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inside issue 172
How to learn Oh Well by east London born Peter Green Page 10
McDonald’s - Third Space - Thameside West Black Limehouse Lives - Crosswords - Autechre Chris Ezekiel - Jasmin Kahlia - Coco Di Mama London Design And Engineering UTC Sudoku - Deptford Northern Soul Club PARTY SEASON 2026 - Pages 11-33
dancing in the how Dickson Mbi’s latest work at Sadler’s Wells East takes him back to Stratford and the Cameroon Pages 50-51 Call our team on 020 7205 4021 or email cmiller@kiddrapinet.co.uk, Image by Foteini Christofilopoulou
ypatel@kiddrapinet.co.uk or mzvarykina@kiddrapinet.co.uk celebrating the best of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the new east London people - events - treasure - property - foolishness
Fast, affordable, conveyancing services Call our team on 020 7205 4021 or email cmiller@kiddrapinet.co.uk, ypatel@kiddrapinet.co.uk or mzvarykina@kiddrapinet.co.uk
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things to do, places to go, people to see Where? Everyman Canary Wharf Canary Wharf
FILM | Donnie Darko 25th Anniversary (15) Jake Gyllenhaal plays the lead troubled teen plagued by an imaginary six-foot rabbit named Frank who predicts the imminent end of the world. Still odd. Nov 1, 8.45pm, £20.10, everymancinema.com
Welcome to issue 172 of Wharf Life. Whether it’s Black History Month, getting in shape, planning those parties or sitting down with your guitar and figuring out east London-born musician Peter Green’s timeless riff, this issue is packed with ideas. There’s even time for a cheeseburger...
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The robots are coming... The Wharf is getting a fleet of Delivery bots
Where? Potato Art Studio Charter Street
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CRAFT | Autumn Special Pottery Class In celebration of Halloween, Wharfers are invited to make their own ghost tealight holders or pumpkin jewellery plates. Classes last 2.5 hours. Oct 21-30, times vary, £55, potatoartstudio.co.uk
Why strength training is so important. We talk to Third Space’s Will Pate
Where? London Museum Docklands West India Quay
KIDS | Fairy Tales Gone Bad Author, poet and former Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, transforms old stories into new and offers tips on crafting yarns. Suitable for ages 7+ Oct 27, 1pm, free (ticketed), londonmuseum.org.uk
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It’s a few short weeks until the start of the festive season and venues across Canary Wharf, east London and Docklands are taking bookings. Here are some of the best for your consideration..
flash back
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Kitchen Jam teaches us the riff to Oh Well and a bit about Peter Green
the joy of six
34 The annual BGC Charity Day raised $16million for good causes in memory of 9/11 victims. This year, BGC also used it as a call to action for all businesses that don’t donate to charities to take action bgcg.com Scan this code to read Wharf Life’s interview with BGC Group co-CEO Sean Windeatt at wharf-life.com want more? @wharfwhispers
Canary Wharf Group marks Black History Month with a quartet of murals
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It’s back. McDonald’s has reopened at Billingsgate after a 12-year wait
Every issue Wharf Life covers six areas surrounding Canary Wharf to bring you the best of what’s going on beyond the estate From Page 42
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Canary Wharf - West India Quay
on the radar
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get more for less on and around the Wharf
£1
It’s been a big fortnight for openings on the Wharf with Bamboo Mat the latest restaurant and bar to arrive at Wood Wharf. Arranged elegantly over two floors, the venue serves Nikkei cuisine, a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese cooking bamboo-mat.co.uk
Visit Atis in Canada Place before Oct 25 for breakfast (until 10.30am) and get a coffee for £1 with any breakfast item bought. Access via the Canary Wharf App canarywharf.com
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We talk construction and teaching with the LDEUTC’s Saad Farooq
£5
Looking a little less than snatched? Facegym offers facial workouts including electrical stimulation and a wealth of other treatments at its newly opened studio in Cabot Place. Expect to be massaged by a squishy but firm red ball as part of the process facegym.com
TRIED + TESTED Vegan Lentil Ragu Coco Di Mama cocodimama.co.uk
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We look at what Black Lives Limehouse will offer visitors
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There’s not much to grumble about with this little pot, especially at the inflation-basing price of £8.90 as part of a meal deal
Coco Di Mama’s £6 lunch club really is a pretty sweet deal. The main course (typically a pasta or a flat bread) comes in at something over a fiver and then you get the option to add a drink and side for just a little bit more. Choosing the Vegan Lentil Ragu, I opt to pimp my luncheon with a box of Herby Hash Bites and a San Pellegrino Limonata. The only real criticism comes when popping the top off what appears at first to be quite a small tub of pasta and sauce. Presentation isn’t Coco’s strong suit, but the container has hidden
depths and what seems like a forest of basil leaves quickly disappears. Coco is big on generosity, it seems and there’s considerably more than a fine dusting of Gran Formaggio Cheese (a little like the bread bread of pitta bread) to contend with. No complaints here though and the herby tater tots (or whatever variation on a theme we’re dealing with) are also predictably moreish. Similar to Pizza Pilgrims, Coco might not exactly be Italian by blood, but it does reasonable food. ★★★★✩ Jon Massey
Choreographer, dancer, composer and musician, Dickson Mbi tells us what it’s like to go full circle as he brings Tellus to Sadler’s Wells East close to where he grew up
Head to Marugame Udon in Cabot Place before Oct 31 and get £5 off a Chilli Crisp Beef or Chicken Udon to celebrate autumn. Access via the Canary Wharf App canarywharf.com
Immigration Solicitors
With 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 AY L ES B URY
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Canary Wharf - West India Quay
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words you don’t know you need
autonation noun, fake, from US English subscribe to our FREE Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly
The practice of slowly replacing the functions of a country and its population with machines that carry them out autonomously and without prompt so nobody has to concern themselves with the tedious business of life
latibulate verb, real, from Latin
Dating from the early 1600s, this is the action of hiding oneself away in a corner or retreating to a secluded safe space, you know, from the process of auntonation (see above). Fortunately we can now order-in via bot to such refuges for survival
diary dates, listings and ideas to make life in Canary Wharf sweeter..
Guitar lessons rooted in musical connection and community.
BOOK YOUR FREE TRIAL GUITAR LESSON 8 East Lane, Harbord Square, Canary Wharf, E14 9PQ @KITCHENJAMOFFICIAL
The jeweller and fine watch retailer has opened its latest boutique in Canary Wharf’s Canada Place. Wharfers hunting everything from engagement rings to necklaces are welcome to browse its displays as the 165-year-old brand sets out its offering. Expect brands such as Omega, Breitling, Chanel, Seiko, Doxa, Zenith, Raymond Weil and Tudor among many others.
The ever-popular National Theatre Live screenings continue at the Crossrail Place venue with Josh O’Connor leading the cast in this tale of a gifted young violinist with a promising future lured into the world of professional boxing by the bait of fame and fortune. But will he choose music or sport? Olivier Award-winner Sam Yates directs. Catch it on November 5 at 7pm for £30.50.
MADE TO PLAY GUITAR
KITCHENJAM.COM
NOW OPEN Chisholm Hunter Canada Place chisholmhunter.co.uk
SCREEN TIME Golden Boy Everyman Canary Wharf everymancinema.com
07700 177353
ROBOTIC RISE Deliveroo Across Canary Wharf deliveroo.co.uk The bots have arrived. Following trials on the streets of Greenwich years ago, semi-autonomous food delivery vehicles are set to make their journeys across the Canary Wharf estate over the next 12 months. Operated as a partnership between Coco Robotics and Deliveroo, the bots will travel at walking pace on pavements with brands such as Signorelli, Beam and Patty&Bun making use of them initially. Later on, the service area is set to be expanded to Ole And Steen, Royal China and Din Tai Fung as the scope of the project widens. Jacinta Rowsell, managing director of Operations at CWG said: “It’s exciting to be the first UK launch for Coco and Deliveroo’s autonomous delivery partnership. Canary Wharf is built on an ambitious vision, one which supports and encourages growth and innovation and our partnership with Coco is a great example of this.”
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Get Dance From Every Angle
21 - 24 Oct 26
Hidden
Motionhouse
TELLUS Dickson Mbi Company
4 - 7 Nov 26
The Last Hamlet
27 - 31 Oct 26
HUMANHOOD Returning after the sell-out ∞ {Infinite}
Lost Dog / Ben Duke
10 - 14 Nov 26
Stratford sadlerswells.com
Rhythm unravels. Gravity dissolves. Energy converges.
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Years and seven months since Will Pate joined Third Space. In that time he’s worked his way up to become the brand’s master trainer in strength and conditioning for group exercise Third Space Canary Wharf and Wood Wharf offer extensive weight lifting facilities as well
as strength and conditioning classes
performance
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how Third Space’s Canary Wharf clubs offer extensive facilities and classes for strength and conditioning training by Jon Massey
R
egardless of your favourite way to train, the one thing nobody disagrees on is the importance of strength and conditioning work,” said Will Pate. “There are just so many benefits. People want to move their bodies and feel strong. “It’s the reason I’ll always recommend strength work whatever level you’re at and whatever your reason for training.” There’s a real note of excitement in Will’s voice as we’re talking – a sense that his area of expertise, as Third Space’s master trainer of strength and conditioning for group exercise, is deservedly having its moment. “There’s such demand for it,” he said. “We know what’s being used in our gyms and it’s the squat racks and cable machines. “I think it’s because people recognise the benefits and they know it’s not about becoming a body builder. It’s about functionality and longevity. It’s all about the bigger picture. “Personally, I don’t train for aesthetics, but so that my body feels good. As I get older, that will still be the case. “In the past there was this idea that, particularly for women, training with weights would make you bulky. That’s obviously not the case and if you look at what women are searching for online, strong is now a more popular search than skinny. “I think there’s a greater appreciation that everyone’s on their own journey and will have their own goals. More and more, our members are focused on how they are looking after themselves to stay strong and injury free.” Third Space offers access to its Canary Wharf and Wood Wharf clubs under a single membership package, both offering an extensive array of equipment for resistance training. Members can also take advantage of a packed timetable of classes designed to help them take their first steps into weightlifting, hone their skills or challenge themselves. “Whatever people’s goals are, we want to give them the building blocks to achieve them,” said Will. “For example, we now run our Lift classes on four-week cycles so that there’s progression built in for people who are going regu-
More and more our members are focussed on how they are looking after themselves to stay strong and injury free Will Pate, Third Space
larly. We’re always encouraging people to challenge themselves with the weight they are working with when it’s safe to do so. “We also offer smaller classes such as Yard Weightlifting, which is up to 10 people. It’s inspired by Olympic Weightlifting to help people learn the correct techniques for the clean and jerk and the snatch. “These classes run in six-week cycles and are in smaller groups to make sure we’re delivering the right standard of training in a completely safe way. “These are complex movements. You’re moving from the floor to overhead in less than a second, so you have to be able to break that down, to understand the challenge that each member is facing. Having a small group allows you to do that. “One of the challenges I have managing our group exercise coaches is making sure that, whatever class they’re teaching, members are getting the right advice, encouragement and correction when they need it. “It’s our job to ensure they feel that they’re making progress. Whatever level someone is at, we can help move them forward. “In the same class I might have someone who’s qualified for a weightlifting championship and someone else who has never touched a barbell before. “We always want people to feel that they’re learning, that they can go away and practise the skills and enjoy training. “It doesn’t matter what level you’re at, skills are always coachable. Members are still coming to classes for a reason and, for everyone, it’s up to us to understand what that is and help them get what they need.” Both Canary Wharf and Wood Wharf have extensive resistance training areas which are constantly assessed to ensure continued on Page 8 Images by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
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from Page 7 members have all the equipment they could want. Will himself is passionate about curating classes to help members get the most out of the club whether that’s alone or in a group setting. Football obsessed as a kid, he had an ambition to become a PE teacher before moving to London and embarking on a career in the fitness industry. Initially working with Gymbox, he made the switch to Third Space alongside fellow master trainer Clare Walters and has spent the last eight years honing his skills. “I did do some internships with some lively groups of kids when I was at university and decided it would be easier to teach adults,” he said. “It was never the plan to take this path but I’m so grateful because I really love it. “I always call our Canary Wharf club the mothership because it’s so extensive. If you can’t find a way to train that you enjoy here, then I don’t think it exists. “I look after all the strength and conditioning classes in our studios and one of the other big assets we have is The Yard, which was inspired by the boom of crossfit-style training. “In there you’re looking at weightlifting, lots of platforms followed by gymnastic work and the callisthenic crowd. I always say that if you’re looking to get stronger, Canary Wharf has everything you could want. “Yard Strong is a really fun class we offer. Born of the popularity of strongman events, it offers people the chance to do lots of things they might not normally try. “People find it really enjoyable, but it’s also carefully put together. We base it around primary lifts and supplementary lifts to ensure the training is effective. “That’s so important because seeing the benefits and when they click for a member is just great. “Our bodies weren’t designed to sit the way so many people do – I think more are aware of that now and we’re giving them action they can take to address it.” key details Third Space The Wharf membership includes full access to its Wood Wharf and Canary Wharf clubs and costs £257 per month plus a £100 joining fee. This covers full access to both sites and all classes on the timetable. Go to thirdspace.london for more information
Scan this code to find out more about Third Space
£257
Monthly cost of a membership across Third Space’s two Canary Wharf clubs
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Canary Wharf - West India Quay
Will says Third Space Natasha is the founder helpsHart members take action and of NASSA to CEO achieve their goals
Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
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In the second in our series of regular collaborations with Canary Wharf’s guitar school, Kitchen Jam, we take a look at the history of a track with a local link and deliver some tips on how to play it
Born in Bethnal Green, Peter Green went on to become a hugely influential guitarist with Fleetwood Mac
guiding the
how the riff from Peter Green’s Oh Well blends blues with east London grit to help inspire your playing by Zainab Hassan
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sk most people about Fleetwood Mac, and they’ll likely think of the five-piece unit behind landmark album Rumours. But the group began in London as something else, a blues band built around Peter Green – a guitarist BB King said gave him ‘cold sweats’. Born Peter Allen Greenbaum in 1946, the youngest of four children in a Jewish family in Bethnal Green, Green grew up miles away from the Mississippi Delta that inspired his playing. Green’s older brother showed him a few chords and he cut his teeth playing professionally around east London as a bassist or guitarist in various bands. In one group, Green met a young Mick Fleetwood and the pair later worked together in the influential blues-rock band John Mayall And The Bluesbreakers, then going on to form Fleetwood Mac. Like many young British players of his generation, he learned blues licks from Muddy Waters, BB King, Freddie King and John Lee Hooker, but he channelled that inspiration in a different way to his peers. Green played with measured restraint and a distinct, pained vocal colour, writing songs such as Black Magic Woman, Albatross and Oh Well.
At the height of the band’s early success in 1970, he walked away, but his playing remained ingrained in the band’s DNA. the unsung hero Green’s contributions to Fleetwood Mac don’t always get the same attention as the band’s later recordings, but his influence is undeniable. Santana’s 1970 cover of Black Magic Woman, originally written by Green in 1968, became one of their biggest hits and a staple in their set list. Green’s influence even reached The Beatles with George Harrison admitting that Sun King on Abbey Road was inspired by Fleetwood Mac’s reverb-soaked sound on Albatross. a well of inspiration Oh Well was a Green-penned hit and its heady blues-rock riff is one of our favourites to play at Kitchen Jam. Comprising two parts it’s a mini-epic in E minor. At just over two minutes, part one ricochets with breakneck riffs, then simmers into the melancholic E Minor and D-chord chimes that signal part two, a passage of folk and classical-inspired music in stark contrast. Once you get the main riff under your fingers, you’ll find plenty of inspiration from Green’s fusion of American blues with east London grit to infuse into your own playing.
Kitchen Jam offers lessons for guitarists at all levels, from complete beginners to those seeking to refine their technique. Programmes are available to cater for musicians of all ages
learn it
Rebel Rebel by David Bowie >> Kitchen Jam founder Darryl Powis has created a video tutorial to help Wharfers get their fingers around the riff that drives Oh Well. Simply scan the QR code to watch on Instagram...
D >> To play the whole track you’ll need the chords to the right: D, Em, G
G Kitchen Jam offers guitar lessons rooted in musical connection and community from its studios in Canary Wharf and Stratford. Scan this code to find out how to book a free trial session
scan this code to listen to Oh Well
Em
Image by Nick Contador
Canary Wharf - West India Quay
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Seasonal Celebrations
Oasis Bar And Terrace is offering Wharfers alpine warmth this Christmas with indoor and fully heated spaces to enjoy - Page 16
welcome to season book early for the very best festive celebration venues in Canary Wharf and beyond October is here and it’s time to make those seasonal plans in earnest. Venues in Canary Wharf and east London have been working hard on their Christmas 2026 offerings and we’re delighted to showcase some of the best here - P12-33
discover these restaurants, bars and venues ★ The Tallyman - P14 ★ Oasis Bar And Terrace - P16 ★ City Cruises - P18 ★ The Gun - P20 ★ Manhattan Grill - P31 ★ Spaces And Stories - P32
Image supplied by Oasis Bar And Terrace
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Seasonal Celebrations
Images supplied by The Tallyman
how The Tallyman is counting down the days to party season, with menus prepared and space standing ready
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Maximum capacity of The Tallyman’s dining room for a standing reception. It can take up to 45 for a sit-down feast
by Jon Massey what’s this? The Tallyman has well and truly arrived in Canary Wharf. Filled with panelled wood, cask ales and plenty of buzz, the pub offers a wide selection of beers, wines, spirits and cocktails from its position tucked cosily beneath the DLR tracks. tell me more... The sixth venue from Hoste Hospitality, the pub features an extensive bar space plus outdoor seating and a seafood shack. There’s also a dining room with an open kitchen to the rear that’s ideal for more considered lunches and dinners. Having already won over many Wharfers with its blend of food, drink, good cheer and occasional live music, The Tallyman is now looking forward to the festive season and is taking bookings.
book available to
what are the options? For 2026, the pub is offering a set menu for Christmas dining with two courses for £39 or three for £45. Bookings for up to 14 people can be made online, while groups of 15-18 should enquire directly with the venue. The pub’s dining room is also available to book for up to 90 people standing or 45 seated and larger corporate bookings are available by arrangement. a set menu, you say? That’s right. Starters include Cured Trout, Farmhouse Terrine, Seafood Cocktail, Mushroom Puff or Celeriac Soup. Diners can then choose from four mains all served with roasties, glazed carrots, shredded caraway cabbage and gravy. These are Norfolk Turkey With Pig In A Blanket, Braised Hereford Beef, Hake Fillet or Pot Roast Delica Pumpkin. To follow there’s a choice of Mince Pie, Chocolate Tart, Clementine Sorbet or Stichelton Blue Cheese. Guests can also opt for an Old Fashioned cocktail to round off the dining experience.
Scan this code to find out more about Xmas at The Tallyman
something more flexible Whatever the event, the team at The Tallyman is ready to help and offers a broad range of options for organisers. continued on Page 14 The team at The Tallyman stand ready to serve up food, drinks and good cheer this Christmas
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SCAN THIS CODE TO MAKE A BOOKING
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NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR CHRISTMAS Nestled on the banks of the Thames, The Gun offers a rich blend of historic charm and modern comfort, making it the perfect venue for any Christmas event big or small. Our beautiful spaces include private dining rooms for intimate celebrations, river views and a stunning, heated Riverside Garden complete with marquee – a real winter wonderland Book now to avoid missing out
27 COLDHARBOUR, ISLE OF DOGS, LONDON, E14 9NS E M A I L G U N . E V E N T S @ F U L L E R S .C O. U K C A L L 0 2 0 7 5 1 9 0 07 5
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Seasonal Celebrations Find out what’s on offer at Oasis Bar And Terrace as the festive season draws ever closer - Page 16 The dining room at The Tallyman features an open kitchen
from Page 12 The venue boasts sharing options such as meat and seafood platters or a kilo of Baked Baron Bigog cheese, which comes complete with dipping roast potatoes and crudites. The pub also serves up Oysters, Caviar On Chips and Lobster Sub sandwiches from its seafood shack and there are plenty of grazing options that can be arranged for groups to feast on. something extra Those seeking to make corporate bookings should enquire directly with the pub. That way they can also find out about Hoste’s Ambassadors Club, which offers organisers a number of perks for working with the group. somewhere else Hoste has venues in locations across London, all with different offerings. Don’t forget to check out Faber in Hammersmith, The Somers Town Coffee House in Euston and The Victoria in Bow. key details The Tallyman is located in Chancellor Passage, under the DLR tracks overlooking Eden Dock to the south. The pub is open daily from noon. Go to thetallyman.co.uk for more information Scan this code to find out more about Xmas at The Tallyman
The Tallyman’s main bar delivers the feel of a traditional East End pub in Canary Wharf Images supplied by The Tallyman
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EXPERIENCE YOUR CHRISTMAS PARTY IN STYLE
WITH OASIS BAR & TERRACE AT CANARY WHARF
FESTIVE MENUS | TAILORED PACKAGES | FULL VENUE TAKEOVER
RESERVATIONS@MYOASISBAR.CO.UK | 020 3633 5855 | MYOASISBAR.CO.UK
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750
Maximum capacity of Oasis Bar And Terrace for a standing reception – ideal for large gatherings at the heart of the Wharf
how Oasis Bar And Terrace offers alpine warmth and flexibility with top perks for party bookers too by Jon Massey
O
place out with fairy lights and seasonal greenery, perfecting our winter menu and making the atmosphere as warm and cosy as possible. “Seeing people step in, out of the cold, shake off their coats, and immediately settle into the Christmas spirit is easily the best part of the job.” The venue, which is within easy walking distance of all of Canary Wharf’s stations, also offers a multitude of party options including mulled wine stations, live DJ sets, face and glitter painting and even custom cocktail toppers.
Oasis offers a full bar service with expert staff on hand to mix the drinks
asis Bar And Terrace in Canary Wharf’s Canada Square Park promises a “glowing winter wonderland” for the festive season as the world transitions from summer through autumn to winter. Designed to provide alpine warmth in all weathers, its fully heated, covered ground floor terrace and indoor lounge, offer spaces to accommodate everything from intimate team dinners to full-scale corporate takeovers. Its modular seating and adaptable layouts can be arranged to suit clients’ needs for groups of up to 750 for a standing reception. The venue offers a threecourse festive menu for £49.95 per person, with starters including Smoked Salmon And Walnut Salad and Baked Camenbert, mains of Roast Turkey Crown with all the trimmings and Oven-Baked Salmon with salted rosemary. Desserts include Christmas Pudding and Chocolate Brownie with raspberry sorbet. Oasis’ canapé menu costs £4 per piece with a minimum order of 20 and features the likes of Pigs In Blankets, Smoked Salmon Blinis and Goats Cheese Crostini. “There’s nothing better than turning Oasis into a glowing winter sanctuary once the festive season kicks off,” said venue Operations Director, Petar Ivanisevic . “We love getting stuck into the details – decking the
Guests can look forward to alpine warmth within
Oasis Bar And Terrace is gearing up for this year’s festive season
● Oasis is also offering party organisers something special this year to sweeten the deal for handling the admin. Those booking for 30-50 guests can claim a £50 voucher to use in the venue. Book a full takeover for a £250 voucher (T&Cs apply). As ever, early reservations are advised. key details Oasis Bar And Terrace is located in Canary Wharf’s Canada Square Park. The venue is open from 11am-11pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, from 11am-midnight, Wednesday to Saturday and from 11am-9pm on Sundays. For bookings or enquiries call 020 3633 5855 or email reservations@myoasisbar.co.uk. For more information go to myoasisbar.co.uk Scan this code to find out more about Oasis Bar And Terrace
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Seasonal Celebrations How City Cruises is setting sail for fun afloat over the festive season - Page 18 Left, Oasis features a fully covered and heated terrace as well as an extensive indoor area Right, the team at the venue can help organise all sorts of entertainment for your festive celebrations
ready to
Images supplied by Oasis Bar And Terrace
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£75
Starting price per person for a Christmas Lunch Party with City Cruises from November 27
how City Cruises is all set to deliver a wealth of festive sailings taking in the best the capital has to offer by Jon Massey
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ondon is, in many ways, defined by the River Thames and getting out on the water over Christmas and New Year makes for a memorable and spectacular way to explore its wonders. how do I do that?
City Cruises offers both Christmas and New Year’s Eve sailings, with guests invited to drink and dine on the company’s fleet of specially designed vessels. tell me about the parties
The company offers both Christmas Lunch Party and Christmas Dinner Party cruises from £75pp or £86pp respectively. The former features a glass of sparkling wine, a three-course lunch, live music and scenic river views taking in the likes of the Houses Of Parliament, the London Eye and Tower Bridge. The evening package features live DJ entertainment and also includes a half bottle of wine per person. Lunchtime cruises depart from Westminster Pier, while evening journeys leave from Tower Millennium Pier. Both are booking now, with sailings from November 27. what about Christmas Day?
City Cruises invites guests to join a lunchtime cruise on December 25 with prices starting at £175 for adults. The package includes a glass of sparkling wine on arrival and a three-course traditional lunch with all the festive trimmings. Leaving from
Westminster Pier with boarding at 11.30am, guests will return at 3.15pm. The company also offers a series of Christmas Day sightseeing cruises starting at 9.45am with the last sailing at 2.45pm. Prices start at £32pp, for an hour of exploration with a full bar available on board. and New Year’s Eve?
City Cruises offers many different ways to experience the capital’s biggest night in prime position to view the central London fireworks. Prices for a cruise with a fourcourse dinner start at £499pp with all options featuring Champagne on arrival and at midnight. These last around five hours and take in London landmarks including the main display. Shorter sailings are also available with entertainment on board. Prices for these start at £244pp. make that reservation
You can contact City Cruises directly on 020 7740 0400 or via the form on the company’s website. The company’s vessels can also be hired for corporate events with boat capacities of 300, 140 and 180 people.
water party on the
Many packages include set menus for guets to enjoy
key details
City Cruises is offering a wide range of Christmas and New Year’s Eve cruises this year departing from central London. Go to cityexperiences.com for full listings Scan this code to find out more about Christmas cruises this year
Christmas Dinner cruises
Cruises offer a great way
start at £86pp
to see the sights
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Seasonal Celebrations Discover The Gun, packed with history and graced with waterside views, a venue like no other - Page 20
City Cruises offers shorter sailings on New Christmas Lunch voyages are
Year’s Eve for guests to enjoy
ideal for team get-togethers
the fireworks at midnight Images supplied by City Experiences
PUBLIC HOUSE OPEN MIDDAY EVERYDAY www.thetallyman.co.uk Chancellors Passage E14 4PA
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The capacity of The Gun’s covered, heated garden overlooking the Thames – ideal for bigger seasonal parties
how The Gun is preparing for a cosy festive season in Coldharbour beside the river by Jon Massey
C
hristmas is about cosiness and where better to find a snug retreat than at The Gun? Dating back to the early 18th century, the pub has been offering warmth and riverside refuge to east Londoners, local workers and visitors to the area for hundreds of years. It stands proudly on the edge of the Thames, offering open fires, views across the water to Greenwich Peninsula and a wealth of options for those looking to celebrate. The festive season is around two months away, with dates already being snapped up by companies and private parties, so we’ve put this showcase together to spotlight the historic venue’s offerings for 2026. dine in style This year, The Gun is offering a three-course menu for £67 per person. Starters include Whipped Chicken Liver Parfait, King Prawn Cocktail and Heritage Beetroot Salad, with classic mains such as English Turkey Breast (plus all the trimmings), Treacle-Cured Wild Venison and Wild Mushroom, Spinach And Celeriac Pithivier for mains. Desserts to follow include Chocolate And Coffee Opera Cake, Plum Tart Tatin and, of course, Sticky Toffee Christmas Pudding. Add-ons are available over the course of the meal such as English sparkling wine for £10, a cheese plate for £5 and extra servings of pigs in blankets, roast potatoes and cave-aged cheddar cauliflower cheese for £6 each. indoor spaces The Gun’s historic rooms have welcomed countless guests over the years including former local Lord Nelson, who would pop down from his Manchester Road address for secret continued on Page 22
for Xmas
The Gun is filled with cosy spaces ideal for seasonal get-togethers
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Seasonal Celebrations Sample the delights of the festive season at Manhattan Grill in the London Marriott Hotel Canary Wharf - Page 31
The Gun offers a multitude of spaces for private hire including far left, the Cabin Room (22 seated), above, the Riverside Garden (200 standing) and, right, the main dining room (70 seated). It also boasts an enclosed, heated riverside conservatory for up to 70 standing guests Images supplied by The Gun
FIND YOUR SPACE THIS FESTIVE SEASON.
Three distinctive Canary Wharf venues. One team to bring it together.
SPACES & STORIES | SPACESSTORIES.COM | +44 (0)203-319-9332
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Seasonal Celebrations
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Maximum number of guests that can enjoy a seated banquet in The River Room at The Gun
from Page 20
The Gun’s Riverside Garden is protected
assignations with Lady Emma Hamilton upstairs at the pub. Today, the first floor River Room offers commanding views towards The O2 and can be booked for up to 16 guests, seated around a large, central oak table. Downstairs, the pub offers a range of flexible spaces, namely The Dining Room, The Cabin Room, The Red Room and the Riverside Conservatory. Respectively these can take up to 70, 22, 20 and 40 guests seated, with various configurations available.
from the elements and packed with cosy features
the jewel in the crown Beyond the indoor options is a fully covered and heated Riverside Garden that combines festive decorations with views over the water. The space is ideal for larger parties and can accommodate up to 200 people. Facilities include wooden seating pods and furnishings, lending the space something of an aprés ski feel. they say The Gun’s general manager, Danny Daws, said: “Our covered and heated garden is a real selling point for parties. “Our offering remains about quality, service and personality – these are the cornerstones of what we do.” anything else? Goodness yes. In addition to its festive season offering, The Gun is also open on Christmas Day, with a special menu for £150 per person. Guests can expect the likes of Beetroot-Cured Salmon, Venison Pate En Croute and Somerset Goat’s Curd with English Turkey Breast, Roasted Cornish Monkfish or Winterdale Cheddar Dumplings to follow. Desserts include Dark Chocolate Delice, Vanilla And Coconut Parfait and Baked Alaska. The price includes a glass of English sparkling wine, canapés and petit fours. A children’s menu is also available for £75 per head. but wait, there’s more... The Gun is also taking bookings for New Year’s Eve, offering a three-course set menu for £80 per person. Expect views over the Thames and plenty of atmosphere as London bids 2026 farewell. and finally... The Gun is also available for
exclusive hire and larger corporate bookings. Please contact the events team by emailing gun.docklands-events@ fullers.co.uk for more information. key details The Gun in Coldharbour is taking festive bookings now. Reservations are available Monday-Saturday including Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve at the riverside pub. Go to thegundocklands.com more information and bookings or call the team on 020 7519 0075 to secure a spot Scan this code to find out more about Christmas at The Gun
The River Room looks out over the Thames Images supplied by The Gun
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Seasonal Celebrations
£63.50
Per person cost of the three-course set menu at Manhattan Grill. Various packages are available
Find out all about the spaces Broadwick is offering across Canary Wharf and south-east London - Page 32
the place to
how Manhattan Grill at the London Marriott Canary Wharf Hotel is all set for Christmas by Jon Massey what’s this? This is the Manhattan Grill at the London Marriott Canary Wharf Hotel on West India Quay, a waterside restaurant overlooking North Dock. tell me more... The restaurant follows the smooth sail-like curve of HOK architects’ elegant glass and steel building, offering guests the opportunity to look out across the bustling quayside towards Canary Wharf. The space is ideal for team celebrations or dining with family and friends over the festive season. For 2026 it’s come up with a trio of offers to tempt Wharfers seeking Christmas celebration inside. what are the offers? The first is a straight three-course set menu for £63.50 per person. The second is the meal plus a glass of bubbly on arrival for £67pp and the third includes all of the above plus half a bottle of red or white wine for £78pp.
what’s on the menu? Guests can choose from starters of Stuffed Globe Artichoke, Crunchy Game Bonbon and Authentic Prawns And Cured Salmon Dome. Mains include Traditional Roast Breast Of Turkey with all the trimmings, Grilled Welsh Lamb with sweet potato rosti, Pan-Seared Fillet Of Halibut with stuffed potato croquettes and Wild Mushroom And Ricotta Cannelloni. For dessert, diners can opt for Chocolate Panettone Pudding, Wild Strawberry Cheesecake or Traditional Christmas Pudding with stem ginger ice cream. where can I find the restaurant? Manhattan Grill is a few seconds walk from West India Quay DLR station and is also within easy walking distance of Canary Wharf’s stations. The Elizabeth Line is the closest of these. what about the wider offering? The restaurant is one of a total of 19 event spaces within the London Marriott Canary Wharf Hotel, including its West India Ballroom,
which can accommodate up to 290 guests for a standing reception or 180 for a seated dinner. With its extensive selection of facilities, the venue offers organisers maximum flexibility whether the event they have in mind is a formal sit-down dinner, an awards presentation or an informal reception. The hotel is also able to offer accommodation packages to guests subject to availability, for those who would like the added relaxation of staying the night after the celebrations.
Manhattan Grill is based at the London Marriott Canary Wharf Hotel on West India Quay Scan this code to make a booking at Manhattan Grill on West India Quay
key details The London Marriott Hotel Canary Wharf is located on West India Quay, an historic stretch of dockside land that boasts Grade I listed warehouses and preserved cranes recalling the area’s former use. For more information about booking events at the venue call 020 7517 2808 or email the team via mhrs.loncw.manhattangrill@ marriott.com to discuss. Go to morecravings.com for more information or to make a booking
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750
Maximum capacity of The Pelligon, one of Canary Wharf’s largest party venues
how Spaces And Stories presents organisers with flexible options to cater for celebrations big and small by Jon Massey
120 guests, the space is a place to be seen.
arty planners in Canary Wharf are invited to let the numbers do the talking this festive season with Spaces And Stories by Broadwick offering a trio of flexible venues designed to cater for events of all sizes. The company operates The Pelligon, Landing Canary Wharf and Broadwick Studio across the estate, each with its own attractions.
further afield Spaces And Stories also has other venues close by for those seeking a celebration beyond the Wharf. Corner Corner in Canada Water offers a wide range of options for gatherings of between 60 and 2,000 guests. Also part of the family is the Grade II listed Troxy, an Art Deco theatre with permanent production infrastructure for larger parties and live entertainment. The venue can take audiences of up to 3,600.
P
going big The Pelligon is built for scale. Designed by the late César Pelli and wrapped in glass, the venue makes an impression from the moment guests arrive. Festive layered lighting beneath its 27m-high atrium adds warmth to the space, with plenty of room for dining, speeches and entertainment before moving into the party. One of the largest spaces on the estate, it can handle up to 750 guests. on the water Set directly above Eden Dock, Landing Canary Wharf offers a more intimate setting for up to 450 guests. Waterside views and clean architectural lines provide the backdrop, with flexible spaces that can be shaped around different styles of festive gathering.
how about organisation? The Spaces And Stories team can help firms match guest numbers, brief and budget to the right space, then support with the details too. In-house hospitality teams can create menus around the style and scale of the event using fresh, seasonal ingredients, while Vibration Production can handle sound, lighting and staging. FullCircle Entertainment can add everything from DJs and live bands to performers and other festive entertainment. key details You can find out more about all of the venues featured above by contacting Spaces And Stories by Broadwick. Go to spacesstories.com for further information
bespoke setting For smaller teams, Broadwick Studio is a flexible blank canvas on the ground floor overlooking Water Street. Able to accommodate up to
matched to your
Scan this code for more about the Spaces And Stories venues
The Pelligon is one of the largest events venues in Canary Wharf and boasts a striking steel vaulted ceiling Below, Broadwick Studio
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Seasonal Celebrations
Landing Canary Wharf is located in a striking silver building above the waters of Eden Dock at the heart of the estate and can accommodate up to 450 guests
MENU Corner Corner is located in Canada Water
FESTIVE EVENTS NOW BOOKING Discover packages and menus at Canary Wharf’s most glamorous destination and celebrate the Christmas season in style with friends, family and colleagues
Images supplied by Spaces And Stories
mhrs.loncw.manhattangrill@marriott.com 020 7517 2808 22 Hertsmere Road, West India Quay, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4ED
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Works by interdisciplinary artist Jasmine Kahlia are now on show at locations across Canary Wharf to mark Black History Month Jasmin Kahlia’s Blaq
Excellence is seen through a phone camera in Canary Wharf’s Montgomery Square
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Canary Wharf / West India Quay Read Wharf Life’s interview with Jasmine about her quartet of murals, which are now on show - Page 36-39
across the
Image by Sean Pollock
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how Canary Wharf has commissioned a series of murals to mark Black History Month across the estate by Jon Massey
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isitors to Canary Wharf, as well as those living or working in the area, will be able to enjoy four murals installed to mark Black History Month. Free to view until the end of October, Jasmine Kahlia’s quartet of works draw on the interdisciplinary artist’s time spent with more than 20 interviewees. Folkloriq is located in North Colonnade, Facin Our Dreamz can be found in Upper Bank Street, Blaq Excellence is in Montgomery Square and Heartest Truth is in George Street. forging a path “I’ve always been a person that hasn’t wanted to do things in a traditional way,” said Jasmine. “I got involved with art at Camden Roundhouse – I do poetry, music, live looping, photography, film, literature and painting. When I was younger I was really interested in calligraphy and graffiti. Sometimes I make songs in the moment, it’s really fun. “It sounds quite confusing when I tell people about all the disciplines, but I’ve found a really good balance. “That’s why I’m always doing different things on different days – I really like the variety.” creating space More than an artist, however, Jasmine is also the founding force behind Bluprinta, an arts agency representing creatives. “I like to present my work as having quality and to make space for other artists who may be a few steps behind me, so it’s nice to bring them along with me,” she said. “Some of the creative people I know are not very entrepreneurial but they’re keen to make art and share it. “Others really strategise and plan how they’re going to get into spaces. That was my intention with Bluprinta.” Having been commissioned by Canary Wharf Group (CWG) to produce these latest works, Jasmine started with colour and then built her designs around that. She said: “It’s really special and it’s really nice to bring forward so many people’s stories. “Black history is everyone’s collective history – everyone’s cultures belong to each other.
It sounds quite confusing when I tell people about all the disciplines but I’ve found a really good balance. I really like the variety Jasmine Kahlia, artist
There’s something about this city that we all share and it’s nice to be able to showcase that. “For me, this is not simply artwork. It’s a moment. Not just for myself, but for families and ancestors of the featured individuals. “It continues to be a massive journey for equal rights. Years of intentional work, diplomacy and focus, facing sacrifices and losses, in the quest for success, despite the reality of societal discrimination and racism. “There is intergenerational talent and innovation that lives in Canary Wharf. To be highly accomplised in our careers is no mistake. “Although the collection is temporary, the sentiment and intention are permanent.” discovering the work The trail begins with Folkloriq in North Colonnade, a piece that examines contemporary art from the Caribbean and Central America. The intention behind the piece is to bring forward the saturated and sunny colours of the diaspora, using the principle colours of red, yellow and green, which are contrasted with the solid black lines, reminiscent of illustrated books that Jasmine grew up reading like Anansi and Jamaica Tag Along. Facin Our Dreamz is a large piece in Upper Bank Street, featuring individuals who live, work and study in Canary Wharf. Spanning a range of professions from life sciences to AI to sport and finance, Jasmine undertook many interviews to bring this piece – and their stories to life. Blaq Excellence is located in Montgomery Square and is billed as a heartfelt piece about liberation, freedom and creative flow. It examines fluid movement, belonging and recognises the full diaspora, sampling colours of
Top, Facin Our Dreamz is in Upper Bank Street outside Waitrose, while Heartest Truth, above is in George Street
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Canary Wharf / West India Quay
Jasmine Kahlia says she used colour, individuals’ stories and cultural influences as inspiration for her murals
all skin tones into a single piece. Jasmine deliberately selected honey brown, mahogany, ginger brown, cedar and tawny brown to blend into the main focal character. Finally, Heartest Truth in George Street focuses into the snapshots of a successful career. Each scene depicts a moment many can resonate with when embarking on their career. These specific scenes are structured as: Downfall, Triumph, Connection and Freedom. The colours are chosen from the heart space and reflect many natural elements, borrowing hues from landscapes, seascapes and sky. they say Lowri Harries, associate curator at CWG said: “The Canary Wharf public art collection is completely free to view, open all year round and designed for people to encounter naturally throughout their day. “It belongs to whoever is passing, so it’s important that it also reflects our diverse working and residential population. “Jasmine’s murals do exactly this. The murals are directly inspired by the careers, journeys and feelings of her subjects and their personal sense of belonging to the area, allowing them, and those with similar experiences, to recognise themselves within it and feel a real sense of connection.” key details Folkloriq, Facin Our Dreamz, Blaq Excellence and Heartest Truth are set to be in place throughout October 2026 in Canary Wharf. They are free to visit alongside the estate’s collection of more than 100 sculptures, murals and architectural pieces that make up its permanent collection. Go to canarywharf.com for more information
Scan this code to find out more about the murals Portrait by Jon Massey / Wharf Life, insets by Sean Pollock
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People Kahlia interviewed as part of the project, providing direct inspiration for the works
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Canary Wharf / West India Quay
Jasmine’s Folkloriq is seen in Canary Wharf’s North Colonnade opposite One Canada Square
Image by Sean Pollock
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Canary Wharf - West India Quay
Could AI make interacting with screens an increasingly obsolete activity?
virtual viewpoint by Chris Ezekiel
N
obody wants another app to learn. We want the appointment arranged, the overdue invoice identified, the trip organised. But automation usually means that before it can do our work, we have to learn how to navigate it. Every application has its own user interface – menus, dashboards, settings and messages. Developers spend considerable effort designing these elements and testing their usability (which becomes a substantial project in itself ). Users then spend time learning how to navigate their way around it. Then someone has the bright idea of redesigning the whole application and the learning process starts all over again. AI has become commonplace for creating applications and, alongside coding agents, we also have agentic AI – the digital workers acting on our behalf. These agents can use tools and take successive steps towards a requested outcome. Removing the need to design an elaborate interface can make that task simpler and its results easier to test. In this future, coding agents will build and maintain capabilities that other autonomous agents use to carry out our requests. Human expertise will determine the objectives, constraints and success factors. Wearables will bring this arrangement into everyday life. Imagine AI-powered smart watches, glasses with cameras and wearable microphones collectively capturing what we see, hear and say. With continuous recording, the various sensors will retain the context of our day and automatically follow-up on our actions. Elements of this are already in place. For example, imagine leaving a meeting and saying: “Arrange the follow-up we discussed, find a time
the end of the
Image by Ron Lach
everyone can make and prepare the figures”. With authorised access to the conversation, calendars and business systems, an agent can then coordinate the work, seeking approval where required. There would be no need to open several applications and reconstruct the meeting from memory. For software developers, this changes the approach. The central questions become about what information is available, what people are trying to achieve and how we will know if the job has been done correctly. Reliable functions, connections and verification become the foundations. Continuous recording also makes control essential. People must be able to decide if AI is to be active, what is captured, remembered and shared, including when other people are involved. Trust will depend on clear agreed boundaries and the ability to inspect and reverse decisions. Visual interfaces will retain a purpose wherever people need to compare information or make a consequential choice. Voice itself remains an interface. But the familiar routine of opening apps and navigating screens could disappear from much of daily life. The most successful software might eventually be the software we barely notice, quietly doing the work while we get on with our lives. Chris Ezekiel is founder and CEO of customer engagement solutions specialist Creative Virtual based at Canary Wharf’s Cabot Square Scan this code for more information about Creative Virtual or follow @creativevirtual and @chrisezekiel on X
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Years of black history in Limehouse is explored in the exhibition from 1730 to 1830
how the Black Limehouse Lives takes traces of black Londoners and tells their stories in a wider context by Jon Massey
I
nformation, inspiration and connection is what Black Limehouse Lives promises when it opens in east London later this month. The exhibition is set to go on display at St Anne’s Limehouse from October 17 until February 20, with visitors invited to discover the lives of black people living in the area during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Care For St Anne’s – the charity committed to restoring the Hawksmoor-designed church and opening it up to wider community use – has teamed up with Northeastern University London in St Katharine Docks to help research and create the displays during Black History Month. “I started volunteering at St Anne’s four years ago – I live partly in France and I’d been scaling down my work in the wine world and wanted to meet new people,” said Wink Lorch, who has led the Black Limehouse Lives project for Care For St Anne’s as co-curator. “I’d lived in sight of the tower for 20 years, but I’m not a churchgoer and the doors were always closed. When I had more time on my hands, I saw the charity was looking for volunteers and I thought it might be interesting. “At first it was just keeping the doors open, but I can write and edit, which is how I was thrown into the first Limehouse Lives project in 2023 – an exhibition inspired by a talk that Queen Mary University did here based on research they’d done on people buried in the crypt at St Anne’s. “It included some we know had links to slavery and we got London Museum Docklands to write a panel for us to help put that in context. “I publish my own books and know about project management, so helping curate the exhibition was something I really enjoyed doing. “I discovered the Mapping Black London project at Northeastern University on a visit to St GeorgeIn-The-East, the Hawksmoor church in Shadwell. “I went there on an open day and Professor Olly Ayers who leads it was there with one of his post-grad students. I learnt about their project, which contributed to a wonderful exhibition at St George’s in April, and thought we might be able to link a revival
of Limehouse Lives with similar research at St Anne’s.” Scouring baptism and burial records, Black Limehouse Lives focuses on people who lived, worked, worshipped or were laid to rest in the parish between 1730 and 1830. Olly said: “The Mapping Black London project has been going for nearly five years – we’ve researched the presence of black people in the city before 1948, prior to Windrush. “We’re challenging the misconception that there was no black presence in the capital before that date. If you map something, you put people in times and places, and this helps history to come alive and make sense. “We have a team of PhD students who are doing research on this and the scholarly dimension goes hand-in-hand with our public work. “We found out early that there’s an appetite for thinking seriously about London’s black history. “We’re now in Black History Month, but there are loads of examples where this is often not about history at all but about contemporary black culture or civil rights figures in the USA such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King. “We can do a bit better and think about black history in Britain. This will be the third exhibition we’ve done with local partners. “The principle is that if you show people that black history is not an abstract thing but that it concerns people in your church, in your neighbourhood and you can pinpoint that on a map, then it brings it alive in a meaningful way. We started off looking at Ignatius Sancho, the most important black Briton of the 18th century who was a prolific letter-writer and quite famous for speaking out against slavery. “We wanted to look at the neighbourhood he lived in – he was a Westminster figure, with a shop not 100m from Downing Street and he married an East Ender called Anne Osborne of West Indian heritage. “That got us thinking about the rest of the city and how these black communities were forming. If you’ve got the time to look in all the records to find these people, you can.” The exhibition seeks to place people – those who were baptised or buried by the church – in a
Detail from St Anne’s Baptism Register (inset) on April 19, 1734, detailing the baptism of William Ratcliff, ‘a black servant to Captain Watkinson aged 17 years’ who lived in Narrow Street
finding the
A line drawing of St Anne’s Limehouse from 1780
Images supplied by Care For St Anne’s
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Limehouse - Wapping - Whitechapel - Tower Hill
Images supplied by Care For St Anne’s
Olly Ayers
Wink Lorch Portraits by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
wider conte t and to e plore their stories. While details of the individual lives of the people recorded in the parish records are scarce, it’s still possi le to get a sense of some of the reasons they might have come to the church. “ or e ample, we found in the records that three people identi fied as lack were aptised on the same day and all were adults, said Wink. “ ne was from ew ork, one from America and one from ermuda. “While we haven’t een a le to find out anything a out them, it’s likely they would have fought with the ritish in the American evolutionary War. lack people who did that were promised freedom and a passage to England. “We can also figure out how things might have een for them in ondon at that time. lly added “With this kind of work, you don’t just stop when you hit a dead end. “We’re not likely to find a lack person’s diaries or personal letter collection ut, if we stop there, it’s history from the perspective of the guys in the crypt. We know there’s a igger lack presence in ondon so we don’t let that stop us. “ utting people in a geograph ical location is important. he three people who got aptised on the same day, for e ample, were in a port city, so they might have een fresh off a oat and new in town. “ he first thing they would have done was to get aptised – there’s a whole uestion a out what that means, ut the short version is that they did this to emphasise their free status. “ hen we can talk a out other things, such as whether they stayed in the area. here certainly were lack people who were getting homes and uilding lives here. “We can also look at the criminal justice records of the ld ailey – what’s interesting there is that, over the records of several hundred years, there’s more than lack people we can identify in the transcripts, including people from the imehouse area. “What’s interesting is that they’re not just listed as the perpetrators of crime, sometimes they’re victims and sometimes they’re witnesses. “ hat gives you a social life dimension to the lives of lack people in the capital. “ ondon society in the 18th century was very discriminatory – money, race, ethnicity, religion and ra id anti atholicism, which is often forgotten. “Adult aptisms can also e seen in the conte t that it was a practical fact that the church was responsi le for distri uting relief and charity, ecause the state
Ideas such as the past shaping the present can sound rather abstract. But this project has certainly changed me as I walk around these streets
what’s on
things to do, places to go, people to see Where? Half Moon Theatre Limehouse
Olly Ayers, NU London
didn’t want to get involved. So anyone wanting to enefit had to prove their residence in that parish – it was called gaining a settlement – and eing aptised was a way of doing that. he e hi ition aims to place the lives of lack ondoners in conte t y revealing the effects slavery, empire, migration and maritime trade. Wink said “ radually the e hi ition took the form of four parts – the lack lives, the eginning of St Anne’s, a revival of the previous e hi ition and an e tension of that where we talk a out urials in our crypt and churchyard, identifying more people. “We’ve conducted this research ecause not every ody uried here was identifia le, so we’ve tried to do that. “We also want to show how we did it – visiting the ity f ondon Archives, for e ample – and to show people that they can do it too and research their own ancestry. lly said “Ultimately, want people to come away saying didn’t know that’. hat may prompt other things. “ rom other e hi itions, we’ve had uite moving testimonies – that it’s changed someone’s understanding of history, their understanding of themselves and their place in the city. “ deas such as the past shaping the present can sound rather a stract. ut this project has certainly changed me as walk around these streets and think a out what it means to e a ondoner in the present day. key details Black Limehouse Lives is set to open at St Anne’s imehouse on cto er 1 and will e on display at the church until e ruary . ree to view, the e hi ition will e open to the pu lic on hursday to Saturday from 1 am pm. Go to careforestannes.org for more information
Scan this code to find out more about the exhibition
KIDS | Flotsam Suitable for ages 2-5, their family and friends, this opera for young children is based on David Wiesner’s picture book. Music comes from Kerry Andrew. Oct 31, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, £9, halfmoon.org.uk Where? Troxy Limehouse
COMEDY | Alexandros Tsouvelas The Greek stand-up brings his Tsouvelas II tour to east London, promising punchlines and improv with characters both earthly and alien. Oct 25, 7pm, from £48.65, troxy.co.uk Where? Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping
STAGE | Hooray for Hollywood Liza Pulman and Joe Stilgoe “weave a century of movie musical songs into an evening of laughter, romance and pure joy” apparently. Nov 3-7, times vary, from £13.50, wiltons.org.uk
try it
Step aboard the Maria Alexander Spa Boat in Limehouse for a tranquil escape like no other. This private craft offers relaxing sessions for up to four people including massages, a sauna and a hot tub... mariaalexander.co.uk Scan this code to read our interview with Ingrid and Corvin who own the vessel in Limehouse Marina want more? @wharfwhispers
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how McDonald’s has returned to Trafalgar Way with a 138-seat restaurant and drive-thru after closing in 2014
what’s on
things to do, places to go, people to see Where? Theatreship Isle Of Dogs
GIG | Evil Sword Kate Ferencz and Ben Furgal bring noise, cryptic metal and performance art all the way from Philadelphia. Support from Rainham Sheds and Ebby. Oct 30, 7.30pm, £13.77, theatreship.co.uk Where? The Space Isle Of Dogs
STAGE | Faustus And The Seven Combining physical theatre, live improvised music and direct audience interaction, this show sees Faustus attempt to plead his way out of hell. Oct 28-30, 7.30pm, £14, space.org.uk Where? Poplar Union Poplar
TRY | Black History Month Visit the east London arts and community centre for a host of activities, workshops and performances as Poplar Union marks Black History Month. Oct 7-31, various times and prices, poplarunion.com
show support
The Space theatre, arts centre and community hub has launched a crowd funding campaign to support the work it does. Space 30’s goal is to generate £30,000 by the end of the year with numerous ways to donate space.org.uk Scan this code to find out more about The Space’s Space 30 campaign and how to donate want more? @wharfwhispers
by Jon Massey
J
on Betts started his career as a crew member at McDonald’s – cooking, cleaning and serving customers – all while studying for his A-Levels. After going to university, but discovering it wasn’t for him, he went back to his role at the restaurant. “I had the intention of getting a proper job, but that never really happened,” he said. “Instead I worked my way up through the ranks, becoming business manager for different sites in east ondon including Barking, Canning Town and Leytonstone. “We used to have a restaurant in Trafalgar Way near Billingsgate Market, which opened in the late 1990s and I was its business manager from 2000 to 2004 – that’s also when I moved to the area to be close to work and I was very proud to do all that. “I had a 31-year career in McDonald’s and spent the last five of that as vice president of operations and as a member of the executive team.” Having always wanted to start his own business, in 2022, the opportunity presented itself and Jon left to become one of the business’ franchisees. Starting with four sites, he’s grown his operation to 16 across east London, with the latest of special interest to those living or working in Canary Wharf, Poplar and the Isle Of Dogs. The single-storey drive-thru near Billingsgate – once managed by Jon – closed in 2014, with the expectation that it would be replaced a few years later on the ground oor of a pair of residential towers. Those plans failed to come to fruition but, 12 years on, the brand has returned to the area at the base of Urbanest’s newly minted trio of towers, built to house students. “I’m thrilled we’ve reopened, especially because I spent many happy years here,” said Jon, who still lives locally. “The new restaurant is cutting edge. It has a décor scheme called Sunny-Side Up and we have 138 seats here for customers who want to eat in. “We also have a drive-thru and we operate delivery out of the restaurant with three delivery partners – Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats. This was always a busy location for us and I know people have been keen for us to return. We have a queue of customers on the first day waiting for the doors to open so I’m hoping that’s a good indicator that our business will be very strong. “Opening a new restaurant is always challenging and I’ve been privileged to do that in a number
McDonald’s newly opened branch is located on the lower levels of the three Urbanest towers between Trafalgar Way and Aspen Way
The new restaurant is cutting edge. It has a décor scheme called Sunny-Side Up and we have 138 seats here for customers who want to eat in Jon Betts, McDonald’s
of capacities during my career. We have 1 staff employed here. We’ve recruited 50 and 70 are drawn from our existing restaurants and have transferred here.” Having overseen operations at 240 company-owned restaurants while at McDonald’s, Jon is no stranger to the business and originally set himself the goal of running 20 sites through his own company. “It felt like a very natural step to become a franchisee, but to reach 16 has exceeded my expectations,” he said. “The growth has been quite quick as the average franchisee operates about six or seven sites. “As a business, I employ around 1,300 people, which is quite a responsibility and a privilege. It’s really rewarding to see people you hire go on to be successful. “It’s a great company to work for because it creates opportunities for people. I started as crew and now I’m lucky enough to have 16 restaurants. There are 1,500 McDonald’s restaurants in the UK and 99% of our business managers started as crew members. Sometimes people join us while they’re studying and the job is a stepping stone to something else. But it’s also very rewarding to stay in the business. “You learn a lot of skills that you can use in other areas of your life.
“We’re the biggest restaurant chain in the world and the largest in the U . We offer a lot to our customers, although I understand sometimes the brand is polarising.” Currently top of the menu, alongside all the classics, McDonald’s is offering its World enu eist, offering ritish diners popular options from its restaurants around the world. Top picks include the Big Rösti (from Germany), which comes complete with a hash brown and bacon, Paprika McShaker Fries (from The Netherlands) which come with special seasoning and Mac And Cheese Triangles (from the UAE) – crispy bites ideal for dipping. Jon said: “Personally, I enjoy a Double Cheeseburger or Chicken McNuggets and Fries, although I watch what I eat now because of my age, so I don’t have the latter as much as I’d like. Another thing that’s important to me is that we’re good neighbours in the areas we serve. We do a lot of work within the local community to help improve the environment – litter picks for example. “We also engage with local schools to provide work experience opportunities, which can lead to jobs. A large percentage of our workforce are young adults – it’s a privilege to often e people’s first jo . key details McDonald’s Billingsgate is located at the junction of Trafalgar Way and Aspen Way and is open Sunday to Thursday from 5am to 11pm and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays. Go to mcdonalds.com for more information
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45
Isle Of Dogs - Poplar - Blackwall - Leamouth
12
Years since McDonald’s closed its Trafalgar Way restaurant. The brand has now reopened on the site at the base of three towers The drive-thru
bringing it
The seating areas are located on the upper floors
The interior scheme features bright neon
Jon Betts spent 31 years working for McDonalds before becoming a franchisee with the brand Images supplied by McDonald’s
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Wharf Life Oct 7-21, 2026 wharf-life.com
Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey
£22.50
Ticket price for 10 Years Of Deptford Northern Soul Club at The Albany The club night is marking a decade in south-east London
what’s on
things to do, places to go, people to see Where? The Pen Theatre South Bermondsey
COMEDY | Comedians Do Scooby Doo Presented by comics Levi Meltzer and Will Spence this performance takes the classic show as its jumping off point for a night of spooky Halloween fun. Oct 30, 7.30pm, £11.55, thepentheatre.com Where? Corner Corner Canada Water
EVENT | Salad Days Market Perhaps a little early, but this event with 40-plus traders is selling itself on the basis that those attending can get Xmas shopping done smartly. Oct 24-25, 11am-4pm, free, cornercorner.com
spinning the
Where? Corner Corner Canada Water
EVENT | Pints Of Knowledge Erica Stevenson, pictured, presents From ACOTAR To The Ancient World, a talk that explores ancient myth and Sarah J Maas’ fantasy world in one sitting. Oct 26, 5.45pm, £20.25, cornercorner.com
making connections
how 10 Years Of Deptford Northern Soul Club will see sharply dressed party-goers celebrate a milestone by Jon Massey
Rich, fruity, glistening hunks of beef – Plov, trading outside Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, offers solid takes on uzbek cuisine with plenty of personality. The salads might be basic but the mains certainly aren’t @plov.uk on Insta Scan this code to find out more about Plov’s food and how to get your hands on the stuff... want more? @wharfwhispers
T
he Albany is getting ready to host a celebration of a south-east London club staple as it reaches the decade mark. Back in 2016, childhood friends Will Foot and Lewis Henderson started a night at Deptford’s Bunker Club. Born of their shared passion for Northern Soul, kindled by discovering Lewis’ dad’s record collection, Deptford Northern Soul Club (DNSC) has branched out beyond the capital with gatherings across the UK. The duo have taken DNSC festi-
vals such as Glastonbury, Green Man and End of the Road as well as taking over public arts institutions including Tate Modern, the Southbank Centre and Manchester International Festival. Aged 32, the pair have emerged as the leading faces of a genre that dominated the north of England and the Midlands in the 1970s with a popularity that endures to this day, The event organiser said:
Scan this code to find out more about the show
“Whether behind the decks, dancing out front, or in discussion, Will and Lewis’ sheer love and passion for soul is infectious, as is the spark of friendship and mutual musical appreciation between the two of them.” 10 Years Of Deptford Northern Soul is set to celebrate all that’s een achieved in the first decade and look forward to the future of the movement. key details 10 Years Of Deptford Northern Soul Club is set to welcome guests on November 7 from 9pm. Standard tickets cost £22.50. Go to thealbany.org.uk for more information
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47
Greenwich - Peninsula - Woolwich
£38.50
Current price of resale tickets available to see the show at Magazine London
what’s on
things to do, places to go, people to see Where? The O2 Peninsula
EVENT | Professor Brian Cox The curiously ageless physicist presents his Emergence world tour, exploring the intricacy of the known universe and how we understand it. Oct 23, 6pm, from £56, theo2,co.uk Where? Greenwich Theatre Greenwich
STAGE | The Séance This chilling theatrical experience is aimed at audiences who prefer their Halloween atmosphere thick and unsettling as siblings contact the dead. Oct 31, 7.30pm, £29, greenwichtheatre.org.uk
Sean Booth and Rob Brown are set to headline their biggest show on Greenwich Peninsula
Where? Woolwich Works Woolwich
presenting pure
STAGE | Spooky Circus Join Aircraft Circus as they explore the dark, weird and wonderful side of contemporary performance in celebration of Halloween. Expect a fiery finale. Oct 31, 7pm, £17.50, woolwich.works
how Autechre are set to present a 90-minute set of complex electronic music in complete darkness by Jon Massey
M
flash back
mutual friends in the graffiti and street dance scene and have continued to create music and release albums over the subsequent decades. The performance at Magazine will be their biggest headline gig to date and has sold out. Support on the night will come from Apace Afrika live and MDX (Skam/Geskom).
agazine London on Greenwich Peninsula is set to host electronic music duo Autechre later this month. Sean Booth and Rob Brown have carved out a niche on the scene with meticulously key details complex compositions. The Hydra Presents Autechre is set to take That experimental spirit is set to hit new place at Magazine London from 5pm-11pm heights in south-east on Saturday, October 24. London when the act Tickets are available on Scan this presents a 90-minute set in a resale basis only from code to find out total darkness. £38.50 including fees. more about The pair came together in Go to magazinelondon.co.uk the show 1987 in Rochdale through for more information
The Greenwich Collective creates fine bespoke suits and tailor-made shirts from its base at Greenwich Market, bringing together the talents of Philip Chalk, Wayne Carter and their extensive team email gc@thegreenwichcollective.uk Scan this code to read Wharf Life’s interview with Philip and find out more about the business want more? @wharfwhispers
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Wharf Life Oct 7-21, 2026 wharf-life.com
how connection and industry experience play key roles at the London Design And Engineering UTC in Royal Docks
what’s on
things to do, places to go, people to see
EVENT | Rainbow Races 2026 LGBTQIA+ rowing club, London Otters, is set to host its ninth annual competitive race event with all proceeds donated to charity Microrainbow. Oct 15, 2pm-5pm, £5, londonotters.org Where? Excel London Royal Victoria Dock
EVENT | MCM Comic Con Cosplay, meet the stars and generally nerd out across a bewildering array of genres from TV, gaming, anime and film. Make those memories. Oct 23-25, times vary, from £29, mcmcomiccon.com Where? Compressor House Royal Albert Dock
EVENT | People Make Places Octopus Associates Academy is set to host a day of discussions, workshops and networking aimed at exploring placemaking in the docks and beyond. Nov 10, 9.30am-5pm, from £25, royaldocks.london
flash back
The Boat House is currently hosting its first exhibition at Cody Dock – Common Threads, by Remiiya Badru. To find out more about its singular construction, we sat down with designer and fabricator Nick Runeckles codydock.org.uk Scan this code to read our interview with Nick and find out how an historic boat became a heritage pavilion want more? @wharfwhispers
by Jon Massey
Image supplied by LDEUTC
Where? Royal Docks Watersports Royal Albert Dock
E
motionally it’s very rewarding,” said Saad Farooq, subject lead and teacher at the London Design And Engineering University Technical College (UTC) in Royal Docks. “Here you are treated as a professional, the pay is great and you’re in a space where your skills are appreciated – it’s a good balance. “I wrote my masters thesis on bringing young people into the construction industry and my research showed companies don’t always have people from the next generation working for them. “If we don’t teach them now, there won’t be a workforce in the future – that’s one of the reasons the Government is making a push to recruit more teachers from the industry.” That’s exactly the context of our conversation. The Department For ducation’s f latest figures have identified a shortfall of just over 36,000 workers needed in construction each year if the industry’s forecast growth comes to fruition. It has pledged to train 60,000 by 2029 in a bid to help it achieve its target of building 1.5million homes by the end of the Parliament. Analysis by the Building Cost Information Service last month found that, so far, 437,900 homes had been delivered and that the Government would fall short of its aim by more than 500,000 at the current rate of construction. One of many issues facing the industry is that figures from ay showed construction, planning and the built environment had the second highest level of vacancies for teaching positions in the further education sector. Responding to this need, the DfE’s Train Others In Further Education campaign is looking to address this by attracting established construction workers to these roles. t offers on-the-job training, full-time, part time and e i le contracts with an emphasis on practical experience being especially sought-after and teaching and academic ualifications not necessarily a prerequisite for employment. indful of the shortfall, the Government is also set to introduce a new Construction GCSE in 2029, designed to encourage more young people to pursue ualifications and careers in the sector. “I think this is one of the best things the Government has done,” said Saad. “Students play games and scroll because they want to do things with their hands – they want to tinker, to build things and this provides an alternative to the screens.
The London Design And Engineering University Technical College is based at UEL’s campus on the edge of Royal Albert Dock
When you’re working in industry, you see things, touch things, smell things – it’s all about passing on those experiences to the students Saad Farooq, LDEUTC
“The shortage of workers in industries such as construction is concerning and providing a clear route into the sector at a younger age is a really good idea. “There’s been a change in what employers expect when their employees come to them – they are now favouring those with skills rather than academic backgrounds.” You don’t have to spend long at the London Design And Engineering UTC to realise it’s an institution that very much puts the teaching of those skills at the heart of what it does. Consistently over-subscribed and having recently been judged exceptional in five of the seven categories rated by Ofsted, the college’s two buildings on the edge of Royal Albert Dock buzz with activity. Sponsored by the University Of East London, it’s also a place deeply connected to industry – its walls are coated with corporate logos that tell of partnerships, collaborations and, crucially, routes to employment. Its workshops, classrooms and facilities are filled with the industri al-grade kit necessary for its students to gain relevant experience as they progress through its courses starting at either 13 or 16 and studying for the likes of GCSEs, A-Levels, T-Levels and Diplomas that lead to apprenticeships or direct employment in the
industry. Saad, who grew up in Newham, was a student himself when the college welcomed its first intake in 2016, pursuing a passion for architecture in both academia and in industry before returning to teach the next generation. “Originally I wanted to go back on site after my masters,” he said. “But I came back, did a trial and I loved it. It was brilliant seeing the students in front of me all wanting to learn my specialism. “I get to share my love of buildings with them. It’s wonderful to be able to provide this support to learners and it’s something people in industry should definitely consider doing. “ he U is different to a tradi tional school, the students are very much hands-on, technical people. To teach young people you have to really know and love your subject and be able to communicate that. “When you’re working in industry, you see things, touch things, smell things – it’s all about passing on those experiences and that passion to the students. If you can’t help them visualise it, they’re going to get bored so we need people who can do these subjects justice and also who can bring connections that can help them gain experience and opportunities.” key details ou can find out more a out the work of London Design And Engineering UTC and the DfE’s Train Others In Further Education via the links below. For more information go to ldeutc.co.uk or teachinfurthereducation.education.gov.uk
Scan this code to find out more about the UTC’s courses
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49
Royal Docks - Canning Town
36,000+
Extra construction industry workers needed each year based on current growth forecasts
passing on the
The London Design And Engineering UTC’s Saad Farooq says further education needs teachers with experience of the construction sector Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
The college is split over two buildings and offers a wide range of specialist courses
Image supplied by LDEUTC
Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
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Wharf Life Oct 7-21, 2026 wharf-life.com
£19
Starting price for a ticket to see Dickson Mbi’s Tellus at Sadler’s Wells East
how Dickson Mbi’s Tellus at Sadler’s Wells East is all about connection to each other and the planet beyond by Jon Massey
D
ickson Mbi has a strong hat game. When he answers the zoom call from his north London home, he’s wearing a red beret similar to those of Public Enemy’s S1W security force, known for their stern, imposing presence. The dancer, choreographer, musician and composer beneath, however, fi es with fun, energy, enthusiasm and introspection as we talk about his latest work – Tellus – a piece that’s set to get its première at Sadler’s Wells East from October 21-24. Internationally successful, his piece Enowate by Sadler’s Wells and Barbican won him an Olivier Award in 2023 for Outstanding Achievements In Dance and he’s had a storied career on stage and screen, working with the likes of Robbie Williams, Corrine Bailey-Rae and the Black Eyed Peas among many others. In many ways, however, Tellus is something of a full circle moment for Dickson – a show that explores his origins and childhood tales, staged in the very place where his own journey into dance began. Born in Cameroon, he learnt English at boarding school before a move to east London, aged 12. “ t was a it different – was standing up to ask questions, which puzzled the other students here,” said Dickson. “But boarding school was great for me, it gave me strong resilience and taught me a lot about life and independence – how to take care of myself on my own – and I’m grateful for that.” After football at West Ham didn’t work out, Dickson got his first jo at c onald’s efore embarking on an apprenticeship to become an IT technician. However, while out in Stratford, a chance meeting set him ultimately on a different path. “In African culture, dance is not considered a viable source of income or a career to follow,” said Dickson. “You should be a doctor or a lawyer – something with high status. “I was 18 or 19 and I met a girl who was dressed unusually, with her hair up in a particular way. I asked her why and she said she was going to a dance class at Stratford Circus. She invited me to
come. I was going because I liked her. At the class, I met a lot of people into all sorts of dance and I thought it was amazing. “Then I had to do an improvisation, a freestyle. I’d grown up watching Michael Jackson so I though I could do something like that. I was just joking around, trying to impress that girl, but the teacher invited me to another class at Pineapple Studios. “At first said no, then found out the girl was going to be there, so I signed up. It was a Saturday, my first time on the entral line on my own. “I grew up in Manor Park and Forest Gate – you go to Stratford or maybe Hackney, you don’t go anywhere else. Being in Covent arden was different for me. “We went in to do the class. There were lots of routines I couldn’t pick up – I didn’t want to look stupid in front of the girl or the teacher, so I pretended I needed the toilet and left. “But just outside there was a group of guys body popping. Their performance drew me in. I wanted to know how people could move their muscles like that, how they could have control of their bodies to that degree. “I stopped thinking about the girl and started to ask them about the dance. They told me what it was called, how it was started in the late 1960s, early 1970s, via James Brown. I didn’t know this music. “All I knew was hip-hop from the 1990s, r’n’b, nothing else. I had heard a bit of jazz and classical music, but nothing like this. That was my introduction to dance.” Dickson pursued his passion in his spare time, dancing with friends around London and in Newham, entering and winning competitions. But it was meeting Stuart Thomas during a class in Graham Technique at Danceworks that proved fateful. “He said that I had talent, but it needed to be nurtured and that I should go to school to learn how to look after my body,” said Dickson. “That coming twice a week to his class wasn’t going to cut it. “I said no – I was African, I couldn’t imagine what my parents would say, but Stuart was quite cunning. Without my knowledge, he filled out an application for Lewisham College and he told me I should go down there to try a class that was being taught by
coming
full
Dickson’s Tellus is set to be performed in east London from October 21-24
Image by Luc Lodder
Images by RULA except where stated
Wharf Life Oct 7-21, 2026 wharf-life.com
51
Stratford - Mile End - Bow - Hackney Wick
Image by Luc Lodder
his friend. e said ’d fit right in. went and there were some people knew ut something was weird – everyone had num ers on. “ t turned out to e an audition. he only reason didn’t walk out was ecause, having won some competitions, ’d uilt up some street cred and, at , didn’t want the younger dancers who were there to say ’d chickened out. or the allet, just copied the girl ne t to me – it was the first time ’d ever had a class. “ ut then did some contempo rary and ja , which was just like street dance. t was my thing and, at the end, was given a full time place. Supported y his future wife, the dancer, ulia hen, ickson made the tough decision to uit his jo and study. hen another moment of good fortune struck. “ went on to study for a A and, while was a student, performed an improvisation at Sadler’s Wells and the choreog rapher, ussell aliphant, saw me and offered me a jo , said ickson. “Upon hearing who it was, the principal of the school was at said should take the opportunity ecause people trained from the age of 1 to get that chance. spent eight years dancing with ussell and really got my choreographic education from him. “ e taught me how to stand in the lights, how to use dancers in an organic way, so it doesn’t feel jarring to the ody, or look weird when you see it. e’s worked in so many genres of dance, so also learnt to ring those different worlds together – he’s my iggest in uence in dance.
F Dancer, choreographer and composer, Dickson Mbi Image by Foteini Christofilopoulou
or Tellus, ickson is ack at Sadler’s Wells – this time at its Stratford venue – to present a work that touches on his own child hood and his e perience of ecoming a father. “ t’s really nice to e a le to show this work in east ondon, he said. “Tellus means other arth in atin. n my son was one and was putting him to ed. “ he year was very hot, with lots of forest fires happening, lots of droughts in Somalia, for e ample – my rain was full of all this information. was wondering what could do to soothe him and put him to ed. “ hen remem ered a story my parents used to tell me a out the goddess of water, and that’s when the whole idea for Tellus started to come up. “ ifferent melodies started to come into my rain – songs knew as a child – and thought this was a starting point. was thinking a out how could ring a kid up in this world right now. “When you ecome a dad, you
I think Tellus is one of the best things I’ve done. It had live music, which I’ve composed – I’ve always wanted to bring my music and dance together
what’s on
things to do, places to go, people to see Where? Cart And Horses Stratford
Dickson Mbi, choreographer
start thinking a out all these cra y things – it’s not just a out you any more. So you have all these uestions a out how we connect to our igger mother, the earth. “If Enowate was more a out my own iography, my African ness and my ast nd ness, this new piece is a out how see the world, what we’re doing and how we can create space for the ne t generation. “ think Tellus is one of the est things ’ve done. t has live music, which ’ve composed – ’ve always wanted to ring my music and dance together in e actly the way want it. “ he melodies come from spending time with my son, ut there are also elements of grief in the mi too. aving the opportu nity to present this in Stratford is one of those emotional moments for me and ’m really proud to e doing it. “ ’m not dancing in it person ally and it’s really hard to uild a piece like this. ot every ody has my ackground, my training and my ody. t’s a long process, it’s not een easy and there have een several iterations with different performers, ut it’s een so rewarding. “ he group we have are ama ing artists and they do what need them to way etter than could have done it. “What hope, when people come to see it is not that they understand the work, ut that they feel it. “ want them to feel connected to the story and what ’m trying to e press. his is my first time ack in Stratford and it feels like ’m coming home and it’s great to e ack. key details Tellus y ickson i is set to run at Sadler’s Wells ast in Stratford from cto er 1 . erformances will take place at . pm and tickets start at 1 . Go to sadlerswells.com for more information or to book
Scan this code to find out more about Tellus
GIG | Sinners Sermon The Sheffield band headline a relentless evening of heavy metal from the north with Raptorgeist, Deadly Changes and a mystery guest also coming down. Oct 28, 7pm, from £5.50, cartandhorses.london Where? The Yard Theatre Hackney Wick
STAGE | Dirty Little Mark Part of the theatre’s Live Drafts season, this overgrown baby in a soiled hand-me-down nightie promises to present an unflushed toilet of a semi-fictional memoir. Oct 30, 5pm, £12.50, theyardtheatre.co.uk Where? Stratford East Stratford
STAGE | Surinderella Expect an evening of laughter and romance as the traditional story gets an injection of Bollywood complete with Harpz Kaur’s Devi Godmother. Oct 20-31, times vary, from £10, stratfordeast.com
try this
Cosy Club Westfield Stratford City has opened its doors complete with a ton of golden decoration, velvet drapes and good value food. Despite the airy, grandness of the venue, the restaurant and bar is well worth a visit cosyclub.co.uk Scan this code to find out more about the Cosy Club Westfield Stratford City or to make a booking want more? @wharfwhispers
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Wharf Life Oct 7-21, 2026 wharf-life.com
Crossword - Sudoku
Sudoku
Take a break from that phone How to play To complete Sudoku, fill the board by entering numbers one to nine such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely. More to play You can find more Sudoku puzzles and a wide selection of other brainteasers available to download for free at puzzles.ca last issue’s solution Sept 23-Oct 7
Notes
crossword beating the
Cryptic
Notes
Conversation with cooked meat in Kent (7) 2. Breaks down food to create compendia (7) . ue to affect opinion? (6) 5. Greek hero catches a cold on a choppy ocean (8) 6. Hide booze in an automotive device (6) 7. Friendly crockery, but only in east London (6) 13. Self-contradictory noun, not doing it when you are (8) 1 . nfant comes first in ancient city (7) 15. Confused about duties? It’s almost measured (7) 16. Invigorating trouser supports? Two of them? (6) 17. I see a tail, we hear, in sloping script (6) 19. Just the device to treat a medical condition (6)
4. Do away with (7) 8. Of cattle (6) 9. Suspend activities (7) 10. Covent ___ (6) 11. Mountain goats (6) 12. Surgical cut (8) 18. Great Fire memorial (8) 20. Spanish dance (6) 21. ____ Lock or Market (6) 22. Everlasting (7) 23. Delight (6) 24. Attired (7)
Down
1. She had a party (7) 2. Greed (7) 3. Comes in (6) 5. Sheets, etc (8) 6. Untie (6) 7. Oxford ____ (6) 1 . Sacrifice 8 14. Expressionless (7) 15. Livingstone’s pal (7) 16. Medic (6) 17. Rubbish (6) 19. Employable (6) Set by Everden
Quick Solution
1.
UK bounder falling away before common era (7) 8, 10. Canine coat cures next morning feeling (4,2,3,3) 9. Tea with a smile? That’s annoyingly distressing (7) 10. See 8 acc. 11. Country of gold? No, a carriage (6) 12. Type of road that carries blood? (8) 18. Take out muscles from religious text (8) 20. Northern curve approval, almost (6) 21. Scottish river and lad in turmoil did as they’re told (6) 22. Sounds like you applaud a demand for compensation (7) 23. Remove cola from gummed up 6 down (6) 24. A sash can conceal bins for rubbish (7)
Across: 4 Abolish; 8 Bovine; 9 Adjourn; 10 Garden; 11 Ibexes; 12 Incision; 18 Monument; 20 Bolero; 21 Camden; 22 Eternal; 23 Please; 24 Dressed. Down: 1 Abigail; 2 Avarice; 3 Enters; 5 Bedlinen; 6 Loosen; 7 Street; 13 Immolate; 14 Deadpan; 15 Stanley; 16 Doctor; 17 Debris; 19 Usable.
4.
Across
Cryptic Solution
Down
Quick
Across: 4 Cadence; 8, 10 Hair Of The Dog; 9 Chagrin; 11 Landau; 12 Arterial; 18 Abstract; 20 Arctic; 21 Obeyed; 22 Acclaim; 23 Decoke; 24 Ashcans. Down: 1 Chatham; 2 Digests; 3 Colour; 5 Achilles; 6 Engine; 7 Chinas; 13 Inaction; 14 Babylon; 15 Studied; 16 Braces; 17 Italic; 19 Tablet.
Across
whether you’re cryptic sleuth or synonym solver in it for quick wins, this should satisfy
Oct 7-21, 2026 wharf-life.com
Training
for life
SPECIAL COVER
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THE WHARF
H Y R O X | P E R F O R M A N C E T R A I N I N G | R E C O V E R Y | R E F O R M E R P I L AT E S
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SPECIAL COVER
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H Y R O X | P E R F O R M A N C E T R A I N I N G | R E C O V E R Y | R E F O R M E R P I L AT E S
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