Sleeping Beauty will return as dame and villain in Queen Of Hearts at Greenwich Theatre

Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

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“

We were all agreed in wanting to present something unusual, something very new that at the same time has the history of panto

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support your local institutions Where?

The O2 Arena Peninsula

James Haddrell, Greenwich Theatre

up curtain

return to panto, we were all agreed in wanting to present something unusual, something very new and at the same time something that has the whole history and heritage of pantomime at its heart.

“Welcome, then, The Queen Of Hearts – a classic pantomime title from decades past that’s largely been forgotten today.

“This spectacular show will feature all of the classic Greenwich ingredients that everybody loves, along with a few surprises on stage.

“It’s certainly been a long time coming, but we know that audiences are going to love it.”

Having faced false re-starts and repeated closures during the course of the pandemic, the absence of pantomime from a theatre’s stage is a significant financial blow.

Many venues rely on the healthy festive demand for such productions to support their programmes throughout the year. With audiences returning to see shows in person this year, the welcome from the actors and staff is likely to be even warmer than usual.

Standard tickets for the show cost £32 with various concessions available. Children are £16.50. There will be a relaxed performance on December 3. ● For those who fancy something even more traditional than a plot about jam based on playing cards, Greenwich Theatre is also staging A Christmas Carol for three performances across December 6 and 13. Tickets for the one-man show where Charles Dickens reads his classic tale cost £17.

For more information go to greenwichtheatre.org.uk or wave your phone’s camera over the code below Scan this code for more about The Queen Of Hearts

RECORDING | Shagged, Married, Annoyed Join Chris and Rosie Ramsey – stars of the hit podcast of the same name – for a live show on life, relationships, arguments, parenting and more.

Nov 30, 6pm, from £27, theo2.co.uk Where?

The Fudge Patch Greenwich Market

TASTE | Mint Chocolate Fudge Hats off to the inventive folks behind this new flavour – pop in and try some for free. The business is also offering free delivery for orders in November.

Open daily, 10am-5.30pm, £10 (3), thefudgepatch.co.uk Where?

Design District Peninsula

ART| Flux Exhibition A showcase of 50 contemporary artists including painters, sculptors, and performance artists, selected and curated by Flux founder Lisa Gray.

Until Nov 27, 11am-5pm, free, fluxexhibition.com

visit Boaty

Be quick – Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair runs from November 11-18 at the Fireworks Factory in Woolwich Works. Visitors can discover and purchase more than 700 original works by a wide selection of artists woolwichprintfair.com Scan this code to find out more about the fair from co-founder Lizzie Glendinning in our piece want more? @wharflifelive

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£145

Cost of the majority of Jake’s shirts

how Covid-19 led to the birth of Jake Wigham’s fashion brand, underscored by music and culture

by Jon Massey

W

hen I knock on the door of Jake Wigham’s workshop at The Silver Building in Royal Docks, I can hear fast-paced music within.

Located at the end of a long white corridor in the rutalist confines of a former brewery, there’s little to indicate that this is the site of intense industry, creativity and craftsmanship.

Step inside though, and its occupant openly wears and displays the influences that, woven together, help tell the story of his business and the clothes he designs and makes.

“Jake’s is a menswear company focusing on the styles of 1950s and 1960s America,” said Jake. “It’s not just about the clothing, but the culture that surrounds it.

“I’ve always had an interest in youth sub-cultures and in music.

My dad was a punk in the 1980s and, when I started making my own choices aged around 12 or 13 I got into punk and he said: ‘If you’re going to listen to punk, this is the real stuff’.

“He gave me his records, I’d put those onto tapes and I would have them in my Walkman – not really too great for a teenager, I guess, that angsty, bad attitude thing.

“At about 15 or 16 I got into vintage black music – soul, reggae and jazz – and that was a turning point. My whole personality changed. The music is a lot more joyful and it helped me learn about cultures different from my own.

“That’s been a lifelong passion for the last 20 years – music is what I spend all my time and money on – buying records, going to gigs. That’s the good thing about London – all that culture is on your doorstep.”

Growing up in Carlisle, Jake initially left school to become a bricklayer but after a few years “got really sick of it”. Turning instead to art school, he found inspiration in his tutors who suggested he try a creative craft.

“I liked the sound of tailoring, being able to make my own

clothes,” he said. “I’ve always been into specific cuts of clothing and I’ve always bought vintage items but, because of my height, finding things that fitted was a problem.”

Inspired by the works of Jack Kerouac, John Cooper Clarke and Linton Kwesi Johnson, he wrote a “quite aggressive” application to the London College Of Fashion in the style of a beat poet, setting out his likes and dislikes about the industry and modern culture.

Life in the capital was something he’d wanted to try, having seen his brother’s experience studying in the city.

So, egged on by his tutors, he sent his piece off and was duly invited for an interview. His interviewers told him on arrival that they’d been waiting to meet the man behind his punchy personal statement and he won a place.

“I did the degree, loved it, made a lot of friends, learned a lot about the industry and the craft,” said Jake. “When I left, I tried to get an apprenticeship in Savile Row – I tried lots of different places, and all of them wanted me to work for free for the first six months at least.

“I’m from a northern working-class town and my parents couldn’t help support me to do that, as much as they wanted to, so I couldn’t stay in London.

“Luckily, in my home town, there are two Savile Row tailors.

They are based up there but they travel all over the world.

“I had a relationship with them anyway, because in summers when I’d go back home for a few weeks, I’d go in, show them my work, and we’d chat and maybe I’d spend a few days working with them, learning bits and pieces.

“They always said: ‘When you’re finished, come up and see what you think’. But I didn’t want to move out of London.

“In the end I had to. I went up there and was offered a ob – not a lot of money, but it was paid, so that was fine and I could move back in with my parents.

“I specialised in trouser-making, did an apprenticeship for a few years, and then I went freelance.”

S

Jake works on a Bleeding La’al Madras Check Button Down Shirt for a customer using fabric coloured with natural dyes that will gradually fade over many years of wear giving each garment its own identity

triking out on his own, Jake headed back to London after about six months, working for three tailors and renting the unit at The Silver Building to cope with the workload.

“I was doing really well, not making vast It was my dream to amounts of money, but getting lots of have my own brand. I’d work,” he said. never had enough time “Then, when Covid hit, Savile Row was to focus on it, but that

“

changed because of the pandemic

Jake Wigham, Jake’s

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

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stitch passion in each

destroyed by it because tailors couldn’t travel and a lot of their business revolves around that.

“I’d always made my own clothes and shirts and so on, and they’ve always been specific cuts, I just decided to give it a go and make it into a business.”

“It was always my dream to have my own brand, but bringing it to fruition is a different thing.

Obviously there’s a lot of money and work involved.

“Because of the freelance work I was doing, I’d never had enough time to focus on it, but that changed because of the pandemic.”

A

Wave your phone camera over this code to discover Jake’s full range, or to place an order for one of his shirts

fter a month of research and painstaking development to get the cut, sizes and fabrication just so, Jake was ready to launch his first shirt. romoting his brand through Instagram, on the first day he went live he had orders for 30 shirts.

“That felt fucking great, to be honest man, really incredible,” he said. “For a one-person small business it was a lot and I was really happy.

“Now I get orders worldwide from such a broad demographic of people – I suppose it’s people who appreciate craft.

“Every piece is made to order – I don’t have any stock so every shirt here is accounted for.

“I’m trying to build a little community of like-minded people who are into the kinds of things I am. Jazz and reggae are my two biggest passions and everything feeds back into the company – I want to put my whole personality into it.

“I spend a lot of time mulling over imagery and watching period films ust because that’s what I’m interested in.

“Whether that comes across when you’re just looking at a shirt on someone, I don’t know, but I try and tell the story.

“The main shirt in the range is like a mid-century cut button down from the 1950s with full sleeves and a full body. There’s no

lining on the collar or cuffs. It’s a very soft Oxford fabric, which is heavy, durable and will literally last a lifetime. I use real mother-ofpearl buttons and try to make my shirts the best possible quality they can be.”

Shirts are made in a traditional bree y fit and are based on each customer’s measurements with an option for custom sleeve lengths and to have a name sewn into the collar. “ eople need to understand it’s a specific cut,” said Jake. “I get a lot of people asking for a slimmer shirt, but I always say no because you can get them anywhere. That’s not what I’m doing.

“It’s the same when people ask for a lined collar. It’s very much take it or leave it.”

That’s not to say the brand doesn’t offer options, including a shirt inspired by Miles Davies on the cover of his 1958 Milestones album. Trousers are also soon to be available, manufactured in orkshire to Jake’s specifications.

To cope with demand for his products, he’s already had to take on help.

“The downside of the way I run the business is that there’s only a certain level I can get to, if it’s me doing it all, so I have to relinquish some of the responsibility,” he said. “I don’t really have ambitions to be Ralph Lauren or someone like that.

“I quite like the idea of it staying niche and relatively small. I’d like to have an atelier, where me and a small team of people produce really top-end products for a small customer base, because then there’s nothing throwaway about it.

“If someone buys a shirt from me, I want it to be that they want to get a lot of use out of the shirt. eople are trying to go down more sustainable routes and that’s the future of clothing.”

Jake’s shirts generally cost £145 plus delivery. Orders are despatched within five weeks or sooner.

Find out more about the brand on Instagram @jakes_ldn

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support your local institutions Where?

Art In The Docks Royal Albert Wharf

ART | Unsuitable For Females Curated by artist Sarah Lang, this exhibition marks the centenary of the Football Association’s ban on women playing the game. It was lifted in 1971.

Nov 22-Dec 5, times vary, free, artinthedocks.com Where?

Brick Lane Music Hall Silvertown

XMAS | Vincent’s Jinglebell Christmas Join Vincent Hayes for a traditional music hall show packed with festive cheer, humour and the thrill of the East End, all in a converted church.

Nov 17-Dec 21, from £39.50, bricklanemusichall.co.uk Where?

Excel Royal Victoria Dock

SHOW | EMEX Head to Royal Docks for the Net Zero And Energy Management Expo with more than 50 seminars and a host of sustainability exhibitors.

Nov 24-25, free, excel.london

getting bigger

Discover why Excel’s expansion is good for both Royal Docks, London as a whole and ultimately the UK as its CEO, Jeremy Rees, outlines the venue’s plans for the third phase of its development excel.london Scan this code with your phone to read our interview with Jeremy online at wharf-life.com want more? @wharflifelive

46

Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

£1k

Total raised by Justin Wetters of GoodGym Newham running the London Marathon to support the second phase of Cody Dock’s visitors centre project

four focus

support your local institutions Where?

Hackney Bridge Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

by Jon Massey

C

SHOP | Hackney Bridge Weekend Market Saturdays and Sundays see stalls pitch up selling everything from food to flowers, plants, modern art, traditional crafts, clothes, ceramics and more.

Until Dec 12, times vary, free to attend, hackneybridge.org Where?

Stratford Picturehouse Stratford

FILM | Met Opera Live: Eurydice (2021) Hear American composer Matthew Aucoin’s take on the Greek myth of Orpheus, who attempts to harness the power of music to rescue his beloved.

Dec 4, 5.55pm, £32, picturehouses.com Where?

Theatre Royal Stratford East Stratford

STAGE | Red Riding Hood Usually one of the best pantos in London, the east London venue turns to another classic story for its 2021 show – expect thigh-slapping gags.

Nov 27-Dec 31, times vary, from £10, stratfordeast.com

post apocalypse

Theatre Royal Stratford East is set to stage darkly comic play After The End by Dennis Kelly from February 25-March 26. Set in a fallout shelter after a nuclear blast it follows Louise and Mark as they adjust stratfordeast.com Scan this code to find out more about After The End or to book tickets, which start at £10 want more? @wharflifelive

why Cody Dock is fundraising to complete its visitors centre project and build a lasting legacy

Simon says the second phase of the visitors centre project is crucial for the sustainability of the visitors centre. He would love to hear from companies or individuals who would like to donate or fundraise for it Image by Matt Grayson – find more of his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta

ody Dock has been in a constant state of evolution since the Gasworks Dock Partnership (GDP) began its regeneration project there a decade ago. Its rolling bridge scheme, an important piece of the puzzle that will ultimately enable the re flooding and reopening of the dock itself, is due to start construction next year. Huge improvements seem tantalisingly close.

Structured as a social enterprise, GDP has accomplished the remarkable clearance of the dock and site, both piled high with rubbish, rubble and industrial waste through the tireless labour and commitment of thousands of volunteers.

Each of these participants has given their time and energy in pursuit of improving the site on the banks of the Lea to provide a lasting, sustainable legacy for both Newham residents and visitors to the area.

As work to repair the dock’s brickwork and to remove the polluted silt that’s built up over the years continues apace, permanent washblock and toilet facilities are set to arrive in the coming months to better service volunteers’ needs and allow the area to become a base for watersports alongside its burgeoning community of studiobased craftspeople.

But it’s the planned visitors centre that will really become the heart of the site.

This structure is set to be built in two phases and will, when completely finished, contain a multi-purpose hall, an information point, a shop, a dining space, a cafe and a kitchen.

With funding already secured from Veolia Environmental Trust for the first section, which will house the hall, fundraising for £250,000 has now begun in earnest to see the centre completed.

“The second phase will really be the engine for Cody Dock,” said Simon Myers, GDP CEO since its creation.

“It’s central to our plans as it will support activities in the main venue space and includes a large canteen and a home for a

Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

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Stratford - Bow - Hackney Wick

building for the future

We have always set ourselves up to be a social enterprise with the goal of becoming self-sustaining at Cody Dock

The site, on the left, has already been cleared to allow construction of

Simon Myers, GDP

the visitors centre to begin

community cafe. The hall itself will have a capacity of about 150 seated but it’s multi-purpose, so it can be used as an intimate venue for theatre, for live performance or as a gallery or function space.

“It’s a single storey building but is triple height at the back, with a roof that’s perfectly angled for solar panels and we’ve just received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to install them to make the centre operationally carbon neutral.

“The reason phase two is important is that we have armies of volunteers here every day, so the canteen will give them protection from the elements when they’re having their lunch.

“It will be a place where people meet, whether they are tenants from our maker studios on-site, volunteers or just people who are visiting.

“Having that communal, social space is where conversations happen between people who don’t know each other. It will unlock the potential of the community that lives, works and visits here quite significantly.

“There will also be a reception area that will act as a staffed

information point. We’re located halfway down The Line sculpture trail, so we have a lot of walkers coming through. We’re hoping this space will act as a visitor space for the Lea, especially the tidal section of the river, and it will be where a lot of our ecology activities take place.”

T

he second phase is also crucial in making ody Dock financially sustainable in the longer term as it seeks to develop income streams that will fund its upkeep and ongoing operations. “ rom the financial point of view, it’s what makes the venue – hopefully – self-sustaining, and that’s our goal,” said Simon.

“We have a five year plan, which we’re nearly two years into, to make the whole Cody Dock project self-sustaining so that we’re not reliant on having to fundraise.

“We have always set ourselves up to be a social enterprise with that goal and the venue will be funded by the income from the cafe itself.

“The other thing about the building is, while there will be a

wall between the two phases, we’ll be able to fold that back to open the space right up, all the way through to the cafe.

“It’s also creating jobs as there will be a reception position and space for a shop, which will be another income stream for us.”

For more information or to contact GDP about donating to the second phase of the visitors centre, go to codydock.org.uk

Above, an artist’s impression of the visitor’s centre and cafe Below, how the rolling bridge will look when complete

● With a host of things to do and see there’s always a good reason to visit Cody Dock. The latest is the arrival of the Story Of Water exhibition on November 25 featuring sculptural pieces made by pupils from seven local schools in response to humanity’s impact on the environment. The project saw the schools partner with counterparts in Ghana with the aim of improving the curriculum in both countries and enriching children’s education.

Scan this code for more information about Cody Dock and the project

48

Wharf Life Nov 10-24, 2021 wharf-life.com

SUDOKU

Crossword - Sudoku

Previous solution - Tough

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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. 1391 that each row, column and 3x3 box

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Set by Everden

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DOWN: 1. Laudanum; 2. Violate; 4. Osiers; 5. Obfuscated; 6. Easel; 7. Dido; 10. Bedsitters; 12. Knotting; 15. Teeming; 16. London;18. Omens; 19. Spam.

1.

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Cryptic Solution

Down

5 1 3 9 8 2 7 6 4

ACROSS: 1. Snug; 3. Unperson; 8. Lies; 9. Docusoap; 11. Installments; 13. Salads; 14. Casbah; 17. Counteroffer; 20. Inaction; 21. Dali; 22. Latinate; 23. Long.

DOWN: 1. Saltiest; 2. Utensil; 4. Noodle; 5. Enumerator; 6. Sport; 7. Nape; 10. Paddington; 12. Charming; 15. Buffalo; 16. Resort; 18. Orant; 19. Dial.

Across

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Cryptic

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contains every number uniquely.

Notes

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

last issue’s solution

Previous solution - Tough Oct 27-Nov 10

© 2020 Syndicated Puzzles

8 9 2

3 7 4

© 2020 Syndicated Puzzles

8 1

Very Hard

Quick Solution

No. 1391