Issuu

+ How you can discover more about finds on the shores of the Thames Page 4

Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

inside issue 169

The Garnet Studio - Crosswords London Homebuilding And Renovating Show Bloodsport: After Helen Of Troy - Sudoku Woolwich Works Big Beer Festival Isso Prawn Crazy - Pitch-A-Friend La Vista - Gail’s - Eshu At The Crossroads 10 Cabot Square - Death Note The Musical David Lefebvre Sell - Uniqlo

coming

how Bamboo Mat is set to bring Nikkei cuisine to Canary Wharf as it expands beyond Stratford Pages 6-9

Call our team on 020 7205 4021 or email cmiller@kiddrapinet.co.uk, Image supplied by Bamboo Mat

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

kiddrapinet.co.uk

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

read

feast your eyes on these

what’s on

things to do, places to go, people to see Where? Montgomery Square Canary Wharf

DINE | The Lunch Market There are just five Thursday summer Lunch Markets left in the current run, so now’s the time to get making those plans for an office visit. Until Sept 24, noon-2.30pm, canarywharf.com

Welcome to issue 169 of Wharf Life. It’s time to take a bite out of life and anticipate the flavours to come, whether that’s looking forward to the arrival of Bamboo Mat in Canary Wharf, picking shelfish at Isso Prawn Crazy, trying a deeply filled roll at Gail’s or savouring the pasta at La Vista...

Boisdale is set to host its first early morning coffee rave on Sept 16

Where? Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place

EVENT | Highclere Castle Negroni Famed as the location for Downton Abbey, the real resident of Highclere, Lord Carnarvon, is set to host a tasting of cocktails made with the estate’s gin. Sept 22, 5pm, £20, boisdale.co.uk

We catch up with Bamboo Mat’s owners as they get ready to open on the Wharf

Where? Everyman Canary Wharf Crossrail Place

FILM | Transformers: The Movie This 40th anniversary cut of the 1986 animated classic promises to still “hit like a truck” as it returns to screens in 4k. Includes a drink and popcorn. Sept 20, 6.15pm, £20.10, everymancinema.com

The Garnet Studio has opened in Canning Town, offering Reformer Pilates, HIIT, Yoga and sound baths as it targets an holistic, supportive approach to health and fitness

flash back

How punchy flavours make a trip to Isso Prawn Crazy well worth it

the joy of six

30 Circle Collective in Jubilee Place has executed a partial pivot to speciality coffee, offering some of the best value on the Wharf while training the next generation of baristas. Go down, order and support... circlecollective.org Scan this code to read Wharf Life’s interview with the team and find out more about the charity’s work want more? @wharfwhispers

Stratford East takes on the aftermath of Troy as Bloodsport begins its run

How Woolwich Works Big Beer Festival is set to bring the brews to the venue

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 21

get in touch

correct us

Editorial email jon.massey@wharf-life.com call 07765 076 300 Advertising email jess.maddison@wharf-life.com call 07944 000 144

Our editorial team works hard to ensure all information printed in Wharf Life is truthful and accurate. Should you spot any errors that slip through the net or wish to raise any issues about the content of the publication, please get in touch and we will investigate

Go to wharf-life.com for more information

Email info@wharf-life.com

we want to hear from you

need something fixed?

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf - West India Quay

on the radar

doing the deals

need to know

get more for less on and around the Wharf

£5

Canary Wharf is getting a new pub, with The Tallyman set to open its doors on September 10. Promising traditional bar service, a warm welcome and plenty of seafood on its terrace, the venue will be located in Chancellor Passage where the Post Office used to be thetallyman.co.uk

21 CWG has officially revealed that Uniqlo is set to open an extensive new store in Jubilee Place, opposite Circle Collective at the western end of the mall. The Japanese fashion retailer has yet to announce an opening date, but we’ll keep you posted uniqlo.com

Enjoy selected wine, pints and Prosecco for £5 a glass at Dockside Bar And Kitchen every day until September 30 from 5pm until close next to Sea Lanes Canary Wharf sealanescanarywharf.co.uk

Eshu At The Crossroads aims to delight young audiences with mischief

How Death Note The Musical is a satisfying take on the hit manga

subscribe to our Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly

£5 13

TRIED + TESTED Ham, Cheese And Pickle Roll Gail’s gails.com

This offering from Gail’s costs £6.90 to take away or £8.20 to eat in the cafe

It’s a sign of the times, perhaps, that I just tapped my phone on the machine to pay at Gail’s without checking the bill. The total didn’t seem completely unreasonable. After all, we had decided to dine in, incurring a 20% VAT hit. On closer inspection of the receipt, though, it turned out one item had been duplicated by accident, with staff at Gail’s in Crossrail Place rapidly providing a refund and an apology. Still, even with £6.30 back in the kitty, there’s no denying that a visit to one of the brand’s cafe’s is a financial commitment

and one that teeters on the line of value. True, my roll is generously packed with ham and gherkins and that the single slice of Swiss Lady cheese does a lot of the heavy lifting flavour wise. It’s also the case that the bap containing these ingredients is soft, yielding and pleasantly studded with crystals of sea salt. Pretty good. But, whatever “mustard butter” is, it fails to register on the tongue and somehow there’s just a niggling doubt that at £8.20, someone’s being taken for a ride. ★★★✩✩ Jon Massey

Head to 640 East’s Water Street branch on a Friday and sip a cool, bitter Negroni for £5, made with East London Liquor Company gin. Available from 4pm-11pm 640east.co.uk

Michael Holmes of the London Homebuilding And Renovating Show offers some tips on both improving and creating dwellings as Excel London prepares to host

MADE TO PLAY GUITAR Guitar lessons rooted in musical connection and community.

BOOK YOUR FREE TRIAL GUITAR LESSON 8 East Lane, Harbord Square, Canary Wharf, E14 9PQ KITCHENJAM.COM

@KITCHENJAMOFFICIAL

07700 177353

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf - West India Quay

write me

words you don’t know you need

lowetrage noun, fake, from Latin subscribe to our FREE Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly

The practice of posting short, inflammatory bursts of xenophobic and racist content with the aim of generating anger, outrage and support to get paid more and more money by the tech platforms that celebrate such bile...

WAKE UP Coffee Rave Boisdale Of Canary Wharf boisdale.co.uk

nescience noun, real, from Latin

A formal or literary term dating from the 1600s, this word is due a rebirth, perhaps as a term for all the nonsense posted on the internet, scraped by AI and fed back to us in place of robust, sensible information...

diary dates, listings and ideas to make life in Canary Wharf sweeter.. VALUABLE FINDS Mudlarking Weekend London Museum Docklands londonmuseum.org.uk

The Cabot Square bar and restaurant is set to host its first ever early morning Coffee Rave. Starting at 6.30am on September 16, the event kicks off with freshly brewed cups of the black stuff followed by 45 minutes on the dance floor from 7am, complete with beats from a DJ and a live saxophonist. Guests can expect “big morning energy” whether they’re turning up with friends or solo to groove their way into the day. Tickets for the event cost £10 and should be pre-booked.

The West India Quay institution has lined up a pair of talks from Alessio Checconi and Nicola White, pictured, as it turns its focus to the practice of combing the Thames foreshore. Visitors can expect tales of finds and far flung places as they book in for the sessions at 2pm on September 26 and 27 respectively. Tickets cost £12 for each talk and both last 60 minutes.

Welcome back Sarah! How can I help you? Can you email me my recent statement? Sure, I am emailing the statement now.

Personlise your customer self-service. Conversational AI experts helping your customers first time, anytime, everytime.

Book your demo at www.creativevirtual.com || info@creativevirtual.com || 020 7719 8332

With tickets almost sold out, you’ll need to move fast to secure a spot at arguably the Wharf’s most extraordinary gig SONIC RECOGNITION The Boisdale Music Awards Boisdale Of Canary Wharf boisdale.co.uk Only a few premium tickets remain for £275 per head for this blockbuster evening on September 23. Hosted by the venue’s patron of music, Jools Holland, the 14th annual event of its kind brings together a diverse selection of acts and winners, many of whom perform on the night. Running from 6pm until late, nobody’s ever quite sure exactly what will happen, but previous attendees have included the likes of Rebecca Ferguson, Gregory Porter, Maxi Priest, Kathy Sledge and the Alabama 3...

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

Plan for tomorrow on your terms With egg freezing at Lister Fertility Clinic, you can plan for your future with confidence, supported by our leading fertility specialists and flexible appointments across London.

Find us at: The Lister Hospital The Portland Hospital Satellite locations Canary Wharf Outpatients The Beaconsfield Clinic The Shard Outpatients Scan the QR code to find out more

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf - West India Quay

how Bamboo Mat is set to bring Nikkei cuisine to the Wharf as cultures come together

Floors of a building in North Lane that Bamboo Mat will extend across Bamboo Mat will be the first restaurant in Canary Wharf to serve Nikkei cuisine, Peruvian food that takes inspiration from Japanese cooking

by Jon Massey

lready it’s hard to remember a time when East Village in Stratford wasn’t a thriving community. What was once the athlete’s village for the 2012 Olympic Games has become both an attractive place to live and a sustainable home for hospitality businesses. That the likes of Darkhorse, Signorelli and La Gelatiera have all been trading for more than a decade, is no small achievement in a turbulent sector. Having truly come alive over the last year, there’s a sense something similar is happening to the food and drink scene at the eastern end of Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf. Ong Lai Kopitaim, Mama Li, Cafe Seek and Signorelli have all proved popular since launching, while Osteria Al Molo and Lockdown are finding their feet. Beam, a rapid re-brand of Nora London from the same owners, is also attracting all-day diners, having moved towards more brunch-friendly fare. Walk through on a sunny weekend and you’ll find al fresco tables packed with Wharfers enjoying food and drinks from across the world as awareness rises. With more rental properties on the estate due to come on stream through Vertus, it feels like an auspicious place to expand to. That’s very much the hope of Denis Gobjila and Victor Rosca, co-owners of Bamboo Mat, who are aiming for a September opening next door to Beam. Born in a small unit in Leyton in 2022, their first Bamboo Mat achieved runaway success following a glowing review from Grace Dent in The Guardian. This allowed them to quickly open a bigger site in Stratford, which has been their focus ever since and continues to grow steadily despite pressures in the industry. Now it’s time to branch out and their plans are for a venue unlike anything else on the estate. “What we are building will be one of the nicest restaurants in Canary Wharf,” said Denis. continued on Page 8

Image supplied by Bamboo Mat

balancing the

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

BOOK TICKETS FROM £10 AT LONDON-OKOBERFEST.CO.UK

FINSBURY PARK OCTOBER 1-3

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

from Page 6 “It will be a journey. Customers are not going to come just for the food, but will be excited by what they’re seeing, hearing and feeling. “Gynda Gourmet Hospitality Management group has overseen the design based on the combination of two cultures – Japanese and Peruvian, which is at the root of the Nikkei cuisine we serve. “We’ll be recreating the beautiful Rainbow Mountain – the restaurant will have the feel of a house in the Peruvian highlands. “Everything is hand-made, with wood as the key material. We’re having chairs carved especially for us – there’s an artist working on them for us non-stop.” It’s not just the furniture. Bamboo Mat takes great pride in presentation, with all the ceramics used in the restaurant handthrown in Denis’ native Moldova to create backdrops to the restaurant’s dishes. Overall, the approach is similar to the style of food that will be on offer – an exacting approach to high quality ingredients that fuses into a result that’s more than the sum of its parts. Nikkei cuisine is all about the delicacy of Japanese preparation married with the fiery vibrancy and crunch of Peruvian cooking. For Denis and Victor, that looks like an 82-cover restaurant that features a raw bar and cocktail bar on its ground floor and a robata grill, hot kitchen and sushi operation upstairs. When it opens it will be the only establishment serving dishes of this kind on the estate. “Canary Wharf will have a menu that is a 90% match to our Stratford restaurant, but there will be some differences,” said Denis. “We’ll have the charcoal grill, which is a nice update and we’ll have ceviche and our signature salads downstairs so people can enjoy them with a glass of Champagne. “Bamboo Mat is really a sharing concept so people can try as many flavours as possible – there will be our take on sushi, teriyaki and tiradito.” Victor added: “The bar will

Bamboo mat is really a sharing concept so people can try as many flavours as possible – there will be our take on sushi, teriyaki, tiradito Denis Gobjila, Bamboo Mat

Covers the Canary Wharf branch of Bamboo Mat will accommodate when it opens in the coming weeks

An artist’s impression of how the Canary Wharf restaurant and its robata grill, right, will look when in operation

Yuzu Cheesecake

Chicken Anticucho

The Wood Wharf site

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf - West India Quay

Denis Gobjila

Victor Rosca Image supplied by Bamboo Mat

Image supplied by Bamboo Mat

Sushi and cerviche at Bamboo Mat

serve wine, all kinds of spirits and, of course, Peruvian cocktails and other drinks that match with our food. “We like our dishes to always be balanced when it comes to texture and taste. My favourite on the menu is the Chicken Anticucho, which is flavoured with coriander and mashed potato. “There are 25 ingredients on the plate including produce from Peru and the Amazon. Using those in balance is what we’re always trying to do as chefs and it’s one of the most difficult parts of the job – we know we did it right when we see empty plates. “If we can keep doing that, I’m confident we’ll do well in Canary Wharf.” Bamboo Mat itself is, perhaps, a venture that could only have emerged in London. A pair of European chefs cut their teeth in the capital at the likes of Sushisamba, Inamo, Lucky Cat and Roka before meeting at trailblazing Nikkei restaurant Chotto Matte. They team up in east London to cook food inspired by a South American reinvention of Japanese cuisine and go on to successfully grow and expand. It’s a fusion of multiple, potent ingredients. “We started out by wanting to make something we are proud of – to create and deliver good food and, if you do that in the right way, then money follows,” said Denis. “Hospitality is a big challenge for everyone and the bills are massive, so we have to be careful, but alongside the stress comes happiness. “We want to become the best restaurant in Canary Wharf, to make everyone happy after a day in the office and we’ll do that by offering really good quality at the right price. “One of the trends we’ve noticed is that people like to dine out at restaurants in the neighbourhoods where they live so they don’t have to travel after dining. If you create a nice atmosphere, then that will attract customers. “Everything at Bamboo Mat is going to be open, so guests will see how we cook and create what we’re serving.” key details Bamboo Mat is set to open at North Lane between Union Square and Harbord Square in Wood Wharf in September. Go to bamboo-mat.co.uk or follow @bamboomat_canarywharf for more information

Scan this code to find out more about Bamboo Mat

Dishes use a wide variety of ingredients to bring out the flavours Image supplied by Bamboo Mat

Images by Jon Massey / Wharf Life unless stated

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

£19

Starting price for a prawn-based main at Isso Prawn Crazy in Canary Wharf’s 25 Cabot Square

how the quality of the food and cooking are anything but mad at Isso Prawn Crazy in Canary Wharf by Jon Massey

The Giant Freshwater Prawns with Negombo Curry at Isso

Calm sanity: The mezzanine at Isso Prawn Crazy

Images by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

ransplanting a brand from one culture to another can be tricky. Isso Prawn Crazy is a brand born in Sri Lanka with a name that translates as “Prawns Prawn Crazy”. The mild nod to madness and insanity stands very much at odds to the refined reality of what’s on offer here. This is no fast food, bargain bucket seafood joint where the owner would be crazy to charge the prices on the menu. No, Isso is something else entirely. The restaurant interior is an interesting blend of maximal and minimal. There are rich, painterly murals on its walls, celebrating the main ingredient. But the tables and the layout are spare and spacious – this is not a restaurant where tables are crammed in to maximise profit. There’s a light and airy ground floor – a marked change from the dark corridor feel of wine bar Vagabond, which previously operated from the unit. Upstairs there’s a mezzanine with upholstered booths and a semi-private dining room overlooking the waters of Eden Dock. The staff are excellent. Polite, well-drilled and efficient. There’s a clean, fresh simplicity to the whole experience that has the reassuring scent of quality. The overall feel is of a frame, carefully constructed to allow the main attraction to shine – the food itself. It is possible to dine at Isso without eating prawns but, really, what would be the point? The shelfish form the backbone of the menu – wild-caught sea varieties that support fishers in Sri Lanka through direct import and freshwater giants that are farmed but demand attention. We start, however, with Mutton Rolls and Cuttlefish Fritto (both £12). The former are powerfully spiced and pepped up even further with Sri Lankan chilli ketchup. Dipping is very much the order of the day here and the crispy strips of cuttlefish come with their own passion fruit, mango and chilli batch. Isso is unabashed in its use of spice, something diners will relish in the face of often bland

dupes at less adventurous outlets. This also applies to our mains. Diners are encouraged to pick one of four types of prawn, select a sauce and then add a side. Depending on the base, these range in price from £19 to £45 and we can’t resist the Giant Freshwater Prawns at £35 for 250g (for a tenner more you get double the weight). Our shelfish are sauced with Jaffna and Negombo Curries and are delivered with ghee-laced rice and a flaky parotta for mopping up. They come fork-ready but served in a split, giant prawn shell with blue-tinged claws framing the plate. The cooking is seriously good. Both sauces sit at different distances to the fire, the Jaffna searingly hot to water the eyes, and the Negombo an earthier, sweeter affair. The portions are large. The carbs sit alongside the protein in good measure, serving to offset a little of the spice in partnership with the stars of the show. Rounding things off, the jiggling Wattalapam arrives with sweet little flowers for an irresistible £10. This fragrant set custard is drenched in jaggery, cardamom and cashew nuts that deliver just a little resistance alongside the sugary creaminess. Our bill per head is £57, although there are plenty of ways to eat for less at Isso and this is a restaurant that really deserves a good go. There’s a lot to get stuck into, not least the imported Sri Lankan drinks and beers, which layer on further feelings of authenticity. So, look past the name, make a booking and tuck in. You’d be crazy not to. ★★★★✩ key details Isso Prawn Crazy is located on the ground floor of 25 Cabot Square overlooking Cubitt Steps and Eden Dock to the east and south. The restaurant is open from 11am until 10pm on weekdays and 11pm at weekends. Go to prawncrazy.co.uk Scan this code to find out more about Isso Prawn Crazy

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

Canary Wharf - West India Quay

Blocked Ears? Muﬄed Hearing? Ear Bud User? Itching or Irritation?

Ear wax removal & specialist advice £85 for the complete service

scan this code to book an appointment with EarLab

Specialists in Ear Microsuction

earlab.co.uk | 020 3951 1888

eMed, Cabot Place, Canary Wharf, E14 4QT

Flash fried cuttlefish is served with a passion fruit, mango and chilli dip to spice things up

opening the

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. Mutton Rolls (£12) come with a punchy ketchup

020 7205 2896 AY L ES B URY

kiddrapinet.co.uk FA RN H A M

H IG H W YCOM B E

LOND ON

M A ID E NH E A D

S LOU G H

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

Elizabeth Line

£34

The starting price of a ticket to see Death Note at the Barbican, a short hop from Canary Wharf on the Elizabeth Line via Liverpool Street

writing the

Death Note The Musical is set to run at the Barbican until September 12

Image by Manuel Harlan

how Death Note The Musical turns a much-loved manga into a stunning stage show by Jess Maddison

eath Note The Musical, first performed in London in 2023 as a concert, is back in the capital, this time with a full staging at the Barbican. For those of us who missed out the first time round, it joins a growing trend of musicals based on books that don’t obviously lend themselves to song and dance numbers – Trainspotting, I’m looking at you. But, like Adrian Mole: The Musical, I’ve been surprised before – those clever adaptors know how to have a character burst into a ballad without it seeming unnatural. Death Note itself started in print as a manga in 2003 and has since become an anime series, a film and a TV show. The premise is that Shinigami – death gods from Japanese folklore – each possess a notebook and if a person’s name is written into it, then that individual will die. One Shinigami – Ryuk – seeks more excitement than an eternity condemning mortals, however, and drops their notebook into the human world. Meanwhile on Earth a student named Light Yagami, is angered by

the lack of fairness in the criminal justice system. Light finds Ryuk’s notebook and begins writing down the names of people who are guilty of crimes, taking justice into his own hands and earning the nickname Kira in the media. One of the fatalities is the murderer of popstar Misa’s parents. Having been given her own notebook by a Shinigami called Rem, Misa is able to find Light and pledges to help him rid the world of criminals. Naturally, this attracts the attention of the National Police Agency Of Japan and a great detective, known simply as: “L”. Through attempting to remain undiscovered, Light’s power goes to his head until his actions are no longer about righteousness. On stage, Xander Pang portrays Light’s arrogance and intelligence beautifully, while Colin Ryan embodies L’ s appearance and mannerisms perfectly. Tokyo’s neon signs in the rain provide the ideal backdrop to the dark story at play and the costumes – particularly the Shinigami – create an enthralling illusion to effectively pull the viewer into the story. The songs are far from the usual, light-hearted west end musical ditties and their inclusion adds to the drama of the plot, rather than pausing the

The performance is exhilarating and I found my loyalties switching back and forth in a show that’s great fun and captivating to the end. Go and see it while you can – you’ll probably catch me in the audience again Jess Maddison, What Life

action. Fans of the manga will be relieved the story has retained Ryuk’s humour, Misa’s manic devotion and Rem’s indomitable compassion. While the stage show strays from plot of the original stories – something not unexpected in a show that lasts two hours when there are 12 volumes to cover – the musical doesn’t leave me unsatisfied. Much the opposite, in fact. The performance is exhilarating and I find my loyalties switching back and forth in a show that’s great fun and captivating to the end. Go and see it while you can – you’ll probably catch me in the audience again. ★★★★✩ key details Death Note The Musical is set to run at the Barbican until September 12. Standard tickets start at £34. The show lasts two hours plus a 20-minute interval, with performances at 7.30pm and at 2.30pm on Thursdays and Saturdays. Go to deathnotethemusical.com Scan this code to find out more about Death Note The Musical

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

Limehouse - Wapping - Whitechapel - Tower Hill

£9

Cost of a ticket to see Eshu At The Crossroads at Half Moon Theatre in Limehouse Eshu At The Crossroads is set for two performances in east London in September

what’s on

things to do, places to go, people to see Where? Wapping Rose Garden Wapping

EVENT | Wapping Taskforce Open Day This community event offers the public the chance to meet officers and animals working for the Met as well as access to the Wapping Marine Museum, pictured. Sept 5, 10am-3pm, free, metengage.co.uk Where? Troxy Limehouse

GIG | Asim Azhar The Pakistani singer, songwriter, musician and actor is set to come to east London, building on his YouTube successes. VIP packages are available. Sept 20, 7pm, from £77.65, troxy.co.uk Where? Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping

Images by Katherine Mager

exploring the

STAGE | Private Peaceful Michael Morpurgo’s novel returns to the stage via a single performer, Benjamin Cain, bringing all the characters to life as he explores the horrors of war. Sept 21-23, times vary, from £12.50, wiltons.org.uk

aquatic visit

how Eshu At The Crossroads blends Yoruba myth with dance, puppetry and performance in a show for ages 5+ by Jon Massey

ids aged 5+ and their carers are invited on a journey to a mysterious crossroads, guarded by a magical rooster, where a traveller must decide which path to follow. This is the premise of Eshu At The Crossroads, in which the eponymous trickster employs all his mischief to bamboozle and delight the individual who has arrived in his domain.

Inspired by Yoruba culture, mythology and storytelling, the show brings dance, puppetry and live performance together to create a world where each path taken can lead to joy and new ways of seeing the world. The production is a collaboration between Afro-Cuban choreographer Miguel Altunaga and puppet masters Theatre-Rites, promising audiences a vibrant family adventure that comes with a generous dose of humour and surprise. It’s billed as ideal for adventurous kids and their families.

key details Two performances of Eshu At The Crossroads are set to take place on September 19 at Half Moon Theatre in Limehouse. Tickets for the shows, at 11am and 2pm cost £9 and it lasts 45 minutes. Go to halfmoon.org.uk for more information

Scan this code to find out more about the show

St Katharine Docks is set to host The Classic Boat Festival on September 12 and 13, featuring more than 50 historic vessels. Entry to the event, which runs from 10.30am-5pm on both days, is free skdocks.co.uk Scan this code to find out more about the festival, which also includes talks and presentations want more? @wharfwhispers

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

£13.40

Cost of the Penne La Vista at the Isle Of Dogs restaurant, which can be found just off Marsh Wall at Skylines Village

what’s on

things to do, places to go, people to see Where? Theatreship Isle Of Dogs

GIG | ANTONÍ (duo) Expect poetic folk songs with cinematic arrangements as the lead singer reinterprets tracks from her debut album, Holding Tight Lightly. Sept 20, 7pm-9.30pm, free, theatreship.co.uk Where? The Space Isle Of Dogs

COMEDY | Marty Gleeson Headlining the next Comedy In (The) Space night, Marty is joined by Leah Davis, MC Matt Price and an open spot from Sri Lankan Tamil comic Myu Mano. Sept 18, 7.30pm, £20, space.org.uk Where? Poplar Union Poplar

TRY | Life Drawing With Costumed Models House Of Community hosts a session with bodies draped in clothes picked for their texture and shape. Timed poses and all materials provided. Sept 16, 6pm-8pm, £12, poplarunion.com The restaurant boasts a

catch it

covered terrace to protect diners from the elements

The University Of Sunderland In London’s Elevate programme has been developed to help graduates achieve their career goals through paid internships and targeted support and advice london.sunderland.ac.uk Scan this code to read our interview with Hermione Penny of UOSiL to find out more about the scheme want more? @wharfwhispers

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

Isle Of Dogs - Poplar - Blackwall - Leamouth

how La Vista’s full flavours and well presented cooking sits alongside a cocktail operation that needs work by Jon Massey

y recent visit to La Vista – opened relatively recently on the Isle Of Dogs – is very much an experience of pros stacked against cons. Set back from the road towards the eastern end of Marsh Wall amid the sharp spikes of Skylines Village, the restaurant and bar occupy a unit that previously housed La Nina Mercato And Cafe. Also Italian, the new business boasts a smart decking area, exposed filament light bulbs and padded leather seating. We pick a table, which is hastily wiped down, and are presented with a couple of somewhat battered paper menus. After ordering cocktails these are nearly seized, but we manage to convince the waiter to leave them so we can actually order some food. Following a lengthy wait, our Red Is First Choice (£13) and curiously named Tequila And Tequila (£12) arrive and we’re permitted to place an order for food. Pizza is off. The drinks themselves are curious beasts and both appear to be missing key ingredients. My T’N’T has a horse-kick of spirit, a hint of lime juice and sweet sugar syrup, but appears to have none of the billed lemonade for that bit of fizz. My companion’s glass is filled with an eye-wateringly sour concoction which (probably) includes vodka and certainly a great deal of lime juice that the alleged presence of some sugar syrup completely fails to offset. It’s garnished with mint, rather than the promised fresh strawberries – not an easy mistake to make. What, we wonder, will the food turn out to be like, if this

is the attitude to flavour at the bar? It’s at this point that writing this review becomes a challenge. A beaming chef pops out with two loaded, well-presented plates. The sights and smells are good. I partly ordered my Penne La Vista (£13.40) because it felt the need to specify “savoury sausage” on the menu. But what turns up is no joke. The perfectly cooked pasta tubes are laced with a rich basil pesto, which easily covers a decent portion of sliced meat. The feel is rustic, satisfying and just a little bit fun. My companion’s Risotto Zafferano (£13) is soft and unctuous, shot through with saffron, mushrooms and simply prepared broccoli. Both dishes feel like they come from a different universe to the drinks, a far more pleasant one to inhabit. But then, sat next to a road in what’s essentially a car park, perhaps there’s a place in everyone’s life for a bit of culinary serendipity on a light industrial estate that’s earmarked for redevelopment. So, how to sum up iffy cocktails, diffident service and really very pleasant food? It can only be three stars – better than average thanks to the pleasure of the cooking. ★★★✩✩

The cocktails appeared to be missing key components

contrasting

key details La Vista is located at 27 Skylines Village and, according to Google, is open from 6am-10pm on weekdays and from 7am-10pm at weekends. Go to lavistaonline.co.uk for more information Scan this code to find out more about La Vista

Both the risotto, top left, and penne, left come with a good dusting of parmesan to offset the rich flavours within Images by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

YOUR LOCAL ARTS VENUE

NOW I N OUR 3 0TH YEAR!

CAFÉ-BAR WEEKEND BRUNCH BURGERS & MEZZE QUIZ NIGHTS BOARD GAMES

THEATRE MUSIC COMEDY COMMUNITY HIRE

SPACE.ORG.UK

SCAN FOR

@THESPACE

MUDCHUTE DLR OR CANARY WHARF

@THESPACETHEATRE 020 7515 7799

269 WESTFERRY ROAD ISLE OF DOGS E14 3RS

WHAT’S WHAT A ’S ON AT

135, 277 OR D7 BUSES FROM CANARY WHARF

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey

£8

Cost of signing up to pitch a single friend at the event on September 16 Pitch-A-Friend is set to host an event at Corner Corner in Canada Water

what’s on

things to do, places to go, people to see Where? Deptford Lounge Deptford

EVENT | Roller Disco Enjoy three hours of skating in a space that’s ideal to practise your skills, learn to stand up and everything in between. The third Thursday of each month. From Sept 17, 6pm, donations, thealbany.org.uk Where? Corner Corner Canada Water

EVENT | The Twist This live storytelling event features writers, comedians and others relating tales of all kinds. Expect twists, turns and truth. First drinks cost £5. Sept 10, 7pm-10.30pm, £12, cornercorner.com Where? The Albany Deptford

singles in

KIDS | The Tale Of The Lonliest Whale Suitable for ages 4+ this show from Hoglets Theatre follows a lonesome animal singing in the ocean for connection. Will he find a friend? Sept 20, 6pm, £14.50, thealbany.org.uk

how Pitch-A-Friend showcases singles through the eyes of those who already like them in a bid to boost chances by Jon Massey

rom the streets of Philadelphia, born and raised, comes an event designed to generate romantic relationships without having to resort to swiping on endless apps. Pitch-A-Friend invites people to give a three-to-ﬁve minute slide presentation about a single mate with the aim of sparking amorous interest among those attending. The brand is set to host an event at Corner Corner in Canada Water on September 16, inviting singles and those who know them

to attend and either make their pitches or listen to those of others. The evening is free to attend for spectators, while those pitching pay £8 to secure their spot. Presentations can then be submitted any time up to 24 hours before the event. The evening is only for adults and there is no limit on the age of those being pitched. The organisers do say, however, that while singletons of 67 have been pitched at its events the average age is 31. Following the presentations, attendees are free to mingle and make connections, especially if they’ve heard or seen something they like during a slideshow.

key details Pitch-A-Friend is set to take place at Corner Corner in Canada Water on Wednesday, September 16, from 7.30pm until 1am. The event is free to attend, but costs £8 for people who are pitching. Those interested in hyping up their friends can ﬁnd details of how to do this online. Go to pitch-a-friend.com for more information

Scan this code to find out more about the event

deep lau

The Brunel Museum is set to host Underground Comedy, an evening of gags and routines from stand-ups themed around engineering and subterranean life on Weds, Sept 23, from 6pm-9pm. Tickets from £5 thebrunelmuseum.com Scan this code to find out more about the gig or to book tickets online want more? @wharfwhispers

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

take a breath

Image by Nathan Cowley

by David Lefebvre Sell

Beers that will be on tap at the Woolwich Works Big Beer Festival bar, alongside tipples from six breweries

Northdown Brewery, Bianca Road Brew Co, Big Hug Brewing, Bexley Brewery and Iron Pier will all be taking part in the festival

flowing from the David says limerence, an intense need for emotional connection can be debilitating

he moment that a particular psychological term enters common usage, it starts to be ill used – like the way that everyone’s ex seems to be a narcissist these days. One of the terms I’ve been hearing a lot recently is “limerence”. If you haven’t heard this word before, neither has my spell check. Limerence is an intense need for emotional connection and reciprocation from a particular person. It’s not a crush – the experience of limerence can be debilitating and obsessive, particularly so for people with OCD or ADHD. The difference between limerence and romantic love is that limerence doesn’t require an actual relationship to exist, it’s possible that the “limerent object” is someone you have never met. Like the way I am convinced that The come down from Tom Waits and I could be limerence can be slow. great friends if we only had the chance to meet. People might have If you do know the difficulty believing object of your obsession, then there is the tendency their obsession is to constantly replay any interactions with that not healthy person, looking for signs David Lefebvre Sell of affection or agonising over signs of rejection. This can lead to feelings of shame, especially when the object of that obsession is, well, problematic. For anyone with a low opinion of themselves, the idea of someone amazing showing us affection is a huge boost. But for someone with ADHD, this is especially true because of how their nervous system craves interest and the dopamine hit that comes from it. The experience can be highly addictive. The come down from limerence can be slow, people might have difficulty believing that the obsession is not healthy or has no hope of reciprocity. It’s necessary to take a step back and look at the behaviour as a symptom, it’s a need for approval from the limerent object and the rush of happy brain chemicals involved. Letting go of hope isn’t always a bad thing. But if any of you know Tom Waits socially, please ask him to respond to my letters. David Lefebvre Sell is a Greenwich-based psychotherapist and Yoga instructor who teaches at Third Space in Canary Wharf Follow @davetheyogi on X and Instagram and @DavidLefebvreSellYogaAndPsychotherapy on FB Scan this code for information about David’s work as a transpersonal counsellor and psychotherapist

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

Greenwich - Peninsula - Woolwich

how the Woolwich Works Big Beer Festival is set to flood the south-east London venue with a host of brews by Jon Massey

he Woolwich Works Big Beer Festival is not the largest event of its kind in south-east London. However, it is the venue’s grandest to date, offering some 24 tipples on tap alongside many more from six guest breweries. So branded, according to Woolwich Works, because “Quite A Nice Beer Festival” didn’t sound impressive enough, the event is set to take place on September 19. The format is familiar enough. The programme features street food traders, guided tasting masterclasses, live entertainment and a Big Beer Quiz at 6pm that promises to celebrate brewing, music and general knowledge. The main attraction, of course, will be the drinks, with the festival’s main bar offering of beer and soft options supplemented by brewery pop-ups and a dedicated wine bar for those who prefer to imbibe liquids made from grapes. Five breweries have confirmed their attendance so far – Northdown Brewery, Bianca Road Brew Co, Big Hug Brewing, Bexley Brewery and Iron Pier.

Standard tickets from noon, cost £14, which covers entry to the event. Quiz and tasting tickets can be pre-booked for £2 and £7.50 respectively. The tastings promise the opportunity to sample a selected beer while learning about brewing, ingredients and flavour profiles. If you want some beer included with your ticket, the Premium Tasting Pass option covers three one-third pint tasting pours on selected brews at the festival bar – essentially equivalent to £6 for a pint. Perhaps the best value option, however, is the Evening Finisher Pass, which includes entry from 4pm, half a pint from the festival bar and entry to the quiz, all for £8. key details Woolwich Works Big Beer Festival is set to take place on Saturday, September 19, from noon-11pm. Standard tickets start at £14 with Evening Finisher Passes costing £8. Go to woolwich.works for more information Scan this code to find out more about the event

what’s on

things to do, places to go, people to see Where? The O2 Peninsula

GIG | The Waterboys Featuring country legend Steve Earle and fiddler Steve Wickham, the band bring The Fisherman’s Blues Revue show to south-east London. Sept 12, 6.30pm, from £39, theo2,co.uk Where? Greenwich Theatre Greenwich

STAGE | Buster This hi-octane performance uses cinematic mime and physical theatre to tell the story of silent movie star Buster Keaton from childhood to his late career. Sept 16, 7.30pm, from £11.50, greenwichtheatre.org.uk Where? Old Royal Naval College Greenwich

EVENT | The Greenwich Wellbeing Retreat Enjoy a day of talks, sound baths, reflexology, journaling, Yoga and shopping in the Old Royal Naval College’s extensive spaces. Sept 18, 8am-10pm, £22 (standard entry), ornc.org

famous faces

Greenwich Theatre is set to welcome shows from Dom Joly, John Lydon, Jimmy Nail and Shaun Ryder in its forthcoming season. Book early to avoid disappointment at the box office as the weeks tick by greenwichtheatre.org.uk Scan this code to find full listings for the venue or to book tickets to see the shows listed want more? @wharfwhispers

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

£45

Introductory price of a pack of three classes at The Garnet Studio in Canning Town’s Caxton Works

how The Garnet Studio offers a wide welcome to all with fitness classes firmly rooted in a sense of community by Jon Massey

e picked this gemstone because it has a nice strong colour and we wanted to avoid beige,” said Zee Filho. “We don’t want to look the same as everyone else because we’re not. We know the classical way to teach Reformer Pilates, but we’ve created our own method.” “Our logo has different facets – they represent different parts of a person’s life and we wanted to have a place where people could pay positive attention to them,” added Julio Nadalini. Together the couple are directors of The Garnet Studio – recently opened in Canning Town over two levels in a unit at Caxton Works in Hoy Street. Drenched in a deep, calming red, the space offers Reformer Pilates, Yoga, sound baths and HIIT classes on a daily basis. “We’re originally from Brazil and arrived in London in 2008 during the credit crunch,” said Julio. “The jobs market wasn’t great so we started off in low paid jobs in restaurants and retail, but at some point we decided to move into something else. “Fitness has always been a passion for both of us – we met in the gym, decided to come to the UK and got married in 2010. Instead of travelling we saved money to start our own business here.” Zee added: “I’d been in the army for 10 years and it had got to the point that if I stayed any longer I would have been there forever. “Originally we were only going to come to the UK for six months but then we stayed longer and longer. We learned the language and trained as fitness instructors.” The pair’s first business together was Kore Gallery in Fleet Street, which they ran for a year before relocating successfully to Whitechapel for five years. However, the landlord of the space they were leasing had a different plan for it, so the couple took a step back from fitness for a bit before coming across a unit close to where they’d bought a home, in Canning Town. While Kore had broadly been built to appeal to the LGBTQIA+ community, the aim for Garnet is to welcome everyone with a programme of classes to cater for all levels of fitness and ability.

The two brands, however, do have something else in common – a focus on community. “We want to be welcoming to everybody,” said Julio. “Fitness is about much more than just building muscle mass – it’s about feeling good. “What we want is for people to come here, enjoy their class and then stay for 10 minutes after to get to know each other – we want to create a community. “Sometimes in London, people from the same building might not know each other, but we’ve noticed since we opened that people now come to classes together and everything becomes more friendly. “We don’t make anyone talk to others, we just create an environment where the teachers are nice to people and it allows them to chat freely.”

he Garnet Studio is arranged over two levels. Upstairs on the mezzanine, a line of cutting-edge Reformer Pilates machines await the next class. Downstairs there’s plenty of equipment for high intensity exercise, TRX straps and shelves neatly stacked with Yoga props. But beyond the workouts, Julio and Zee have plans to further develop their offering with a coffee shop to allow both clients and passers-by to hang out. “It’s a quiet, calm space,” said Zee. “The windows are sound-proofed so you don’t hear anything from outside. “Our classes last 50 minutes and we typically run seven or eight each day. After, it’s really lovely if people can stay a bit longer instead of running home. “We arrange the classes so people are able to talk to each other a bit, but nobody has to do anything they don’t want to.” While the core of The Garnet Studio will always be its focus on Reformer Pilates, HIIT and Yoga, Julio and Zee are also happy to experiment and have hosted sessions for parents and kids as well as a floristry workshop combined with fitness. “We realised we can do events like this and it can bring people closer,” said Zee. “ We’d love to move more towards this. “For us, The Garnet Studio is all about feeling better. We always want to be positive. If people don’t feel great at the end of our classes,

TRX Straps in use

The studio is arranged over two levels

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

Royal Docks - Canning Town

Participants work on their core stability during a class at The Garnet Studio in east London

Fitness should be functional, not about losing weight. We offer full body workouts that develop balance, flexibility and strength

what’s on

things to do, places to go, people to see Where? The Cause Silvertown

Zee Filho, The Garnet Studio

Zee Filho Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

Julio Nadalini Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

Working the Reformers

then we have failed in what we’re trying to do. “Fitness should be functional, not about losing weight. We offer full body workouts that develop balance, flexibility and strength. “When you get stronger, your posture changes, you stand taller. Just losing weight using drugs, for example, doesn’t make sense to us. “We avoid using before and after images, because exercise should be about how you feel, not about how you look.” Julio added: “The other problem with the drugs is that you lose muscle mass as well as fat, so you can end up being weaker when you’re older. “Nobody wants that. We want to support the people who come to our classes. We are very mindful of the things we and the other instructors say and how we train people. “If people are coming together, feeling better and doing exercise, then that’s good for us and right now we are working to make The Garnet Studio a success. “We want to get things stable here and it’s really encouraging to see more and more people signing up for regular memberships. “We want to be a place where we keep in touch with our clients, where we know their names and that we can maintain the quality of the product and control what’s happening. “Perhaps then we might look at expanding through a franchise model.” key details The Garnet Studio is open from 6am-10pm on weekdays and from 8am-2pm at weekends. The business has an introductory offer of three classes for £45. Monthly memberships start at £76 per month. Full class timetables and details of packs and membership options are available on the studio’s website. Go to thegarnetpilates.com for more information

Scan this code to find out more about The Garnet Studio Images by Marlene Landu, Lifestyle Photographer except where stated

CLUB | Waterworks Extended 2026 Enjoy a party that runs from midday on the Saturday to 10.30pm the day after featuring the likes of Dr Banana, Main Phase and Novelist. Sept 12-13, noon, from £23, supportthecause.co.uk Where? Excel London Royal Victoria Dock

EVENT | London Packaging Week 2026 Bringing together more than 5,700 packaging pros with brands, designers, suppliers and innovators, this show is all about the stuff we put stuff inside. Sept 16-17, 10am-4pm, registration, excel.london Where? City Hall Royal Victoria Dock

VISIT | City Hall Explore WilkinsonEyre’s building on a first-come, first-served drop-in basis with the Open House Festival and see where the Mayor works. Sept 12-13, 10am-3pm, free, openhouse.org.uk

see it

The Big London Tattoo Show is set to pop up at Excel in Royal Docks from September 4-6, promising to put those with skin in touch with those who like to mark it permanently with ink. Tickets start at £27.75 biglondontattooshow.com Scan this code to find out more about the show, book tickets or even reserve a spot for a tattoo want more? @wharfwhispers

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

£17.50

Starting price for remaining tickets to see Bloodsport: After Helen Of Troy at Stratford East

friendship impacting a

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 2026 wharf-life.com

Stratford - Mile End - Bow - Hackney Wick

Michelle Dockery, left, and Laura Aikman star in Bloodsport: After Helen Of Troy at the east London venue

how Bloodsport: After Helen Of Troy reveals the true cost of one woman’s decision to leave her life

what’s on

things to do, places to go, people to see Where? Sadler’s Wells East Stratford

by Jon Massey

hile Matt Damon and his fellow ﬁlm stars are living it very large on the nation’s IMAX screens, east London is set to host its own show set in the aftermath of Homer’s Iliad. Bloodsport: After Helen Of Troy by Ava Pickett chronicles the queen’s return to Sparta following the war fought in her name – her husband, Menelaus’ celebrations and her childhood friend Cee’s dismay. Staged for its world première at Stratford East, the play deals with friendship, motherhood, loyalty and the “true cost” of one woman’s decision to abandon her life. Michelle Dockery, best known for Downton Abbey, will play Helen, opposite Laura Aikman who is making her stage debut in the role of Cee following stints in Gavin And Stacy and Line Of Duty. “Ava is such an extraordinary voice in storytelling right now and I’m delighted to be part of this bold reimagining of Helen’s return from Troy,” said Michelle. “Stratford East’s history of bringing vital and ambitious stories to life makes it the perfect home for this production.” Laura added: “From the moment I read Ava’s brilliant script I was desperate to play Cee. I think we can deliver something really gripping and I can’t wait to get started.” The production is directed by Lisa Spirling, artistic director and co-CEO of Stratford East, and will run at the venue from September 3 until October 10. She said: “When I ﬁrst read Ava’s debut full length play Bloodsport three years ago, I was struck by how powerful, prescient and visceral it is. “To tell this mythical story of Helen Of Troy at Stratford East, through Ava’s laser sharp lens is

To be given the opportunity to reimagine characters we feel we know is such a privilege and I can’t wait to share this story Ava Pickett, playwright

thrilling and to get to do that with our phenomenal creative team and company led by Michelle and Laura is ridiculously exciting. “The team and I are buzzing to bring Bloodsport to Stratford East and to share it with our audience.” Ava added: “I feel so excited and lucky to be working with Lisa, Michelle and Laura on this new play at Stratford East. “To be given the opportunity to reimagine characters we feel we know is such a privilege and I can’t wait to share this story with audiences.” Ava’s debut play, 1536, enjoyed a West End transfer following a successful run at the Almeida Theatre. Also an historical work, the dark comedy drama explores female friendship in Tudor England against the backdrop of the fall of Anne Boleyn. key details Bloodsport: After Helen Of Troy runs at Stratford East from September 3 until October 10 with evening performances at 7.30pm and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Available tickets start at £17.50. Go to stratfordeast.com for more information

DANCE | Blue / Glas The National Dance Company Of Wales present this double bill of Theo Clinkard’s Ordinary Courage and a new work, Untamed, by Alesandra Seutin. Sept 24-26, 7.30pm, from £19, sadlerswells.com Where? Various Locations East Bank

EVENT | Black To The Future Soak up the free music and dance at the final weekend of East Bank’s The Music Is Black Festival as curators look to the future and celebrate the past. Sept 12-13, times vary, free, queenelizabetholympicpark.co.uk Where? Cart And Horses Stratford

GIG | A Hangover Full Of Memories Launch If you like your Leonard Cohen, why not join Adam Wedd for the unveiling of his debut album with options to buy the CD and vinyl. Sept 24, 7pm, from £8.80, cartandhorses.london

get moving

Scan this code to find out more about the show

Sadler’s Wells East is set to launch a new programme of free lunchtime classes on The Dance Floor at East Bank, alongside other ways to access the space. Full listings and details can be found online sadlerswells.com

Image by Rebecca Need-Menear

Scan this code to read our interview with the venue’s head of community engagement, Natasha Anderson want more? @wharfwhispers

Wharf Life Aug 26-Sept 9, 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 Aug 12-26

Notes

crossword beating the

Cryptic Across

Down

1. 2.

Father figure delivers the goods (7) 7. Nearby anaesthetic? (5) 9. Exams for cricketers? (5) 10, 3dn, 11dn. Last straw steals the Garibaldi (2,5,3,7) 12. Include priests to manage affairs (11) 14. Doctors swear by him! (11) 18. Ninth flower defeats Romans! (7) 19. Reverse the enjoyment and pull this (5) 21. Tangles for a speeding boat (5) 22. Find a mark for this drama? (7)

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

Quick Across 6. 7.

Renters (7) Of the seafaring military (5) 9. Old-fashioned (5) 10. Journeys (7) 12. Keeps bet money (11) 14. Drug (11) 18. Oz heroine (7) 19. Problems (5) 21. Cash (5) 22. Meanwhile (7)

Attempted in court (5) Garden herb provided plenty of cash (6) 3. See 10acc.. 4. Star of toilet decoration? (6) 5. Rushes to lifetime jobs (7) 8. Patient in cast massaged with oil (7) 11. See 10acc.. 13. Disagree with Diana’s perfume, we hear (7) 15. Ten-ply must be enough (6) 16. This effort is green, if you can find it (6) 17. The Suffragettes valued these over words (5) 20. Elizabeth’s mode of cooking? (3)

Down 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 8.

Of kidneys (5) Skill (6) Consumed (3) Wonder (6) Before now (7) Small fruit plantation (7) 11. Vague (7) 13. Extravagant art style (7) 15. Norfolk attraction (6) 16. Legal cash (6) 17. Once more (5) 20. Dec’s insect friend! (3) Set by Everden

Across: 6 Freight; 7 Local; 9 Tests; 10 It Takes The Biscuit; 12 Administers; 14 Hippocrates; 18 Asterix; 19 Lever; 21 Knots; 22 Tragedy. Down: 1 Tried; 2 Minted; 4 Bogart; 5 Careers; 8 Stoical; 13 Dissent; 15 Plenty; 16 Energy; 17 Deeds; 20 Fry.

Cryptic Solution Across: 6 Tenants; 7 Naval; 9 Dated; 10 Travels; 12 Stakeholder; 14 Barbiturate; 18 Dorothy; 19 Snags; 21 Funds; 22 Interim. Down: 1 Renal; 2 Talent; 3 Ate; 4 Marvel; 5 Earlier; 8 Orchard; 11 Sketchy; 13 Baroque; 15 Broads; 16 Tender; 17 Again; 20 Ant.

Quick Solution

Notes