Issuu

+ Martin Gettings on how Wharf workers can do their bit to help tackle climate change Page 5

Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

how Kaleido is reinventing lunch with its rice paper rolls and all kinds of crunchy fillings Pages 6-9

inside issue 46

Urban Greens - GoBoat - Urbanest Seoul Bird - London Square - Felix’s Kitchen Barchester Street - Hiverfest - Hyrox Sew On The Go - David Lefevbre Sell Puzzles - The Lord Napier And Star Wharf Hacks - Amazon Fresh The Play That Goes Wrong

salad solutions

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

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

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read

feast your eyes on these

four focus

support your local institutions Where? Middle Dock + South Dock Canary Wharf

TRY | Stand Up Paddleboarding Try paddleboard Yoga and stand up paddleboarding for free in Canary Wharf with the Association Of Paddlesurf Professionals over two days. Sept 23-24, from 7.30am, free, canarywharf.com

Welcome to the latest issue of Wharf Life. September feels more and more like normality is reasserting itself, with Canary Wharf getting busier as the days march on. It’s a time for reconnecting with others and enjoying all that the estate has to offer. Stay safe and look after each other

bite

Discover Kaleido’s rice paper salad rolls in all kinds of flavours

Signature Seoul Burger, £9 Seoul Bird, Jubilee Place

Where? Crossrail Place Roof Garden Canary Wharf

GIG | Rita Tam The local singer-songwriter is set to showcase her latest album, Flores, billed as an uplifting, hopeful work with Waaji on drums and Matteo on bass. Sept 17, 7pm, free, space.org.uk Where? East Wintergarden Canary Wharf

COMEDY | Canary Wharf Comedy Club Billed as a night of laughter and fun, Suzi Ruffell, Hal Cruttenden, Luisa Omielan and compere, the self-appointed President Obonjo, take the stage. Sept 25, 6.15pm, £16, canarywharf.com

chic discounts

Canary Wharf’s Autumn Fashion Event– takes place from Sept 9-12 with discounts across the malls. Vogue street-style photographer Jonathan Daniel Pryce will also be snapping visitors, with the most stylish, winning a £250 Canary Wharf gift card - canarywharf.com Scan this code to find out more about the event and the most stylish shopper competition want more? @wharflifelive

10 Seoul Bird can be found in Jubilee Place underneath Wagamama Quite what street food now means in the context of restaurants is unclear. Gordon Ramsay Street Burger in outlet mall Icon At The O2 seems to think it’s about traffic lights, graffiti, neon and buns filled with things called #BAE and OGR. To be fair, I imagine a van parked up on a street corner with Ramsay hawking such urban delights to the people of Poplar might do quite well. American Korean chef Judy Joo, who’s been on TV too, is also trying her hand at casual dining. The recently opened Canary Wharf branch of her Seoul Bird chain promises “Korean street food”. That translates as ordering a bit like you’re at Shake Shack and then waiting for a buzzer to tell you when to go and get your food. Located in Jubilee Place and heavy on the neon and lighting features, it has the feel of a food court but with only one dining option. That said, my chicken burger is a

How Urban Greens is serving up bowls of flavourful salad

Crisp and spicy loveliness in the form of the Signature Seoul Burger pretty good package, even for £9, with juicy meat contained in a crisp, spicy carapace. Sadly the Truffle Tator Tots – mini hash browns that serve as an alternative to fries – lack fungal flavour and fail to gain much from the seaweed mayo on the side. At least Seoul has chicken at present, unlike the unpredictability of Nando’s Go to seoul-bird.co.uk Jon Massey Scan this code to find out more about Seoul Bird in Canary Wharf and beyond

Amazon’s arrived, but is it really the store you need in your life

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 37

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Canary Wharf

on the radar

doing the deals

need to know

get more for less in and around the Wharf

free

Personal Training brand Ultimate Performance is expected to open a branch at Wood Wharf, bringing its philosophy of rigorous application of intelligent process to the estate’s fitness market with the aim of achieving its clients’ health goals. Phew ultimateperformance.com

38 We don’t know when yet, but Market Hall is expected to open a 20,000sq ft food court at Cargo – the refurbished building close to Canary Wharf’s Crossrail station. Expect 12 vendors to serve around 200 diners in the dockside space cargolondon.co.uk

Need some holes made? Accessorize in Canada Place is offering free piercings at its in-store parlour with the purchase of selected jewellery from £15 accessorize.com

How Felix’s Kitchen is cooking thousands of meals for charities

scan 42

Made In Greenwich curator and author Mary Jane Baxter talks travel and creativity following the release of her latest book, Sew On The Go, charting a trip across Europe

- ALL DAY DINING - BREAKFAST - COCKTAILS - HAPPY HOUR - BOTTOMLESS BRUNCH - DJ- OPEN 'TILL LATE - BREATHTAKING VIEWS OF THE LONDON SKYLINE-

MTHRLONDON.COM - 020 3985 3700 The Collective, 20 Crossharbour Place, London E14 9YF

Hyrox’s cofounder on bringing a new mass sport to Excel

Businesses across the Canary Wharf estate are currently running a selection of discounts

Find a wide range of offers online at canarywharf.com/exclusiveoffers or wave your phone over this code to view them instantly

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

write me

words you don’t know you need

shorlage noun, fake, from Old Norse

The lack of people able or willing to transport things over a great distance in a timely manner by road due to the sudden disappearance of a pool of labour and the ensuing impact on the wider economy as a result

epeolatry noun, real, from Ancient Greek

Literally the worship of words – while we’re not suggesting you actually do this, it is perfectly acceptable to create a shrine to Wharf Life in your home specifically in celebration of all the words it contains

EAT | The Lunch Market Curated by Karnival, here’s a place to find some street food traders working at ground level outside. Expect a range of outlets offering dishes to suit meateaters, vegetarians and vegans alike, all arranged around the Sun Pavilion in Montgomery Square. Sept 16, noon-3pm, free to attend canarywharf.com

GIG | Shakatak At Boisdale Boisdale Of Canary Wharf is set to welcome 1980s jazz-funk outfit in the 40th year of its existence – expect a string of hits including Night Birds and Easier Said Than Done to be on the setlist for the group, currently performing as a quartet led by Jill Seward, pictured. Sept 23, 9.30pm, from £29 (show only) boisdale.co.uk

ART | Paint Jam London: Old Flo Get creative as Paint Jam London returns to Canary Wharf for three, hour-long sessions in Cabot Square themed on Henry Moore’s Draped Seated Woman – Old Flo. All art materials are provided and places must be pre-booked online. Sept 18, 11am, 1pm, 2.30pm, free canarywharf.com

sail

GoBoat, from £89 per boat Churchill Place

Following a delay to opening, GoBoat is up and running in Canary Wharf, offering workers, residents and visitors to the estate the chance to cruise round the docks in the shadow of the towers. One, two and threehour slots are all available for £89, £129 and £169 respectively. The sleek grey

craft can carry up to eight people with each boat free to explore (within set limits) West India North Dock, South Dock and Blackwall Basin. Picnics are both allowed and encouraged and alcohol may be consumed in sensible quantities except by the designated skipper. Scan this code for more on booking GoBoat

Diary dates and ideas to make your life in Canary Wharf that little bit sweeter, especially if you’re returning to the office after a break

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

hacks wharf

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

FILM | The Greatest Showman Hugh Jackman takes on the title role, inspired by the life and imagination of PT Barnum in this feelgood movie that’s filled with excitement, the buzz of showbusiness and some banging tunes – ideal watching as the nights start to draw in. Sept 21, 7pm, free canarywharf.com

ART | On The Other hand Canary Wharf Group has teamed up with art gallery Brooke Bennington for an exhibition of work across the Canary Wharf estate by 15 contemporary artists, each exploring notions of revival and value and drawing on the history of Docklands. Until Nov 12, daily, free canarywharf.com

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf

1,300

free cycle parking spaces available across the Canary Wharf estate

getting greener

by Martin Gettings

s more of us return to the office and get back to a version of normality, it is easy to fall back into the routines we relied upon before the pandemic. However, local residents, tenants, staff and visitors all have an opportunity to make small but sustainable changes in the things they do every single day. Many of us know the scale of the climate problem, but it can be difficult to know where to start. Across Canary Wharf, we prioritise sustainability and hope to inspire all that live, work, and visit here to do the same. If the 120,000 people who are now returning to work in Canary Wharf each made a change, together we could have a massive positive impact. Firstly, travelling to Canary Wharf through a sustainable option has never been easier. If the previous lockdowns have got you passionate about walking or cycling, there is no reason to give up your new hobby once you return to the office. With more than 1,300 free cycle parking spaces, this is a convenient option that is better for both you and the environment, and helps you beat the traffic. If you’re getting bored with the same sandwich for lunch each day, there are countless alternatives across Canary Wharf that will no doubt spark your hunger and reduce your environmental impact. Wharf Kitchen in Jubilee Place has been single-use plastic-free since its launch and sends no waste to landfill. Offering freshly made, seasonal and vegan options in compostable packaging, this is an easy change that begins to tackle our global waste problem and lets you explore new cuisines from across the world. Finally, as we spend more time at Canary Wharf, we have more opportunities to expand our learning around sustainability and the growing climate problem. Top reads on sustainability include There Is No Planet B by Mike Berners-Lee, or Cradle To Cradle by Michael Braungart and William McDonough, which can be picked

Whether you are a sustainability novice or an eco champion, there isn’t a better time or place than Canary Wharf to broaden your learning Martin Gettings, Canary Wharf Group

small Time to start cycling into work? Canary Wharf boasts a range of facilities for riders including servicing available at Westferry Circus-based NipNip

making those

up from local retailers and enjoyed in one of the many green spaces around the estate. Whether you are a sustainability novice or an eco champion, there isn’t a better time or place to broaden your learning. As we get back to normality, we have an unprecedented opportunity to commit to more sustainable lifestyles. If you want to find out more about sustainability at Canary Wharf or have any suggestions, please email sustainability@canarywharf.com

changes

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

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf

ingredients in the rolls and found that it worked very well as a salad sandwich. That was how we got the idea for Kaleido. We thought that this is something you can eat with your hands, much like you’d eat a burrito. You can dip it in sauces and have all sorts of diﬀerent ﬂavours inside. It’s mix and match and this is something we really like.”

by Jon Massey

aleido sets itself a little bit apart. First of all, its Canary Wharf branch – the latest location to open and the third in a growing chain – is tucked away oﬀ the main stretch of mall that joins Canada Place to Cabot Place, round the corner and into the lower ﬂoor of One Canada Square. When Crossrail opens (although we’ve given up betting on when that will be), the shop will be on one of the main routes into the estate proper. But those days are in the future and Kaleido is slowly building by word of mouth and tempting visitors to nearby Santander. It’s also an outlier in terms of design – arranged into an angular unit that used to house ATM machines, it doesn’t so much invite passers-by in as push out into the space in front of it with its wares proudly displayed on a bright island unit. Bright circular murals depicting some of the ingredients used in its products adorn the walls – bright, playful colours and graphics are the thing here. And that’s a choice too because it communicates something about the brand – that it’s approach to salad stands out from the crowd. Kaleido was created by wife and husband team Laura Mimoun and Denis Dahan. “I wasn’t working in hospitality at all,” said Laura. “I was working in marketing for chocolate brand Green & Black’s. One night, with my husband, we were making Vietnamese rice paper salad rolls – some people know then as summer rolls. “We’re both French and these rolls are very well known in France. We don’t like to waste food and we had some rice paper. We just started putting other

Kaleido has a wall of frisbees for customers to borrow, chuck around and then return

rom that initial spark of an idea sprung Kaleido, a shop that offers a range of 10 different salads wrapped in transparent rice paper. Customers can order between one and 10 ranging in price from £2.75 to £19.95 respectively. The cost is the same regardless of the salads chosen The selection currently includes Falafel And Hummus, Tuna And Cucumber, Sweet Potato And Tahini and Chicken Caesar. “The first part of starting the business was a lot of thinking – evaluating the risk and the opportunities, looking at market trends, and then making the jump,” said Laura. “We wanted to create a fun, healthy brand, so this is why you have the name Kaleido, from kaleidoscope, and it looks a bit different because it’s fun. “We began by making the recipes at home, and created five flavours that we were happy with and liked cooking. The great thing about rice paper is it’s only 30 calories and what you see through it is what you get. First we did food markets and grew from there. “In 2018 we did what was supposed to be a pop-up at Selfridge’s but has since become permanent. Then we opened up in Kingly Street and now Canary Wharf. “More and more people are eating our rolls at our existing units so we are growing, which is great because it’s been a tough year. Continued on Page 8

how Kaleido aims to disrupt the salad market with a wall of frisbees and its vibrant, brightly-coloured collection of rice paper roll salads for customers to pick and choose

throwing something new into the mix

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

is expanding. Is your area affected? NORTH CIRCULAR ROAD

Vehicles are not charged for driving on the North Circular Road (A406)

ENFIELD

HARINGEY

WALTHAM FOREST

BARNET

CAMDEN

ON GE

CITY OF LONDON

NEWHAM TOWER HAMLETS

ZON E

D AN

RICHMOND UPON THAMES

ON GT A IN SE NS EL ITH KE CH & SM ER AM MM LH HA & FU

HOUNSLOW

CITY OF WESTMINSTER

LONDON UL EZ

R AL CE NT EALING

HACKNEY

ISLINGTON

BRENT

REDBRIDGE

R HA S T I ON C

LAMBETH SOUTHWARK

GREENWICH

LEWISHAM

WANDSWORTH

BEXLEY

Vehicles are not charged for driving on the South Circular Road (A205)

From 25th October it’s expanding from central London up to, but not including, the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205), to help clean up London’s air. The North and South Circular Roads themselves are not in the zone. If you drive within the zone with an older polluting vehicle that’s petrol or diesel and doesn’t meet the standards, you may be affected. Are you ready? This is part of the commitment by the Mayor of London and TfL to help Londoners breathe cleaner air. Search ULEZ Expansion, and check your postcode.

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

10 from Page 6 “We were originally due to open in Canary Wharf in 2020, but then the pandemic hit – it may not have been the best idea to put ‘coming soon’ on the hoarding. But we launched on Freedom Day in July and we’re very happy with business growing week-on-week.”

Flavours available on a daily basis from Kaleido’s serving cabinet Laura and her husband came up with the idea for Kaleido while making Vietnamese rice paper rolls at home

art of that growth could well be down to the sheer numerical variety Kaleido’s model offers. ating two rolls a day, it would take a working week to try everything available at lunchtime. The combinations multiply further when you factor in the optional dipping sauces available. “When people come here they will find 10 flavours each day – some changing, some staying the same and all prepared at our Rainbow Kitchen in Bermondsey,” said Laura. “The product is innovative in the way we execute the salads – we are the only people doing these rolls here and the idea is to reinvent the way people eat healthy food so it’s also convenient and fun. “The mix and match is very much about my personality – I’m a Libra and all my life I have wanted this and then that, so here you can have different flavours and sauces. “My husband and I both come from corporate backgrounds – we’ve worked long hours at desks so we value the benefit of variety, of rotating flavours. “No-one wants to eat the same sandwich everyday – if they do, then bring them to me and I’ll have a chat with them.”

n addition to the extra attractions of Little Moons Mochi ice cream for dessert, a range of drinks and pre-packed boxes of rice paper rolls – for those who just don’t have time to choose their lunch – Kaleido is responsible for another first. As far as we know, the shop is the first in Canary Wharf to lend out frisbees to its customers, with six displayed on a wall below an invitation to borrow. “So far, one person has played with a frisbee,” said Laura. “This idea comes from the fact that we want people to eat healthy and live healthy – coming here and having a few throws with your colleagues outside is what we want to promote – embracing health. “Our Kaleido rolls are not a diet food product and we would never position ourselves like that. But we believe they are healthy – they’re made only with ingredients you would find in a normal kitchen. They’re fresh, they’re simple and this is our vision of healthy food – the frisbee is a bit of fun to go alongside that. The rolls are also very filling – when you see the box, you don’t realise. “People often don’t know how packed they are with the salad, so we’re going to do more imagery of what is inside in the future.” Laura, who is originally from Paris said she and her husband wanted to grow the brand in London and then continue to expand. “First we want to have more of our cabinets so that people can experience this iconic Kaleido way of serving food,” she said. “Then we would like to branch out to other cities in the K and across urope. I’d love to, one day, open a shop in Paris.”

So far one person has played with a frisbee – the idea comes from the fact we want people to eat healthy and live healthy Laura Mimoun, Kaleido Images by Matt Grayson – find more of his work at graysonphotos.co.uk or @mattgrayson_photo on Insta

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf

Customers can choose a range of dipping sauces to have with their rolls Scan this code to find our more about Kaleido, view the range of salads in rice paper that it offers or to place an order

The Canary Wharf branch of Kaleido

Personalise your customer self-service. Beneﬁt from proven & reliable results. Customers can mix and match whichever rolls take their fancy Above and left, rice paper rolls from Kaleido, which offers salads with meat, fish and poultry as well as options for vegans and vegetarians

Contact the Conversational AI Experts: www.creativevirtual.com info@creativevirtual.com | 020 7719 8332

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Canary Wharf

Branches of Urban Greens in London since the company launched in 2019

how Urban Greens pays close attention to every ingredient that goes into its wide range of salads by Jon Massey

Urban Greens’ Beef Saigon – one of the premium options on the brand’s menu

hile alone in offering frisbees, Kaleido isn’t the only new salad game in town. It’s also not the only company to bill itself as delivering something fresh. ollowing the success of its first branch in St ames’ Park, rban Greens has opened a second in Canary Wharf, filling space opposite Obica in the West Wintergarden with leafy plants and plenty of pickled and blanched ingredients. The brand is the brainchild of co-founders Houman Ashraf adeh, ushil amjee and Ioannis ivas. The three met while studying and remained friends as their separate careers flourished. “We weren’t business partners to begin with,” said Houman. “But we’d always explore food places together – we’ve always had a big interest in it. “I grew up in Sweden, ushil in South Africa, although he’d also lived in London for a long time, and Ioannis in Greece. We would travel to South Africa and other places together and spot these ama ing places for food. “We always had the entrepreneurial spirit in us and, although we had successful careers in the corporate world, we knew that we wanted to do something of our own. A couple of years ago, one thing that came to our minds – London has always been, for us, an ama ing place with the best restaurants that you can find on the planet. “But when it came to the healthy Continued on Page 12

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

pursuing the

of flavour

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£7.85

Cost of a vegan salad at Urban Greens – expect to pay £9.95 for a premium option

from Page 10 fast food side of things, we always thought it was lagging behind. “We discovered that in Scandinavia and the US a lot of food brands were doing things that we couldn’t even find here. “So we started looking into different brands to get some inspiration and we spotted that, when it came to salads, there was a huge gap – no-one was doing them properly. “ ou could find salads that had been around a long time, but these were plain ingredients in a bowl with a bit of dressing chucked in. “They were nothing special, just very traditional, boring salads, which didn’t excite us. People would have them because they were considered healthy, but there was something missing.” It took the trio about two years to formulate their business plan, working between Athens, London and Stockholm, slowly creating the concept, discussing the menu and eventually negotiating with a landlord to open their first site in 2019. ushil and Houman left their jobs to concentrate on running Urban Greens in the UK with Ioannis taking a more passive role. “It felt scary at first, because we were leaving very steady jobs – very predictable and comfortable lifestyles – doing something that was in a new industry for us,” said Houman. “Our approach was that, we may not have experience, but we know what good food is, what good service is – we know what we like when we go to a good place. We wanted to try to implement those things in our own business. “We launched in July 2019 and it started picking up really quickly. People would come in and try it and be very pleasantly surprised from a taste point of view, but also by the whole concept.” That reaction may very well be down to Urban Greens’ tireless approach to creating a core menu of balanced salads that all offer something out of the ordinary. “Our salads are not side salads – our portions are quite big,” said Houman. “It’s also impossible to replicate our salads at home because every flavour is

The brand’s salads are made fresh in front of customers in Canary Wharf

“

We spotted that, when it came to salads, there was a huge gap – noone was doing them properly, just boring ones that didn’t excite us Houman Ashrafzadeh, Urban Greens

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

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf

Houman’s personal preference is for the Beef Saigon but said he would always encourage customers to try new things elevated – we don’t have any plain ingredients. “Each salad has a few elements in common – they all have a base such as cabbage marinated in olive oil and salt. “They all come with one form of protein. That could be quinoa or red rice, for example. “Then you have something pickled but not just a plain pickle – we add flavours to it. Our carrots are pickled with ginger so that enters the salad. “Not everything can be pickled, as that would be overpowering, so we add other ingredients but again, we don’t just put cauliflower or broccoli in a bowl – we blanch them to take away that harshness. “They still add crunch – we don’t boil them – it’s the elevation of taste and flavour that comes with it. There are always vegetarian and vegan options.” Core dishes include the Jakarta with tempeh, seasame marinated glass noodles, pickled carrots, edamame, bean sprouts, coriander, toasted peanuts and seasame seeds and the Beef Saigon with Irish pulled brisket, glass noodles, blanched broccoli, pickled cabbage, edamame, bean sprouts, fresh mint and toasted peanuts. “The funny thing is I never get tired of the Beef Saigon or the Seoul Chicken because they both come with a really nice spicy dressing,” said Houman. “But we always try to encourage our customers to get out of their comfort zones and to try something new. “The prices vary – the vegan ones start from £7.85, the ones in the middle are £8.85, and the premium ones are £9.95. “When you visit Urban Greens, everything you see is the result of decisions we have been taking consciously – we are in control of it, involved in every little part of the business. “After we opened our first store we were approached by quite a few landlords and Canary Wharf approached us. “We took a look into it and, although neither of us had worked in Canary Wharf – we had worked in the City – we definitely thought that it was one place we wanted to move to as an expansion, but it came much sooner than we had anticipated when we were starting up in the beginning.”

Urban Greens has filled a space opposite Obica in the West Wintergarden with wood, foliage and a lofty pergola

Urban Greens vibrant Jakarta salad

Scan this code for more information on Urban Greens The brand is relentless in its pursuit of sustainability in its operations

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

FRESH PRINCE

eing able to walk out of any shop without having to queue up to pay is pretty nifty. Sure, self-service checkouts are quicker but there’s often still a wait to get on one and then there’s the unexpected item in bagging area or the need for a member of staff to sign off your alcohol purchase. With Amazon Fresh your items are already in your bag and no robots are complaining – in fact, they probably want you to put more in there. An attendant keeps watch over the booze to ensure kids aren’t slipping out with bottles of vodka and there are staff on the door to help shoppers negotiate the entry gates. Apart from that, it’s like magic. The shop knows where you’ve been and what you’ve picked up, all without facial recognition (so you can keep your mask on). It boasts a coffeemaking area, a whole wall of fresh pastries as well as newspapers (a first for a Fresh, apparently) and cut flowers. Aside from that, the stock is pretty much what you’d expect from a convenience store. While not comprehensive enough for the weekly shop, it has pretty much everything a household might need to top-up with. There’s a selection of ready meals for those who can’t be bothered to cook and want to grab something on their way home – a main and a side cost £5 or an oven-ready pizza is £4. They’ve thought about lunch too and there’s a meal deal that offers a snack and a drink for £1 when bought with any designated main. There’s also currently an offer on mainstream ice creams at 75p should the summer ever actually arrive. In addition, the store is the only place locally to get the By Amazon range of products, which includes hot food and ready meals. The best thing about the Canary Wharf branch, though, is its location rather than its contents. Filling a unit in Water Street, just across the bridge from Montgomery Square, the store is ideally placed to serve the emerging residential community at Wood Wharf. To a certain extent, just having a shop where you can pop in for a pint of milk, a newspaper and a birthday card brings that part of the estate together, generating footfall and life while the rest of the site continues to develop and other businesses arrive. Go, grab stuff, walk out – easy...

The best thing about the Canary Wharf branch, though, is its location rather than its contents Jon Massey, Wharf Life

open most hours

ill-free convenience store Amazon Fresh recently opened a branch at Wood Wharf. To gain entry and shop, customers need to download the Amazon app on their phones. They are then free to browse the store, pick up whatever products they desire and then leave with them. The shop’s monitoring technology does the rest, working out what the customer has picked up and billing them accordingly. The Canary Wharf store is the fifth to open in London and features an Amazon Hub pick-up and returns point for digital purchases. Rather than come down hard on one side – here are two arguments for and against shopping there...

Easy come, east go: branding at the Amazon Fresh store in Water Street at Wood Wharf, which is open from 7am-11pm every day

Canary Wharf

BEZOS BEFORE

s no part of my life sacred? I try to shop physically where possible, recently purchasing an Amazon Fire Stick from Waitrose in Canary Wharf. In the two months since I bought it, Amazon has – unprompted – emailed me seven times to ask whether it “met my expectations”. That was one thing bought in a real shop from real people. I’m anxious that my inbox might not have the capacity to deal with the pleading entreaties of Jeff Bezos’ firm should I walk out of Amazon Fresh with 10 items. Will I get 70 emails begging me to share my thoughts? How is that litre of oat milk working out for you? Tell shoppers what you thought of the quilting on the Andrex. I can just see it turning into that scene in Minority Report where an avatar welcomes me into the shop and starts discussing my preferences for yoghurt. Amazon is all engage, engage, engage. Never stop participating in the platform – you already buy so much with us and get your entertainment from our Prime service, God forbid you should buy a cheap sandwich from somebody else for lunch. I know Tesco Clubcard tracks the stuff I purchase, but it’s clunky. I don’t have to download an app and I can choose not to scan it and forego the points. That’s not an option with Amazon Fresh. Scan that app for access and your data is theirs. For all I know, the shop is measuring the time from when I pick the Twix up, to when I guiltily put it back and move on to something healthier. To what end I don’t know. While I applaud digital price labels as a way of reducing waste, the paranoid cynic in me wonders whether they’re the first step on the road to rapid, in-store price manipulation designed to maximise profits. Tellingly they use the same technology as the Kindle – leftovers perhaps. I mean, who reads eBooks anymore? Sales were 5.7% down in January 2020. Paper is the future. Then there’s Jeff himself. The richest man in the world is such a potent symbol it’s difficult to shop in one of his stores without the nagging feeling you’re complicit in helping him burn away billions to nearly reach space for a few minutes. After all, that money couldn’t have been put to better uses on Earth. Probably best give him some more of yours...

I know Tesco Clubcard tracks the stuff I purchase, but it’s clunky. I can choose not to scan it. That’s not an option with Amazon Fresh Also Jon Massey, Wharf Life

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

Out Of Office

The sublime ensemble cast of The Play That Goes Wrong fix looks of horror on their faces as yet another mishap befalls their unfortunate production

right

why The Play That Goes Wrong’s simple comic conceit is an utterly delightful distraction by Jon Massey

ine. There can be no pretence that this review is covering something in Canary Wharf. It’s not even on in east London – but after the trials we’ve all been through I think everyone should be allowed a night off in the West End. Besides, going to the theatre is one of the great pleasures of being in the capital, so it’s at least reasonably relevant as workers head back to o ces in ever greater numbers. As a first return to indoor theatre, sat in socially distanced seating, mask over mouth, The Play That Goes Wrong is pretty close to perfect. The premise is simple – a hapless bunch of actors from the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society are attempting to stage a production of The Murder At Haversham Manor. Fate, however, is against them. Doors stick, the set falls apart, floors collapse and general confusion reigns as the talent of the

performers is sorely stretched in their increasingly desperate attempts to ensure the show goes on. Tempers fray, masks slip, character is broken, but somehow the whole express train of calamity keeps on thundering along the tracks. As whisky is replaced with white spirit, corpses move when they shouldn’t and cast members engage in Twister-like poses just to keep the pictures on the walls the production quickly reaches fever pitch and basically

wrong

stays there. The only respite from the blistering slapstick is the surreal contrast of the lines themselves as the cast constantly describe things that aren’t there or incorrectly refer to a litany of misplaced props. But there’s subtlety here too. Alongside the pratfalls, the performances are calculated marvels – each character a mask for the frustrated, smug or glory-hungry actor beneath. When one of the cast is temporarily incapacitated and replaced by a long-suﬀering

it’s

stage hand who is forced to read from an increasingly irrelevant script, she discovers a hitherto unwoken passion for performance. That sets up an ongoing rivalry as the revived lead attempts to reclaim her spot in the limelight to the

Scan this code for more info on the production

bemusement of the others on stage, who are frankly too busy trying to conceal their own disasters. While the strength of The Play That Goes Wrong lies in its sublime ensemble, special mention should go to Blayar Benn who plays technician Trevor with the bare minimum of interest in the production. Also superb is David Kirkbride as Robert, whose massive physical presence belies a lithe and expressive comic turn. Aside from being the booming brother of the femme fatale (almost literally), he’s the twister in chief and centrepiece to the an extraordinary spectacle as he contorts his body with the sole desperate aim of improbably holding onto pieces of o ce furniture as the set collapses around him. The authors, Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer and Henry Shields must be congratulated – in two hours, they barely miss an opportunity for a gag but somehow make the whole thing a breathless delight. The Play That Goes Wrong is currently running at The Duchess Theatre until January.

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

Creative Space

doodle whatever you like

the possibilities of a blank sheet of paper are mind-boggling – we'd love to see what you use it for. Tag us via @wharflifelive on Insta

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

Wapping - Limehouse - Shadwell

young something for the

how Half Moon Theatre’s Narratives Of Empathy And Resilience has produced work for a youthful audience

hat began life as a shout-out in March that garnered 600 applicants has been refined to a collective of 17 artists working over a range of disciplines to create nine performances for different age ranges. At the end of a three-month collaboration, Half Moon Theatre’s Narratives Of Empathy And Resilience culminated in a performance of those works, shared digitally among the creatives and venue staff in July. Now, to bring the whole project to a close, the theatre is set to release the

results to the public via an online showcase on September 23 and 24. This will be accompanied by a series of provocation sessions where artists and delegates debate the issues raised by each work. Below we’ve previewed a sample of the works available, which will be shared in four groupings from 10.30am across both days. It is also possible to book for all four. Tickets to view the works are free by must be booked online at halfmoon.org.uk

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support your local institutions Where? Tobacco Dock Wapping

EVENT | Junipalooza Sample spirits from more than 60 distillers and meet the makers behind them at this blockbuster gin event, now in its eighth year. Indulge responsibly. Sept 18-19, from £26.80, tobaccodocklondon.com Where? Troxy Limehouse

GIG | The Specials Terry Hall, Lynval Golding and Horace Panter take to the stage following the release of the band’s eighth studio album Encore last year. More. Sept 25, 7.30pm, £51.80, troxy.co.uk Where? Wilton’s Music Hall Limehouse

Hot Orange Sept 23, 2pm-4pm, 13+ This exploration of friendship, memory and play sees two teenage girls from different worlds reunited after eight years

Flat Lands Sept 23, 10.30am-12.30pm, 13+ This multimedia spoken word show brings together risk taking, friendship and BMX bikes as it explores communal responsibility

Daytime Deewane Sept 23, 10.30am-12.30pm, 12+ This show explores the beauty and struggle of living with a multi-faceted, multi-cultural identity in 1990s Britain

10-In-The-Bed Sept 24, 10.30am-12.30pm, 3-7 Sharks, pirates and funny fish with flappy fins combine in this tale of urban deprivation and escape from the reality of poverty

Boys Will Be Boys Sept 24, 2pm-4pm, 9+ Using poetry and storytelling, this piece explores how young men can be subjected to toxic masculine experiences

Angel Sept 24, 2pm-4pm, 7+ Food and diet culture are the topics up for discussion in this work where an all-day buffet is a place of experimentation

STAGE | Horse Country Anarchic and surreal, this satire promises delight, confusion and plenty of surprises as two clowns shoot the breeze and play some cards. Sept 28-Oct 2, times vary, from £20, wiltons.org.uk

light up

Sara-Jane Cross has turned a lockdown passion into a business with candle brand Wapping Wicks – with each scent and all of the design created by her. Prices start at £14 for Seashore, inspired by the Thames foreshore wappingwicks.com Scan this code for more information about Wapping Wicks or to order from Sara-Jane’s range want more? @wharflifelive

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

by Jon Massey

elix’s Kitchen does an incredible thing. Recently opened on an unassuming industrial estate in Poplar the 4,400sq ft facility is ramping up production with the aim of eventually producing 6,000 meals a day using surplus ingredients from supermarkets, wholesalers and restaurants – most of which would be thrown out as they near their sell-by date. Those meals are then distributed to people who need it for free, via a network of organisations and charities across London. People are hungry in the capital and cannot afford to buy food. The hard work of staff and volunteers at the kitchen goes some way to addressing that, but The Felix Project – the largest food redistribution charity in London, which operates the kitchen – expects a spike in demand in the autumn as furlough comes to an end and potential benefit cuts bite. It’s 2021. The K was the fifth largest economy in the world in January. That such organisations exist at all is a damning indictment of those managing our society. That more and more people are expected to need their services is a

feed help wanted to

those in need

how staff and volunteers at Felix’s Kitchen in Poplar are producing meals from surplus food

“rolled into hospitality by accident” at age 19, the Dutchman became a chef, rising through the fine dining world to win Michelin stars before moving to London to start a high-end food wholesale business for top restaurants in the capital. A change of direction followed in 2008 when he decided to close that business and create a charity with an initiative that saw diners pay 15p extra in a restaurant to feed a child in a developing country. He went on to cook for thousands of migrants in the camps at Calais. Right now, we are Just before lockdown, he set up Compassion actively looking for London to cook for those volunteers, especially without food in the capital as the pandemic local people because hit, eventually using we serve the local Wembley Stadium to produce around 5,000 community meals a day. Leon Aarts, Felix’s Kitchen Having joined up with The Felix Project, right now he’s in Poplar, cooking with 12 staff and a group of volunteers as head of Felix’s Kitchen – located next door to parent charity’s latest warehouse and distribution centre. “It’s terrible that people live in food insecurity, but we can’t let anyone go hungry while those who have the resources are figuring it out – whether that’s the Government or companies,” said Leon. “I think we can solve this problem if we work together and it’s a disgrace that so much perfectly good food goes to waste. “The Felix Project gets surplus food from more than 500 businesses, whether that’s small shops or Amazon, Hello Fresh and Ocado. “It’s really good produce, often close to its ‘use by’ or ‘best before’ date, which means you can’t sell it any more. But that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with it. It’s then distributed to almost 1,000 charities all around London who give it to people who live in food insecurity. “For example, many workers just before Covid were made redundant – people who were living from pay cheque to pay From fine dining to cooking thousands of meals a day – chef Leon Aarts and his cheque. team have set up in east London to help feed those living in food insecurity shameful failure of that governance. But there are mouths to feed right now and those doing the hard practical work to achieve that end deserve our support and admiration for spending their time on this planet compassionately helping others. Take Leon Aarts, for example. Having

“You can see, as you drive round east London, that so many people fall outside the system, and we allow it to happen – with ridiculous wages, not giving people any sense of security. “Many people in the capital get paid really, really, well, but a lot of people don’t – it’s almost impossible to live in London on a wage of £7 or £8 an hour. “A few weeks ago I had a charity kitchen doing what we do here and, in talking with The Felix Project, we found funding to create this purpose-built kitchen in Poplar – we’re building up to do 6,000 meals a day, but it takes time. “I have very experienced chefs, so they look at what comes in and they make meals out of it. We always try to do a variety – it’s crucial we do both nutritious and delicious meals. “That’s very important to me because when people are not in a very good state, they tend not to eat so well – if you have mental health challenges, eating is not at the top of your list of priorities and they don’t even realise it, so we will be working with nutritionists to help us improve what we produce. We always make sure that there’s protein, whether meat, vegetarian or vegan. “We’re also guided by the surplus we have – one of our remits is that no food should go to waste, which is a very interesting challenge. “Right now we are actively looking for volunteers, especially local people, because we serve the local community. “Also, if local companies have surplus food, then they should get in touch with us because we don’t want any food to go to waste “We can put it to good use, re-purpose it and give it to the people who need it. We have the resources for that – warehouses, where we can collect the food, sort it and turn it into meals. “We get black crates from Amazon, for example, that have all diﬀerent things, and we separate it out. If you’re a small business, then give it to us rather than put it to waste. “Bigger companies that produce food for supermarkets often have a lot of waste – often it’s not their own fault. For example, if it’s going to be good weather, a ﬁrm might make a lot of barbecue packs and then it rains and suddenly they don’t sell anything. But if they don’t put it in the bins and bring it to us we can do something with it. “We talk to our suppliers, of course, to ask if they have any of a particular ingredient but we’re especially short of staples – rice, pasta, tins of tomatoes – that sort of thing.” The Felix Project was created in 2016 by husband and wife Justin and Jane Byam Shaw, inspired by the compassion of their late son Felix, who died suddenly from meningitis in 2014. You can find out more about the charity and volunteering in east London online at thefelixproject.org

Scan this code to find out about volunteering with Felix’s Kitchen

harf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

Isle Of Dogs - Poplar - Blackwall

The number of meals Felix’s Kitchen off Thomas Road in Poplar is capable of producing every day for the charity

A chef slices celery donated as surplus food at Felix’s Kitchen in Poplar

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support your local institutions Where? The Space Isle Of Dogs

STAGE | When Rachel Met Fiona This fast-paced, comic play about bravery and life choices aims to capture the epic emotions generated by the most common human events. Intimacy, truth. Sept 28-Oct 2, times vary, £15, space.org.uk Where? Poplar Union Poplar

Meals ready to be distributed to the charities The Felix Project works with

EVENT | Fan Girl Presented by Bryony Byrne, this work about pop culture, childhood, performance and football takes its audience back to the heady 1990s. Peak Cantona. Sept 16, 7.30pm, £10, poplarunion.com Where? The Docks Isle Of Dogs

CLEAN | Litter Picking While dates are currently to be confirmed, a new group has formed to tackle litter on the Island and it’s looking for volunteers. Simply join the FB group. Ongoing, facebook.com - Isle Of Dogs: Friends Of The Docks

island growth

Portioning up the cooked food

The University Of Sunderland In London is expanding its campus with a whole floor at Harbour Exchange as it adds capacity to keep up with demand – a substantial amount of which comes from Londoners london.sunderland.ac.uk Scan this code to find out more about the University Of Sunderland In London want more? @wharflifelive

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

£5

Standard price of a pint of Hiver at the Bermondsey taproom

Hiverfest is set to take place on three Fridays from 6pm-11pm with tickets costing £30

how Hiverfest is set to fill a railway arch in Bermondsey with live music, beer swilling and plenty of sausage by Jon Massey

here’s historical precedent for Hiverfest. Bermondsey-based honey beer brand Hiver is set to host its very own homage to Oktoberfest over three Fridays – September 17, 24 and October 1 – at its taproom. “We’re very, very excited about it,” said the brand’s founder and managing director Hannah Rhodes. “It’s something we’ve wanted to do for a couple of years now – there’s a lovely tie-in because honey beer was one of the original festival beers. “Hops were only introduced to brewing in the 1400s in the UK so honey was a key ingredient before that. It helped the beer last a bit longer and gave greater depth of ﬂavour. Also, because it’s a natural sugar, it gets fermented into alcohol, making honey beers a bit more spicy than other brews that would have been around at the time. “That makes it ideal for a party or a festival. This summer has been all about getting back into a normal groove and we didn’t want to miss that opportunity to have some fun and party.” The events, which run from 6pm-11pm will see around 120 people join Hannah and her team under the arches in the taproom at Stanworth Street on each of the nights for food, beer and live music. Tickets cost £30 per person and include a pint of Hiver and a portion of food. Ceramic steins will also be available to purchase for £25, which includes another pint of

buzz creating a

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

There will be plenty of beers on offer including Hiver and Fabal lager

Hiver and a £1 discount on pints at the venue, whenever the owner pops in for a beer on an ongoing basis. “Hiverfest is going to be lots of beer swilling, feet stomping,” said Hannah. “We did a test run a few weeks ago in the guise of a staﬀ party and it was very successful. “Of course we’ll have our range of amazing, award-winning beers including our lager Fabal and our honey beer range from Hiver. “We also have a fab street food partner called SmoKings – they’re normally based at Finsbury Square in Moorgate and they do everything from grilled meats to vegan and vegetarian alternatives. “They will be making some festival sausages for us with both meat and vegan options and meat and vegetarian platters too. That may well be the start of a longer partnership between the two businesses as well. “The live band are a brass trio called Hot City Horns and we’re really lucky to have them. “It’s actually through someone I was at school with years and years ago – Paul Burton. They’ve been really successful, working with the likes of Sir Paul McCartney, Jess Glynne, Emeli Sande and

“

This summer has been all about getting back into a normal groove and we didn’t want to miss that opportunity to have some fun and party Hannah Rhodes, Hiver

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey

£4

Cost of a pint with a £25 pottery stein, plus the first comes free

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support your local institutions Where? The Albany Deptford

CONCERT | Tomorrow’s Warriors Hear the music of jazz tenor saxophonist Maddy Coombs as she takes the stage with her band. Expect flavours of Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane. Sept 26, 7.30pm, pay-what-thou-wilt, thealbany.org.uk Where? Deptford Lounge Deptford

Olly Murs and they’ll be bringing a singer along with them for the three evenings. “We’ll have everything from a bit of acoustic stuff to get people going, to standing on tables, wandering around and getting people engaged. While everyone will have a table and a seat, we don’t think it’ll be long before people are up on their feet.” Ticket holders can also expect some surprise goodies, a pri e for the best Oktoberfest-themed fancy dress and the opportunity to purchase an extensive range of merchandise, much of it featuring brand logo Phoebee. “We now have gorgeous new branding – a bit more playful with a few more bee puns that people seem to love,” said Hannah. “We’re bright and fresh. As a business beyond the taproom, We have some new products in the wings, which we hope will be coming out in the spring. For the moment we’re quite focused on festive Christmas gift packs, making sure we’ll be offering something a bit different. “The last year has been very much about driving online sales – we’re now available in Waitrose and Sainsbury’s, which is great. “It’s been about learning how

Born of Hiver founder and managing director Hannah Rhodes’ love of Oktoberfest, Hiverfest will feature live music from Hot City Horns and food from SmoKings including specially made meat and vegan options included in the price

Scan this code for more on Hiverfest or to book tickets

FILM | American Honey The penultimate screening in the current season is Andrea Arnold’s epic road comedy-drama as a young woman seeks an escape from an abusive home life. Sept 18, 6.30pm, £5, deptfordcinema.org Where? The Albany Deptford

we can get more savvy with online and driving digital sales.”

iverfest, however promises to be an o ine experience, taking the best bits of similar events in Germany and giving them a Bermondsey twist. “The arch is something tangible and there’s something really nice about seeing it come to life at the weekend,” said Hannah. “I’m a big fan of Oktoberfest in Germany and can’t wait to go back. It’s that lovely reminder of the role of beer, where people have fun and socialise. We’ll have our own version of the Prosit song and, hopefully, everyone will sing.” Those attending Hiverfest can choose between a pint of Hiver on arrival or Hannah’s relatively new release – Fabal – a dry crisp lager made with pressed barley and already the house pour at The Dorchester. “While Hiver means beekeeper, abal means the human artisan or craftsperson, like the maltsters who supply us for the brand,” she said.

STAGE | Cabaret Playroom Tricity Vogue hosts the return of this platform for new work, which has been running at The Albany since 2014. Expect Holly Penfield and Velvet Webb. Sept 16, 7.30pm, pay-what-thou-wilt, thealbany.org.uk

hot dog

Whatever you’re waiting for in life, do it at The Waiting Room in Deptford – a ramshackle establishment housing a top notch vegan junk food kitchen and some of the spiciest Bloody Marias we’ve ever tried @waitingroomse8 on Insta Scan this code to find out more about The Waiting Room via its Instagram feed want more? @wharflifelive

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

take a breath

by David Lefebvre Sell

how author Mary Jane Baxter left her job and headed for the hills, crafting and creating, as the basis for a book

Years Mary Jane spent working for the BBC before deciding to go on an adventure in a Bedford Bambi with a hand-cranked sewing machine

by Jon Massey

Admit it, the thought’s crossed your mind...

ou’ve been thinking about trying Yoga, haven’t you? Of course you have. Maybe it’s poor sleep and stress or that persistent lower back ache from working on the sofa during lockdown, or putting your shoes and socks on seems just a little harder than it should. Fear not, I’m here to inform you about what you actually need to know and shatter your pitiful excuses. Of course my favourite excuse is when people tell me: “I’d like to do Yoga but I’m too stiff”. That is like saying: “I’d like to have sex with you, but I’m far too horny”. Yoga classes are, generally, a supportive environment to explore one’s limitations – some classes are too advanced for the average beginner, but most classes are perfectly suitable for most people. If you have any injuries or health concerns, talk to your doctor and then the teacher. They should be able to help Saying: ‘I’d like to you modify postures or do Yoga but I’m too tell you if another class would be better. stiff’ is like saying: What type of Yoga class should you start ‘I’d like to have sex with? The one you with you, but I’m far actually like. Many people are turned off too horny’ by their first Yoga class David Lefebvre Sell and never come back. Personality can matter a lot. If you don’t like the teacher, or can’t stand the sound of their Canadian accent (ahem), just try another class. Many teachers are offering online classes now, and you have Yoga studios, gyms, churches and community centres to choose from. If you can’t find a teacher you like with all that choice, then the problem is probably you. One thing you do need to remember is that it only works if you do it. Your needs and goals are your own, and you need to find the tools that will make a difference for you. Not everyone wants to attend several classes a week, but maybe 10 minutes of good breathing helps your stress levels, or five stretches, three times a week helps your back pain. If the tools are out there, why not use them? 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

ew On The Go is many things. Travelogue, inspiration, maker’s guide, cautionary tale, creative outlet. It’s Mary Jane Baxter’s third book and, while it’s packed with crafting projects just like The Modern Girl’s Guide To Hatmaking and Chic On A Shoestring, it embraces something else in its 250 pages – the adventure of a journey. Six years ago, its author left her job at the BBC after 14 years working across Europe, bought and converted a small van, rented out her flat in London and set off on a trip with the aim of combining her love of travel and making things. The resulting book is the story of that expedition. “I spent a lot of time building up to it – I did a trip for Newsnight in 2009, which involved travelling around Britain and doing make do and mend tasks in exchange for bed and breakfast with viewers,” said Mary Jane, who curates craft and art shop Made In Greenwich for the Greenwich Cooperative Development Agency. “In order to have a comfortable night’s sleep, I would do a task, so I made trousers for a stilt-walker, created a hat for somebody to wear at Ascot and swapped a night in a hotel in Edinburgh for hats. It was about frugality in response to the last recession and it went down really well. At the time I had a second-hand Nissan Micra. It was quite clapped-out but I’d had the idea for this trip and thought it would be really interesting if I had this really crazy vehicle to do it in.” Having inherited a few thousand pounds following the death of her uncle in 2014, she decided to take redundancy from the BBC and test-drove lots of “really gorgeous vans” that were all too expensive. Then, while walking through Greenwich Park she spotted a man with a curious-looking vehicle. “He said it was a Bedford Bambi and told me I could test drive it, so I took it round the park and thought: ‘Yes, this could work’,” said Mary Jane. “I saw one for sale down in Southampton, took the train, bought it on the spot, drove it back to Deptford and started doing it up. “At the time I was working pretty much full-time in the newsroom at the BBC and, at the time, I lived in a tiny flat, so the van gave me an extra crafting space. I felt like I was

Mary Jane curates craft and art shop Made In Greenwich for GCDA

It’s a rip-roaring travel read, which is an honest account of how it felt to bloody well go off and do something interesting Mary Jane Baxter, author

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

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

Greenwich - Peninsula - Woolwich

Sew On The Go is available in hardback for £16.99, published by Unbound building an escape pod – I spent every day working on Bambi.” The makeover included covering the van’s exterior with wallpaper samples (rescued from a Brighton skip) and varnishing them to protect them from the weather. Then Bambi was ready to go and so was Mary Jane, having put together a plan to visit and stay with various friends, mount pop-ups at markets, sell the things she’d made and, most importantly, experience the untold possibilities of the open road. “It was: ‘Let’s throw it up in the air and see what freedom feels like after working for so long from eight in the morning until seven at night’,” she said. “Setting off on St Gerorge’s Day in April 2015 felt brilliant – it was amazing. “I packed everything I needed to craft on the road into Bambi – hats I’d made to sell, books I could o oad to help fund the trip, haberdashery and my trusty hand-cranked sewing machine. “I also had no electrics in Bambi – no interior lighting, no drainage, no water, no loo – it was basic camping. I did have the hob for a fry-up on the go, however. Bambi looked incredible and she got so much attention – people waved as we went off. “I got to the ferry and it was just that feeling that there was no agenda, no commitment – nothing on the horizon that I had to do. What person in their mid-40s wouldn’t want that? To lock the front door and just go.” Multiple adventures followed over the next four months as Mary Jane made her way through Belgium, France, Italy and up to northern Scotland. Readers can expect plenty of picturesque escapism as well as moments of drama including an encounter with an ageing campsite Lothario and dicing with the terrifying sheer drops while driving through the Gorge du Verdon. It’s also a tome stuffed with ideas for makers of all levels.

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support your local institutions Where? National Maritime Museum Greenwich

COMEDY | Greenwich Comedy Festival Greenwich is set to welcome five days of open-air stand-up with line-ups featuring the likes of Mae Martin, Nina Conti, Alan Davies and Ed Byrne. Sept 15-19, £25, greenwichcomedyfestival.co.uk Where? Greenwich Theatre Greenwich

Sew On The Go contains a wide range of crafting projects from making a Romantic Travelling Cape to Vintage Buckle Necklace “The book contains 26 upcycled craft projects interwoven in the story,” said Mary Jane. “There’s always an element of my work that’s about re-using, recycling and creating beautiful things out of stuﬀ people chuck away – everything from no-sew projects to more complicated ones. “It’s also a rip-roaring travel read, which is an honest and exciting account of how it felt to be in that position of not being able to stand being at my desk anymore answering emails and deciding to bloody well go oﬀ and do something interesting instead. It’s light-hearted but it’s also about the creative process and about those life decisions that come your way – you don’t get married or have kids – things you might have expected, but don’t happen. “What do you make of a life that’s balanced between being creative and

sew not just

stories

being responsible for yourself and how do you make that work? “The book is about trying to answer the question: ‘What are you looking for?’. I still don’t know the answer, but I’m glad I took this journey in an attempt to ﬁnd out. “Often people have ideas but they don’t follow them through. A lot of people, especially women, don’t travel on their own – I talked to a lot of women in their 40s and 50s and they said they would never go oﬀ on their own like that. “I have to say that, as the trip went on, it wasn’t all plain-sailing. There were real episodes of loneliness, and wondering what on earth I was doing. But I’d had the idea, bought the van and I did it.” Published by Unbound on a crowdfunding model, the book came out in May. Mary Jane said: “It took six years of hard work, fundraising, writing and journeying. Of all the books I’ve written, this one does hit the nail on the head. Bambi happened and I’m really pleased that I produced something out of my imagination and got it out there.” ● Sew On The Go: A Maker’s Journey is available to buy at Made In Greenwich in Creek Road or online for £16.99, published by Unbound

Scan this code to find our more about Sew On The Go or to order

STAGE | Tiger Lady Discover the tale of America’s most ferocious big cats’ tamer in Dead Rabbits’ devised production about the life of Mabel Stark, queen of the circus. Sept 27, 7.30pm, £15, greenwichtheatre.org.uk Where? Cutty Sark Greenwich

GIG | Joe Danks The former Royal Museums Greenwich musicianin-residence returns to perform Seaspeak, his latest album, which was recorded at the Queen’s House. Sept 25, 6.30pm, £20, rmg.co.uk

sky sight

Discover the winners of the Royal Observatory Greenwich’s annual Astronomy Photographer Of The Year competition by tuning in on Sept 16 or see the images in the flesh at the National Maritime Museum from Sept 18 sign up at rmg.co.uk/shortlist Scan this code to find out more about the exhibition or to book tickets to view – it’s £10 for adults want more? @wharflifelive

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

competitive creating that

edge

how the emerging sport of Hyrox offers gym-goers a contest for their functional skills by Jon Massey

t’s fair to say Moritz Fürste has a bit of a soft spot for east London. The German won the second of his two Olympic Gold medals for hockey at the 2012 Games in Stratford, celebrating victory in Canary Wharf – although he can’t remember exactly where. The party was obviously a good one. But what do you do after you’ve reached the pinnacle of success in your chosen sport? In Mo’s case, the answer is to team up with global sports event expert Christian Toetzke and advertising and marketing specialist Michael Trautmann to create something new. Then spread it all over the world. Hyrox is that thing and it’s set to arrive for the first time in the K at xcel in Royal Docks on September 25 with sister events in Birmingham on October 30 and in Manchester on January 29 as its fourth season progresses. But what exactly is it? “Hyrox is a new sport that doesn’t fit into any existing category,” said Mo. “The idea was not just to create an event, it was about founding a complete new sport in the world. We’re pretty convinced that we’ve discovered a field where there is a niche not used before. “Go back 10 years and people would go to the gym, but they were often basketball players, football players or whatever. “Nowadays more that 50% of the people that go the gym say that fitness is their sport, so that was the founding idea of our company. We had this thought of a competition, a race for those people. “People want to show their skills and what they’ve learned. Fitness people are often very competitive, but there’s no obvious way to showcase what you’ve got. “Of course, there are very cool sports like Crossfit, which is like for the top 0.1 of the fitness world. Then there are obstacle races, which are cool, but they’re not meant to be competitive – they’re more about completion. “Hyrox is a mass participation event for fitness, just like triathlon is a mass participation event for endurance. ssentially it’s a combination of fitness and running, so that’s why I call it a race.” The format is comparatively simple – eight separate exercises separated by eight 1k runs. The aim is to complete the whole course in the fastest time possible.

“The exercises are always the same,” said Mo. “The eight workouts after each run are always in the same order and they are doing 1km on a Ski rg, which is like a vertical rowing machine, then a sled push, where you have to push it over 50 metres of carpet. Next you have to pull the sled back, then there are some burpee broad jumps for 80 metres in total and 1km on a rowing machine followed by a farmers carry with kettlebells. “Then there are the sandbag lunges, with the weight on your back for 100 metres. The whole thing finishes with 75 or 100 wall balls. “It’s always the same workout, because we are convinced that successful sports all over the world don’t change their logic every year. I think that people want to get better at what they do. “The first uestion people ask when you finish a Marathon is what time did you finish in verybody can compare it, and then the next time you start you can compare it to your own time.” Mo himself completed the course in an hour and 20 minutes – about 15 minutes uicker than the average men’s open race time – and holds the current Hyrox o ce record. With events held across urope and the SA, the current world record stands at 55 minutes while Mo said the slowest recorded time was “by a really nice guy in Chicago” who did it in three hours and 25 minutes. With around 3,000 competitors at each event, a battalion of judges keeps watch over each event to ensure nobody is cheating. Those flouting the rules get a warning, a second warning and are then dis ualified. The K represents a significant expansion for Hyrox, which will hold 35 events worldwide this season. Competitors

I really think Hyrox has the potential to be an Olympic sport one day. It’s the perfect competition missing from the fitness world. That’s the path we should aim for Moritz Fürste, Hyrox

Co-founder Moritz Fürste is excited about bringing Hyrox to Excel compete for a place at the World Championships, where those with the very best times vie for the title. “We’re excited to be in the K, because the K is a massive fitness market,” said Mo. “The percentage of people signed up to gyms there is so much higher than the rest of urope, except for Scandinavia for some reason. “It’s very interesting to see the amount of money that’s spent in that area. People who do stuff like that buy the best shoes they can possibly get, because even the worst runner doesn’t want their shoes to be any worse than they already are. “London is the biggest city in urope, so we’re more than excited to get over to xcel. “The biggest di culty for us, regarding the K events and introducing Hyrox to a new market is that people think it’s not accessible from a strength and performance perspective – that’s so far from the truth. “We have a 99 finish rate – 99 out of 100 who start, finish the course. It is tough, really tough, but it is accessible – everybody can do it. “There’s not a workout where people keep telling me that they couldn’t move the sled – we haven’t seen that, ever. It’s on a carpet, it’s tough, but you will finish

it. That’s really important for us to explain from the beginning. Also, if they don’t want to do it by themselves then they can do it in the doubles competition, because there’s the mixed option where you share the workload.” Prospective individual participants can register for the standard men’s and women’s races or the pro men’s or pro women’s competitions for £7 per person. Single sex or mixed doubles registration costs £129, with spectator tickets available for £10, including a £5 gift voucher for use at Hyroxworld. “Training for Hyrox is very tough and you have to run, so endurance is very important but, at the same time, you have to be a complete athlete and training for that is healthy,” said Mo. “It’s not like doing a marathon which is very hard on your feet and calves. “Not a single muscle gets bigger than it should be – you don’t have to run 2k – it’s eight times one and that’s a big difference. “Running 8km is one thing, but running eight singles is a completely different ballgame. “I really think Hyrox has the potential to be an Olympic sport one day. It’s the perfect competition missing from the fitness world. “Many people have been waiting for this kind of race to show up. Will we be at the Olympics in five years Probably not. In 10? I don’t know, but I think that’s the path we should aim for. “If not in the Olympics, at least making it that big and, if that doesn’t work out, we’d like to grow it to something like the Triathlon World Series or the Marathon World Series and have it known as this huge world fitness event or race that people like to attend. “In Germany we have about 50 gym partnerships – places that pay a small licence fee for a year to use the name and the workouts, which is a very cool o ine marketing tool for us and allows people to train. “I know that we have 18 partnerships in the K so far and counting. That’s something we’d like to expand as Hyrox continues to grow.”

Scan this code for more information about Hyrox at Excel or to register for a place

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

Royal Docks - Canning Town

Separate set exercises, interspersed with eight 1km runs make up the Hyrox competition

four focus

support your local institutions Where? Royal Wharf Pier Royal Wharf

GO | Meet Me At The Pier Pop-Up Find cocktails, coffee and pastries at The Airstream pop-up bar from 5pm. Expect a 20% off Happy Hour for the first 60 minutes and live music. Until Sept 26, Thursdays and Fridays, riverscape.co.uk Where? Excel Royal Victoria Dock

EVENT | Identity Week This conference and exhibition aims to bring the brightest minds in the identity sector to promote innovation and new thinking. Sept 22-23, 9am-5pm, from free, excel.london Where? Excel Royal Victoria Dock

EVENT | The AI Summit This series of workshops, debates and dedicated stages allows attendees to get to grips with the theme and make it relevant to their business. Sept 22-23, 8.30am-5.30pm, from free, excel.london

Competitors complete the runs and exercises in the same order as fast

making movement

as possible

HYROX RUNDOWN All competitors complete the following ● 1km run + 1km SkiErg ● 1km run + 50m sled push ● 1km run + 50m sled pull ● 1km run + 80m burpee broad jumps ● 1km run + 1km rowing ● 1km run + 200m farmers carry ● 1km run + 100m sandbag lunges ● 1km run + 75x or 100x wall balls

Discover the work of puppet maker Charlie Tymms who creates all kinds of characters from her base at Royal Albert Wharf in Royal Docks – most recently a T-Rex for The Dinosaur Show which had its preview in Birmingham charlietymms.co.uk Scan this code to find out more about Charlie Tymms’ work including owls for Harry Potter want more? @wharflifelive

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

Advertising Directory - Classified

find our advertisers’ messages here Kidd Rapinet Solicitors print Pages 1, 4, 11, 15 online kiddrapinet.co.uk

Notting Hill Genesis print Page 27 online nhgsales.com

Transport For London print Page 7 online tfl.gov.uk

My London Home print Pages 28, 29 online mylondonhome.com

Creative Virtual print Page 9 online creativevirtual.com

Landmark Properties print Pages 30-31 online lmlondon.com

Tailor & Forge print Page 22 online tailorandforge.com

Galliard Homes print Page 34 online galliardhomes.com

Canary Wharf Group print Page 23 online canarywharf.com

Handyman Services London print Page 46 online handyman-services-london.co.uk

Alex Neil print Page 24 online alexneil.com Poplar Harca print Page 25 online poplarharca.co.uk Legal & General print Page 26 online landgah.com/sqp

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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Wharf Life is published by Massey Maddison Limited and printed by Iliffe Print Cambridge. Copyright Massey Maddison Limited 2021 In regard to advertising material submitted by third parties and printed in Wharf Life, each individual advertiser is solely responsible for the content of such material Massey Maddison Limited accepts no responsibility for the content of advertising material, including, without limitation, any error, omission or inaccuracy therein

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

Stratford - Bow - Hackney Wick

£12

Price of the Moving Mountain Vegan Burger at The Lord Napier And Star in Hackney Wick

four focus

support your local institutions where? Bridgewater Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park OPENING | Is This A Waste Land? Join Charlotte Spencer Projects for an immersive performance set on an empty plot of land asking how we value landscape, homes and communities. Sept 17-19, 6pm, £20, charlottespencerprojects.org

Above, the pub’s new artwork and, top, KraPow’s vegan burger, Thai fries and pork bites

repackaged nice and safely

where? Stratford Picturehouse Stratford

FILM | 2046 Wong Kar Wai’s movie combines a languorous air of romantic longing with a dizzying time-hopping structure and avant-sci-fi twist. Sept 19, 8pm, £7.50, picturehouses.com where? Theatre Royal Stratford East Stratford

how The Lord Napier And Star reworks an old, radical, graffiti-covered hulk in Hackney Wick for a new audience by Jon Massey

he par uet flooring, muted shades of paint, ornithological murals and comfy, well-upholstered leather seats in electric blue are some distance from “Shithouse To Penthouse” and “Meanwhile In ast London, Lunatics ecorate A Building” – two of the legends painted on the outside of The Lord apier, a formerly derelict pub in Hepscott oad, Hackney Wick. ecently reborn as The Lord apier And Star – the seventh in ob Star’s lectric Star pub chain – its updated form has meant the stripping away of the lunatics’ efforts in favour of a two-tone, tiled frontage in shades of green and a repaint by local artists. While the new work may be more aesthetically cohesive – there’s a cheery Big Issue seller, some stoned monkeys and a dark figure holding a bloodied bird that recalls O y Osbourne biting the head off a dove – uite why so much effort has been expended on making a building that had

street art all over it look like a building that has street art all over it, is unclear – especially because the inside feels so foreign to the exterior, with its paint in sensible shades of pink and blue, exposed brickwork and potted greenery. It’s cosy and unchallenging. Swap it with the interior at the posh end of pper Street in Islington and nobody would even notice. All of this isn’t to say the apier is bad – it has a smart bar, a

The Napier features fresh murals and an anvil instead of a pub sign

pleasant enough atmosphere and the sort of crowd who’d remember the release of Common People by Pulp, which incidentally is playing when we arrive. They’re probably the ones living in The Bagel actory and the other carefullynamed developments just across the way. The opening also means another decent place to eat locally, thanks to a partnership with KraPow London which oﬀers Thai food inside, mostly taking the form of spiced burgers, fried meats, fries, grilled veg and lots of fried eggs. The vegan burger is excellent as are the rich, chilli-laced fries. My pint of Camden Hells lager tastes exactly as you’d expect an independent craft beer bought by a multi-billion dollar brewing giant in 2015 to taste. As we leave I spot a few fresh tags have appeared on the pristine tiles. Let’s see how long they last.

Scan this code for more information about The Lord Napier And Star

STAGE | Shining City Conor McPherson’s play is an unsettling exploration of guilt, loneliness and the places between us, directed by Nadia Fall and featuring Brendan Coyle. Sept 17-Oct 23, various times, from £10, stratfordeast.com

grave intentions

Stay tuned to Cemetery Club as historian Sheldon K Goodman creates a programme of graveyard tours including the enormous Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park in Bow – well worth a rambling, extended visit cemeteryclub.wordpress.com Scan this code to find out more about Cemetery Club, cemeteries in London and tours and events want more? @wharflifelive

Wharf Life Sept 1-15, 2021 wharf-life.com

SUDOKU

Crossword - Sudoku

Tough

Previous solution - Medium

4 6 8 7 2 1 5 9 3 Sudoku 3 a2break 5 from 8 4 that 9 phone 1 7 6 Take 1 9 7 3 5 6 8 4 2 How 2 to8 play 9 1 7 4 3 6 5 To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 4 such 2 9 7 row, 8 1column and 3x3 box one6 to5nine that3each contains every number uniquely. 7 3 1 5 6 8 4 2 9 7 find 6 strategies, 4 3 5 hints 2 and 1 8tips online You9can at sudokuwiki.org 5 1 2 6 8 7 9 3 4 8 to 4 play 3 9 1 2 6 5 7 More

2 6

3 2 4 4 1 3 6 4 5 7 5 4 9 1 1 3 7 8

8 6

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. 1387 that each row, column and 3x3 box

contains every number uniquely. Notes

Tough

7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 15. 17.

18. 19 . 21.

Don’t turn your back on the children! (4,3,5) Softly I can somehow produce widespread alarm (5) Broken seats are part of the estate (5) Potter’s implement (3) Steel, for example, used for the foundation? (4,5) Party’s upset by this food (6) Make an opening in part of the gun, we hear (6) Don’t catch up with a convict at the back (3,6) It’s di cult to hold when the top of the ﬁshing tackle is missing (3) Country where father is caught in immoral action (5) What the diplomat needs about one being silent (5) The right gear for the match (7-5)

Notes

Put a gloss on a European combination! (6-6) 2. Brown to process leather (3) 3. She can somehow realise on investments (6) 4. Faltered and made terms badly (9) 5. Disturbed aristocratic clique? (5) 6. Choristers who are o ciating at the Church Bazaar? (5-7) 7 & 13Dn. Urge a fellow to be a publicity representative (5-5) 10. Stimulate in garden plot - put forth shoots (9) 13. See 7 Down 14. The points should be adjusted for this part of the engine (6) 16 . The range, maybe, is very extensive, we hear (5) 20. Fish to be paid for when brought (3)

2 4 5 7 9 6 3 8 1

1 9 6 4 3 8 5 7 2

5 1 8 3 7 4 2 9 6

9 7 4 6 8 2 1 3 5

3 6 2 5 1 9 8 4 7

Quick Across 1. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 15. 17. 18. 19. 21.

Break up (12) Establish (3,2) Corrupt (5) Globe (3) Liberate (9) Diction (6) Twine (6) In layers (9) Fire residue (3) Strained (5) Declaim (5) Sinner (12)

Down 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 10. 13. 14. 16. 20.

Heartbroken (12) Trap (3) Unmask (6) Withdrew (9) Dense (5) Reinforcement (12) Black (5) Indiﬀerence 9 Likeness (5) Powerful (6) Inferior (5) `Chopper (3)

Across: 1 Disintegrate; 7 Set up; 8 Taint; 9 Orb; 10 Unshackle; 11 Speech; 12 String; 15 Laminated; 17 Ash; 18 Tense; 19 Orate; 21 Transgressor. Down: 1 Disconsolate; 2 Net; 3 Expose; 4 Retracted; 5 Thick; 6 Strengthener; 7 Sable; 10 Unconcern; 13 Image; 14 Strong; 16 Minor; 20 Axe.

7 8 3 1 2 5 4 6 9

Cryptic Solution

Down

8 5 7 9 4 1 6 2 3

Across: 1 Face the issue; 7 Panic; 8 Asset; 9 Cue; 10 Base metal; 11 Pastry; 12 Breach; 15 Lag behind; 17 Eel; 18 Spain; 19 Tacit; 21 Wedding-dress. Down: 1 French-polish; 2 Tan; 3 Encash; 4 Stammered; 5 Upset; 6 Stall-holders; 7 Press; 10 Burgeoned; 13 Agent; 14 Piston; 16 Grate; 20 Cod.

Across

6 2 9 8 5 3 7 1 4

2 1 7 8 8 2 4 3 If you like Sudoku you’ll really like ‘Str8ts’ and our other puzzles, Apps 4 1 and books. Visit www.str8ts.com 1 3 6 4 5 To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such whether you’re beating7the 5 that each row, column and 3x3 box containssleuth every number cryptic oruniquely. 7 9 1 4 synonym For many strategies, solverhints inand tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org 1 3 7 8it forIf you quick wins, like Sudoku you’ll really like and oursatisfy other puzzles, Apps this ‘Str8ts’ should 8 6 and books. Visit www.str8ts.com For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org

The solutions will be published here in the next issue.

Cryptic

4 3 1 2 6 7 9 5 8

2 6

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

last issue’s solution

Previous - Medium Aug 18-Sept solution 1

2 1 7 8

Quick Solution

No. 1387