Issuu

inside issue 156

Royal Docks Waterways - UntilSWR Business Direct - Dylon Riverside

Stories Wharf - Wapping Docklands Market

Crossword - Sudoku - Mama Li - Nora

Whisky Live And Fine Spirits - Elixir Festival

Superloop Buses - Wahaca

Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

Enjoy the music of

Canary Wharf

KIDS | Craft And Chill

Suitable for families with children aged 4 and up, these drop-in sessions complete with crafty activities are inspired by identity and belonging. Mar 14, 11am-3.30pm, free, londonmuseum.org.uk Where? Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place Where? Crossrail Place Roof Garden Canary Wharf Where?

invited to participate in the construction of large scale bamboo structures in this community building exercise. Mar 14-15, drop-in, free, canarywharf.com

Welcome to issue 156 of Wharf Life. Go places, do things. That’s the message of this issue, whether it’s getting your strum on at Kitchen Jam, sampling exquisite spirits at Whisky Live, booking dance tickets for Sadler’s Wells or dropping in to support Wapping Docklands Market on Saturdays

As Wapping Docklands Market turns ve, founder Will Cuttridge re ects on the importance of community, food and supporting local businesses at Brussels Wharf

Royal Docks is looking to the water as it upgrades public facilities

up to Woking: We take the train with SWR Business Direct

on the radar

need to know

News has reached us that Cherub Tricho, o ering trichology care and hair and scalp restoration treatments, is coming to Wood Wharf. The company is expanding from its base in Greenwich to join the ock of independents around Union Square cherub-london.com

How food at Fushima on the Isle Of Dogs o ers good value for money

The rst of the brand’s locations to o er a dine-in option, there’s an inherent charm to the place typi ed by the smiling sta who seem to be constantly in motion.

Whisky Live And Fine Spirits returns to Woolwich Works in March, o ering a journey of taste and exploration with master distillers on hand to impart wisdom and pours

doing the deals

get more for less on and around the Wharf

Dine in on a beef burger, chicken burger, shake stack or chicken bites at Shake Shack in Park Pavilion after 5pm and get free fries. Every day until March 20. Terms apply shakeshack.co.uk

30%

Elixir Festival is coming to Sadler’s Wells East with a focus on older dancers

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

This plate of roast duck, BBQ pork, rice and greens costs £13.99

With misfortune comes opportunity and the collapse of Russell & Bromley means discounts (currently 30%) as its Canary Wharf store approaches closure next.co.uk

I take the owner, Catherine Hua’s tip, and go for the Two Meats And Rice Combo for £13.99. It feels like a treat. Delivered on a lightly branded plate in the restaurant half of the waitress, the combination is one of deeply savoury warmth. The leaves are shot through with a hint of mustard, the duck and pork are supple but yielding in the mouth and the whole thing is underpinned by the solid foundation of the rice, which subtly soaks up all the goodness from above. Try it.

Jon Massey

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REVIEW

Nora Union Square nora.london

There’s a great deal to like in Nora. Located on the corner of 5 West Lane and Union Square, it’s a golden beacon in the evenings, soft yellow light pouring out of its windows.

Sweep in past the artfully placed planters and you’ll nd an interior that’s all comfortable woods, cosy terracotta tiles and comfy upholstery. Here there are friendly sta , a designer’s wishlist of chairs and a minimalist sharing menu with most dishes described in a few simple words.

That plates appear at the convenience of the kitchen, rather than the customer, is nothing new. The casual dining scene has taken this trend and run with it, allowing savvy operators to coat tables in treats as an aesthetic of opulence and luxury.

With prices rising that’s a smart move but, alas, one Nora struggles with due to a key issue with its infrastructure. We order seven dishes between two, but our table (one of the larger ones for a couple) is only capable of holding a maximum of about four at any one time.

The consequence is that, rather than adhering to a feasting structure – the kind of presentation that allows one to dip a bit of that in here and mop up a delicious sauce from there with a leftover hunk of bread – we wind up in a de facto three-course situation.

This is a shame because the food at Nora is of a very high quality and it would have been interesting to enjoy a greater level of interplay – a minor chink in its otherwise impenetrable armour.

We start with Sesame Caraway

OFFER

Margarita Month

Wahaca wahaca.co.uk

Pide (£3) and Grilled Bazlama Bread (£3.50) – both coated in oil and the former studded with gems of salt. These are a messy, but wholly enjoyable way to tackle Courgette Borani with curry leaf oil (£7) and a plate of Hummus that justi es its £9 price tag with a centrepiece of con t lime and aubergines.

Typical of Nora’s “Turkish with a twist” approach, each feels like luxury on the tongue.

Once cleared, we move on to an accidental sh course of Wild Seabass Tartare (£14) and Prawns in garlic butter (£16). The raw sh comes in an excess of dill with a sharp citrus sauce and bright red pomegranate jewels while the crustaceans are all about the smoke from the charcoal grill and arrive almost falling apart on their skewers.

Throughout we sip lightly zzy Pasaeli wine (£39). This Turkish drop pairs well with the creamy avours on o er, recalling a tart pear cider on the tongue.

It also does ok against our third and nal course, a generous Adana Kofte kebab (£23) that comes on a bed of garlic yoghurt alongside tomato and green pepper. Again there’s a wonderful avour here and the dense lamb is packed into a tightly formed sausage that’s perfect for slicing up. It’s just a shame there isn’t any hummus left on the table to dip it into.

Nora isn’t cheap – a meal with wine and tip is close to £70 per head, but there’s enough talent in the kitchen to justify the spend.

★★★★✩

Jon Massey

Scan this code to nd out more about Nora

The Mexican chain has taken the fact that March sounds a bit like Margarita and run with it. Running until the 24th of the month, diners will be able to sup limited edition versions of the cocktail, namely the Hot Honey And Pickle Margarita (£10.95) – pictured – and the Rhubarbarita (£9.95).

No prizes for guessing what the secret ingredients bartenders have employed to give the classic drink a couple of twists might be. More intriguing, however, is an o er where guests can opt to “Roll A Lime”. Simply ask your server to have a go and you’ll be presented with an attractive green dice. Should your throw result in a picture of the citrus fruit pointing upwards, the whole table (up to six) will get a free round of Margaritas on the house.

Find Wahaca’s Canary Wharf branch overlooking Canada Square in Park Pavilion.

The Seabass

Price of a plate of rich, creamy hummus with con t lime and aubergine at Nora

Left, a plate of hummus at Nora and, below, Adana Kofte with all the trimmings

Tartare, right, costs £14, and comes with a zingy citrus sauce

The Hot Honey And Pickle Margarita at Wahaca

diary dates, listings and ideas to make life in Canary Wharf sweeter..

TfL t .gov.uk

The future is never certain, but TfL has announced that free bus travel on the SL4 (serving Canary Wharf), 108 and 129 services through the Silvertown Tunnel will be extended by seven weeks, until May 26. The cycle shuttle service, which allows cyclists to transport their bike from Royal Docks to Millennium Way in North Greenwich through the tunnel, will also remain free for the foreseeable future.

SCREEN TIME

Project Hail Mary (12A) Everyman Canary Wharf everymancinema.com

Catch Ryan Gosling playing a man called Ryland Grace, a school teacherturned-astronaut as he wakes up on a space station with no memory of who he is or his mission.

As the past returns in bursts we see him called on to do no less than save the Earth through his scienti c training and ingenuity.

Pre-booking is open now for screenings on March 14 at 4pm and 7.30pm. Expect to pay £23.50 for a standard adult ticket to see this movie at the Crossrail Place venue.

write me words you don’t know you need

noun, fake, from Old English

Part of one’s monarchy that’s causing intense, awkward pain to all those individuals related to it – one of the major drawbacks of continuing to play the game of thrones like it’s a perverse medieval parlour entertainment

adj, real, from Scots

Feeling comfortable in a favourite haunt or environment where one is completely at home. The exact opposite of the feeling experienced by a man from Norfolk on his recent 66th birthday following his arrest subscribe to our FREE Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly

how Kitchen Jam

is fully equipped to help guitarists develop their playing skills

by Jon Massey

If you’re still looking at your hands, you’re not playing music,” said Darryl Powis, founder of Kitchen Jam. That sentence may sound a little daunting to rusty players or those who’ve never even tried to strum a guitar, but it needn’t. The music school Darryl and his wife, Jennifer Barlow, founded more than a decade ago is here to help and it’s opening a second branch in Canary Wharf.

Kitchen Jam is the latest business to launch in Wood Wharf, thanks to a collaboration between Canary Wharf Group and Tower Hamlets Council, offering companies affordable commercial space. On the food and drink front, Mama Li, Nora, Ong Lai Kopitaim, Cafe Seek, Lockdown, Supershakes and Signorelli are all now trading.

Other openings include floristry from The Flower Club, Wayne Hairdresser Salon, beauty salon Awe London, Pawsome Pet Grooming And Spa, The Island Reformer Pilates Studio and clothing repair business Omnifix. Kitchen Jam, however, is something truly new for the area –the first time retail premises have been used to offer music tuition in the district.

As a kid, Darryl tried learning the violin and then had some piano lessons aged around 10.

“My parents had been musicians in a former life – guitar players – so I was around music the whole time,” he said. “I really got into guitar at the age of 15, as I was banned from computers because I was so addicted to them.

“I taught myself guitar and bass. My piano teacher, who also taught me some clarinet, came back when I was 15 because he could play guitar a bit.

“He’d sit with me for half an hour while I played and he’d talk to me about music. I did music GCSE, but they didn’t really want me, even at A-level.

“You had to study pieces from the 1800s, and I couldn’t read music or chords at that time, although I could play guitar really well. I always had a good ear, so I could listen and then play what continued on Page 8

Classes plus a three-hour workshop included with Kitchen Jam’s monthly membership

Kitchen Jam founder Darryl Powis stands in front of the music school’s new location with his dad’s Hofner in his arms

this is jam

Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

CANADA PLACE & WOOD WHARF

from Page 6

I’d heard. I just knew it was what I wanted to do.

“I played in a couple of bands in my school. Then, aged 17, I became the lead guitarist in my brother’s band. He was older than me and at university already. That took many diﬀerent forms and that was my education – getting gigs and playing to very few people.

“I moved to London in 2012 with my band Neon Nurse, determined to make it. We thought retro-funk was going to have a resurgence. It didn’t. In fact, I’m not sure there was really a ‘surgence’ in the ﬁrst place.

“When I came to London, I played in a lot of bands, although it was all by ear. I still didn’t really know the notes on the guitar neck, but people would book me for gigs and said what I was doing was great.

“When I ﬁrst started teaching, I was really ﬁxing my own problems. Initially I thought I was going to support my music career, but I ended up falling in love with the actual teaching itself – seeing people grow.”

At ﬁrst, Darryl taught students in the kitchen of the house he was sharing in Leyton. More traditional methods of tuition follow graded exams as a way to mark progress and provide goals for players, but Kitchen Jam goes its own way.

Darryl said: “All the times I’d made progress as a musician were when I was playing in a band – it gave me something bigger to play for, like a gig coming up.

“So, I was looking for how I could give someone a personalised experience and that took me about six years to ﬁgure out.

“Once you get guitarists jamming in a room with others – people you may have thought you’d never spend time with –suddenly you all have something in common. It’s a community.

“I’ve been using the method I developed for more than a decade and we’ve had adults who couldn’t play the guitar at all go from that to fronting a band and playing gigs.

“Our approach is quite structured, but it’s intended to feel very ﬂuid and be great fun. Everything you learn is in context and these are the milestones that unlock people’s abilities.

“We use a system of levels on the guitar so we can work out where people are before it then branches out into personal musical tastes. For example, someone might be able to play chords and some scales but

Strings or four – Kitchen Jam o ers tuition in both guitar and bass guitar

Scan this code to nd out more about Kitchen Jam

doesn’t know how to solo. That’s a typical entry point at Kitchen Jam.”

With a sound philosophy established, the next chapter in the business’ story began with a new location.

“Jen, my then girlfriend, who’s now my wife, couldn’t believe it was actually working, that I was getting people to come for lessons in my horrible house,” said Darryl. “I was already using a community centre across the road as a venue where I’d invite guitarists from around the world to come and do workshops for my students.

“But she said she would figure out how to get a proper space. We looked at loads of places but the first unit we viewed – in Stratford’s East Village – was the one. It was closer to the stations and was a safer walk, so we thought we’d get more people. When we started trading it just exploded.”

Having grown and expanded, Kitchen Jam now caters to students of almost any age with sessions for babies as young as four months, guitar and ukelele programmes for younger children, lessons for teenagers and lessons for adults of all levels. Darryl’s oldest student is in his 80s. It even welcomes bass players.

“This whole thing is about creating the space for what people want to do,” said Darryl. “It’s about how we can help people fall in love with playing – with trying to do this thing.

“The first session is free and it’s always on a one-to-one basis –people need to know that relationship is going to work before they commit. If you’re a complete beginner, we’ll teach you something. If you’re more experienced, you’ll go through an assessment to find out what your skills are, where it is you want to go and then we’ll formulate a plan.

“We also ask people to go away and list 30 songs that they love so we can get a rounder picture of who they are as a musician.

“They might be guitar related or not. Mozart, Metallica and Eminem will all help us see where you may be going and what techniques you’re going to need to get there.

“It also helps us refine what we teach – we’re not going to force a student to learn power chords if they have no interest in music that uses them. Through this process, we produce a sheet for your teacher and that becomes the plan when you come to your first group lesson.

“Every class is an hour long and they’re themed so the student understands the context – it might be guitar theory, phrasing, soloing and so on. These allow players to build confidence by playing real songs and jamming regularly.

This whole thing is about creating the space for what people want to do. It’s about how we can help people fall in love with playing

Darryl Powis, Kitchen

Jam

“Our monthly rate includes five classes plus a workshop at the end of the month which is a larger, three-hour jam session based around one song. We break it down and play it through. Then there’s space to hang out after.”

Kitchen Jam also organises gigs, open mic nights and facilitates the formation of bands to give students as much real-world experience as possible.

Darryl is passionate about the benefits that playing in a group can bring, partly as an alternative to learning online in isolation.

“Playing with people or in a band on stage is completely different,” he said. “You might end up learning really impressive things online – because that’s what gets attention – but they don’t always make sense when you’re jamming with a group.

“When you listen to the Beatles, for example, the musicianship is incredible but the individual parts probably wouldn’t get much attention on TikTok or Instagram.

“Real playing is about learning how to fit in with other musicians and understanding how the sounds are created and work together.”

The business’ latest branch feels like the ideal place to facilitate that understanding.

Fully equipped with high-end amps and walls dripping with mics, guitars, basses and even tools to keep the instruments in shape, it’s an impressive addition to the Wood Wharf street scene, not least because of the hefty (working) Triumph motorbike in the window.

With a drum kit that’s always set up, substantial rugs on the floor and walls painted black, it’s just waiting to be filled with the sound of strings strummed.

key details

Kitchen Jam’s Canary Wharf branch is located in Wood Wharf’s East Lane on the ground floor to the rear of 8 Harbord Square.

Initial one-to-one taster sessions are free. Guitarists signing up before April 1 will also benefit from the Founders discount, with monthly rates at £200 for adults, normally £257. Three, six and 12 month packages are also available. Go to kitchenjam.com

All the good stuff: Brand names such as Fender, Marshall, Hofner, Peavey and Vox are spread throughout Kitchen Jam’s new branch in Wood Wharf’s East Lane

Left, a Triumph motorbike now sits in the music school’s window

Right, guitars, equipment and tools are neatly displayed on the studio space’s walls

Images by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

how Until

brings practitioners in health and wellness to a single location for consumers

by Jon Massey

Vishal Amin is a builder.

In some ways, his journey to becoming an entrepreneur reads typical. He manned his parents’ corner shop as a kid, made extra cash selling sweets in the playground and graduated to tickets for parties. He studied management science at the London School Of Economics, went to work in the states and then returned to the capital for a couple of years at consultancy giant McKinsey.

“I guess I’ve always had a passion for business,” he said. “I’ve been building them my whole life. When I was creating my second company – a consulting ﬁrm – I knew it was going to be hard work. I know people see it as cool and sexy, but underneath, it’s tough.

“That was the first time I could afford a personal trainer, a massage therapist and a physio – I got first-hand experience of what impact the idea of holistic health can have on your life.

“It wasn’t just about looking good to go on holiday – it aﬀected my energy and how I felt. Before, I’d thought holistic health was a fallacy. But in building that business, I saw the opportunity to create Until.

“As I explored health and wellness, I found that the existing operating model for practitioners in the sector was to spend some years learning their craft, often while being paid relatively poorly.

“Going freelance was seen as taking a risk, so the majority were still working for companies with others choosing to set up on their own. In this sector, typically, you don’t learn business skills when you’re training as a doctor or a physio.

“The idea for Until was to build an infrastructure that would help practitioners create their own businesses and unlock their potential. I thought it might attract more people to their services and be a cool journey to go on.”

In short, Vishal’s concept was to collect a diverse set of practitioners in a single location to both continued on Page 12

The number of clubs Until will be operating when its Canary Wharf

Until co-founder

Vishal Amin says Canary Wharf was always part of the plan as the business expands to east London

disrupting

Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

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We’re based near Canary Wharf, one of London’s FinTech industry hubs.

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from Page 10

support their operations and to foster collaboration between them. From the perspective of a consumer, Until looks like a one-stop-shop where people can find business coaches, personal trainers, osteopaths, massage therapists, life coaches, doctors, nutritionists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, dentists, physios and more.

“It is a practitioner-first business, where we wanted to allow top-rate people to be able to collaborate and build multi-disciplinary teams,” said Vishal who co-founded the company in 2021 and is currently CEO. “In doing that, we’ve created locations where you can get all your services instead of having to shop around with different postcodes and different waiting rooms.

“We provide a very integrated experience. The practitioners join the ecosystem and, for a membership fee, they can service their clients at our clubs.

“Consumers come to us with a specific need or problem and we’ll help to provide a team of people to help. Gone are the days when only professional athletes access these services. High performance comes in many different forms and we need a team to support that. What we do is help consumers build that team.”

Opening initially in Soho with coaches and trainers, Until has since branched out to host medical professionals.

It’s gone on to launch clubs in Liverpool Street and Marylebone and is gearing up to unveil its Canary Wharf location at YY London in the spring.

“Every day there is new learning, especially with how to get practitioners to work collaboratively,” said Vishal.

“We haven’t nailed it yet, it’s not straightforward, which is probably why it wasn’t there before.

“Step one was building environments which practitioners can work from. Step two is helping them to access the customers, so we have to find ways to get people to use the services. The idea is that we will act as both landlord and referrer.”

Until has won the backing of investor, entrepreneur and podcaster Steven Bartlett who joined the business in 2023 as marketing co-founder.

Its expansion to Canary Wharf, taking space in a building where it will count Revolut and Deutsche Bank as neighbours is something of a statement of intent.

“Canary Wharf has always been part of our vision,” said Vishal. “Health and wellness isn’t just aspirational any more, it’s

Floors Until’s new club will be spread over

Until is set to share YY London with Revolut and Deutsche Bank at the heart of the Canary Wharf estate

While images of Until’s Canary Wharf club aren’t yet available, interior shots from its other clubs show the level of facilities users can expect

Canary Wharf will be our largest club and the rst where we have all ve facilities available – train, treat, coach, medical and dental Vishal Amin, Until

essential. Since the pandemic, everyone has their eye on it.

“The great thing about Canary Wharf is it allows our practitioners to build their brand.

“The transport connections here mean we can serve a wider area – you really feel you’re in the city centre.

“This will be our largest club and the ﬁrst where we have all ﬁve facilities available – train, treat, coach, medical and dental.

“I’m most excited about the combination of expertise we’ll be oﬀering here. It’s going to be a beautiful club to visit in a fantastic location.

“Once all of our practitioners come together, it allows consumers to experience how their services join up. Once that happens, they begin to understand the deeper beneﬁts.

“For example, we oﬀer dental services because oral health is connected to brain health. Adding in medical services is really important to what we’re doing.

“Also there are huge businesses around here and they all want to help their employees to get healthier. Many have facilities within their premises, but they’re just not activating them. It’s not inspiring.

“I’d like to help them to put programmes together, some of which could be delivered within their buildings and others outside.

“We have a community of practitioners in London who could come and leverage that.

“So we want to build corporate relationships. We’re here to add value to the estate.

key details

Until currently operates clubs in Soho, Marylebone and Liverpool Street, with Canary Wharf set to open this spring.

You can ﬁnd out more information, including a list of practitioners working from its sites online.

Go to until.co.uk for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about Until’s o ering

Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life Interior images supplied by Until

on track

by Joe Thurgood

When your team logs on to book a train, they aren’t just seeing times and prices, they’re seeing the real-time CO2 impact of those journeys

Joe Thurgood, SWR

QWith mandatory UK Sustainability Reporting Standards coming into force for 2026/27, how can SWR Business Direct help large companies, and those supplying services to them, keep track of their carbon footprint when booking travel?

ANow businesses will need to report on their carbon footprint, South Western Railway Business Direct can take the headache out of the paperwork and get your carbon house in order. Carbon tracking might sound a bit daunting, so we’ve built the tools directly into the booking process to make it feel like second nature. When your team logs on to book a train, they aren’t just seeing times and prices, they’re seeing the real-time CO2 impact of those journeys.

It turns a mandatory requirement into an easy, everyday choice. Because we use industry-standard benchmarks (aligned with the Rail Delivery Group), organisations can trust that the data is “decision-ready” for o cial reports.

No more messy spreadsheets or best-guess estimates at the end of the nancial year, the data is available with just a couple of clicks and you have a full report at your ngertips, plus comparisons to other modes of transport. For suppliers, it’s a total win, too. When your clients ask what the carbon footprint of the team you’re sending to us is, users can give them an exact, professional answer.

SWR Business Direct essentially acts as your sustainability sidekick, capturing all those miles and converting them into the clean, audited data the new UK standards demand.

It doesn’t matter where in the country you are travelling to, from Manchester to Margate or from Southampton to Swansea, our portal is about making rail the greenest way to travel and the easiest way to report. We’ll handle the maths, you just enjoy the journey.

And best of all, it’s free for businesses to use. There are no hidden costs or subscriptions – companies just sign up and book their train travel.

Joe Thurgood is business sales manager at South Western Railway and works to assist companies with their transport booking needs

Scan this code to nd out more about SWR Business Direct and the ways it makes booking train travel for sta across the UK easier

why Woking is well placed for business and exploration via train from central London

by Jon Massey

For the ﬁrst in a series of articles produced in collaboration with South Western Railway’s Business Direct service, we’re focusing on Woking.

The town – a rapid 23 minutes by direct train from London Waterloo – is hot on sustainability, making it an ideal setting to talk about the increasing importance companies and their suppliers will be putting on assessing, logging and publicising their emissions, given new reporting standards that are coming into force across the UK.

Travel on SWR’s network to the destination and you’ll have generated an estimated 1.47kg of CO2 per traveller. This is a marked reduction on riding a motorbike there (4.72kg) or taking a car powered by petrol (6.76kg) or diesel (7.18kg). One of the beneﬁts of the operator’s Business Direct service is that such data is instantly available for all journeys at the point of booking, enabling easy comparison and reporting.

So why travel to Woking?

The area has long been a hive of human activity, with archaeological remains dating back at least 4,000 years. Listed in the Domesday book as Wochinges, the town was home to King Henry VII’s mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, author HG Wells, while he was writing The War Of The Worlds and welcomed its ﬁrst train in 1838.

Today, Woking is a base for a wealth of businesses including the UK headquarters of Japanese brewing giant Asahi, the main location for high end car manufacturer McLaren Automotive and a key site for power ﬁrm ABB.

It’s serious about green issues too, with both the local borough council and nearby horticultural powerhouse of RHS Wisley aiming to be carbon neutral or better by 2030. Such forward thinking is why it’s also home to The Living Planet Centre – headquarters of the World Wildlife Fund’s UK operation and an ecologically sound structure that provides extensive events space

Above, the headquarters of Japanese brewing giant Asahi stands proudly in Woking

Right, The Lightbox Gallery hosts contemporary art exhibitions in the heart of the town

Below, the Living Planet Centre is home to WWF UK and also acts as an events venue

Minutes it takes to reach Woking from London Waterloo on an SWR train to Weymouth

Pan-fried sea bream with crushed potatoes, pancetta and a leek and mussel chowder at The Gosling, available as part of its £30 set menu

within easy reach of the station. Woking is both close to London and in touch with nature, thanks to the likes of Wisley and the historic Horsell Common, making it well placed to welcome guests with numerous hotels for longer stays.

There’s also a vibrant hospitality and cultural scene with regeneration attracting names such as Gordon Ramsey as well as a succession of independent operators to serve the needs of locals and visitors alike.

The centre also features theatres and cinemas, plenty of shops and a spacious library.

The Lightbox Gallery, opened in 2007, acts a museum and creative space at the heart of the town for those who prefer to take things at a slower pace, presenting regular exhibitions and core collections.

The Gosling Restaurant And Bar

>> Set a short taxi or bus ride from Woking station, this cosy, modern restaurant delivers on avour and value.

Perfect for a business lunch, it o ers a three-course set menu for £30, including a choice of dishes from the the likes of gently curried cauli ower soup, pan-fried sea bream, corn-fed chicken breast and Madagascan vanilla pannacotta with spiced winter berries.

Set on the edge of Horsell Common, this is a must-visit locally and diners should give serious thought to indulging in the rock oysters for £3.80, neatly shucked and dressed on a bed of ice.

Go to thegosling.co.uk for more information

All-in-all, this is a destination that’s well worth exploring beyond the conﬁnes of pure business travel.

At a mere 30 minutes from Canary Wharf (via the Jubilee line to Waterloo), it’s an intriguing prospect for a half-day outing, a place to stage an event away from the smoke or a venue for a working lunch that rolls over into the afternoon and then the evening.

key details

SWR Business Direct is free to use and allows companies to book, plan and manage business travel across the whole of Britain. There are no hidden fees or charges and no booking fees on tickets purchased via the service.

Go to southwesternrailway.com for more information

>> Tucked away on Church Path a few steps from Woking Station, this quirky venue includes a table supported by a bicycle, a chair suspended from its roof and an improbably large collection of wine bottles behind its sprawling bar.

Ideally placed for those catching trains back into London or travelling further a eld, the menu extends to vintages by the glass, carafe and bottle, craft beers, ciders, spirits, liqueurs, cigars and cocktails as well as co ees and teas.

There’s even a selection of snacks, savoury platters and sweet treats to enjoy while the clock ticks onwards.

Go to cellarmagni que.com for more information

Cellar Magni que Wine Bar And Café

Images by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

Years Dad’s Army was broadcast over from 1968-1977 in a run that totalled 80 episodes in nine series

viewpoint by Chris Ezekiel

In the early 1980s, at George Green’s school on the Isle of Dogs, the height of high-tech was a resource centre with several Acorn BBC Micros.

For those of us Gen Xers (born between 1965 and 1980), we share a unique experience of an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

Some of us missed the chance to select Computer Studies at secondary school, but those of us who got the bug (no pun intended) found ourselves grabbing sparse computing time on the BBC machines during school lunchtimes and playing computer games and programming on our Atari, ZX Spectrum and Commodore computers in our bedrooms.

Then, in the mid-1990s, we witnessed the internet’s birth. Today, the bridge between the analogue and digital world is stretching further than ever. Most weeks, I sit down for a beer with four friends in their 70s and 80s (known as the Silent and Baby Boomer generations). While the world worries that technology is leaving older generations behind, these gents prove you’re never too old to learn about new technology.

The main barrier isn’t the technology itself; it’s the jargon surrounding it. Take prompt engineering, for example. To the average person, that sounds like a degree from Oxford. The reality? It’s exactly like talking to a toddler – you have to give the AI model clear, repetitive instructions on what to do and – crucially – what not to do.

During a recent catch-up, I decided to cut through the jargon and show them what modern AI models can do. I took a group sel e and used one of the latest AI image manipulation models

together with prompt engineering from one of the guys.

“Transform us into Dad’s Army,” he said. For Millennials and Gen Zs who may be unfamiliar, this was a sitcom shown on the BBC from 1968-1977, and repeated for many years after.

With a few clicks, we were digitally drafted into the Home Guard. Seeing ourselves presented as Captain Mainwaring’s nest brought many laughs, and it reminded me of three vital things.

Firstly, jargon is a wall. If we keep using it, people will tune out. Secondly, visual examples rule. A picture really is worth a thousand words and, having young children, I can attest to the power of using pictures to demonstrate new concepts to them.

Then thirdly, fun is the key. If learning isn’t entertaining, people won’t engage.

Without the fun element, to quote Private Frazer: “We’re doomed”.

With so much of our lives dominated by technology, and running an AI company, it’s a refreshing break catching up with my friends, one of whom refuses to use a mobile phone. They’re certainly not the silent generation as they put the world to rights over a beer.

a sense of

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

Chris says it’s time ministers took action over children’s access to social media

virtual

Above, the original image and, top, Chris and his friends portrayed as characters from Dad’s Army in an AI-generated creation

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LONDON

BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS LICENSING ACT 2003

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE

Notice is given that: Shueb Uddin

Has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets Licensing Authority for a Premises Licence under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003

The premises are situated at: Crispy Cod,139 Watney Street London, E1 2QE

The licensable Activities And Timings Are: Late Night Refreshment Premises Licence

From 23:00 to 02:00 - Sunday to Thursday

From 23:00 to 03:00 - Friday and Saturday

Anyone who wishes to make representations regarding this application must give notice to: The Licensing Section, Tower Hamlets Town Hall, 160 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1BJ or email: licensing@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Website: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk

Tel: 020 7364 5008

Representations must be received no later than 22/03/2026.

The Application Record and Register may be viewed between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday during normal o ce hours at the above address.

It is an o ence under Section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is up to level 5 on the standard scale (unlimited ne).

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LONDON

BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that GHL (Wickside) Limited has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of: BOARDWALK & MARKETWALK LONDON, E9 5YZ

The proposed licensable activities and their hours are:

Provision of Plays - Monday–Sunday, 12:00-21:00

Provision of Film - Monday–Sunday, 12:00-21:00

Live Music - Monday–Sunday, 12:00-21:00

Recorded Music - Monday–Sunday, 12:00-21:00

Provision of Performance of Dance - Monday–Sunday, 12:00-21:00

Anything similar to live music, recorded music, performance of dance - Monday–Sunday, 12:00-21:00

Any representations by an interested party or responsible authority regarding the above-mentioned application must be received in writing to licensing@towerhamlets.gov.uk no later than 23 MARCH, 2026, stating the grounds for objection.

The register of London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the record of the application may be inspected at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ Mondy to Friday 10AM to 4PM

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is unlimited.

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS LICENSING ACT 2003

NOTICE OF APPLICATION TO VARY A PREMISES LICENCE

Notice is given that: Bakery And More Ltd

Has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets Licensing Authority to vary a Premises Licence under the Licensing Act 2003

The premises are situated at: Les Miches, 1 Corsican Square, London, E3 3XS

The proposed variation is:

To vary the premises licence as follows:

- Remove duplicate condition 5

- Remove conditions 7, 18 and 19

- Add new condition - Save for any External Seating Area marked on the deposited plan, o -sales of alcohol shall be in sealed containers only and not consumed outside the premises

Website: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk

Tel: 020 7364 5008

Representations must be received no later than 25/03/2026.

The Application Record and Register may be viewed between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday during normal o ce hours at the above address.

Wharf Life is published by Massey Maddison Limited and printed by Ili e Print Cambridge. Copyright Massey Maddison Limited 2026

In regard to advertising material submitted by third parties and printed in Wharf Life, each individual advertiser is solely responsible for the content of such material Massey Maddison Limited accepts no responsibility for the content of advertising material, nor endorses products or services alluded to by such material

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that GHL (Wickside) Limited has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of: 46 HEPSCOTT ROAD, LONDON, E9 5XN

The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: Sale of Alcohol (on & o )

Monday–Thursday, 10:00-23:00

Friday & Saturday, 10:00-00:00

Sunday, 12:00-22:30 Late Night Refreshment Friday & Saturday, 23:00-00:00

The register of London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the record of the application may be inspected at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ Mondy to Friday 10AM to 4PM

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is unlimited.

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that GHL (Wickside) Limited has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of: 14 BOARDWALK LONDON, E9 5YZ

The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: Sale of Alcohol (on & o )

Monday–Thursday, 10:00-23:00

Friday & Saturday, 10:00-00:00

Sunday, 12:00-22:30

Late Night Refreshment Friday & Saturday, 23:00-00:00

The register of London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the record of the application may be inspected at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ Mondy to Friday 10AM to 4PM

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is unlimited.

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that GHL (Wickside) Limited has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of: 1 LOCK ROAD LONDON, E9 5YE

The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: Sale of Alcohol (on & o )

Monday–Thursday, 10:00-23:00

Friday & Saturday, 10:00-00:00

Sunday, 12:00-22:30

Late Night Refreshment Friday & Saturday, 23:00-00:00

The register of London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the record of the application may be inspected at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ Mondy to Friday 10AM to 4PM

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is unlimited.

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that GHL (Wickside) Limited has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of:

10 McGRATH PLACE LONDON, E9 5ZE

The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: Sale of Alcohol (on & o )

Monday–Thursday, 10:00-23:00 Friday & Saturday, 10:00-00:00 Sunday, 12:00-22:30 Late Night Refreshment Friday & Saturday, 23:00-00:00

The register of London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the record of the application may be inspected at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ Mondy to Friday 10AM to 4PM

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is unlimited.

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that GHL (Wickside) Limited has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of:

5 MARKET WALK, LONDON, E9 5ZB

The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: Sale of Alcohol (on & o )

Monday–Thursday, 10:00-23:00

Friday & Saturday, 10:00-00:00 Sunday, 12:00-22:30

Late Night Refreshment Friday & Saturday, 23:00-00:00

The register of London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the record of the application may be inspected at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ Mondy to Friday 10AM to 4PM

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is unlimited.

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that GHL (Wickside) Limited has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of: 2 LOCK ROAD LONDON, E9 5YE

The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: Sale of Alcohol (on & o )

Monday–Thursday, 10:00-23:00 Friday & Saturday, 10:00-00:00 Sunday, 12:00-22:30 Late Night Refreshment Friday & Saturday, 23:00-00:00

The register of London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the record of the application may be inspected at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ Mondy to Friday 10AM to 4PM

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is unlimited.

PUBLIC NOTICES - PREMISES LICENCES

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that GHL (Wickside) Limited has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of:

14 McGRATH PLACE, LONDON, E9 5ZE

The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: Sale of Alcohol (on & o )

Monday–Thursday, 10:00-23:00

Friday & Saturday, 10:00-00:00

Sunday, 12:00-22:30

Late Night Refreshment Friday & Saturday, 23:00-00:00

The register of London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the record of the application may be inspected at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ Mondy to Friday 10AM to 4PM

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is unlimited.

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that GHL (Wickside) Limited has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of: 4 MARKET WALK, LONDON, E9 5ZB

The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: Sale of Alcohol (on & o )

Monday–Thursday, 10:00-23:00

Friday & Saturday, 10:00-00:00 Sunday, 12:00-22:30

Late Night Refreshment Friday & Saturday, 23:00-00:00

The register of London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the record of the application may be inspected at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ Mondy to Friday 10AM to 4PM

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is unlimited.

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that GHL (Wickside) Limited has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of: 1 MARKET WALK, LONDON, E9 5ZB

The proposed licensable activities and their hours are:

Sale of Alcohol (on & o )

Monday–Thursday, 10:00-23:00

Friday & Saturday, 10:00-00:00

Sunday, 12:00-22:30 Late Night Refreshment Friday & Saturday, 23:00-00:00

The register of London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the record of the application may be inspected at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ Mondy to Friday 10AM to 4PM

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is unlimited.

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that GHL (Wickside) Limited has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of: 10 DAVEY SQUARE LONDON, E9 5ZG

The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: Sale of Alcohol (on & o )

Monday–Thursday, 10:00-23:00

Friday & Saturday, 10:00-00:00

Sunday, 12:00-22:30 Late Night Refreshment Friday & Saturday, 23:00-00:00

The register of London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the record of the application may be inspected at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ Mondy to Friday 10AM to 4PM

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is unlimited.

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that GHL (Wickside) Limited has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of: 4 BOARDWALK, LONDON, E9 5YZ

The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: Sale of Alcohol (on & o )

Monday–Thursday, 10:00-23:00 Friday & Saturday, 10:00-00:00 Sunday, 12:00-22:30

Late Night Refreshment Friday & Saturday, 23:00-00:00

The register of London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the record of the application may be inspected at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ Mondy to Friday 10AM to 4PM

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is unlimited.

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR THE GRANT OF A PREMISES LICENCE UNDER SECTION 17 OF THE LICENSING ACT 2003

Notice is hereby given that GHL (Wickside) Limited has applied to London Borough of Tower Hamlets for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of: 7 BOARDWALK LONDON, E9 5YZ

The proposed licensable activities and their hours are: Sale of Alcohol (on & o )

Monday–Thursday, 10:00-23:00

Friday & Saturday, 10:00-00:00

Sunday, 12:00-22:30

Late Night Refreshment Friday & Saturday, 23:00-00:00

The register of London Borough of Tower Hamlets and the record of the application may be inspected at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall 160 Whitechapel Road London E1 1BJ Mondy to Friday 10AM to 4PM

It is an o ence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum ne for which a person is liable on summary conviction for the o ence is unlimited.

12

Number of hot food traders visitors can expect at Wapping Docklands Market in the summer months

how Wapping Docklands Market has spent half a decade serving up food, crafts and produce dockside

by Jon Massey

The best thing about running Wapping Docklands Market is being able to connect people in a world that’s more and more isolated,” said Will Cutteridge, founder of The Market Network.

“It’s also having the ability to o er grassroots enterprises access to audiences and to get that instant feedback.”

Brussels Wharf was, in 2020, a disused car park – an irregular pentagon of earth, cobbles and quayside jutting out into Shadwell Basin, nominally described as a park.

But Will, having spent half a decade learning the ropes of commercial real estate before leaving that world to sell cheese on a market stall, saw an opportunity – a site that might be put to better use.

Wapping Docklands Market opened in 2021 and is now set to celebrate its fth birthday in April. There might even be a cake.

“The thing that’s really great is the community we’ve got here – the regular customers who come back week to week–that’s what really keeps us a oat,” said Will.

“They just happen to be lovely people, and it’s a nice place to be every Saturday.

“We have evolved over the years but hot food – which has always been the primary driver for us – has become more popular and we have live music and a pop-up pub.”

As we talk, pleasant jazz wafts over the assembled crowd played by gentlemen in attractive woollen hats. Tables and benches are full despite the 6ºC February weather, with

We're giving people the chance to get out of their houses and talk to each other. These are things that are important in the world

Will Cutteridge, The Market Network

visitors keeping out the chill with toasty dishes from the food traders and mulled cider from the bar. On the lower level of the site, traders sell fresh produce, plants and crafts, adding to the mix.

“It’s morphed over the years – we have up to 12 hot food vendors in the summer months and eight in winter,” said Will. “One of our mission statements is to empower new and small food enterprises and, as we move towards spring, we typically get a lot of new businesses applying for pitches.

“Firstly what we’re looking for is passion – a reason that someone is doing what they’re doing that isn’t the money.

“Our newest food trader is Tito Vito serving Bocadillos, lled baguettes from the Canary Islands.

“Vito was persuaded by his partner because of his passion for cooking – she’s good with graphic design and created a brand for the business – and you could tell from day one that the food was amazing, that this was something he’d always wanted to do. That’s what we’re looking for.

“Then there’s Bahaa, a Syrian refugee who, along with his mother, runs Sojok. He serves up toasties lled with spiced minced meat and a savoury yoghurt drink called ayran on the side, which is made with water and salt.

“When he rst started, he wasn’t doing so well but he’s evolved his product over time because he knew the market was busy so it was something he was doing that needed changing. Now when he’s not at the market, people ask where he is because the stall is so popular. My advice is to dunk the toastie in the drink – you won’t regret it. It’s also always a good tip, if you’re struggling to decide what to have, to know what the sta on the market enjoy for breakfast.”

Community is really at the heart of everything Will does, ably supported by long-term operations coordinator Fabiana Da Cunha.

Together, they provide the foundation, marketing, support and curation that allows Wapping Docklands Market to

A wide range of street food is available

Wapping Docklands Market's founder, Will Cutteridge

Live music at the market

continue, providing a platform for commerce, employment and interaction.

“It’s such a good feeling when you’re able to o er people with passion a way to get access to an audience,” said Will. “I’ve learnt over the last ve years that it’s unbelievably hard to run a business but also not to get so stressed and that everything will be ne.

“It’s really great when we see familiar faces coming here or when you spot people who meet at the market and then are back three weeks later having a beer together.

“We’re giving people the chance to get out of their houses and talk to each other. These are things that are important in the world and I wish we could do this more, in more places.

“We’re generating opportunities for new businesses, with our traders often living locally and we’re employing people.

“We have a 17-year-old working for us who lives locally and gets the London Living Wage because we believe that’s the right thing to do. We also pay our musicians, who need opportunities to play because venues are cutting live entertainment at the moment.”

Will’s journey has not been without its headwinds. Operating markets can be a precarious business with limited security on short licences, predicated on the whims of landowners.

Wapping’s sister operations at Tower Hill and Canada Water have both closed, the former in favour of a Padel Tennis court and the latter due to a licensing dispute. With the late winter sun beating down through the bare branches of the trees, nely crafted improvisation stealing over the crowd and traders serving queues of eager diners, it seems perverse not to support such endeavours.

show support

become a patron

Wapping Docklands Market o ers people the opportunity to support its operations by becoming a patron.

Friends pay £18 per month, which includes a number of perks including reserved seating at the market.

Members can pay £30 per month, getting all the same perks plus 10% discounts at The Market Tavern and Wapping Roots And Fruits grocery stall

key details

Wapping Docklands Market is open on Saturdays from 10am4pm at Brussels Wharf on the edge of Shadwell Basin.

The location is around seven minutes’ walk from Wapping station on the Windrush Line or about 10 minutes from Shadwell DLR.

Go to wappingmarket.co.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about the market

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see SEE | Chinese Limehouse Exhibition Running until July and available to view on Fridays and Saturdays this exhibition explores London's original Chinatown and the lives of its residents. From Mar 20, 10am-4pm, free, careforstannes.org STAGE | Ruth This noir musical tells the story of nightclub hostess Ruth Ellis, the last woman to be executed in Britain, delving into sex, class, power and injustice on the way. Mar 18-28, times vary, from £10.50, wiltons.org.uk EVENT | Resistance Is Existence Hear from Yanis Varoufakis, Brian Eno, Jeremy Corbyn, Zack Polanski, Laura Pidcock and more at this gathering of the left in Limehouse. Mar 24, 7pm, from £15.76, troxy.co.uk

still time to catch puppet and music show Tiny Planet at Half Moon Theatre. Suitable for kids aged 5 and over, the venue is hosting two performances on March 7 at 11am and 2pm. Tickets cost £9 halfmoon.org.uk

Images by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

Traders welcome visitors on Saturdays at Brussels Wharf

Fushima is set back from the road with a couple of tables for customers who prefer to dine al fresco

Cost of Chicken Katsu Curry at Fushima o Marsh Wall on the Isle Of Dogs £9.99

A generous pot: Chicken Katsu Curry from Fushima

how Fushima delivers generous helpings of Japanese and Korean dishes from its position on the edge of Skylines Village

by Jon Massey

The Skylines Village fringe is becoming an increasingly varied foodie destination. Sandwiched between the sharply drawn white and red units, small businesses have found homes in temporary structures, sometimes with small seating areas.

There’s Chinese Gourmet, B Bakery, Lebanese Street Food, Shah’s Halal Food and In A Pikel (for smash burgers, naturally).

Recently, that mix was further enriched by the arrival of a brown shed on dark-hued decking containing Fushima, an orangetinged pop-up serving Japanese and Korean street food.

The takeaway faces out onto Marsh Wall in the shadow of One Thames Quay – a building neither next to water or on the river, whose sloppy name suggests a general contempt for reality in the face of better search rankings among prospective buyers and tenants.

Blending Asian cuisines on menus is nothing new in this country. Wagamama has made great success of it, but Fushima’s foregrounding of Tokyo and Seoul at rst glance looks a bit like bandwagon jumping, given the seemingly boundless enthusiasm

for their cultures at present. It’s also a pop-up that appears glossier than many of its peers, presented with slick videos on a chunky atscreen and exactingly constructed on its wooden base.

Its menu reads like the greatest hits of takeaway food from the last decade, o ering bao buns, sushi, poke, donburi and ramen, raising further scepticism – a jack of all trades and master of none, perhaps.

Deciding the best way to assess its place in the market is to order what was once the mainstay of the Canary Wharf lunch scene, I opt for Chicken Katsu Curry at£9.99 and settle in al fresco at one of a few stainless steel tables to the side of the shed.

At 4p more expensive than the likes of Wasabi and Itsu, a trip to Marsh Wall isn’t obviously bene cial in an economic sense. But we’re all about value and Fushima’s o ering turns out to be long on generosity.

The dish arrives in two pots – a large round one wishing me “Bon Appetit” lled with sticky white rice and breaded chicken. Then a second container lled with steaming curry sauce. Without closely examining the contents of the main receptacle, I immediately empty the brown condiment, laced with carrots and potatoes on top of the crispy slices. This results in two things. Firstly,

the sweet, almost fruity avour of the curry slips into every corner of the bowl, delivering spice alongside texture. Secondly it hides a rich pocket of kimchi, making for a delicious surprise later in the eating.

Simply put, for a tenner, you can’t really go wrong with Fushima. The chicken is well cooked and its golden jacket as sharply crispy as the shapes created by Skylines’ impractical roo ng.

While other options are available, that extra 4p buys you a pot that feels more like the kind of thing you’d pay £15 for in a restaurant. The salad is fresh, the kimchi has bite and the whole thing is dusted in bright red slivers of chilli that lurk under the subtle sauce.

It’s also a hefty portion. Gone are the days when Wasabi used to serve up great buckets of rice drenched in curry. These days its neat little bento boxes are a reaction to the not unreasonable desire to still be awake after lunch. Fushima’s isn’t a guaranteed nap creator, but maybe approach with care.

Go to fushima.co.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about Fushima

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see SHOP | EmpowerHer Pop-Up Market

Part of Women Building Futures, this inclusive marketplace provides a place for female entrepreneurs and organisations to showcase products and services. Mar 15, 10am-4pm, free, poplarunion.com STAGE | Gallows And Children

This visceral exploration of power, resistance and the cost of revolution is inspired by uprisings in the 1970s in Turkey. Expect intense theatrical language. Mar 11-13, times vary, £14, space.org.uk

FILM | Miyah + Roxanne + Ranhura

Audience With returns to the oating arts venue with performances from an r’n’b funk artist, a soul-infused

Price of a Super Early Bird ticket for the talk, rising to a full standard price of £15

The talk will take place at The Brunel Museum on the Rotherhithe Peninsula digging the

how Innovation Unearthed is set for a deep dive into the bedrock scraped out for the Liz Line’s tunnels

by Jon Massey

London is riddled with tunnels carrying everything from passengers to sewage deep beneath the city streets. The Elizabeth Line, the latest route to be bored through the capital’s bedrock, carries some 800,000 people every day. The cutting edge machines that burrowed steadily under the city are the direct descendants of techniques rst developed by Sir Marc

Brunel to create the Thames Tunnel, the rst subterranean passage under a navigable river in the world.

To mark the 183rd anniversary of its opening, The Brunel Museum, custodian of its southern shaft, is set to host Unearthing Innovation, a talk by TfL community partnerships lead Jonathan Baggs, who spent 13 years working on the planning and construction of the Liz Line.

This is a chance to dive deep beneath London’s streets and revisit the challenges and triumphs involved

in creating what’s become the UK’s busiest railway. key details Unearthing Innovation is set to take place at The Brunel Museum on March 25 from 6.30pm to 8pm. Super early bird tickets start at £5. For more information go to thebrunelmuseum.com

Scan this code to nd out more about this talk

Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

GIG | Sound Is Now

Where?

The Albany Deptford

Sound activist Charles Hayward continues to investigate the edges of possibility in music with a series of events that defy genre in search of the new. Mar 13, 7.30pm, £12, thealbany.org.uk

Where?

The Pen Theatre South Bermondsey

COMEDY | The Van Gogh Shogh

What happens when Vincent Van Gogh stumbles into an immersive experience based on his art? This show is part Paint And Sip, part karaoke, part Sotheby’s. Mar 25, 7.30pm, £11.55, thepentheatre.com

TRY | Dance Groove

Where?

The Albany Deptford

Youngsters aged 12-24 can join Shaney to learn and create short dance routines based on hip hop and street dance techniques. Sessions are on selected Tuesdays. Until Mar 24, 4.30pm-6pm, free, thealbany.org.uk

book it

Opening on March 12, Vikings The Immersive Experience is set to ll Dock X in Canada Water with tales of Ragnar Lodbrok and his wife, Aslaug. Admission is available daily from 9am with adult tickets costing £23 vikings-immersive.co.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about the immersive experience, which lasts around 90 minutes

Get 10% o all ticket types to Whisky Live And Find Spirits London at Woolwich Works by using code LDN26 when booking

how Whisky Live And Fine Spirits London is set to showcase expertly created liquids at Woolwich Works

by Jon Massey

The honeyed brickbuilt expanse of the Fireworks Factory at Woolwich Works is set to ring with the subtle clink of glasses and the sound of distilled liquids gently filling them, as Whisky Live And Fine Spirits London returns towards the end of March.

Over two days around 3,000 visitors are expected to taste products from a wide range of distillers at the showcase, this year celebrating its 26th edition.

“It’s the ultimate whisky event,” said Jamie Brodie, media director at Paragraph Publishing – a company that founded Whisky Magazine in 1997 and put on its first show three years later.

“We license Whisky Live all over the globe – in France, Ireland, Spain, Germany and many more countries – it’s gone from strength to strength.

“Visiting the event is a real journey of tastes and flavours from all over the world. For our 2026 London show we’ll have more than 50 stands with different brands – the best from Scotland, Ireland, Europe, America, India and Japan.

“We have visitors coming who are seasoned enthusiasts alongside beginners who are trying whisky for the first time.

“Whether you’re new or returning to the show, this is a chance for you to come to an event where you can spend a day talking to people about whisky and other spirits.

“It’s not just about tasting them. It’s finding out about their heritage, how they are created and made – things like the maturation processes, how long it takes and the differences between all the different brands and expressions.

“People coming have the opportunity to try whiskies from all over the globe, not just the straightforward single malts, but wheats, ryes, grains, blends – a real variety of different types. We’ll also have tequillas, vodkas and gins.”

The format is straightforward. Standard ticket holders get unlimited whisky pourings in their Glencairn tasting glass over a three-hour period, with five-hour and six-hour packages also available, the latter with a succession of premium perks.

Street food vendors will be on

It’s not just about tasting whiskies.

It’s nding out about their heritage – how they’re created and made

Jamie Brodie, Paragraph Publishing

hand to provide fuel for those who need it, alongside soft drink options and plenty of water stations.

“It’s very important for people to stay hydrated,” said Jamie. “Whisky Live is all about enjoying these spirits responsibly – tasting them in the right environment and appreciating them.

“The show is for finding out more about whisky and making it accessible without being patronising, so people can understand what they’re tasting in a comfortable, welcoming space.

“We want people to take back some really strong memories and to have a fun day out.”

Brands represented include Glencadam, Tomintoul, Aber Falls, Green River, Fuji, Jura, Fettercairn and Crazy Cock. The show will also feature entertainment from pianist and sing-a-long specialist Tom Carradine as well as plenty of movers and shakers from the world of whisky.

Jamie said: “You’ve got some of the great master blenders working today as well as the writing teams from Whisky Magazine on hand to share their expertise.

“We’re not about swilling whisky, we’re about sipping and talking it over. People who come to these events often want to take something special away with them and brands will be retailing throughout the two days.

“We’ll also be running a number of masterclasses – an opportunity for people to find out more about particular whiskies from the people who make them.

“For example we’ll have master blender Dan Callaway from Bardstown Bourbon Company in the USA and master blender Jota Tanaka from Fuji Gotemba in Japan running sessions and inviting visitors to taste some of their range.

“Whisky Magazine editor, Bradley Weir will be hosting a masterclass where people can

Visitors can learn to blend their very own whisky

Whisky Live takes place at Woolwich Works on March 27 and 28

Whiskies from all around the globe will be available to taste at the event

showcasing taste and

learn to blend their own whisky. It’s something we’ve been doing for a number of years now and visitors can choose to have their whisky bottled and then engraved ready for collection the same day.”

In addition to the wide array of tasting options, the show is also an opportunity to sample some of the very best spirits the world has to offer.

“We run the World Whiskies Awards and the winners are set to be announced on March 25,” said Jamie. “We’ll have those brands available on our World Whiskies Awards Premium Stand at Whisky Live for visitors to try.

“Those who opt for premium tickets get that experience included – the opportunity to try the very best across a range of categories.

“Some distilleries will also be bringing special casks produced specifically for the event along for people to taste – whiskies that are not available anywhere else on the planet.

“This will be our third time at Woolwich Works, which is easily accessible thanks to the Elizabeth Line. We deliberately keep it as an intimate show that’s designed to be very straightforward.

“It’s not overwhelming or intimidating. It’s not about the look, but about the flavour, whether you’re new to whisky or already enthusiastic about it.

“People can choose to taste and ingest or taste and spit – the important thing is that they have the opportunity to try unique whiskies that they wouldn’t normally get to sample and they find something they like.”

key details

Whisky Live And Fine Spirits London is set to take place on March 27 and 28 at Woolwich Works. Tickets start at £61.91 with entry times varying depending on the level of access.

Readers can get 0 off all tickets to the show by using code LDN26 when booking. Go to whiskylive.com

Enter code LDN26 to get 10% o tickets to Whisky Live via this link

what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see

GIG | Wu-Tang Clan

Audiences can expect the RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deckm U-God, Masta Killa and Cappadonna to do the business. Mar 17-18, 6.30pm, from £82, theo2.co.uk

STAGE | America The Beautiful Split between Greenwich Theatre and the King’s Head Theatre, this collection of savage short plays by Neil Labute is delivered in three bold chapters. Mar 9-21, 31-Apr 4, times/prices vary, greenwichtheatre.org.uk

TRY | Masterclass Celebrate Mother’s Day with this session focused on painting owers on pottery. All materials are included as techniques are explored. Mar 15, 12.45pm, £40, greenwichpeninsula.co.uk

Luminarium: Myriad is coming to Woolwich Works, with visitors invited to explore its colourful, in ated spaces. Catch it between April 2-6, with tickets costing £8 per person for daily access between noon and 4pm woolwich.works

Scan this code to read our interview with Architects Of Air’s Alan Parkinson about his latest creation

Images supplied by Whisky Live

Visitors are free to taste as many whiskies as they like at the show

Distillers are on hand to o er insight into their products

how

Royal

Docks Waterways’ plans could see a wealth of new floating facilities created for the public

by Jon Massey

It’s been 45 years since the Royal Docks ceased to function for their intended purpose. Having survived the Second World War, they’d become the busiest facilities of their kind in the 1960s only for containerisation to render them redundant as global trade demanded deeper and more accessible ports.

Since their closure in 1981, they’ve lain relatively vacant as land around them has found new purpose as exhibition and events space, a university campus, housing and a home for businesses.

While the development of London City Airport in the late 1980s saw some of the water lost under its runway and, more recently, its new taxiway and aircraft stands, bar the odd pop-up and vessel of interest, little advantage has been taken of the surface of Newham’s largest liquid asset.

However, it looks like that could all be about to change. Royal Docks Waterways (RDW) – a newly rebranded Royal Docks Management Authority – has unveiled a new “vision” for the western end of Royal Victoria Dock.

what are the plans

In short, there are three main uses proposed for the 12 hectare stretch of water adjacent to City Hall –floating wellness, a floating park and floating homes. Plans for the first include a lido, sauna, spa and expanded support for open water swimming in the dock.

The park will comprise a floating green space, art installations and cultural programming with the possibility of future expansion.

The homes will be provided via residential moorings and floating dwellings.

It’s unclear what will happen to existing watersports and hospitality facilities in the area including the Oiler Bar and WakeUp Docklands.

they say Scott Derben, managing director of Royal Docks Waterways, said: “This vision represents the biggest step change in the management and development of the Royal Docks since they were closed to commercial shipping at the end of 1981.

“Now, 45 years later, our goal is that the docks that used to feed

The

vision represents the biggest step change in the management and development of the Royal Docks since they were closed

Scott Derben, Royal Docks Waterways

London will be used to nurture its inhabitants.”

what now?

Naturally it’s consultation time. RDW is seeking to engage with stakeholders and members of the public to help shape the detail of the plans as it begins to establish partnerships with organisations that will deliver them.

Britannia Village Hall will host exhibitions of the proposals on February 25, 26 and March 4, from 3pm-6pm, so people can view them and discuss the ideas.

Online sessions will be held on March 3 and 12 at noon and 6pm for those who can’t make it down in person.

Then, on March 7-8, Thames Sailing Barge Will is set to be moored at Royal Victoria Dock West. Open from 10am-3pm each day, the 100-year-old vessel will be carrying a cargo of information boards and plentiful post-it notes for people to jot ideas onto.

At 100ft long, she’s the largest of her kind ever built and is well worth a visit in her own right.

Following the public engagement events, there will be further workshops and opportunities to get involved with – details to be disclosed at a later date.

RDW is also looking to have private meetings with local stakeholders and businesses. Interested organisations should email rvdw@royaldockswaterways.com to set up dates.

then what?

Following the consultation, feasibility studies and other administrative gubbins, the first elements of the plans are expected to be delivered by 2030.

key details

More information on the plans (which are also available for download) can be found on a dedicated website. Go to rvdwactivated.com

Hectares of water that could be transformed as part of the plans for Royal Victoria Dock West

The plans include a oating park with boardwalks

A view of Royal Victoria Dock as it is today

Scan this code to nd out more about the vision

Royal Docks Waterways wants to create a oating park and a lido in the dock with support for open water swimming and moorings for residential craft

on things to do, places to go, people to see

EVENT | Mother’s Day

The Royal Docks venue is treating mums to a free main meal when booking a Mothering Sunday celebration. Expect a hearty selection of roasts. Mar 15, times and prices vary, foxconnaught.co.uk CLUB | Len Faki

Expect three days of dance with more than 35,000 movers, teachers, creatives and parents descending on Excel for a festival of performance and shapes. Mar 20-22, 10am, £18, moveitdance.co.uk

A gurehead of Berlin’s techno scene for over two decades, Len is set to appear in east London with support from Alba Heidari. Dress to sweat. Mar 21 , 4pm-10pm,from £22.50, ra.co EVENT | Move It 2026

back Sad Meli Georgian Gastronomy And Wine in Royal Docks near Gallions Reach is an example of what drive and ambition can achieve. O ering authentic avours and products from Georgia, try this restaurant and bar now...

how the Elixir Festival is all set to challenge perceptions around dance and age as it extends to the east

by Jon Massey

Stratford is all set to play its part in a series of performances, films and talks that aims to “challenge perceptions around dance and ageing”. Sadler’s Wells Theatre in Islington and Sadler’s Wells East will both host parts of the Elixir Festival from April 7-12.

The week-long programme features work from international artists as well as performances from dancers drawn from local communities in north and east London as it seeks to answer the question: “How do we express our changing bodies and minds as we grow and age?”.

Elixir kicks off with the U première of Kontakthof –Echoes Of ’78 on the main stage of Sadler’s Wells’ Islington complex from April 7-11. Originally unveiled in 1978, this was a seminal piece in the repertoire of German dancer and choreographer Pina Bausch, who apparently often mused on the idea of seeing her original cast perform it when older.

That is set to become a reality with choreographer Meryl Tankard, who played one of the main characters in 1978, creating a fresh version for the festival.

This “new encounter” will feature nine of the original dancers nearly five decades after they first made those movements.

“The Elixir Festival has become an important part of Sadler’s Wells’s artistic programme since it was first launched in 20 2, and the 2026 edition features an incredible range of performances and events,” said Joce Giles, director of learning and engagement at Sadler’s Wells. “The productions of Pina Bausch/Meryl Tankard’s Kontakthof – Echoes Of ‘78 and Louise Lecavalier’s Danses Vagabondes bring world-class performances to our stages and epitomise everything that the festival is about.”

The latter is another highlight of the programme, with Canadian virtuoso Lecavalier returning to Sadler’s Wells following a performance in 202 .

Her new solo work, Danses Vagabondes, will be performed on the Sadler’s Wells East stage in Stratford on April 0 and , taking inspiration from Italian physicist Carlo Rovelli’s Écrits Vagabonds. Principal dancer of the Montreal-based company La La

48

Years since Pina Bausch’s Kontakthof was rst performed. Some of the original cast will perform a fresh encounter with the work as part of the Elixir Festival

La uman Steps in the 0s and 0s, Lecavalier has collaborated with the likes of David Bowie and is “known for her frenetic and technically challenging dance, filled with a fiery energy”.

Joce added: “This year is particularly special as, for the first time, it will be a cross-venue festival across Sadler’s Wells Theatre in Angel and Sadler’s Wells East in Stratford.

“The opening of the latter enables our Company Of Elders to present their work on a larger-scale for the first time and will also provide a hub for our community activity including a range of free classes in different dance styles, performances by local community groups on The Dance Floor, as well as an intergenerational recreation of Pina Bausch’s Nelken Line.”

The Company Of Elders is set to present Mixed Bill including work by John-William Watson and Charlotta Öfverholm on April 8 at Sadler’s Wells East, which will also host a pair of experience workshops for anyone who’d like to get a taste of the troupe’s work. One is aimed at men and those identifying as male over 60.

The Elixir Festival will conclude at Sadler’s Wells East on April 12 with the public performance of Nelken Line at . 5pm. embers of the cast of Kontakthof – Echoes of ’78 will lead an intergenerational procession through Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and will be joined by the Company of Elders, Elders Fellows, National Youth Dance Company and Get Into Dance community groups.

Get Into Dance Festival will also take place on April 12, sharing public performances from Sadler’s Wells’ many community partners on The Dance Floor at the east London venue.

key details

Elixir Festival is set to run from April 7-12. At Sadler’s Wells East, the Company Of Elders’ Mixed Bill will be shown at .30pm on April 8, while Louise Lecavalier’s Danses Vagabondes is set to be performed at .30pm on April 0 and . Tickets start at 5 Find full listings for both venues at sadlerswells.com

Scan this code to nd out more about Elixir Festival

Louise Lecavalier is set to present Danses Vagabondes at Sadler’s Wells East

in motion

Image by André Cornellier

Image by Ursula Kaufmann

Image by Ellie Kurttz

Kontakthof – Echoes Of ’78 will be performed at Sadler’s Wells Theatre as part of the festival

Sadler’s Wells’ Company Of Elders will perform Mixed Bill at Elixir

Sudoku

Take a break from that phone

How to play

To complete Sudoku, ll 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 nd more Sudoku puzzles and a wide selection of other brainteasers available to download for free at puzzles.ca

Notes

crossword

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

Cryptic Quick

Down

Admits to being in the thick of it (6)

A chatty pet? (6)

Chewy’s qualification 3

Vertical missions are mockeries ,3

A new program leaves you breathless, we hear (5)

Pathetic burger? (5)

Congealed idiots? (5)

Antony wants a loan of this 2,3 19. Bob’s sister? (7)

A dance to frenetic surveillance 3

Sounds like we demand a makeover (6)

An old one of these puts on a show (6)

Notes

1. Morning shrub lies in wait (6)

2. Losing control in Africa, Asia, etc 3

3. Fauns will screw things up acronymically (5)

5. Sounds like a man will be in the post (7)

6. Cerebral tempest to get an idea 3

7. Foot binding makes for a despicable person (6)

8. Places to sit may cause a fall, we hear (5)

3. A newcomer to dad’s place? (7)

15. Prohibit Joseph’s place! Could be instrumental (6)

16. Where cheats sleep? (5)

17. Explosive with mash! (6)

20. A German one is in the forecast (5)

Help (6)

Ridiculous (6)

Repent (5)

Permanent storage (7)

Plaything storage (6)

Turns away (6)

Rhino;

Malfunctioned; 22 Toybox;

Tailor.

Averts;

Siena;

Booklet;

Unintentional; 7 Domino; 8 Ashes; 13 Profumo; 16 Sauce; 17 Leader; 20 China.

Across: 1 Amidst; 4 Rabbit; 9 Baccalaureate; 10 Send Ups; 11 Apnea; 12 Wimpy; 14 Clots; 18 An Ear; 19 Roberta; 21 Jitterbugging; 22 Stylus; 23 Stager.

Down: 1 Ambush; 2 Incontinently; 3 Snafu; 5 Airmail; 6 Brainstorming; 7 Toerag; 8 Lapse; 13 Parvenu; 15 Banjos; 16 Cribs; 17 Banger; 20 Bight.

Set by Everden