Why we must all strive to be a little kinder over Xmas Page 10
how Mama Goose by Vikki Stone and Tonderai Munyevu promises silliness, African in uences and classic panto routines at Stratford East
Pages 30-31
inside issue 150
University Of Sunderland In London
The Salad Project - AviadoBio - Sudoku
Cody Dock Frost Fair - Brahms Club
The Hill Group - Regenta - Boisdale
The Wharf Pole - The Winter Club
Chris Ezekiel - The Snow Queen
A Christmas Wish - Crosswords
The Curling Club - Waitrose
Cutting-Edge Fashion
Social History
2025
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celebrating the best of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the new east London people - events - treasure - property - foolishness
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TRY | GoBoat Winter Pods
Where? GoBoat 22 Churchill Place
Welcome to issue 150 of Wharf Life. While it may be a little early for celebrations, now is de nitely the time to start planning the festive season. Check out The Wharf Pole, Mama Goose at Stratford East and a whole host of seasonal shows and attractions that need early booking
Perhaps taking inspiration from Skuna’s igloo fondue launches at West India Quay, GoBoat has unveiled covered cruises for winter. Seat up to eight. Ongoing, noon-8.30pm, from £229 per boat, goboat.co.uk
Docklands Canary Wharf
KIDS | The Imagination Train: North Pole Take your under-5s to one of these three performances as Connie The Conductor leads audiences on a journey of discovery. Book ahead. Dec 7, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm, free, londonmuseum.org.uk
Where? Everyman Canary Wharf Canary Wharf Where?
FILM | How The Grinch Stole Christmas (PG) Celebrate the 25th anniversary of Ron Howard’s movie that sees Jim Carrey go green and furry to learn the true spirit of the festive season. Dec 6, 11.15am, £21 / £16.50 (kids), everymancinema.com
Canary Wharf home. Find out more about his co ee company, Amero, below ameroco ee.com
Something in the water: How the areas of the River Lea have played pivotal roles in philanthropy, women’s su rage and workers rights, punching well above their weight
on the radar
Amazing Grace has o cially opened its doors at 12 Bank Street. The live music venue, bar and restaurant is located on the lower levels of the building and promises a packed line-up of shows and entertainments every night of the week. We predict a riot... amazinggraceldn.com
For anyone who’s seen the queues at The Salad Kitchen and Atis, cold bowls are where it’s at and so it’s little wonder that The Salad Project is preparing to open its rst branch on the Wharf on the lower level of One Canada Square. Expect curated options saladproject.co.uk need to know Find homes in east London and beyond via our property section
doing the deals
get more for less on and around the Wharf
Mallow is (temporarily) Mildreds On The Wharf at Wood Wharf and is o ering 30% o food and drink until November 30 as the pop-up beds in. Maybe it’ll be a keeper... mildreds.com
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Hazev on South Quay is currently o ering a free three-course meal for kids under 12 when two adult mains are ordered. Terms and conditions apply, check before ordering hazev.com
How the University Of Sunderland In London’s tourism and hospitality courses are tailored to help students nd opportunities in these dynamic, thriving sectors
Right up the luxury end of Waitrose’s festive o ering, this box of four mince pies are anything but traditional.
The subtle packaging belies a sweet treat that, under the tasteful, icing sugar-dusted pastry, has more bling than a hip hop artist who’s fallen into a display case at Cartier.
Slice the lemon-infused case open and you’ll nd a decently deep lling of golden raisins, limoncello, golden cherries and apricots.
There’s even a tot of vodka in there, just in case all the zingy fruit isn’t quite enough.
True to the ingredients
list, these pies zz with a sherbert sharpness. Frankly, they’re great – a potent, citrus hit with plenty of sugar and saturated fat to take the edge o .
I’m generally not a fan of fooling about with the classics – especially the wonder that is freshly concocted mincemeat – but this is a rare example where the development chefs have just about pulled it o . In the end, though, they lose a star for messing with tradition. It’s a harsh call, but what’s Christmas for if not for preserving the preserves? ★★★★✩
Jon Massey
Immigration Solicitors
With you from the start
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write me
words you don’t know you need pollansky
noun, fake, from Low German
Similar to bluesky, this word is speci cally related to daring to think political thoughts others are nervous of articulating despite the obvious common sense and appeal to thinking voters. Will the next election be Green vs Reform?
vespine
adjective, real, from Latin
SLIPPERY STUFF
The Curling Club Marceline thecurlingclub.com
Relating to or resembling social wasps that live in colonies. While the insects are essentially bees with bad PR (because they don’t make honey and sting indiscriminately), these creatures are an essential part of the ecosystem. Hail them
Expected to open to the public on November 15, oating restaurant has teamed up with The Curling Club to o er Wharfers something a bit di erent.
In place until February 28, the venue will have ve lanes for guests to use with a range of options for larger groups and o ce parties.
Pay and play sessions start at £15, while standard package o ers include an hour of curling with a meal and a drink for £45. The club already runs successful sites in Chelsea and Vinegar Yard.
OPENING
UP
Highland Lodge
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf boisdale.co.uk
The venue’s heated terrace is set to be transformed into a Highland lodge for the colder months.
While there will be tartan throws and twinkling lights to keep the chills o , while guests take in the sweeping views over Cabot Square, the theme is decidedly Swiss.
Guests can expect a menu of comforting treats including molten cheese fondue and plenty of cocktails to take the edge o .
The terrace o cially launches from November 18 with bookings available after that date.
COMING SOON
The Winter Club Union Square thewinterclub.london
Set to launch on November 20, The Winter Club in Union Square will include an Ice Bar (from £24.95), a German Bierhaus with live entertainment and a lodge-style Chalet.
Created by Urban Playground – the team behind The Cube – the three venues o er a fresh, festive option for Wharfers looking to socialise or celebrate right through until February.
The Bierhaus and Chalet will both take walk-ins, while booking is advised for the Ice Bar at -10ºC.
diary dates, listings and ideas to make life in Canary Wharf sweeter..
WINTER IS HERE
The Wharf Pole Canary Wharf canarywharf.com
With the Christmas trees up in the malls and the shops already ooded with festive gifts and treats, tis very much the season on the estate. This year, Canary Wharf Group has launched The Wharf Pole, a whole season of workshops, events and shopping experiences aimed at delighting those working and living locally or visiting the area.
Running throughout the remainder of November and December, the promotion features a range of in-store events from brands such as Newbie, Rituals, Nicolas, Diptyque, Jo Malone, Penhaligon’s and Lululemon. There will also be pop-ups from the likes of The Flower Club, Fairgame and Dishoom and a whole host of free crafting sessions. These are on various dates and include Ceramic Bauble Painting from November 22, Brass Decoration Making from November 25, Card And Gift Tag Making from November 22, Mini Wreath Making from November 22. The sessions will get booked up quickly, so
move swiftly to reserve your spot online.
Santa’s Tea Parties at John Lewis on December 15 and 16 are also likely to be in high demand, with kids’ tickets costing £22 and adults £7. Youngsters get a Lego gift and refreshments for all are included. There are ve slots available.
The Ivy In The Park is set to host Breakfast With The Naughty Elves on December 14, 21 and 23 with letterwriting to Santa and teddy bears for the kids. Tickets are £22 for children and £32.50 for adults including gifts and breakfast.
The nal key dates are November 25 and December 3, when the King’s Voices Choir are set to perform festive favourites in Jubilee Place and Canada Place. Times vary. Go to canarywharf.com for links to all bookable events
how AviadaBio is working on cutting-edge cures for disease in labs at the heart of Canary Wharf
by Jon Massey
One of the key features of Canary Wharf Group’s Where Ambition Lives campaign is its focus on dispelling popular, enduring misconceptions about the estate.
Diving deeper into that message, Wharf Life has interviewed some of the Wharfers featured, including Deborah Ojutalayo.
“When I tell people I work in Canary Wharf as a scientist, they can’t envisage what I do,” she said. “They wouldn’t necessarily see my work and Canary Wharf in the same sentence.”
The senior research associate at AviadoBio spends her days in the rapidly growing company’s labs a few storeys above the increasingly bustling thoroughfare of Water Street on Wood Wharf.
“People think of the area as a hub for financial services businesses – but it is actually a really nice blend of people working in lots of different industries,” said Deborah, who joined the life sciences startup in 2021 before it moved to the Wharf a little over a year ago.
“When I got the job, we were based in Hatton Garden, which was weird because people always associate that with jewellery. We were in a really tiny lab with eight employees. Now we have around 60 – we’ve expanded quite quickly and moved to Whitechapel before coming to Canary Wharf.
“We are a gene therapy company. Certain diseases are caused by faulty genes or other mutations in your body.
“What we’re doing is developing a virus that will deliver a healthy gene to the patient with a focus on tackling dementia and motor neurone disease. My role is to carry out the pre-clinical testing before it is ready for trials in animals and patients.
“The viruses we work with don’t themselves cause harmful illnesses – we modify them so they are safe to use.
“I perform my tests using different types of cells – from humans, monkeys, pigs and mice continued on Page 8
Years since Deborah joined AviadaBio, a gene therapy company that relocated to Canary Wharf a little over a year ago
Senior research associate
Deborah Ojutalayo grew up in Newham and is passionate about communicating her love of science to the next generation
by Chris Ezekiel
I’ve just returned from a contact centre conference in Shenzhen, China where I gave a presentation on the role of humans and AI working in harmony to enhance the customer experience. It was an interesting experience on several levels. I arrived the evening before my presentation to nd that some of the live examples I’d planned to present would not work due to government censorship.
You could call me naïve as internet restrictions in China are widely known – I just wasn’t expecting that to include all of Google. On the one hand, it brought home to me how we take our freedoms for granted. On the other, it also made me think about the great challenges we have by putting content control in the hands of the world’s largest online organisations.
Having young children and being involved in the AI industry gives me a particular interest. What will my children trust as reliable news and content sources when they start using the internet?
AI exacerbates the issue of trust as it becomes increasingly di cult to di erentiate between what’s real and what’s fake. Personally, I don’t trust individual governments or companies to put the necessary controls in place to protect our children and society generally.
They are motivated by political agendas and short-term pro ts. I believe the answer lies in a global initiative to ensure technology is used for the bene t of humankind (no small feat) and I say this as somebody who’s instinctively against government control.
Sta
Deborah says her ambition is to inspire people to pursue careers in science and, one day to create something to bene t healthcare in Uganda
After overcoming China’s Great Firewall, giving my presentation and engaging with conference participants, a strong takeaway was that this region has the same challenges with AI that I see in other parts of the world. There is excitement and fear about what it can o er, in equal measure. These possibilities and challenges discussed at the conference were a reminder that we are only at the very beginning of a revolution. Other observations from my trip were that the people were wonderful, language was a challenge but technology assisted me with real-time translation and, being a pescatarian I loved the food – especially the ‘hotpot’ experience. There are big challenges for vegetarians and vegans, however. Overall, from the lovely people I met and their commitment to responsible AI, I left China with optimism that humans will overcome the challenges ahead.
Scan this code for more information about Creative Virtual or follow @creativevirtual and @chrisezekiel on X
What gives me motivation is the trust patients put in us to hopefully nd something that will cure them
from Page 6
– to make sure the virus is working as expected. I check we’re seeing the results we want, a reduction in faulty genes or an increase in the function of healthy genes.
“Only once we’ve made sure its safe, a process that can take many months or even years, does a therapy move on to animal studies and then human clinical testing. It’s essential we avoid any off-target effects – for example, we don’t want to affect the heart if we’re targeting the brain.”
Growing up in Forest Gate in Newham, Deborah decided to pursue a career as a scientist after her mother ruled out working for the police. She graduated with a first in Biomedical Science from the University Of Westminster before completing a masters at the same institution in Immunology.
She said: “I just love science. During my first degree I found out I had a passion for research, conducting various projects including one looking into parasitic disease.
“It was then I thought this could be a career path for me. In my field, there are typically two paths – academia or industry. I wanted to work in the latter because I wanted my work to have an impact on patients and to see the fruits of that.
“You have to be patient, but it’s rewarding to work on projects that you see through to the end. Sometimes we get patients coming in with diseases or conditions that there’s currently no cure for. We get to understand how their suffering affects them and their families.
“That’s what gives me motivation – there’s the trust those patients put in us to hopefully find something that will cure them and gene therapy has a lot of potential. We’ve already seen successes in areas such as Sickle Cell Disease with a treatment now approved by the NHS for severe cases.”
Deborah is also driven by something else – a desire to highlight and promote careers in science, especially to those who might not have considered it before.
“I’m very passionate about speaking to young people, so a lot of what I do is going into schools and speaking to students who have an interest in STEM or science about my journey,” she said. “My career pathway from school was not that clear, and people are not necessarily aware of the different opportunities that are open to them.
“I can see that people are
interested in it, so I try to convey science in a very simple way that people can understand. I really want to inspire the next generation. I like to think of myself as still young and having someone other than a teacher speaking to students in school on a casual, one-to-one level really works. They love it.
“That communication is important because when science is spoken about, a lot of the time it’s when there’s been a breakthrough, but people don’t necessarily understand the process.
“Science is not just that big, final reveal, it’s incremental progress. One of the reasons I share my work on social media is so that people can understand what my day as a senior research associate looks like. Science is cool.
“When you think of a scientist, you might think of old, boring people, which is just not the case. In the lab I’m surrounded by brilliant, intelligent people but nobody is prideful, thinking they’re the smartest.
“There is a constant flow of information and everyone has their own area of expertise, so it’s mentally stimulating.
“Of course we have the radio on – it’s a fun atmosphere too. Some-
times if an experiment is taking a long time I’ll use the length of certain songs to measure it. I like anything upbeat, like Afrobeat to keep me going. Especially if it’s a really long experiment.
“I’m half Ugandan and half Nigerian. I went to Uganda recently to see how their healthcare system and diagnostic facilities work. They’re not great.
“I don’t know how I’ll get there, but one day I’d love to be able to create something that addresses that and benefits people there.”
You can find out more about Deborah’s work on the Wharf via @debsdiary6 on Instagram and TikTok.
key details
AviadoBio is based at 20 Water Street in Canary Wharf and is currently working on medicines to help people with frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. You can find out more about the company on its website. Go to aviadobio.com
Scan this code to nd out more about
take a breath by
David Lefebvre Sell
Iwas going to write something about going to the gym, but then I realised that this will be coming out before Christmas and no-one will be going to the gym anyway. So I’m going to indulge myself here and talk about my love for A Christmas Carol, by Charles... something. Unlike most Brits, I wasn’t forced to learn this in school, I was forced to learn this by my father, and I loved it.
My favourite version remains the 1951 black and white lm with Alastair Sim. What the hell kind of indoctrination did I have to go through to make me love a lm that old?
But I still watch it every year. Although the story is a very Christian one, I feel that it is relevant for anyone. Or, at least, anyone who has a sense of moral ambition.
Moral Ambition is the title of a recent(ish) book by Rutger Bergman, I haven’t read it, but it’s on the metaphorical pile.
How many people do you know who are actively trying to become better people?
I only mention it here because I love the concept of the title – how many people do you know that are actively trying to become better people?
And I don’t mean just making more money or being better at a skill. How many people actually try to become kinder?
Life is a slippery slope and it is all too easy to nd ourselves sliding into the worst version of ourselves. The answer, so often, is to make space for empathy –we have to allow ourselves to hurt for others.
This moral ambition has a cost, it’s much easier to not care. Like Scrooge, we can become embittered to life and hardened to those around us, but does that actually help us or anyone else?
In the words of Jacob Marley’s ghost, “Mankind was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business.
“The deals of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business.”
David Lefebvre Sell is a Greenwich-based psychotherapist and Yoga instructor who teaches at Third Space in Canary Wharf
Follow @davetheyogi on X and Instagram and @DavidLefebvreSellYogaAndPsychotherapy on FB
Scan this code for information about David’s work as a transpersonal counsellor and psychotherapist
BERGMAN DESIGNS
>> Bergman Designs is a Helsinki-based fashion label that’s inspired by the Baroque and Romantic periods – shown here in the form of a broken egg. Disappointingly their website only sells more wearable pieces in beautiful lace. If you don’t have con dence to dress like an egg, maybe cherry pick the blue and go for this dress instead. bergmandesigns.com
Mango Canada Place mango.com
LANNA PARELL
>> Lanna Parell invites women to reject fast fashion in favour of versatile, British-made, long-lasting garments and curate wardrobes that are intentional, elegant and e ortlessly modern. There’s no website to buy the originals from, however, this dupe in Mango should keep you going for the moment.
@lanna_parell
Get the look Manteco wool coat with belt, £169.99
NICHOIR
Get the look Sidonie Dress, £149 Hobbs Canada Place hobbs.com
Jess Maddison scours Canary Wharf’s stores in search of fashionable pieces
>> Drawing inspiration from London Fashion Week’s One To Watch Show, we’ve taken what cutting-edge designers are delivering on the catwalk and hit Canary Wharf’s malls to nd the looks for less on the
>> Nichoir is local – based in north-west London and is described as both gothic and romantic, fragile and de ant.
The brand’s show also featured some very cool Rorschach Test shirts that are so unusual, I couldn’t nd anything close in Canary Wharf. However, you can mimic this Spiked Hat (£85) by purchasing a cap from Barbour. I wonder if Robert Dyas sells spikes... nichoiratelier.com
>> With all clothing made in Italy, the brand claims to inspire women to express their individuality with strength, condence and elegance. This Essenza top and skirt are available to purchase online for £660 and £700 respectively.
For those who’d like the look for less, Intimissimi, another Italian brand that recently opened in Canary Wharf o ers this piece. latoile.it
Get the look Pretty Flowers Babydoll, £59
Intimissimi Canada Place intimissimi.com
NATHAN SLATE
>> My absolute favourite - Somerset born Nathan Slate, is now designing quite creepy looking clothes from the island of Madeira.
This is not available on the website, although you can buy a darling, hand-embroidered T-shirt with randomly placed ies on it.
Fear not though, Boots’ cotton wool is here to help if you decide to recreate this look DIY-style. nathanslate.com
Get the look
AT THE FOX CONNAUGHT
With festive menus, drinks options, and flexible spaces for team lunches to full-office parties, we’ve got everything you need to make this year’s celebration a good one.
why pursuing a degree in hospitality and tourism at the University Of Sunderland In London is timely
by Jon Massey
Let’s start with some hard figures. Tourism is booming. In , . billion people travelled for leisure pursuits – an increase of . on the previous year. arly saw growth year on year, according to the nited ations.
In the K – the seventh most visited country in the world – we welcomed . million visitors in , a . rise on and a figure that e ceeded pre pandemic numbers in , according to the ce or ational tatistics.
Then there’s hospitality. The Harden’s London Restaurants 2026 guide, published in eptember, found that while of the estab lishments it tracks had closed, new venues had opened – a net increase of . ut in conte t, that’s the lowest rate of closures for a decade in a single year and a growth rate only e ceeded on four other occasions in the guide’s years of data. ut simply, these two inter related sectors – despite some significant economic pressures –are fundamentally in rude health.
“These are dynamic and globally connected industries,” said ictoria right, lecturer in Inter national Tourism and ospitality Management at the niversity f underland In ondon i .
“They thrive on e perience and innovation – what we try to do here is inspire students about the opportunities that are available.”
aving moved to a new campus earlier this year, the university currently offers a foundation course covering tourism and events and B c and M c courses, covering tourism and hospitality from its base at arbour change on the Isle f ogs.
ith a background in tourism herself, ictoria is passionate about helping to generate opportunities for its students.
he said “I studied tourism, first at college and then did a tourism management degree.
“As part of that course, I got e perience in the industry and that was a stepping stone that led me into a career with international tour operator Tui.
“ orking in the sales reser vations department, I was very fortunate to go on fantastic famil iarisation trips, so we could get to know the product and e perience what we were selling.
9th
“I went to witzerland, Austria, Colorado and inland, which was amazing. I decided I wanted to support people in learning how e citing the industry can be and the career options that are out there, so I decided to enrol on a teaching degree.
“ rom there I started lecturing in colleges and then went on to do an MA in tourism and cultural policy.
I’ve been a lecturer for years, oined the i in and have now started a h .
“Tourism and hospitality are different in many ways, but they are also similar – they’re both part of the service sector and provide tangible and intangible e periences to customers.”
ated ninth in the K for student satisfaction by the Complete University Guide 2025, the department is enthusiastic about delivering theory, e perience and, crucially, ob opportunities to its tourism and hospitality students.
ictoria said “ e make the programmes that we teach as practical as possible to provide students with the skills necessary to develop their careers. e also support them when it comes to employability.
“ ur courses give students knowledge of the various dynamics of the sector and how it’s changed over the years – different types of accommodation and the various roles in hospitality, for e ample.
“That’s attractive to people with ambition and goals to work in these different areas as they pursue their careers.
“It’s important they get a broad understanding as, while they may want to get to the position of hotel manager, for e ample, it’s impor tant they know about roles in sales, marketing and operations.”
tudents can also e pect guidance, trips, networking and visits from industry figures to help enhance their e perience.
ictoria said “ e’re based in a very e citing part of ondon and there are lots of opportunities to connect with the hospitality and tourism industries.
“ e offer a variety of courses for people at different stages in their careers and we’re always striving to provide students with e periences they’ll remember and get benefit from for the rest of their lives. It’s about enriching their time with us.
“ e take students on hotel visits, residential stays – we’ve ust had a continued on Page 21
enhancing your
Page 12
group return from Budapest – and trips more locally. I’m from Surrey and I think it’s really important they learn what the UK has to offer.
“For example, I’ve taken groups to Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking, Box Hill – an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – and to Brighton as part of a module in creative tourism because of all of the different cultural offerings there.”
More locally, the university also engages with the likes of Greenwich Market and London Museum Docklands as well as the hubs around Victoria and Waterloo.
“We’re also very proud to be working with Springboard, a charity that helps students and unemployed people with career opportunities in the hospitality sector,” said ictoria.
“I’m really passionate about making sure the courses we offer have both theoretical and practical elements that result in job opportunities – that’s why this partnership works so well.”
Supported by the likes of Barclays and beverage giant Diageo, Springboard works to promote the industry and provide skills for people looking to embark on a career in hospitality.
“We help people from all kinds of backgrounds by delivering courses, experiences and placements in the industry,” said Arion Tsapis, programme and project manager at Springboard.
“We have a very extensive network of partners across the UK, which allows us to help people get an understanding of the industry and what they can achieve – then we help them get obs.”
It’s a sector Arion knows well. He started his career working in hotels and bars aged 16 in his native Greece. By 21 he was teaching mixology and bar-tending internationally in locations such as Austria and the etherlands before heading for “the capital of cocktails”, ondon.
“What I love most is teaching people about hospitality,” he said. “I’ve been working with Springboard for a year and a half.
“The industry has seen real growth in recent years – it’s not how it was before the pandemic. mployers are offering a lot more training and opportunities.
“They want staff to stay with them as their businesses grow. Working behind a bar, for example, is no longer seen as something to do before you get an actual job.
“Now people in those positions can work their way up, even to manager of a big hotel. With Springboard, we’ve seen a lot of people who started as waiters are now directors of food and beverage for big companies.
Springboard’s Arion Tsapis says the hospitality industry now o ers better career prospects than before the pandemic
“That’s what draws people to hospitality. It’s an industry where you can belong to a family and where, if you put effort in, you’ll be rewarded. That’s where degrees come in – they enable people to progress faster in their careers.”
Victoria added: “We intend to build on and grow our relationship with Springboard because it works for both of us.
“It’s important, so that the students have a sense of accomplishment and they feel a sense of pride in achieving their degree – but it shouldn’t just stop at the graduation ceremony.
“They need to move on to
It’s
all about caring for our students and helping them to achieve their full potential, to be that teacher that really helps them follow their dreams
Victoria Wright, UOSiL
a career that they want. As a lecturer, I hear from my students, sometimes years later, and find out about their successes – that’s really what it’s all about for me.
“When that happens I feel very touched – a real sense of pride that I’ve been able to help people on their journey. It’s all about caring for the students and helping them to achieve their full potential, to be that teacher that really helps them follow their dreams.
“That’s why our Springboard programmes are offered to alumni as well – the care we have continues beyond graduation.”
key details
The University Of Sunderland In London at Harbour Exchange on the Isle f ogs offers a range of tourism and hospitality courses. Full details, including entry requirements can be found online. For more information go to london.sunderland.ac.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about the courses
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
EVENT | Winter Cup 2025
The Isle Of Dogs Children’s Darts Club is set to host a knockout competition for U11s, over 11s and mixed pairs complete with Ally Pally vibes. Dec 6, 2pm-11pm, ioddartsclub.co.uk
Hot Vox’s theatre performance and gig features the talents of Ankhaya, Thomas Caul eld, Rue Rue, Fredrik Ceder, Matt Kent and Ben
Nov 27, 7pm, £12, theatreship.co.uk Where? Alpha Grove Community Centre Isle Of Dogs Where? Theatreship Isle Of Dogs
The second vessel in the Isle Of Dogs’ oating cultural centre, Artship, is currently undergoing preparatory works in Kent before she sails for east London with her arrival hoped for by Christmas artship.co.uk
how Brahms Club is programming the composer’s chamber works in Limehouse to support three charities
by Jon Massey
Tom Hosted’s passion has always been music. He studied as a cellist at the New Zealand School Of Music, completing a masters in chamber music and performing with a string quartet for about a year after graduation.
But life took a different turn when other members went overseas to study. He quit playing professionally, opting instead to study law and then pursuing a career in the field initially in Auckland and then in Abu Dhabi with Allen & Overy and with Clifford Chance in Brazil, before arriving in the UK four years ago in his current role as senior associate at Baker McKenzie.
“Coming to London enabled me to get involved in the amazing classical music scene here,” said Tom. “What you have are all these amateur orchestras with people playing at a very high standard, even though they’re often pursuing different careers.
“When I got here it was really inspiring. I joined the London City Orchestra, which puts on a small number of concerts each year and offers a way for people to play music while also following their careers in banking and so on.
“I was playing more and more – getting my confidence up again – but there wasn’t much chamber music happening and that’s where the idea for Brahms Club came from. Chamber music is the holy grail all musicians want to play because you can hear yourself –you’re not having to blend into an orchestra.
“Brahms is the greatest composer of this type of music, he offers a glimpse of the sublime for audiences. It’s such a rewarding experience for musicians to play his pieces – they’re so uplifting and positive. I really do believe his music helps people get through tough times and lifts them up, inspiring them to greater things.
“Brahms Club is for people who want to play his works and for those who want to listen to them.”
Tom hit on the idea of staging a series of concerts to perform the composer’s complete cycle of chamber works.
As a Limehouse resident he sought out a local venue and “the Royal Foundation Of St Katharine immediately said yes”.
“They have a goal to get more involved with the community around them and said that anything like this was helpful for them,” said Tom. “They got behind the idea from the word go and have been so supportive.”
The concerts began earlier this month and take place at 2pm on Sundays in the retreat centre’s chapel. Tickets are free, with donations taken in support of three charities – Ilumina in Brazil, IMS Prussia Cove in Cornwall and the Royal Foundation itself.
“I reconnected with some of my old professional musician friends,” said Tom. “At first, I was a bit embarrassed approaching them and saying I wanted to play chamber music.
“But I told them about this project and that we were fundraising for charities and they said they really wanted to do it and it’s really come together. The first concert was quite magical – it was a really special atmosphere with the audience sitting round the performers at the same level.
“It had a real feeling of warmth and it was quite relaxed with people clapping at the end of each movement, which felt really nice.
“I’m performing myself in some of the concerts and for the first one – Brahms Piano Trio No
1 In B Major, I was playing with my friend Jennifer Lee who’s a professional pianist.
“It was so moving, quite emotional, because we used to play together when we were in high school in Christchurch and we’d played the piece when she was 14 and I was 15.
“We’d fallen out of touch over the years and she’s a phenomenal player so this was a great chance to reconnect – we both love the music and it was really special to perform with her alongside violinist Tim Yap, the leader of the London City Orchestra, who’s amazing.”
Of the 19 concerts programmed, 17 remain, featuring a wide variety of performers, including participants from two of the charities supported.
Tom said: “Ilumina is centred around a festival on an old coffee plantation in Brazil.
“There, they bring talented students from all around the country together to study and play with musicians from overseas. After spending a few weeks together, they then go on an international tour with the professors, with some getting
Brahms told a friend in a letter his only regret in cancelling his trip to Britain was that he wouldn’t get to see London’s docks
Club
Cellist and lawyer Tom Hosted created the Brahms Club to o er players an opportunity to perform chamber music and for audiences to enjoy their e orts
Below, retreat centre,
The Royal Foundation Of St Katharine in Limehouse is hosting the performances
funding to continue their studies overseas. It’s an incredible charity and we’re hoping to feature one of the musicians who has benefited from its support in the concert series. In addition to Ilumina and The Royal Foundation, the other musical charity we’re supporting is IMS Prussia Cove, an amazing project, which hosts a residential course in Cornwall.
“Top musicians go there and the students play there for a week, then they come to London, and it’s really important for the next generation of musicians to get those experiences.
“Violinist Tim Crawford, who’s come up through that programme and is really in demand, is set to perform with us for Brahms’ String Sextet No 2 In G Major and Cello Sonata No.1 In E Minor on November 23, which will be a real highlight of the series. Another will be violinist Jennifer Stumm and friends on December 14.”
While Tom is the driving force behind Brahms Club, he’s had support from the local community.
“Many people have helped with the project,” he said. “My neighbour, Fatima Carvalho and her husband Richard Lapper, have been absolutely crucial in getting stuff done. atima is Brazilian and put me in touch with Ilumina and helped us sell out the first concert.
“Richard, a journalist and author, acted as master of ceremonies and will hopefully be introducing several of the pieces.
“Brahms himself grew up in the docklands of Hamburg and you can imagine him finding famili arity in this part of London. He was famously di dent and didn’t want to be famous, cancelling a trip to Oxford to receive an honorary degree because he found out promoters were trying to organise a concert of his music at Crystal Palace to coincide with it.
“He told a friend in a letter his only regret was that he wouldn’t get to see London’s docks.”
key details
The Brahms Club concerts take place at The Royal Foundation Of St Katharine on Sundays at 2pm. Dates for your diaries include November 16, 23 and 30 plus December 7, 14 and 21.
Performances will then continue from March 1 and then into April and May. Tickets are free with donations welcome – all proceeds go to charity. Full listings can be found online. You can book your place for the recitals on the Brahms Club website. Go to brahmsclub.org
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what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
KIDS | Cinema Chill: Ten In The Bed Suitable for ages 3-8, this digital screening invites audiences to join the boat-bed’s disparate crew as they dream up playful tales of pirates, sharks and sh. Dec 6, 3.15pm, £5, halfmoon.org.uk
Where? Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping Where? Troxy Limehouse
| Dizzee Rascal
The grime pioneer comes back to east London with his We Want Bass tour, promising a celebration of low frequency sounds, beats and raw energy. Dec 5, 7pm, £42.28, troxy.co.uk Where? Half Moon Theatre Limehouse
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audiences to solve puzzles, chase clues and gasp at impossibilities in a show that’s part magic, part wordplay and all perplexing. Nov 24-29, times vary, from £17.50, wiltons.org.uk
Discover the subtle and delicate photography of Rhiain
at Three Colt Gallery in Limehouse. Visitors can view her pieces until November 21, and grab a cake or two and a co ee, of course @threecoltgallery on Instagram
Scan this code to read Wharf Life’s interview with Rhiain and nd out more about her immersive practice
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
EVENT | Queermas
Where? Deptford Lounge Deptford
This festive market features the work of more than 130 queer artists and small businesses – ideal for stocking up on gifts in the run-up to Christmas. Dec 7, 11am, donations, thealbany.org.uk
Where? Finnish Church Rotherhithe
SHOP | Joulumyyjäiset / Christmas Fair
Over two weekends, the Finnish Church will once again be lled with gifts, food and avours imported from Finland. Expect plenty of good cheer. Nov 28-30, Dec 5-7, free, britannia.merimieskirkko.
MUSIC | Secret Christmas Concert
Where?
The Brunel Museum Rotherhithe
Enjoy performances of festive favourites from Debut musicians, Korean bites and plenty of mince pies, mulled cider and organic wines from the bar. Dec 4, 7pm, £45, thebrunelmuseum.com
ash back
This is Matt Lloyd, co-founder of The Pear Tree restaurant, which is soon set to expand to Canada Water. The Village Tree is expected to open on the ground oor of The Founding opposite the station in early 2026 thepeartreekitchen.co.uk
Scan this code to read Wharf Life’s interview with Matt and nd out more about the new venture
Ticket price to see The Snow Queen: A Woodland Adventure at The Albany
The show follows the story of two mice, Gerda and Kai
Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey
making the
how The Snow Queen: A Woodland Adventure invites audiences to help out on a daring quest
by Jon Massey
The Albany is set to host a festive production for children across various dates and times in December.
The Snow Queen: A Woodland Adventure follows the tale of Gerda, the smallest mouse in the forest, who hosts a sleepover for her best friend, Kai. However, all is not well in the Bluebell Wood, a sudden chill sweeps through the trees – the mysterious Snow
Queen’s spell steals Kai away in a urry of snow, with Gerda bravely setting out into the cold to nd her friend.
But will she break the spell on her daring adventure in time for Christmas? Only with the help of the audience.
Suitable for ages 3-8, the show promises original songs, puppetry, dance and wintry surprises.
Presented by Icon Theatre and The Albany, the show retells a classic story and features artistic direction by Nancy Hirst, design by Laura McEwen and original music by Eamonn O’Dwyer.
key details
The Snow Queen: A Woodland Adventure is set to be performed on December 6, 7, 13, 14 and 20-24. There are often multiple shows on a single day. Times vary. Tickets cost £14 for the hour-long production. Go to thealbany.org.uk for more information or to make a booking
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December £13.20
Eggnog The Elf and Fern The Christmas Fairy promise to delight younger audiences
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG
The Swedish power metal out t might be more sedate than the likes of Dragonforce, but they know their way around a cliche or two. Elephants, pyramids. Why not? Dec 4, 6pm, from £56, theo2.co.uk
Where?
Blackheath Halls
Blackheath
forecasting the
how A Christmas Wish promises to enthral kids aged up to eight with a blend of music and ballet
by Jon Massey
The Let’s All Dance Ballet Company is set to present a festive show for children and families in south-east London next month. Woolwich Works’ Ropemakers Studio will host 13 performances of A Christmas Wish, kicking o on December 14.
Suitable for youngsters aged up to eight, the production follows Fern The Christmas Fairy and Eggnog The Elf as excitement builds for the big
day on Christmas Eve. They play, dance and decorate their cosy room before waking up on Christmas morning and exchanging gifts. But will they get their wish? Will it snow? Parents can probably demand a refund if it doesn’t. Lasting 30 minutes, audiences can expect a magical festive tale of love, friendship and Yuletide celebration that promises to have younger viewers enthralled.
key details
A Christmas Wish is set for a run of performances in the Ropemakers Studio at Wool-
wich Works on December 14, 19, 20, 21 and 22.
There are three shows on all dates at 11am, 1pm and 3pm except December 19, which has one performance at 4.30pm. Tickets cost £13.20 for both adults and children. Family tickets are available for £42.
For more information go to woolwich.works
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EVENT | Big Xmas Disco Ball Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet presents its festive spectacular with DJ Lady G spinning 1970s and 1980s tunes. Expect soul, funk, disco and a bit of pop. Dec 6, 7.30pm, £20, blackheathhalls.com
STAGE | Peter Pan Or should that be Peter Panto? Anthony Spargo, Steve Markwick and crew return with a suitably silly take on the boy who still hasn’t grown up. Nov 28-Jan 11, times vary, £43.50, greenwichtheatre.org.uk
sliding in
Winter has come. The Queen’s House Ice Rink is back in Greenwich from November 21 until January 4, open every day from 10am-9pm, except December 25. Tickets start at £19 for a 45-minute session thequeenshouseicerink.com
Scan this code to nd out more about the rink or to book skating sessions over the colder months
Schools worked with the Thames Festival Trust and Cody Dock to make artworks for River Of Hope
Children survey the River Lea during a visit to Cody Dock
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
EVENT | Community Lantern Making
Join artist Yuliya V Krylova to create illuminated works from paper and willow at these sessions. They will be installed around Docklands over winter. Nov 22, 29, times vary, free, bowarts.org
Where?
Excel London
Royal Victoria Dock
EVENT | One Day At Christmas Combating loneliness during the festive season, this charitable event o ers those in need of comfort and joy a place to go. Volunteers welcome. Dec 5, 11am-4.30pm, free, onedayatchristmas.com Where? Bow
CLUB | Cabin Fever x Nous ‘Klaer Audio Dance fanatics can expect twinkly rave tunes with plenty of techno and house on the decks from John Talabot, JakoJako, Dorisburg and Softi. Dec 6 ,11pm-6am, from £20, ra.co
fashionable beats
Fold in Canning Town is set to welcome a full set of pumping beats as Tech Couture lls the club from 11pm-10am starting on November 21. Those attending can expect performances from Annabel Arroyo, Temudo and Mika ra.co
Scan
how Cody Dock’s Frost Fair is set to deliver entertainment, mulled wine and a chance to see locally made art
by Jon Massey
Cody Dock is set to host its latest Frost Fair at the end of the month with a packed programme of activities and attractions. The event, which is free to attend, will feature a local makers’ market, live music and games.
There will also be workshops for visitors to participate in including wreath making and sustainable wrapping paper printing.
Food will be provided by German Deli and Milagros with drinks – including mulled wine –from the Cody Dock bar.
Also on show during the day will be a series of artworks from River Of Hope, a project that saw school pupils work with artists at Cody Dock to creatively respond to the Lea and the environment around it.
As part of the Thames Festival Trust’s Totally Thames festival, the resulting pieces by five Newham secondary schools and nine primary schools were first displayed in September at Cody Dock, beside the Millennium Bridge and at Compressor House in Royal Docks.
Some of those by secondary schools shown at the latter will also feature at Frost Fair, while others have made the journey to COP30 in Brazil.
Kate Forde, Thames Festival Trust head of education and engagement, said: “River Of Hope has been a two-year programme that’s worked in five regions around the UK as well as in France and Ethiopia.
“The aim, through partnerships, is to connect people with their local environment, specifically with their rivers and waterfronts, as well as elevate the work of young people.
“Their pieces are showcased in different ways at international festivals all around the country. In Norfolk, for example, we installed artwork on the sails of boats and had a procession of vessels come down the river.
“In London, our environmental partner is Cody Dock and they’ve been perfect for the project. With the primary schools, they all visit the site and a lot of professional development for the teachers is involved with the aim of inspiring a more creative approach to teaching and leanrning.
“Through the geography curriculum they deliver a term’s worth of work around River Of Hope with the final output being the artwork – in this case a series of ags that are already on display at Cody Dock.
“At both secondary and primary level we can see the long-term impact of the project is making them relevant. Since Covid, schools are much more reluctant to do outdoor visits, but learning in this way is so beneficial.
“Feedback from the teachers has been that these experiences at all ages were such a leveller –seeing kids who may have been disruptive in the classroom really coming into their own. It really does highlight the importance of a variety of approaches to learning.
“The project is very much also about leaving a legacy there, whether it’s the artwork being displayed or the schools knowing about and being able to access resources such as the ones at Cody Dock on their doorsteps.
“In addition to the ags by the primary schools – made using marbling techniques with artist Fiona Grady – the works that will be shown at Frost Fair have been created by Newham secondary schools in collaboration with artist Shona Watt and poet Dauda Ladejobi.
“These have been reproduced on silk as three metre-high hangings and they’re really extraordinary. It’s the students’ take on what they learnt and their feelings about climate change globally, what’s happening in the world and their hopes for the future.”
For those unable to get down to Cody Dock, the works can also be viewed online.
Go to thamesfestivaltrust.org
key details
Cody Dock is located on the edge of Canning Town right beside the River Lea. The closest public transport is Star Lane DLR station. Its Frost Fair event is set to take place on Saturday, November 29, from noon-5pm and is free to attend.
Go to codydock.org.uk for more information
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how the extraordinary social history, forged in the areas around the River Lea offers a rich seam of inspiration
by Jon Massey
The world can seem an increasingly bleak place. The relentless digital news machines deliver a steady diet of shock and awe at callous acts of brutality by humans the world over.
One antidote to this pipeline of 24-hour misery is to take a step back from the present to look back and realise how far we’ve come in some areas.
Roughly six and a half generations ago (191 years, to be exact), it was legal in Britain for one person to own another. It took a further 31 years for the USA to abolish slavery.
The freedoms and rights we enjoy today all have their roots in the toil and struggle of people who led lives unimaginably impoverished compared with our own and – in the grand scheme of things – not all that long ago.
This is precisely why we need to study history and develop places that showcase and highlight the collective achievements and missteps of our species.
That is one of the missions that Cody Dock, an ecological regeneration project on the edge of Canning Town, is undertaking through its Heritage Pavilion project.
The structure will be built as part of a £1.6million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, using the restored hull of Welsh lifeboat the Frederick Kitchen –likely the last vessel built at the Thames Ironworks – as its roof.
The glazed space will host quarterly exhibitions on the history of the area, with a special focus on the River Lea.
As anticipation builds for the pavilion’s launch, this is the second in a series of articles in a partnership between Wharf Life and Cody Dock to draw attention to some of the topics that will be featured.
The banks and marshlands around rivers are well known for their fertility.
The nutrient-heavy silts washed up by the constant ow of water, make for rich soils and abundant growth.
Factor in their historic use as corridors of trade, transport and migration and it’s little wonder that city waterways conveyed similar prosperity on the operations along their banks.
The Lea once bristled with industries that demanded sprawling communities of workers. This human tide, forced to contend with extraordinary deprivation and shocking conditions, was in itself a potent force and one of the reasons east London has played an outsize role in the nation’s social history.
Here, people stood up, fought for better lives and succeeded. The four stories below aim to offer a avour of ust some of their remarkable achievements.
echoes of the past Close to West Ham station, Berkeley Group is currently building a housing development called TwelveTrees Park. That branding isn’t a reference to some long forgotten copse with a dozen pines, but a name from history.
The scheme is located on land near Twelvetrees Crescent, a road named for entrepreneur, factory owner, chemist, writer, campaigner and inspiring philanthropist, Harper Twelvetrees.
In his time, much of east London was a patchwork of industrial operations and slums, the latter housing the workers for the former.
The author Charles Dickens visited nearby Canning Town and wrote in 1857: “The houses are built in rows; but there being no roads, the ways are so unformed that the parish will not take charge of them.
“We come to a row of houses built with their backs to a stagnant ditch. We turn aside to see the ditch and find that it is a cesspool, so charged with corruption, that not a trace of vegetable matter grows upon its surface, bubbling and seething with the constant rise of the foul products of decomposition, that the pool pours into the air.
“The filth of each house passes through a short pipe straight into this ditch and stays there.”
ater on the same visit, he finds “three ghostly little children lying on the ground, hung with their faces over another pestilential ditch, breathing the poison of the bubbles as it rose and fishing about with their hands in the filth for something, perhaps for something nice to eat”.
Dickens’ bitterly ironic depiction of the dirty, blighted lives of the workers and their families around Bidder Street near the Lea is a stark picture of the kinds of conditions people endured a little
The number of women and girls who walked out on the rst day of the match girl’s strike in Bow in July 1888. Four days later all production had ceased
The Bryant And May match factory in Bow has now been converted into a gated residential development but was the scene of a pivotal strike in 1888 that furthered the cause of workers and women’s rights
1,400 something in the
by
over a century and a half ago in the name of industrial progress.
While plenty of business owners were content to exploit their employees, others had more progressive, compassionate ideas.
Born in Bedfordshire and originally apprenticed as a printer and a bookseller, Harper Twelvetrees developed an interest in chemistry. Moving to London in 1848 he initially sold laundry products from other manufacturers in Holborn while working on a plan to make his own.
Having set up a small factory in Islington, in 1858 he moved production to a larger site on the banks of the River Lea at Bromley By Bow, ust over the water from Three Mills.
Moving to the heart of the complex himself, he set about improving the lives of his workers – 400 at the peek of his Imperial Chemical Works’ success.
He built rows of cottages to house them, invested in a library, opened a lecture theatre, put on evening classes, organised sewing circles, created a clothing club and hosted non-denominational services. There was even support for sick workers through a benevolent fund.
In 1861, the Stratford Times wrote: “Instead of dirty, narrow lanes bounded by high walls, now there are to be seen neat, commodious and well-built cottages, anking tidy roads.
“The old population is losing its distinctive traits before a new, fresh and vigorous class that is rapidly settling amongst them and giving an air of busy life and incessant occupation to a place, which once wore an empty gloom hardly redeemed by the wild rush of waters roaring in the ad acent mill-stream.”
Philanthropy can be fragile, however. Twelvetrees’ deal to sell his business in 1865 went bad, resulting in bankruptcy, although he did start up again on the other side of Bow at Cordova orks off Grove Road, eventually going on to produce washing machines and mangles.
lighting a re
Collective effort is where lasting gains are often made. While some workers in east London were relatively well treated by those making money off their sweat, others were not.
In July 1888, the women and teenage girls working at the Bryant & May match factory in Bow went out on strike.
There had been previous periods of industrial action over pay and punitive fines – sanctioning the often barefoot workers for dirty feet, untidy workbenches, lateness and dropped matches – but they had all failed.
, however, was different.
Atrocious working conditions including 14-hour days and the horrific ravages of phossy aw –an industrial disease caused by exposure to the white phosphorus used in match production which killed a fifth of sufferers – were taking a terrible toll.
Social activists Annie Besant and Herbert Burrows became involved in the cause, publishing an article that angered managers at the factory, who attempted to get their workers to sign a statement repudiating its claims.
When they refused, a worker was fired – it was the spark that ignited the strike, with 1,400 women and girls walking out – probably on July 2. Four days later, the whole factory had ceased to function. The women had gone to visit Besant to enlist her help and with her support and the backing of some MPs, the strike generated significant publicity.
Besant – a prominent campaigner of a wide range of social and political issues –assisted in the negotiations and the workers were successful in getting unfair fines and deduc tions for materials abolished as well as a new grievance procedure with direct access to management.
A separate room for meals was also provided to prevent contamination of their food with poisonous phosphorus.
In the aftermath of the strike, the workers founded the Union Of Women Matchmakers – the largest such organisation of women and girls in the country at the time. Their efforts inspired a wave of organising among industrial workers, the mothers of change.
ghting for the rights Canning Town Library played a significant role in that process. In 1889 it was the venue for the formation of the National Union of Gas Workers and General Labourers.
Will Thorne, Ben Tillett and William Byford founded the organisation in response to lay offs at Beckton asworks, with the former elected as its general secretary. The organisation rapidly launched a successful campaign for an eight-hour working day, with its membership then rising to more than 20,000.
It was the start of a labour movement that eventually became the GMB union, which today has more than half a million members.
Also in 1889, the London Dock Strike saw a walkout by some 100,000 workers. They won their pay claim for the introduction of the Dockers’ Tanner – a guaranteed rate of sixpence an hour – precipitating extensive unionisation across the sector.
It was against this backdrop that Labour Party founder Keir Hardie was invited to successfully
stand for election as MP for West Ham South. He represented the seat from 1892-1895.
women and equality East London continued to play a crucial role in the development of workers and women’s rights.
From 1914 until 1924, 400 Old Ford Road in Bow was the headquarters of the East London ederation f uffragettes , an organisation committed to getting women the vote and one based not far from where the match girls stuck their blow.
It was also the home of Sylvia Pankhurst and her fellow campaigner Norah Smyth as well as the location of their Women’s Hall – a radical social centre run largely by and for local working class women. This included a larger space with a capacity of up to 350 and a smaller hall for about 50 – all furnished with tables and benches made with wood from supporter George Lansbury’s timber yard.
When the First World War led to unemployment and rising food prices, the hall opened a restaurant serving hot meals at costprice with free milk for children. Having broken with her mother – Emmeline Pankhurst’s Women’s Social And Political Union – Sylvia and the ELFS used east London as a base. The group held marches through the neighbourhood, organised large public meetings, benefit concerts and parties as well as producing a weekly newspaper called The Women’s Dreadnought Other activities included opening a cooperative toy factory that paid a living wage to its female workers and even offered a cr che. hile the ’s name changed over the years it remained active until 1924. Today, the uffragettes’ activities are remembered in a mural on the side of the neighbouring Lord Morpeth pub.
It’s stories like these that Cody Dock’s Heritage Pavilion will help showcase in greater depth when it opens next year.
Additional research by Cody Dock’s Julia Briscoe key details
Cody ock offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities and runs regular events and activities aimed at engaging with the local community. ou can find out more at its Frost Fair event on Saturday, November 29, which is free to attend from noon-5pm. Go to codydock.org.uk
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