Rhiain Lefton - Ong Lai Kopitaim Santander - Fortnum & Mason
celebrating the best of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the new east London people - events - treasure - property - foolishness
Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
Where? Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place
Where?
9pm, from £35,
EXPLORE | The Mystical Moon + Mudlarking Guests are invited to celebrate the dark side of the moon with an evening of stories, mystery and multimedia creative arts. There’s a silent disco too. Nov 20, 6pm-9.30pm, £25, londonmuseum.org.uk
XMAS | Victorian Santa’s Grotto Take a walk through the museum’s Sailortown gallery, decked out with decorations and meet Santa, who’ll give good kids a gift. Early booking is advised. Nov 21-Dec 23, from £14.50, londonmuseum.org.uk
Visitors can expect plenty of craft beers, beats and pizza on paper in the Water Street space cratebrewery.com
How The Pear Tree is set to get a new branch as the restaurant develops an o shoot in Canada Water and a south-east London dream continues to grow...
Yours for €55million, we take a look inside the Lady Christine 20 14
Welcome to issue 149 of Wharf Life. This one’s all about growth, with expansion for a restaurant, a second oating arts centre on the Isle Of Dogs, new homes in east London and a bank that aims to make delivering on ntech ideas just that little bit easier. Find some inspirations within... Finding abstraction in the twigs and boughs of the trees in a French valley
on the radar
need to know
The secret’s out, Fortnum & Mason is set to open a store in the middle of Canada Place in November. While details on what will be available from the royal grocer is scant, it’s a fair bet that with Christmas on the horizon there will be a festive hamper or two fortnumandmason.com
19
Get your skates on as the Queen’s House Ice Rink returns to Greenwich
Canary Wharf is set to welcome the return of Santander which closed brie y to relocate to the upper level of Cabot Place opposite Waterstones. The new space promises a “warm welcome” for customers when it opens on Ocrober 31 santander.co.uk
22
Theatreship is soon to get a sister vessel. We take a trip down to Chatham to see the work being done to Artship and to nd out about her remarkable crossing...
Crispy Shrimp Po’ Boy Sanddwwich @sanddwich on Insta
The rst thing to mention here is the branding. The slogan “more in the middle” coupled with extra letters in the word “sandwich” feels more stu ed up than stu ed full. The Earl may well be oscillating in his mausoleum.
It’s also an unrealistic land grab – nobody’s going to say: “I’d really recommend Sanddwwich for lunch” for the simple reason everyone would just hear “sandwich” and assume you were a few short of an al fresco dining experience.
All the linguistic jiggling about might be ne if the product is decent, but there are a few issues here.
The Crispy Shrimp Po’ Boy costs £9.95 (ex VAT) at Sanddwwich in Market Halls
The avours in my Crispy Shrimp Po’ Boy sarnie are robust. Spicy mayo, juicy prawns in crunchy breadcrumbs and a zingy dose of slaw.
But the bread feels dry and stale and, worse still, each bite is a cacophony of warmth and cold. Nothing goes above lukewarm, with plenty of chill in the ll. While the zing of spice does much punching above its weight, the whole feels somehow less than the sum of its parts. Odd too that no VAT is charged, despite eating in.
Jon Massey
doing the deals
get more for less on and around the Wharf
50%
From Nov 7-12 soon-toopen live music Amazing Grace are o ering various discounts with up to 50% o drinks available. Details via the Canary Wharf app canarywharf.com
50%
Get 50% o steaks at Boisdale Of Canary Wharf on Wednesday evenings until the end of November with live music. A £10 fee applies for the gig boisdale.co.k
Find a home in the frame of a gasholder at Regent’s View 11 subscribe to our Wharf Whispers newsletter and get our content in your inbox fortnightly
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words you don’t know you need
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noun, fake, from Runcorn and Helsby
The increasingly common practice of saying something racist, leaving it just long enough to ensure those who are prejudiced get to swing in behind it, before then retracting the statement and apologising. See Sarah Pochin on TV for context
casuist
noun, real, from Latin
A person who uses clever but unsound reasoning to justify a course of action. Annoyingly, this word also refers to someone who resolves cases of conscience or moral duty in cases of ethics. Words often have multiple meanings...
SCREEN
The Running Man (15) Everyman Canary Wharf everymancinema.com
Glen Powell follows in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s shoes in this latest adaptation of Stephen King’s novel.
As protagonist Ben Richards, he must jog on to evade professional assassins on live TV for a period of 30 days and win $1billion to save his ailing daughter in this vision of a future dystopia. Strangely nobody thought to cast Mr Beast in the role of the show’s host.
The rst showing will take place on Wednesday, November 12 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £20.50
diary dates, listings and ideas to make life in Canary Wharf
TRIED + TESTED
Nasi Kerabu Coconut Chicken
Ong Lai Kopitaim onglaikopitiam.co.uk
There’s a new hotspot on the Wharf and it comes in the form of the second family-run independent restaurant to operate on the estate.
Amerigo Vespucci has spent more than three decades serving traditional Italian cuisine to Wharfers on the western side of Canary Wharf – proof positive that passion, good food and authenticity yield results.
comes with a neat pyramid of Nasi Kerabu, rice tinged blue from the petals of the butter y pea ower.
These are qualities also found in abundance at recently launched Ong Lai Kopitiam which champions the avours of Malaysia on Wood Wharf’s Harbord Square.
The spirit of the vivacious lion, whose ceremonial dance announced the venue’s o cial opening the weekend before last, clearly lives within.
It’s busy, even though we visit early on a Saturday evening, and the reasons why quickly become clear. The space is charming – modelled on a traditional Malaysian co ee shop – and lled with smiling sta . But it’s the avours that are the knockout here. My coconut chicken
At £15, it’s a keenly priced plate heaped with succulent breast meat and crunchy salad, all crying out to be doused in the luxuriant sauce. Quickly, the place is packed with excited diners as we tuck in. Their anticipation is well founded. The dishes here are exactingly realised. Spring rolls (£7) are crispy and tickle the tongue after being immersed in their dipping sauce.
Satay beef skewers are similarly gentle, revelling in a mantle of pulverised peanuts. The chilli-laced morning glory is also a potent side – silky, warming and full of texture. I nished with a rich cup of Kopi C, imported Malaysian co ee topped o with evaporated milk. Sweet, moreish and exactly the reason I’ll be returning for the Koh Lo Mee soon.
Jon Massey
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Years since Alexander founded Gemba to provide payments and banking infrastructure to businesses
Gemba CEO and founder Alexander Legoshin created the business to offer near instant services to fintechs and other companies
Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
how Gemba supplies banking services to companies while allowing them to build their brands
by Jon Massey
Alexander Legoshin’s entrepreneurial journey officially began at the age of nine, selling newspapers and then groceries. By 10 he’d already decided he’d like to build his own bank – “something significant, something that would help people”.
He said: “Business was something I was always interested in. It was easy to do after school and my parents didn’t earn a lot, so it was helpful for me and the family. I’ve always been an entrepreneur – I’ve never worked for a company except my own.
“Maybe it’s good to be employed by an organisation, but it just didn’t happen – I don’t have that track record.”
What Alexander does have, however, is a consistent history of creating companies. Born in Russia, he finished school before going on to study at the Moscow State Institute Of Radio Engineer, Electronics And Automation.
“The first company I started was in my first year of university and it just went on from there,” he said. “I’m an IT person by education and my project for graduation was to develop a content management system. That ended up being too big for one person and became my first business.
“I managed to grow that company over six years before moving into marketing. That business dealt with media strategy and media buying and had a lot of high profile clients such as HSBC when they started operating in Russia.”
Further change came in 2014, when Alexander decided to leave the country of his birth, moving to Latvia. In 2015 he sold his Russian business and launched a consultancy firm, working in corporate information and investment, with spells spent living in the Netherlands and the USA before embarking on his latest venture.
“In 2017 I had an idea to build a financial services company which I’m managing right now,” said Alexander.
“It was a long journey because we decided to get our own licence and build a product, which took about four and a half years. The first version wasn’t as
crafting
successful as we wanted, but last year it turned into a successful business. We grew significantly in terms of customer turnover and revenue.”
Based at Canary Wharf’s tech community, Level39 in One Canada Square, Gemba takes its name from a Japanese term for a place where value is created in a business – the factory, a construction site or the sales floor, for example. It’s where the real work happens.
“A good definition of what we do is that we act as an invisible bank,” said Alexander. “We’re regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as an authorised payment institution and we offer companies banking and payments services so that they can serve their customers.
“If you have an idea for a fintech business, for example, there are delays. To operate, you need to be regulated, to build the product and so on – there’s a wait to get a licence.
“What we offer is a way for companies to implement their ideas quickly without having to wait. They can use our white label solution – our infrastructure – to operate their business under their brand and retain their customers.
“We take care of delivering the services and all of the compliance and regulation in the background. Clients pay either a fixed fee to Gemba for those services or a percentage of payments.
“It literally takes seven minutes for a firm to start – everything is automatic. We offer secure payments, seamless accounting integration and fully integrated management solutions that fit an organisation’s workflow.
“Clients can create accounts for their companies and customers, design and issue cards with their own logo and either use our ready-made banking app or build their own using Gemba’s technology. We’re not technically a bank but we offer a full banking solution.
“Payments are the bloodstream of businesses – you don’t get the service unless you pay for it.
“At present, our licence doesn’t allow us to take deposits or make loans but we can do everything in terms of payments. Hopefully, we’ll be introducing deposits quite soon.”
With a target market of fintech firms and accountancy businesses, Alexander decided to base the business in London.
the
A good de nition of what we do is that we act as an invisible bank so companies can serve their customers
He said: “Initially it was a decision about where to go for a licence – Luxembourg or London. We chose to apply to the British regulator because London is one of the financial capitals of the world and the market is huge.
“Initially, when we started building the product, I didn’t live here but I moved to the city about three years ago. My wife and I like London – it’s convenient because it’s located between Europe and the USA, which is great.
“We now have around 40 employees, with about half based at Level39 working in banking from Canary Wharf.
“Other staff work remotely under contract – they’re comfortable living in their own countries, so we don’t bring them to the UK unless they want to come.
“Level39 isn’t just an office space – it’s a community of like-minded people that acts as an accelerator for those who are trying to do something good in this world.
“They run a lot of events and it’s a really lovely place to be. Kudos to Amy French, its director and her team.
“The cost of the office space is comparable to other locations and perhaps a bit less than the City, but it’s a nice place to work.”
Gemba has made much of being part of the community, engaging with the likes of Barclays in the past. The company was also selected earlier this year to participate in the JPMorgan Chase
Scan this code to nd out more about
Fintech Forward Programme, a 12-week accelerator developed in collaboration with EY.
The scheme intends to support early stage fintech businesses, aiming to shape the future of financial services through innovation and technology.
Alexander said: “Being selected for the programme is an exciting opportunity for Gemba to collaborate with global leaders in financial services.
“It will help us accelerate our mission to deliver more efficient, accessible, and innovative financial solutions for businesses worldwide.
“Our full-stack platform and profitable revenue-share model are already built for high-speed, compliant growth—and this partnership will dramatically enhance our ability to empower the next generation of fintechs.”
In the future, the company plans to continue growing its customer base targeting financial startups as well as accountants and communities wanting to offer banking services. Alexander said accountancy was a natural partner for his firm as Gemba was able to offer a “friction-free” experience for a practice’s clients thanks to information sharing to satisfy compliance request.
He also said that communities wishing to handle money could use Gemba to handle their own customers with a pilot scheme already in operation in London to explore opportunities.
“As a 10-year-old in Russia, I wasn’t thinking of Canary Wharf, of course, when I was imagining building a bank,” he said. “But I was thinking about having my company’s name on a building.
“Perhaps we’ll get to that point. I wouldn’t say it’s a plan to do that – more like a dream – but by working step-bystep we may get to the point where the dream comes true.
“Right now, it’s great to be based at One Canada Square – it’s a landmark building and absolutely tourist material. People know Tower Bridge, The Gherkin and this building in Canary Wharf.”
key details
You can find out more about Gemba’s services for businesses on the company’s website.
Go to ge.mba for more information about the company
Alexander Legoshin, Gemba
Gemba
how Amero founder Daniel Kemdeng fights poverty from the Wharf with coffee and education
by Jon Massey
It’s hard to imagine a better candidate as an ambassador for Canary Wharf Group’s Where Ambition Lives campaign than Daniel Kemdeng. Firstly, he satisfies the description in that his home is at Vertus’ 10 George Street building and he was one of the very first people to take up residence on the estate.
Secondly, he works locally. As vice president of model risk governance and review at JP Morgan Chase & Co, his commute to the office is a short stroll over to Bank Street from his apartment.
Finally, there’s his purpose – to live a life fighting poverty, honouring the legacy of his grandfather and father through entrepreneurial zeal and the social impact of his flourishing coffee business.
Daniel’s story sits alongside a diverse group of other individuals in CWG’s campaign, which aims to confound lazy, outdated stereotypes about the area by showcasing their work and ambitions. For a deeper dive, we sat down with Daniel to find out more.
“I was born and brought up in a small rural village of farmers in Cameroon,” he said. “It was very beautiful and my family had been involved in growing produce there for many years.
“One of the main crops was coffee as well as growing food to feed ourselves. Even though we were living in a remote place, I was lucky to be in a family and community that really valued education.
“People came together to support one child from the area who was doing well at school and had the mindset to succeed – that was me and they sponsored me to go and study in France.
“My career has always been driven by opportunities. When I started at university in Lille, my first idea was simply to survive. In 2001 it was the time of the dot com boom and so I thought I should study IT.
“I’d never touched a computer before and programming was a completely different language, so I struggled a lot. I was stronger in physics, so I decided to study
having an
Daniel Kemdeng lives and works locally, while also pursuing a business that supports thousands of small farmers in Cameroon
My success has been the result of the community coming together. It’s important to keep that in mind – it’s only as a team you can deliver results
Daniel Kemdeng,
Amero
that for two years before going on to an engineering school to study for a masters because I thought I would be able to get a job.
“I actually started my career in the aerospace industry designing structures for aircraft, which was great but I realised we were not ready to start building planes in my village back home, so I started looking into what I could do for my community.”
Daniel went back to education, studying for an MBA in Paris before getting a job with Société Générale as a derivatives analyst in the French capital.
While working in banking, Daniel was continuing to support his community via his personal income before a tragic event brought with it major change.
“In 2012, my dad passed away, but two months before he’d told me I would have to be the one to support the community,” said Daniel. “That was shocking, because I’m the second youngest of 16 children – I wondered how I could manage to lead the community.
“He said leadership wasn’t about age or money and he reassured me that I was the one they would listen to. Luckily the tradition of respect is structured in such a way that when I talk with my siblings, I will give the older ones respect, but that when I put my leader’s hat on, they will listen.”
Daniel’s father, Djoumessi, had a long history of fighting poverty in Cameroon, supporting local farmers and encouraging them to send their kids to school – leading by example with his own children.
Following his father’s death, Daniel founded a charity called AMSDM (Association Moh Soh Djoumessi Mathias), which aims to promote education and reduce poverty locally in Cameroon.
He also relocated to London, a city he believed would enable him to both pursue his career in finance and banking as well as explore business.
“Using just my personal income to support people wasn’t sustainable,” said Daniel. “I was thinking continued on Page 10
Brahms Club in collaboration with The Royal Foundation of St Katharine is hosting a cycle of uplifting classical music concerts in Limehouse.
In a world first, we will perform all of Johannes Brahms’ 24 chamber music works ranging from the violin sonatas to his mighty string sextets
Internationally acclaimed artists performing include Tim Crawford (violin), Jennifer Stumm (viola), Jennifer Lee Lane (clarinet) Yap
(piano), Ralph Lane(clarinet) and Tim Yap (violin).
This music offers wondrous glimpses of the spirit world.
Join us in wonder at The Royal Foundation of St Katharine, Limehouse, E14 8DS.
Sundays at 2pm from 2 November to 21 December 2025.
Tickets: www.brahmsclub.org
Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
from Page 9
about what else we could do and I realised one of the great things we produce in Cameroon is coffee.
“I thought that if we could get that product into the right markets we could do great things. The best way to help people in poverty is not to give them a fish but to teach them how to fish –that’s why I decided to go back to farming.
“Initially the community was shocked when I explained what I wanted to do because the coffee price had dropped and most of the farmers had moved away from it as a crop.
“They wanted to know why, but I could see the demand and now the price has picked back up and is at an all-time peak.”
In the meantime, Daniel got a job with JP Morgan in 2018 and began working in Canary Wharf, deciding to move into his Vertus apartment in 2020 to remove his commute and because of the promise of community.
“I was maybe the first or second resident to move in and it was very convenient, but a month later we went into lockdown,” he said. “The great thing was that we had that sense of community – we were a small crew living here at that time, but we spent a lot of time together even though we were working very hard and we made our own bubble.
“In the meantime, Canary Wharf Group realised I was into coffee – they knew me as a banker, so I told them I was a farmer first.
“They loved the project in Cameroon and asked me how we could make this coffee available to residents at Vertus and that’s how I came up with the idea to create a coffee brand where we would grow the beans, harvest them, process them and ship them to the UK for roasting and distributing.”
The result is Amero, named for Cameroon itself, supplying 100% organic arabica beans to the UK market and now more widely.
Daniel said: “The farms in my village and the ones we work with around it are on volcanic soil, which gives the coffee a unique taste. We don’t use any fertilisers.
“We sell the roasted coffee online and also the green beans to roasters all around the world with customers in Italy, Germany, Australia and now China.
“Today, 10,000 people in Cameroon now rely on this product and the idea is to invest more money and expand our production capacity.
“I have my own farm, which is around 250 hectares and every year I increase that. We support
Years since Daniel left Cameroon to begin his education in France thanks to the sponsorship of his community
together and it’s important to keep that in mind – it’s only as a team that you can deliver results. That’s just as important for my career in banking and why JP Morgan has been so supportive.
“Banking has given me exposure and the opportunity to meet a lot of amazing people, from whom I’ve learnt a lot. Everything I’ve learnt, I’ve applied to what we’re doing with Amero.
“In the same way, I bring my own personal leadership experiences from the community to the bank. It’s a win-win.
“I never dreamed my life would be like this – I grew up in a place where I couldn’t imagine this.
Today I can travel anywhere in the world because of that vision of community and what I’ve achieved today means I can come back and help the younger generation to achieve and to grow.
“I hope they’ll do a lot more than I did, because they can now have the resources I didn’t have 40 years ago and I want to make sure they are available for them.
“My idea is to explain to them that the first thing is to dream and then to have purpose and objectives to achieve. Then I hope they will fly by themselves.
“It’s also about communicating to businesses and investors that the future of investment is to have a social impact as well as making money.
“That’s very important and it’s something organisations can highlight to their clients, shareholders and employees – every single person connected to it because they will all take something from it and understand the impact they are having.”
Daniel said that while Amero’s growth might mean he has to make a choice in the future between banking and farming, right now Canary Wharf was playing a key role in his life.
many of the small farmers as well. My ambition is to bring more and more on board to support a million people, to give them a reliable income so they can send their children to school and to the hospital when they are sick.
“It’s the best way to have an impact on the community. I come from a different way of working – I’m not just focussing on my day-to-day job with the bank.
“That’s why I do a lot of talking to share my experience and show them how, wherever you are, it’s important to support your local economy.
“It’s not just about poverty in Cameroon but about people here and in France too. It’s something we can all do everywhere.
“My success in life has been the result of the community coming
He said: “It gives me all the resources I need to be able to continue my mission, which is fighting poverty everywhere I find it. The environment here is great and I feel at home.
“I’m a runner – I do 10k three times a week – and I love the connection with the water here. It makes me feel relaxed every day and reminds me of the lake we have on the farm.”
key details
You can find out more about Amero and buy its products on the brand’s website.
For more information go to amerocoffee.com
Scan this code to nd out more about Amero
Daniel chats with a farmer in Cameroon. Below, beans are sorted and processed
Images by Amero
Starting price for an adult ticket to skate at the Queen’s House Ice Rink. VIP packages and student discounts are available too
The ice is set to return to the Queen’s House from November 21
how Royal Museums Greenwich is set to welcome back the Queen’s House Ice Rink this November
by Jon Massey
It’s very much the time of year when the mercury drops and thoughts turn to festive activities. Those whose idea of a good time is gliding e ortlessly over a frozen surface under fairy lights will therefore be delighted by the return of the Queen’s House Ice Rink. Set to open on November 21, with sessions available until January 4, the facility o ers perhaps the most scenic skating location in south-east London.
Located in the midst of the UNESCO World Heritage site, the facility o ers skating from 10am-9pm with access up until 8pm. Sessions last up to 45 minutes with skaters urged to arrive half an hour beforehand for skate ttings.
Royal Museums Greenwich is also set to host Santa’s Grotto at the Queen’s House from November 22 until Christmas Eve. Tickets cost £27 for adults and children and promise a “journey into an enchanting world, inspired by the story of The Nutcracker”.
There will also be performances by Santa’s elves and a
chance for little ones to meet Father Christmas and take home a special gift. There must be at least one child per party.
key details
Queen’s House Ice Rink will be open from November 21 until January 4 every day, excluding December 25. The rink is open from 10am-9pm.
Tickets cost from £19 for adults and from £16.50 for kids. Family tickets cost from £49.96.
For more information go to thequeenshouseicerink.com or rmg.co.uk/queens-house
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
The multi-platinum selling band bring their Songs From The First 15 Years tour to London. Expect the likes of Give Me The Future and Bad Blood to be on the set list. Nov 18, 6pm, resales, theo2.co.uk
TRY | Event Photography + O Camera Flash Led by specialist event photographer Yushy Pachnanda, this workshop will focus on practical o -camera ash techniques in low light settings. Nov 20, 6.30pm, £30, greenwichpeninsula.co.uk
GIG | NCO Winter Concert
The National Children’s Orchestra present works by the likes of Walton, Wadsworth, Mussorgsky and Korngold at this showcase of young talent. Nov 23, 2.30pm, £21.60, woolwich.works
Seeking a team activity for your festive celebration? iFLY London at The O2 is o ering 30% o on weekday bookings made between now and December 11 for indoor skydiving sessions. Use code WKDAYS30 i yworld.co.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about the venue and what it o ers to groups and individual yers
GIG | Bastille
how photographer Rhiain Lefton is set to bring her images of the French landscape near her home to London
by Jon Massey
Rhiain Lefton’s landscapes mi ht, at first la e, seem at ima es o trees a d olia e that e ome almost a stra t thro h her de isio to limit ers e tive a d s y i the rames owever, there s de th o a di ere t i d ehi d ea h reatio
he artist a d hoto ra her is set to ta e over imeho se s hree olt allery with a solo e hi itio o her wor rom ovem er he will e omi to o do to ha her ima es a d also to host a tal o her ra ti e a d its r its o ovem er m rom a artisti amily, so rew loo i at the world i that way a d have ee i terested i hoto ra hy rom my tee a e years, she said e moved to the ot alley i ra e whe was we t a to the or iversity, to st dy so ial a throolo y a d a masters i riti al theory t also too eve i lasses i a alo e hoto ra hy a d started develo i my wor the ret r ed to ra e a o t years a o swit hed to di ital ameras a d started to e ome a ro essio al hoto ra her, develo i a i terest i to e a d olo r he ame a to r ral ra e e a wor i as a la ds a e hoto ra her i a small valley ear y a d have do e that or early years he valley has a lo a d ri h history rom re histori times to the a ri lt ral oli ies over the last ew h dred years
o see so m h ha e i that time i terms o ma made im a t as well as at re he o sta t ha i o the la ds a e is i teresti to me also thi a o t dee time the illio s o years e ore h ma s e isted ha e always seems very ast, t t i that o te t, we ve o ly ee here or the li o a eye
Rhiain has spent almost a de ade immersi hersel i trees a d li s o the h e alley a d a t ri them live lose y, so ee a eye o weather, limate a d seaso , she said he times o o t a e ite ra dom a d vary d ri the year e a se it s a arrow valley, it ta es a while or the s to ome over ate mor i is whe yo et i teresti om ositio s o li ht ometimes mi ht
I focus on the plant life itself and I’m interested in compositions there –seeing beauty or mystery within a smaller space
Rhiain Lefton, artist and photographer
o o t every day or a wee , the mi ht ot or a o le o wee s it s redi ta le, t that s the ase with la ds a e hoto ra hy e erally here s a lot o atie e i volved a d yo et to ow a la e a d how it loo s at di ere t times o the year hat s why ve titled my latest ro e t Cellular Intimacy, e a se it is i timate yo et a real se se o the la e a d a owled e o it hat s a im orta t art o it e a se, while there s a e ormo s amo t o la i i la ds a e hoto ra hy, yo also have to allow or a se se o wo der the eeli that this is the ri ht mome t o e ti with the la ds a e is vital, altho h a la o owled e lays its art too it s oth thi s wor i to ether hile traditio al la ds a e hoto ra hy o te i volves e i vistas a d the i ter lay etwee s y, la d a d water, hiai ta es a di ere t a roa h
As develo ed my ra ti e, oti ed was oi i to the la ds a e more a d more there is t m h s y i my ima es, she said o s o the la t li e itsel a d m i terested i om ositio s there seei ea ty or mystery withi a smaller s a e had a i teresti dis ssio with someo e at the last e hi itio did a o t whether yo d all what do la ds a e hoto ra hy, at re hoto ra hy or la t hoto ra hy m also i terested i te t re a d the relatio shi etwee the di ere t eleme ts i a om ositio , almost oi towards a i d o a stra tio that is also li ed to the i tima y have with the valley a d also to the arrier etwee h ma s a d at re hile my ima es do t o vio sly have a ythi made y eo le i them, the reaso the trees are there is artly d e to h ma i terve tio did a lot o resear h a o t the
Solo exhibitions Rhiain has show at Limehouse’s Three Colt Gallery
going
her surroundings
Detail from one of Rhiain Lefton’s works which feature the rocks, trees and plants of the Thèze Valley
valley, looking at archives, and the area has changed so much over the last few hundred years – even in the last 50.
“To give an example, there’s a river that runs through it and the farmers used to farm right up to the edge of the water. But then there was a European directive that stated they had to pull back six metres to avoid contaminating the water with pesticides.
“Now all these trees – the alders and willows that like water – have grown up all along its banks and they look natural but they’re only here because of a human policy.
“People often think I’ve manipulated the images but where I have edited them it’s been minimal. The light here is unique and because the valley runs south-east to north-west you get areas of high contrast as the sun passes over.”
Rhiain said she was looking forward to showing her work in London.
“This is the second exhibition I’ve done at Three Colt Gallery,” she said. “One of the things I really enjoy is the intellectual side of my images, discussing the ecological aspect to them and dis overi di ere t eo le s views. Some respond to them immediately in the way they relate to them or feel drawn to them. Others really don’t. What people like or don’t like is a great mystery.
“However people respond is interesting. You’re inviting them to look at the world in a particular way and when they understand that it’s rewarding. If they don’t, it makes you think about what you’re doing.
“I’m interested in representation and truth so we’ll be talking about that in my talk and discussion in London. I’ll be asking whether we’re creating an archive of something that might not exist in the future. I also want to talk about Socratic truth and literal re rese tatio a d how that fits into notions of documentary.
“Is there a clear line between artistic and documentary approaches?”
key details
Rhiain Lefton’s work will be on show at Three Colt Gallery in Limehouse from November 6-21. The artist will be hosting a talk and discussion there on November 9 at 4pm.
The gallery is free to visit and opens from 10am-6pm most days. It is closed on Mondays. Follow @threecoltgallery on Insta
Scan this code to nd out more about Rhiain’s work
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
CONCERTS | Brahms Club
The Nepalese rock band return to London promising an emotional and powerful concert. Entitled Purpose, the show is dedicated to healing. Nov 22, 7pm, £42.28, troxy.co.uk Where?
The Royal Foundation Of St Katharine Limehouse
The club presents the complete chamber works of Johannes Brahms over a series of Sunday concerts. The rst four feature piano, clarinet and cello pieces. Nov 2, 9, 16, 23, 2pm, donations, brahamsclub.org
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Where? Wilton’s Music Hall Wapping
The comedian continues his low grade tour in celebration of the publication of his poetry anthology. He’ll probably read some on the night. Nov 15, Nov 22, 5pm, from £15, wiltons.org.uk
This pint is only £3.95. The Craft Beer Co has given its Limehouse pub a glow-up. Now named The Clement Attlee, the venue boasts a packed programme of events alongside its serving of independent ales theclementattlee.co.uk Scan this code to read
COMEDY
Tim Key: LA Baby! Book Tour
GIG
Wharf Life’s piece on The Clem, which can be found right next to Limehouse station
Rhiain, above, lives and works in France and has been photographing the landscape near her home for nearly a decade. Left, detail from another of her images
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
DANCE | Lindy Hop
Where? Poplar Union Poplar
Dance artist Angela Andrew presents three beginner-friendly classes with plenty of swing as part of Black History Month at Poplar Union. Book online. Nov 13-15, 6pm, free, poplarunion.com
Where?
Theatreship Isle Of Dogs
FILM | All About My Mother (15)
See Pedro Almodóvar’s tribute to motherhood, cinema and female solidarity as part of the venue’s ongoing Too Much: Melodrama On Film season. Nov 16, 2pm, from £5.74, theatreship.co.uk
STAGE | Pack Up!
Where?
The Space Isle Of Dogs
This set of two shows and workshops celebrates theatre company Oida!’s three years in showbiz. Check online for full details of performances. Nov 25-29, times and prices vary, space.org.uk
catch this
Floating arts centre Theatreship has embarked on a new season of screenings in collaborations with the BFI. Find our more about Too Much: Melodrama On Film via our interview with Natalie Hill, below... theatreship.co.uk
Scan this code to nd out more about Too Much: Melodrama On Film at Theatreship
how Artship is undergoing a spell of care and attention in Chatham ahead of her new life as a floating venue
by Jon Massey
What’s incredible here is just how the guys view steel – as something completely id, said i o Lapwood. “When we brought the oat i , they st t the two stairways we se or a ess o the pontoon and welded them back on i the ri ht ositio
e re sat ato the r sty, r sted panels of a vast barge looking out over the River Medway at Stick-Mig Welding in Chatham o s, e t A ove s, resti o the steel – her keel snugly held in la e y sa rifi ial l m s o wood rise the rves o Artshi The yard is rich in oxidised metal, t this is o s ra hea As we wal thro h, the seari white light of fabrication and the pop and hiss of melting steel cut the air. This is a place where things are made a d re aired, where function is preserved and created. Artshi hersel is i or re airs on her way to the next chapter o her li e a oat he s set to oi with heatreshi o the sle Of Dogs to form a multi-vessel oati arts e tre t e ore she a arry a ar o o lt re, she needs a bit of work doing –s earheaded y i o as o di director of the project.
e re fi ishi all the str t ral wor e essary i dry do , he said. “This is actually one of the last places where you can get this kind of work done.
istori ally, hatham was where all of the great sailing ships were built in the 1800s and we’re really lucky that those skills have been handed down.
ith Artshi , we ve had to t sections out of the hull and replate them, we ve had to ma e re airs to the rest of the machinery onboard and we’re making her suitable for public access.
Just as goods once came to the area from all over the world, our ships can provide somewhere for artists to deliver and unload their ideas today
Inigo Lapwood, Artship
s r risi ly, a shi designed to carry 500 tonnes of coal isn’t immediately suitable for welcoming hundreds of people. owever, we wa t to ee her as honest as possible with the fabric of the ship present and on-show. side, we have a i s a e that isn’t really on a human scale so we’re really excited that it presents us with an opportunity for large i stallatio s, e hi itio s a d m si events. We can do a lot of really i teresti thi s Artshi s eel was laid i e o the first diesel oasters that came to dominate short-sea shipping around Europe through the e o d orld ar a d the first hal o the th e t ry, she s ow one of only a handful left intact. At the ea o their o larity, there were more tha , similar vessels in use and the class would once have been a familiar sight in the Thames and across Docklands. e re oi to e filled with a cargo of arts when we arrive at est dia o s, said i o t s really ildi o what we’ve been doing with Theatreship. Just as goods once came to the area rom all over the world, our ships can provide somewhere for artists to deliver and unload their ideas today.
st e ore the very first skyscrapers went up in Canary har , the last ar o shi s le t the docks. Now we’re bringing a se o d o e a Artshi s o r ey to et to east London has already been an eventful one.
i o said e o d her o the wro side o erma y, so we had to ta e her aro d the alti , alo the iel a al a d a ross the North Sea.
“We brought her over in July last year and it was quite an underta i to et a year old oat with original machinery working well enough to undertake that kind of trip safely.
the e d, it too s a o t two weeks to sail over and we ran into a couple of issues along the way e were a o t ho rs i to the orth ea, it was aro d am and our second engineer woke me up to tell me he thought the oil ress re was a it hi h, t that everythi was fi e t was t e a t ally had a leak in the engine that meant the coolant water was getting into the ottom o the oil s m , rod i what amounted to a horrible vinaigrette.
that sit atio , the eari s
Years since Artship’s keel was laid. She served eight decades as a bulk carrier
Artship founding director Inigo Lapwood takes a moment for re ection under the bulk carrier’s hull
Artship is currently in dry dock in Kent
Image by Artship
get starved of oil and, if you don’t spot it, everything overheats.
“Fortunately, we’d had a similar problem with the engine and noticed what was happening so we took a sharp turn and headed for shore as fast as we could. However, we ran out of time and had to drop anchor and try and repair the engine at sea.
“It’s a lovely old piece of machinery probably dating from the 1950s and our plan was always to keep it going as long as possible.
“The repair took me almost 36 hours and it nearly killed me – I’m not very good when I don’t get enough sleep and, by around hour 30, I’d forgotten the word for bolt.
“We were working against the clock too because we knew there was a force seven gale blowing in. If that had hit us, unballasted and with no power in the engine, the anchors would not have held and we might well have ended up on a beach in northern Europe somewhere – not at all the planned location for a new arts centre.
“We were very lucky to have a brilliant skipper on board, however, who was really experienced. After we stopped the engine to re air it, he we t strai ht o or a nap, which was wise because at hour 30 there was someone just waking up fresh to steer the boat.”
Fortunately, Inigo and the crew had prepared well, including custom-making tools to service the ageing engine – a piece of foresight that made their North Sea repair possible.
The plan is now to complete works down in Kent, before sailing Artship up the Thames to her new home.
exciting programme to get people on board.
“I’m really pleased with how Theatreship has been received. It’s a di lt time or i de e de t ve es we re a ot or rofit organisation, completely independent and are not supported by investors.
“A third of independent music venues have shut in the last three years, so we’re perpetually grateful that we are able to be open.
“We also do a lot of our events completely free because we believe audiences shouldn’t always have to bear the cost of culture.
“We’ll always try to get funding to make sure we’re not excluding eo le fi a ially he res lt o that has been the creation of a really rich community – it’s done what we hoped in bringing people together from all over the place. e ve had m lti le film seasons in partnership with the BFI and all sorts of musical events. One of the things we love doing with our cinema events is having an interval so people have the opportunity to talk to one another.
“You can end up seeing a work di ere tly as a res lt o those interactions and that’s creating a greater work of art.
“Our bar is open whether we have a show on or not and we encourage people to use it as a social space. One of the reasons east London is as interesting as it is stems from individuals and families coming here from all over the world, staying and sharing the city. Amazing things emerge from that.”
key details
Scan this code to nd out more about Artship mending
“I hope to bring her to Canary Wharf by December and I’ll be a happy man if I can have my Christmas dinner on the ship,” said Inigo, who typically lives on board the ships he’s restoring. here will e st to do, t we want to get her back into the docks, even as a living artefact. t will e the first time or years that a cargo ship like this has been in the docks that were built for them. Then we want to open up the space as quickly as possible. We’re working on a really
Artship will hopefully arrive in east London later this year with opening expected in 2026. Full details of Theatreship’s programme can be found online. Go to artship.co.uk or theatreship.co.uk for more information
Fitting replacement plates at Stick-Mig Welding
The vessel’s hold will eventually host installations and performances on the Isle Of Dogs
Image by Artship
Image by Artship
Other images by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
COMEDY | Giant Steps
Where?
The Albany Deptford
Improv meets improvisations as comedians Max Dickins and Conor Jatter ri with live musicians to create a jam night of licks and laughs. Nov 20, 7.30pm, from £18, thealbany.org.uk
Where?
The Albany Deptford
GIG | Tomorrow’s Warriors Big Band Drummer, composer, educator and performer, Romarna Campbell, premieres her new composition, Bloom at this EFG London Jazz Festival concert. Nov 15, 7.30pm, from £15, thealbany.org.uk
Where?
Badger
Badger
Deptford
EVENT | Queer Social Individuals and groups are welcome at this social mixer for LGBTQIA+ people who enjoy playing boardgames. Name and pronoun stickers available. Nov 20, 6.30pm, £8, badgerbadger.com
ash back
Discover designer Olivia Black’s Serendipity collection as the Bermonsey-based creative builds her brand following a show during London Fashion Week. Expect black, white and plenty of texture in her work oliviablack.co.uk
Scan this code to read Wharf Life’s interview with Olivia and nd out more about her inspiration
how The Pear Tree is set to sprout a third branch as chefs Tze-May Ng and Matt Lloyd expand to Canada Water
by Jon Massey
Chefs Matt Lloyd and e ay first met at the ha ri a hotel i yd ey was wor i dow stairs i the rasserie at the time a d she was oo i at Altit de resta ra t o the th oor, said att heir he s wo ld ome dow a d steal all o r e i me t t was retty a oyi til also moved to Altit de a d the , somehow, it was fi e avi or ed a o d at a ve e overloo i yd ey ar o r a d the illowi white sails o the ity s o era ho se, the o le resolved to move to o do i t was all a o t the ood, said att yo loo a at that time it was the la e to e o had he at a d ordo amsay still i the it he yo wa ted to lear a o t ood, it was where yo eeded to o ood has ee somethi o a o sta t i att s li e or i ee sla d, he s e t his tee a e years i ris a e e ore wi di i yd ey always e oyed oo i rom a very yo a e a d ew it was somethi wa ted to do, he said hool was t so ood or me le t at ite a yo a e, havi arra ed with the lo al o il to do my a re ti eshi a d the it was strai ht i to the it he was whe we moved to o do a d wor ed i vario s resta ra ts aro d the ity ells with the li es o ary hodes a d i hael i all ollowed, with oth att a d e ay oo i at the latter s i heli starred atymer i e yhill ar att the we t o to oi ro , ow at the time or its ood o sed astro s, where he wor ed i a m er o ve es i l di r i the it he at he ota ist i loa e are
A lot o he s who have s e t their time oo i eve t ally wa t to have their ow la e a d was the same, said att y dad had his ow si ess whe was rowi it was the mai ro ery store i the tow avi moved to the area aro d , the o le saw a o ort ity to ri a it o A stralia to so th east o do here were hi h street o tio s
li e some ood little a s lo ally, t there were o all day r h resta ra ts, so ew the area eeded somethi , said att irst we loo ed aro d a ada ater statio , t the re ts were a it o tra eo s d met the la dow er o ree la d la e a ew years earlier we ot alo well a d li ed her visio or the develo me t he we had to de ide what we wa ted to o e a d, i , the res lt was he ear ree really li ed the idea o a A stralia i s ired ve e e a se othi is o t o la e o the me e did t wa t to et st st doi moder ritish stead, we a have i e lassi re h dishes, talia asta or avo rs rom oly esia or Asia t s a i e a roa h or a resta ra t, where eo le a ome or a ll o rea ast or a astry with o ee or a i e e re ite l y to have a varied a die e here some eo le ome dow with their la to s to do wor o er m ms visit thro ho t the day to so ialise e o er a very a roa ha le all day r h me a d a wi e list t to ether y o r rie ds at avy s e always have di ere t thi s ha e i i l di wi e i hts a d stea i hts as well as a really o lar day roast he , at the ro t, we have a deli where we try to s ort smaller rod ers a d sto a reat sele tio o wi es
Over the a demi the o le also started o erati a ve e at rrey o s arm, i itially as a deli a d ro ery a d the as a ll low a yo o dow to he ar , yo ll fi d toasted o a ia sa dwi hes, whi h we ma e at he ear ree a d deliver resh every mor i , said att he there are lots o a es, row ies a d sa sa e rolls e do ma y di ere t s e ials thro ho t the wee there too, de e di o what s i seaso ow the story is set to o ti e, with att a d e ay e a di o e more to a ew site he illa e ree is e e ted to o e i early at the ase o ritish a d s a shi reside tial tower, he o di he ildi is i the va ard o the develo er s e te sive re e eratio o the wider a ada
Venues the team behind The Pear Tree at Greenland Place will soon be running in south-east London
Food images by A Dash And A Splash
Apple And Walnut Breakfast Pancakes at The Pear Tree
Steak at The Pear Tree in Greenland Place, below
Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey
I guess you could say that The Village Tree will be a mash up between our other two venues – The Pear Tree and The Barn
Matt Lloyd, The Pear Tree
Water area and is located just outside the station.
“I guess you could say The Village Tree will be a mash up between our other two venues,” said Matt. “We’re trying to give it its own identity, although visitors will fi d ama i resh sa dwi hes, a es a d o ee, a d other home-baked goods.
e re still wor i o a ew di ere t ideas or the ood me itsel e wo t have a ll hot kitchen there, but we will be o eri a very ood sele tio t s ot ertai yet, t o e o our ideas is to have pancakes or ossi ly wa es e re e tly had a great trip to Belgium and we think nobody has brought that ality o wa e over here yet, so it wo ld e wo der l to do that What’s clear, when talking to att or a y le th o time, is that the assio he develo ed or ood as a youngster is still the thing that drives him.
The Pear Tree’s menu is diverse, with potent dishes like Kimchi Eggs, Nasi Goreng and Dan Dan Noodles sitting next to roast grouse, smashed avocado on sourdough and steak with peppercorn sauce.
growing from the
An artist’s impressions of
erso ally, love the rea ast pancakes we serve until 5pm,” said att hey are my avo r ites, especially the top three options – Blueberry And Bacon with maple syrup, blueberry om ote a d resh l e erries
“Then there’s the Fried Chicken option with maple syrup or a really nice autumnal option with Apple And Walnut, which comes with a salted caramel sauce and a cinnamon crumble.”
key details
att a d e ay rre tly r The Pear Tree at Greenland Place in Yeoman Street and The Barn at Surrey Docks Farm.
The Village Tree is set to open in early 2026 at The Founding in Canada Water.
Go to thepeartreekitchen.co.uk for more information
Scan this code to nd out more about The Pear Tree
CGIs by Black Ivy Design
Image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
Director and chef at The Pear Tree, Matt Lloyd
how The Village Tree will look
what’s on things to do, places to go, people to see
EVENT | Thanksgiving Trivia Night
Cost of entry to Tech Couture before 1am at east London’s Fold
Royal Docks - Canning Town
Spanish DJ Annabel Arroyo will play Tech Couture
Excel London
The Friends Experience at Immerse LDN is hosting a quiz evening for fans of the show to test their knowledge promising rounds to suit everyone. Nov 22, 7pm, £25, london.friendstheexperience.com
Where?
Excel London
Royal Victoria Dock
EVENT | The Last Days Of Pompeii
Not subtitled “the oor is lava” but maybe it should be? Dive into history with projections, VR and more at this retelling of an earth-shattering eruption. Nov 14-Feb 28, times vary, £30, excel.london Where?
CLUB | Unfold CXI
ash back
Royal Victoria Dock Where? Fold Canning Town
This mystery night of techno in east London is deliberately opaque with tickets only available on the door. Dress to sweat and dance. Nov 23, 2pm-11.59pm, £POA, ra.co
Fame Factory has opened its doors at Excel London – an immersive show that o ers people the chance to don the mantle of celebrity and explore the exhilaration and pitfalls of sudden recognition fame-factory.com
Scan this code to read Wharf Life’s interview with Fame Factory creative lead Hamish Hamilton of Done+Dusted
how
Fold in Canning Town is set to host a night of house and rapid beats as Tech Couture returns for a nal
by Jon Massey
Fold in Canning Town is set to host an all-nighter in celebration of house and techno with two rooms of pumping beats for clubbers to enjoy. Tech Couture will open its doors at 11pm on November 21 at the east London venue with DJs scheduled all the way through until 10am the next day.
Promising an emotional and sweaty night, the brand’s last
party of the year features Fold resident DJ Annabel Arroyo in the headline slot alongside popular performer Quelza.
Also on the bill will be Tech Couture debuts from the likes of Grace Dahl, Temudo, Mika and Nina Pixina.
Having spread the brand all the way to Amsterdam, via the fields of Burgess Park, TC returns to its spiritual home for 11 hours of furious, passionate dance – one last rave for 2025 before the end of the year.
Other DJs performing will be
2025 gig
Blasha And Allatt, Debbie and Temudo.
key details
Tech Couture takes place at Fold in Canning Town on November 21 from 11pm to 10am. Tickets cost £23 or £19 for pre-1am. Go to ra.co for more details
Scan this code to nd out more about Tech Couture
Cost of a ticket to see Midnight at Sadler’s Wells East in November
by Jon Massey
Anew musical is set to grace the stage at Sadler’s Wells East in November. Midnight, by Todrick Hall, is set to transport audiences to the USA’s southern states during the 19th century.
The production promises “a sweeping story of love, con ict and the search for understanding” presented in a sung-through fashion similar to the likes of Hamilton, Les Misérables, and Rent.
Audiences can expect a blend of gospel, rhythm and blues, classical, pop, rock, opera, folk, and classic musical theatre.
The show isn’t part of Sadler’s Wells programme, but an independent production by Hall – a singer, rapper, choreographer and YouTuber who appeared on the ninth series of American Idol
He’s also been a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race as well as appearing on shows such as The Masked Singer and Celebrity Big Brother. He was also co-executive producer on Taylor Swift’s music video for You Need To Calm Down
key details
Midnight is showing at Sadler’s Wells East from November 11-15. Performances take place at 7.30pm and 2pm on selected dates. Tickets start at £15. Go to sadlerswells.com for more information
Scan this code to nd out more about the show
how east London is set to host Midnight , a new musical by singer and rapper Todrick Hall
show
If we could only take the time to just for a moment imagine ourselves in our neighbors’ shoes
>> Todrick wrote on Instagram: “I have never been more proud of anything I’ve created than my new musical Midnight.
“This story has heart and charm to spare and its message couldn’t be more timely.
“In a world as divided as ours is now, nothing could be more necessary than art that reminds us that we are all so much more alike than we are di erent if we could only take the time to just for a moment imagine ourselves in our neighbors’ shoes.”ion by Hall – a singer, rapper, choreographer and YouTuber who appeared on the ninth series of American Idol.
He’s also been a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race as well as
Todrick Hall, Midnight
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
Cryptic
6. Deceptive beast, we hear (7)
Possible strength? (5)
Triumph of a singularity (3)
Italian island cereal in December (9)
Accurate precipitation is feeling good (5,2,4)
Basic worldly descent is plainly spoken (4,2,5) 17. Trick the brothers! They’re companions (9) 19. Capable tin? (3)
21. A market not to attend for fear of space (5) 22. Pub cipher? It’s stripy (7)
Down
1. An item lost in the night (5)
2. Sounds like existential buzzer (3)
3. Info needed when out with a partner? (4)
4. The late queen truly lost in Gomorrah (9)
5. City vegetable? (7)
8. Weaponise a lawyer for attacking force (6)
11. The shape of an apron made of feathers, almost (9)
13. Bent shape is addictive (6)
14. London area is almost a tunnel (7) A imal to atter, we hear (5)
18. The only cheese made in Holland? (4)
20. A cold observation by me (3)
wins, this should satisfy
Quick
Across: 6 Cheetah; 7 Might; 9 One; 10 Capricorn; 12 Right As Rain; 15 Down To Earth; 17 Confreres; 19 Can; 21 Agora; 22 Barcode.
