Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9

Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

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inside issue 17

We try a pitch black seance on the Wharf Page 4

The Elementary Beauty Company Adventure Playground Engineers Christmas Parties Special Ted’s Grooming Room Belvedere Gardens Kidbrooke Village Sweat By BXR Vesuvio Labs Cafe Vesuvio Oktoberfest Third Space Yum Bun Puzzles Excel

spirit

the party

what The Pearson Room has in store for Wharfers planning their essential festive celebrations Canary Wharf – Pages 6-8

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

Image by Holly Cant – find more of her work at hollycant.com or via @hollycantphoto on Insta

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Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

read

fortnightly find

this issue’s Tiger Treasure

14 days later

plan your life from Oct 9-23 where?

Museum Of London Docklands West India Quay KIDS | Meet The Author Join The City Of Secret Rivers writer Jacob Sager Weinstein for a special talk about his fantasy novels set in London’s sewers. For ages six and over.

Oct 22, 2pm, free, museumoflondon.org.uk

feast your eyes on these

One for the childhood scientist inside us all, quite what the experimental justification for creating a small tree festooned with crystals is, remains unclear. All we know is we want one for the desk. Perhaps it’s a method of testing how long it takes cleaning staff to recognise a potential biohazard and remove it with rubber gloves and tongs. Then again it might just be pretty Crystal Experiment, £4 Go to uk.flyingtiger.com

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Deceptively deep: Duck

Unwrapping The Pearson Room’s festive offer well ahead of Christmas

donburi is a decent size even if it costs £14.50

where?

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place

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MUSIC | The Boisdale Music Awards 2019 Hosted by Jools Holland, this year’s nominees include Heather Small, Courtney Pine, Toploader and Joe Jackson. Expect hair to be let down.

Oct 10, from 6pm, from £125 (no dinner), boisdale.co.uk

How Ted’s Grooming Room aims to provide an exacting service

where?

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place

COMEDY | Rory Bremner The blockbuster satirical impressionist takes the stage in Canary Wharf for an evening of merriment amid the chaos. Expect Trump, Boris and Brexit.

Oct 14, 8pm, from £20 (no dinner), boisdale.co.uk

to do before October 9

Bandleader, saxophonist and stylish jazz man Courtney Pine brings his special blend of merengue, ska, mento and calypso to Boisdale Of Canary Wharf from October 2-6. Tickets start at £25, music at 9.15pm boisdale.co.uk

lunch date

Wagamama, Jubilee Place It’s easy to forget about Wagamama, tucked away above the food court in Jubilee Place. And following its takeover in 2018 by The Restaurant Group – operator of ill-starred Frankie And Benny’s and Chiquito – some would be forgiven for thinking that might be a good thing.

But its cavernous Canary Wharf branch actually makes a fair fist of lunch. While a little on the expensive side, my grilled duck donburi is a deep bowl filled with rice, teriyaki

sauce and shredded meat, topped off with an inelegantly fried egg. For £14.50 it feels like a balanced meal and is a sizeable portion even if its side of kimchi is underpowered.

More importantly, the warm glow of the restaurant makes it a pleasant place to sit. With rapid service, it’s a functional if unsophisticated experience that meets expectations without shooting over them.

Go to wagamama.com Jon Massey

get in touch

correct us

Editorial email stories@wharf-life.com call 07765 076 300

we want to hear from you

43

Vesuvio Labs on bringing disruption to a staid insurance sector

the joy of six Every fortnight Wharf Life covers six areas surrounding Canary Wharf to bring you the best of what’s going on beyond the estate From Page 49

need something fixed?

Hidden to many Nicolas in One Canada Square is well worth seeking out nicolas.co.uk

Advertising email advertising@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.

want more? @wharflifelive

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spot check one to try

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Canary Wharf

on the radar

doing the deals

get more for less in and around the Wharf

need to know

20%

We don’t know when yet, but English shoemaker Barker is set to take the place of Devialet in Cabot Place.

Wharfers can expect 135 years of history with men’s and women’s styles with prices in excess of £100 a pair and often double that barkershoes.com

50

Newly opened Flexology in Canada Place is offering 20% off first stretch sessions and follow-up sessions for free until October 20, plus 50% off at its cafe flexologystudio.com

56

The skies are getting dark earlier, it must be time for Oktoberfest

Gamers on the Wharf should look out for the arrival of Wanyoo Esports Studio which is set to arrive at Crossrail Place beside Island Poke. The cafe will offer food, drink, online gaming and a board game area for those of an analogue bent wanyoo.co.uk

Excel gets a green makeover to welcome travellers to the building

50% 58

Playground creator John O’Driscoll on the importance of giving children something to challenge themselves with, working with nature and the vital role play has in society

Use code Wharf241 and get half price tickets with a pal to New Scientist Live’s freshly launched Friday Night Lates on October 11 from 5pm-9pm newscientistlive.com

SPECIAL LUNCH OFFER A CHOICE OF PASTA, FILLED PASTA, PIZZA OR PANINI WITH A SOFT DRINK FOR 9.99 WITH A PINT OF FOSTERS OR 125ml HOUSE WINE 12.99

At Capeesh we do things differently. We are one of the finest restaurants in Canary Wharf and we serve fresh and authentic Italian food. The freshest ingredients go into every dish in our Italian restaurant to compliment the exquisite setting in which our establishment is situated. Unwind in our adjoining Lounge in absolute luxury with friends and family; the perfect spot for drinks to finish the working day.

If all that wasn’t enough, Capeesh boasts a unique Sky Bar in Canary Wharf (one of the highest bars in London) to take you amongst the dizzying heights of Canary Wharf’s towering skyscrapers with panoramic views of London. This is 21st century Italian dining done right in incomparable and inimitable style in Canary Wharf, London

WWW.CAPEESH.CO.UK 020 7538 1111 - events@capeesh.co.uk instagram/facebook @capeeshlondon

Address: 4 Pan Peninsula Square, Isle of Dogs, London E14 9HN - Right besides South Quay DLR Station

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Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

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Months Jon has to try the facilities at Third Space

loving the elevator

what it’s like to become a member at Canary Wharf’s Third Space

The bunks in Coma by Darkfield

pitch black thrillers

How our assorted box of 12 doughnuts looked after it arrived (pretty Third earlySpace’s in the Canada studio morning in space has a a dedicated nightclub companyfeel van) with its LED lights and dark palette of colours

sampling Darkfield’s shows on the Wharf

Flight is set on a passenger jet

training wheels

M

y palms are flat on the table. I can hear someone crying a few metres away.

I know I’m surrounded by strangers, sat in a shipping container in Montgomery Square. But right now it’s pitch black and I can’t see anything. The headphones I’m wearing create the world around me. A voice just behind my left ear tells me to let the spirit in: “He has chosen you. I’m so sorry”.

This is Séance by Darkfield, one of three container-based shows that enjoyed a short, run in Canary Wharf this month.

Each takes place in complete darkness and uses a rich, seemingly personalised soundtrack to play on the vulnerability felt by an audience unable to see anything at all.

They are unsettling, chilling and addictive.

While Séance recreates the thrill of an encounter with spirits from beyond the grave, beloved of spiritualists in the early decades of the 20th century, Flight places the audience in the position of Schrödinger’s Cat. Sat in an immaculate recreation of a commercial passenger jet, I was asked to ponder whether I was alive or dead in the darkness as the hydraulics injected the fear of crashing into me.

Best of all, however, and the reason I had to experience the others, was Coma. Lying in a lonely bunk, in the inky blackness I heard a man’s voice ask me if I’d taken the pill on the pillow by my head.

Frozen, both knowing there was nothing there, but unable to move to check, I heard him seemingly pace up and down the container, stop by my bed, look at me and say: “How about this one?”. Threatening, sinister – I was paralysed, unwilling to reach out to check whether there really was someone there, just in case my fingers confirmed my terror.

I knew it was just an audio recording, I knew I was in a shipping container, but I could almost hear my heart beating in my chest.

The show was exhilarating, terrifying and good for my mental health. It turns out you can’t stress about invoices, emails or KPIs when you are scared witless.

Darkfield’s shows are currently on tour around the UK. Go to darkfield.org Mary Tadpole

B

efore joining Third Space, I’d not been one for fitness classes. But the temptation of a timetable stuffed with variety is potent.

As a beginner, some of the titles can sound intimidating – Extreme, Ultra Shock Circuit, Speed Fiends – but all are geared towards first-timers with easier options available to ease participants in.

My initial anxiety that I’d somehow be centre-stage with a coterie of glamorous, hard-bodied individuals sneering at my weak attempts to complete a class couldn’t be further from the reality of participation.

Take Lift, for example. Billed as a session that teaches members to pump iron in a safe and effective manner, under trainer Danny it’s a lesson in carefully thought-out inclusion.

Split into four groups of three exercises, each repeated three times, it takes place at Third Space’s Canada studio – a black, rubberised space dimly lit by nightclub-like LED crosses.

Far from being competitive, the atmosphere is one of encouragement and individuality. Everyone selects weights they’re comfortable with and, with plenty of reps to get through to a gentle backdrop of beats and Danny’s constantly upbeat words of encouragement, there’s no time at all to focus on

anything other than the various tasks literally in hand.

Alternating between heavy kettlebells and lighter dumbbells, with the odd 30 seconds off, the 45 minutes zip by almost imperceptibly.

The first time I went, it felt tough – the focus on slower, deliberate movements rather than pounding out the numbers. Perhaps the best thing about the class, however, is that Danny doesn’t just let participants grind over the same moves three times in each section. Following every set, he takes time to demonstrate variations, ways to adapt the exercises to make them harder or easier.

Raise a hand and, in seconds, he’ll bounce over to gently correct form or offer words of encouragement to those performing correctly. So, attending a second time, everything felt easier, another hook to boost retention.

At the end, with the endorphins flowing following a quick stretch, the round of applause for our efforts felt natural and congratulatory. What a way to set up the weekend the Saturday morning sesssions are.

Individual membership at Third Space in Canary Wharf costs £170 per month.

Go to thirdspace.london Jon Massey

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

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Canary Wharf

buy me

bucket list

this fortnight’s must-have item

write me

words you didn’t know you need

alititis

noun, fictional, American A verbal affliction common among young people in business that causes them to add -ality to the end of words in a bid to sound busy and important. The gateway drug is optionality. Symptoms include optimality and totality

Adam has opened a new branch following its success in Canary Wharf Tube station ● Barber List With a new branch open, adjacent to Canary Wharf DLR, offering booking facilities, cuts, shaves and the same scent as its other outlets, there is no better time to try the services of Adam Grooming Atelier in Cabot Place.

Located opposite Moss Bros, the barbershop offers complimentary drinks alongside its range of styling options Directors cut £32, adamgroomingatelier.com

● Brook List Pop to West India Quay on October 8 at 6.30pm for Secret Rivers: Tomorrow’s Waters at the Musuem Of London Docklands. Secret Rivers co-curator Kate Sumnall hosts a panel of experts.

Tickets, £15 museumof london.org.uk

● Board List With Wanyoo on its way to Crossrail Place it’s time to sharpen up those analogue gaming skills too. Pandemic is a slick, engaging cooperative board game where players battle outbreaks of disease. Hours of fun for £36.99 waterstones.com

Not a doggo

Ladies longline single breasted jacket, £199 Ted Baker, Canada Place Make a statement in the office or the trading floor with this bright blue wardrobe staple designed to pair perfectly with the blacks and whites you already own

doggo

adverb, real, English circa 1900s Not, as some on the internet may believe, a synonym for puppy (and certainly not pupper – whose usage guarantees a special place in hell) but a term to describe a thing remaining motionless and quiet to escape detection. Meme it up

Sound Insulation Scheme The airport offers eligible properties located within its noise contours the opportunity to have works undertaken as part of its Sound Insulation Scheme. To be eligible, properties need to be in the contour and meet criteria relating to the date planning permission was granted for the construction of your property.

Our noise contours are re-assessed annually and newly eligible properties falling within the First, Second or Intermediate Tier are automatically contacted by the Airport.

No application to the Scheme is necessary.

eat me

a spot for a light lunch Lasagne, £13 Obica, West Wintergarden There’s no shortage of porcelain presented with an order of this Italian classic in Obica’s restaurant and it plays its part on the flavour front if you’re looking for a swift, light lunch.

But the price is high, especially with Scarpetta and Carluccio’s offering similar dishes for significantly less wedge. The service and situation at Obica are pleasant but the sprig of rosemary isn’t fooling anyone. obica.com

London City Airport Second Tier Intermediate Tier First Tier For those already treated under the Sound Insulation Scheme 10-year check-ups are available for properties which have had either secondary glazing and/or mechanical acoustic ventilators installed.

For further information, or to view the latest noise contours, please visit the London City Airport website at https://www.londoncityairport.com/corporate/Environment/Sound-insulation.

Alternatively, you can contact the Sound Insulation Administrator on sound.insulation@londoncityairport.com

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Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

by Jon Massey

350

Maximum capacity of The Pearson Room for a standing event

W

ith the summer break out of the way, it’s time for the inevitable conversation – where shall we hold this year’s Christmas party? The end of September may seem early, but with 120,000 people working in Canary Wharf, competition for bookings is fierce, especially for dates in the first two weeks of December.

To spark the imagination we took a trip to The Pearson Room to find out what the Canada Square venue, located above Waitrose at the heart of Canary Wharf, is tempting partygoers with for 2019. venue verticals The Pearson Room is tailor-made for the needs of working Wharfers.

From its second-floor location, it offers views of One Canada Square, HSBC, Citi and Bank Of America – a backdrop for those who need reminding they’re out of office.

Arranged in linear fashion with the main bar beside its access lifts, it can host up to 350 people for a standing reception but can also be split into sections for parties of different sizes, be that smaller team breakfasts, lunches and dinners or departmental gatherings.

Events manager Grace Harrison is looking forward to her second festive season at the venue, having built on the successes of 2018 to refine and improve the options.

“Our Christmas menu is going to kick off from November 28 and we’re taking bookings now,” she said. “To encourage guests to book their Christmas party a little bit earlier this year, we have an offer on.

“If they book a party before December 6, we’re including a Christmas aperitif on arrival for all guests.

“It’s going to be a great vibe, a great atmosphere this year and food’s going to be great.

“We’ve got some new additions to the Christmas menu this year – working hard to tailor what we’re offering to people’s expectations.

“We have our Christmas threecourse set menu, which will be £42-50 per person - the same price as last year.

“We’ve got a couple of upgrade options too this year, such as Prosecco on arrival or a little cheese course, and we’ve made those affordable – a bit of a deal – if you go for that for a big group.”

In keeping with the venue’s layout, Grace said offering flexibility was her watchword and that she would play as large or small a role in the organisation of their event as necessary.

“I want to make sure anyone

Food and drink: Bar manager Omar Valadez and head chef Tim Tolley have been hard at work creating a wealth of festive flavours to tempt Wharfers Image by Holly Cant – find more of her work at hollycant.com or via @hollycantphoto on Insta

party as thoughts turn to the Christmas season The Pearson Room unveils its festive offering with Wharfers urged to be quick to secure prime bookings

preparing the

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

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Canary Wharf

“

who has been tasked with planning their office Christmas party this year doesn’t find it a stressful experience, she said.

I want to make sure “ hey can come to me and my anyone who has been team and we can book them in and take care of everything. hat’s tasked with planning for events of any size, whether it’s their office Christmas someone who ust wants to book an area or something a little bit party doesn’t find it a extra special, we’ll take care of it. stressful experience ery often that’s what people are relieved to hear.

Grace Harrison, The Pearson Room “ e’ve got lots of space here – enough for up to people hey can come and eat any time standing for the whole thing – a they want – breakfast, lunch and big, blockbuster event. dinner. “ e know what the big compa“ he lunch and dinner menus nies are looking for is that second are the same and we start them week in ecember and we do have at . pm. So it’s different from availability in that week. e’d love your typical restaurant, where it’s to invite anyone looking down to noon-2. pm. t’s a response to the the venue to show them what we way the world is today – people can offer. have changed in the way they live “ hile a lot of people come and work. to me with their own ideas we “ t’s convenient, tasty, a great can provide entertainment such atmosphere, relaxed and has a as bands, acoustic singers or s great view – how can you go for the bigger parties. e’re even wrong with that available for private hire over the For Christmas, im has created weekends and we offer good rates a menu intended to be as inclusive as we wouldn’t normally be open.

“Last weekend we had a really great th birthday party, for example. he client was a lovely lady celebrating with friends and family and she turned the place into something didn’t recognise – a white party with feathers everywhere, flower walls, bright lights spelling her name and balloons – it was Beef Wellington is a twist on Tim’s heritage amazing. as possible – the aim being to “Because we’re so flexible, you satisfy groups of people that can pretty much turn the place into perhaps are only dining together what you want, within reason. in celebration of the season. t’s an “ ’m the point of contact, so, if approach that echoes the ethos of anyone wants to come in to see normal service. me, ’m always here and ’m really “ hen planning a menu, it’s keen to see s and party organabout trying to satisfy as many isers across the harf – come up customers as you can, he said. for a coffee and look at the spaces. “ t’s why we have a apanese dish, a hai dish, an English dish, festive flavours an merican dish.

Central to the Christmas period is “ t’s also because like to eat all the food and head chef im olley different types of flavours, and has been busy putting a few twists cook them every day of my life. in the traditionals.

“One client told me that they Originally from irginia and a loved the place because they could cook since the age of , he arrived come here on onday and have in ondon as head chef at ong a hai curry and return on Friday age 2 before going on to open and have fish and chips. lateau in Canary harf in 2 “ hile the person they’re with with Conran restaurants. He’s might not like fish and chips, spent the last six years working they can have something that’s hard to make he earson oom completely different. t pleases as appealing as possible to as everyone. many harfers as possible and his “We want to be there in the Christmas menu is an extension of market where all customers can that philosophy. come and have different things “ he restaurant is labelled as each day. all-day dining, and it really is “ s for the festive menu, there that, said im. “ t’s geared around Continued on Page 8 people who live and work here.

For parties, The Pearson Room offers a variety of festive canape options and sharing platters with seasonal favourites alongside the likes of mini turkey burgers

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Canary Wharf

from Page 7

£42.50

The price for the three-course set Christmas menu

are a few staples such as turkey and Christmas pudding.

“But we mix it up and make it a bit different. Growing up, we didn’t eat turkey at Christmas in the S – we had it for Thanksgiving. “ t Christmas we had ham or beef and it’s about sitting around the house and having fun with your family, watching merican football all day.

“So we have Beef ellington on the menu. t’s a classic – the fillet that we use is unbelievable.

“Our supplier is the best I can think of in ondon – ’ve known him for 2 years – and the meat is always tender. “ t’s being eclectic, being different and being broad for everyone. o start we have simple light dishes – a venison carpaccio, for example, which is a meat that’s in season right now. e source it from a farm ust outside Chelmsford. “ here’s also tuna tartare with a ginger dressing and avocado a roast parsnip soup and smoked salmon which comes with capers and toasted brioche – a lot of people want a classic like that. n addition to the turkey and beef, he earson oom will also be serving cod in a white bean and kale stew as a main as well as a plant-based dish for vegetarians and vegans. “ he vegetarian option is vegan as well, said im. “ e make this vegan almond ricotta, so it’s not actually a cheese but it has the same texture, flavour and taste. “ e roast a butternut squash, scoop out the meat, roast peppers and peanuts and add this vegan ricotta to give it that creaminess. “ think it’s very important to cater for all markets. Our Christmas menu is based on something for everyone. “ e have many dishes and canapes that are vegetarian and several that are vegan.

Very French: The Pearson Room will be serving up a Yule log longside the standard Christmas pudding and brandy sauce, diners can expect a cheese selection and sticky toffee pudding as well as something slightly more unusual. “ e mix it up, said im. “ e decided to put a ule log on this year – very French. e played with that for a few weeks to get it right t’s like a Black Forest gateau. decadent drinks Sit he earson oom’s bar manager, Omar aladez down and ask him about Christmas and he’ll bubble over with enthusiasm for festive drink creation. “ love flavours such as gingerbread, cinnamon and star anise – everyone loves them, he said. “ t’s about playing with those and ingredients like orange bitters and Japanese whisky.

“For the aperitif that we’re offering to those who book early, we created a drink like a punch. e used acchu isco from eru, an elderflower syrup and some albec in there, so you get the taste of the wine – it’s really refreshing but warming too. t’s a great drink to start the night right. “ hen there’s the ing ong, which has caramelised and dried cranberries on top, with apanese whisky and ginger syrup, lemon and a touch of ngostura bitters.

It’s a drink with real richness. “ e’ll also be doing a twist on mulled wine during the festive period as well as offering the likes of rish Coffees, hite ussians and Espresso artinis. he earson oom also offers a selection of drinks packages for groups of all sizes.

Email info@thepearsonroom.co.uk, call 020 7970 0920 or go to thepearsonroom.co.uk for more information or to make a booking

Omar has created a range of festive cocktails for The Pearson Room including this Christmas aperitif with The Ding Dong features dried cranberries and ginger flavours

More festive options from Page 45

Macchu Pisco and Malbec

“

It’s being eclectic, being different and being broad for everyone. It’s about trying to satisfy as many customers as you can Tim Tolley, The Pearson Room

Image by Holly Cant – find more of her work at hollycant.com or via @hollycantphoto on Insta

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Canary Wharf

ted

Images by Holly Cant – find more of her work at hollycant.com or via @hollycantphoto on Insta

£32

The cost of a walk-in hair cut at Ted’s Grooming Room. The same service with an appointment costs £38

talks

Ted’s Grooming Room assistant managers Hassan Ahmet and Charlotte Robinson at the brand’s Cabot Place store

how a little personal care at Ted’s Grooming Room might give you the edge at work

by Jon Massey

W

ith 2 off walk-in services at both ed’s Grooming Room stores from September 2 -28 as part of the estate’s utumn Fashion Event and exclusive discounts available at the brand’s pop-up in ubilee lace from October - , there’s no better time for the barber to be on Canary harf’s radar. sat down with the assistant managers Charlotte obinson and Hassan hmet of the company’s Churchill lace and Cabot lace branches, respectively, to find out why harfers should consider a trim at ed’s. “ hen people round here look good, they feel good and it helps them win business, said Charlotte.

“So you see customers come to make sure they look their best so they can perform well at work. “ t’s not ust social environments, it’s corporate situations.

“

When people round here look good, they feel good and it helps them win business. Customers come to make sure they look their best Charlotte Robinson, Ted’s Grooming Room

eople are often digitally marketting themselves now so they want to feel and look great.

Charlotte is well acquainted with the power of a tidy trim on the harf having cut her teeth sweeping floors and making tea at he Gentry, a position taken initially as a stopgap after her ob as an estate agent was lost in the credit crunch. aking an apprenticeship as a barber, she worked her way up to senior stylist before leaving to focus on a degree in fashion and business at the niversity Of he

rts ondon and then returning to Canary harf having heard about ed’s Churchill lace opening in 2 . “ ’ve been barbering for the last years and think more women should work in the industry, she said. “ hen was working in estate agency, also in the ocklands, mostly in lettings, it was a very male environment.

“For me it’s a preference – ’ve always felt comfortable, it’s very sociable – there used to be quite a few female barbers in Canary harf. “ ersonally, like the variety.

Every customer is different in terms of what they want. would say the overall traditional urkish experience we have to offer is like no other salon in ondon. Clients can be totally themselves in the chair.

“Seeing that they are comfortable makes us feel comfortable. t’s a very light and happy environment. hey’ll walk out feeling that they’ve spent their money and it’s well worth it.

Continued on Page 12

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Canary Wharf

from Page 10 Adding to its Churchill Place branch, Ted’s took over The Gentry’s busy unit in Cabot Place – refreshing and updating it to give the brand a presence at both ends of the estate. Its assistant manager, Hassan, was raised in the trade.

“My parents were barbers and I’ve always been a barber. I did my first haircut at the age of 2, that was on my uncle and it went very well, apparently.

“Every day we develop ourselves as barbers as we go along. At Ted’s we provide haircuts, shaves, beard trims and eyebrow threading.

“But we also provide a service.

That includes two washes when you have a haircut, hot towel massages and serving nice drinks including beer, water and Turkish coffee.

“When you come to us, you feel groomed and refreshed. You’re rehydrated, ready to go back to work or out for the evening.” here’s plenty of advice on offer too for customers unsure about how they want to be styled.

“Everyone’s got a different hair type and a differently shaped head,” said Hassan.

“It’s like a blank canvas and you have to create a piece of art each time. You have to imagine the haircut before you cut the hair – always thinking ahead.

“A customer can ask you for full back and sides, but you have to advise them that it won’t suit their head shape.

“When someone sits in your chair, the first thing you look at is their head. Obviously, you listen to your client to understand what they want and prefer.

“If he’s a regular client, then you know his hair type, you’re used to his haircut.

“With a new client, you have to imagine how he wears his hair after a haircut – how he styles it when he wakes up in the morning.

“For those who don’t know what they want, I talk them through different styles, find out about their life – what they do with their hair in the morning, whether they like to style their hair, whether they use products and if they want something easy or if they want

“

We can also talk about fashion with customers.

Beards are in at the moment and, for the hair, fade cuts are very popular Hassan Ahmet, Ted’s Grooming Room

to spend more time and have a side parting or use a bit of wax or hairspray, and you go from that point.

“We can also talk about fashion.

Beards are in at the moment and, for the hair, fade cuts are very popular.

“Personally I like to keep my hair nice and simple, sharp and crisp.

“I used to have very long hair down to my shoulders and I thought it would be very easy and natural, but it became very hard for me to have long hair.

“Now I like to have short hair – easy lifestyle, easy hair and a classic haircut.”

Hassan also had some tips for those contemplating their first cut-throat razor shave, insisting customers need not be nervous.

“You’re not going to get a closer shave than a barber’s shave,” he said. “A barber knows what he’s doing, how not to go against the grain.

“If you shave at home, you’re likely to go against the grain, to cut yourself and get ingrowing hairs as a result.

“We know exactly how to treat the face – we lather it up nicely with a five-minute session before we shave.

“Then we cream it up afterwards before using cologne and then a moisturiser.

“We use hot towels to open the pores – it’s not a quick shave, in and out – it’s more like an experience than a grooming session.

“My advice to customers, when they come in for their first cut-throat shave is always the same.

“If they’re nervous, I tell them that the more relaxed they are in the chair, the better your shave turns out.

“If you are tense, your face will Continued on Page 14

£54

The price of a haircut with either a shave or a beard design treatment for a walk-in customer at Ted’s Born into a barbering family, Hassan Ahmet performed his first haircut on his uncle at the age of 12

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

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Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

from Page 12 tighten up and you’re not going to get a nice clean shave.

“Keeping the razor steady takes years of practice. Just like haircuts, everyone’s face is different. Some people like to have shapes on their face – beard lines to follow their aw, for example. e always try to give the customer what they want. “ ost importantly we want to make them feel welcome – ask how their day is, then get them a drink, have a nice conversation before starting their treatment. “ hat way they feel more comfortable and they’re not sitting in the chair with a stranger.” ith both branches busy, it appears ed’s approach fits its target market. “ think Canary harf has developed so much in the last years, said Charlotte. “ e’ve now got the infrastructure here to bring in more people. “ here’s a lot more to do here at the weekends – Saturdays and Sundays are ust as busy as our weekdays.

“I love working here because there’s so much variety – this is where spend most of my time.

“Our typical customer is looking

Charlotte Robinson became a barber after losing her job as an estate agent in the credit crunch. After gaining a degree in fashion and business she returned to Canary Wharf to work for Ted’s

for a good service – something simple and easy, and if we can add an experience onto that, then they’ll come back. “ hat’s important for the people who work around here. They work long hours and they want to look revived and refreshed, so they want something they can rely on, and that’s something we can offer.

“There’s no rivalry between the branches at all. Instead there’s consistency with all of our stores – we have now across ondon.

“That’s because we have training programmes for our barbers, so that everyone’s up to the same level – and that’s a very important aspect of our business. “ think we made a statement when we came to Canary harf in terms of both the service and the environment that we provide – all the little finer details were influenced not only by the ed’s Grooming oom directors but also Ted Baker. They wanted to create an environment that was quirky, fun and professional, an extension of the brand.

“From then on, people decided to seek us out. I’d ask people to check us out online or walk into the store to find out more.

Go to tedsgroomingroom.com for more information

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

Above, the sign outside Ted’s Grooming Room in Churchill Place and below, its interior diary date Ted’s Grooming Room will be running a popup in Jubilee Place from 8am-7.30pm from October 9-11 with exclusive offers available

“

People around here work long hours and they want to look revived and refreshed so they want something they can rely on Charlotte Robinson, Ted’s Grooming Room

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 Gemma Hughes today on 020 7205 2896 or email ghughes@kiddrapinet.co.uk

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

15

Canary Wharf

how Sweat By BXR promises to deliver the punch of boxing training to the boutique fitness market

2

Years since BXR London opened in Marylebone. Sweat By BXR in Canary Wharf is its first pay-to-train studio Sweat By BXR managing director Alex Nicholl says training on a VersaClimber burns maximum calories despite its low impact on the body

by Jon Massey

A

lex Nicholl, the managing director of Sweat By BXR is a pretty potent advert for his own services.

Even standing around relaxed at the press launch of the fitness studio, which recently opened in Canary Wharf, the parts of his body on show are as instructive as an anatomical model.

To say he’s in shape would be an understatement. Lats, triceps and biceps all look as though they’ve been painstakingly carved out of marble by an ancient Roman sculptor attempting to inspire others in the empire to feats of athletic prowess.

And Sweat plays a similar role. he pay-to-train fitness studio is an extension of the BXR London brand – a luxury, members only gym founded by Olia Sardarova in 2017. Having taken over the Crossrail Place unit adjacent to Barry’s Bootcamp, formerly filled by spinning studio Psycle, Olia and Alex are hoping to draw Wharfers down the escalators to try two core fitness classes spun off from its Marylebone mothership.

“The original idea for BXR Lon don was born in 2015,” said Olia, who worked for Bank Of America before creating a frozen yoghurt empire. “I sold my previous business and wanted to do something else – to be in the fitness industry, one of the most rapidly growing markets in the UK and Europe,.

“Back in 2016, boxing and martial arts were the biggest trends of all in the US. I came back to the UK, did an analysis and didn’t find any brands that stood out, that delivered the full 360-degree approach to training centred around combat. Boxing originated in the – the first ever recorded bare knuckle match was in 1681 between a butler and a butcher – and the Queensberry rules of boxing come from London, so there’s history there.

“At the time I was starting the business, the second biggest industry in fitness was group training. More and more people were choosing to train that way.

“So that was how the idea came about for an overarching master-brand like BXR London, our members-only facility, and

BXR London is backed by boxer Anthony Joshua and boasts the likes of music producer Mark Ronson and boxing promoter Eddie Hearn on its membership committee

boxing clever

to create a comprehensive group offering based around its ethos.

That desire led to the creation of Sweat By B , with its first standalone branch in Canary Wharf initially offering three classes – Climb To The Beat, Boxing Skills and Sweat Box. “We’d noticed that the pay-totrain market was becoming the big market for the fitness industry, and we wanted to be part of it,” said Alex. “By building it within the four walls of BXR, it allowed us to develop and fine-tune our product

for the last two-and-a-half years, and that’s what we’ve been doing.

“One of the hardest things to tackle was how to offer cardio to everybody, with a minimal risk of in ury. So we built the first VersaClimber in the UK, and this has become our flagship and our signature class – it’s our most successful product in Sweat at BXR London, and that also leads into our offering at Canary harf.

Continued on Page 16

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Canary Wharf

from Page 15 “Climb To The Beat will see 35 people on VersaClimbers. It’s a unique workout because you can burn more calories on it than using any machine.

“The workout is the highest intensity but it’s completely low impact so, in terms of protecting your body, it’s the best.

“We estimate people will burn 800 calories in a 45-minute class.

“It’s a very high-energy workout, with great music on, and our studio has great LED technology. We brought in a very clever AV specialist to help us do that.

“Our Boxing Studio holds up to 38 people, and our signature class in there is called Boxing Skills.

That sees 18-20 clients working on individual boxing and it’s really a class where they can hone their skills.

“Our Sweat Box is a class that we created during a pop-up in Selfridges for a month and we were able to bring the best of two of our classes together.

“It’s a dual workout, where half of the people are working on the floor doing cardio-conditioning and body weight exercises, while the other half of the group are on the boxing bags. There are two swaps during the class.”

Alex said the low impact nature of the workouts meant people could train with Sweat on a daily basis.

“When you go and do a Barry’s Bootcamp seven days a week, they actually call that week ‘Hell Week’,” he said. “At Sweat our offering is for everyday training.

All of our classes vary in terms of intensity, impact, calorie burn, mobility and strength. So some people will even be training twice a day, six times a week. e offer a much more comprehensive pay-totrain offering than any other studio, because we don’t look at this as ‘come for a single class’.

“In Canary Wharf we’ll be introducing Yoga and mobility sessions in the summer next year – we certainly are about a 360-degree approach, which is why we think our offering will be very different.

“I think with the boxing side of

Olia Sardarova founded BXR after selling her frozen yoghurt business

Sweat’s VersaClimber studio in all its glory

a glimpse of how training at Sweat could deliver

by Jon Massey

things, there are a lot of boxing classes out there, and we recognise boxing for fitness, but the instructors of all our boxing classes are current or ex-amateurs and pros and the skills and technique level of our instructors are way above the other options out there.”

Olia added: “I’m a typical demographic and find it very motivating. I’m starved for time running this business and splitting that with family as well so going into a 45-minute class and giving my all is more effective than trying something on my own on the gym floor. he boxing classes were designed by fighters. hey put a lot of effort into explaining things in great detail and they take a lot of time to make sure everybody’s getting it right.

“Similarly in Climb To The Beat, the instructors have very in-depth knowledge of biomechanics and they explain to the clients why working out on one of the machines is good for them and why they should do it regularly.” “ ’ve been climbing for five years now and I do it every day,” said Alex. “It’s my base training.”

And if his body is proof of Sweat’s results, the studio may turn out to be a popular spot for those with cash to burn on calories.

Introductory packages are on offer at Sweat including three Climb To The Beat sessions for £30 and two Sweat Box and Boxing Skills classes for £40.

Go to sweatbybxr.com

R

ather than offering full classes, Sweat By BXR introduced itself to Canary Wharf with a pair of backto-back, half-hour taster sessions intended to give a flavour of both Climb To The Beat and Sweat Box. Although 15 minutes light of a standard workout, I’m happy to confirm my first time on a VersaClimber generated enough perspiration to thoroughly soak my T-shirt as implied by the branding.

Hurriedly taking my spot in the LED-lit studio just after the rest of the class had started, I found the machine tricky on first attempt.

Not the most coordinated human, balancing on the two footplates while gripping the handles was a graceless exercise until one of the helpful trainers (who I suspect had been tasked with making sure I neither fell off nor had a heart attack during the session) leant in and told me to concentrate on small steps.

Abandoning my initial style – a sort of 1930s Disney animation of a man attempting to half-climb, half jump up an endless ladder – I eventually found equilibrium and, thanks to the pumping music got into the workout.

There’s no denying it’s effective. More legs than arms, it felt like a powerful test of my glutes, especially when we were ordered to place our

“

Not the most coordinated human, balancing on the two footplates while gripping the handles was a graceless exercise until a trainer helped me out Jon Massey, Wharf Life

hands down and keep on stepping to increasingly trickier rhythms – work for the body and mind.

I don’t know if it was simply tiredness from the first session, but Sweat Box was less successful. At six foot I’m fairly tall and the conditioning half of the studio felt tight trying to exercise between benches and other participants who caught my careless feet a few times.

And while the switch over to the boxing was fun, the chance to whack a heavy bag over and over was more like icing than the cake itself. As so often when disciplines are combined, it ended up being not quite one thing or the other to the detriment of both elements.

That said, the facilities are lovely and with a few tweaks, BXR could be on to a winner, especially with the addictive nature of the climbing.

All ready for Sweat Box

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

A U T U M N AU TUMN FA SHION E VENT T HURSDAY 26 — SAT URDAY 28 SEP T EMBER

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Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

Creative Space

this space is yours

design your own Brexit deal (or no deal) or campaign to remain – share your doodles with @wharflifelive or #keepittoyourself (our preferred option)

WORKING TITLE

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

43

Canary Wharf

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

25

Number of employees the startup currently has having grown from one in 2014

why danger is my startup’s

name Kristian Feldborg has made unlikely bedfellows of Nietzsche and the insurance industry with his firm

by James Drury

L

iving dangerously and insurance aren’t typical bedfellows, but one startup in Canary Wharf is aiming to shake-up the industry.

Vesuvio Labs was founded in 2014 and builds IT systems for the insurance industry, offering big firms and new entrants readymade platforms to brand and use themselves.

Its ethos is some distance from the smooth safety of traditional underwriting expressed in its name, which comes from philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who said “the secret of realising the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment of existence is to live

dangerously. Build your cities on the slopes of Vesuvius”.

Founder Kristian Feldborg, whose base is Canary Wharf tech accelerator Level39 said: “Our services and products mean companies don’t need to spend 18 months and hundreds of thousands of pounds developing their own back office systems.

Among the platforms the company has built is a claims management application that can be customised to suit the insurer wherever they are in the world. t is also developing artificial intelligence and machine learning models.

The company has recently completed an internship programme with 11 students from UCL who are all specialising in

how Vesuvio Labs uses the latest technology to disrupt insurance firms’ operations

machine learning for the insurance industry.

“In insurance there’s a lot of paperwork that needs data extracted from it, which then needs to be validated and a decision made based on that data,” said Kristian.

“For example, you might have the machine analyse pictures of cars to determine how badly one has been damaged and whether it would be more expensive to repair it than to buy a replacement.

“Machine learning can mitigate human mistakes. For instance, if a claims handler is selecting an option that differs from the company’s normal decisions in similar situations, the system picks this up and will ask the handler Continued on Page 44

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Canary Wharf

virtual viewpoint

by Chris Ezekiel

from Page 44

Jony Ive even designed stores for Apple as well as some of its most familiar products

I

recently attended an event where British designer Tom Dixon gave a talk. He spoke about the need to always challenge himself by looking for new ideas and techniques. I asked him tonguein-cheek if he would be interested in the vacancy being left by Sir Jony Ive, another famous British designer, when he leaves Apple later this year after more than two decades.

Ive, working closely with the late Steve Jobs, designed the iMac, the iPod, the iPhone and even the Apple Store.

Tom’s answer was interesting. He said: “I have no interest in designing the next curve on the iPhone.”

Apple has done some amazing things in terms of form and function by combining different materials like metal and glass to produce something that looks and feels like a work of art, much more than just nice curves.

And design is not just about the exterior. For example, the chip that powers the new iPhone The companies I 11 is a magnificent piece of technological most admire are the design. Based on a seven-nanometre ones that use multimanufacturing process disciplinary teams and it contains 8.5billion transistors and can combine science and process 6billion tech with art and design operations every second, fuelling the Chris Ezekiel, Creative Virtual growth in machine learning. Admittedly, Jony Ive’s role was to design the device itself rather than the chips, but great products only become great through everything working in unison to realise a common goal.

The more complex the product, the more difficult that is to achieve. While I admire the products designed by Tom – I just bought one of his chairs – the companies I admire most are the ones that use multi-disciplined teams and combine leading-edge science and technology with worldclass art and design.

It’s great that the likes of Tom and Jony are flying the British flag and keeping our long held tradition of world-class design going so strongly.

“

Chris Ezekiel is founder and CEO of customer engagement solutions specialist Creative Virtual based at Cannon Workshops on West India Quay Go to creativevirtual.com or follow @creativevirtual and @chrisezekiel on Twitter

why they’re making a different decision.”

One of Vesuvio’s platforms offers insurance companies the ability to apply machine learning to their forecasting models, thereby making the process more streamlined.

“It’s simple to test our model – we feed it historical data and see if its predictions were what actually transpired,” said Kristian.

“We’ve seen very good results both from the image analysis system and the sales data model.”

And for anyone worried about machines taking jobs away from workers, Kristian was full of reassurance.

He said “This isn’t about replacing humans, but it can help ease the burden of some of the more mundane tasks.

“For example, if a company has a team of mechanics that spend a lot of time on paperwork, this could help free them up from paperwork to spend more time fixing cars, he said.

Bringing a startup mentality and agility to the insurance industry, which is necessarily conservative when it comes to making big changes, is a significant selling-point.

But the approach can also bring challenges, according to Kristian who has a background in IT consultancy in the insurance and finance sectors.

“A lot of these companies have many challenges to meet, but don’t always have a culture of innovation,” he said.

“They often have old systems, so trying to disrupt them is not always an easy task.

“There’s a lot that can be changed, even compared with retail banking, because insurance can be even more complicated and, often, companies have IT estate that’s 15-20 years old.”

However, being a startup means Vesuivio Labs can come into an existing company and immediately lend agile and innovative thinking to a firm.

Kristian said his company also works a lot with other insurance startups, enabling them to build platforms in shorter times so they

“

There’s a lot that can be changed, even compared with retail banking because insurance can be even more complicated Kristian Feldborg, Vesuvio Labs

Kristian’s firm makes use of machine learning and AI to help insurance companies with ready-made platforms

can be more aggressive in finding new business.

The Nietzsche quote it’s named after certainly seems to be working for Vesuvio Labs, as stimulating adventurousness in InsurTech proves fruitful: the company has never lost a customer in the two years since it started, and it has grown from one person to a staff of 25.

These cutting-edge developments mean the insurance industry’s reputation as being boring could soon be a thing of the past,” said Kristian. “Some people say insurance is dull, but we love it.”

For more information about the company’s work and products go to vesuviois.com

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

45

Festive Celebrations

5

Blockbuster venues that can cater to groups of 50-500 at Royal Museums Greenwich

royal celebrate in the

Royal Museums Greenwich has a wide range of spaces available for hire including the Queen’s House

borough’s gems

the Queen’s House may be the top pick but there are plenty of spaces to choose from advertising feature

J

The Cutty Sark

ust minutes from central London, historic Royal Greenwich is the perfect backdrop for your next epic Christmas party. Enjoy breathtaking views, unique and exciting attractions, all in a beautiful setting.

With five venues to choose from, we highlight the Queen’s House as our top pick.

Queen’s House For an evening of glamour, what better place to celebrate Christmas than to marvel at the views of the Royal Observatory during your reception, followed by fine dining in the stunning Great Hall of the Queen’s House?

Finish the night by dancing in the venue’s vaulted undercroft which has a great basement club vibe.

Looking for something different?

Then also consider one of the other Royal Museums Greenwich venues which can accommodate groups from 50 to 500 across the collection with bespoke packages on offer.

National Maritime Museum Spanned by a spectacular glass roof, the National Maritime Museum is the largest of the venues and can accommodate seated dinners for up to 500 guests and drinks receptions for up to 1,000 guests.

Whether you are looking to host a dinner and dance or a standing reception, this venue has the capacity for an end-of-year corporate blow-out your employees will never forget.

Peter Harrison Planetarium Enjoy an evening with the stars at the striking late-Victorian Planetarium

and treat your employees to a private show, followed by a Christmas dinner or drinks reception experience.

Royal Observatory Greenwich One of London’s most iconic places; the Royal Observatory is the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and the Prime Meridian of the world. Dine in style at the historic Flamsteed House or wrap up for a standing reception in the Meridian Courtyard.

Cutty Sark The Cutty Sark offers that ‘wow’ factor, an evening beneath her gleaming hull is a truly unique experience, available for exclusive hire or part of a shared evening. Celebrate in style with an all-inclusive package.

Contact the events team on 020 8312 522 or email events@rmg.co.uk or go to rmg.co.uk for more details

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Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

Capeesh is waiting to welcome groups of all sizes for parties over the Christmas season advertising feature

G the place for festive

cheer

The Isle Of Dogs restaurant and Sky Bar by South Quay DLR station has an extensive choice of spaces and packages aimed at Christmas parties of all sizes

et that Christmas party ticked off your to-do list. At Capeesh we excel in embracing the Christmas spirit unlike anyone else and we would love nothing more than to share it all with you.

Christmas is the best time of the year to get together with friends, family and colleagues to share the festivities.

At Capeesh we cater for any style of party – whether it be a sit-down meal to enjoy our specially curated Christmas menu or drinks receptions with a selection of canapes – we are more than happy to host you whatever the occasion may be.

The more the merrier – we have plenty of space.

We have carefully chosen our Christmas menu to ensure you and your guests have an unforgettable festive meal.

Our Sky Bar is the perfect space to host workplace drinks

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

47

Festive Celebrations

Left, the Sky Bar offers views across London

Bookings are now being taken at Capeesh

Right, the restaurant stands ready to host festive lunches

receptions and private functions with its unique and central location situated opposite to South Quay DLR station.

Our chefs have curated a special menu of canapes to satisfy all your needs and to cater for all allergen requirements.

Our Sky Bar venue allows us to provide you with the most exclusive and beautiful location to host your Christmas parties this year.

We can allocate the whole venue to you for private hire functions for larger groups or, for smaller functions, we can provide semi-private sections.

The provision of entertainment, such as a DJ, is also available for your events to allow the party to excel. You

are also more than welcome to bring your own entertainment upon request. At Capeesh we are flexible with the aim of allowing you to have the best time possible with us.

Hurry and book with our events team now for your Christmas reservations.

Demand is high this time of year and reservations will be taken on a first-come, firstserved basis so make sure you make yours now.

Our resident Christmas elves are working around the clock to make sure you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We look forward to hearing from you.

For more information email events@capeesh.co.uk, call 020 7538 1111 or go to capeesh.co.uk

Book your Festive Party in Greenwich

For an evening of glamour, or an elegant lunch what better place to celebrate Christmas than at the stunning Queen’s House.

Prices from ÂŁ95.00 +vat

For more details contact: events@rmg.co.uk

.

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Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

Festive Celebrations

advertising feature

A

hidden gem on a cobbled side street that was on the Isle Of Dogs long before the glass towers of Canary Wharf were erected – The Gun is a truly historic venue serving heartwarming dishes in a gorgeous traditional pub setting.

After something a little more out there? Well, The Gun has you covered on that, as they transform their Gin Garden into a fully enclosed and heated winter events space.

The theme is yet to be announced but keep an eye on their social media for all the news. Past years have included a Venetian Ballroom, a Victorian Circus, a French Winter Market and an Alpine Ski Lodge.

Senior events manager Mike Televantou said: “We’re keeping the theme under wraps for now but I can tell you we’ll be delving into London’s history to deliver something fun and festive” Private dining remains a key feature of The Gun with three private rooms in addition to the main dining room.

The Cabin Room features oak panelled walls with an array of tankards hanging from the ceiling, the Red Room has the festive fireplace but the star of the show remains the River Room upstairs with its spectacular views over the Thames and majestic decor.

“We’ve kept the Christmas Menu at £55 for the fifth year in a row and we’re even throwing in a complimentary amuse bouche this year," said Mike.

"Head Chef Matt Colk and his team continue to deliver to a high standard year after year and we’re really proud of what they’re able to produce.

“Christmas is such a wonderful time of year for us. We love seeing all the different faces and whether you’re in one of the private rooms, having a dance on the terrace or simply relaxing by the fire we do think we have something for everyone.”

The Gun is a charming venue that you’ll fall in love with the moment you step in. Spaces for Christmas are filling up fast so contact the events team for more details.

Call 020 7519 0075 or email gun.events@fullers.co.uk or go to thegundocklands.com

£55

Price for the Christmas Menu at The Gun, held at the same rate for a fifth year

sublime

snug and

locked and loaded, The Gun is all ready to welcome festive guests to its wealth of rooms

The Gun has a selection of spaces for hire including the Cabin Room, which can be arranged in a variety of formats to suit guests' requirements

Above, the resplendent River Room offers views over the Thames and an exquisite interior to aid consumption of Matt Colk's festive dishes

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

49

Wapping - Limehouse - Shadwell

£7.20

Price of a jacket potato with salad at Vesuvio Italian Caffe in Limehouse Next time the rain stops, pop over to Vesuvio Italian Caffe for a well-priced selection of unpretentious food and drink

14 days later

plan your life from Sept 25-Oct 9 where?

Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping

STAGE | The Mystery Of The Raddlesham Mumps Written by Murray Lachland Young and performed by the writer and Joe Allen, this dark comedy concerns the inheritance of a house.

Oct 14-16, 7pm, from £5, wiltons.org.uk where?

Troxy Limehouse

close to Canary Wharf, but world’s away from the chains Vesuvio Italian Caffe it’s well worth a visit

by Jon Massey

W

hile Vesuvio Italian Caffe in Limehouse’s Three Colt Street is less than 10 minutes’ walk from Canary Wharf, it comes from a different world.

Visitors won’t find the slick furniture, Americanised coffee menus or industrial branding beloved of the chains here.

Resolutely unpretentious, its deep red walls are festooned with postcards, tacked up at irrational angles with drawing pins – an aesthetic choice that’s starting to spread across the ceiling and one that snatches the attention away from the more sober decorations including art from the Sistine Chapel.

It’s an expression of how Vesuvio feels – a blend of Italian cafe and traditional British caff, offering pizza, panini and fry ups at surprisingly reasonable prices.

Sometimes you need a decent feed without the exciting street food back story or knowing the ingredients on the plate have been selected as consumable chunks of worship for the temple of your body.

So I order a jacket potato with cheese and beans with optional salad for £7.20. It arrives almost bursting over the edges of its square plate – a glorious, uncomplicated lunchtime staple.

Sat outside in the quiet tree-lined square where the cafe resides, the sprinkling of olives on the plate almost deliver a flavour of the Med in the late summer sunshine.

It’s not far from the Thames path, after all, a body of water that’s indirectly linked to Italy. Next time the rain stops, take a stroll over and don’t be put off by its lack of significant digital presence. It more than makes up for it in the flesh.

Go to vesuvio.letseat.at

GIG | Henrique And Juliano The Brazilian sertanejo duo play London for the first time. Expect a vibrant performance featuring their smash hit Cuida Bem Dela. Party on.

Oct 9, 7pm, from £49.50, troxy.co.uk where?

Jamboree Limehouse

GIG | Cretan Players An evening dedicated to the energetic, wild and unpredictable music of Crete. There’s likely to be stomping rhythms and Asian influences.

Oct 9, 7pm, £5, jamboreevenue.co.uk Generous and simple, a jacket potato with cheese, beans and a few olives to give it a European feel. Below, the cafe’s interior

to do before October 9

Expect a cavalcade of jazz, blues, Piaf and Weimar cabaret from Aletia Upstairs who is set to perform a free set at Wilton’s Music Hall on September 30 at 8pm with the backing of The Flamingo Orchestra wiltons.org.uk

spot check worth a visit Sample Italian delights at Gastronomica in Wapping’s Garnet Street gastronomica.co.uk want more? @wharflifelive

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Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

riverside recipes

by Matt Colk

Why not try a poached egg on top?

set to welcome 20,000 revellers, the London Oktoberfest returns to Millwall Park for 2019

by Jon Massey

Tenderness is essential when cooking this delicate dish of white fish

H

alibut is probably my favourite fish of all. A flat, white creature, it is normally caught in deep waters and has beautiful meaty flesh that, if cooked properly is perfect. Take your time when preparing this dish – a little bit of care goes a long way.

Ingredients (serves one, multiply as needed) 150g portion halibut 100g leeks, sliced 150g cavolo nero cabbage ½ lemon 50g chopped dill 10ml soy sauce 50ml veg stock 50ml veg oil 100ml white wine vinegar 150ml white wine 80g shallot, diced 180g unsalted butter 10g salt white pepper Method First make a beurre blanc or white butter by lightly pan frying the diced shallots making sure they don’t colour. Then add the white wine vinegar and white wine. Once reduced by two thirds, add the double cream then reduce by half again.

Then add the diced butter slowly stirring constantly, pass the sauce through a sieve and leave to one side and add the chopped dill. Do not let the sauce cool down too much.

In a sauce pan add the veg stock and half the seasoning then add the leeks and cavolo nero.

Finish with the soy sauce.

Pan-fry the halibut on a medium heat until golden, then add 20g of butter to the pan. Once foaming add a bit of lemon juice and seasoning, turn the halibut and take off the heat straight away.

To serve, put the greens in the bowl, add the beurre blanc then the halibut on top.

Matt Colk is head chef at The Gun in Coldharbour, Blackwall. Owned and operated by Fuller’s, it offers dining, drinking and relaxation by the Thames Go to thegundocklands.com or follow the @thegundocklands on Instagram and Twitter

8

Years London Oktoberfest has been running on the Isle Of Dogs

“

Where you have everyone singing along to a well-known song, it gives a fantastic feeling

Carsten Raun, London Oktoberfest

C

arsten Raun is exactly the sort of jovial German you’d want organising Oktoberfest. As he talks enthusiastically about bringing his gigantic tent back to the capital for 2019, it’s almost possible to hear the fizz of the specially brewed Festbeer in his voice.

London Oktoberfest will take place in Millwall Park on the Isle Of Dogs over two weekends on October 3-6 and 10-12 before transferring to Olympia from 24-26 for a Halloween special. This year Carsten will also host a luxury version of the event in the City close to Moorgate from November - . But first and foremost we’re here to talk about his return to the Island and the event’s enduring allure for Canary Wharf workers.

He said “It’s in its eighth year, so it’s a tradition already. As we are in the Canary Wharf area, we have a lot of people joining every year and we’re making this a great party for London.

“I’m very happy to present it again. For 2019 we have a few new attractions – we’ve made a special German hot dog or bratwurst house where people can pick one up right away. We’ll be serving two kinds of Bavarian beer from two bars – a wonderful German lager, which is about 5% strength and our Oktoberfest beer, which is dark and sweet.”

Housed in a 3,000sq m tent, the pop-up beer hall can seat up to 2,500 people with 20,000 expected for the east London event over the two weekends. To cater for them, Carsten has laid in around 50,000 steins of beer and around 10,000 bratwurst and encourages guests to dress in dirndl and lederhosen for maximum effect.

“The tent creates a wonderful mood because everyone has the same target – a sing-a-long and having a good time,” he said.

“It is about being together, and about dancing, because we have a dance floor in front of the stage.

You can imagine that every night this is quite crowded.

“It is a good combination of the German and Bavarian music style, which is not a thing you find every day in London. It is something

Two beers will be on sale at Oktoberfest including a dark sweet Festbeer from Bavaria

special, because the band is flying in from Germany.

“In addition to the takeaway, we’ll still have the table service, where you can order your schnitzel or your pretzel, if you like and we import them all so it’s the real thing.”

A former banker who spotted a niche to export Oktoberfest after witnessing people flocking to Munich, Carsten now runs parties in Sweden, Denmark and around the UK. Prices vary depending on the event, but some sessions offer free entry and corporate packages are also available.

Carsten said: “What’s important is that even though companies come, the events are still open to everyone – the mixture makes them because it’s like, we all want to have a good time together.

“We’re very close to Canary Wharf, where there’s an international community – this is a combination of British and German culture. Where you have everyone singing along to a wellknown song, it gives a fantastic feeling that we’re all together as a community. People should come by, maybe have a stein or two and a good time.”

Go to london-oktoberfest.co.uk for more information

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

51

Isle Of Dogs - Poplar - Blackwall

prost modern

14 days later

plan your life from Oct 9-23 where?

The Space Isle Of Dogs

STAGE | The Play At Eight: The Monkey’s Paw Join celebrated raconteurs Dick and Nancy Everett as they attempt to explain WW Jacob’s classic novella during an early 20th century broadcast.

Oct 15-19, times vary, £15, space.org.uk where?

The Gun Blackwall

SPORT | Rugby World Cup Watch the games beamed to Docklands live from Japan. The pub will open early to allow punters to catch the best of the action. Private rooms available.

Until Nov 2, free screening, thegundocklands.com where?

The Space Isle Of Dogs

The London Oktoberfest tent can seat up to 2,500 people

STAGE | Between Two Waves Ian Meadow’s new work tackles climate change, our anxieties for the future and the moral dilemma of procreation. In rep with Gasping from Oct 24.

Dates from Oct 22, 7,30pm, from £12, space.org.uk

to do before October 9

Bavarian dress is encouraged Florence Bell’s not so fantastical dystopia sees the United Kingdom transformed into a golf course for the rich. The Open is set to play at The Space from Sept 24-Oct 12 with shows at 7.30pm and tickets from £12.50 space.org.uk

spot check Try The Gentlemen Baristas at Republic in Poplar for hot coffee and slick cocktails thegentlemenbaristas.com want more? @wharflifelive

52

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

Advertising Directory - Acknowledgements

find our advertisers’ messages here Chase Evans print Pages 1, 30-31 online chaseevans.co.uk

Vantage Properties And Management print Page 26 online vantage-uk.com

Capeesh print Page 3 online capeesh.co.uk

Berkeley Homes print Page 27 online forbury-blackheath.co.uk

London City Airport print Page 4 online londoncityairport.com

Kitchener Barracks print Page 28 online kitchenerbarracks.com

New Scientist Live print Page 7 online newscientistlive.com

Telford Homes print Page 29 online telfordhomes.london

Third Space print Page 9 online thirdspace.london

Berkeley Homes print Pages 32-33 online berkeleygroup.co.uk

London Oktoberfest print Page 11 online london-oktoberfest.co.uk

Notting Hill Genesis print Page 35 online nhgsales.com

MCM London Comic Con print Page 13 online mcmcomiccon.com

Southern Homes print Page 37 online bowrivervillage.co.uk

Kidd Rapinet print Pages 14, 19, 36 online kiddrapinet.co.uk

L&Q print Page 39 online thamesstreet.co.uk

Canary Wharf Group print Pages 17, 34 online canarywharf.com

My London Home print Pages 40-41 online mylondonhome.com

SiteSales print Page 21 online site-sales.co.uk

Galliard Homes print Page 42 online galliardhomes.com

Higgins Homes print Pages 22-23 online higginshomes.co.uk

The Gun print Page 46 online thegundocklands.com

Durkan Homes print Page 25 online durkan.co.uk

Royal Museums Greenwich print Page 47 online rmg.co.uk

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

Wharf Life is published by Massey Maddison Limited, printed by Iliffe Print Cambridge and distributed by Willis News Distribution. Copyright Massey Maddison Limited 2019

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

53

Rotherhithe - Bermondsey - Deptford

£8

The cost of two buns, a deal Mary wishes she’d exploited at Yum Bun Hawker House in Rotherhithe offers a wide selection of street food and plenty of bars

14 days later

plan your life from Oct 9-23 where?

The Albany Deptford

GIG | Starts Again Album Launch Tawiah returns to the alt-soul scene with her first album, released off the back of three EPs and an exploration of being a queer woman of colour.

Oct 17, 7.30pm, £12, thealbany.org.uk where?

Canada Water Theatre Canada Water

how Hawker House delivers a plethora of flavours and potent beverages to suit a multitude of moods

by Mary Tadpole

E

very Friday and Saturday from 5pm Hawker House, near Canada Water Tube station, opens its doors to the public. The sister venue to Canary Wharf’s Giant Robot offers a more extensive range of food and drink with eight traders and four bars.

Fashioned from an old warehouse there is plenty of seating inside for those who wish to shelter from the elements while they dine as well as ample picnic benches outside for those willing to brave the British summer.

Painfully aware of my addiction to pizza, I attempt to branch out, stopping at the cheerfully named Yum Bun to survey its selection of steamed soft buns filled with either pork, cod or tofu.

Not too peckish, I choose the vegetarian option – a cute little package for £4.50 on its own, although sets of two are available.

The bun is spongy and soft and the garlic mayonnaise and chill provide just the right amount of spice.

The crunch of the spring onions contrast with the soft centre of the perfectly fried tofu and with hindsight I wish I’d taken advantage of the two for £8 offer.

The bars on offer at Hawker House cater for almost all the moods imaginable of its customers.

I ponder the £10 pint-size cocktails at the Hanger Bar before, responsibly, deciding to head to Street Vin, the market’s wine bar, which offers a selection of vintages from around the world.

My £9.50 glass of Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon turns out to be a smooth, fruity libation with strong, boisterous berries and is dangerously drinkable.

STAGE | I Wanna Be Yours: Previews This London-Leeds love story with an elephant in the room is the debut play from former Roundhouse Poetry Slam champion Zia Ahmed.

Oct 16-18, 8pm, £12, thealbany.org.uk where?

Printworks Rotherhithe

Above, a tofu-filled bun and below, inside seating at Hawker House

CLUB | Outlier The Hydra presents an evening spearheaded by a DJ set from Bonobo and featuring the talents of Clap! Clap! live, Auntie Flo, Omar-S and Tash LC. Oct 12, noon-11pm, £30, printworkslondon.co.uk

to do before October 9

Proper bars make Hawker House. Its permanent nature means it’s able to do more than deliver the festival staples of watery lager and wine in a can.

Even while the sun is failing us, and we have a few days of steady rain predicted, take shelter on the Rotherhithe Peninsula.

The precipitation will be an excellent excuse to get stranded there and work your way around every stall.

Go to streetfeast.com or yumbun.com for more information

Join Pegasus Opera Company for Legacy And Hope – an evening of works by black composers including gospel, spirituals and opera performed by BAME singers on October 2 from 7.30pm. Tickets £10 thealbany.org.uk

spot check worth a visit Check out The Greenhouse in Deptford for art and excellent breakfasts greenhousedeptford.co.uk want more? @wharflifelive

54

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

14 days later

plan your life from Oct 9-23 where?

The O2 Arena Peninsula

GIG | Two Door Cinema Club The Irish trio tour their fourth album False Alarm following on from the success of 2016’s Gameshow.

Expect the likes of Satellite and Dirty Air. Oct 11, 6.30pm, from £31, theo2.co.uk where?

Greenwich Theatre Greenwich

STAGE | What You Risk A contemporary work about women as active participants in history fighting to make their voices heard, presented by Scrawny Cat Theatre.

Oct 23-26, 7.30pm, £13, greenwichtheatre.org.uk where?

The Royal Observatory Greenwich

FILM | Alien See Ridley Scott’s epic and Weaver’s magic projected onto the ceiling of the Peter Harrison Planetarium where everyone in the audience can hear you scream.

Oct 12, 6pm, £12, rmg.co.uk

to do before October 9

Head to Greenwich Market for Vegan Oktoberfest, an animal-free alternative to the traditional German celebration. Expect lashings of vegan beer too on October 4 from 6.30pm. Free to visit, beverages are extra greenwichmarket.london

spot check one to try Try the simple, tasty food at Teriyaki-ya in Greenwich Market for a treat greenwichmarket.london want more? @wharflifelive

Erica’s shop offers hair analysis services as well as natural beauty products

haircare review

JF Lazartigue’s Hair And Scalp Analysis, The Elementary Beauty Company, free but booking required

I

n addition to the products offered exclusively

by The Elementary Beauty Company it is the only shop in the UK that boasts JF Lazartigue’s Hair And Scalp Analysis package.

A hair is plucked from my head and the root examined under a microscope. My roots and scalp are then closely scrutinised.

Looking at my own hair under the microscope is both fascinating and unpleasant all at once.

I’m told the bulb at the root of my hair could be bigger and healthier.

Examination of my roots reveals my scalp is slightly greasy and my hair is mostly fine rather than thick. It’s also a mess of split ends.

Erica asks me when the last time I trimmed my hair was. I claim it was three months ago, but we both know I am lying. Neither of us needs to acknowledge it.

Photos are saved of my roots and scalp with the idea I’ll come back to see improvements after a few weeks of using the various remedies recommended.

Erica suggests JF Lazartigue’s Soy Milk

Strengthening Shampoo and its Ultra-Regenerating Mask, the latter one of her “can’t live without” products.

I apply the mask before a gym session as advised – a little self conscious my hair will look horribly greasy, but it absorbs quickly enough.

I wash it out after my workout, using the shampoo, which leaves my hair soft and silky, in contrast to its normal scarecrow-dry.

The shampoo has a luxurious feel and continues to leave my hair feeling soft with repeated use. One of the benefits of the analysis is that I find I’m prioritising my hair’s health. It’s motivating to be able to measure progress, so booking a trim and committing to regular hair masks makes sense.

The early signs are positive. Perhaps this is the last time I’ll have to fib about my routine to save face.

JF Lazartigue’s Soy Milk Strengthening Shampoo costs £19.50 for 150ml and its Ultra-regenerating Mask is £49 for 200ml Jess Maddison

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

55

Greenwich - Peninsula - Woolwich

4

Months since The Elementary Beauty Company opened its doors in Greenwich Market Erica stocks many natural products and has tried each range to ensure she’s giving customers sound advice

elementary discovering the

how Erica McCready is bringing luxury to Greenwich with natural beauty brands

by Jess Maddison

T

he Elementary Beauty Company arrived in Greenwich in une with the aim of offering premium natural beauty brands unavailable in other UK stores.

The niche brands, sourced from around the world by managing director Erica McCready, are intended to deliver premium luxury to those seeking natural beauty in Greenwich. “ was looking for a place to have an office and then saw this shop and immediately fell in love with it,” she said.

“I always really liked Greenwich, every time I came to Greenwich was always a good day out, a good atmosphere. ith a background in business, finance and accounting, Erica said beauty had always been a passion. “ like anything to do with haircare, skincare, makeup, ust gravitate towards it,” she said.

Erica started as the official distributor in the for haircare brand F azartigue, having bought the business two years ago when the previous incumbent retired. “ was already using the products and I used to work for her before, so I made up a plan, came up with the money and carried it on – I can’t bear to think it would disappear,” she said.

“People are really so loyal to the brand. had never seen anything like that before with any other product that I’ve sold.

“So thought that was different, that it was something unique and worth investing in.

Having decided to create he Elementary Beauty Group online store a year ago, which prompted the addition of two skincare ranges – Combray, a dutch brand and O isings from taly – Erica began her accumulation of exclusive, high quality products that would eventually grace the shelves of her Greenwich Market shop.

Since then she has added Sampar from aris and nika Organic from ustralia.

So what makes The Elementary Beauty Group different “My idea with the shop was to have a place where you can actually find everything that you need for your beauty care but not conflicting, she said. “ find when go to Boots or any department store there are just so many options and it is really difficult to know what is good, what to try or which is best.

“Price does not always dictate it. You know, most of the time it doesn’t matter if you’re going to pay for a cream or – it doesn’t mean, these days, that one is going to be better than the other.

Erica also found difficulty locating good quality, natural beauty products in shops other than base ingredients in health food stores.

Erica McCready has opened The Elementary Beauty Company “So I’d like to have a little bit more premium luxury in natural beauty,” she said. “ t would be great to have really good quality products as well as really responsible companies that are actually putting

in the pots what they say they are – giving you that feeling of luxury.

“I also wanted to create a nice place for people to go and buy their natural products but one without conflicting messages.

Erica said she used every product she stocked in her shop as part of her personal beauty regime. “ am not going to say am an expert but I try to really learn all the products and test everything myself, she said.

“My skin care is Sampar at the moment. ’ve gone through Combray and O ising being my only skin care and have been using F azartigue for the last years.

“So everything that have here would recommend because I would wear it myself and I am happy with it.” oving forward, Erica has plans to add a men’s range, for skincare and beard care, along with body products, mother and baby and brands that protect people from the sun. She said she wanted the experience of beauty shopping to be informal, fun and relaxed. “ want somebody to come in and find everything to do with beauty care that has been carefully selected but also I want people to feel at home.

“My idea of a shop is a place to just sit down, try the products and have a good time.”

Go to elementarybeauty.com for more information

56

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

9.5k

The number of plants used in the green walls now lining the walkway at Excel’s western entrance

entrance making an

how Excel swapped drab concrete for a burst of greenery at its Custom House entrance

by Jon Massey

T

he aim is to create a sense of arrival,” said Excel CEO Jeremy Rees, stood partially shrouded in greenery to one side of the main concourse leading from Custom House station to Royal Docks’ vast exhibition and conference centre as Wharf Life’s photographer snapped away.

The shoot took place in the aftermath of a ribbon cutting with Excel staff and event organisers, held to mark the installation of more than 9,500 plants, new lighting and a succession of digital signs that together represent a significant upgrade to one of two key routes into the venue.

Organisers can turn the white canopy of the walkway any colour they like, while the screens can be used to display information about the various events taking place as well as to guide visitors to where they need to go. But Jeremy insists it’s a change that goes beyond pure practical function.

“There are a number of things we’re trying to achieve here,” he said. “One is that when people step off the DLR or the Elizabeth line, there’s a sense of arrival not just to Excel but to the Royal Docks as a whole.

“The space was previously predominantly concrete so this is a real step forward.

“We have the thousands of plants, which will be kept alive via an automated watering and feeding system that makes sure they thrive.

“Many places use planting in their reception areas and we believe they can play a part in both making people feel better and creating a sense of direction.

“The digital signs we’ve introduced will tell people exactly where they are and that they’ve arrived and also allow us to promote exhibitors.

“We’ve introduced a new lighting system that uses LEDs so, from a sustainability and efficiency perspective that’s good in terms of our consumption of electricity.

“But they also change colour.

So, for example, if we were hosting

“

We’ve gone from having a long concrete, unwelcoming walkway to something that I hope takes a dramatic step forward Jeremy Rees, Excel

an event with Microsoft, we could change the colour of the canopy to match their blue branding.

“It allows us to create a bespoke gateway for different corporate clients.

“We also have a sound system that enables us to play music, which can be used by organisers.

“We’ve gone from having a long, concrete, unwelcoming walkway to something that I hope takes a dramatic step forward, in terms of acknowledging visitors’ arrivals, complete with digital signs so people know what’s on and why it’s on, as well as this lush, verdant greenery.”

The first tranche of visitors to experience the new entrance will be the more than 9,000 business leaders attending global financial services event Sibos this week.

Coming to London for the first time and running until September 26, the conference and exhibition’s chief organiser, Chantal Van Es, cut the ribbon to open Excel’s upgraded entrance.

With a busy autumn including hosting New Scientist Live, MCM London Comic Con and EGX 2019, the venue hasn’t only been making changes to its exterior.

Jeremy said: “We’ve just had two months of deploying more and more technology.

“Not just out here, but also in the venue – we’ve now got a whole new Wi-Fi system, which is a basic human need today.

“We can have 100,000 concurrent users on it at any one time, and it’s all free. We’re having to consistently invest.”

Future plans include efforts to develop Excel’s waterfront and to plant more trees on its estate.

Go to excel.london

Sibos’ Chantal Van Es cuts the ribbon as Excel’s Jeremy Rees, event organisers and Excel staff look on

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

57

Canning Town - Royal Docks

14 days later

plan your life from Oct 9-23 where?

Excel Royal Victoria Dock

EVENT | The National Wedding Show Planning a big day? Seeking bridal favours? Or maybe just Miss Havisham looking to refresh that tired old aesthetic. Boundless thrills await.

Oct 12-13, 10am-5pm, £14, excel.london where?

Excel Royal Victoria Dock

EVENT | New Scientist Live Get access to this event’s Friday Lates session with a pal for just £10 with code Wharf241. Alternatively sign up for standard daytime sessions.

Oct 10-13, from 10am, from £10, newscientistlive.com

what goes into creating a green wall at Excel?

B

iotecture is the company behind the living walls installed at Excel. Managing director Richard Sabin and his team have not only woven plants to trace the route of the Thames through their design, they’ve selected greenery intended to deliver health benefits too.

“We’re in a bit of a rivers phase at the moment,” he said. “There’s

Images by Holly Cant – find more of her images at hollycant.com or via @hollycantphoto on Insta

Above, Jeremy Rees stands beside Excel’s new living walkway which features lush vegetation, digital signs, an audio system an lighting, below

a disconnect with nature at the moment, hence the issues we have globally. Rivers are a part of nature, so we like using them in our designs at the moment. Reconnecting people with nature is what we’re all about.

“We’ve created a 270sq m living walkway at Excel and we’ve selected the plants for air pollution reduction generally and also to suit the light levels under the canopy.

“If you notice the plants, they’re species that tend to put their fronds or their leaves out into the space, rather than creating a mat.

“Because of that, they intercept the air that passes through them, causing it to slow and to deposit particulate matter onto the leaves.

“We’ve tested those plants with Imperial College London to ensure they are the best to use.

“On a day-to-day level we hope people will breathe deeper and breathe better air in doing so. I think they’ll feel calmer.

“How are we going to move forward in the world which has struggled with climate change?

“The answer has got to be a mix of biology and technology.

“If you see these plants and care about them, it will make you think more about the global issue.”

For more information about Biotecture, go to biotecture.uk.com or call 01243 572 118

where?

Excel Royal Victoria Dock

EVENT | Discover Dogs Although there will likely be people who use the words puppers and doggos at this, there will also be lots and lots of marvellous hounds. Woof.

Oct 12-13, 10am, £16.20, royaldocks.london

to do before October 9

Those suffering sweet tooth syndrome or those who like to pander to them should consider a trip to The Cake And Bake Show from October 4-6. Expect multiple exhibitors, talks and treats for £14 excel.london

spot check worth a visit Collaborate with friends and colleagues to escape Locked In A Room at Excel lockedinaroom.co.uk want more? @wharflifelive

58

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

5

Years since Apes created Build Up Foundation to get young people into construction John stands on a tree that will form part of a playground he’s working on for the Eden Project in Cornwall

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

by Jon Massey

T

he first thing to do, no matter who asks you to build a playground, is to remember you’re building for the kids, said ohn O’ riscoll, director and founder of dventure layground Engineers pes . “ ou’ve got to cut out all the fuzz – everybody’s got their own agenda and the agenda from whoever is paying you is that it is done within a certain budget and that it can be proven to be safe so they never get sued. “ hen you’ve got the kids, who might say his is boring – we want some fun’. So, come down in the middle – ’ve got to try to create something that’s exciting, a bit challenging and yet will pass a health and safety check.

His approach has seen pes’ playgrounds win numerous awards, with blockbuster installations locally including umbling Bay on the ueen Elizabeth Olympic ark and a vast facility at Berkeley Homes development idbrooke illage in Greenwich. e meet at his headquarters on the edge of Cody ock in Bow – a series of shipping containers filled with odds and ends of reclaimed materials that may one day find their way into his designs. t also serves as the base for charity Build p Foundation, which pes created in 2 with the aim of involving children and young people in creating structures in their communities. ith work forthcoming at the Eden ro ect and for the oological Society Of ondon providing play space for elephants at hipsnade , wanted to know how the rishman found himself making fun in east ondon “ grew up on a farm and we didn’t have many neighbours, so my two older sisters, my younger brother and ust got on with it in terms of play, said ohn. “ e were hardly ever indoors. “ went on to run a farm business from the age of and did quite well, so when was 2 went travelling, ending up in many different countries doing many different things. “ did housebuilding in Central merica, got involved in building rope bridges across canyons. “ n Costa ica built an aerial runway for visitors to visit the Canopy out of old banana plantation cables that we found lying around in the forest – it was ust a fun thing to do.

Eventually returning to ondon, he found employment doing some work to an adventure playground, having met his now wife and put down roots. “ started work and met up with the Hackney lay ssociation,

“

Build a structure out of real trees and branches and it just begs to be climbed – everything you put your hand on is a different size and shape John O’Driscoll, Apes

working with an acintyre and ick Conway who became a bit of a mentor for me. “ ick came from art college in Belfast in the s, escaped the troubles and came over here to run playgrounds in Bermondsey – an ex-Northern reland hippy, glad to be alive. He and his partner, Sue Coates, were running a playground over in west ondon. “ t was rough and it was busy and they convinced me to become a playworker. said would only do it for three years because liked the building side of things – that’s when set up pes with Grant ambie, a friend of mine – but stayed much longer than that.

Following an amicable split with Grant after a year, ohn has continued to run pes ever since, literally building on his experiences as a playworker. “ art of that equation when it comes to design is looking at the staff – how well qualified are they to manage the space efficiently he said. “ re they really on the ball and in tune with the kids f so, then we can build stuff that’s bigger, wilder, better and more adaptable because you know they’re going to watch the kids as they play on it, constantly risk assessing what’s going on. “ f you find a site like that, you can build almost anything, because it’s self-regulating. ids are actually the best regulators.

“On a well-run, well-regulated playground there is no pressure on any kid to do anything. hey’ll wander in and think it’s mad, and it’ll take them a week to realise that inside the chaos, there’s an amazing pattern of what’s going on. hey’ll hook up with some of the smaller kids and do some of the smaller stuff, then eventually they’ll figure out that they could actually try the bigger swings. “ hey’ll see kid do something, then they’ll come in early, when it’s quiet, and try it out – have a go and fail a couple of times, then they’ll come tearing up and say went off the second platform’. hat might be the second of six and they won’t go off the final one until they’re and they’re only eight now. “ here’s a play structure that ick showed me years ago. t’s ust a wobbly bridge with a swing

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

59

play making

how Apes creates spaces that put kids at the heart of the adventure

hanging beneath it. If you’ve got a bunch of 14 or 15-year-old kids running across that bridge, and there’s a little kid on the swing, they’ll go easy on the bridge.

“If you’ve got 10 little 6 or 7-year-olds tearing across that bridge, and there’s a teenager on the swing, they’ll shake the living daylights out of it as much as they can to knock him off. t always happens like that.”

While John’s playgrounds are nothing if not varied, the way he uses natural materials has become a signature in recent years.

“I’m growing even more into using natural wood now,” he said.

“Originally I took the ideas from traditional adventure playgrounds that were built of whatever the kids could find on the street.

“Back in the 1960s and 1970s a playground tended to be telegraph poles, some platforms and some old roof beams. So they had a kind of brutal, traditional feel to them, and I kind of ran with that – I like to keep things simple, let the construction be seen, let it be honest.

“Kids look at a building and they know it’s a house, but they’ve no idea how it’s built or what it’s made of. hat’s under the floor f

John O’Driscoll has been building playgrounds for more than 20 years including an extensive installation at Kidbrooke Village, below, which he said was a pleasure to work on

you drilled through it, what would you hit “So there’s absolutely an educative aspect to this. Then there’s the materials. Using natural materials helps a lot, but that’s not the reason kids want to play.

“Build a structure out of real trees and real branches and it just begs to be climbed – everything you put your hand on is a slightly different size and shape, and a slightly different angle.

“If you go onto a piece of modern play equipment, there are steps and ladders all evenly spaced, so that they won’t trap this or they won’t hurt that.

“But there’s no challenge. I’ll build a playground that’s a bit trickier. It’s also rougher and softer, easy on the hand, easy on the eye.

“The kids love it because, all of a sudden, they’re allowed to climb trees.”

And there it is. While John’s two decades or experience, accolades and successes speak to the safety and robust nature of his designs, fundamentally he’s in it to make as much fun as possible for the kids, so they will develop resilience that will last them a lifetime.

“There are magic moments on an adventure playground where it’s pure chaos,” he said. “You’ve got 200 kids there – every one of them is running, every one of them is off the ground – they’re all up in the structures and there are four different games of chase going on.

“It looks like carnage. You sit back and you can almost hear then music, because nobody’s going to put a foot wrong. They’re all dancing over each other and it’s like a ballet.

“It feels fantastic and it feels like you’ve created a work of art – like a musician who hears their piece played for the first time by a professional orchestra.”

Go to apesatplay.com and buildup.org.uk for more information

Stratford - Bow

14 days later

plan your life from Sept 25-Oct 9 where?

Theatre Royal Stratford East Stratford

STAGE | Our Lady Of Kibeho Katori Hall’s drama comes to London for the first time, telling a true story of divine visions that appeared to predict the Rwandan genocide.

Sept 25-Nov 2, times vary, from £10, stratfordeast.com where?

Stratford Circus Stratford

STAGE | Peace At Last OperaUpClose bring Jill Murphy’s much-loved picture book about Mr Bear’s inability to get some kip to the stage with harp and woodwind backing.

Sept 28, 11am and 2pm, from £8, stratford-circus.com where?

Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Stratford

EVENT | Memory Walk Sign up, pledge to raise £160 and stroll either 2km or 6km while helping to battle dementia. Routes start and finish at Hopkin’s Field.

Sept 29, 10am, £10, memorywalk.org.uk

to do before Sept 25

McFLy songwriter and bassist Dougie Poynter is set to soar into Stratford’s branch of Waterstones on September 14 to sign copies of his book – Plastic Sucks! You Can Make A Difference from 2pm for 30 minutes waterstones.com

spot check worth a visit Try the food at Italian powerhouse Signorelli at International Quarter signorelli.co.uk want more? @wharflifelive

60

Wharf Life Sept 25-Oct 9, 2019 wharf-life.com

SUDOKU

Crossword - Sudoku

Tough

8 1 4

8 1 8 4 7 9

6

3 9 8 4

5 4 9

9 7 4 5 8 2 3 1 6 Sudoku 8 a6break 1 from 4 3 that 9 phone 2 5 7 Take 5 3 2 1 6 7 8 9 4 How 7 to4 play 6 8 9 5 1 2 3 To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers 5 such 6 that 2 1each 4 row, 7 8column and 3x3 box one3to9nine contains every number uniquely.

2 1 8 7 4 3 5 6 9 2 find 3 strategies, 9 1 6 hints 7 8and5tips online You4can at sudokuwiki.org 1 5 9 3 7 8 6 4 2 6 to 8 play 7 2 5 4 9 3 1 More

9 3 6 5

1 6 8

8 1

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

that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

Notes

© 2019 Syndicated Puzzles

7

Previous solution - Medium

For many strategies, hints and tips, visit www.sudokuwiki.org If you like Sudoku you’ll really like ‘Str8ts’ and our other puzzles, Apps and books. Visit www.str8ts.com

crossword Down

1.

4.

1.

9.

10.

11.

2.

14.

18.

19.

21.

22.

23.

Season of the adder (6) An opening involving some sacrifice Very bad workers do and very bad ones! (7,6) They’re steely-eyed (7) The more of them one has the more one wants (5) ake a profit and brighten up (5) Making second-hand (5) A blow Judy has to contend with (5) Don’t leave out (7) It may be extensively used for notes by students (5-4,4) My sets are methodically arranged (6) A quaker may display it (6)

Notes

2.

3.

5.

6.

7.

8.

13.

15.

16.

17.

20.

Used by track-runners taking a rest (6) In some cues all, perhaps, get mixed (13) Record membership? (5) Not a sum, perhaps, but sums (7) Two new union members (5,3,5) He believes in new tithes (6) One may be attached to a dog because of it (5) He aims to beat the opposition, of course (7) Runs out of lighters (6) Supply arrangement (5) He’s hired purely for firing He’s unable to serve any longer (5)

Quick Across 1.

4.

9.

10.

11.

12.

14.

18. .

21.

22.

23.

Sieve (6) Author (6) Take wrongly (13) Forceful (7) Edition (5) Sturdy (5) Memorize (5) Compass (5) laintiff Articulation (13) Outcome (6) Dive (6)

Down 1.

2.

3.

5.

6.

7.

8.

13.

15.

16.

17.

20.

Extract (6) Broken off Thrust (5) Refractory (7) Infringement (13) Blush (6) rifling Disparate (7) Peculiar (6) Vigil (5) Fawn (6) Creep (5)

Across: 1 Riddle; 4 Writer; 9 Misunderstand; 10 Violent; 11 Issue; 12 Stout; 14 Learn; 18 Range; 19 Accuser; 21 Pronunciation; 22 Result; 23 Plunge.

Down: 1 Remove; 2 Discontinuous; 3 Lunge; 5 Restive; 6 Transgression; 7 Redden; 8 Petty; 13 Unequal; 15 Proper; 16 Watch; 17 Cringe; 20 Crawl.

Across

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

Cryptic Solution

Cryptic

beating the

Across: 1 Summer; 4 Gambit; 9 Deserve notice; 10 Needles; 11 Needs; 12 Clear; 14 Using; 18 Punch; 19 Relight; 21 Loose-leaf book; 22 System; 23 Tremor.

Down: 1 Siding; 2 Miscellaneous; 3 Enrol; 5 Amounts; 6 Bride and groom; 7 Theist; 8 Leash; 13 Athlete; 15 Spills; 16 Order; 17 Stoker; 20 Lifer.

The solutions will be published here in the next issue.

Quick Solution

No. 829