The radio station takes over the whole of Boisdale promising a full-venue explosion of soul, house and rare grooves. Two-course dinner packages available. Dec 28, 7pm-2am, £85, boisdale.co.uk
Where?
London Museum
Docklands Canary Wharf
SEE | By Appointment Only
This free display showcases the work of British Romani artists with pieces by Corrina Eastwood, Delaine Le Bas and Dan Turner. View anytime. Until Jan 31, 10am-5pm, free, londonmuseum.org.uk
MUSIC | Out Of O ce
Where? Amazing Grace Canary Wharf
The newly opened venue’s regular Friday o ering features disco, funk, soul and hip hop as well as a 3pm-6pm happy hour with £5 beers and £7 wine. Fridays, from 3pm, free entry, amazinggraceldn.com
at Canary Wharf-based AviadoBio and one of the people featured in Canary Wharf Group’s Where Ambition Lives campaign, dispelling myths about the estate aviadobio.com
Welcome to issue 151 of Wharf Life. Whether it’s festive entertainment, taking advantage of all The Wharf Pole has to o er (see Page 10), or taking inspiration from tales of ambition, musical achievement or innovation to bring new life into London’s black cabs, it’s all here over the coming pages...
Enjoy an epic hip hop dance retelling of A Christmas Carol as Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe serves up fashion icon Ebony Scrooge as Sadler’s Wells East stages its rst festive show in Stratford
The DLR is set to get an extension to Thamesmead in the budget
Oh yes it is. Peter Pan is back at Greenwich Theatre with a 10-year-old hook
on the radar
The avours and feel of Istanbul have arrived at Wood Wharf with the launch of Nora in West Lane. Find it on the corner of Union Square opposite Signorelli and expect plenty of lamb, sh, yoghurt, herbs, spices and cocktails for £9.50 nora.london
Jubilee Place recently saw the opening of Tashola, a jewellery store heavy on nugget-style gold-plated pieces, on its lower level. The brand, which also has a showroom at West eld Stratford City, sells earrings, rings, necklaces and more... tashola.com need to know
We take a look at homes in Prime Point on Greenwich Peninsula
the deals Buy a hot breakfast roll at Ole & Steen in Crossrail Place before Dec 19 and you’ll get a free 8oz hot drink at no extra cost. Access this o er via the Canary Wharf App oleandsteen.co.uk get more for less on and around the Wharf
subscribe to our Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly
Din Tai Fung in Crossrail Place is o ering guests booking its private dining room before Jan 31 a free bottle of sparkling sake to take home. Access via the Canary Wharf App dintaifung-uk.com
How Piano Piano Studio takes a bespoke approach to teaching kids to play and sing, complete with themed concerts so they can gain performing experience as their con dence grows
TRIED + TESTED
Cacao And Shrooms
Jenki jenki.co.uk
This high-end matcha latte from new Wharf arrival Jenki, on the lower level of Jubilee Place, did originally have a beautiful pattern on top, but we left it too long to snap the image. I guess it’s a zen reminder that all beauty is eeting, or something.
Marrying the green tea of the moment with spiced raw cacao and “brain boosting mushrooms” this drink is an economic heavyweight at £6.50 (about double what you’d pay for a co ee in Starbucks).
This enhanced matcha latte promises brain-boosting mushrooms in your tea for a punchy £6.50
Jenki says it uses a seven-mushroom blend that includes chaga, reishi, cordyceps and lion’s mane –none of which, incidentally, are clinically proven to have a bene cial e ect on the human body. The taste is deeply fungal with a hint of spice, as though someone has thinned a chai latte with mushroom broth. There’s a sense that this is a beverage brewed not for enjoyment but for function.
After an hour, despite an early morning before deadline, I unquestionably feel alert. Perhaps it’s the ca eine and the antioxidants. Maybe it’s the lion’s mane.
Jon Massey
Immigration Solicitors
you from the start
Our immigration team has earned its strong reputation for providing expert legal advice and practical support on a wide range of immigration issues. Trust us to help you make the right application. 020 7205 2896 kiddrapinet.co.uk
write me
words you don’t know you need
subscribe to our FREE Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly
verb, fake, from English
The act of jumping on a trend to market a product in a di erent way. The etymology of this word takes inspiration from foodstu s such as cheese and nuts, now heralded as high in protein to appeal to avid viewers of social media.
noun, real, from Gaelic
This archaic term for a practical joke, a loud noise or a surprise, is probably due a renaissance. It feels like a TikTok hashtag waiting to happen, perhaps one where after an initial mild shock the victim is rewarded with a pleasant gift...
NEW YEAR’S EVE
All-Inclusive NYE Party
Amazing Grace amazinggraceldn.com
Party like it’s the end of the rst half of the 21st century’s second decade with the latest live music venue to open in Canary Wharf.
Running from 7pm to 2am, 12 Bank Street is o ering dinner and dancing with tickets inclusive of all house drinks and selected cocktails, live bands until midnight and a DJ after. Tables of two including dinner start at £318, with packages for parties of up to 40 for £5,160.
Standing tickets for entry at 10pm are also available costing £84.80 and include drinks.
SCREEN TIME
Jingle All The Way (PG) Everyman Canary Wharf everymancinema.com
Sometimes a bit of silliness at Christmas is just what’s needed and Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad mug shamelessly through this holiday slapstick caper. Both play desperate fathers intent on securing a sold-out Turbo Man action doll to delight their kids as they
race around Minneapolis on Christmas Eve.
Expect mild comic violence as well as plenty of heart from a cast that also includes Jake Lloyd, Rita Wilson and James Belushi.
Catch it on December 20 at 10.45am. Adult tickets are £21 with kids costing £16.50.
COMING SOON
Canary Wharf - Rotherhithe Ferry
Canary Wharf Pier thamesclippers.com
While yet to be con rmed, news has reached us that Orbit Clipper – billed as the UK’s rst fully electric crossriver ferry – is set for its rst o cial run between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe from December 5.
Part of Uber Boat By Thames Clippers’ eet, the vessel has
been designed to self-dock at either end of its journey so it can charge while passengers and cyclists board. With zero tailpipe emissions, the system has the potential for use in other locations, o ering roll-on, roll-o transportation over the Thames.
The best way to get around London.
• Surge fees
• Booking fees
• Admin fees
• Green fees Just pay the meter fare!
how Third Space’s Recovery Memberships o er access to elite wellbeing treatments
by Jon Massey
...a warm, u y blanket is tucked around me as I sit back onto the Vibro-Acoustic Bed in a softly lit, curtained-o alcove at the Recovery Spa in Third Space Canary Wharf.
An eye mask blocks out the world and a comfortable pair of headphones are placed over my ears. My arms swaddled and, despite the calm explanation of what’s going to happen, I’m tense.
Then the programme starts. My ears ll with sound and the vibrations begin. Simultaneously, the bed tips back. Without my senses to guide me, it feels as though I’m falling into a void, the powerful waves of the bed confusing my sense of balance. Am I oating, descending, being immersed in something? I can’t tell.
But, snugly cocooned, there’s no fear. The wash of aural e ects – music, waves, white noise, at stately, low frequencies are brie y overwhelming before my brain stops trying to make sense of what’s happening and gives in to the incomprehensible balm of relaxation. My nervous system switches o and I lose track of time. After about 20 minutes the machine brings me round and I take a profound feeling of physical and mental relaxation with me as a I leave the spa...
You’ll sleep well tonight,” said Adele Rowley spa manager at Third Space Canary Wharf’s Recovery Spa as she helps bring me back to reality after my Vibro-Acoustic Bed treatment.
She’s right. I do. A solid, delicious, unbroken nine hours that same night – the result perhaps of the sheer intensity of the vibrations and carefully calibrated sounds. The treatment isn’t subtle, but its overwhelm is undoubtedly effective in my case.
“It’s my favourite too, because I find it difficult to turn my mind off,” said Adele. “I’m always on the go, but as soon as I’m on the bed it’s like the switch has been continued on Page 9
Recovery Memberships available at Third Space Canary Wharf’s Recovery Spa
Third Space’s Vibro-Acoustic Bed has multiple modes to address a range of issues
delivering more than
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Located next to South Quay DLR, our new campus offers state-of-the-art learning facilities.
Monthly sessions on the Vibro-Acoustic Bed included with the Recovery Plus Membership alongside unlimited cryotherapy and four red light therapy sessions
The spa offers a varied range of treatments to help Wharfers feel their best
The Recovery Spa has a medical grade red light therapy bed for 20-minute sessions
Cryo sessions last three minutes and start at £25
Images supplied by Third Space
from Page 6
flicked. As it tilts back and the waves of sound start to come through the headphones, it’s like you’re being submerged in the ocean. It really helps me relax and sleep.
“We’ve had members with terrible insomnia who are lucky if they get three or four hours a night. After 24 minutes on the bed they’ve had a full night’s rest – they’re blown away. Some fall asleep during the treatment itself.
“But it does more than that, we have lots of different programmes for people to try, including sessions focused on meditation, breathwork, sleep and even weight management.”
The bed’s blend of vibrations and sounds aims to activate the parasympathetic nervous system to boost rest and recovery, lowering levels of cortisol and promoting endorphin release.
In addition, the physical stimulation may help alleviate pain in the body and aid physical recovery after exercise.
The bed is one of three headline treatments that make up the core offering at Third Space Canary Wharf’s Recovery Spa. The others are facilities to deliver cryotherapy and red light therapy.
In response to demand from members, the largest luxury health club in Europe launched add-on Recovery Memberships for regular users and they’ve been a popular introduction.
“The standard Recovery Membership costs £115 per month and includes two sessions on the Vibro-Acoustic Bed, two under red light and two in the cryo chamber,” said Adele. “More people are opting for Recovery Plus, which includes four sessions of the first two treatments each month and unlimited cryo for £195. In practice you get a lot more for your money as people often like to do three minutes of cryo before they train.
“People feel energised, it helps them exercise for longer at a higher intensity.
“Then, once a week they might do all three treatments in a single day with cryo first for that buzz, then red light to calm everything down and then the Vibro-Acoustic Bed for relaxation.”
Cryotherapy cools the skin in a chamber chilled to around -85ºC with the aim of stimulating circulation, reducing inflammation and boosting oxygenated blood flow, all from a three-minute burst.
“Then there’s red light therapy, which is as much about prevention as it is about recovery,” said Adele. “We have a medical grade bed that emits three different wavelengths of light.
“They penetrate the body to
different degrees to help stimulate collagen production, boost energy in your cells and repair muscles to help them recover. Sessions last 20 minutes.
“Members who get regular treatments can also expect improved athletic performance, better sleep and reduced inflammation as well as a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. People have reported less soreness after exercise too.”
The spa also offers a wealth of other treatments, taking a broad definition of recovery as its core principle, with wellness in mind and body at the heart of the offering.
Adele said: “The introduction of the Recovery Memberships reflects the fact that Third Space isn’t just about training, it’s about preparing for it and what you do afterwards and how your feel.
“The spa continues to offer a range of treatments and therapies beyond the three above, including a wide range of facials, aesthetics, IV infusions and acupuncture.
“Like exercise itself, often the best results come through consistency. For example, we offer many massage treatments, but it usually takes a few sessions to work the lactic acid out of those muscles to help them relax.
“One of our most popular options at the moment is lymphatic drainage massage with both men and women choosing to explore the treatments we offer. The sessions aim to stimulate the lymph nodes to help clear excess fluid from areas of the body.
“The benefits include better movement in the body and greater flexibility. Things in our industry are always changing and developing. There are so many things I’d like to bring into the spa, as treatments become more connected to training. Watch this space”
key details
Third Space Recovery Spa is located at the main Canary Wharf club. Recovery Membership and Recovery Membership Plus cost £115 and £195 per month respectively and are available to Third Space members of any club, not just Canary Wharf.
All treatments are also available to non-members. Cryo starts at £25 for a taster session, red light at £50 for 20 minutes and VibroAcoustic Bed programmes are from £40.
Go to thirdspace.london
Scan this code to nd out more about the Recovery Spa
Spa manager Adele Rowley says the therapies and treatments the facility o ers have been designed to complement Third Space’s tness o ering
@GANDTEALOUNGE
LIVE MUSIC NIGHTS
Enjoy drinks at HAPPY HOUR prices all night long with live entertainment on selected Thursdays – Dec 4, 11 and Jan 29 – at G&TEA Lounge Buy One, Get One Free
Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
food, drink, home
Tru e Assortment, £30
The Grand 1875
Christmas Chocolate And Tru e Assortment is a great place to start celebrating Charbonnel et Walker Cabot Place charbonnel.co.uk
Glass Tree, £3.94
A shop lled with festive delights and scents, why not take this delicate, decorative object home and pair with fairy lights?
Sostrene Grene Jubilee Place sostrenegrene.com
how The Wharf Pole has everything you need to make the most of the season all across the neighbourhood
advertisement Feature
Gift Box, £65
This Sparkling Tea And Tru e Gift Box o ers an alcohol-free way to celebrate, with plenty of sweet treats Fortnum & Mason Canada Place fortnumandmason.com
Mini Panettone, £4.95
Arguably the most well known Italian festive treat, this delicacy makes the perfect sweet gift for friends and family Lina Stores Crossrail Place linastores.co.uk
This festive season The Wharf Pole transforms Canary Wharf into a celebration of holiday magic, bringing together seasonal pop-ups, in-store events, shopping evenings, winter dining experiences and festive fun for all ages. From indulgent treats and unique gifts to unforgettable experiences, there’s something
top spots
to make every moment merry, bright and full of festive cheer. As the weeks unfold towards Christmas and New Year, explore full events listings and gift ideas online. Go to canarywharf.com/thewharfpole
Scan this code to nd out more about The Wharf Pole
Champagne, £59
Stand out over the festive season by serving Bollinger Special Cuvee, a bottle aged much longer than required... Nicolas One Canada Square nicolas.com
Fir Tree Mug, £12 Elegant and understated, these porcelain mugs are the perfect vessel from which to enjoy a warming beverage. The White Company Jubilee Place thewhitecompany.com
beauty + wellbeing
Ice Rink Canary Wharf
Canada Square
The much-loved skating facility is back on the Wharf, with sessions available right through until February 22.
This year there’s a new refreshment area, more ice to skate on, upgraded lighting and even churros for those in need of a sugar boost before or after they hit the rink. Afterwards, the Oasis Bar stands ready to serve refreshments.
Tickets start at £13.95 or £49.95 for a family pass for four people. icerinkcanarywharf.co.uk
With
The Winter Pod.
Fully enclosing the craft, these transparent domes allow for epic views and simultaneous shelter. Cruises include complimentary mulled wine, blankets, throws and festive decor plus a Bluetooth speaker. Prices for two hours start at £179 depending on the slot booked. Boats take up to eight people. goboat.co.uk
That The Spirit Set, £92
A dark rum duo of eau de parfum plus a scented candle. Indulgent and rich on the nose.
Malin+Goetz Cabot Place malinandgoetz.co.uk
Luxury Halfeti Set, £250
Enjoy this iconic scent, lled with the fragrances of black rose, spice and grapefruit. Penhaligon’s Cabot Place penhaligons.com
Library Of Aromas, £145 Tacit eau de parfum is presented in two sizes for home and travel. Expect yuzu and basil.
Aesop Cabot Place aesop.co.uk
Sapin Small Candle, £42
Scented with pine, this candle promises a warm enveloping fragrance for timeless holiday spirit.
Diptyque Cabot Place diptyqueparis.com
Relief Cream, £21.90
Needly’s Cicachid Relief Cream is a lightweight Korean moisturiser that sooths and cools.
Pure Seoul (Opens Dec) Canada Place pureseoul.co.uk
Advent Calendar, £160
Delivering 12 days of fragrance, this o ering is packed with products (three full size) Space NK Cabot Place spacenk.com
GoBoat - The Winter Pod Churchill Place
temperatures plummeting, GoBoat has solved inclement weather over the winter with
diary dates
Marilyn Dress, £239 Hobbs - Canada Place hugoboss.com
wear it
Jo Malone Cabot Place
Join Jo Malone for its Festive Neighbourhood from Dec 4-6. Expect zz, mince pies and browse the brand’s luxurious Christmas collection jomalone.co.uk
The Winter Club
Union Square
Diptyque Cabot Place
Visit on December 11 and clients can enjoy a complimentary personalised bookmark (hand written in gold) with any purchases over £120 diptyqueparis.com
This new venue includes 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. There’s even a stall selling saucy hot dogs.
The Bierhaus and Chalet will both take walk-ins, while booking is advised for the Ice Bar. Guests for the latter are advised to dress warmly as it’s kept at -10ºC. thewinterclub.london
The Curling Club
John Lewis
Canada Square
Take the kids to Santa’s Tea Party, complete with Lego gifts for the little ones. Times vary over Dec 15-16, £20 for children and £7 for adults johnlewis.com
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf
Cabot Place
This venue has a truly packed festive programme over Christmas and New Year. Having just launched its Highland Lodge terrace which o ers heated tables and generous servings of fondue, there are also seasonal menus for lunch and dinner to explore.
Visitors can expect the sounds of the Rat Pack and plenty of festive cheer throughout December as well as a blockbuster New Year’s Eve celebration that’s certain to run on into the small hours. Book early to avoid disappointment. boisdale.co.uk
The oating restaurant at Wood Wharf has teamed up with The Curling Club to o er Wharfers something a bit di erent over the cooler months.
In place until February 28 – anticipating the Winter Olympics, 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. marceline.london
>> Find fabulous fashion throughout Canary Wharf’s malls, whether it’s serious style to rock at a festive party or comfortable casuals for a more relaxed feel...
Wrap-front jumpsuit, £239 Boss Cabot Place hugoboss.com
LKB London Pip Black Tweed Kilt Skirt, £149 LK Bennett Jubilee Place lkbennett.com
Teardrop Gemstone Stud Earrings, £55 Monica Vinada Jubilee Place monicavinader.com
Grisella Women’s Loafer, £89 Dune London Cabot Place dunelondon.com
Shawl-Collar Faux Fur Jacket, £199 Cos Jubilee Place cos.com
Cashmere Belted Cardigan, £160 Intimissimi Canada Place intimissimi.com
Hood Pu er Coat, £139.99 Mango Canada Place mango.com
The Pima Cotton Shirt, £65 TM Lewin Cabot Place tmlewin.co.uk
Marceline
how ride hailing app Jump is all about the simplicity of helping passengers find black cabs with no hidden costs
by Jon Massey
Remember when the main driver for those developing apps was function? Uber currently offers 11 different options for travelling between one location and another. For a sample journey of 16 minutes across east London, these range between £7.42 and £22.38, depending on what class of vehicle I wish to take, how long I’m prepared to wait and whether I’d like a “newer car with extra legroom”.
If I wish to travel with a pet, it’s £12.95. In 2025, choice is in fashion. At launch, the app only offered one option – a luxury vehicle, introducing the cheaper UberX later on to appeal to a bigger market.
It’s impossible to know how many options users might be expected to wade through by 2030. Any additions to the 11 already in place may offer services of benefit to niche groups. But will it be the passengers and drivers who ultimately pay an ever greater slice of the deal to swell the company’s revenue?
Against this backdrop, Jump offers Londoners a proposition that’s almost breathtaking in its simplicity.
Launched softly in January, the app has been growing its user base and allows anyone with a phone to tap into the existing infrastructure of 6,000 black cabs by digitally hailing them. That’s it.
There’s no surge pricing, no in-app payments, no multitude of options at various tariffs. You enter your destination, name, phone number and email address (for a receipt) and the job is then offered to the nearest registered driver who’s available.
When they accept the job, you can watch them on their way to pick you up. Then, when they arrive, it’s just as if you’d hailed a cab with an orange light on the street. You hop in, pay the meter fare in the cab and get out at your destination.
“It varies depending on time and location, but drivers typically accept a job within eight seconds and arrive between a minute or 90 seconds later,” said Lorenzo Bugliari. “It’s a quick, reliable service because the cab the job is offered to is usually just round the corner.
“It’s popular with drivers
We don’t charge surge fees, booking fees, admin fees or green ride fees. Passengers just pay the meter fare. We don’t charge drivers either Lorenzo Bugliari, Jump
because we don’t charge them a fee – they get the same as if they’d picked up a passenger who’d hailed them on the street.”
Lorenzo, it’s fair to say, knows taxis. Having spent more than 18 years selling black cabs to drivers for manufacturer LEVC, he left to join Taxiworld as director of its Jump app earlier this year.
“There are about 14,500 black cabs in London and more than 6,000 of those have our technology in them,” he said. “Taxiworld is a family-owned business that makes and sells systems for black cabs that allow them to take card and contactless payments using a terminal and an iPad.
“We’re known for reliability and customer service – we also offer drivers who use our system things like free front and rear cameras to help bring down their insurance premiums.
“Our aim is simple, to get more people into the back of black cabs using their services.”
While the majority of taxi apps on the market make their money by taking a cut of the fare paid to a driver, Jump is different.
By law, black cabs must be capable of taking card and contactless payments and Taxiworld, as an approved supplier by TfL, provides the necessary tech for free to drivers. In return it charges a percentage of the transaction fee, capped on larger fares. In essence, the app is just a tool designed to help more customers get into black cabs and make those transactions.
“The drivers love it,” said Lorenzo. “Other platforms are charging them huge amounts –between 15% and 20% – on the jobs they are supplying.
“When you factor in things like surge charging when apps are busy, passengers are sometimes being charged more than you’d pay on the meter in a black cab.
“We feel that’s unfair to passengers. We don’t charge surge
Jump isn’t a payment platform and charges no fees to passengers or black cab drivers
Black cab drivers using the Taxiworld system enabling them to accept fares via the Jump app
Taxiworld’s Lorenzo Bugliari is director of the Jump app
Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
Canary Wharf - West India
fees, booking fees, admin fees or green ride fees. If it’s raining or the trains are down, you won’t pay any extra. We also don’t charge cancellation fees for either the user or the driver.
“It’s about fairness to passengers and drivers and keeping black cabs on the road.
“If you’re a regular user, we believe you’re going to save money – you’re also getting the safety and reliability of a black cab, which are all wheelchair accessible.
“All new cabs since 2018 have been zero-emission capable. The drivers will have The Knowledge and they’ll always get around quicker than anyone else.
“Black cabs can also use bus lanes, which enables them to reach their destination significantly faster than other vehicles.”
Jump also offers services to businesses and is targeting restaurants, hotels and bars with a range of bespoke options to fit customers’ needs.
“We believe we can save organisations up to 40% and we’ll only ever charge for a service if there’s an operational cost,” said Lorenzo.
“We like to offer bespoke solutions because we don’t feel there’s a product that fits every company’s needs.
“Some want a card on file and others prefer a monthly account. We’re open to all of it.”
Jump is working to increase its passenger base across London with a particular emphasis on Canary Wharf. Since the pandemic footfall in the area has recovered to eclipse figures seen in 2019 with more than 70million people visiting each year and that trend is set to continue.
“My aim is to spread the word here,” said Lorenzo. “With more people using the app in Canary Wharf, word will spread among drivers that there’s more work coming out of that area and you’ll see an increase in the number of cabs ranking up.
“I want to see as many black cab drivers in the area as possible and people using the service. That can be through the app or just hailing the taxi on the street.”
key details
Jump is free to download and is available on both iOS and Android phones. The app itself is free to use with no payment information taken.
For more information and download links go to jump.london
Scan this code to nd out more about Jump
Around town: The app, above, is a free way to digitally hail a black cab
Black cab drivers are promoting the app in their vehicles
Images by Gabriel Bush / gabrielbushphotography except where stated
how Zopa has created a home for hundreds of staff in a part of the Wharf that’s set to blossom
by Jon Massey
Emily Dickens career began, as many do, with a desire to move to London. Having studied archaeology, her initial interest lay in the museum sector. But a friend from university had found a job at what was then peerto-peer lender Zopa – a startup that was looking for staff.
“I contacted them, went in for an interview and, an hour later, was looking for a flat in London,” she said. “That was the pace the business moved at back then and I think we still approach that today.
“At the time, I remember my mum saying I should wait for a better opportunity but I thought it was the right choice. I wanted to move to London and see what was out there.”
Today, Emily is head of people experience at Zopa, now a profitable challenger bank that recently relocated to 20 Water Street in Wood Wharf.
She’s among the individuals featured in Canary Wharf Group’s Where Ambition Lives campaign, which aims to tell the stories of remarkable people working on the estate that go beyond the stereotypes associated with the area.
So how did Emily go from working as a collections administrator – calling people up who’d missed payments on their loans to help them manage their debts – to working in a role at Zopa that she conceived and pitched to the company?
“After six months, I quickly moved into customers services and then on to managing that function,” she said. “I had a brilliant manager at the time to learn from and I continue to use what she taught me about running teams in my work today.
“When I started at Zopa, we were a business of about 30 people. Now we have 1,000 employees in multiple locations including Canary Wharf.
“I’d gone straight from university into work and hadn’t taken a gap year. I wanted to travel so I did that, visiting Australia, New Zealand and Bali – seeing a bit of the world on a sabbatical.
“While I was away, my boss continued on Page 27
building a for a bank
Square footage of Zopa’s new headquarters at 20 Water Street in Wood Wharf
Other images supplied by Zopa
Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
Visitors arriving at Zopa are greeted by soft greens and stylish, furniture
Zopa’s head of people experience, Emily Dickens, on one of the bank’s new terraces
Staff have been involved at every level of the fit-out
from Page 14
rang me up and asked me to come back and set up an HR department at Zopa.
“So, I returned and, in the first year, did everything in HR you can imagine – the full employee life cycle.”
With Zopa deciding to launch a bank, Emily continued to build her career alongside the operation before doing something a bit unusual.
“I decided to pitch my dream role to the business after my boss left,” she said. “I’d spent so much of my early career in HR, I got to figure out what I really loved and also the things I wasn’t so good at.
“Systems operation and data are not my bag – they are not where I excel and it’s not where the business gets the best from me. But I was also able to identify the things I loved and pitch them as the basis for the role of head of people experience to my new boss.
“She shared my vision that this was the right direction and started me off as people experience lead. I was then promoted to my current role after a year.
“While people experience is a relatively new concept, it enabled me to come to work every day feeling like I’m adding maximum value to the business.
“My latest boss has also supported me with my dream and vision – much of which has been focused on building this new workspace for Zopa in Canary Wharf.”
Arranged over the building’s upper levels, the bank has fitted out 45,000sq ft of space with facilities fit for its Zopians.
Designed by Thirdways, these include an internal central staircase, kitchens, breakout rooms, private work pods, a library and quiet spaces for prayer, breastfeeding and reflection. It’s a project Emily has been deeply involved with, as she works to make the business as employee-friendly as possible.
“I hope people see that it’s a total reflection and statement of intent of who we want to be in the future,” she said.
“When you look down from this window at the very traditional banks, there’s a feeling here that we’re doing something really different. We’re trying to build an effortless customer experience with products that maximises value for our customers.
“It’s an exciting time, and I’m really proud that we’ve been able to collaborate with Canary Wharf and bring Zopa here. After the idea was pitched to us by an agent, we looked at 20 Water Street and I felt it was worth putting my neck on the line and
500+
Employees are expected to use Zopa’s Canary Wharf headquarters
make a compelling argument that this was the space we needed to be in.
“When I brought the leadership team here, our CEO could see why. To get him over that hurdle – to look at the space and see its potential – made me feel very confident that it was the right thing to do and we could get to a place where we could sign the deal. The economics were also compelling. It would have cost us the same amount to remain in our existing offices in a very old building because of the maintenance issues. It was never a place where the company could have grown further.”
Located in Wood Wharf – an area that has recently welcomed the likes of Crate, Nora, Ong Lai Kopitaim, Cafe Seek and festive pop-up The Winter Club – 20 Water Street is now filled with Zopians settling into their new neighbourhood.
Emily said: “I don’t think people want what they once did from a workplace, so we didn’t want this design to feel like an office where you would just come and work.
“You’re also living your life while you’re here, so that time needs to be very enjoyable. If we can attract and retain great talent, the business can be very successful. When you look at the design – including elements such as a mothers’ room for example –it’s important to remember those parts of people’s lives don’t go away because they’re at work.
“They need to be able to come to this space and be happy here –as happy as they are at home.
“Our mission at Zopa is to create the home of money, but one of the things we thought about with regard to our office design was that we wanted it to be a place where our employees could grow and explore their ambitions too.
“Our London staff work at least two days a week in the office because human interaction is very important. It’s also important for our workers that we maintain balance.
“We did a great deal of staff engagement with this project. Before we signed the lease, we brought a group of about 30 Zopa influencers across and I took their views.
“There was nothing here for them to see at that stage, so we got a range of views about the area and the feel. When we decided to come here for definite, we brought over 300 employees for tours and got lots of feedback from that.
“The staff then chose the names for the floors and we also asked them what they wanted in there to make that part of their life at work continued on Page 28
Above, Zopa had an internal staircase installed in the building so employees don’t need to use lifts to move between floors. Below, one of the bank’s kitchens
Images supplied by Zopa
from Page 27
as comfortable as possible. It’s so important to get feedback from the people who will be working here. We hope what we’ve done here is a recipe for success.”
When asked what advice Emily would give other organisations considering a move to the Wharf, she said listening to the right people was key.
“I’d say consider every option, because Canary Wharf wasn’t on my radar originally,” she said.
“It was an expert in the field who came to me and told me there was something really special happening here.
“The prices were good, so commercially it works and also a neighbourhood that pairs favourably with the business. Being prepared to do something different is also important.
“Wood Wharf is amazing and we’ve been collaborating with the businesses here already. We’ve also done a lot of work to ensure staff find the more hidden parts of the estate. The fact we have the DLR, the Elizabeth Line and the Jubilee line all on the doorstep is great. I live in Woolwich, but this location is also fantastic for people coming in via Paddington too.”
As for Emily, she’s allowing herself a breath before making any plans for the future.
“I can’t think about what’s next until we’ve completely wrapped up the move and got our sign up,” she said. “Then I’ll probably take a moment, a pause. The bank has ambitions to continue our growth plans and build innovative products and hopefully create long-lasting relationships with our customers.
“We launched our Biscuit Bank Account earlier this year and we have more exciting things planned. The only way is upwards – we’ll see what happens next
“For now, I feel incredibly proud of what we’ve created – it’s a testament to the fact that my whole project team have worked unbelievably hard over the last 12 months to get us to this place.
“When you look at where we are now, you can see the journey that Zopa is on.”
key details
Zopa is based at 20 Water Street in Wood Wharf and offers a wide range of services including its Biscuit Bank Account. You can find out more about the bank on its website.
Go to zopa.com
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Years and 10 months, Emily has spent building her career at Zopa
Above, the new o ces include a library area for quiet work or study. Below, employees can make use of a multitude of breakout spaces and meeting rooms for work or relaxation
Ticket price to see The Snow Queen: A Woodland Adventure at The Albany £18.04
St Katharine Docks is set to host a pair of festive gigs on its oating pontoon
singing seasonal
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
KIDS | The Littlest Fir Tree
Enjoy a retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved tale, complete with puppetry, music and audience participation. For ages 2-7. Dec 13, 1pm, £9, halfmoon.org.uk
GIG | London Gay Men’s Chorus Step into the decadence and excess of the Great Gay Gatsby for an electrifying night inspired by the glamour, glitz and grandeur of the 1920s. Dec 19-20, times vary, £25.15, troxy.co.uk
STAGE | Potted Panto
how
the
sweet sounds of Olivia Swann are all set to ring out at Christmas Jazz On The Water gigs
by Jon Massey
St Katharine Docks is set to host a pair of festive concerts on the water in December. Headlined by singer Olivia Swann, backed by an ensemble of live musicians, Christmas Jazz On The Water will take place on the marina’s oating pontoon.
Audiences will be provided with blankets to keep them snuggled during the two-hour gigs, while mulled wine and a fully licensed bar
will provide extra opportunities to stay warm.
Olivia, a graduate of Berklee College Of Music, operates as an independent artist and has been mentored by the likes of James Fauntleroy, Rance Dopson and Rico Love. In uenced by performers such as Erykah Badu, Chet Baker and Amy Winehouse, she’s a songwriter in her own right as well as a performer. These two east London gigs will be keeping things traditional, however, with a mix of festive favourites and classic Christmas songs.
key details
Christmas Jazz On The Water is set to be performed over two dates – December 14 and 18.
The rst gig runs from 4.30pm-6.30pm and the second from 6.30pm-8.30pm. Tickets for both cost £18.04. Go to skdocks.co.uk for more information or to book tickets
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Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping
Returning for a third season in east London, audiences can expect an 80-minute romp through the world of panto from a pair of performers. Dec 3-Jan 3, times vary, from £16, wiltons.org.uk
Tom
has created Brahms Club, a free series of chamber concerts on Sundays at 2pm celebrating the music of the great composer. Book tickets for dates at the Royal Foundation Of St Katharine to attend brahmsclub.org
Cellist
Hosted
how Piano Piano Studio offers a personalised approach to teaching children to play music and sing
by Jon Massey
Piano Piano translates from the Italian as “softly, softly” and pretty much sums up Andra Kruka’s approach to teaching children to make music. As headteacher and founder of Piano Piano Studio, she’s spent nearly a decade in east London helping children develop their playing and singing skills as well as the joy of performing in public.
“I’m Latvian, from Riga, and I’m a classically trained pianist and harpist,” she said. “My musical education was pretty strict and, when I came to the UK, I saw a huge difference in the mentality of the approach taken here – I really liked that it’s a lot more focused on the personal interests of the children.
“Nobody is trying to turn them into professional musicians on the spot. By the time I had finished studying piano and harp, I felt burnt out, which is the downside of the East European method of teaching music. There’s a lot of pressure.”
After coming to the UK, Andra initially took a different path, studying business and management from 2013 and then working in marketing.
“But I realised that I really missed music, so I started researching the structure of education here,” she said. “Then I took my first steps into teaching and it’s grown from there.”
Today, Piano Piano Studio offers tuition in piano, guitar, violin, drums, singing, music theory and music production with lessons available in students’ homes or online.
“I always tried to find a balance between making sure the kids are engaged and delivering good results and that’s how I’ve developed the method we now use across all of our lessons,” said Andra. “We give a questionnaire to the families as a basis for our journey with them – this is to identify the child’s interests, likes and dislikes, favourite movies,things like that, so we can tailor the lessons to each child individually.
“Unlike some music schools where each teacher has their own approach, we ensure all our tutors are consistent in the line they are taking and adapting to each child’s needs.
“That’s important because the kids are all different. Some are
I
believe we are all born to be musical and everyone can nd their own way to express themselves through music
Andra Kruka, Piano Piano Studio
more visual, while others might learn by ear. Whether it’s by using different materials, exploring improvisation or using other techniques we can make sure every child is able to succeed.
“We might start the younger ones on the Associated Board Of The Royal Schools Of Music ABRSM or Trinity College exams, but think again when they get older. Instrumental practice might not be a priority later on, so we offer different options such as Rock School, where you can do keyboard certification with fun pieces and backing tracks.
“There’s always flexibility to find a personalised solution – parents might want their child to do the more traditional exams and we can find a compromise that keeps the pupil interested.
“I’m a teacher myself, but I’m also a methodologist, constantly researching different approaches and trialling new techniques to make sure we’re offering the best education possible.”
“Having a shared approach like this with all the teachers also creates a community feel, even though the lessons themselves are one-to-one.”
Bringing people together is important to Andra for a number of reasons. Piano Piano Studio currently teaches just under 60 children and regularly puts on concerts aimed at both entertaining the youngsters and giving them a platform to get used to performing themselves.
Andra said: “We had our first concert in 2018 – it was just my students at that time and it was Disney-themed. I wanted to make sure it was relevant to the children so that they could have fun and dress up as their favourite characters
“It was a great experience, everyone enjoyed it, and since then we’ve organised several more including events at The Space on the Isle Of Dogs and through them
Andra founded Piano Piano Studio nearly 10 years ago to help children learn to play music
Cost of an adult ticket to Piano Piano Studio’s next concert at The Space. Kids’ tickets cost £8
Above, Piano Piano Studio uses a wide range of ways to engage children
Concerts feature performances and fun activities
learning
at Crossrail Place Roof Garden in collaboration with Canary Wharf Group.
“Then we came up with a new concept when I saw a huge demand and interest from families. We now open up slots from external players as well alongside offering fun activities.
“Our next concert will be The Polar Express at The Space on December 14. There will be student and guest performances, face painting, balloon modelling, a magic show, games with the audience and a special guest.
“It’s a fun environment and it’s a chance for the children to get on stage in an easygoing environment. I feel that the earlier musicians do this and have a positive experience, the easier they will find performing.
“Learning an instrument can be a lonely activity, because you have to practise by yourself. Having these group gatherings where they can be with other children in the same boat and can see different levels as well is so important. We go from Twinkle Twinkle Little Star up to pieces for grades seven and eight.
“At the end we intend to have a performance by a professional pianist so that children can see what the instrument can do.
“These things can be inspirational. The children who perform get a certificate and receive applause.
“In some cases they might only have had a few lessons but they don’t have to wait years to touch a grand piano on stage.
“The concerts are big family events, and anyone can come, so, afterwards, we get loads of requests from the parents of new students.
“I believe we are all born to be musical and everyone can find their own way to express themselves through music.”
key details
Piano Piano Studio’s next concert
–
The Polar Express – is set to take place at The Space on the Isle Of dogs on December 14 from 11am.
Tickets cost £10 for adults and £8 for children. These can be booked via email to admin pianopiano.uk.
In-home lessons cost £52 per hour with a visiting teacher or £42 for online sessions. However, Andra and the team work out an appropriate lesson length with parents which is often less that 60 minutes, especially for younger kids and beginners.
Go to pianopiano.uk/polar-express for more information
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what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
TRY | Crochet With Janki
Stitch that yarn with this class suitable for complete beginners or those looking to refresh their skills. Learn to read patterns and select the right materials. Dec 10, 6pm-7.30pm, £3, poplarunion.com
GIG | Pet Deaths
Enjoy mulled wine while listening to songs from the alt folk duo’s latest album, The Window (Part One). Expect support from Sorrel. Dec 12, 7pm, £5.74, theatreship.co.uk
STAGE | Baubles & Chaos + Carols & Candlelight Book both of these festive shows at The Space on consecutive days and save £4. One’s queer drag cabaret, the other a celebration of warm re
Piano Studio
One of the school’s concerts at Crossrail Place Roof Garden
The next concert will take place at The Space
Standard cost of entry to Roller disco at Deptford Lounge, which returns in 2026
These events are for skaters of all abilities to hit the rink, dance, glide or stumble round the circuit
get ready to
how Deptford Lounge is gearing up for a year of Roller Disco , with kids able to showcase slick skills
by Jon Massey
One for the kids to plan and ideal for anyone set to get a new pair of roller skates over the festive period – Deptford Lounge is gearing up for the return of its monthly roller disco in the New Year.
The venue’s main hall invites skaters to whizz or stumble around the rink to a playlist of disco classics lit by funky lights. Participants should bring
their own skates although protective equipment will be provided. All skaters proceed in the same direction around the rink to minimise chances of collision.
Deptford Lounge’s cafe will be open for refreshments, but sessions are strictly alcohol free.
The venue aims to put on a relaxed event suitable for all abilities for those just getting used to eight wheels or already con dent gliding round the oor.
key details
Deptford Lounge’s Roller
Disco is set to take place on the third Thursday of the month from January 15. Sessions run from 6pm-9pm with last entry at 8pm. Tickets cost £8 with skaters welcome to pay £5 or £10 depending on their means. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Go to deptfordlounge.org.uk for more information
Scan this code to nd out more or to book tickets
Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
Where?
The Albany Deptford
COMEDY | The Albany Comedy Night
Chantael Nash hosts established acts and rising stars at the regular evening of stand-up. The bill has yet to be nalised so check the website for updates. Dec 18, 7pm, £13, thealbany.org.uk
Where? Badger Badger Deptford
EVENT | Pokemon TCG League Challenge
The venue’s agship event for fans of the Pokemon Trading Card Game returns with participants invited to bring their Regulation G cards or higher. Dec 21, 10.30am-4pm, £12.50, badgerbadger.org
Where?
The Brunel Museum Rotherhithe
FILM | The Muppet Christmas Carol (U) Watch the puppet classic in the Thames Tunnel, a facility that opened in 1843, the same year Dickens wrote the story that inspired the lm. Dec 17, 6.30pm, £15, thebrunelmuseum.com
festive fun
Suitable for kids aged 3-8, The Snow Queen: A Woodland Adventure – telling the story of a pair of mice, Gerda and Kai – is set for a series of performances in December at The Albany. Tickets cost £14 thealbany.org.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about the production or to book tickets at The Albany
by Jon Massey
Anthony Spargo is relishing a weekend off. The veteran villain, panto writer and performer is enjoying a 48-hour period of calm before the onslaught of final tech run-throughs and then opening night for the latest festive show to flow from his pen at Greenwich Theatre.
This year’s show – which kicks off on November 28 with two performances most days until January 11 – is in some senses all about the passage of time and how we adapt as we age.
Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure is again written by Anthony and sees him take the venue’s stage for a 12th season as the main antagonist.
“Captain Hook and King Rat are the two best villains in panto,” he said. “I’ll be using the same hook I wore at Greenwich when we did Peter Pan about a decade ago to play the former. I’ve kept it safe all these years just in case the Captain was ever set to appear again and – lo and behold – he has.
“It’s a really good one, made of metal with a leather surround, and it’s brilliant to point with and threaten people. It makes you feel a little bit evil, which is delicious and the fact I get to wear a really enormous hat helps too.
“The show contains the juxtaposition of the boy who never grows up and Captain Hook who’s afraid of growing old and the passing of time. Without getting too dark, it’s about the inevitability of death.
“Writing the show is about balancing those two things out – it’s a really interesting subject and a theme to play around with in panto.
“The story follows the search for the secret of Peter’s eternal youth. Hook is hell bent on finding it out. He and henchman Smee discover a map to a location that may well be the source of Peter’s power – so of course he’s obsessed with finding the X that marks the spot.
“Naturally, Peter, Tinker Bell, Wendy and all the rest of the Lost Boys are there to try to stop him – but will they be successful?
“Then as a writer it’s about getting the mix right. Hopefully it’s a really fun show and anyone who’s familiar with our pantos won’t be disappointed.
“Things, as always, get slightly bizarre in act two – we always try and take the audience somewhere completely unexpected.
“The first half is always about setting up and introducing the characters. When that process is complete, you can start to really have fun.”
The main character energy is duly divided up with Samuel Bailey returning to Greenwich as Peter Pan after a successful stint as the titular Dick Whittington last year.
As usual, the creative team of James Haddrell as director and “Uncle” Steve Markwick as musical director will be working tirelessly to ensure the theatrics and songs land with audiences.
“We’re thrilled to have Sam back
because he’s just such a natural panto performer,” said Anthony. “It’s in him –he knows how to deliver the material and just how to pitch it for all the family.
“He’s got a great voice and he can dance too – he’s a fantastic all-rounder –and he’s playing youth, imagination and adventure.
“In contrast, I’m getting on in years now and I’m starting to feel that on stage, which is a good fit for Captain Hook –although like a fine wine I’m just getting better with age.”
The hero and villain both have their team of backers with Olivia Williamson taking on the role of Tinker Bell.
Anthony said: “Tink is there for the kids. Her lines are full of Gen-Z slang, which has been great fun. I didn’t understand half of it, but
“My brother’s eldest daughter has just turned 14, so she’s just the right age to help me out. It’s all gobbledegook to me, but she’s been translating when we Google the slang and I think younger kids will really get it.
“As Peter mirrors Hook, Tinker Bell mirrors a character called Starkey, who’s played by Paul Critoph who was last in Greenwich panto nearly 10 years ago in Cinderella. He’s a salty old sea dog who’s wise but perhaps one step behind everybody else.
“There’s great fun to be had by bringing a full spectrum of ages on stage and having a laugh with that.”
Also on Hook’s piratical crew, Louise Cielecki returns to the Greenwich stage as Anthony’s hapless sidekick.
“She’s playing Smee – there was no other role for her,” he said. “We get on so well and we enjoy performing together.
“We tune into each other quite quickly and can half-guess what each other will be doing on stage.
“It’s great fun to be mucking about and improvising with her again. When I was writing it, I had her in mind and she’s brilliant at it, playing the bumbling buffoon albeit with an amazing singing voice. She’s a great all-rounder too.
“At Greenwich the panto just gets bigger and bigger every year. For me, when I’m writing it, it’s always about entertaining the audience – I always have one eye on what I think they’ll enjoy. That’s true for Uncle Steve and James too.
“We really want to give people a good time over Christmas. People can forget their worries for a couple of hours and escape to the magical realm of the panto, which this year happens to be Neverland.
“We have some fantastic sets including an amazing pirate ship. The Jolly Roger is there in full splendour – it’s one of the largest sets we’ve ever had.
“As an actor, it’s the kind of set you can’t wait to get on board and be a bit silly on. We’ve been in tech rehearsals for the show with full lighting, pyrotechnics, puppetry and sound – the whole works.
“Even when we have a bit of time
creating eternal
how Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure promises pirates, Gen-Z slang and a bumbling Smee as Anthony Spargo takes on a classic
Pantos do allow me to release my inner child. You’re writing this zany, mad stu and you have to resort to your childhood and imagination to do that well
Anthony Spargo, Greenwich Theatre
off, the stage crew don’t rest. They are still there, tinkering, fixing, mending, building and tweaking things.
“We have an incredible team and it’s great to hear Uncle Steve alongside guitarist Gordon Parrish and Chris Wyles on drums back together again – they’re sounding great.”
While the show promises a whole imaginary world of fun, flight and nonsense, there’s also a message in all the madness.
“Not all pantos have morals we should take to heart,” said Anthony. “Take Dick Whittington, for example. That’s a story that’s all about solving your problems by becoming rich and famous.
“I didn’t think that was a very good thing to be teaching kids, so we changed it. Our hero was there to save the day by defeating King Rat who had a plan to take over the world.
“In contrast, Peter Pan is about growing older, the passage of time, age and how we deal with all of that. The messages are really strong.
“Pantos do allow me to release my inner child. You’re writing this zany, mad stuff and you have to resort to childhood and imagination to do that well.
“They’re for all ages – from two to 102 – and it’s family entertainment, but I don’t tend to write stuff that patronises the kids who come. You don’t need to talk down to them.
“There will be references the young people don’t get and probably some the older members of the audience can’t understand too – especially Tinker Bell’s slang. But in the end, I hope everyone leaves feeling thoroughly entertained.”
Anthony has already begun work on next year’s show, but Wharf Life has been sworn to secrecy on the title, which won’t be revealed until December 5.
“What I can say is that I’m already noting down ideas for the scenes in it,” said Anthony. “What I really enjoy about the writing process is taking those 100 things and then seeing how 20 of them fit together like a puzzle to make up the story.”
Until then we’ll just have to settle for his ridiculous headgear.
key details
Peter Pan: A New Pantomime Adventure is set to run at Greenwich Theatre from November 28 all the way through until January 11. Performance times vary but there are frequently two shows a day. Tickets cost £43.50 for adults and £22.50 for children under 16. For more information go to greenwichtheatre.org
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a new version of Peter
and returns as Captain Hook in this year’s
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
GIG | Stereophonics
The Welsh rockers bring their disarmingly honest No Hit Left Behind tour to London for all those who enjoyed the likes of Just Looking. Buying? Dec 18, 6.30pm, from £54, theo2.co.uk
| An Audience With Arthur Smith The comic and performer joins BBC broadcaster Georgy Jamieson for a candid, unscripted chat about his life on the alternative scene. Jan 12, 7.30pm, £41.50, greenwichtheatre.org.uk GIG | Green Matthews: Gaudete! Expect lush, rich and heart warming festive tunes from a decade of Christmas shows as this folk out t bring a toe-tapping setlist to Blackheath. Dec 6, 7.30pm, £20, blackheathhalls.com
Get into the festive spirit with this family ballet show. A Christmas Wish is set stage three performances a day on December 14, 19, 20, 21 and 22 in Woolwich with tickets costing £13.20. Expect elves and snow woolwich.works
Scan this code to nd out more about A Christmas Wish at Woolwich Works or to book tickets
Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
villain: Anthony Spargo has written
Pan
panto
Peter Pan
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
EVENT | Into The Night
Where?
Art In The Docks Royal Albert Dock
Join the Royal Docks community at Art In The Docks for a magical celebration of light in the dark winter night complete with lantern parade and brass band. Dec 13, 2.30pm-6pm, free, artinthedocks.com
Where?
Excel London
Royal Victoria Dock
EVENT | London International Horse Show Watch driving, dressage and show jumping with ve days of all things equestrian at Excel this winter plus dog agility and country lifestyle exhibitors. Dec 18-22, 9am, from £21, londonhorseshow.com
Where? Tate Institute North Woolwich
EVENT | REinsTate Christmas Party And Panto This celebration, complete with mince pies and festive music, features a community panto titled Little Bo Peep Gets Shut In (not pictured). Dec 20 , 5pm-9pm, free, royaldocks.london
ash back
Cody Dock is set to host its latest Frost Fair on November 29 from noon-5pm – a celebration of the River Lea and east London – as it prepares for the launch of its Heritage Pavillion next year codydock.org.uk
Scan this code to read Wharf Life’s piece on the outsize contribution east London has made to UK social history
£1.7bn
Forecast cost of extending the DLR to Thamesmead via Gallions Reach and a new station at Beckton Riverside
An artist’s impression of Peabody’s Southmere scheme as the housing association works to regenerate Thamesmead. The area could soon be served by the DLR
how east and south-east London may get a new DLR link as Reeves is set to back Thamesmead extension plans
by Jon Massey
Successful regeneration in east and south-east London is so often based on transport. Canary Wharf’s prosperity is largely down to the arrival of the Jubilee line extension in 2000.
The relatively recent introduction of the Elizabeth Line has seen its trains become the most used in the UK, delivering unexpected connections all across the capital.
But before Woolwich welcomed its purple livery, it was the DLR that bought that quarter of the Royal Borough Of Greenwich across the Thames and within easy travelling distance of Canary Wharf and the City.
If reports about this budget are to be believed – and that’s a relatively tricky subject given the sheer number of policy kites that have been flown – this part of London could well be in for another major change.
Treasury sources and Greenwich Council are both convinced that Rachel Reeves will find £1. billion to back TfL’s plan to extend the DLR from Gallions Reach station under the river to Thamesmead.
Backed by the Mayor Of London, Sadiq Khan, the proposal could significantly cut journey times for residents and unlock land for 25,000 new homes, supporting some 10,000 jobs.
“I’m really pleased that the Government is backing the DLR extension to Thamesmead, something I’ve long called for
alongside London’s businesses and communities,” said Sadiq.
“The project is a win-win and a massive vote of confidence in London. It will not only transform travel in a historically underserved part of the capital but also unlock thousands of new jobs and homes, boosting the economy not just locally but nationally.”
Thamesmead, already served to some degree by the Elizabeth Line at Abbey Wood, is currently undergoing enormous change as housing association Peabody builds big.
TfL’s plans include a tunnel under the Thames linking Royal Docks directly with the other river bank with scope for a further extension to the line in the future. Under its 2024 scheme, a new station called Beckton Riverside, will also be built on the new branch on the alternative route to the current terminus at Beckton.
While it’s not immediately clear when the extension will happen, the build is likely to be some years away with many transport schemes in this part of London significantly delayed and delivered over-budget.
key details
You can view TfL’s proposals and their projected impact, drawn up in 2024, on its website Go to tfl.gov.uk for more information
Scan this code to nd out more about the proposals
why Ebony Scrooge is a show with deep east London roots that aims to inspire over the festive season
by Jon Massey
Iknew I was going to be a dancer from the age of three,” said Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe. “I was dancing on a table on my dad’s birthday and I told him. He’s a DJ and a producer and he was supposed to go out and play that night, but I wouldn’t stop dancing or go to bed.”
Growing up in Stratford and Maryland, Rhimes loved music, painting and creativity and “always danced” despite being extremely shy.
“I was fascinated by storytelling and the concepts involved in telling stories,” she said. “I was a teenager when I really got into dance.
“A man named Kenrick Sandy, who’s now co-artistic director of Boy Blue, came to my school when he was about 18 and did freestyle in assembly and I thought: ‘That’s what I want to do’. Then he came to teach classes and eventually held auditions for a community dance group for different schools in east London.
“There were loads of us and I remember the day clearly – I was scared but I really knew I wanted to do it and it would change my life.”
After successfully auditioning, Rhimes’ started performing with the group, going on to take part in Sadler’s Wells’ Breakin’ Convention festival in Islington.
“It was the biggest stage I’d ever been on – it was terrifying,” she said. “I grew up at a time where there was no-one to aspire to be. We had music videos with dancers in the background, but that’s as far as the vision went.
“Being at that festival was a big learning curve, but watching the other artists – global performers coming over from different places – made me think there was more out there.
“ I was one of the first from my circle of people who dared to step outside the east London barrier –who went out to participate, to see what was there. I wasn’t a trained dancer, I didn’t go to college to do ballet and jazz.
“We learnt in community centres, without mirrors, with crash mats – things weren’t o cial. I just wanted to explore the possibilities.”
Her talents won her a place at the ZooNation Training Academy, another appearance at Breakin’
Convention and then three years in the cast of hip-hop show Into The Hood in the West End.
Today, having spent much time working with Boy Blue and ZooNation she’s risen to become associate artistic director of the latter, an artist working in a range of disciplines and is the driving force and choreographer for the first ever festive show at Sadler’s Wells East.
Ebony Scrooge is a production with a story inspired by Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, with performances running from November 26 until January 4.
“When I initially came on to this stage of making work a number of years ago, I wasn’t really a participant in Christmas,” said Rhimes. “I’d distanced myself from it when there were some family dynamics that weren’t great.
“But when I was asked if I wanted to do this as a Christmas show, I felt I was in a healing spot, so it aligned perfectly. A Christmas Carol is a story I would watch with my grandmother, so that was my choice and the show was dedicated to her and some other women who occupy that position.
“It’s a story made in Christmas time rather than a story about Christmas. I pulled back from Christmas when my grandmother had a stroke, because my definition of Christmas was that I would spend time with her.
“It wasn’t about presents, it was about having that family connection. She developed dementia after the stroke and now doesn’t know who I am.
“That journey was quite painful and things were never going to be the same. I’m really grateful for this show, because it’s helped me heal and see my grandmother and just honour that she is here, which is a very beautiful thing.”
The show is billed as a bright and bold adaptation of Dickens’ tale blending hip hop, comedy and physical theatre, featuring music from Michael ‘Mikey J’ Asante.
Rhimes said: “I have made an original story inspired by A Christmas Carol. There’s a big fashion element to it. Ebony Scrooge is an icon at the top of her game. She’s a black female protagonist – the opposite of Ebenezer Scrooge.
“She goes on a journey of finding identity, heritage and what is important. We’re in a time when things are very different,
Starting price to see Ebony
booking fee
a di erent kind of
Scrooge at Sadler’s Wells East, excluding
Rhimes is the driving force behind the East Bank venue’s rst Christmas show
Image by Amy Cook
It’s London and it’s vibrant, it’s colourful and it’s Christmas. Audiences can expect high energy, laughter, comedy and also weight and emotion
Rhimes, ZooNation
but resonate with multitudes of people, whether they celebrate Christmas or not.
“Even if you spend Christmas alone, as I have done, there’s something of self-love and acceptance.
“Audiences can expect high energy, fun, laughter, comedy – all those things – and also weight and emotion, going to deep and vulnerable places.
“It’s London and it’s vibrant, it’s colourful and it’s Christmas, but then we transition into the stark monochrome world of Ebony, and the difference between the world she has created and the world that’s on the outside, and how that affects how people show up, or don’t.
“We’re brought into the relationship between Ebony and her niece and its dysfunction. Her desire to put career first and shield herself with barriers and boundaries. There’s a disconnect there. So she goes on the journey and has three visitations.
“Instead of the cliché people know there’s a bit of rewiring of the storytelling, there are bits that are scary and bits that are absolutely hilarious.
“If you’re only going to the one show, then this is the show you want to see.
“It’s for the child who can’t stop moving – for them to be inspired and to go after what they can’t stop dreaming of.”
key details
Ebony Scrooge is set to run at Sadler’s Wells East from November 26 until January 4. Ticket prices start at £15 plus a £4 booking fee.
Performances take place at 7.30pm or 2.30pm matinees on selected days during the run.
The venue’s Park Kitchen & Bar will be serving a festive three-course set menu over the Christmas period priced at £35 per person. Go to sadlerswells.com for more information
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XMAS | Festive Spark
Part of the park’s series of 24 Xmas events, this procession through Stratford Cross will feature a performance from Sparks Drummers plus a session with Santa. Dec 18, 6pm, free, queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk
XMAS | Festive Spark
If drummers aren’t your style, why not try soccer with Santa? This event welcomes families to the Baller League pitch for a kickaround and festivities. Dec 23, 6pm, free, queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk
COMEDY | Shoot From The Hip The improvised comedy group return to east London for the festive season promising chaotic games, epic scenes and unhinged happenings. Dec 18, 8pm, from £19, stratfordeast.com
This year’s panto at Stratford East, Mama Goose, is co-written and directed by Vikki Stone and Tonderai Munyevu, with performances running until Jan 3. Tickets start at £10 but are selling fast
Ebony Scrooge
The cast and creative team behind Ebony Scrooge are hard at work in rehearsals
Rehearsal images by Helen Murray
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Notes
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