Wharf Life, Sept 3-17, 2025

How an Idea Store update on the Wharf is set to deliver a wide range of bene ts Page 10

inside issue 145

Sea Lanes Canary Wharf - Crosswords

Lander 23 - Cart And Horses - Sudoku

French Revolution Season - Barbarella

Bar Lina - Anton Lesser - Joseph Lyu

The Islander Festival - Crate Brewery

Intimissimi - JWD Lamian Noodles

CHRISTMAS PARTIES 2025

celebrating the best of Canary Wharf, Docklands and the new east London people - events - treasure - property - foolishness

Call our team on 020 7205 4021 or email cmiller@kiddrapinet.co.uk, ypatel@kiddrapinet.co.uk or mzvarykina@kiddrapinet.co.uk

Where? Boisdale Of Canary Wharf Cabot Place

2pm-7.30pm, £5, boisdale.co.uk

Where?

Canada Square Park Canary Wharf

FILM | Invictus (12)

Catch this ick starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, telling the story of Nelson Mandela and the 1995 Rugby World Cup as a unifying force. Sept 23, 7pm, free, canarywharf.com

Where? Montgomery Square Canary Wharf

CHANCE | Lunch Market Canary Wharf’s pop-up Thursday lunch market draws to a close as summer ends, but there’s still a whole month left to catch it. Until Sept 25, noon-2.30pm, free, canarywharf.com

Welcome to issue 145 of Wharf Life. September is always a busy time in Canary Wharf. Planning starts in earnest for festive celebrations and plenty of events kick o over the nal months of the year. Our top picks include a double bill of shows starring Anton Lesser at Wilton’s and Punchdrunk’s o er...

It’s time to get planning those festive bashes before all the good slots get taken up. Find our handy guide to venues across east and south-east London within 13

Isle Of Dogs

on the radar

need to know

It’s been a while since Canary Wharf welcomed a lingerie shop to the fold, but the hoardings never lie. Canada Place is set to host Italian brand Intimissimi, o ering underwear and nightwear for all. We’ll keep you posted on an opening date intimissimi.com

44

Punchdrunk unveils its latest show in Woolwich, a game for four people

Wood Wharf really is the place to be right now. In the unit formerly known as the short-lived but glorious Fish Game, craft beer brewery Crate is set to open a taproom and pizzeria. Famed for its Hackney Wick canalside

48

doing the deals

get more for less on and around the Wharf

3-4-2

Marugame Udon in Cabot Place is o ering three-for-two on pieces of tempura between 2pm-5pm on weekdays. Show the Canary Wharf app to redeem canarywharf.com

£49

23

Catch free events and activities at The Islander Festival in Leamouth

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In the rst of a series of articles produced in partnership with Cody Dock, we dip our toes into the pre-industrial history of the River Lea and tell tales of Vikings and monks...

Get bottomless brunch at Hovarda for less than £50 every Saturday at the oating venue. Includes shared starters, free- owing drinks and a choice of main hovarda.london

Big lumps of impossibly clear ice are cool. Even more so when the bar’s name is stamped into the top.

Visiting Bar Lina after dropping into Barbarella (see Page 12) is a welcome reminder that not everyone thinks Italian culture is about maximalism, shiny mirrors and pottery dogs.

Hidden towards the back of Lina Stores, what was once The Breakfast Club’s secret bar, has been spruced up, simpli ed and reborn.

Here is a late night hang out in a minimal burgundy hue. It’s on the walls, the seats and in the marble tops of the tables and the bar.

It’s even in the glass. Bar Lina is a full service cocktail establishment, but one mixed drink is king. Its Negronis come in four avours and where better to start than the Aztec – made with Alternative Agave Spirit, Karminia Red Vermouth and Campari?

It’s bitter (of course), but with a hint of spiced sweetness that’s beguilingly infectious, despite the chunky cube bumping up against my mouth. If only they could get rid of my chilled lip when sipping, they’d get a fth star.

Immigration

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.

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write me words you don’t know you need rivierror

noun, fake, from Latin

The glossing over of genocide in a coastal area with a highfalutin, glossy brochure designed to get people on board with a plan for reconstruction and development under the auspices of a certain superpower when the killing stops

noceur

noun, real, from French

A party animal or night owl who prefers the darker hours for work and leisure pursuits. The English rst nicked this term in the 1860s when, presumably, lots of people were staying up to celebrate. That must have been a great time...

20% OFF

JWD Lamian Noodle Bar

40 Bank Street @jwd.noodle on Instagram

After a lengthy spell in development, JWD Lamian Noodle nally opened its doors towards the end of last month on the dock edge side of 40 Bank Street. As the venue nds its feet, it’s o ering 20% o bills until September 23. Customers can expect plenty of hand-pulled noodle dishes such as Lanzhou La Mian as well as hamburger-style Roujiamo, spicy atbread Spicy Shaobing and lots of meat skewer options.

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

FUTURE PLANS

Sea Lanes

Eden Dock, Canary Wharf canarywharf.com

Canary Wharf Group (CWG) is currently seeking views on its plans to partner with Sea Lanes to deliver a 50m natural water pool oating in Eden Dock.

Set to open in June 2026 (subject to planning approval), the proposal is for an open water swimming facility open year round and sta ed by lifeguards with a constant depth of 1.3m.

Located around the corner from the main stretch of Eden Dock, the east London plans also include an extensive on-land element on vacant land to the north of Newfoundland tower.

This would include changing room and sauna facilities, a clubhouse and exible events space, a food and beverage o ering, a viewing area to watch swimmers in the pool and a base for the hire of paddle boards and kayaks. Under the current proposal Sea Lanes would be open from 6am-11pm during peak summer dates with reduced hours at other times of the year.

Ross Gilbert, director at Sea Lanes said: “We are excited to be partnering with CWG on proposals for a new National Open Water Swimming Centre in the heart of Canary Wharf, building on the fantastic work already accomplished in the neighbourhood to open up Eden Dock for everyone to enjoy.

“Our vision is to bring people and nature closer together by o ering a fully accessible oating freshwater pool, lifeguarded and

open year-round, supported by a hub of health, wellbeing and food and beverage businesses.”

Sea Lanes is known for operating the UK’s rst National Open Water Swimming Centre in Brighton.

CWG CEO, Shobi Khan, said: “Almost one year on from the opening of Eden Dock, we’re making another bold step forward in the enhancement of our green and blue spaces at Canary Wharf.

“Sea Lanes Canary Wharf will build on the success of Eden Dock as a unique wellness destination, where access to nature, leisure and world-class amenities are seamlessly integrated.”

CWG associate director arts and events, Pippa Dale, added: We’re excited to enter the public consultation stage of Sea Lanes Canary Wharf. Natural water swimming o ers proven bene ts for both physical and mental wellbeing – from improved circulation and stress reduction to enhanced mood and resilience.

“By creating this dedicated swimming destination, we’re bringing these transformative health bene ts directly to our community of residents, workers and visitors.”

key details

Those wishing to respond to the Sea Lanes Canary Wharf proposal must do so by September 12 via the link below.

Go to canarywharf.com

Scan this code to nd out more and respond to CWG’s survey

how the arrival of Supershakes at Harbord Square in Wood Wharf is set to deliver health and convenience

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It was while I was doing my MBA I had the idea,” said Daniel Bull, founder of Supershakes. “I’d come in every morning with a Nutribullet, sit in lectures and eat it with a spoon because sometimes the mixture I’d made was so thick.

“People would laugh, but I’d sit there, gradually making my way through it and the energy and focus I’d have all day was amazing. On the days I didn’t do it, I’d feel the difference. That shake had a similar effect for me as going to the gym – you could have it for breakfast or lunch. It was like a meal – if you laid all the ingredients out on a plate you might not get through them, especially if you were busy. But having them blended was so convenient.

“That’s when I realised the goal of my business should be to make something quick and easy that people could have on the move and that would be very healthy.”

The result of that spark is Daniel’s latest business – Supershakes, set to open its doors at 8 Harbord Square in Wood Wharf this autumn.

While the business’ clear focus will be on nutritious shakes and grab-and-go options, there will also be space for guests to sit and enjoy coffee and snacks from a carefully curated menu.

Daniel said: “Everything has been thought through. This brand is something I’m really passionate about and I think there’s a gap in the market.

“At the core of what we do will be the shakes with all the healthy fats, proteins and whole foods you need. These will be made to order and customers can customise them with add-ons such as collagen, creatine – everything’s available.

“At the moment, I feel the UK is behind what’s happening in other countries. I try to go to California every year and visit all the juice bars there and see what’s happening.

“Over there, getting a juice or a shake is now like picking up a coffee. Supershakes is something I’ve been working on for five continued on Page 8

Years Daniel Bull has been working on Supershakes as a concept with the Canary Wharf branch set to open this autumn

into the

Supershakes will serve freshly made shakes, cold pressed juices acai bowls, co ee and more from its 8 Harbord Square unit

from Page 6

years now – it’s not something I’ve come up with overnight.

“People in London are cash-rich but time-poor. They don’t necessarily have the time to prepare shakes for themselves. What we’re offering is something quick and healthy as an option when you’re rushing into work or trying to get the kids off to school. When you look at what you’re getting in a shake it’s affordable too.

“It’s less than a cocktail in a bar – we’ve kept our prices very competitive.”

Daniel has four Supershakes locations set to open in the coming months, including the Canary Wharf branch with others located in Royal Docks, in the English National Ballet’s headquarters at London City Island and one on the Isle Of Dogs. The latter will be next to The Eleventh Hour, a café he launched in 2023 on the ground floor of residential development Wardian.

“My go-to shake is called Power, which is great for the morning because it has everything you need,” said Daniel. “But there’s lots of flexibility – you can even have coffee in them. We have one on the menu that includes espresso so people can double up if they’re in a rush.

“We’ve even got one that we’ve designed especially for the English National Ballet, working with their dietician to help fuel the dancers and that’s really cool.

“The shakes will be made fresh, while the juices will be ready to grab in the fridge. One of our selling points is that customers can be in and out in five minutes. We want there to be no long queues so people can make us part of their way-to-work routine.

“One of the other things we’ll be stocking is our signature acai bowls. They feature home-made granola, created by the pastry chef who also makes our cookies, and we’ve made sure these are packed with the best ingredients.

“That’s more important to us than making big profit margins. That’s what I believe in and I’m going to be eating in there every day myself. We’ll be open until 8pm every night, so customers can come for breakfast, lunch and perhaps after an evening gym session.

“I’ve lived in Canary Wharf for four and a half years, so I’ve seen Wood Wharf grow and develop.

“I’ve had my eye on it for a while because, knowing what’s going to be here, I believe this will be a new hub for the area. There’s a lot for people to discover.”

Supershakes will join a growing collection of independent businesses opening as part of a collaboration between Canary

Branches of Supershakes are set to open in locations across east London

Supershakes founder Daniel Bull relaxes in Wood Wharf’s Union Square

I’ve lived in Canary Wharf for four and a half years so I’ve seen Wood Wharf grow and develop. There’s a lot for people to discover

Wharf Group and Tower Hamlets Council to offer affordable commercial space to locally rooted ventures. Recent openings have included Pawsome Pet Grooming And Spa, florist The Flower Club, Wayne Hairdresser Salon, nail specialist Awe London, Reformer Pilates studio The Island and Italian bakery Signorelli.

Opening soon will be Japanese bakery Café Seek, Malaysian restaurant Ong Lai Kopitaim and Istanbul-inspired eatery Nora.

key details

Supershakes is set to open its doors at 8 Harbord Square in October.

Follow @supershakes on Instagram for updates

Scan this code for more about Supershakes

opening The Lockdown Room as residents and visitors arrive

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Daniel is also preparing to open a another business in Wood Wharf in November – a second branch of The Lockdown Room, born out of the pandemic in 2021 at London City Island. Set to launch on the corner of West Lane and Brannan Street, the corner bar aims to become a new space for the community.

“It will have London craft beers on tap, a really good cocktail menu, organic wines and our signature smash burgers – a menu we launched at the original site about nine months ago,” said Daniel. “But we’ll also be doing salads because it’s important to o er healthy options.

“We don’t want to be seen as just a craft beer joint that serves dirty burgers. We’ll also be o ering fantastic sharing platters – it will be a casual place where you can go for a drink and a bite to eat with a group of friends.

“There will also be regular live music and we’ve always been big on events – bringing the community into what we’re doing is very important and we’d love to bring things like our craft beer festival to the neighbourhood.

“We’ve really taken what we have done at London City Island up to the next level for the new site. It will have a premium feel to it – very warm, with high-end nishes and bespoke seating. But it should still feel welcoming to the community.”

Daniel said he hoped the brand would strike a chord with residents, workers on the neighbourhood and visitors to the area alike.

“We’re hoping to o er something di erent to the hustle and bustle,” he said. “I think people will travel to you if you have a good product and then, once they’ve been down, hopefully they’ll be impressed and come back as regulars.

“What we want to create is the kind of bar where the bartender knows your drink and it’s possible to nd a quiet corner or chat with

familiar faces. We’ll also be opposite the student housing, which has now been approved so that should add a di erent dynamic to things too.

“The idea is that The Lockdown Room should be somewhere you just want to go at the weekend or in the evenings – that’s the goal.”

While the weather is likely to be cooler when the venue opens, Daniel also plans to have outdoor tables over the warmer months, further adding to the Wood Wharf street scene.

key details

The Lockdown Room is expected to open in November at the corner of Brannan Street and West Lane in Wood Wharf. Go to thelockdownroom.com for more information

Scan this code for more about The Lockdown Room

10,158

People attended Story Time sessions for under 5s at Idea Store Canary Wharf over the past year

Idea Store Canary Wharf is currently closed for a major refurbishment

how Idea Store Canary Wharf is getting a new lease of life via a major scheme of refurbishments

by Jon Massey

Along,long time ago, I used to work as a senior coordinator for a nursery school, so this brought back memories,” said Cllr Maium Talukdar. Tower Hamlets Council’s deputy mayor and cabinet member for education, youth and lifelong learning, recently attended morning Story Time at a temporary pop-up children’s library at Idea Store Canary Wharf.

His visit, aside from lending a pretty decent impression of a bear to proceedings, was aimed at drawing attention to works currently underway to improve the facility.

Canary Wharf Group is spending £1.2million on its refurbishment with a further £250,000 contributed towards the project from the council.

“We’re grateful to Canary Wharf Group – it’s not just us doing this, it’s a partnership – and I’m hoping this will be a very popular facility,” said Cllr Talukdar. “Lots of families and children will use it and it will make a huge difference to the area.

“I think what’s here is changing – 10 or 15 years ago, Canary Wharf was very different, but I think different communities are coming in now and getting involved. They are using the shopping centres and this Idea Store. Lots of people are benefiting from that.

“When this refurbishment is complete, I think this facility will be one of the best in Tower Hamlets – it will have everything. This place is for everybody – all ages – and we hope as many people as possible will come and use it.”

The refurbishment is being undertaken by contractor Built. The firm’s commercial lead, Thomas Howe, said: “It’s a full mechanical and electrical upgrade. There will be new flooring, new wall configurations, a fresh set of ceilings and it will be a much more user-friendly space.

“We’re increasing the floorspace and installing new joinery that’s more space efficient. We’re still awaiting the final layout, but

getting an

Idea Store Canary Wharf and enjoys a regular free Story Time session for under 5s, above

We’re grateful to Canary Wharf Group – it’s not just us doing this, it’s a partnership – and I’m hoping this will be a very popular facility

Cllr Maium Talukdar, Tower Hamlets

increasing the ceiling height is a big thing for us. We’ll have fresh sets of data cabling, with new technology and computers for people to use.

“It’s really important to maximise the space for the kids here so they are able to enjoy stories and bang drums in a nice new environment.”

The fit-out will include new heating, cooling, ventilation and lighting, with completion expected before the end of the year.

A spokesperson for Canary Wharf Group said: “Our involvement in the refurbishment of Idea Store Canary Wharf represents our ongoing dedication to creating an inclusive neighbourhood where learning opportunities are made accessible for all.

“We’re proud to support a facility that combines traditional library services with lifelong learning opportunities in the heart of the Wharf.”

Story Time sessions are already popular on the Wharf, attracting some 10,158 visitors over the past year. In August alone, 188 people attended Story Time Up On The Roof at Crossrail Place Roof Garden.

Idea Stores are for Tower Hamlets residents of all ages offering a wide range of services including adult learning courses, activities and events. Full details of these can be found online.

key details

Idea Store Canary Wharf is currently closed for refurbishment with a limited pop-up library operating next door to the site. Services currently being offered include Story Time for under 5s, which runs from 10.30am-11am, Monday-Saturday. Sessions are free to attend.

The refurbishments works are expected to be completed before the end of the year.

Go to ideastore.co.uk for more information and updates on the refurbishment

Scan this code to nd out more about Idea Store Canary Wharf

why Big Mamma Group’s Barbarella is playing a worrying game if its Thursday special of arid pizza is anything to go by

by Jon Massey

At a glance, Barbarella is a lot of fun. Big Mamma Group, the company behind the chain that recently opened its latest branch in Canary Wharf knows the power of design. Its venues across Europe all have di erent names and aesthetics and, while there’s variance in the menus, there’s also overlap.

It’s smart. Rather than rely on a brand like The Ivy, Strada or Prezzo – good examples, perhaps, of where chains have created the perception of quality watered down as they’ve rolled out – the mission here is to bedazzle with baubles while Big Mamma presumably sits in her parlour, a shadowy gure below stairs counting the pennies.

Walk into the Canary Wharf restaurant, festooned with plants and pots outside and you’ll be greeted by a visual onslaught. There are glossy pottery dogs, a swirly carpet that may have been deliberately mis- tted to confuse the eye, warmly glowing chandeliers and upstairs, where we’re shown to a table, a mirrored ceiling and vintage shots of models ashing their buttocks for Italian fashion brand Fiorucci.

There’s a lot of PVC on show, complete with out ts framed to accentuate the high-legged thongbacks of the garments. Oddly, the mildly risqué is o set by an interior lled with soft furnishings that wouldn’t look out of place in a ne dining room. There’s linen on some tables and thick heavy curtains to deaden the acoustic, softening every sound.

Further o setting comes with the decision to have chefs in the open kitchen wear red baseball caps – a jarring dash of MAGA against the more re ned performance from the front of house sta .

We haven’t booked and the gatekeeper on the door puts in a decent dramatic performance of straining to t us in – “but just so you know, we need the table back in 90 minutes”. Nothing says relaxed Italian dining like a ticking clock.

We’re led upstairs to the luxe hall of mirrors, which is completely empty. It’s no real surprise. It’s 5pm and the place does ll up as time ticks on.

Initially things start well. The service is pleasant and relaxed,

per

for

pizza

Left, the restaurant’s rst oor dining room and below, creamy cheese, ravioli and veal croquettes

room for

although the demi-armchairs we sit in are challenging to shu e closer or further away from the table without awkwardly grabbing them from below and bracing with all one’s might.

Our starters arrive – Crocchette Di Vitello Tonnato, little deep-fried balls of pulled veal with capers (£15) and Smoky Stracciatella, the creamy heart of burrata served in a bowl with a leaf of basil and herby oil (£9). Both are surprisingly generous but decent on the tongue. The ve bites of veal feel substantial and the fact one has fallen over and lost its caper does nothing to lessen the rich, meaty avour.

The cheese is equally decadent, a lake of gooey loveliness with a dominant hit of smoke in the mouth. A good start.

However, things go downhill with the mains. Initially, my Raviolone Bicolore – green and yellow pasta lled with ricotta and spinach in a provola sauce and topped with sage and hazelnuts (£21) – is solid enough. There’s a creaminess to it with a

hint of lemon and plenty of crunch from the fried herbs and nuts. But as things roll on, the dish sags, the llings a tad watery and uninteresting.

This challenge is nothing, however. compared to the task my companion is faced with. Her Carpaccio Diem “pizza” (£22) comes as a toasted, crispy base topped with a load of beef carpaccio, fresh black tru e, rocket and shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano.

Despite a few dollops of tru e aioli, the slice she shared with me was arid – essentially an undressed salad on a dry atbread with the only moisture on o er coming from the thinly sliced meat.

My companion, whose family hail from Naples, was frankly appalled. Despite the obvious quality of the ingredients Thursday’s child on Barbarella’s Weekly Pizza menu was indeed full of woe, even if the box we were given to take it home in did have Pavarotti on it with a claim to be specialists in twerking.

Not the kind to waste decent carpaccio, we scraped o the

topping and turned it into a salad the following day, complete with dressing.

Which brings me to the nal verdict. Barbarella is unquestionably fun and for £62.88 per head including wine and tip, it sits its guests in the kind of luxury they might expect when paying twice that. It feels special and was de nitely drawing the date night crowd when we visited. It has good views over the verdant Eden Dock and there’s enough silliness to charm, even if it does feel a little forced.

But buyer beware. While there’s decent cooking on o er here pick your dishes carefully.

The one thing an Italian chain can’t get away with is poor food and there’s room for improvement if that pizza is any indication of overall quality.

★★★✩✩

key details

Barbarella is located on Mackenzie Walk overlooking Eden Dock in Canary Wharf on the lower ground oor of the YY London building (easily identi able by the Revolut sign at the top of it). The restaurant is open daily from noon-10pm. Go to bigmammagroup.com for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about the restaurant

how The Gun is gearing up for a cosy festive season beside the river as it unveils its Christmas offerings

by Jon Massey

Christmas is about cosiness and where better to find a snug retreat than at The Gun. Dating back to the early 18th century, the pub has been offering warmth and riverside refuge to east Londoners, local workers and visitors to the area for hundreds of years.

It stands proudly on the edge of the Thames offering open fires, views across the water to Greenwich Peninsula and a wealth of options for those looking to celebrate. The festive season is around two months away, with dates already being snapped up by companies and private parties, so we’ve put this showcase together to spotlight this historic venue’s offerings for 2025.

for festive dining...

This year The Gun is offering a three-course menu for £65. Starters include Whipped Chicken Liver Parfait, King Prawn Cocktail and Beetroot And Apple Tartare, with classic mains such as Usk Vale Turkey Breast (plus all the trimmings), Venison Loin and Wild Mushroom Polenta for mains.

Desserts to follow include Dark Chocolate Delice, Poached Plum Pavlova and, of course, Sticky Toffee Christmas Pudding. Diners will also enjoy Chocolate Truffles to finish, with add-ons available over the course of the meal such as English sparkling wine for £10, a cheeseboard and extra servings of Pigs In Blankets, Roast Potatoes and Cave-Aged Cauliflower Cheese for £6 each.

indoor spaces

The Gun’s historic rooms have welcomed countless guests over the years including former local Lord Nelson who would pop down from his Manchester Road address for secret assignations with Lady Emma Hamilton upstairs at the pub.

Today, the first floor River Room offers commanding views towards The O2 and can be booked for up to 16 guests seated around a large, central oak table.

Downstairs the pub offers a range of flexible spaces, namely The Dining Room, The Cabin Room, The Red Room and the Riverside Conservatory. Respectively these can take up

£65

to 70, 22, 20 and 40 guests seated, with various configurations available.

the jewel in the crown

Beyond the indoor options is a fully covered and heated garden space that will combine festive decorations with views over the water this Christmas.

The space is ideal for larger parties and can accommodate up to 190 people. Updates for 2025 include new wooden seating pods and furnishings, lending the space something of an aprés ski feel.

they say

The Gun’s general manager, Danny Daws, said: “Our covered and heated garden is a real selling point for parties. Our offering remains about quality, service and personality – these are the cornerstones of what we do.”

anything else?

Goodness yes. In addition to its festive season offering, The Gun is also open on Christmas Day, with a special menu for £130. Guests can expect the likes of Cured Salmon, Venison Pate En Croute and Hand Picked Devon Crab with Usk Valley Turkey Breast, Cured And Torched Monkfish or Grassroots Beef Wellington to follow.

Desserts include Chocolate Mousse, Vanilla Poached Pear and Honeycake. The price includes a glass of English sparkling wine, canapés, truffles and a mince pie.

and nally...

The Gun is also available for exclusive hire and larger corporate bookings. Please contact the events team by emailing gun.docklands-events@fullers.co.uk for more information.

key details

The Gun in Coldharbour is taking festive bookings from November 17, right through until January 4. Reservations are available Monday-Saturday including Christmas Day at the riverside pub. Go to thegundocklands.com more information and bookings or call the team on 020 7519 0075 to secure a spot

Scan this code to nd out more about The Gun at Christmas

pairing

with personality

how

it’s a case of right place, right time at The Fox Excel for Xmas 2025 as dates are booking fast

by Jon Massey

Christmas Is Closer Than You Think” is the tagline for The Fox Excel’s 2025 seasonal campaign and with good reason. The message is both a call to action on timing and a reminder of what’s on o er within easy reach of east London businesses at the Royal Docks venue.

The warehouse bar and restaurant is located in an historic building right next to exhibition and conference centre Excel London – beneting from the same rapid transport connections across the capital.

The Fox is a versatile space that can accommodate up to 800 guests standing or 300 seated in total and also boasts several distinct spaces that can be hired for smaller parties between 20 and 100. There’s even a sizeable terrace where guests can sup mulled wine as the weather gets chillier.

For 2025, its Christmas o ering is built around two core menus, both available from November 18 until Christmas Eve.

The Festive Finger Bu et costs £27.95 per person and includes the likes of Mini Turkey And Cranberry Sliders, Pigs In Blankets, Tempura Prawns and Jackfruit Wings.

The Fox’s Christmas Set Menu costs £24.95 for two courses or £29.95 for three and features starters of Smoked Salmon and Roasted Red Pepper And Tomato Soup followed by mains of Roast Turkey, Rump Steak and Butternut Squash and Lentil Wellington. Desserts include Traditional Christmas Pudding and Lemon Cheesecake.

The venue itself, housed in a warehouse building that dates from the 1850s, is versatile and able to accommodate small, medium and large celebrations. Facilities include the option to have a fully-equipped stage

>> a little extra

Get a little reward for being ahead of the curve with The Fox’s festive Advent Calendar, now available on the venue’s website with surprise o ers and festive perks up for grabs – think welcome zz and bonus menu upgrades...

The Fox o ers set menus and nger food options

and AV set-up for bigger events plus pop-up bars and even late-night DJs.

With only a little over two months until the start of party season, December dates are already getting booked up –party planners are advised to act sooner rather than later.

Those planning parties can email the team direct via events@foxexcel.co.uk.

key details

The Fox Excel is located in Royal Docks, a few minutes’ walk from Custom House station for DLR and Elizabeth Line services.

The latter places the venue just three minutes from Canary Wharf by public transport and o ers rapid connections across London.

Go to foxexcel.co.uk for more details or call 020 7473 2288

Scan this code to nd out more about The Fox Excel’s o erings

Cool and chic, nd out what Feels Like June has to o er party planners in Canary Wharf this Christmas - Page 18

at Christmas Celebrate

Exclusive hire of the venue

Dinner and show every night

Standing capacity for Feels Like June, making it ideal for larger corporate gatherings

how Feels Like June in Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf is ideal for everything from team catch-ups to large corporate gatherings, with inspirational menus and party packages

by Jon Massey

where are these wonderful things?

This is Feels Like June, located on Water Street in Wood Wharf. The venue recently launched its 2025 Christmas o ering.

tell me more...

The venue is on the ground oor of Tribe London Canary Wharf and can accommodate up to 220 people standing or 150 seated. It also boasts a heated outdoor terrace that can seat 100 or t 150 standing.

sounds like a place for a party...

Feels Like June is a great place for a standing reception and has put together a menu of canapés aimed at making event planners’ lives easier.

For 2025, bites include the likes of Mini Cheeseburgers, Duck Croquettes and Spiced Chickpea Falafel Bonbon. There are also sweet treats such as Williams Pear Crumble and Mini Lemon Meringue Tart.

Six items cost £34 per person, while eight cost £42, with £6 for any additional items.

how about something more formal?

To cater for festive diners, the venue has created two three-course set menus for guests to indulge in.

Festive Feast costs £45 per person and includes starters of Turkey Croquettes or Heritage Beetroot, mains of Pumpkin And Sage Ravioli or Slow Roasted Turkey Breast with desserts of Homemade Nutmeg Tart or Dark Chocolate Mousse to round things o .

There’s also the Winter Luxe menu for £60 per person, which features the likes of Blue n Tuna Tartare or Avocado Fondant to start, Portobello Mushroom Wellington or Wild Seabass for mains and Williams Pear Crumble for dessert.

but there’s more than just food?

Of course. A full range of wine, beers, ciders and spirits are available from Feels Like June’s expert bartenders. Bespoke cocktails and mulled wine will also be on o er. The events team is happy to arrange drinks packages to t clients’ requirements.

can FLJ help with my event too? Naturally. The team works with a

range of partners to assist organisers in staging next level parties. Options for gatherings include –but are certainly not limited to – DJs, cocktail masterclasses, live musicians, photobooths, fashion portraits and digital printing.

how can I nd out more? Those making general reservations should get in touch via email to hello@feelslikejune.co.uk. For larger corporate bookings, message sales.canarywharf@mytribehotel.com.

key details

Feels Like June is within easy walking distance of Canary Wharf’s Jubilee, Elizabeth Line and DLR stations. Its festive menus will be available from November 17 until December 26. Go to feelslikejune.co.uk for more information or to make a christmas booking

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ROLL UP! ROLL UP!

THIS DECEMBER, EXPERIENCE AN INDOOR FUNFAIR AT MAGAZINE LONDON, JUST 5 MINUTES FROM CANARY WHARF, WHERE VIBRANT CARNIVAL ENERGY MEETS ELEGANT RIVERSIDE DINING. SIP COCKTAILS AT THE THEMED CAROUSEL BAR, REVEL IN CLASSIC FAIRGROUND ATTRACTIONS WITH A MODERN TWIST, AND ENJOY A TWO-COURSE BANQUET WITH STUNNING VIEWS OF THE THAMES AND THE CITY. JOIN US THIS CHRISTMAS FOR A NIGHT OF THRILLS, LAUGHTER, AND EXCITEMENT!

SHARED PARTY DATES: PACKAGES JUST £120 + VAT PER PERSON.

YOUR TICKET INCLUDES:

•PANORAMIC THAMES VIEWS

•SPECTACULAR INDOOR FUNFAIR

•SENSATIONAL TWO-COURSE DINNER

•INTERACTIVE DESSERT STATION

•LIGHTSHOW, DANCE FLOOR AND DJ

Maximum capacity of Boisdale Of Canary Wharf for a standing reception. It can accommodate 250 seated

showcasing the

The main dining room can be con gured in multiple ways for events

how Boisdale Of Canary Wharf is bringing food, drink and music together for a packed festive season

by Jon Massey

Where better than Boisdale Of Canary Wharf to soak up festive cheer and celebrate with friends and colleagues this Christmas? The bar, restaurant and music venue boasts a wealth of exible spaces designed to handle parties of between 12 and 500, depending on need.

The 2025 o ering sees dates in December packed with Festive Lunch shows from Stephen Tri tt or Frank Cognoscenti singing the songs of Frank Sinatra. There are also plenty of Festive Dinners where Ol Blue Eyes will be joined by Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr as The De nitive Rat Pack returns to the Wharf for a seasonal blast.

The venue has four private dining rooms featuring paintings by Scottish artist Jack Vettriano, images by Paul Gauguin, a tribute to Johnnie Walker Blue Label and rare press photographs from the 1960s and 70s.

It’s a re ection of Boisdale as a whole, which brings together Scottish tradition, British ingredients, jazz, soul, swing, cigars and whisky in a glorious cocktail for the senses.

The restaurant’s chefs have been busy, creating three set menus for festive dining.

The rst includes three courses for £64.50 and boasts starters such as Duck Liver And Armagnac Parfait or CiderBaked Beetroots with Wiltshire Goats Cheese followed by mains of Norfolk Bronze Turkey

Wrapped In Parma Ham or Smoked Haddock, Seatrout And Prawn Fishcake. This is topped o with Black Cherry And Amaretto Christmas Pudding or Hazlenut And Praline Baked Cheesecake.

Menu two introduces the likes of steak and venison into the mix for £74.50 per head while the Christmas Signature Menu costs £110 and includes a Roast Dry Aged Chateaubriand for the table to share.

Boisdale has long been a specialist in large-scale parties, regularly hosting extensive events across its two oors, terrace and cigar lounge.

The venue is able to o er full event management as well as bespoke live entertainment for up to 250 people seated or 500 standing.

Those seeking more information can send an email to events@boisdale- cw.co.uk or call 020 7715 5818. Private dining spaces can be booked online.

key details

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf is located above Cabot Place with views over Cabot Square from its terrace and upper oor.

The venue is a short walk from all three of Canary Wharf’s stations, connecting it to the wider east London area and beyond. It also bene ts from a late licence allowing organisers maximum exibility. For more information go to boisdale.co.uk

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is one of the largest venues in Canary Wharf

Maximum capacity for a standing reception at London Museum Docklands when combining two of the venue’s larger spaces

by Jon Massey

There’s the opportunity to visit the galleries after hours, specially curated party packages and space for up to 900 guests. London Museum Docklands has unveiled its Light Up The Night festive o ering for 2025. Located in a Grade I listed warehouse on West India Quay, the venue is a space like no other.

Formerly used to protect and shelter imported sugar, today the building showcases and celebrates London’s maritime history. In addition to its role in preserving the past and educating visitors about this remarkable aspect of the capital’s story, by night the fairy lights go on and the place transforms into an events venue.

a place to host

Partnering with caterer Bovingdons, the museum has created a range of specially curated packages designed to suit a wide range of celebrations – from more informal receptions to sit-down dinners.

Guests can be welcomed with drinks, including Prosecco and winter cocktails, as they enjoy the opportunity to tour the venue’s galleries after hours.

a trio of spaces

London Museum Docklands has three exible spaces for events organisers to consider:

● The Wilberforce Room o ers the rustic charm of a 19th century warehouse with exposed brick walls and has capacity of up to 350 for a standing reception and 240 for a dinner.

● The Riverside Room features its own private entrance and terrace, accommodating up to 300 guests reception-style and 200 for a dinner.

● For larger receptions, the Muscovado Hall can host up to 700 guests – or 900 when combined with the Riverside Room – and o ers views over the water to Canary Wharf.

how London Museum Docklands is all set to welcome festive events in its Grade I listed dockside warehouse

Celebrate surrounded by history after hours in a riverside museum

party packages

Two options are available – the Standard Festive Package and the Luxury Festive Package, which features unlimited drinks, upgraded menus, and a four-hour DJ set. All packages include LED uplighting, stylish furniture and a cloakroom service.

Bespoke upgrades such as themed actors, historical talks, tours and table curiosities (objects from the museum’s collection) are also available.

Prices start from £107 per person for drinks receptions, £137pp for food stations and £293pp for dinners. All prices quoted exclude VAT.

they say

“Whether you’re hosting an intimate gathering or a full-scale corporate celebration, London Museum Docklands delivers a festive experience that leaves a lasting impression.”

nd out more

To enquire about booking a Christmas party at the London Museum Docklands, contact the team via venuehire@museumo ondon.org.uk or call 020 7814 5789 to discuss the options and secure a date.

key details

London Museum Docklands is located in Hertsmere Road on West India Quay. The closest public transport is West India Quay DLR station, although the venue is also within easy walking distance of Canary Wharf’s stops.

Go to museumo ondon.org.uk f or more information or to arrange a festive booking

Scan this code to nd out more about events at London Museum Docklands

Read all about it: Magazine’s Christmas parties are returning to Greenwich Peninsula - Page 32

SCAN THIS CODE TO MAKE A BOOKING

NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR CHRISTMAS

Nestled on the banks of the Thames, The Gun offers a rich blend of historic charm and modern comfort, making it the perfect venue for any Christmas event big or small. Our beautiful spaces include private dining rooms for intimate celebrations, riverside views and – new for this season – a stunning, heated garden marquee with its own pizza oven Book now to avoid missing out

Ex VAT price per head for Urban Funfair’s shared parties, available to groups of eight or more this December

The Urban Funfair Christmas Party is available both as a shared experience for smaller organisations or for exclusive hire on Greenwich Peninsula

welcoming the

how

the

Urban Funfair Christmas

what is it?

by Jon Massey

Sat across the Thames from Canary Wharf, events venue

Magazine London o ers organisers the opportunity to host festive celebrations at scale. Able to accommodate up to 2,000 guests for a standing reception, the purpose-built facility o ers dramatic views of the river and the London skyline and a wide range of options for businesses and organisations of all sizes.

what’s on in 2025?

Events specialist Smart Parties will be hosting the Urban Funfair Christmas Party at Magazine London this December – available as both a shared experience on selected dates or for exclusive hire, with only a limited number of slots remaining.

Party is ideal for businesses of all sizes in 2025

The venue has been reimagined as an indoor funfair complete with vibrant carnival decorations, a central carousel bar, dodgems, entertainment and a stunning dining space overlooking the Thames and the Wharf.

where is it?

Magazine London is a few minutes’ walk from North Greenwich Tube station on Greenwich Peninsula, placing it one stop from Canary Wharf and about 10 minutes from London Bridge and Stratford.

tell me about these shared parties

Taking place on December 6 and 17, the events are ideal for groups of eight or more who want to soak up the festive atmosphere with others. The doors open at 6.30pm to a drinks and canape reception

with dinner at 8pm. Then there are fairground rides and a DJ with a full disco from 10pm until midnight.

Tickets include a two-course seated banquet crafted by catering partner Moving Venue and dessert and co ee stations to follow. Drinks ow throughout the night with ne wines, Champagne and chilled beers available to purchase. Tickets start at £120 plus VAT.

what about exclusive hire?

For companies and organisations seeking something bespoke, the Urban Funfair is available for exclusive hire. Options include tailored menus from Moving Venue and total exibility on entertainment and theme backed up by cutting edge sound and lighting facilities.

Only a limited number of exclusive hire slots remain in December and early enquiries are advised.

why choose Smart Parties?

Smart Parties are part of the award-winning Smart Group, experts in curating unforgettable events. With decades of experience, their team combines innovative catering, spectacular venues, and seamless planning to deliver Christmas parties that guests talk about long after the last song.

key details

Bookings for shared parties and exclusive hire can be made online or by calling the team on 020 7836 1033 for more details

Go to smartparties.co.uk

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Enjoy Wintermas with purple velvet and black canals at Phantom Peak this festive season - Page 34

The venue boasts an extensive selection of wines, beers and spirits

CHRISTMAS EVENTS & PRIVATE HIRE

A Proper Docklands Christmas

With summer behind us and the inbox refilling fast, it’s time to get festive plans locked in. The Fox Excel offers flexible spaces, great food, proper drinks, and a team that knows how to throw a party, whether it’s a full takeover or something more low-key.

Located in the heart of the Royal Docks, just minutes from Canary Wharf and the Excel Centre, it’s the easiest decision you’ll make this side of Christmas.

Private rooms to full venue takeovers

Festive menus, DJs, drinks & more

Unique warehouse setting with real warmth

Easy access via DLR & Elizabeth Line

SEPTEMBER OFFER

Receive a complimentary cocktail reception when you book a Christmas event before the 30th of September

how Phantom Peak has unveiled its latest Wintermas season, ideal for festive bashes

by Jon Massey

The festive demigod is back. Open-world immersive experience

Phantom Peak – a complete mountain town contained within a warehouse and its grounds at Canada Water – is all set for the return of Father Platmas as it launches its latest Wintermas season.

If you truly want to treat the team to a festive celebration with a difference, then this multiple award-winning show is the solution. Now in its third year, the installation and its townsfolk have welcomed tens of thousands of visitors – keeping things fresh with new storylines and sets unveiled each quarter, always staying true to the glory of town founder Jonas and celebrated town mascot the platypus.

For Wintermas – opening November 20 – the plot is simple. Father Platmas is on his way, but will he be welcomed with open

arms or has the all-powerful town administration company Jonaco finally come up with a scheme to capture our hero?

As the press release says: “Who cares? It’s not like it’s just a guy in a purple suit and a fake beard or anything. Make sure to visit them in his festive Wintermas grotto and take a spin of his wheel to win death prizes.”

And that’s Phantom Peak summed up. Anarchic, chaotic, creative, intriguing, mysterious and deeply, deeply silly.

Each visit begins with a theatrical opening in the old town square, before guests begin their four-hour adventure.

Visitors can then follow trails, uncover mysteries or simply enjoy the atmosphere while chewing the fat with the townsfolk who are all (well, mostly) happy to welcome tourists.

New for Wintermas 2025 is an expanded Thirsty Frontier Saloon, fully stocked with festive drinks such as egg nog, mulled wine, beers and cocktails. Grab a drink, enjoy the opening ceremony and

then embark on an expedition of exploration.

Visitors can expect a wide range of environments to discover with a western feel as well as an outdoor space with winding canals, a lake, a waterfall and a giant platypus named Phyllis.

Food and drinks are available throughout the shows. There are at least 10 trails to explore including plenty of scheming, murder and love, ensuring even repeat visits yield new secrets and surprises.

Early booking is advised, with standard tickets in November currently priced from £30. Those attending in groups can do so simply by booking into the same performance.

However, Phantom Peak also offers multiple options for party planners, with a range of hospitality spaces available to hire. The venue ca arrange food and drinks packages for guests in private spaces woven into the structure of the wider set as well.

Companies can also arrange exclusive hire of the whole venue

Phantom Peak’s bar will be serving up festive cocktails, egg nog and mulled wine for Wintermas

by arrangement, which can be used for presentations, parties and team building.

This might take the form of an entirely private show with staff able to explore Phantom Peak’s stories at their leisure.

key details

Phantom Peak is located a short walk from Canada Water station, one stop from Canary Wharf.

Its Wintermas season begins on November 20 with shows running on various dates until December 23 and then from December 26 until January 18.

To arrange group bookings or exclusive hire, you can email enquiries to the venue via contact@phantompeak.com. Go to phantompeak.com for more information or to make a booking

Scan this code to nd out more about Phantom Peak

Minutes of Squid Game-inspired challenges for players to take on at the Royal Docks attraction

how Squid Game: The Experience is ideal for seasonal celebrations with plenty of thrills and skills

by Jon Massey

Inspired by Net ix’s Korean smash hit, Squid Game: The Experience has landed in east London, fresh from its successes in New York, Sydney, Seoul and Madrid.

what happens?

Players are challenged to take on a series of games themed around the now iconic TV show. Participants will take on Red Light, Green Light, under the watchful eye of the giant Young-Hee doll.

They’ll also enter the Marbles Room to tackle a test of skill, strategy and precision, challenge their recall on the Memory Steps and compete in a battle of strength in Rope Game.

safety rst

While there’s plenty of adrenaline and tension on o er, Squid Game: The Experience o ers players the chance to show o their abilities without the life-or-death stakes shown on screen.

Instead the goal is to survive each challenge for a day of nail-biting wins, narrow defeats and plenty of camaraderie.

great for groups

The experience is ideal for groups and can accommodate parties of any size from 20 to 200. The games naturally lend themselves to team building,

with collaboration and competition under pressure at their core. Alternatively, it’s a place to blow o some steam and relax over the festive period.

more than the games Groups booked in are welcomed to the Koreanthemed Night Market before taking on the various challenges.

Here they will nd dedicated areas in which to regroup, plan and celebrate alongside food, cocktails and other refreshing beverages.

While the games last an hour, groups are free to remain in the Night Market to wind down after completing the contests.

Naturally Squid Game merchandise is also available for teams who’d like to purchase souvenirs.

key details

Squid Game: The Experience runs until January at Immerse LDN at Excel London in Royal Docks. Individual tickets start at £26 excluding booking fee. Groups of 20 or more should get in touch with the organiser via the online form on the experience’s website. For more information go to squidgameexperienceuk.com

Scan this code to nd out more about Squid Game The Experience

Winning and losing their marbles...

Squid Game: The Experience is located at Excel’s Immerse LDN, one stop from Canary Wharf at Custom House

Can you avoid the doll’s deadly gaze? step into the

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

BOOK YOUR at London Museum Docklands –a stunning Grade I listed warehouse on West India Quay, where history meets holiday magic

Host up to 1,500 guests for a sparkling reception or 240 for a festive sit-down dinner. All-inclusive packages from just £107+VAT pp (minimum numbers apply).

Whether you’re planning a corporate celebration or a more lowkey gathering, our unique riverside venue o ers the perfect blend of character, charm, and Christmas cheer!

Email: venuehire@londonmuseum.org.uk | Call: 020 7814 5789 Discover more: londonmuseum.org.uk/commercial/venue-hire

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

| Liberato

Where?

Troxy Limehouse

Nobody knows who this Italian pop star is, but after arriving online on Valentine’s Day 2017, he’s attracted millions of streams. Forza Napoli... Sept 19, 7pm, from £34.87, troxy.co.uk

Where?

Half Moon Theatre Limehouse

KIDS | Little Gift

Meet Ted, a cautious old soul living all alone in a busy, bustling town. He likes it that way. Until one extraordinary day, a surprise visitor turns up... Sept 27, 11am, 2pm, ages 3-7,£9, halfmoon.org.uk

GIG | Anton Pearson (Squid)

Where?

The George Tavern Whitechapel

Anton Pearson of Squid steps out for his rst ever solo show at The George Tavern, joining the venue’s 21st Anniversary celebrations. Sept 28, 7.30pm, £10, thegeorgetaven.london

be quick

If you’re faster than the eye can see there’s still time to catch The Remarkable Ben Hart at Wilton’s Music Hall as the magician presents his latest illusions on September 4 and 5. Shows start at 7pm, tickets from £12.50 wiltons.org.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about the Ben’s show and to book tickets to see his astonishing feats

how Anton Lesser and friends will tell stories of Hardy and Lee on stage at Wilton’s

by Jon Massey

Iconfess I’m a little nervous ahead of my video call with Anton Lesser. Despite a varied career on screen and stage, the actor is perhaps best known for playing creepy vivisectionist

Qyburn in Game Of Thrones and haughty, sinister Major Lio Partagaz in Star Wars telly spin-off Andor (including a brief appearance in Canary Wharf, standing in for the Evil Empire). In both roles he has the eyes of a man who sees killing as something necessary, if a little distasteful.

Fortunately, it’s all an act. There’s no indication suspects are awaiting interrogation in holding cells in the basement of his home.

Instead, Anton is twinkly and animated with a joyful enthusiasm as we talk about his forthcoming appearances at Wilton’s Music Hall in Wapping.

Red Sky At Sunrise: Laurie Lee In Words And Music and A Beautiful Thread: Thomas Hardy In Words And Music are coming to the gloriously tumbledown Wapping venue this month with four performances of each.

Presented by Hambletts Productions, the shows follow a similar format – Anton and another actor performing words to tell the stories of each author with a live soundtrack from the Orchestra Of The Swan under the baton of musical director David Le Page.

“Quite simply, it’s the most enjoyable thing I’ve ever done,” said Anton. “When we’re performing it, I feel that I’m part of a single experience. It’s not like doing a play, where you’re in a costume, in make-up and you’ve built a character that’s one element of a production.

“Sometimes I’m sitting on stage, surrounded by musicians – who are totally immersed in their instruments and their skill – and I’m so open and vulnerable because of that.

“It feels inspiring in a way that I’ve never felt with other forms of performance and it’s a great privilege to be part of it.

“The words and the lives that we’re trying to illustrate are so moving, so tender, so wonderful and human that it demands the best of you – the greatest honesty.

“The music the orchestra plays, which underscores beautiful words and poetry just calls you into a different space.

“Hopefully that is transmitted to the audience and I think it is because people who have experienced it have said to me they’ve never seen anything like it before.

“It’s neither pure reading, nor acting, but with an immediacy that comes from the huge emotional impact the music has upon the words, and vice versa, and the interplay we as actors enjoy with the musicians on-stage.”

Red Sky comes to Wilton’s following a successful run at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) in Stratford-Upon-Avon and a sold-out show at the Wapping venue last year.

Anton takes on the role of Laurie Lee later in life, with Charlie Hamblett playing the author as a younger man as we follow him through Cider With Rosie, As I Walked Out

These productions are some of the loveliest things I’ve ever done and I don’t even have to learn lines Anton Lesser, actor

One Midsummer Morning and A Moment Of War – a tale that sees him fighting Franco’s fascists with the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War.

Anton, who initially studied architecture before an epiphany in Nigeria while watching a documentary on the RSC, said: “When I was approached, I think there’s a kind of assumption that everyone has read Cider With Rosie at school or somewhere, but actually I never had. I opened that book and I was blown away.

“Then you start to read his other stuff, the short stories and poetry. I thought it was incredible, brilliant, a revelation.

“With Hardy, it was similar. I’d seen one or two films – Tess Of The D’Ubervilles or Far From The Madding Crowd – and read a couple of books. The revelation there was his verse. He is the most magnificent poet.

“His poems are little dramas. When I first read the volume of collected works he produced, I thought I’d turn down the corners of my favourites. I ended up turning down all the corners.

“If you’re familiar with Lee or Hardy and you come and see these shows, you’ll have a wonderful time because there will be things you recognise and adore. But if you don’t know their work it will be an absolute revelation.”

A Beautiful Thread, which has been performed at Stonehenge to much acclaim is an evolution of the form. Anton, together with recent theatre school graduate Lucia Bonbright bring Hardy to life alongside his mother, Jemima and his wives Emily and Florence as well as George Bernard Shaw, Virginia Woolf and characters from his novels.

Both shows are directed by Hambletts’ Judy Reaves, working alongside writer and adapter Deirdre Shields. Works by composers such as Vaughan Williams, Walton, Holst, Elgar, Britten, Grainger, Albeniz, Turina and De Falla feature in Red Sky, while audiences will hear from Holst, Warlock and contemporary folk in A Beautiful Thread

“For me it’s really the joy in the way Judy and Deirdre have constructed these pieces,” said Anton. “They’re unique in the way we ow in and out of the music and in and out of the characters.

“It’s very unpredictable. The loveliest thing about it is when we seem to inspire the orchestra and the musicians inspire us. The relationship is really alive. It’s not a reading followed by some music. It’s one thing and it morphs and changes – something that’s very rich and very beautiful.

“David Le Page is the most amazing and wonderful musician – I can’t find the right word to honour him enough.

“I’ll look across while he’s playing some music and he’s completely gone, or he’ll look at me while I’m reading a poem, and afterwards he’ll come up to me and say the same – we’re just absolutely amazed. It’s as though we’ve found this great little family.

“My first job was with the SC and I’ve been very lucky in my career. I love it all – the screen, the stage, the audio books. But these productions are some of the loveliest things I’ve ever done and I don’t even have to learn lines.”

key details

Red Sky At Sunrise: Laurie Lee In Words And Music is set to run at Wilton’s Music Hall from September 15-17. It will be followed by A Beautiful Thread: Thomas Hardy In Words And Music from September 18-20.

Evening performances are at 7pm with a 2pm show on the last day of each run. Tickets start at with off if both shows are booked together.

Go to wiltons.org.uk for full details

£17

Starting price for standard tickets to see Red Sky At Sunrise and A Beautiful Thread at Wilton’s Music Hall

Anton Lesser is set to appear in two shows at Wilton’s Music Hall combining literature and music on stage

Scan this code to nd out more about the shows sharing the

how Isle Of Dogs rower Joseph Lyu paddled across the English Channel after training all along the Thames

by Jon Massey

Joseph (Shangjie) Lyu is uite possibly the first person of Chinese origin to kayak across the English Channel. However, by his own admission, he’s not especially into kayaking.

“There are three main elements to my life,” said the Stratford resident. “Work, raising my threeyear-old English Cocker Spaniel, Tru e, and rowing. This was really a side uest.”

oseph came to the in to study computer science at the niversity f Manchester after completing a foundation year in his native China, after plans to study in his home country didn’t work out.

“I struggled a bit with the course in Manchester and didn’t really enjoy the software side of it,” he said. “Then, in the middle, the pandemic arrived and I did a project on Covid in the , making predictions on when the turning point would be. It wound up being uite accurate.

“That’s when I realised I enjoyed data analysis and now I’ve taken that into my career in AI as a data scientist.”

oseph, who currently works for Santander, also had his first taste of rowing at university, but was too engaged with his studies to pursue it again after the pandemic faded away. It wasn’t until he moved to east London that he took up the sport seriously.

“I was living in Canary Wharf at that time and found Poplar, Blackwall And District owing Club at the bottom of the Isle f Dogs,” said oseph. “I did the Learn To ow course in and I’ve been involved with the club ever since. When you’re on a boat – whether crewed or single – if the weather’s nice, it’s one of the best feelings you can have.

“I really enjoy the sport. It’s literally one movement that you’re repeating, but it re uires years of effort to refine and apply that consistently. I find it very enjoyable.

“It’s normal for us to be out rowing at sunrise and you have London all around you. ou see seals too.

“In rowing, k is considered a relatively short distance, while k is uite long. Around k is standard.

“ owing from Tower Bridge to the Thames Barrier is the kind of

thing we do at the club. Then, a couple of years ago, I realised that the English Channel is not really that wide – it’s about three times the distance between those two landmarks, not an unimaginable journey.

“I’d had the idea I might want to try something and thinking about it like that gave me a frame of reference – a distance on the water I was already comfortable with. This gave me confidence.”

After mentioning to friends from the club on the way back from a trip to Henley oyal egatta, plans began to ferment.

“Making up my mind was the hardest part and I did that around the start of this year,” said oseph.

“I’d worked out what was doable, what was di cult and so I didn’t commit to it when I had the idea.

“Taking the leap was di cult but coming to this year, physically I was in good shape from years of rowing.

“I felt I was in a good place and I’m in my mid- s so it needed to happen before any physical decline. I thought that if I couldn’t commit to doing it now, with all the time and having everything I needed, then I might never convince myself to try. I kept thinking about swimmers – about , have crossed – and if they could do it, I could too.”

Having little kayking experience, oseph next went about e uipping himself with the skills necessary to make the journey. He spent time training on the sea off the south coast as well as hitting the water at nearby Docklands Sailing And Watersports Centre.

“I gained confidence after the instructor in Hastings said I was pretty good,” said oseph. “Many of the skills I’d developed rowing on the river were transferable and there was a lot of fitness training in the gym.

“I became more active. ne of the things that’s changed for me is that I used to just go rowing in the morning, but now I might do that, then go swimming later and maybe go on a hike with Tru e.”

oseph had a goal to work towards. He’d managed to secure a booking with a pilot boat – an essential escort across the busiest shipping lane in the world, especially because the French insist those paddling across must be carried in a powered craft over the part of the route they administer.

Weather dependent, the pilot advised Friday, uly , would be best, so oseph and a friend

Hours it took Joseph to make the crossing to France including 25 miles of paddling

travelled down to ye the night before, ate some fish and chips and laid in plenty of bananas and energy bars for his solo trip in a hired kayak.

“The next day we got to the harbour at . am and met the pilot boat captain,” said oseph. It wasn’t cold, but it was very foggy. We could hardly see anything.

“But we decided to set off anyway. The captain was in constant contact with the Coastguard. Because of the lack of visibility we didn’t know whether we’d get clearance to cross the shipping lanes but the captain suggested we paddle out for about an hour and then decide.

“When we started, I felt like it was going to be a good day. All the months of preparation had led to this point and I felt like we would make it. I kept going and my energy was at a good level.

“The fog was still heavy but from time to time I could see the sun. Every now and then I’d see a big ship and they really are huge.

“Then everything happened so suddenly. In one minute it just

For the rst hour, Joseph didn’t know whether he would get clearance from the Coastguard to make his crossing due to poor visibility

changed – the fog lifted and the sun came out, and then I was rewarded with the most surreal water conditions.

“The sea was totally at, the sky was blue and the visibility was really good. I really enjoyed that transition. I was busy paddling, but the crew spotted dolphins and jellyfish. When I paddled over to the boat for some water and I heard the Coastguard telling the big ships about my crossing, which was exciting.

“We got clearance and I paddled over this calm, serene water, with these massive vessels in the background – it was an interesting contrast.

“Then we reached the French side and I had to get in the boat for that before getting back in the kayak to finish the final six miles.

“That’s when it became challenging physically. We weren’t going straight, because the current was pushing our course into a curve. The whole journey was about 70 kilometres and the last bit was the most di cult.

“I could see France very clearly,

It was something I wanted to do. I put the e ort in and I made it happen. Having done it does give me a good foundation for other things

Joseph Lyu, PBDRC

but it felt like it wasn’t getting any closer. I’d actually preferred it in the middle with the fog, because I just kept going, even though I couldn’t see anything.

“In that last five miles I lost the sense of progress – my mind was playing tricks, so I really had to concentrate on the strokes.”

Joseph did make it to France, pulling into the harbour, tired but happy. After a shower and a change of clothes, plus a couple of well-deserved pints, there was time to re ect on his achievement.

“The weather was really good, and that’s when I started to feel more excited,” he said. “I realised that I’d done it and it was incredible. I believe I’m the first Chinese person to have done this.

“I’ve googled it and can’t find anyone else. Also, you have to have a pilot boat to make a crossing like this and there are only a handful operating. It’s also to the best of my pilot’s knowledge that I am the first one, although I didn’t think about any of this until I saw a news report on the first Chinese person to swim across.

“For me, it was just something I wanted to do. I put the effort in and I made it happen. I never really doubted whether I could do it. Having done it does give me a foundation for other things, more side quests.

“Rowing is my main thing and I don’t have any plans to do any more kayaking, but I am also getting into free diving and I’m going to Malta to do a spear fishing course.

“I’m also planning to return to France in October, cycling from London to Paris with a friend from rowing.”

key details

Poplar, Blackwall And District owing Club is located close to Island Gardens on the Isle Of Dogs and offers a range of membership options as well as very popular introductory courses. Go to pbdrc.co.uk for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about the club here

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

EVENT | Women’s Health Class

This fun, informative session o ers women a chance to learn about nutrition, exercise and mental wellbeing in a supportive, welcoming environment. Sept 22, 10am-11am, £2, poplarunion.com

STAGE | Honestly

A convicted compulsive liar meets a psychologist in this drama that questions exactly where the truth is and what it means in a post-truth world. Sept 24-28, times vary, £16, space.org Where? Poplar Union Poplar Where? The Space Isle Of Dogs

|

Where?

Theatreship South Quay

This intimate evening of live folk and experimental music, performance and ritual has been commissioned to mark the autumn equinox. Full line-up pending... Sept 21, 7pm, £12.36, theatreship.co.uk

this

You’ll need to be quick, but there’s still time to catch Crossroads: A Scratch Night Of New Work at The Space on September 7. Enjoy 11 10-minute works from SoulSpire Arts writers. Doors 6.30pm, tickets £10 space.org.uk

Scan this code to nd out more about the night and to book tickets for The Space on the Isle Of Dogs

PAPER LOVES TREES

European forests, which provide wood for making paper, paper packaging and many other products, have been growing by 1,500 football pitches every day!

Cost of general admission to The Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe

Film screenings will include Dangerous Liaisons in the Thames Tunnel

the revolutionary

how The Brunel Museum is hosting films, crafting and a special display for its French Revolution Season 2025

by Jon Massey

The Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe will host its French Revolution Season from September 12 to December 15. Including a special display, film screenings and a series of events, the initiative aims to explore the links between Frenchman, engineer and entrepreneur, Marc Brunel, his wife and suspected spy, Sophia Kingdom, and the national uprising in 1789. On show will be some of the oldest objects in the museum’s collection including some that have never been on public display before. General admission to see these costs £5 per person.

Tickets have also now gone on sale for a series of four French evolution-themed film screenings, which will be held 60ft below the ground in the museum’s Tunnel Shaft.

These kick off with Dangerous Liaisons on September 17, followed by Marie Antoinette on September 24, Napoleon on October 1 and Les Misérables on October 8.

All shows start at 6.30pm with standard tickets costing £10. The museum will be operating a bar serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as well as snacks on each evening.

From October 25 to November 2, during half-term, the museum will be hosting a series of craft activities. Included in the price of admission, visitors will be able to

try fan making and origami ower folding, the latter inspired by the paper blooms Sophia Kingdom made while imprisoned during the French Revolution.

key details

The Brunel Museum’s French Revolution Season is set to run from September 12-December 15. Entry costs £5 with some events during the run costing more. Full event details are online.

Go to thebrunelmuseum.com for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about the season

Rotherhithe - Deptford - Bermondsey

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

WORKSHOP | Just Write It

Where?

The Albany Deptford

One of a series of regular Monday sessions led by writers Ella Dorman-Gajic and Maddy Accalia, this is a place for those jotting down masterpieces. Sept 29, 6.30pm, from £1, thealbany.org.uk

Where?

The Albany Deptford

EVENT | Gay School

For ages 16+ this event led by masters students aims to facilitate sessions centred on queer feminist world building. Expect an assembly performance too. Sept 20, 12.30pm, from £5, thealbany.org.uk

|

Where?

Corner Corner Canada Water

Bop around or simply listen to sounds curated by the station’s DJs as they take over the food-hall and gig venue each Wednesday evening. Until Dec 25, 6pm, free, cornercorner.com

popping corks

DIY wine bar brand Vagabond has announced plans to open an urban winery in Canada Water at recently completed Dock Shed. The facility will be capable of producing 100,000 bottles every year. Cheers... vagabond.com

Scan this code to nd out more about Vagabond’s plans for the site including a self service bar

Cost of a standard tickets to Lander 23 in Woolwich. Price excludes booking fee

how Lander 23 has touched down in Woolwich as Punchdrunk aims to reinvent the video game

irl

by Jon Massey

what on Earth?

Nope, it’s on Hisarlik 426, in actual fact. There’s been a distress call and everything... Horlicks!?

No. Hisarlik 426 is a ctional planet and the setting for Punchdrunk’s latest immersive theatre production.

where can this exotic production be found? Woolwich.

tell me more Lander 23 is billed as a live action video game where audiences become players in a test of stealth and daring.

The premise is that the crew of the eponymous craft have vanished while harvesting a new and valuable energy source on Hisarlik and sent a distress call before silence fell.

Players take on the roles of the rst team in to investigate that signal.

how does that work then?

The game is played in teams of four split into two squads. The Drivers, stationed aboard the ship, guide the ground team or “Fields” as they navigate the alien landscape.

Players can expect familiar video game tropes from maps to guide them around, to lives that can be lost and regenerated.

Punchdrunk fans will also notice that the world of Troy from former show The Burnt City has been repurposed for this new experience in the spirit of sustainability.

That’s our ambition for Lander 23 – to create the ultimate antidote to screens

Felix Barrett, Punchdrunk

they say...

Felix Barrett, artistic director of Punchdrunk said: “To make a video game live – and specifically an AAA adventure game – is the holy grail for me; to take the complete submersion in a world and the endless choice of where you go, who you talk to, how you choose to play the game, and to make that real.

“The future is inevitably tech driven - how can we, as a company that is built on the magic of live experiences, create something that is not just as compelling as an evening on Fortnite or Zelda, but that elevates that experience to something more engrossing. Something which res up both hemispheres of the brain, removes the passivity of sitting in a chair, and has a far longer-lasting impact.

“That’s our ambition for Lander 23 – create the ultimate antidote to screens. Instead of sitting on the sofa in front of your TV, what would happen if you threw away your controller, stepped inside the game and became your own avatarrelying on your ingenuity, dexterity and courage to survive. In real time. In real life.”

when does Lander 23 land? I see what you did there. The show kicks o with something of a soft launch from September 17.

key details

Tickets for Lander 23 must be purchased in blocks of two. Groups of four wishing to play together must book as a quartet. Those booking as a pair will be matched up with other audience members to make a four for each game. All players will have the chance to play as both Drivers and Fields.

Tickets are already proving popular with early access sold out, however some dates in October are available and there’s plenty of slots in November. Tickets cost £40pp.

Go to punchdrunk.com for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about Lander 23

Players experience Lander 23 in teams of four with Drivers guiding Fields through an alien environment

stepping inside the

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

GIG | Busted Vs McFly

Over ve nights the two pop rock bands will battle to the death. Sorry, read the press release wrong. They’ll play some of their best-selling tunes. From Sept 20, 6.30pm, from £166, theo2.co.uk

LEARN | Photography Workshop This day-long session with photographer Holly Falconer is aimed at getting snappers o auto settings and mastering SLRs. Sept 20, 10.30am, £95, greenwichpeninsula.co.uk

Kellie Shirley and Peter Caul eld star in Two, an immersive show staged in a 1980s boozer that lls Greenwich Theatre’s bar. There’s still time to catch it with performances running until September 12 greenwichtheatre.org

Scan this code to read our interview with Kellie and Peter or to book tickets, which cost £12

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

SEE | Rekindling

Where?

Royal Victoria Dock beside City Hall

As the Royal Docks Originals festival returns, check out Compagnie Carabosse as the French company creates a re installation made with locals. Sept 25-26, 6.30pm-10pm, free, royaldocks.london

Where?

Excel

Royal Victoria Docks

EVENT | Big London Tattoo Show

Some designs are large, some are small, but if they’re inked into your skin, then this is de nitely the event for you. Features 450-plus artists Sept 19-21, times vary, £38.75, excel.london

EVENT | Street Food Business Expo

Where?

Excel

Royal Victoria Docks

Join the show focused on one of the most competitive routes into hospitality as suppliers, operators and players meet in east London. Sept 30-Oct 1, 10am-4pm, registration, excel.london

move quick

Excel London has o cially celebrated its expansion with its extension hosting Formula E as its rst event. The new facilities include 25% more space for conventions and exhibitions in the Royal Docks uel.ac.uk

Hours of events, workshops, exhibitions, activities, food, drink and history at Lighting Up The Lea

how Lighting Up The Lea at Cody Dock is championing the stories that flow along London’s other river

by Jon Massey

Cody Dock is getting ready to host Lighting Up The Lea later this month. The event, which will take place on Saturday, September 20, features workshops, exhibitions, performances, a plant sale, food stalls, live music and more as the ecological regeneration project throws wide its gates to the community.

The event is o cially part of three festivals – Open House, Totally Thames and Newham Heritage Month – and will also see the unveiling of Cody Dock’s second Cabinet Of Curiosity.

Commissioned as part of the project’s National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, artist Zhiyan Cai has been asked to explore the pre-industrial history of the River Lea for the installation.

“I started o studying architecture and then worked in that industry for a year, but while it was an interesting thing to study, the work was boring,” she said.

“However, I did learn about structures, rendering animations.

“I started o making digital art for myself, but people liked what I created and so I thought it could be a pathway for me.

“I’m from China originally and I rst came to the UK to study in Glasgow. I decided to move to London because of the opportunities to practise art here.”

Zhiyan, who has just completed a four-month residency at Arebyte Gallery in London City Island, responded to Cody Dock’s open call to create the next in its series

The idea is to combine all these di erent angles on the past –from me, from local kids – and, that way, to build connection

Zhiyan Cai, artist

of cabinets and won the commission.

“I really wanted to make something 3D but, of course, everything we have from that time is either documents or 2D paintings,” she said. “What I’m doing is using structures within the cabinet that will look three dimensional when viewed from the front.

“It will be like a portal people can feel like they’d pass through – like a magical door from Dr Who. It’s a great idea to bring a history from the abstract into real life.

“I also work with projector mapping so there will be animation involved. The piece I’ve created will be in the middle of the cabinet and I’ve worked with children in workshops at Cody Dock to help them build lightboxes inspired by the area’s history.

“The idea is to combine all these di erent angles on the past – from me, from local kids – and, that way, to build connection.”

Angles is the right word. Zhiyan’s light boxes use optical illusion to create a sense of depth and movement as the viewer literally changes the perspective in her creations by moving their heads.

She hopes her work will encourage visitors to take a fresh look at their surroundings with the content she has created – all inspired by the research she has done alongside Cody Dock’s Julia Briscoe into the area’s past.

“We visited archives and found out about the design of Stratford Langthorne Abbey, which was located near here and founded in 1135,” said Zhiyan.

“I’ve used that information to create a kind of gallery as a framing device – it’s like a memory hall, so people can see this area at di erent periods in time.

“It’s about the wetlands with the plants waving in the wind, the Vikings and the abbey itself. I live in Canning Town myself and it’s really interesting to nd out about the history of the land along the river.

“I was surprised to learn about the life of the abbey and the farming that happened

turning

Artist Zhiyan Cai is currently working on creating Cody Dock’s second Cabinet Of Curiosity Below, lightboxes made by young participants in her workshops

How Cody Dock is working to preserve and showcase the history of the River Lea and

light

Optical illusion: A prototype model for Zhiyan’s installation based on Langthone Abbey

local people simply took the bricks after it was demolished after the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. They used the stone to make new buildings.

“Things were always changing here – some of those materials may still exist in buildings in this areas and I hope my work helps to illustrate these things.”

In addition to seeing the new Cabinet Of Curiosity, visitors to Lighting Up The Lea will also be able to enjoy Dock Tours, try beeswax candle rolling, purchase Cody Dock honey, and see the site’s singular rolling bridge turn over.

Also on the agenda will be the chance to meet artist-in-residence Remiiya Badru who is working at Cody Dock over the course of a year to explore the area’s relationship with the textile calico and pigment Prussian Blue.

She will be inviting visitors to share their stories, inspired by items in the collection at V&A East Storehouse with the aim of producing an artwork related to her research. Those interested in participating should sign up in advance for one of three Common Threads workshops to be held on the day. The link can be found via linktr.ee/codydock.

key details

Lighting Up The Lea is set to take place at Cody Dock on Saturday, September 20 from 11am-6pm. Entry is free and all are welcome.

Go to codydock.org.uk or follow @cody_dockers on Instagram for updates

Scan this code to nd out more about Lighting Up The Lea

how the River Lea flows deep with history and why it’s important that we remember what has gone before

by Jon Massey

Stories are important. They help us make sense of who we are and where we are. Whether passed mouth-to-mouth or written down, they have been the main conduit for human communication down the centuries.

Even in the age of social media, where video is the dominant force, we can’t do without explanation – an editorial take on what’s being presented. Images alone are not enough, we have to tell each other what they mean through captions or voiceovers.

The world over, the recording and telling of tales about the world defines our species – bees in the hive doing a complicated waggledance to tell others where the honey is and whether it’s any good.

The Greeks and Romans had their philosophical dialogues, their myths and their plays. The Vikings had their sagas and the people of Wessex and England had the Anglo Saxon Chronicle Cody Dock, an ecological regeneration project on the edge of Canning Town, is a keeper of many stories.

As part of a £1.6million National Lottery Heritage Fund grant, its Lighting Up The Lea initiative will see a home for history created on the banks of the river.

The roof of its glass Heritage Pavilion will be the Frederick Kitchen – a Welsh lifeboat that was probably the last vessel built at the Thames Ironworks. It is currently being restored on-site and has stories of its own to tell.

When work is finished, its keel will shelter quarterly exhibitions about the history of the River Lea and the lands along its length –stories for the people who are here now, drawing them closer to the past.

As that project sails steadily onwards, Wharf Life will be working in partnership with Cody Dock to dip readers’ toes in some of the extraordinary tales that London’s second largest natural waterway has been a party to over the centuries.

In more recent times the area has been fertile ground for social change and industrial endeavour, but for this article we’re going back a bit further...

There are ships sailing up the

1,131

Years ago a group of Vikings from Mersea Island in Essex sailed up the River Lea to the Saxon’s great alarm

The River Lea from Cody Dock. At one time, the left bank would have been controlled by the Danes and the right by the Saxons

Lea. It’s 894 AD – 1,131 years ago – and Danish Vikings from Mersea Island in Essex are progressing up the river. Their aim is to build a fortress roughly 20 miles north of London.

It’s a febrile time, but for a while there has been peace. After King Alfred of Wessex defeated Danish warlord Guthrum and the Great Heathen Army in 878, the Lea took on a new significance – it became a border, a line of division through a marshy landscape of wetlands.

The Treaty Of Alfred And Guthrum – which survives to this day in the collection of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge –o cially created that frontier.

Different gods, different ways of life, but a pledge of loyalty by the Danes to Alfred in return for peace – an accord that included a schedule for “weregild” or man price. This was a fine that would be paid by one side to the other should there be future killings, with the amounts subject to the status of the victims.

Alfred also insisted Guthrum convert to Christianity and be baptised as his godson, taking the name Æthelstan.

For a while the Danelaw, as it became known, worked. The Vikings had their substantial chunk of England and the Anglo Saxons had theirs. But change is a constant. It couldn’t last. Guthrum died in 890.

Now the Danes are restless and exing. Their voyage up the Lea is a test of Wessex and Alfred’s resolve, directly on the border. Their arrival prompts swift action. First a local force of Saxons rises up and routs the provocateurs as they are constructing their fortifications.

Then Alfred arrives and messes with the river itself. Exactly where and how is unclear – he may have dammed it, obstructed it or fortified it – but both banks are likely involved. This may have been in what we now know as east London or further upstream, the Anglo Saxon Chronicle isn’t completely clear. Suddenly, though, the Danes find themselves unable to escape in their ships and they ee with the Saxon army in hot pursuit. Eventually they wind up in Shropshire.

The tale, however. doesn’t end there. Londoners sail some

Replica Viking long ship the Saga Farmann sails up the Thames on its way to the Classic

by

division doing

of the abandoned Viking ships back down the Lea in triumph, breaking up any that are unserviceable.

While we can’t be certain, there’s every possibility that these captured vessels provided vital intelligence and inspiration, with King Alfred ordering a series of long ships built just one year later – vessels with 60 oars or more that would prove decisive in naval battles against the Danes on the south coast.

So next time you take a walk along the River Lea, remember it was once a dividing line between two countries, that its waters are rich with history and that the aftermath of a battle fought somewhere along its length a little over a thousand years ago may have led to what many regard as the birth of the English Navy.

This story of Viking unrest, religious diplomacy and clever military tactics is far from the only tale of the Lea in pre-industrial times. In a valley carved out by the meltwater of the ice age, the river has a long and complex narrative, much of which is sadly lost to the passage of time.

We know Old Ford is where the Romans crossed on their way to Colchester. We know the river’s course has changed radically through human action – the felling of forests, the draining of marshes, the digging of culverts and the creation of fish traps and channels for water mills.

Today it’s part of the boundary between Tower Hamlets and Newham, but it’s also divided Essex and Middlesex and was once fortified as a potential line of defence during the Second World War.

But there’s much to be gained by looking further back. Few, for example, may know that Abbey Road station on the DLR and the street it serves are echoes of Stratford Langthorne Abbey.

Little is left, but this institution exerted a profound in uence on the area for 400 years some 240 after the Vikings were sailing up and down.

From its creation in 1135, the abbey acquired much land, farming the surrounding marshes and cutting channels to lessen the risk of ooding.

It also owned and operated tidal mills on the River Lea that ground our to make bread for the bakers of Stratford-Atte-Bow who supplied the City Of London. There are even reports that a small river port was created to serve the needs of both the institution’s monks, lay brothers and other inhabitants.

It served as the court of King Henry III in 1267, where he met

emissaries of the pope and made peace with the barons after the Battle Of Evesham. It was also sacked during the peasants revolt – singled out as a Cistercian abbey for its “acquisitiveness in matters of land and tithes”. An unpopular landlord, perhaps. But by the time of the Dissolution Of The Monasteries under Henry VIII, the abbey was the fifth largest in England, easily on a level of importance with its sister institutions at Jervaulx, Rievaulx and Fountains in North Yorkshire.

It’s stories like these that will be celebrated and explored under the mahogany curve of the Frederick Kitchen when Cody Dock’s Heritage Pavilion comes to fruition. Here will be a place where Vikings and monks can come alive, overlooking the curves of the river that shaped their times.

One of the founding principles of the Gasworks Dock Partnership which is undertaking the ecological regeneration of Cody Dock is to provide engagement for local people.

By continuing to research and showcase the remarkable history of the area, it adds a further dimension to that work – offering a vessel for the living history of local residents and a way to present meaningful tales from the far ung past.

Today we smile and take photos of a replica Viking long ship sailing up the Thames to take part in a boat festival at St Katharine Docks. But just imagine the terror and uncertainty spotting a host of Danes from Essex slipping quietly up the Lea must have generated. What did they want? Why were they here? Who could we turn to? What a sight it must have been.

Additional research by Cody Dock’s Julia Briscoe

key details

Cody Dock is located on the edge of Canning Town right beside the River Lea. The closest public transport is Star Lane DLR station.

The regeneration project offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities and runs regular events and activities aimed at engaging the local community with its work to regenerate the area and protect and record the wildlife of the River Lea.

ou can find out more at its Lighting Up The Lea event on Saturday, September 20, which is free to attend from 11am-6pm. Go to codydock.org.uk for more information

Scan this code to nd out more about Cody Dock

be part of the Canary Wharf conversation

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PUBLIC NOTICES NOTICE OF MARRIAGE

NOTICE OF MARRIAGE

High Commission of India, London, has received a notice of intended marriage from Mr. Debanjan Banerjee, S/o Anjan Kumar Banerjee, holder of Indian Passport No. Z7977073 and Miss Upasana Sanyal, D/o Devdeep Sanyal, holder of Indian Passport No. B8558691 under the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969 of India.

Objection, if any (along with valid reasons), to the intended marriage may be conveyed to the High Commission of India, London within 30 Days of publication of this notice at the following address:

Ms Panchali Das, Second Secretary (Consular) High Commission of India India House, Aldwych WC2B 4NA Tel. 020 7632 3303 Email. cons2.london@mea.gov.in

PUBLIC NOTICES PREMISES LICENCE

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS LICENSING ACT 2003

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE

Notice is given that: M M International Pvt Ltd

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

Premises details: Midpoint, 112-116 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1JE

The licensable Activities And Timings Are: Provision of late-night refreshment (serving food) from 23:00 hours until 03:00 hours daily with non-standard hours during the month of Ramadan until 05:00 hours.

Anyone who wishes to make representations regarding this application must give notice in writing to: The Licensing Section, Tower Hamlets Town Hall, 160 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1BJ or by email: licensing@towerhamlets.gov.uk Website: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk Tel: 020 7364 5008

Representations must be received no later than 16/09/2025

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

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

LONDON BOROUGH OF TOWER HAMLETS LICENSING ACT 2003

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE

Notice is given that: Sasha Smith

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

Premises details: Christmas Market at St Katharine Docks Riverside, London, E1W 1LA

The licensable Activities And Timings Are: The sale of alcohol Monday-Sunday, 10:00-22:00

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

Website: www.towerhamlets.gov.uk

Tel: 020 7364 5008

Representations must be received no later than 29/09/2025

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

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

of entry to the Cart And Horses gig on September 28 £13.20 catch this

Lord Volture, Sacrilege, Rhabstallion

The birthplace of Iron Maiden – the Cart And Horses in Stratford is set to host a trio of bands on Sunday, September 28, celebrating the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal.

First up is Dutch out t, Lord Volture, performing in the proud tradition of Judas Priest et al. Audiences can expect blazing ri s and a erce stage presence.

Then it’s Bill Beadle’s Sacrilege. Originally formed in 1982, but dormant from 1987-2012, expect tracks from latest album The Court Of The Insane to drive the set.

Rounding things o , Rhabstallion, originally of Halifax circa 1977, return to play tracks from their latest o ering – Bat Shit Crazy

Tickets for the gig cost £13.20 per person, music kicks o at 7pm cartandhorses.london

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

WORKSHOP | Couture Hand Sewing Make a cocktail dress in quarter scale under the guidance of tutor Rowena Luke-King. All materials and guidance. Some experience necessary. Sept 26-28, 10.30am-4.30pm, £360, vam.ac.uk

DANCE | How to be a Dancer in 72k Easy Lessons Written and choreographed by Michael KeeganDolan, this “dance and theatre, music ritual” promises to bend boundaries between memory and life. Sept 17-20, 7.30pm, from £15, sadlerswells.com

STAGE | The Harder They Come Based on the cult movie of the same name this musical adaptation is a UK premiere and features the music of Jimmy Cli including Many Rivers To Cross Sept 13-Oct 25, times vary, from £6 , stratfordeast.com

This show at the Cart And Horses celebrates the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal Sound with a showcase of three bands

Scan this code to nd out more about the gig or to book tickets for the performance

Like the performers (well some of them), you’ll need to move fast but there’s time to catch Dancing City in Stratford as GDIF 2025 draws to a close. Expect a festival of movement, all free, pretty much all outdoors on September 6 festival.org

Scan this code to read our interview with GDIF’s Bradley Hemmings on bringing the festival back to Stratford

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

crossword

Cryptic

Take a break from that phone Across

Celebration for Heinz? (9)

Ailing unsatisfactorily (3)

Mounds enclosing a finance house ) . Military person hides aged one (7)

Greet a bird? It’s confusing! (5)

Skin condition proceeding without thought ) . e exive ego ) 17. Indicate a size of type (5) 18. Upper case city! Terrific ) . Bespoke cigarettes - ) . Sounds like alternative wonder (3) 23. About female siblings –they’ll stop it, we hear )

Down

. Mel is mixed up, arboreally (3)

3. Amusing US military person is mouldy (5) . espect for Madeira, almost ) . ld sixpence found in leather works ) . Passed in the east Confused about place (11)

7. Fluent lip? In abundance (9)

. Spoke rubbish about Taurean excrement

. Place to fight on abandoned dump? (9)

14. Instrument builder makes uth lie )

. Small shovels are first with the stories )

. Shoes to get rid of water? (5)

. Sounds like a hesitant mistake (3)

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

Quick

ive up the throne )

Tavern )

Disgraceful (11)

Progress (7)

Year (5)

Crockery )

Photographic device )

Willow (5)

Entry passes (7)

Destroys (11)

Bulgarian currency (3)

Architectural supports (9)

Plead (3)

Spice (5)

Bike for two )

Small model scene (7)

Lacking involvement )

Include (9)

Martina ____ tennis champ )

Auricular protector (7) . Declared )

Wagons (5) . Fish )

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