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Vintners Lanes marries bowling with Davy’s historic aesthetic

Wine merchant now boasts a flourishing alley in a former Greenwich brewery as part of its portfolio of bars, restaurants and hybrid shops

Vintners Lanes in Greenwich is an urban bowling alley behind Davy's Wine Vaults - image supplied by Davy's
Vintners Lanes in Greenwich is an urban bowling alley behind Davy’s Wine Vaults – image supplied by Davy’s

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As a pioneer of city wine bars with a distinctive Victorian feel, Davy’s decision to open a bowling alley in Greenwich at first glance looks a little out of character for a 156-year-old wine merchant.

Launched just over a year ago, Vintners Lanes is tucked away behind Davy’s Wine Vaults and offers bowlers six three-quarter-length lanes amid the storied bricks of the old Lovibonds brewery-turned warehouse.

It’s a far cry from the sport’s traditional UK home – vast metal sheds on retail parks packed with AMF equipment and the multi-sense assault of arcade machines.

“I think I first went bowling in my 30s and that experience was exactly what I didn’t want Vintners Lanes to be,” said James Davy, chairman of the business and the fifth generation of his family to work in it.

“While the game was fun, what went with it was less so.

“What we wanted to do was to create something that provides a really good experience for customers throughout.

“That’s working for us now and we’re immensely proud of it.

“If you’d said to me at the beginning of this project that it would look like this and perform this way, I would have bitten your hand off.”

Davy's chairman, James Davy, at Vintners Lanes - image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
Davy’s chairman, James Davy, at Vintners Lanes – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

recognised across the pond

James is somewhat prone to modesty.

Last April, Vintners Lanes was named amongst the seven best venues for the sport in the world at the 40th annual Bowling Centre Architecture And Design Awards in Texas – the only alley to be recognised in the UK.

Lauded for its interior, it marries the polished exacting woods of the lanes, sleek steel racks of black bowling balls and subtle screens with the cosy comforts and antiqued aesthetic more commonly found across the Davy’s portfolio.

Having operated as a wine merchant since 1870, the company opened The Boot And Flogger near Borough Market in 1965, marking its entry into the hospitality sector.

That glorious establishment started a trend for wine bars in the capital with its owner going on to open at many more sites including a lengthy stint in Canary Wharf. 

Over the decades, the business has grown and changed.

Today it operates wine bars, tapas spots and wine shops on its public-facing side. 

It also continues to run a thriving wholesale operation, supplying wine to a wide range of customers and businesses.

It’s an expression of a company that, despite trading for more than a century and a half, isn’t averse to a bout of evolution here and there. 

In fact, Davy’s long had plans for its former warehouse in Greenwich, initially intending to convert it into office space.

The venue marries Davy's historic aesthetic with modern bowling facilities - image supplied by Davy's
The venue marries Davy’s historic aesthetic with modern bowling facilities – image supplied by Davy’s

skittles over workspace

“We canned that idea after Covid as people weren’t going into offices,” said James.

“We had already done a joint venture with Houdini Escape above Davy’s Wine Vaults in Greenwich and we really liked the vibe of different people coming into our venue.

“We looked again at the space in the warehouse we had at the back of our Greenwich venue – beyond Vintners Yard – which coincided with the arrival of our new CFO, Mark Carrick, who already had bowling in his mind having previously worked for Tenpin.

“We asked ourselves whether we could physically fit an alley in there and the answer was ‘yes’, which quite surprised us. 

“The length of the lanes is normal for an urban location and we’ve managed to fit six in alongside a kitchen and bar, making the venue self sufficient.

“The building itself is beautiful and really deserves to be seen.

“We’re open every day for bowling and also offer kids parties and even corporate events. 

“Vintners Lanes has been a very interesting journey and it’s starting to mature into a good business.

“We’re getting lots of bookings, but there’s still more space for us to fill.

“Vintners Yard, just outside, is really attractive to people walking past and it helps that we’re right next to the station.

“We host live music sometimes as well as other events, like beer festivals, as it’s become a bit of a destination.

“It’s full of old wine bar furniture with a bar and a barbecue shed – it’s an exciting place to come to.” 

Vintners Lanes serves pizzas, burgers and more - image supplied by Davy's
Vintners Lanes serves pizzas, burgers and more – image supplied by Davy’s

changes in hospitality

James, who joined the business in 1992 and has seen extensive change over that time, said the hospitality sector was currently making the news for the significant challenges it faces at present.

Notably, Davy’s took the decision to close the Crusting Pipe – a wine bar it opened in 1980 in Covent Garden after its performance in the evenings dropped away making trading no longer sustainable.

“Sadly we left that area and some customers were appalled – even angry – but, after 8pm, the business had changed over the years and it took a dip post-Brexit and then again after Covid,” said James.

“If you’re losing a session a day, that’s not sustainable and we have to be careful about how we operate. It is now more expensive to employ people and to run the premises we have.” 

Despite the economic headwinds, James believes there’s still opportunity for good businesses delivering value to customers.

He said: “We hear about closures in the news, but there are plenty of people doing well.

“It’s still a fantastic experience to go to a nice venue that’s well run – it’s a good use of money and time and everybody benefits from that.

“The closures are partly to do with cost, but also a consequence of evolution. Hospitality has become slightly more difficult – especially when you’re providing a service to commuters as much of our business does.

“But it’s more rewarding when you can make it work. I’d like us to open more hybrid wine shops in the future, where you can get a drink as well as buy a bottle.

“You’ve always got to be glass half full – where we’ve got it right, it’s wonderful to see.

“With Vintners Lanes, the venue appeals to an adult audience, although we really welcome kids.

“It’s a place where parents choose to bring their young ones and we probably sell more and better wine than most bowling alleys.”

The award-winning venue has established itself a potent part of Davy's portfolio - image supplied by Davy's
The award-winning venue has established itself a potent part of Davy’s portfolio – image supplied by Davy’s

key details: Vintners Lanes

Vintners Lanes is located directly behind Davy’s Wine Vaults next to Greenwich station and is open daily.

A single game of bowling costs £12.95 per adult.

Find out more about the venue or make a booking here

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Sea Lanes Canary Wharf plans approved for early summer opening

Eden Dock is set to get a floating swimming pool for summer 2026 as proposals for swimming, changing and amenities on land get the green light

An artist's impression of how Sea Lanes Canary Wharf will look when opened - image supplied by Canary Wharf Group
An artist’s impression of how Sea Lanes Canary Wharf will look when opened – image supplied by Canary Wharf Group

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The use of land to deliver amenities while development plans are being worked up has become a key feature of the east London property scene in recent years.

Royal Docks boasts a former brewery that’s become home to small creative businesses and Stratford has a strip of land with an al fresco sauna.

Canary Wharf already features an expansive Padel Tennis club in the shape of Padium on a site awaiting a tall office block.

Often, and certainly in these cases, such projects significantly enrich the areas they operate in for residents and visitors alike.

So, news that the plans for a floating swimming pool in Canary Wharf’s Eden Dock alongside a “health and wellbeing destination” on the land beside it have been approved, provides a tantalising glimpse into the future.

Targeting an early summer launch, Sea Lanes Canary Wharf is set to deliver a 50m, six-lane swimming pool, two electric saunas powered by renewable energy, changing facilities, a  community clubhouse for events, food and beverage offerings and a store offering wetsuit hire and storage services.

Operated by the team behind Sea Lanes Brighton, the facilities will be open 364 days a year with both pay-per-swim and membership options available. 

Designed to act as a stepping stone between pool swimming and open water, the 1.3m-deep lido will be suitable for all ages and abilities with life guards on hand to keep swimmers safe.

Director at Sea Lanes Brighton, Joe McNulty, is no stranger to the property market. Having grown up in Archway, he moved to the seaside town aged 19 to attend university and ended up staying, evolving his passion for exercise in the pool into a love of sea swimming.

As director of Copsemill Properties, he’s spent more than three-and-a-half decades buying spaces locally and turning them into offices and residential homes or refurbishing existing schemes. 

The floating swimming pool will be fed with water by the dock - image supplied by Canary Wharf Group
The floating swimming pool will be fed with water by the dock – image supplied by Canary Wharf Group

the genesis of Sea Lanes

“As a swimmer, one of the problems with Brighton was that there were no facilities for sea swimming – showers, changing rooms and so on – or anywhere to dry off, change or even to have a coffee after a dip,” said Joe.

“I found a site that had an old funfair on it and Brighton Council was asking people what should be done with it.

“Originally the plan was to have a sea swimming club with a clubhouse and a coffee shop. Somewhere to hang out with an annual membership.

“Then I got involved with one of the partners and a swimming coach, and they suggested a small training pool to teach people how to swim properly.

“That evolved from a one lane, 12m facility to a 50m heated, chlorinated pool on the beach.

“Alongside we built studios, a bar and a restaurant with a whole community of businesses now calling it home.

“Sea Lanes Brighton became a whole commercial development, much larger that I’d originally envisaged.

“It’s also been a big success since it opened in 2023 and we started to think about doing the same kind of thing elsewhere.

“We had a connection at Canary Wharf and went to talk to them to see if we could work together.

“The site beside Eden Dock is awaiting development, but the agreement is we’ll have it for five years initially.

“We’ll have the same size pool as Brighton but this one will be floating on the dock, tethered to the quayside and the bottom with a solid floor and mesh walls.

“While Brighton is chlorinated and heated, Canary Wharf will be unheated with water from the dock moving in and out through the mesh. 

“It’s designed in part as a training facility for people who want to get into open water swimming.

“It’s shallow enough for people to stand up in so people can get their confidence up before progressing into the open water of Eden Dock for a session overseen by lifeguards in kayaks, for example.

“From there people can go on to explore lakes, rivers and even seas around the world.”

The site at the end of Eden Dock that Sea Lanes Canary Wharf will be built on - image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
The site at the end of Eden Dock that Sea Lanes Canary Wharf will be built on – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

beyond a dip

As well as the swimming facilities, Sea Lanes will create a selection of amenities overlooking the pool as part of the project.

“The saunas will take about 15 people each and there will be a cold water plunge in the dock,” said Joe.

“There will also be hot showers and changing rooms as well as a space with a programme of events that will also be available for hire.

“While Sea Lanes Canary Wharf will be primarily an outdoor venue with a food and drink offering that’s similar to Brighton, there will be a series of igloo-style enclosures for people to escape the weather if necessary.

“We’re also looking into having an outdoor gym.

“I think people will find it really exciting to swim in the pool, looking up to see themselves surrounded by all of these buildings. 

“There’s nothing else really like it in London and, if it works, we’d love to stay in Canary Wharf beyond the five years, perhaps looking at another site.

“We’ll also be looking at other sites in the capital.”

Shobi Khan, CEO at Canary Wharf Group, 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.”

Construction on the project is set to begin early this year. 

key details: Sea Lanes Canary Wharf

Sea Lanes Canary Wharf is set to open in early summer 2026, although no launch date or pricing has yet been released.

Find out more about the proposals here

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Creative Virtual on why the firm believes human-curated AI is better

Founder and CEO of the Canary Wharf-based business, Chris Ezekiel, explains how his firm’s approach is proving attractive to larger organisations

Creative Virtual founder and CEO, Chris Ezekiel – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

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It feels like a big year for Chris Ezekiel.

Not only is he gearing up to become a father for the third time – a sibling is on the way for sons Matthew and Harry – but Creative Virtual, the company he founded on the Isle Of Dogs 22 years ago, recently went live with a hybrid human and AI system to help Australia’s largest mobile network better deal with its customers.  

“We think it’s a world first,” said Chris, who still lives locally despite running the global business as its CEO.

“Our project with Telstra sees a large enterprise using conversational AI and chatbot technology in a public-facing way – a hybrid approach with all the appropriate guardrails in place.

“There are other companies doing this with AI, but only on a small scale.

“We spent the best part of 2025 building the system and linking it in to all their operations.

“It’s all about knowing when to give a generative answer, something more structured or a combination of the two.

“Our system also does things like summarising, classifying and making all these decisions in real time.

“I’m very proud that we’ve displaced two of the world’s largest companies in this field – IBM and Salesforce – to deliver this solution.

“As soon as Telstra switched it on they doubled their containment rate, which means twice as many interactions have been automated rather than going through to a human in their contact centre.

“Now we have a road map to do much more over the course of the next 12 months.

“Our system is going to be the central point of communication for all their interactions with existing clients and potential customers – all with a clear escalation path for more complex queries or situations.

“There’s always going to be a need for that.”

beyond ChatGPT

Chris said that, while the arrival of ChatGPT in 2022 and the subsequent proliferation of large language models that generate responses had been significant for the sector that Creative Virtual operates in, many firms had done little in the way of implementing the technology.

“People have this perception that computers have to be 100% accurate, or the job they do is not acceptable,” he said.

“If a human makes a mistake, it often doesn’t get the same level of attention as a machine failing or given an answer that’s wrong.

“As a result, many larger organisations were paralysed when it came to putting new systems in place.

“During this time, we stuck to our guns and did what we’ve always done – tune into what organisations really want.

“That’s what’s brought us success. We’ve kept humans in the system to curate answers, working alongside generative AI and other technologies, meaning we can combine their talents when communicating with customers – something that’s reassuring to large organisations such as banks or telecommunications firms.

“With these clients there’s a large number of processes that their customers need to go through – billing enquiries or applications for accounts and credit cards, for example.

“These need high levels of curation and can’t be left to AI.

“That’s why clients like our approach. They can have very tightly controlled parts of the process alongside the simpler enquiries that can be dealt with by AI.

“Our tagline remains completely relevant today – we’re about the science of conversation and finding the best ways to automate those interactions whether that’s via chatbots, texts, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.

“We’re still doing that, but using the latest techniques.

“Our project with Telstra – all that hard work – has resulted in a big global showcase for Creative Virtual.

“We have built some bespoke systems for the client, but many of our standard techniques are ready to scale for other organisations.

“One of the most important elements is the expertise to  understand what this technology can and can’t do – what you can measure and how to set an organisation’s expectations.

“Having this blueprint as we go into 2026 is absolutely key for our business.”

designed to be flexible

Creative Virtual has built its approach to conversational interaction around the idea that it can rapidly and easily switch out AI systems to benefit its clients as the technology develops.

However, Chris believes that while the sector is showing advancement in several areas, it is important to recognise its limitations.

“There are some very clever people in the industry who claim that we’ll have artificial general intelligence very soon, that computers might even become sentient,” he said.

“But we don’t even understand human intelligence at this point.

“You have to take a step back and recognise all these new systems such as large language models are still based on silicon chips – ones and zeros – backed by incredible processing power, but a model that hasn’t changed since the invention of the computer.

“With quantum computing, biological systems or a combination of the two, it may be possible for AI to do a great deal more, but will it become self aware, will it be able to feel things? 

“I think its impossible to say that our existing computer models will take over the world.

“I’m not arguing that we haven’t seen advances in systems that can predict the next word or phrase or that these engines can’t simulate intelligence or awareness. 

“But that to have emotions the computers that run them will need more than ones and zeroes.

“I’m sceptical that artificial general intelligence is just around the corner, even if discussing it makes for a good story in the media.”

doing more and more jobs

One thing Chris is certain of is that AI technologies will be increasingly used to automate large parts of our lives.

“AI will do many of the jobs humans do today and robotics will come increasingly into play, such as self-driving cars,” he said. 

“It is going to be an exciting area and AI is already being used to help doctors with diagnostics and to process large volumes of data in many different fields.

“That’s how we use the technology, for customer services, training virtual sales people and bringing our systems into the retail experience. 

“There will be robots in stores capable of retaining far more information about products on sale than a human ever could, for example.”

That’s not to say AI is perfect or that the large companies involved in developing new models aren’t overly optimistic about the value of their creation.

“With all the billions being invested, there is, perhaps, a bubble – but AI is not going to go away as a tool, just as the end of the dot com boom wasn’t the end of the internet,” said Chris. 

“This technology is very much with us and it will be used to automate many things that are not automated at the moment.

“Overall, I think it will enhance our lives and it will encourage us to be more creative as people.

“Who wants to sit in a contact centre answering the same mundane questions day-in, day-out? We have to evolve our technology so the workforce can do more involving things.

“One of the key issues for firms is that, with so much AI generated content, everything will start to feel very similar. 

“That’s why I think our current approach is the correct one.

“Having humans work alongside AI has always felt to me like the perfect combination.

“We need human curation so that organisations are able to retain their voice and project their brand whether it’s an AI or a person talking to their customers. 

“That’s one of the attributes of our project with Telstra. Its strength has been in the testing we’ve put the systems through against real-life conversations – a way for our client to see our systems work and that gives them confidence. 

“We launched with them during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday periods and it was the best possible time to stress-test what we’d put in place.

“Organisations change their content all the time, so our system had to know Telstra’s products, offerings and sales information and deliver that to customers without error.

“It hasn’t been easy to achieve that, but the feedback from them is that this is the first product they’ve had in years that has been on time, on budget and on spec, which is pretty incredible.

“It’s already delivering real business results.”

key details: Creative Virtual

Creative Virtual is based in Canary Wharf’s Cabot Square and operates globally.

Find out more about its services here

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Pink Pilates begins 2026 at Royal Wharf with 20% discount

Women-only fitness studio in Royal Docks offers Reformer Pilates classes for adults and teenagers as well as private sessions, massage and more…

Pink Pilates is offering a 20% discount to celebrate the start of the year - image supplied by Pink Pilates
Pink Pilates is offering a 20% discount to celebrate the start of the year – image supplied by Pink Pilates

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— Use code WHARF20 when booking for this offer —

In celebration of the New Year and the launch of business, a women-only Reformer Pilates studio in Royal Docks is offering readers a 20% discount on their next session in 2026.

Pink Pilates opened its doors at Royal Wharf in October, promising “a fresh and uplifting approach to movement and wellbeing” for its clients. 

tell me more

Located in Royal Crest Avenue at the east London development, the studio has been designed to support both the physical and mental health of those coming through its doors.

Pink Pilates offers a wide range of classes designed to suit different needs and life stages, suitable for women of all ages and abilities.

It also offers one-on-one sessions tailored to individual goals and private group sessions for up to eight people, as well restorative massage aimed at releasing tension, soothing tired muscles and calming the mind. 

why Pilates?

The studio says the system of movement is “widely recognised for its ability to improve core strength, posture, flexibility, balance, and mobility, while also offering powerful mental wellbeing benefits”.

It adds that: “Pilates practice can help reduce stress, improve mood, support recovery from injury and enhance overall quality of life.”

Pink Pilates’ focuses on wellness rather than perfection, based on a belief that movement should feel empowering rather than pressurised. 

To that end, its classes are designed to help women “feel strong, confident, and energised, both physically and mentally, without unrealistic expectations or one size fits all approaches”. 

The women-only studio offers a range of classes as well as private sessions - image supplied by Pink Pilates
The women-only studio offers a range of classes as well as private sessions – image supplied by Pink Pilates

why Pink?

The studio has embraced the colour throughout its workout spaces and branding, aiming to create a feminine, fun environment that provides an uplifting, inspiring atmosphere.

Intentionally different from more traditional fitness environments, Pink Pilates wants to offer women a joyful setting where they can feel “comfortable, confident and at ease”.

what’s on offer?

Classes include sessions for beginners, lymphatic core, rehabilitation, prenatal and mummy. There are also programmes for teenagers and slower-paced yin-inspired sessions.

The studio says: “Reformer Pilates is particularly beneficial for those recovering from injury or managing ongoing physical concerns, as exercises can be adapted and supported using spring-based resistance.

“Sessions are led by expert instructors who prioritise safe technique, individual support, and inclusive teaching.”

anything else?

Pink Pilates is also available for private hire whether for corporate wellbeing sessions, team bonding experiences or bespoke celebrations such as birthdays or special occasions. Full details are available online.

how do I get to Pink Pilates?

The studio is located within easy walking distance of Pontoon Dock DLR station and close to bus stops on North Woolwich Road. 

Royal Wharf can also be accessed via Uber Boat By Thames Clippers river bus services using the development’s dedicated pier. 

Pink Pilates' studio is located at Royal Wharf in Royal Docks - image supplied by Pink Pilates
Pink Pilates’ studio is located at Royal Wharf in Royal Docks – image supplied by Pink Pilates

what do classes normally cost

There are a variety of ways to access classes at Pink Pilates. One-off group sessions cost £26 with discounted packs of classes also available. The studio also offers monthly memberships starting at £90 for four classes.

Private sessions for one or two people start at £90, while classes for teenage girls aged 13-17 start at £20.

how do I access the discount?

New or existing customers should use code WHARF20 when booking to get 20% off their next session in 2026 at Pink Pilates.

The code can be used by new or existing clients at the studio and the offer applies to all reformer classes, class packs, private one-to-one sessions and massage treatments.

Check with the studio for full details.

key details: Pink Pilates

Pink Pilates – @pinkpilatesx on Insta and @officialpinkpilatesx on TikTok – is located in Royal Crest Avenue at Royal Wharf, E16.

Classes can be booked online here

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Winter Lights returns in 2026, celebrating 10 years in Canary Wharf

Blockbuster annual art festival is set to welcome 16 installations from January 20-31, with many thousands of visitors expected to visit the estate

Visitors can find Trispheric Garden by Reelize Studio in Cabot Square - image supplied by Canary Wharf Group
Visitors can find Trispheric Garden by Reelize Studio in Cabot Square – image supplied by Canary Wharf Group

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The biggest cultural event in Canary Wharf is set for an extra special return this month. Winter Lights 2026 will be the 10th time the estate has been filled with illuminated artworks and the latest festival features a bumper crop in celebration.

Running every day from January 20-31, with pieces switched on from 5pm-10pm, the latest Winter Lights extends across the whole of Canary Wharf, with highlights from Westferry Circus to Wood Wharf.

Attracting many thousands of people each year, the free festival is an enormous team effort, spearheaded by Canary Wharf Group’s Arts And Events team.

“Selecting which works to display is a tough process,” said Lowri Harries, associate curator of public art at CWG, who has chosen this year’s installations alongside Arts And Events  manager Camilla McGregor.

“In response to our open call we had the most submissions we’ve ever received – 225.

“It probably takes about 10 hours to go through them because we want to make sure we’ve really considered the relevant ones in detail.”

Camilla added: “Not all festivals operate this way, but I think it’s very democratic because we really are open to all artists.

“At each festival, the majority of the pieces on show come from our open call. 

“Each time we do it, we’ll know some of the artists but many will be new to us.”

Canary Wharf Group's Lowri Harries - image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
Canary Wharf Group’s Lowri Harries – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

a theme to mark a decade

Winter Lights 2026 has been shaped with a theme, aimed at inspiring creatives to respond with work.

Lowri said: “I’m really excited about this year’s because there are a few ways we’ve given it a different identity.

“The festival is already well established in London – lots of people know about it – but we’ve tried to give it a bit extra.

“The theme is Dreamscape, which we feel is open-ended enough to allow lots of different submissons but brings to mind the idea of dreams and landscapes.

“Our space is unique with the architecture familiar to so many people and it’s meant to spark imagination and curiosity.

“We’ve commissioned artist Anna Lomax to create an exhibition poster for us with a limited run, which will be on sale at Circle Collective in Jubilee Place during the event.

“We’ll stock about 500 of the prints, which people can buy during the festival and visitors can also get a printed brochure too.

“Anna has also created three installations for us, which will be in the malls, so we’re back inside for the first time in a while.”

Camilla added: “With the theme, we wanted something that would appeal to everyone. 

“It’s evocative of a childlike interest in the world and artists were free to approach that in any way they liked.

“The intention is for Dreamscape to really tie everything together.”

InBloom by Kumquat Lab is set to be displayed in Wren Landing - image supplied by Canary Wharf Group
InBloom by Kumquat Lab is set to be displayed in Wren Landing – image supplied by Canary Wharf Group

selecting some highlights

A full list of installations and their locations is available here, but Lowri and Camilla have picked out some highlights and works to look out for.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing Aether by Architecture Social Club in Montgomery Square,” said Camilla.

“The artist behind it is Max Cooper, who is very well known.

“It features light, a soundscape and music and is more of a performance than a sculpture.

“People will be able to walk under it and it’s always great to use space so visitors can get different perspectives on the pieces.”

Lowri said: “There are a number of new commissions specifically for this festival.

“East London artist Marcus Lyall is returning with Manifestation – a projection piece in Wood Wharf.

“We’ve also tried to include more interactive exhibits this year and it will be really interesting to see how audiences react to that.

“There’s Lacto-Reacto-Light by Jack Wimperis at Canary Riverside, which is a large wall made from recycled milk bottles that reflects the movements of its audience.

“There’s also InBloom by Kumquat Lab at Wren Landing – a work about the pollination of flowers with orbs that change colour when hands are moved over them, with sounds emitted during the process.”

Camilla added: “I’m also really excited to see how people interact with At The Hand by LaCroix at Harbour Quay Gardens.

“It’s a holographic hand controlled by the audience down beside the water.”

Canary Wharf Group's Camilla McGregor - image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
Canary Wharf Group’s Camilla McGregor – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

ones to watch at Winter Lights 2026

Another showstopper to look out for will be Amplitudes by Limbic Cinema. Projected onto mist in Eden Dock, the piece will be on a constant loop at the heart of the Wharf.

Camilla said: “We’re doing something new this year – for the first time ever, the public will be able to vote for their favourite installations, either via QR code where they are displayed or on our website.”

The winner will then be announced online and via social media to celebrate the top piece’s popularity. 

Hulahoop by Scale is set to be displayed in Union Square on Wood Wharf - image supplied by Canary Wharf Group
Hulahoop by Scale is set to be displayed in Union Square on Wood Wharf – image supplied by Canary Wharf Group

plan your visit

Regarding logistics, CWG’s advice is to visit the festival on a weekday, with weekends expected to be extremely busy. 

“We’ve extended free parking for three hours to weekdays as well as weekends for those spending £10 in Waitrose to encourage people to come during the week,” said Lowri. 

“We’ll be hosting Winter Lights Bites street food hubs at Jubilee Park, Montgomery Square and Union Square, curated by Karnival during the festival.

“These traders will be offering 20% off food Monday-Wednesday, so it’s a great time to visit.”

Restaurants and bars are also likely to be busy during the festival, so early booking is recommended. 

Camilla said: “We can’t wait for people to see this year’s Winter Lights. It’s art that’s accessible and free to enjoy.

“The event brings an audience to the estate and that’s great for the businesses here but it’s also a real benefit to Canary Wharf in introducing people to our cultural offering.”

Flower Power by Aerosculpture, Jean-Pierre David and Christian Thellier will be on show at Westferry Circus - image supplied by Canary Wharf Group
Flower Power by Aerosculpture, Jean-Pierre David and Christian Thellier will be on show at Westferry Circus – image supplied by Canary Wharf Group

key details: Winter Lights 2026

Winter Lights 2026 runs from January 20-31 from 5pm-10pm and is free to attend.

There are 16 special installations to discover alongside nine from Canary Wharf’s permanent art collection.

For a map of the location of all the artworks follow this link.

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Here There Are Blueberries set for Stratford East run in February

UK premiere of lauded American show tells the story of a mysterious photo album featuring Nazis working at Auschwitz concentration camp

Here There Are Blueberries is set for a run at Stratford East. Images show a previous production of the show - image supplied by Here There Are Blueberries / Tectonic Theater
Here There Are Blueberries is set for a run at Stratford East. Images show a previous production of the show – image supplied by Here There Are Blueberries / Tectonic Theater

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“A lot of people asked us early on if, by making a play about Auschwitz, we were humanising Nazis,” said Matt Joslyn, executive director of Tectonic Theater and producer of Here There Are Blueberries.

“It’s an interesting question, because we don’t have to humanise them.

“They are human – the danger is to dehumanise them.”

The play, a Pulitzer Prize finalist that has garnered widespread recognition over a series of runs in the States, is set to get its UK première at Stratford East with shows from January 31 until February 28 ,2026.

It tells the story of a mysterious photo album that arrived on the desk of a US Holocaust Memorial Museum archivist’s desk one day in 2007. 

Inside are what Matt describes as “Nazi selfies” – photos taken by and of those working at the Auschwitz concentration camp complex.

The piece takes its name from a handwritten caption in the album – “hier gibt es blaubeeren” – beside a photo of young women and a man enjoying bowls of blueberries, while another man plays the accordion in the background.

Tectonic Theater's Matt Joslyn - image by Jenny Anderson
Tectonic Theater’s Matt Joslyn – image by Jenny Anderson

the story of a play

“The journey of the play really began in 2012, when Moisés Kaufman – its co-author – saved the front page of the New York Times with a photo that haunted him,” said Matt.

“It sat on his desk for three years before he wrote to the museum archivist.

“They were originally going to meet for half an hour, but ended up spending three days together.

“It was during that time Moisés began to realise the possibility of a play was in the fact that uncovering the history of the album and its images was a detective story.

“It was about asking what this enigmatic object is and why it’s so strangely compelling and powerful.

“He was drawn to the images, but also to how the archivist untangled the tale of who made the album, what it depicts and what the people featured were doing.

“It’s important to note that we considered whether the world needed another Holocaust play.

“The atrocity has been the subject of more works of art – plays, books and films – than any other event in human history.

“But this album did have something different to say – among other things raising the question how people could eat blueberries next to a concentration camp where 1.1million people were being murdered?”

Presented by Tectonic, the play was conceived and directed by Moisés who wrote the piece in collaboration with Amanda Gronich.

Newly cast for its London run, the show features hard-hitting projections on stage as it explores the issues raised by the album’s arrival.

The show features projections of images from the album - Tectonic Theater's Matt Joslyn - image supplied by Here There Are Blueberries / Tectonic Theater
The show features projections of images from the album –
Tectonic Theater’s Matt Joslyn – image supplied by Here There Are Blueberries / Tectonic Theater

complacent, complicit, culpable?

Matt said: “What drew us to the development of the play in earnest was about six years of research, interviews and workshops.

“A lot of this was with second and third generation survivors and perpetrators of the Holocaust – investigating the inherited trauma on both sides. 

“We began the work in 2016, which future historians may well point to as a shifting point in the world.

“We were starting to contemplate what ways each of us are complacent about terrible things that happen, as well as complicit in them and sometimes even culpable for them.

“In many ways you could look at and study this play as a meditation on that continuum.

“What the play is really trying to do is to encourage audiences to contemplate their own role in the world – whether they are contributing to the suffering of others or willingly doing something that’s causing harm.

“This, for me, is the central point.

“Growing up, I was consistently told things that made me feel safe about the Holocaust – that the people who did it were monsters, that individuals were brainwashed or tricked into taking part.

“The truth is the perpetrators of Auschwitz had similar upbringings to mine, growing up in the American Mid West with similar values.”

The play focuses on those seeking to uncover the stories behind the images and the album - The show features projections of images from the album - image supplied by Here There Are Blueberries / Tectonic Theater
The play focuses on those seeking to uncover the stories behind the images and the album – The show features projections of images from the album – image supplied by Here There Are Blueberries / Tectonic Theater

beyond the performance

To help audiences get to grips with these issues, Here There Are Blueberries is presented as more than a play.

A series of post-show talks will be hosted on selected dates during the run to discuss themes raised by the production.

Those who have bought a ticket for any of the shows at Stratford East can attend these, even if they haven’t seen the play that day.

Matt said: “One of the things that has surprised and gratified us about the play is that it does elicit a powerful response, which leads to audience members wanting and needing to talk about it.

“It’s something we piloted when the play had its première in San Diego in 2022 and we’ve done them ever since.

“Most are curated by Fellowships At Auschwitz For The Study Of Professional Ethics.

“There’s a phenomenal quote from FASPE’s founder, which is that the story of Auschwitz is the story of problem solving.

“If you understand that, you can understand how it happened.

“When we visited the camp as part of this project, we were taken down a long path between the men’s and women’s huts on our way to the birch trees at the back where people waited to be taken into the gas chambers. 

“On the way, I noticed a cistern on stilts and I asked our guide what it was for.

“He told me it was for fire suppression because the insurance companies required it.

“I was brought up to believe that all the camps were criminal enterprises.

“To contemplate an insurance adjuster with a clipboard, coming to the camp, where 100,000 people were imprisoned, and authorising the cistern so the buildings and the prisoners’ lives were insured, was a shocking thing for me.

“The talks centre around such questions as why the Holocaust is still a subject of study, its normalisation and reflection on the humans’ capacity to project normalcy in the face of the extraordinary.

“Personally, in the US, I experience that every day in terms of what’s happening in our politics. 

“We’re hoping to respond to the need for people to talk more about the play and then connect them to a wider world.

“We hope it sends people in different directions, to learn more about the camps, the fact women were very much involved in running them, the fact doctors did awful experiments and the businesses that took part in the forced labour enterprise.”

Stratford East will host a new version of the show from Jan 31-Feb 28, 2026 - image supplied by Here There Are Blueberries / Tectonic Theater
Stratford East will host a new version of the show from Jan 31-Feb 28, 2026 – image supplied by Here There Are Blueberries / Tectonic Theater

key details: Here There Are Blueberries

Here There Are Blueberries is set to run at Stratford East from January 31 until February 28, 2026 with performance times varying.

Tickets start at £10 for most shows. 

Find out more about the production or book tickets here

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Abbey Quay’s Jasper Wharf sales suite unveiled by Weston Homes

Developer Weston Homes has launched the facility at its Barking scheme to showcase apartments in its 29-storey tower on the River Roding

Jasper Wharf at Abbey Quay stands beside the River Roding - image supplied by Weston Homes
Jasper Wharf at Abbey Quay stands beside the River Roding – image supplied by Weston Homes

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Weston Homes has unveiled a sales and marketing suite at its Abbey Quay development in Barking.

The 5,000sq ft facility has been created to help the developer showcase homes in Jasper Wharf.

The 29-storey structure, will house 167 one and two-bedroom apartments when complete in 2027.

These will feature full height glazing, private balconies or terraces and a wide variety of finishes for their floors, fitted kitchens and bathrooms.

All options are included in the purchase price.

The new marketing suite contains displays to help prospective buyers choose from the options as well as a pair of show homes where visitors can explore the various specifications.

The wider Abbey Quay development, set on the River Roding close to Barking Station, comprises 1,000 apartments set in a series of blocks as well as 25,100sq ft of commercial and leisure space.

Amenities include a concierge service, a residents’ lounge and a community hub as well as a local supermarket.  

A show home interior at Abbey Quay - image supplied by Weston Homes
A show home interior at Abbey Quay – image supplied by Weston Homes

Abbey Quay’s jewel

Suzanne Aplin, group sales and marketing director at Weston Homes said: “The newly launched Jasper Wharf is the jewel in the crown at Abbey Quay so we wanted to create a spectacular sales and marketing suite which would do justice to Barking’s new architectural landmark. 

“This new sales and marketing Suite is quite simply the best presentation vehicle we have ever delivered to date. 

“Combining scale model, graphics, touch screens and finishes, the suite conveys the Jasper Wharf and wider Abbey Quay vision and the superb product quality and luxurious specification choices on offer.

“The marketing suite also provides buyers with an insight into the future at Abbey Quay, as the glass-fronted building will eventually be transformed into a vibrant on-site restaurant and bar with a first floor dining terrace overlooking the River Roding, as the development nears completion.”

Abbey Quay is located about 27 minutes from Canary Wharf via Barking station taking C2C rail services and then the DLR from Limehouse.

The newly unveiled sales and marketing suite at Abbey Quay - image supplied by Weston Homes
The newly unveiled sales and marketing suite at Abbey Quay – image supplied by Weston Homes

key details: Abbey Quay

Homes at Abbey Quay’s Jasper Wharf in Barking start at £319,995 for a one-bedroom apartment and at £439,500 for a two-bed.

Some properties are available at Discount Market Sale with two-beds starting at £350,500 including a 20% saving.

Find out more about the development here

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JP Morgan Chase’s Canary Wharf tower is about the long term

Banking giant’s plans for the Riverside South site build on foundations laid 17 years ago beside the Thames in east London

An artist's impression of a roof terrace at JP Morgan Chase's forthcoming Riverside South plans - image by JP Morgan Chase / Foster + Partners
An artist’s impression of a roof terrace at JP Morgan Chase’s forthcoming Riverside South plans – image by JP Morgan Chase / Foster + Partners

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The London Standard recently published a piece entitled The Remarkable Story Of Canary Wharf’s Renaissance.

Amid a series of somewhat confused bird-based metaphors, it tells a tale of a district brought to the brink of disaster by the pandemic and the home working trend that followed it.

It’s boisterous copy is full of “shaky foundations” bonds in “junk territory” and “symbolically damaging” moves.

Scary stuff, but also – like a lot of the analysis that caused some to temporarily lose confidence in the Wharf – it fails to appreciate the silliness of short-termism when considering changes in the area.

This isn’t rebirth, it’s a constant process of reinvention and growth.

It’s nothing new, either.

The site as it stands today - image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
The site as it stands today – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

a big deal

It should come as absolutely no surprise whatsoever that JP Morgan Chase has decided Canary Wharf is the right place for it to build a £3billion tower, providing 3million sq ft of space for up to 12,000 employees.

In 2008, the banking giant completed the purchase of a 999-year lease on land beside the Thames for its Riverside South scheme.

The plans drawn up by architects RSHP (then Richard Rogers Partnership) were for two towers.

The size of the scheme? A little over 3million sq ft of space.

Serious work started on the site, adjacent to Westferry Circus, with foundations created and concrete poured for basement structures.

But work stopped in 2010 with JP Morgan opting instead to move into 25 Bank Street – Lehman Brothers’ former home in London.

Wharf watchers will have noted that the Riverside South site has since lain dormant, rebar carefully marked with little high-viz hats and voids protected with temporary roofing.

In 2015, having settled into its new home, JP Morgan nevertheless put plans to sell the land on hold, leaving the option open to develop it later.

A decade on and the bank’s need for space has grown beyond its current accommodation.

This has prompted it to let space at a refurbished building in nearby Cabot Square, which was vacated by Credit Suisse following its enforced takeover by UBS.

A more permanent solution was desired and options were considered.

The bank recently unveiled its new HQ in New York.

That megastructure was designed by Foster + Partners and the bank has now revealed that it has chosen the same architects to take forward plans for its new London office.

Where? On the land it’s kept on its books for the past 17 years.

The project is expected to contribute £9.9billion to the UK economy, with completion in around six years’ time.

Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JP Morgan Chase, said: “London has been a trading and financial hub for more than a thousand years, and maintaining it as a vibrant place for finance and business is critical to the health of the UK economy. 

“This building will represent our lasting commitment to the city, the UK, our clients and our people. The UK government’s priority of economic growth has been a critical factor in helping us make this decision.”

Shobi Khan, CEO of Canary Wharf Group, added: “We are delighted that JP Morgan Chase has once again chosen Canary Wharf as its primary UK location. 

“The scale and ambition of this scheme – set to become the largest office building in London – demonstrates the continued momentum behind Canary Wharf’s evolution and the bank’s commitment to outstanding workplaces.

“2025 will be our best leasing year in over a decade. Five of the top global investment banks are located at Canary Wharf.”

In the context of a millennium, 17 years doesn’t really seem all that much time to wait…

An artist's impression of Richard Rogers Partnership's original scheme for the site - image by RSHP
An artist’s impression of Richard Rogers Partnership’s original scheme for the site – image by RSHP

words matter

CWG is spot-on when describing the way the Wharf has changed over the years.

The project to transform derelict docks into a hive of activity and prosperity has constantly twisted and turned. 

Wood Wharf was originally conceived as an office-led expansion of the existing scheme, only for residential towers to rise instead.

The idea that the area has been reborn fails to recognise the granular diversification of an estate that now services the needs of workers, residents and visitors passing through for a multitude of reasons. 

The financial services institutions sit alongside life sciences, government, parts of the NHS, digital banks, charities and educational organisations as well as an ever-growing retail and hospitality offering.

There’s even a whale made of ocean plastic and a theatre.

This isn’t coincidence. It’s an area unafraid to act on opportunity, to try new things but, crucially, to put in solid foundations to start with so that when the world needs it to be a different shape, it has something firm to build on.

recent successes

In some senses, Riverside South’s foundations are a decent metaphor for what’s happening to Canary Wharf right now.

Buildings have a shelf life and organisations’ needs evolve.

Challenger bank Revolut went from a handful of employees to hundreds and now thousands, recently landing on the upper floors of the YY London building, a structure extensively refurbished and renamed after the best part of three decades housing Thompson Reuters. 

This process of renewal, reinvention and so evolution is going on across the Wharf, most obviously with Citi’s decision to retool its east London home and spending billions of pounds to do so. 

There are many other projects in the pipeline, with the value evidenced by Blackstone’s decision to put its Cargo tower back on the market following a refurb and the upturn in perceived value with a slew of businesses opting to move to the Wharf. 

The recent wins for the estate are too numerous to list fully but include challenger bank Zopa at Wood Wharf, which recently moved staff in, and the announcement that Visa will relocate its European headquarters from Paddington to One Canada Square.

With 76million people expected to have visited the estate in 2025 and a backdrop of surging demand, it’s little wonder the Qatar Investment Authority, which owns the tower HSBC is set to vacate in 2027, is considering retaining a higher proportion of office space in the structure when it tackles that refurbishment. 

Having continued a relentless programme of growth and improvement across the estate, Canary Wharf is arguably better placed than ever before to welcome organisations looking for smart new homes, not least because of the Elizabeth line. 

Suddenly, a new ferry with a bigger capacity between Canary Wharf Pier – next to Riverside South – and Rotherhithe looks like a very timely introduction from Uber Boat By Thames Clippers.

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The Dial opens at Greenwich Peninsula offering sports and beer

Collaboration between KG Hospitality and Asahi has brought Meantime brewing back to Greenwich via a microbrewery well positioned for events at The O2

KG Hospitality founders Ricardo Guimares and Vineet Kalra outside The Dial - image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
KG Hospitality founders Ricardo Guimares and Vineet Kalra outside The Dial – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

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Visitors to Greenwich Peninsula arriving by Tube, can scarcely have failed to notice a new opening right opposite the main walkway to The O2.

The curvy three-storey structure on the south-eastern corner of Peninsula Square, which once housed Craft restaurant, has been brought back into use via a partnership between venue operator KG Hospitality and brewing giant Asahi.

“We were first in contact about two years ago,” said Ricardo Guimaraes, KG co-founder.

“The lease on their Meantime brewery at Greenwich was up, so they moved operations to Chiswick, but they still wanted to keep a presence in the Royal borough.

“The idea was to have a bar and a microbrewery so they would still be making beer here.

“We looked at a number of units inside The O2.

“They were good, but the logistics weren’t clear. 

“Then we spoke to Knight Dragon – they showed us this space and we thought it was a great location.”

The venue includes plentiful screens showing sport on its first floor - image supplied by KG Hospitality
The venue includes plentiful screens showing sport on its first floor – image supplied by KG Hospitality

embracing the curves

Built by the developer as a sister structure to its main marketing suite for the ongoing regeneration of the Peninsula – the two cylindrical towers share a canopy roof – it’s pretty much the first place tourists and commuters arriving via the Jubilee line see when leaving North Greenwich’s northern exit. 

KG and Asahi took the space and the result is The Dial – a three-level sports bar and restaurant with a microbrewery at ground level and plentiful outdoor space – which opened its doors a little over a month ago. 

“We especially liked the fact we have three floors, which gives us the flexibility to do different things,” said Vineet Kalra, KG’s other co-founder. 

“The lower level is a tap room and houses the brewing facilities and then the first floor is focused on sports. 

“The rooftop bar, which is indoors and also has a terrace, is used for events, but also as an overspill area if we get busy.”

With sales already exceeding expectations by around 25% in its first month, that’s a challenge the owners are already experiencing – albeit a nice problem to have – thanks to custom from the thousands flocking to gigs and events at The O2.

“There are about 200 shows a year and we’ve seen that, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, we can be super busy and again, lots of people stop by afterwards from about 10pm onwards,” said Ricardo.

“That’s particularly true for rock gigs where the audiences are aged 25-45 and are looking for a drink – we didn’t think we’d be selling this much beer quite so soon.

“But we’re also nicely busy between 8pm and 10pm.” 

Vineet added: “We’re also really focusing on the local community.

“There’s a lot of development happening here over the next few years and there will be greater demand from people living here, so it will be interesting to see how they interact with us and what we’re offering.”

The menu features wings, sandos and burgers - image suppled by KG Hospitality
The menu features wings, sandos and burgers – image suppled by KG Hospitality

sports and snacks at The Dial

KG opened The Dial, more or less back-to-back with the launch of its second Amazing Grace live music venue.

Building on the success of its original London Bridge bar – running out of a converted church – its new Canary Wharf branch at 12 Bank Street has been well received in its first weeks.

That project drew on Ricardo and Vineet’s passion for live gigs, while The Dial taps into two of their other interests.

“Again, it’s about creating somewhere we’d like to come,” said Ricardo.

“Beer and sports appeal to us.

“We like American football, baseball – I love to watch pretty much any kind of sport. 

“With this kind of venue in the UK, I think there can be a real lack of energy, so we’re trying to bring the feel of an American sports bar to London.

“We’ve spent quite a bit of time over there and we’re using that for inspiration.”

Vineet added: “That’s true of the food too.

“We’ll be doing things like wings, sandos, burgers, calamari and nachos. 

“We’ll also be looking at expanding the menu in the spring and we plan to have a food truck outside too as well as an outdoor kitchen.”

The Dial is located on Greenwich Peninsula - image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
The Dial is located on Greenwich Peninsula – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

brewing Meantime on site

Beer is clearly a key attraction at the venue, with KG already bringing in extra dispensers for outdoor areas and adding taps to its bars to help serve the crowds more efficiently.

Meantime is represented by a series of large tanks ready to hold the beer produced on-site, with the first brew – Citra Pale – now available.

Also in the pipeline is the return of the brand’s much beloved Yakima Red, set to be a permanent addition to the menu as soon as the first batch is produced.

Pints at the venue start at £6 for a Meantime Dial Lager, at a hangover friendly 3.4% ABV.

“We’re brewing beers here every three to five weeks and we’re engaging with local residents to offer it to them first,” said Ricardo. “It’s very important, I think, that we’re Greenwich-focused.

“The whole idea of the venue is that people can have different experiences when coming here. You can come to The Dial and have a couple of pints before going to a show at The O2.

“But then you can also come here and watch a sporting event, whether that’s boxing, football of F1 with your mates.

“We don’t look like a traditional pub so you can also come down, work on your laptop and have a drink or a meal.

“We offer private hire options and can take around 500 people if you want to book the whole venue.

“We’ve also had people visiting specifically for the beer, which is great and we’re embracing new products such as the lager and the Meantime Midnight Nitro Stout, which is proving really popular.

“What’s nice is that The Dial gives the brewery a home here again – it’s a place where people want to go and this is a great location for that.”

Vineet added: “We’re always learning and this venue will be no different.

“We want to ensure this is a home for sports, food and beer where people really feel at home.”  

The venue includes a microbrewery with Meantime staff crafting beers on site - image supplied by KG Hospitality
The venue includes a microbrewery with Meantime staff crafting beers on site – image supplied by KG Hospitality

key details: The Dial

The Dial: Home Of Meantime is open at Greenwich Peninsula daily from noon-11pm, Monday-Thursday, until 1am on Saturdays and Fridays and until midnight on Sundays.

Find out more about the venue here

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University offers practical, collaborative, career-driven care courses

How the University Of Sunderland In London’s Health And Social Care and Nursing departments offer qualifications focused on employment

Dr Banhishikha Ghosh, lecturer in health and social sciences at the University Of Sunderland In London - image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
Dr Banhishikha Ghosh, lecturer in health and social sciences at the University Of Sunderland In London – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

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“We are very passionate about making sure  our students are appropriately qualified and experienced when they go out into the market,” said Dr Banhishikha Ghosh of the University Of Sunderland In London (UOSiL). 

“We have academics here who have real-world experience of the nursing and care sectors so they can equip students with both theoretical knowledge and practical know-how.”

Banhishikha has a number of roles at the university, based on the Isle Of Dogs at Harbour Exchange.

She’s both academic champion for employability and enterprise and people, culture and environment lead for REF research in addition to her position as lecturer in health and social sciences. 

This trio of jobs – located at the intersection between employment, research and academic study – means she’s well placed to showcase the institution’s offerings to individuals thinking of studying in its social care and nursing departments.

As well as a two-year foundation degree in Health And Social Care, the university offers one-year BSc top-up courses in Health And Social Care and Nursing Practice as well as postgrad courses in Public Health, Nursing Practice and Adult Nursing, the latter leading to eligibility to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council on successful completion.

a ‘fantastic employability team’

“Health And Social Care and Nursing are two departments that work together,” said Banhishikha. 

“A student, for example, might start with the former and then move on to nursing.

“Many move on from our BSc programmes to postgraduate study.

“We are a young and vibrant campus with a mix of students from all over the world and Britain.

“Many already have degrees, with some qualified as doctors, nurses and pharmacists who come to us to get a UK qualification so they can work in this country.

“One of the reasons individuals should consider studying with us is that we have a fantastic employability team, which connects students with local organisations.

“We are looking at a very dynamic employment market, now including AI, so we hold events and workshops as well as an Employability Week once a year where we bring in people working in various industries to help inform students about what skills they need.

“We also feed the students information about internships so they can go out be a part of the healthcare industry.

“Some launch careers before they finish their degrees and I see them engaged in placements and volunteering.

“That means by the time they graduate they have enough experience to apply for jobs and it feels really lovely when you see them take up their first roles.

“We rely a lot on our alumni and our network as academics to help support our students and link them up with different opportunities and organisations. 

“From the first day onwards, we let students know what they have to do to build that experience.

“We advise them to get internships before they come, so they can help us work out what would be the best direction for them.

“We have three pathways we encourage our students to follow.

“The first is the managerial pathway, which trains them to understand how leadership works.

“Then there is the mental health pathway for support workers in that sector.

“Finally, there’s the research pathway, which includes data gathering, report writing and primary and secondary analysis.”

Layla Hyda, head of innovation at Revolution AI - image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
Leyla Hyda, head of innovation at Revolution AI – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

working together with industry

Collaboration with outside organisations is key to the UOSiL’s offering.

The university works with many partners including near neighbour Verve Homecare and its sister company Revolution AI – both based at Harbour Exchange but primarily providing services in people’s residences.

“I’ve recently transitioned to the health tech side of the business,” said Leyla Hyda, head of innovation at Revolution AI.

“My mum has been a carer for more than 25 years and refuses to retire, so I learned a lot about the sector and healthcare in general from her.

“I started off in recruitment, placing nurses in NHS hospitals, but I realised there was so much more I could give.

“I then went to work as an internal auditor, analysing care workers and their checks, working my way up to management level where I was responsible for the complex needs of children and adults and the wellbeing of the staff looking after them.

“I absolutely loved it – I learnt so much more about the sector, even though at first it felt scary being thrown in the deep end. 

“Now I have the opportunity to work in innovation and improve things for the benefit of some of the most vulnerable in our society – that’s my passion.

“Having met with the university, I found they needed placements for students and that I could facilitate that.

“I knew it would be a great opportunity for them to see what working in the sector is like.

“People forget that care is not just about hospitals and nursing homes – there’s also homecare where, in a nutshell, we provide staff to look after a person in the comfort of their home.

“There’s a lot to consider, but our number one priority is always making sure that person is safe.”

The aim of the collaboration is to offer students practical experience and valuable insights into jobs available in the sector.

Leyla said: “We give those coming on placements a complete induction so they understand the ins and outs of care and our company.

“If a student has an interest in complex care, for example, we put them in training sessions at no cost to them so that they can get that exposure to it and see if they want to follow that path.

“Someone interested in mental health might get similar training.

“Then students have an opportunity to sit with the operations team, dealing with rosters and recruitment and pre-employment checks.

“Depending on the student, they can go on visits with a care team in a shadowing role. 

“Those not having that experience will be with us in the office, seeing everything that happens behind the scenes, and assist with that.

“That’s equally important because both operations work in conjunction with each other.”

Both the University Of Sunderland In London and Verve Homecare are based at Harbour Exchange on the Isle Of Dogs - image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
Both the University Of Sunderland In London and Verve Homecare are based at Harbour Exchange on the Isle Of Dogs – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life

the key role of research

The university is also working with Verve and Revolution AI on a research project aimed at improving training for care workers and helping providers retain staff more effectively.

In a first for the London campus, the university has been awarded £211,000 of funding from Innovate UK for a project that aims to “generate vital insight into the lived experiences of frontline care workers, to enhance quality care, support workforce wellbeing, and embed equity into social care training and delivery”.

Banhishikha said: “It’s a project that is close to our hearts.

“When I first joined the university, we had lectures and workshops, and we gave students the opportunity to talk about the placements and their experience of working in the organisation.

“In these very small but very rich focus groups, the feelings that came out were that students were not equipped enough to take care of patients and they would like it if they had better training. 

“When I met Leyla, I realised she had so much experience in the industry.

“Sometimes carers come and go in the industry – there’s a revolving door – and the reason could be that they do not have enough training.

“At the moment education is for carers, but not necessarily ‘by them’ or ‘with them’.

“The idea is that, in partnership with Verve and Revolution AI, we seek to enrich the training frameworks that are already there by tapping into the experience of care workers – especially those of women from migrant populations who are the backbone of the UK care system.

“We capture data from them that can be fed into the system to create robust training, which equips them better at work. 

“We also want to work with others – we’d love to be connected with other organisations who are interested in this area and have information they want to share with us.”

Leyla added: “For us, person-centred care is an essential part of what we do. It’s about the holistic way we deliver services – the people not the bed numbers.

“Training in the sector can be reading slides on powerpoint presentations and tick-box exercises. It’s very easy to pass and could be improved.

“With this project, we are really excited to set the bar high – we want to stop that revolving door.

“Our goal is to equip our care staff with the right tools they need to give them the confidence to go out into the field and deliver the holistic care people deserve.”

key details: Health And Social Care and Nursing courses

The University Of Sunderland In London offers a range of courses in Health And Social Care and Nursing in its Isle Of Dogs campus at Harbour Exchange.

Full details of these can be found on its website here.

Read more: Why a degree in hospitality and tourism can boost your career

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