Wharf Life, Mar 25-Apr 8, 2026

Where?

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place

GIG | The House Of Ellington Gospel Choir

Settle in for a Sunday lunch packed with joy as Jaz Ellington’s dynamic seven-piece ensemble ll the restaurant with infectious energy. Apr 12, 1pm-3pm, from £59, boisdale.co.uk

Where?

Docklands Canary Wharf

KIDS | Paint With Food Families are invited to get creative with Ella Philips artistic sessions where kids can decorate postcards using dyes made from natural ingredients. Apr 2, 9, times vary, free, londonmuseum.org.uk

FILM | Akira (15)

Where?

Everyman Canary Wharf Crossrail Place

It may have been drawn in 1988, but Katsuhiro Otomo’s cyberpunk anime remains some of the most vibrant and imaginative drawings on lm. Mar 17, 8.30pm,£20.65, everymancinema.com

and alleviate blockages. Treatments last 20 minutes and cost £85 earlab.co.uk

Welcome to issue 158 of Wharf Life. As spring arrives this part of London is bursting with life and activity. Sample the noodles at newly opened Kung Fu Mama, sign up as a founder member at MoreYoga or explore programmes at the Old Royal Naval College, Theatership and Sadler’s Wells

The Old Royal Naval College is celebrating 300 years since the completion of the Painted Hall. We nd our how it wants more and more locals to visit and participate in its activities 32

We head out of the o ce to Putney and consider options for the Boat Race

Why Theatreship has become a vital arts instituition on the Island 14 28

on the radar

need to know

Potato Art Studio is set to open its second branch in Canary Wharf, o ering a wide selection of creative activities including uid art, cream gel and furball painting. Expect cute overload and guidance from the team during its social, artistic o ering potatoartstudio.co.uk

Secret Cinema, which once transformed what is now Wood Wharf into the set from Blade Runner, has announced plans to operate from a permanent site on Greenwich Peninsula. Expect a golden facade and immersive worlds (subject to planning) posto ce.co.uk

How Cody Dock’s boat restoration is keeping crafts alive on the Lea

How St Anne’s Limehouse is staging a major exhibition exploring the area’s history as London’s original Chinatown. Expect ceramic sculptures and a wealth of objects and info

doing the deals

get more for less on and around the Wharf

Show the Canary Wharf App and get 25% o food, drinks and gaming at Electric Shu e, available Sunday-Friday before 9pm. Walk-ins are welcome. canarywharf.com

20%

Wells East is set to host We Caliban, a fresh take on The Tempest 38 subscribe to our Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly

Need a new whistle? Hackett is o ering 20% o ready-to-wear suits at its April 29-30 Art Of Tailoring event. Contact the Canary Wharf store to book an appointment hackett.com

TRIED + TESTED BBQ Burger Lockdown

@thelockdownbar on Insta

There are things I like about Lockdown, the latest bar to open its doors in Wood Wharf and things I’m less keen on.

I’m a fan of the low-light look of the place, but not of its curiously bare walls. I like the real tea lights brought to the table, but not the relatively slow service (we’re one of two groups) and having to ask a second time for tap water.

This towering mass of ingredients comes in at a reasonable £14.45

It feels like a place designed for relaxation but I’m sat on a hard bench along the rear of the venue that only has one small cushion but places for three guests. Perhaps I’ll have to ght the other two if they turn up to preserve the comfort of my backside. Billed as a craft beer bar, it has only ve on o er, plus three low or no options. But boy does it do a good burger and sometimes that’s all you need. My BBQ options is stacked high, despite the smash style, with two patties, Cheddar cheese, gherkins, onions, lettuce and a smoky, rich sauce. It oozes, it’s almost perfectly cooked and the pleasure of taking a bite is enough to drown out all the niggles. This is a bargain.

Jon Massey

Immigration Solicitors

With

you from the start

Our immigration team has earned its strong reputation for providing expert legal advice and practical support on a wide range of immigration issues. Trust us to help you make the right application. 020 7205 2896 kiddrapinet.co.uk

write me

words you don’t know you need shlower

noun, fake, from Birmingham

On news that HS2 is likely to be specced down from 224mph to 186mph, here’s a term to describe those in charge of the project. Best used with a withering look and the pre x “utter” when referring to those who’ve spent £100billion or so...

This 16th century word for a rascal or coward is due a dusting o . Somehow it sounds more like a type of rare, Highland-dwelling animal, perhaps a distant cousin of the lesser spotted Haggis (which we all know has a tartan coat) subscribe to our FREE Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly

poltroon

noun, real, from French

CATCH THIS Stand By Me (15)

Everyman Canary Wharf everymancinema.com

Based on Stephen King’s The Body, this journey of self discoverty through the wilds outside an Oregon town sees Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Jerry O’Connell go in search of a missing teenager’s remains.

Directed by the late Rob Reiner, this is a movie that made stars out of many of its cast.

Catch it on April 12 at the Crossrail Place cinema’s regular Throwback session. The screening starts at 7pm with tickets costing £17.60 including a drink and popcorn.

HOT STUFF World Sauna Day Skuna Sauna skunaboats.com

Skuna Sauna at West India

Quay is set to host a sizzling, eight-day mini festival in celebration of both World Sauna Day (April 25) and the oating facilitiy’s rst birthday the following day. Running from April 19-26, the purveyor of on-water delights is promising a programme of 30 experiences. Higlights include Blossom And Breathe, Seated Stretching and heat-assisted Runners Stretching sessions, the latter timed for those participating in the London Marathonon April 26. There will also be curated sensory journeys including a Four Seasons In One Day session with essential oils

and music and Skuna Sauna Soundscapes for those who like to bathe in heat and sonic waves. A number of workshops are planned too, covering areas such as essential oils, cold plunging and a community-focused Mindfulness Mingle session. Rounding things o will be a Beer And Breathe tasting event, a Podcast Sauna and an Ibiza Beats evening to mark the venue’s rst birthday. London Marathon medal holders get free access.

A full schedule of events is set to be released shortly online. Those coming to the festival will also have the chance to win prizes and experiences.

Introductory Early Bird price for six months of unlimited classes and perks as MoreYoga opens its Wood Wharf site this month

by Jon Massey how MoreYoga is launching its latest studio at Wood Wharf with a focus on creating community

MoreYoga has found a niche.

While there are plenty of high-end studios offering boutique spaces and glossy facilities, the company is expanding with a simpler, more accessible proposition.

The brand is set to open its 41st location in Wood Wharf’s West Lane on March 30 – one of an increasingly vibrant community of businesses to call the area home. Their arrival is down to a collaboration between Canary Wharf Group and Tower Hamlets Council, offering companies affordable commercial space.

On the health, wellbeing and lifestyle front, the neighbourhood already boasts the likes of floristry from The Flower Club, Wayne Hairdresser Salon, beauty salon Awe London, Pawsome Pet Grooming And Spa, The Island Reformer Pilates Studio, clothing repair business Omnifix and music school Kitchen Jam.

Hospitality arrivals include Mama Li, Nora, Ong Lai Kopitaim, Cafe Seek, Lockdown, Supershakes and Signorelli.

This emerging cluster is an ideal site for MoreYoga, according to the company’s chief operating officer, Daniel Marin.

He said: “Wherever we open, we want to create a community. Yoga is a practice where people are moving together – there’s a real energy to that.

“It’s one of the reasons we designed MoreYoga to keep our prices down.

is

“We noticed many businesses were focused on the services – the free towels, the showers and complex interior design as ways to create customer loyalty.

“That left a space for us to manoeuvre into – we wanted to keep the cost of coming to classes down, so we stripped back our offering to providing the space, the mats, the props and really great teaching.

“Initially, our first studio in Old Street grew out of a personal training business – a way to offer our clients something extra. But over time we started getting a name for ourselves providing

I always say to people that Yoga is what you make of it. While you’re in a group, it’s a personal practice. It can be whatever you want

Daniel Marin, MoreYoga

Yoga and we were having real success delivering that.”

Daniel has been with the business since the beginning, helping run and grow the organisation for 10 years alongside founder and CEO Shamir Sidhu. The team has now grown to more than 15 people, coordinating classes by over 400 Yoga teachers.

MoreYoga’s typical class size is 28 students, with instructors empowered to teach their preferred style over and above a proven level of proficiency and all the standardised health and safety practices you’d expect.

Daniel, whose passion for football saw him embark on a career in fitness and training before becoming a founding

member of the MoreYoga team, enjoys practising fortnightly as an addition to his gym training.

“I always say to people that Yoga is what you make of it,” he said. “While you’re in a group, it’s a personal practice. If you do another sport and you just want to stretch on the side, it could be perfect for you. It can also be your main exercise.

“Ultimately it can be whatever you want to make it. There are styles that are more prescriptive and many people enjoy that.

“As well as the physical, there are mental health benefits too. It can simply be about movement, but it can also be more spiritual.

“That’s the reason we have teachers offering different styles that are personal to them. We want to have a wide variety of classes for people to choose from and students react very positively to that. Our aim is to open studios so people can practise wherever they want whether that’s close to work or to home. One of the attractive things about Canary Wharf for us is that there’s a real mix of homes and offices here.

“One of the key things for MoreYoga is that it is about creating communities both around continued on Page 8

from Page 7

the studios, but also led by our amazing teachers.”

MoreYoga typically offers between 10 and 15 different styles of Yoga at each of its studios. It also delivers mat Pilates classes and sound baths in its facilities, options that were introduced to meet increasing demand from its clients. While a multitude of options are available, Vinyasa-based classes are the most common on MoreYoga’s timetables.

The overriding message to Wharfers, however is one of value, with multiple ways to access both the new studio and all of the company’s other locations, including nearby Blackwall.

There are monthly memberships with a headline offer of £1 for the first month and half price for life at £44 per month (usually £88) for a minimum of two months. This includes unlimited classes. There are pay-as-you-go class packs of four, eight and 12 – the latter working out at £8.33 per class.

There’s also an up-front annual membership for £450, which saves £656 on regular membership and equates to £3.84 per class, based on two per week.

Daniel said: “For Wood Wharf, we’re also offering an Early Bird deal where people can pay £129 and get six months at over 50% off. Only 150 of these founder memberships are available and they work out at £21.50 per month.

“Those choosing this option must take at least half their classes at the new studio.

“We are so excited to be opening here. We’ve found that people really want our facilities close to where they live because they don’t want to travel far to use them on a regular basis. They want them on their doorsteps –that’s London life.

“We’ve found our studios can help establish communities, especially in areas with newly built homes where people are moving in for the first time. Going to classes is a great way to meet your neighbours.”

key details

MoreYoga is set to launch at 17 West Lane in Wood Wharf on March 30. Full details of its membership packages and introductory offers can be found online.

Go to moreyoga.co.uk for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about MoreYoga

Studios MoreYoga currently operates as it continues to roll out its o ering across London. Wood Wharf will be its 41st site

MoreYoga memberships include access to classes across its portfolio of studios, all o ering a multitude of teaching styles

The brand has grown to more than 40 sites, o ering mats, props and classes in stripped-back studios

how Kung Fu Mama promises flavours from Taiwan carefully curated for the London market

by Jon Massey

Chris Hsu, co-founder of Kung Fu Mama – has been on a lifelong mission to promote Taiwanese cuisine.

Having founded a sun-dried noodle business, Shuang Ren Hsu, in the country of his birth in 2009, he decided to explore opportunities for selling pre-packaged products into the European market.

“I also have two daughters and I wanted them to be educated in the UK – luckily I had a visa to come here and we arrived in 2019,” he said. “We also looked at some business opportunities, travelling to Germany and France, but also around the UK.

“The British were the most open to new cuisines and different food cultures, so I thought this was the best opportunity to set up a business here.”

After Chris moved to London, it was actually through his daughters that he met his business partner, Noam Bar – co-founder of the Ottolenghi food empire.

Chris said: “Our kids are the same age and went to the same playgroup.

“Noam’s husband is also Taiwanese and we became close friends. About three years ago we started to think about bringing Taiwanese food to London.

“I’d been selling pre-packed noodles for the retail market to supermarkets. It was with Noam that I started to explore the restaurant opportunity in the UK.”

Having stepped away from Ottolenghi, Noam was looking for a fresh challenge.

“I’d co-founded that business with my former partner, Yotam Ottolenghi, in 2002, after we’d broken up,” said Noam.

“He came to me saying he wanted to start a food business and asked whether I would help him.

“All the people who worked with us were extremely talented and we were very lucky in where we were and when we were.

“Notting Hill was just on the rise in terms of gentrification –people really wanted a new kind of food. British cuisine was continued on Page 10

Branches of Kung Fu Mama, one in Covent Garden and now a second in Canary Wharf

from Page 9

dead to them and there were few alternatives, so we benefited from that. It was right in times of the zeitgeist and also correct in terms of what people wanted for their health.

“It was very successful – we were employing 450 people – but it also became very bureaucratic and I’ve always hated meetings, so we brought in a CEO four or five years ago and I stepped back and took some time off. Then I was ready for a new adventure.”

That journey began with the launch of Kung Fu Mama in Covent Garden and is now continuing with the recent opening of its second branch in Canary Wharf’s Jubilee Place.

Chris said: “Noodles are a very traditional food in Taiwan – most commonly in soups. At Kung Fu Mama we realised British people prefer dry noodles.

“In Taiwan if you order dry noodles, they come without sauce and all the toppings added separately. Here we’ve created dishes with a Taiwanese flavour but that has everything in one bowl. You have noodles, protein, vegetables and sauce, together making a wholesome meal.

“We try to bring this to the next level using recipes from my family and Noam’s expertise in the market to make the taste and presentation more attractive to the people here. We also take into account our customers’ desire to eat healthy food.

“You don’t see these things in Taiwanese or Chinese food. All our ingredients are natural and we use ovens to cook them rather than stir fry or deep frying dishes.

“The noodles we use are dried in the sun, which is a very traditional way of doing it in Taiwan because of the climate. These are imported and the texture is phenomenal. It’s nothing like noodles from anywhere else.

“We’re combining Taiwanese flavours with western cooking techniques on our menu.”

Noam added: “I’m running the business operations side of things and Chris is dealing with the food. It’s been a great adventure so far.

“We opened our first restaurant in Covent Garden a year ago and we’ve had a great response from the word go.

“People love the food, the presentation and the fact they can get very flavoursome dishes very quickly. Essentially it’s very similar to night market food in Taiwan, which is very plentiful, delicious and relatively cheap.

“It’s quite rare to get graband-go food that tastes as good as this and is as fast. We opened in Covent Garden because we

weren’t quite sure who our customers were going to be –would it be foodies, students or tourists?

“We thought it was an interesting area because it’s got a bit of everything. Now we know office workers are our best customers so we asked ourselves where those people are.

“It’s nicer than the City because here you also get people in the evenings and at weekends. We have high hopes that as we’re busy in Covent Garden without many office workers that here we’ll do even better.”

So what to order from Kung Fu Mama, now that the restaurant is up and running following its launch on March 20?

Chris said: We have two signature dishes. One is 12-hour Beef With Szechuan Pepper style – a little bit numbing, a little bit spicy. You’ll feel a kick, but it’s not too strong. The meat is very tender.

“Then we have our Ginger And Sesame Chicken, which is a transformation of a traditional Taiwanese dish. We do it with fresh ginger, sesame oil and crispy skin on the thighs. The meat is still juicy and I think it’s quite an unusual approach to this cuisine. My favourite is the beef, I could eat it every day.

“My grandparents were from mainland China and were migrants to Taiwan when the government moved there. Everyone at that time found themselves living alongside people from many different areas in China and it was normal to share recipes, ingredients and techniques between families.

“In Taiwan you can say we preserved a lot of authentic Chinese flavours and techniques meaning our cuisine has a really rich heritage, that has since developed further. We are proud of our food culture and its history. I’ve always tried to promote Taiwanese food and Kung Fu Mama feels like destiny calling.”

key details

Kung Fu Mama is located on the lower level of Jubilee Place next to Wharf Kitchen. The restaurant and takeaway is open from 11am-9pm on weekdays and from noon-9pm on Saturdays and noon-7pm on Sundays.

You’ll have to be quick but you can get 50% off everything on the menu until March 27 by signing up to the restaurant’s newsletter via the Canary Wharf App. Go to kungfumama.co.uk for more information

this code to nd out more about

My favourite is the 12-hour Beef With Szechuan Pepper. It’s a little bit numbing. You’ll feel a kick but it’s not too strong

ideas 4

DOUGH IT YOURSELF

Kids Easter Masterclasses

Pizza Pilgrims pizzapilgrims.co.uk

Pizza Pilgrims on West India Quay is set to host an Easter-themed class for children aged 6-12.

Running from 11.30pm to 12.30pm on April 1, the session includes a chance for kids to make their own margheritas under the guidance of the restaurant’s chefs. There will also be Easter-themed arts and crafts and chefs hats for participants to wear. Tickets cost £33 per child and include a soft drink, and an ice cream for dessert after the pizza. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

START

Breakfast With The Ivy Bunny The Ivy In The Park theivycanarywharf.com

You’ll need to be quick, but there are still a few slots available for this meet-the-rabbit experience at the Canada Square restaurant. Costing £24.95 for kids and £29.95 for adults, tickets for April 3, 4 and 5 include breakfast for all attendees, entertainment and gifts for the kids, namely an Ivy Easter Bunny, bunny ears and a themed activity sheet. A non-refundable deposit of £10 will be taken for each guest when booking. Menus include a starter croissant and pain au chocolat for both kids and adults and mains to follow.

OUT OF OFFICE

Easter Events

Horniman Museum And Gardens horniman.ac.uk

A short hop on the Jubilee and Windrush lines to Forest Hill and Wharfers seeking Easter holiday activities can easily access this singular museum and garden complex in south-east London.

The Horniman features a series of eclectic, free galleries as well as paid-for attractions in the guise of its charming Aquarium and Butter y House. Also top of the wishlist is Voyage To The Deep - Underwater Adventures, a travelling exhibition from the Australian National Maritime Museum inspired by Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. In place until November 1, tickets are £9.80 for adults and £7 for kids.

Over the Easter break, from March 28 until April 12, the museum also has a series of activities and attractions to tempt spring visitors of all ages. These include Octonauts: Adventure At The Horniman, with kids aged 3-7 invited to explore a free trail complete with mini missions to attempt.

UrbanCrazy’s pop-up nine hole

Mini Golf will also be on o er, themed around the museum’s attractions. Adult tickets cost £7, kids under-16 £4.50 and families for £17.50.

Diary dates include the Horniman Plant Fair on April 4, the Spring Fair on April 11 and a Second-Hand Sunday Market on April 12.

Visitors should also check out the I Can’t Sleep Storytelling And Craft sessions on April 8 led by author-illustrator Emma Farrarons where kids make their own matchbox bed after listening to a tale of brothers going on an adventure after lights out. Tickets cost £7.50 for children and include entry for one adult, free. Also coming up, on April 9 at 3.30pm, is a free Hear It Live concert by Marcia Hadjimarkos who will perform on the Horniman’s 1777 English square piano.

Scan this code to nd out more about what’s on at the museum

why heading to Tribe and Feels Like June during the forthcoming Easter break is set to spell fun for all the family

by Jon Massey

Tribe London Canary Wharf is inviting guests to enjoy two weeks of family friendly activities and o ers in celebration of the Easter break.

The hotel, which includes bar and restaurant Feels Like June, is o ering 20% o stays and 15% o dining between March 27 and April 13. Wharfers should use code EASTER26CW to access these deals.

Between March 30 and April 10, visitors to the venue are encouraged to participate in Easter Egg Hunts.

Adults can search for colour-

coded eggs hidden throughout the hotel, unlocking discounts and prizes, while children can collect chocolate eggs and letters to spell out a word and win a reward.

Kids eat free on weekdays at Feels Like June (excluding the bank holidays) and can get creative at the table with egg decorating kits and more prizes up for grabs. Adults can indulge in carrot and chocolate themed cocktails.

Face painting will be on o er at the venue over the bank holiday weekend (April 3-6).

“Easter at Tribe is all about bringing people together and adding a little extra joy to the everyday,” said Filipe Avillez, general manager at

Tribe London Canary Wharf.

“Whether it’s families joining our egg hunts, guests getting creative at Feels Like June, or locals dropping by for brunch over the bank holiday, we love creating moments that feel fun, e ortless, and uniquely Tribe.

“Canary Wharf is our neighbourhood, and Easter is the perfect time to welcome everyone in.”

Go to tribehotels.com or follow @feels_like_june on Insta for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about Tribe

on track

by Joe Thurgood

Instead of shouting into the void of a generic Contact Us form or dealing with AI service bots, you get a real human

Joe Thurgood, SWR

How does South Western Railway’s one-to-one customer service for its Business Direct clients bene t the companies and organisations that use the platform to organise and book train travel for their sta across the UK?

If you’re a PA or a regular business traveller, you know that booking trains can sometimes feel like a second job. That’s where South Western Railway Business Direct steps in. Our one-to-one customer service isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a genuine game-changer for anyone trying to manage a hectic schedule without losing their mind.

For the PA, the biggest win is having a dedicated point of contact. Instead of shouting into the void of a generic Contact Us form or dealing with AI service bots, you get a real human who actually understands your company’s needs.

At those times when you need to get an answer or refund those tickets because of a cancelled appointment, you have a direct line to a dedicated team who are there to resolve it and can turn a stressful afternoon of logistics into a quick email or call.

Plus, the platform helps track spending and invoices, making the dreaded monthly expenses much less of a headache.

For the traveller, it’s all about peace of mind. Organising business travel can be stressful enough, and our one-to-one customer service and aftersales experience means that we know, what you need and essentially it replaces the “do-it-yourself” frustration with a personal concierge feel. It saves time, reduces errors, and lets you focus on the actual business part of the trip rather than the transport.

It’s like having an extra team member who happens to be an expert in rail travel. And best of all, it doesn’t cost a thing, SWR Business Direct is free to use for companies and organisations, but delivers a premium feel to our customers.

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 Putney is an area for business, leisure and corporate hospitality that’s a must-visit

by Jon Massey

Putney is a storied sort of a place. Long the site of a river crossing, today the bustling high street and stretch of bank along the Thames sit alongside proud suburban streets – locations that have been home to politicians, artists, musicians, broadcasters, comedians, actors and sports personalities.

Its buildings are festooned with a diverse collection of blue plaques including one for being the birthplace of Henry VIII’s chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, and another marking the home of Fred Russell, the father of modern ventriloquism alongside cheeky sidekick Coster Joe.

It’s the kind of place that has a warmth to it – a welcoming stretch of city that derives much of its flavour from its proximity to the Thames.

As customer service is the theme for our second feature in collaboration with SWR Business Direct, it’s also the ideal destination for companies and organisations to treat those they work with at this time of year.

From the mid 1800s, Putney has become arguably the rowing capital of London. The construction of the SWR’s line from London Waterloo allowed for easy commuting – a journey that today takes just 13 minutes – enabling rowers to escape the then polluted waters of the capital to a more pleasant stretch of river.

In 2026, more than 20 rowing clubs are based along the embankment, with the area becoming home to the University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge in 1845. Walk along the edge of the Thames to the west of Putney Bridge and you’ll likely see rowers tending to racks of boats or sculling over the water in the shadow of the numerous clubhouses and sheds that look over the river to Fulham.

Spring really is the season for the sport with the men’s and veterans’ Head Of The River races set to take place on March 28 and 29 respectively. Celebrating its

The area is well known for its rowing races including the UK’s most

Despite the relative serenity of the Thames, Putney is a lively place with a great deal of history Below left, Thomas Cromwell’s blue plaque and right, one of Alan Thornhill’s sculptures

visit

>> This hot spot on the river delivers re ned shelter, food and drinks in a pleasant, well-honed venue complete with dining igloos to get closer to the water

Go to coppaclub.co.uk

centenary this year, the contest sees more than 400 crews of eight row 4.25 miles from Mortlake to Putney starting at 10 second intervals with the fastest team to complete the course declared the winner.

The spectacle lasts around two hours with teams taking just under 20 minutes to cover the distance (the record is 16 minutes, 26.7 seconds, set in 2024) and is a big draw for the area.

Venues along the river offer the ideal spot to take in the action and present a compelling proposition for client entertaining.

This is also true, naturally, for the University Boat Race – which runs in the opposite direction, starting in Putney, and is set to take place on April 4 (Easter Sunday) this year.

Official hospitality options for, arguably, the UK’s most famous rowing contest are available at The Presidents’ Club at the Thames Rowing Club for £349 per person. The package includes Chapel Down fizz, a full complimentary bar, bowl food, canapés, Boat Race hosts and TV screens broadcasting full coverage.

Other local venues will also be embracing the event in full force with top picks including The Duke’s Head and Thai Square Putney Bridge both of which overlook the start line.

Visitors to the area may then wish to take in artworks along the Thames by Alan Thornhill, which make up Putney Sculpture Trail, before repairing to one of a host of local venues such as Coppa Club, Tequila Mockingbird or The Bricklayer’s Arms for some relaxation after all the excitement.

From there, the High Street is awash with options to re-fuel such as independent buffet-style spot Octagreen, Lebanese restaurant Bosa Lounge or a succession of pubs such as the Spotted Horse or the Fox And Hounds.

From all of these, the station is no more than five minutes’ brisk walk for an easy ride back into central London or even further west for the adventurous.

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

Scan this code to nd out more about SWR’s services

dine

>> This Grade II listed Victorian pile is located right on the Thames and o ers arguably the best views of the start of the Boat Race in Putney.

Operated by the Young’s pub chain, the venue boasts warm woods, muted greens and oral prints on the inside. The best tables are (unsurprisingly) located in the riverside dining room which enjoys high ceilings and serves a menu of keenly selected staples. Another good shout is The Rowing Club room.

We went for the Hasselback Jerusalem Artichokes to start (£9.50), which arrive pleasantly crispy in a lake of burnt cauliower puree and chilli oil. To follow, while sh and chips is a sound option with a generous serving of both, our tip is the Cumberland Sausages, which come in a trio atop a distinctly Gallic stew of lentils, bacon, tomatoes and crispy sage for £18.

The Duke’s Head doesn’t take bookings for the University Boat Race on April 4. Tables are allocated on a rst-come, rst served basis.

Go to dukesheadputney.com for more information

virtual viewpoint

by Chris Ezekiel

Welcoming our third baby into the world recently has been a profound reminder of what people often call the miracle of childbirth.

But, as I watched my wife navigate the ordeal, I was struck by how that word - miracle - can sometimes sanitise the raw, physical trauma that women endure.

Having been through it three times now, I can con rm that there is no standard birth. I can also testify how stressful it is for men, albeit nothing in comparison to what women go through.

This milestone for our family comes at a time when the National Health Service’s maternity care is under the microscope. The recent interim report from the Independent Maternity And Neonatal Investigation in England, led by Baroness Amos, published just last month, paints a sobering picture of a system where progress on reducing maternal mortality and brain injuries has not only stalled but, in some areas, reversed.

As someone who spends my life immersed in technology, I nd hope in how innovation is stepping in to bolster safety. We are seeing the impact of technology and AI in childbirth, from AI-enabled hand-held ultrasounds that help midwives identify high-risk pregnancies in seconds, to predictive models in the neonatal intensive care unit that can spot early signs of neonatal sepsis before they become visible to the human eye.

These tools are the ultimate guardrails, providing data-driven insights that can reduce clinical errors during the most high-pressure moments. However, technology is not a replacement for the human factor. In my own work, I advocate

evolving the

for a hybrid intelligence model: the combination of machine precision and human expertise and empathy.

Nowhere is this more critical than in an obstetric emergency. When a situation turns in seconds, you need more than an algorithm; you need the level-headed, expert professionalism of a clinician who possesses the situational awareness to act decisively. The miracle of my child’s birth was secured by this very blend – monitoring to provide the data and experts to provide peace of mind.

At a crucial moment in the delivery of our baby an incredible doctor called Samuel came and took control of the situation and, together with the whole team, successfully delivered our healthy baby boy. A massive thank you to all the doctors, nurses and midwives, as well as all the support sta , at the Royal London Hospital who took great care of my wife, Kristina, and our newborn.

As we look towards the nal recommendations of the national investigation this spring, the goal must be a system that uses tech to empower the incredible sta who provide the compassionate, expert care all parents and babies deserve.

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

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

GIG | O cer John

how Chinese Limehouse aims to celebrate the myths and realities

of London’s original Chinatown

by Jon Massey

GWhat's his position? Is he really an o cial? There's a lot of mystery about Dublin-born Niall Rogers. Go and see him for cracking shoegaze. Apr 10, 7.30pm, £13.75, thegeorgetavern.london

Limehouse

GIG | Toe

The Japanese math rockers celebrate their 25th anniversary with a London show. Support comes from Tangled Hair and Pennines. Apr 11, 6pm, from £65.13, troxy.co.uk

STAGE | Bi To The Future

The George Tavern Whitechapel Where? Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping

rowing up in Singapore – a British colony – our image of Chinatown was very vivid in popular culture and it was never Soho,” said east London sculptor TienAn Ng. “I was really disappointed to see there was nothing left of it when I moved here and found my house was just yards away from the epicentre of those former communities.”

Outwardly, the Limehouse of today yields few traces of this remarkable period in its history, which began with Chinese sailors employed by the East India om an fi st sta ing in the a ea in the late 1700s.

With communities established – those from Shanghai living in Penn fields, mo Place and Ming Street and people from southern China living along Limehouse Causeway and Gill Street – the migrants started businesses in the 1880s including restaurants, laundries, hostels and grocery stores to cater to the seafarers.

We felt that the story of Chinatown in Limehouse was one that needs to be told and told well

Philip Reddaway, Care For St Anne’s Sculptor

that it’s a story that needs to be told and told well.”

With exactly that aim, Philip, together with his wife Jude and TienAn, have co-curated Chinese Limehouse an exhibition at the east London church that will be on show until July this year.

TienAn Ng

Writer and performer Joseph Maudsley returns to Wilton's with a show ri ng on the villain from Back To The Future's hidden story. Heartfelt, silly. Apr 20-25, times vary, from £17.50, wiltons.org.uk

The Brahms Club is back in the chapel at The Royal Foundation Of St Katharine as it completes its cycle of performances of the great composer's chamber pieces. Tickets are free for the concerts. Most Sundays, 2pm brahmsclub.org

Scan this code to nd out more about the remaining recitals or to book tickets to attend. Donations welcome

A combination of economic depression – resulting in a drop in trade between Britain and China – slum clearances in the 1930s and the Second World War saw those who’d settled in east London displaced resulting in the relocation of many to Soho and the almost complete disappearance of the community in east London.

Today, one of the only clues to the area’s past is a 1990s art installation near Westferry DLR station – Dragon’s Gate by Peter Dunn – although this has little to do with the people who once called it home. It was funded by the London Docklands Development Corporation as part of its project to regenerate an east ondon suffe ing f om the demise of its role as a port.

“Very few people seem to know that London’s original Chinatown was here in Limehouse,” said Philip Reddaway, chair of Care For St Anne’s, a charity with a mission to conserve and celebrate St Anne’s Limehouse. “We felt

“We wanted to deal both with the mythology and the reality,” said Phili . ne of the fi st things that emerges when you mention the words Chinatown and imehouse is the fictional villain Dr Fu Manchu and the demonetisation of the people who lived there both in literature and the national press. Local publications tended to be a bit fairer.

“It started with the Victorians. Dickens’ Edwin Drood opens with terrible scenes in an opium den. Conan Doyle’s Holmes came to Limehouse for the same reason.

“Oscar Wilde makes a similar reference in The Picture Of Dorian Grey. They set the scene for associating Limehouse, Chinese people and crime. We look at how the place was attacked in novels, music and movies such as Limehouse Blues, which starred Anna May Wong. She was the most famous actor of Chinese heritage to get in ol ed in those films and actually visited Limehouse in the 1920s. This is the material people will see displayed along the north gallery of the church. The south deals with the realities rather than

“Jude has also contrib-

“Jude has also contributed a whole section on Chinoiserie, and how that coloured the perception of all things oriental for hundreds of years.”

TienAn said: “My brief was to deal with that historical reality.

“At the heart of this part of the exhibition are the stories of families who lived here. We thought, for

‘mortuary houses include

past honouring the

this project, it was important to do something original.

“Chinatown had its heyday from about 1910 to 1925 – during that period maybe one in six people living in the area had an English name. Basically, the Chinese were there because they were cheap labour coming in on the ships. They were dumped in Britain and often had di cult getting a return passage so they had to make a life here. Some did go back, some were deported after being convicted, but many stayed.

the largely manu-

question how true that really was because some of the properties that survive are now houses worth £1million or more with some owned by celebrities. There was a huge element of social reform to what happened in Limehouse and we do focus on the largely manufactured demonisation of a whole race as a pretext for those slum clearances.”

“They were quite successful economically – they ran a lot of businesses such as restaurants and laundries.”

The exhibition features oral histories, photography from the time and even a 2023 Barbie, produced to honour Anna May Wong.

It also features a collection of ceramic works by TienAn, made to evoke the spirit of a lost place.

He said: “As I am a sculptor, I thought it would be a good subject for making things. Then I found there was a real connection between Limehouse and ceramics.

“There area was named after the lime ilns used fo fi ing the pots. One of the earliest porcelain manufacturers in the country was on Narrow Street, just yards from where I lived.

“I thought I would monumentalise Chinatown by recreating houses and businesses from the area in ceramics, much as the Tang emperors used to do with terracotta armies and palaces.

“My work is a nod to these grave goods which remind us of a vanished world.

“I’ve had to do a lot of research and that’s been very useful for my work.

“I quite like the ‘mortuary houses’ I’ve created. The vernacular architecture of Limehouse is Georgian but, even though the Chinese elements are very su e ficial, the com letel transform the ambience of the place. It’s amazing what a shop sign or a lantern can do.

“In some of my pieces there is a seam of porcelain running through the buildings. I wanted to contrast machine-made elements with the wonky construction of the old houses.

“Chinatown here was at least partly destroyed by the London County Council because the houses were condemned as unfit fo human habitation this was long before the Blitz in the Second World War. You have to

The exhibition makes a compelling case for this, showcasing the overtly racist attitudes of the day la ed u and am lified b the press.

With the vast majority of Chinese migrants being male, there were also clear attempts made to whip up moral panics around the supposed strategies used to lure women into marriage, a possible further motive for moves to break up the community.

“One of the more surprising elements for me was that this was a predominantly mixed race community,” said Philip.

“Ultimately that was another reason why it disappeared and dissipated over time.”

Today, Tower Hamlets has a new Asian community, attracted by the investment opportunities found in new-build housing on the Isle Of Dogs and in similar schemes across east London.

Restaurants, supermarkets and all kinds of businesses have opened in recent years to serve this emerging market not so very far from where London’s original Chinatown once stood.

Chinese Limehouse celebrates the outsize impact this part of the capital once had on culture music, film, a t and lite atu e, echoing down the years to the present day.

Time will tell whether the more recent arrivals in east London will generate a similar legacy worthy of future exhibitions.

key details

Chinese Limehouse is on show at St Anne’s Limehouse in east London until July. The exhibition is free to view on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. No booking is necessary.

Go to careforstannes.org for more information by celebrities. There was a huge element of social

Scan this code to nd out more about the exhibition

how a live score performed to a silent lm made in 1929 demonstrates the vital work Theatreship is doing

by Jon Massey

The eason silent films, were presented with li e musical accom ani ment befo e the ad ent of the tal ies is ha dl a m ste . e la images with melod and the combination of sound and ision immediatel deli e s double the senso in ut fo the audience. We’ve evolved to depend on both ou ea s and ou e es, so the fact we es ond so eadil to the two togethe isn t es eciall su ising. hat is une ected, e ha s, is the de th of the eaction the can o o e. ecentl , heat eshi on the sle f ogs hosted a sc eening of o iet classic Man With A Movie Camera alongside la gel im o ised music f om wen affo d on iolin and oe a e h te on edal steel and elect onics. Pa t of the enue s Silent Film With New Sound season, su o ted b the , the e ening was sold out. ho new in that eo le, with all the digital dist actions in the wo ld, would choose to s end an e ening watching a ea old blac and white mo ie ut those who attended won t need me to tell them what a t eat this ma iage of the sonic and the sil e sc een was.

i stl , the e s the film itself. i ected b iga e to and shot in i , ha i and desa in aine, the feel is of a da in the life iece showing the acti i ties, technologies and beha iou s of the time.

ut its fa mo e than that. elibe atel e e imental, the film constantl shows the came a man and the set u of the shots befo e e ealing the esults.

he e a e e en scenes whe e we see the ainsta ing ocess of editing the iece togethe , with olls of celluloid sliced u and labelled ead fo com osition. ut, while the iece is in a t a meditation of the ocess of ma ing film, it s also b a e, funn , sweet and, at times, shoc ing. mongst othe things we see a e a li e bi th and a co se of a man in an o en cas et, esumabl on his wa to a fune al.

e e shown t olle buses, facto ies and cit dwelle s at wo and la .

n some senses it s li e ste ing into a time machine. n othe s it s mo e familia than ou might

e ect, afte nea l a centu of change.

ut it s eall the s ill of wen and oe that lends this e t ao dina wo meaning. t ta es a s ecial ind of genius to c aft sounds that sit so e fectl with the ic e ing sc een and ma e it almost im ossible to imagine watching Man With A Movie Camera without them.

om the musicians we get a highl nuanced s ect um of emotions that bu st fo th f om the monoch ome shots ish tinged melanchol , e ube ance, agged, dissonant unce taint , assion and e en fea . atching is a ich e e ience, hea with almost tangible a e ciation f om a ac ed audito ium.

● he benefit of ha ing hea t eshi locall might be seen as simila l com lementa to the lift that wen and oe s music can deli e to silent images. f no mal e e da li es a e the eels of film, then cultu al enues a e the soundt ac .

a ing the latte awa is a in to muting e istence fo those who ha e come to elish and a tici ate in this communit . mention this because lans to demolish the nea b ie a uebec a o building at a sh all and e lace it with a new residential tower are in the wo s and lace something of a uestion ma o e the futu e of heat eshi and tshi s abilit to o e ate. t a time when enues a e closing, the fi st new signifi cant cultu al additions to the sle f ogs fo man ea s must be otected and su o ted in thei acti ities both du ing the build and afte .

o efull the de elo e , owe amlets ouncil and the anal nd i e ust will ointl ecog nise and fight fo the clea benefits these ema able c aft deli e fo local esidents and, indeed, those conside ing a mo e to the a ea th ough the lanning ocess. hese boats a e golden assets fo the bo ough and a e ust getting into thei st ide. he should be t eated as such b all a ties to these o osals. Go to theatreship.co.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about the venue’s programme

Years

Isle Of Dogs - Poplar - Blackwall -

the These stills from Man With A Movie Camera show the diverse, experimental approach adopted by director Dziga Vertov

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

EVENT | Drums Around The World: West African Join SuperNova’s inclusive Brazilian Drumming workshops. Held on a monthly basis there are sessions for families and for young people and adults. Apr 18, 25, noon, 1.30pm, free, poplarunion.com

Where? The Space Isle Of Dogs

COMEDY | Shenanigans In (The) Space The Isle Of Dogs’ new regular comedy night is set to make its debut with sets from Shaparak Khorsandi, Ciara O’Connor, Don Biswas and MC Matt Price. Apr 17, 7.30pm, £20, space.org.uk

The

Where?

Theatreship Isle Of Dogs

duo present traditional English songs and tunes on tenor viol, viola and voice. Expect tracks from The Colour Of Amber in the mix. Apr 17, 7.30pm, from £16.28, theatreship.co.uk

The University Of Sunderland In London, based at Harbour Exchange, has created a course for those seeking to study both ntech and trading whether they’re pursuing careers as entrepreneurs or want to work in nance london.sunderland.ac.uk

Cost of a ticket to see all four shows at The Albany on the festival’s rst day

reshaping live

how QueerScore is set to kick off with a day of performances at The Albany in Deptford this April

by Jon Massey

Anew three-day, non-pro t festival is set to make its debut in Deptford. QueerScore aims to o er artists a platform for experimental and non-traditional performance and will take place across three venues from April 10-12.

The festival’s rst day will see four performances on stage at The Albany in southeast London.

First up, at 6.30pm, is a double bill featuring Komuna Collective and Biz.ko, showcasing Views From The World and Fantasies And Fallacies, respectively.

The former references Beyoncé, Reddit, Minecraft and critical psychiatry, while the latter re ects on relationships through the medium of sung silliness.

Then, at 8.15pm, Yumé Net and Tlk promise to “weave sonic tapestries exploring our modern collective humanity”.

This will be followed at 9.45pm by Bullyache, which will see Tylor Deyn and Jacob Samuel deliver a performance of dance and music.

Topping the bill, at 11pm will be French multidisciplinary artist Hezen, riding a wave of success that’s included performing at the opening of V&A Storehouse

in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Audiences can expect techno blended with a full spectrum of genres including opera, shatta and ambient sounds. Over the top, Hezen adds her own production and vocals.

Further festival shows will take place at Hoxton Hall and Space Talk in the Barbican.

key details

QueerScore is set to run across three venues in London from April 10-12. All shows at The Albany take place on the rst day. A ticket to see all four shows costs £36. Individual performances are priced at £15. Go to queerscore.co.uk for full listings

Scan this code to nd out more about QueerScore

Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey

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

Where?

The Brunel Museum Rotherhithe

TALK | Brunel, Legacy, Image, Brand Tim Bryan, Brunel curator and project manager at the SS Great Britain Trust’s Dockyard Museum development in Bristol talks about the great engineer. Apr 9, 6.30pm-8pm, from £5, thebrunelmuseum.com

Where?

The Pen Theatre South Bermondsey

STAGE | Ugli Theatre Double Bill

The company presents This Is Philosophy, part lecture, part stand-up on the rst night, followed by a scratch night celebrating the vulnerable and bizarre. Apr 16-17, 7.30pm, £8.30, thepentheatre.com

FAMILIES | Disco Kids

Where?

The Albany Deptford

Suitable for young ones aged 3-8 and their adults, this spring family day rave o ers three hours of dancing with beats and spins from DJ Brigitte Aphrodite. Apr 12, 2pm, £12, thealbany.org.uk

eat here

If you’re after truly delicious Vietnamese cooking at an a ordable price, Mama Pho in Deptford does not disappoint, serving up powerfully avoured noodle soups in generous portions for £14.50 mamapho.co.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about this micro chain of restaurants or to order online

300

how the Old Royal Naval College is abuzz with activity as it celebrates a landmark anniversary with events

by Jon Massey

This is not a closed building and it’s not just a heritage site –these are spaces that are here for visitors to experience however they want,” said Kate Miners, director of public engagement and commercial at the Old Royal Naval College (ORNC) in Greenwich.

“If people just want to come he e and en o a coffee o to sunbathe, then that’s great. If they want to come inside and experience something new, then that’s even better. It’s about breaking down barriers.”

Since arriving at the ORNC in 2020 as head of commercial partnerships, that message has very much been at the forefront of ate s effo ts to b ing e e g eate numbers of visitors to Sir Christopher Wren’s storied complex of buildings and their grounds on the Thames. Part of Maritime Greenwich, listed by Unesco as a World Heritage site, the campus is home to Trinity Laban Conservatoire Of Music And Dance, Greenwich University, a gin distillery and a pub.

But the attraction of the moment is the Painted Hall, still fresh from £8.5million of restoration that took place from 2017-2019, the ORNC is celebrating 300 years since Sir James Thornhill completed his 3,600sq m artwork.

Depicting more than 200 figu es, amid scenes both fictional and real, this blockbuster work is glowing three centuries after icto ian e es fi st loo ed u on it in all its glory.

a sight to behold

“The cleaning process was almost unbelievably slow and painstaking, but now we’re able to see the detail as it looked when it was fi st ainted, said ate.

“Even after six years, it still takes my breath away every time I look at it. I’m sure there are still figu es ha en t seen and lent of stories I don’t know in full.

“People ask me if I get tired of looking at it, but I don’t think anyone ever could be.

“I still look up every time I go into the hall and that’s exactly what we want people to do.

“We have day-beds in there and we really encourage visitors to lie down and take in the ceiling because that’s the best way to

The main door to the Painted Hall is small and leads into darkness so we need to work hard to bring people in and we do that through activity

Kate

Miners, Old Royal Naval College

see it. The people in the painting are based on real individuals and some of the stories are fascinating.

“One of my favourites is John o le , one of the fi st eenwich Pensioners to call what was then Greenwich Hospital home.

“It seems he was a bit of a mischief-maker, known for slightly drunken behaviour and he was painted as a punishment, because he had to sit still and not go to the pub. He represents inte in the finished wo .

“There’s also a depiction of Tycho Brahe, a Danish astronomer who was a bit of a menace. He was quite eccentric and had a pet elk or moose – depending on which source you believe – which he used to take to parties.

“He had a prosthetic brass nose due to an injury sustained during a duel with his cousin and had a liking for Danish beer, which was ultimately his downfall when he tumbled down some stairs and died – it’s a very tragic story.”

reasons to visit

The Greenwich Foundation, which looks after the Old Royal Naval College, is hosting a programme of events intended to bring as many visitors as possible to its campus to help mark the painting’s 300th anniversary year.

Kate said: “One of the things I don’t think people expect is that we have a really extensive wellness programme.

“We run Feel Good Friday morning Yoga sessions in the Painted Hall on the last Friday of the month at 8am.

“People come, take a pause in these wonderful surroundings for minutes and then head off fo their day.

“We also host Lie Down And Listen sessions where audiences e e ience dee est and e ection as they enjoy a sound bath while looking up at the paintings.

“There are also plans for a wellness retreat with a full day of

Old Royal Naval College’s Kate Miners says its approach to programming is driven by the idea that its spaces were always intended to be used

food, classes and walks across the site.”

The ORNC prides itself on an open and experimental approach to programming, aimed at attracting a diverse crowd of visitors, with Kate and the team very keen to try new things.

“Early on, our chief executive said to me that, if there was a good reason for not doing something then we’d say no to it, but if that reason was simply because we hadn’t done it before, then we shouldn’t turn something down on that basis,” she said.

“That approach has brought us incredible opportunities and has enabled us to welcome all sorts of people who might never have come here before.

“The main door to the Painted Hall’s entrance cafe and gift shop is small and leads into darkness, so we need to work hard to bring people in and we do that through activity. For example, we have regular tours on the history of the ORNC, the Painted Hall, but also how the area has become the UK’s most filmed he itage site seen in the likes of Bridgerton, The Crown, Pirates Of The Caribbean and Les Misérables

“This year we have loads of events for families including a Tudor Takeover in April with activities, costumes and shows and then a Pirates Takeover in July.

“Then we’re welcoming Labyrinth On The Thames back in August for a second year – a series of live outdoor performances from the likes of The Kooks, Moby, Peggy Gou, Dom Dolla, Adriatique Present X and Anjuanadeep.

“There were questions about us hosting DJs, bands and dance music acts last year, but I saw people experiencing real joy in this wonderful space, surrounded by this architecture and it was one of the most brilliant things I’ve seen. The ORNC was always intended to be a place that was meant to be used and enjoyed. That’s what underpins everything we do.”

key details

The Old Royal Naval College is located a short walk from both Cutty Sark DLR station and the southern end of the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. Its indoor spaces are normally open from 10am-5pm dail . ou can find full e ents listings, prices and book tickets to visit The Painted Hall and its other spaces on its website. General admission tickets for adults start at £17.50. Go to ornc.org for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about the ORNC

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

singer-songwriter brings his Little Orphan

Live tour to Greenwich Peninsula for two dates with support from Claire Rosinkranz. Apr 20-21, 6.30pm, from £95, theo2.co.uk

from jobs. Apr 22-25, 7.30pm, £18, greenwichtheatre.org.uk

The

and

promises an electrifying evening of music and creativity alongside piano, bass and drums. Apr 17, 8pm, £14.50, woolwich.works

Whisky Live And Fine Spirits is returning to Woolwich Works from March 27-28 with tickets starting at £61.91 including unlimited pourings. Get 10% o all ticket types with code LDN26 when booking online whiskylive.com Scan

Years since the Frederick Kitchen was rst commissioned as a lifeboat. It retired from service in 1945

“I grew up in Essex on a little river with little boats,” said Laurie, who’s been helping to restore the Frederick Kitchen for a little under a year.

“Now I live in London on a barge, just upriver from Cody Dock.

“I generally work on Thames sailing barges and was re tting one in Kent prior to coming here. I didn’t always want to be a shipwright. My dad had a keen interest in boats through his dad and he encouraged me when I was a child.

“But, like most young people I rebelled against my parents a bit.

I think I absorbed some things, though and came back to it.

“I didn’t go to college or do o cial training programmes, I just saw boats and would hassle the owners and builders to let me come and do mundane tasks so then they’d let me help with more interesting bits.”

Laurie’s extensive experience has seen him maintain and sail some of the Thames’ most iconic vessels including working on the Cutty Sark in Greenwich.

“We are lucky to rebuild these

boats in an age when we have a lot of mechanical advantages, such as power tools,” he said. “They relieve a lot of the strain and stress, which can be challenging.

“When I started at Cody Dock I was mostly repairing and replacing planks on the boat. The majority of it is still original and we’ve tried to retain as much as possible, but if you just patch things up now, you’d have to replace it in a few years.

“Nobody wants a roof that leaks. Because it’s not going back in the water we’re able to restore it sympathetically in line with how it would have been on the day it was built. We don’t have to worry about bringing it up to the regulations you need to sail a boat.

“We’re getting to the point where there are now more bits going back into the boat than there are coming out, which is good.

“Initially the shape of it didn’t look right to me but after months of working on the project I realised that the way it had been built was really quite clever.

“The knowledge they had when they were building these boats more than 100 years ago was vast compared with what we know today. If you make too many changes you’ll lose the way the boat was made. It’s about preserving all the weird little things in the original and working out why they were done that way. What I really enjoy is solving those puzzles from the past.

“The amazing thing about boats is that building and maintaining them is such a vast thing – there’s woodworking, metalworking, rigging and then sailing them or operating them using motors. It’s been great to welcome kids of primary school age to see what we’re doing, but I wish this sector was presented to more youngsters as a career option. It’s perfect for certain people.”

Hear from more of the people engaged in this remarkable restoration project - P36

code

how workers at Cody Dock are pouring effort and care into the restoration of an historic boat as it embarks on a new life

by Jon Massey

When Cody Dock’s Heritage Pavilion opens later this year, the exhibitions it displays will be sheltered by a tangible link to the area’s past. The structure will use the fully restored Frederick Kitchen lifeboat as its roof, protecting visitors from the elements.

One of the last boats to be built at the Thames Ironworks, just downriver from its new home, the vessel’s story includes a period of three decades where it was used to rescue imperilled ma ine s off the coast of ales.

e ll be ta ing a dee e di e into the boat’s history later this year when the new facility opens on the banks of the Lea. But before the paint goes on and it s i ed o e and hoisted onto the pavilion walls, we wanted to take advantage of this point in its history to celeb ate the man diffe ent s ills being used to restore and preserve the vessel ahead of that next chapter and feature the craftspeople engaged in the work.

Tom Myers is overseeing the project as restoration manager and has been working on the Frederick Kitchen for two years.

“I grew up on an old Dutch barge in east London, moving between various wate wa s, he said. hen was about eight years old, we settled in Canning Town at Cody Dock on the River Lea. Living on the water, I fell in love with boats.

“I got into woodworking and decided to become a carpenter when I left school – naturally I went towards working with boats and that’s what I’ve stuck with.

“Carpentry gives you a really good base for that – it helps you understand materials, how they should be engineered and used. I love working with timbe and diffe ent inds of wood.

“Over the past 18 months I’ve been working on the Frederick Kitchen full-time and it’s become my life – it doesn’t feel like a job, it feels like a thing I have to do.

“After I studied boat building, I had a lot of knowledge from my course, but not a lot of confidence. ith this

project, everything seemed really daunting at fi st, but e ust had to go for it and I’ve learned a lot.”

Made primarily from a type of mahogany, the Frederick Kitchen was crafted at the absolute zenith of wooden boat building on the Thames and also features elm, oak and now ouglas fi in he const uction.

Tom said: “This project isn’t about restoring it to put it back in the water – it was about taking a shipwreck and turning it into a viable roof for the pavilion. It had essentially been left to rot and was too far gone to bring bac to sailing. ou d be bette off ust building a new boat. hen we started, there were plants growing in its timbers and you could see daylight though parts of the hull.

“But this is how it can be preserved for people in the local area in a way that shows off how it was built, providing a direct link to history.

“There’s also an echo of the Vikings who once lived on this side of the Lea – they used to use their old boats as roofs for buildings.

hat we e doing is using traditional boat building techniques to make a waterproof shell to protect the building beneath. hen we e finished, the boat s e te io will loo very much as it did when she was in service as a lifeboat, with red, white and blue paint and an RNLI badge.

“Inside you’ll be able to see the layers of history where we’ve revealed parts of the structure that would o iginall ha e been bo ed off. o example, the boat has been built with two layers of planking for strength and to reduce weight, which we’ve revealed so people can see how it was put together.”

Originally weighing around 10 tonnes, Tom and the team have removed the boat’s cast iron keel to drop the craft’s mass to a more manageable 4.5 tonnes, replacing the metal with a wooden replica.

om said e used ouglas fi to make a piece that only weighs about 120kg. It was probably my favourite a t of the o ect so fa . e i ed the tree right down the middle with a huge band saw, seasoned the two

ieces then i ed them ound and glued them together for extra strength.

e also e laced the cutwate , which is at the front of the boat and helps it glide through the water.

“Traditionally you’d look for a piece of timber that had the right curve or use steam to bend a piece. I decided to build a mould in the right shape and then used oak structural veneers, laminated together, to create the sha e. t was e di cult to do, but it’s also one of the most satisfying things I’ve done.

“Finding shipwrights like Laurie and Lucian to work on the project has also been great. The tools might be the same or similar, but their approach to wo ing with wood is diffe ent.

“If you’re making a cabinet as a carpenter it’s all straight lines and e fect fits. ut the ede ic itchen is all curves – there are no right angles anywhere.

“You can do as much maths as you like but in the end you have to learn the a t of ma ing things fit. e e been cutting out rotten planks and replacing them with new timber, scarfointed to the old wood. e e e en made our own bolts from bronze.

“The techniques used to build the Frederick Kitchen originally were pretty much as good as it got in terms of using wood to make boats.

“But nobody thought people would want to see the construction – the interior would have just been grey all over.

“Restoring it can be tough. No matter what modern equipment you have, working on an old boat is challenging. They weren’t built to be restored. You’re going to hurt your knees, your back. It’s a physical task in some quite demanding ways.

“You’re squeezing into awkward positions and then having to do ecise wo finding timbe that looks OK and then discovering it’s rotten under the surface and there’s a lot more to do than you thought.

“Knowing when to stop is a big part of a project like this, but the whole process has been really enjoyable and, because it’s wood, it will always need maintenance, so I have a job for life.”

Visitors to Cody Dock’s forthcoming Spring Forward event on April 18 will be able to catch up on the progress of its Heritage Pavilion project.

key details

Cody Dock’s Spring Forward event is set to take place on April 18 from noon-6pm. The day will feature workshops, stalls, live music, performances, exhibitions, a plant sale, free bike repair and refreshments from the new on-site cafe and bar.

Go to codydock.org.uk for more information

Transmissions

LUCIAN HAWKES shipwright

“I was apprenticed for four years in Maldon, Essex– the town I was brought up in – learning the rudiments of the trade in a little boatyard there,” said Lucian.

“During that time, I spent some of it with Laurie, working on the Cutty Sark. Then, after my apprenticeship, I started working for myself, mainly in Essex and some in Kent. I’m now back in London, having a fantastic time working on this heritage vessel.

“I became a shipwright because of time and place. I’ve always been incredibly appreciative of Maldon and its strong involvement with the craft of looking after boats.

“We have our own Thames barges there and I fell in love with the romantic idea of playing with wood all day.

“I’ve been on this project for three weeks as I was aware there was a bit of a time crunch and the work has been very varied and most enjoyable.

“I was asked to rectify the aft deck where we have to reattach

the remaining deck beams – oak for the most part. They are half-dovetailed in and now we’re onto the planking, which is a lovely member of the mahogany family called utile.

“It’s quite interesting, because, due to the sweep or curve of the planks, they render straighter as you go through, so you don’t have any which are short, meaning there are no weak points.

“I like the idea of helping to repurpose something that was used 100 years ago. It’s like a palimpsest – you can put layer on layer over each other, whether for practical or community purposes.

“When you’re doing a project like this you try to make it look as though you were never there. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but the preservation of these skills and trades can only be done from person-to-person. You can read every book under the sun, but you’re not going to be a shipwright at the end of it.

“There’s a great deal of knowledge here – that’s why I like working with Laurie. He’s ever so good at what he does and he’s very involved with boats in the local area. That does it for me.

“I would argue that the learning starts when you’ve got your quali cation. It’s very interesting on a project like the Frederick Kitchen to try and work out how the people who built it did what they did.

“It’s important not to leave your own stamp on things too much because they had generations of experience and a bloody good idea of what they were doing.

“You nd there was always a very good reason for doing it the way they chose to.

“I’d recommend this trade to anyone looking for a ful lling way of life.”

“I rst came to Cody Dock about eight years ago,” said Ben. “I studied architecture at Central Saint Martins, which is where I rst met architect Nicolas Henniger, who’s responsible for most of the buildings here.

“We worked together for a long time doing a lot of furniture and bespoke carpentry. When I learnt that the boat was coming down, I asked to join the project because I love this place.

“It’s really unique – there aren’t many places in London that have a story that is not being eradicated.

I’m an artist, but realised it’s hard to make money, so teachers gradually pushed me into design and then architecture.

“While it was funnelling me into a precise eld, I knew it was also a channel that would allow me to open up again. Perhaps architecture makes me better at carving wood somehow and understanding three dimensional forms.

“The people at Cody Dock had seen me working on the buildings here – I’m pretty adaptable. I think

they like that I will do almost any job including soda blasting, which is the environmentally safe way we used to strip down the boat’s timbers. It’s similar to sand blasting.

“It gives you great feet – my boots would ll with baking soda every day, I’d go home and it would peel o the top layer of skin and I’d have the softest soles ever.

“I’ve also done the caulking on the boat, which is a traditional form of waterproo ng where you force material into the gaps between the planks and seal it with resin. It’s a lost skill. If water does get in then it just seals itself.

“At rst I was doing half a seam a day, but worked out that you don’t need to use the hammer that much and just a twist of a chisel gets the caulk into the groove. Then the speed was ridiculous and the quality was close to what it would have been originally.

“In the end I was doing six full seams a day, getting into the ow. I learnt that if you do all the seams and then compact them, you get a much more even displacement of the wood and a better seal.

“The wood constantly moves. If you’re sitting by the boat when the sun comes up, you can hear the cracks as it changes shape as the temperature rises.

“When you’re taking the boat apart and looking at it, you can see the decisions that were made, and you naturally want to do as good a job as possible.

“You de nitely feel connected to the original builders even though we’re 100 years apart. I’ve absolutely loved it – it’s very rare to get a job that lets your mind really contribute to the work.

“I’m weirdly attached to it. I’ve lost sleep thinking about how it will nally be craned into place. It’s scary having put in all this work.”

LAURENT AMANN director, Storik Ltd

“I’m a coach-builder and fabricator, who initially trained as a designer in the automotive industry,” said Laurent. “In 2013, I started my own business, having moved to the UK from France in 2007.

“We are a small team – three people – two directors (myself and my wife), and Stuart, who joined us over a year ago in the workshop.

“Metal is our medium and we use all types of material – copper, aluminium, brass. The biggest part of the business is working on classic vehicles.

“Tom approached us because there was some metalwork to do on the boat – quite intricate, specialised work, that not all fabricators can do.

“We’re installing copper cladding on what used to be the boat’s engine bay. Originally it would have protected the wood from oil spillages. The original parts had completely perished having corroded over the years.

“They asked us if we could do something about it, so we looked at it and thought we could produce something very close to the original design.

“It’s not too dissimilar from what we do with vintage cars, because it’s from the same era – right in the middle of the Edwardian period, the 1910s and 1920s.

“We’re using thin sheet metal to clad the timber bay, following the contours of the frame. The process is very much what a tailor or seamstress would do. We start with cardboard or paper templates, and then we use them to shape the metal to suit the boat structure.

“The pieces overlap and are pinned together to make everything as seamless as possible.

“Fitting it is a gamble and one of the reasons we make it in sections so it can be adapted on-site. We’re working remotely after measuring up so we only know how it will t in reality on the day.

“Altogether we have nine pieces of metal to t. Nothing on the boat is straight so we know we’ll have to adapt it to some extent.

“It’s not an exact replica of what would have been there but it’s a strong evocation of how it would have looked so people can see that. The tting will be done by hand – we’ll be using hammers, mallets, caulking and chasing tools to make it t nicely.

“Copper is very malleable, so we can work it fairly well, although it does harden over time. We’re really honoured, privileged and happy to be working on this project. There’s a nice energy at Cody Dock and the people are wonderful.

“It’s great to have the opportunity to meet people from other trades on a project like this. There are so many people out there recycling, recreating, transforming things, we need people with hand skills more than ever.”

DANNY O’SULLIVAN consultant + timber expert

De ning Danny’s role in the Frederick Kitchen project is tough, given the wide range of ways he’s contributed to Cody Dock over the years.

“I specialise in wood recycling in London and, before that, I was volunteer number one for the Brighton And Hove wood recycling project,” he said. “I run Citywood Services, although o cially I’m retired.

“Recycling wood is easy because it’s just there – slicing up old trees is my speciality. I have a special portable saw called a Wood-Mizer, which you can run a 4.5 tonne log through.

“When they’re doing the boat, if they can’t get the wood they need then I’m here to help. That’s my consultancy role.

“I grew up seeing my dad work wood for wheels – elm for the hub because of its stability. It’s my favourite timber, the pin-stripe of wood. It’s incredible when you look at it – my desk at Citywood I made from a large piece of oiled-up elm and it’s just amazing.

“It’s really strong and sturdy, which makes it great for building boats. In my life I’ve always wanted to help people who want to help themselves and Tom’s like that.

“Nowadays, people expect a minidigger machine to come and dig the hole for them. In my day, you just asked for a pick and a shovel.

“When Tom asked, I told him I

could get him a piece of Douglas r long enough to make the keel of the boat. I’d found some for people restoring a windmill near Blackpool, so I took Tom to the same place– a sawmill in East Sussex – and asked them to treat him well.

“They showed him the tree they were going to cut it from and two weeks later it was ready. He asked me to cut it down the middle with the Wood-Mizer.”

Over the years, Danny has worked with artists, architects and builders. He’s lived in squats, fought a campaign against the M11 and come to Cody Dock’s rescue on numerous occasions.

As a xer he even helped out with moving the Frederick Kitchen to its current location, closer to the spot where the heritage pavilion is going to be built.

He said: “A date had been set to move the boat and a guy had said he’d bring a trailer to put it on and move it down the roadway next to the dock.

“The day before, Tom contacted me and said we couldn’t move it because the trailer wasn’t long enough. I told him I’d seen one down in Dartford and I managed to track it down and negotiate the hire of it.

“The tractor driver was 21 and he was so con dent, really brilliant. I was revelling in the fact that it was these young people who had taken over and were making this happen. One day they were saying it couldn’t be done and the next day it was.”

Starting

for

how We Caliban offers a fresh take on the damage done by colonisers by reimagining Shakespeare’s tale

by Jon Massey

Sadler’s Wells East is set to welcome Shobana Jeyasingh Dance’s We Caliban in April. The show is a danced reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Tempest as seen through the eyes of Prospero’s monster.

The show, which will run at the East Bank venue from April 21-23, is the latest work from choreographer Shobana Jeyasingh – billed as “one of the most distinctive forces in UK dance”.

Lasting an hour with no interval, We Caliban reframes the Bard’s classic story through the eyes of a minor character in the play. His life is changed forever when the power games of distant lands and unknown peoples are played out on his own remote island, rendering him in servitude to his new master, Prospero and his daughter Miranda.

In a show that deals with violence, forced labour and captivity, familiar characters emerge from an ensemble cast who set the scene for a story that explores emotion and the traumas of colonisation.

We Caliban promises “visceral and potent dance theatre, drawing on present-day parallels as well as the personal experiences of Jeyasingh and her co-dramaturg Uzma Hameed”.

The piece opens with Will Duke’s video projections of t o ical o a and fauna locating the action on Caliban’s island.

Later, Prospero’s party arrives to images of the turbulent sea and shipwreck, archival maps and travel literature from Shakespeare’s time, as well as excerpts of Christopher Columbus’s diary,

One of dance’s many wonderful qualities is that you don’t need to separate what you think from what you feel

Shobana Jeyasingh, SJD

and aintings of fi st meetings with native Americans.

“I hope audiences at Sadler’s ells ast will find We Caliban both intriguing and enjoyable,” said Shobana.

“One of dance’s many wonderful qualities is that you don’t need to separate what you think from what you feel. I do hope that We Caliban will reach out to both the head and the heart.”

The piece features a commissioned soundtrack from French composer Thierry Pécou and includes readings of edicts from Elizabeth I praising Sir Walter Raleigh and his domination of other lands.

key details

We Caliban is set to run at Sadler’s Wells East from April 21-23 with shows at 7.30pm. Tickets for the 60-minute performances start at £15.

For more information go to sadlerswells.com

Scan this code to nd out more about We Caliban

We

Caliban reframes The Tempest through the eyes of a minor character and explores the result through dance

Stratford - Mile End - Bow - Hackney Wick

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

SEE | The Music Is Black: A British Story V&A East opens its doors for the very rst time with an exhibition celebrating 125 years of black musicmaking in Britain. Expect struggle, resilience and joy. from Apr 18, daily,from £22.50, vam.ac.uk

Where?

Cart And Horses

Stratford

GIG | Wardogs

Enjoy the sounds of the Ramones as reinterpreted by this Italian tribute act who promise a set list that’s big, heavy, dirty and direct. Expect Blitzkrieg Bop Apr 24, 7pm, £15, cartandhorses.london

EVENT | Pour Choices

This wine fair celebrates UK producers and growers with a strong focus on natural wine. Tickets include four 25ml tasting tokens to redeem and sup. Apr 18, 1pm-7pm, £20, hackneybridge.org

ash back

Stratford East is set to host a run of Choir Boy from March 26 until April 25, an exploration of race, masculinity and sexuality with an uplifting, joyful a capella soundtrack of gospel music. Tickets start at £10 stratfordeast.com

Scan this code to read our interview with Choir Boy co-director Tatenda Shamiso online at wharf-life.com

Sudoku

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

beating

crossword

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

Cryptic Quick

Take a break from that phone Across

Currently repeated but only occasionally (3,3,5)

Time for levelling out? (7) 10. Sounds like a negative steed (5)

Applying a rodent is a betraying (3,2)

Not a location to get above (7) 13. Using keyboard to identify sorts (6) 15. Transport vehicle on the way in Italy? (6) 18. Place to find the balm in London (7) 20. Cheeky neural transmitter? You’ve got one! (5) 22. Almost hostile force (in the rear?) (5) 23. Small pasta (to protect a plug?) (7) 24. Ancient marbled stone has acting fit, we hear (11)

Down

2. Mixed up treasure cache is open (5)

3. Place to cross the bridge in France, terpsichoreally (7)

4. Assimilate gastronomically? (6)

5. Sounds like asking for female identification in Italy, we hear (5)

6. Rainbow colour – not one of seven, though (7)

7. Headgear to hunt stags, Mr Holmes! (11)

8. Sounds lost in oriental stuff (11)

14. Old Roman town starts with a ceremony (7)

16. Prey of 7 down conceals a commotion (7)

17. Take a look at a jumble of trades union seafood (6)

19. Take a copy? It’s all the same (5)

21. Find something old in French town of Creil (5)

Politically neutral (11)

Long player (5)

Accommodation with a star rating (5)

Get better (7)

State of wonder

Putting to sleep (11)