It’s been 45 years since the Royal Docks ceased to function for their intended purpose.
Having survived the Second World War, they’d become the busiest facilities of their kind in the 1960s only for containerisation to render them redundant as global trade demanded deeper and more accessible ports.
Since their closure in 1981, they’ve lain relatively vacant as land around them has found new purpose as exhibition and events space, a university campus, housing and a home for businesses.
While the development of London City Airport in the late 1980s saw some of the water lost under its runway and, more recently, its new taxiway and aircraft stands, bar the odd pop-up and vessel of interest, little advantage has been taken of the surface of Newham’s largest liquid asset.
Royal Victoria Dock as it is today – image supplied by RDW
what are the plans?
In short, there are three main uses proposed for the 12 hectare stretch of water adjacent to City Hall – floating wellness, a floating park and floating homes.
Plans for the first include a lido, sauna, spa and expanded support for open water swimming in the dock.
The park will comprise a floating green space, art installations and cultural programming with the possibility of future expansion.
The homes will be provided via residential moorings and floating dwellings.
It’s unclear what will happen to existing watersports and hospitality facilities in the area including the Oiler Bar and WakeUp Docklands.
The plans feature a floating lido and sauna facilities – image supplied by RDW
they say
Scott Derben, managing director of Royal Docks Waterways, said: “This vision represents the biggest step change in the management and development of the Royal Docks since they were closed to commercial shipping at the end of 1981.
“Now, 45 years later, our goal is that the docks that used to feed London will be used to nurture its inhabitants.”
The proposals aim to encourage open water swimming – image by Emma Nathan
what now?
Naturally it’s consultation time.
RDW is seeking to engage with stakeholders and members of the public to help shape the detail of the plans as it begins to establish partnerships with organisations that will deliver them.
Britannia Village Hall will host exhibitions of the proposals on March 4, from 3pm-6pm, so people can view them and discuss the ideas.
Online sessions will be held on March 3 and 12 at noon and 6pm for those who can’t make it down in person.
Then, on March 7-8, Thames Sailing Barge Will is set to be moored at Royal Victoria Dock West.
Open from 10am-3pm each day, the 100-year-old vessel will be carrying a cargo of information boards and plentiful post-it notes for people to jot ideas onto.
At 100ft long, she’s the largest of her kind ever built and is well worth a visit in her own right.
Following the public engagement events, there will be further workshops and opportunities to get involved with – details to be disclosed at a later date.
RDW is also looking to have private meetings with local stakeholders and businesses. Interested organisations should email rvdw@royaldockswaterways.com to set up dates.
A floating park would be open to the public – image supplied by RDW
then what?
Following the consultation, feasibility studies and other administrative gubbins, the first elements of the plans are expected to be delivered by 2030.
In some ways, his journey to becoming an entrepreneur reads typical.
He manned his parents’ corner shop as a kid, made extra cash selling sweets in the playground and graduated to tickets for parties.
He studied management science at the London School Of Economics, went to work in the states and then returned to the capital for a couple of years at consultancy giant McKinsey.
“I guess I’ve always had a passion for business,” he said.
“I’ve been building them my whole life.
“When I was creating my second company – a consulting firm – I knew it was going to be hard work.
“I know people see it as cool and sexy, but underneath, it’s tough.
“That was the first time I could afford a personal trainer, a massage therapist and a physio – I got first-hand experience of what impact the idea of holistic health can have on your life.
“It wasn’t just about looking good to go on holiday – it affected my energy and how I felt.
“Before, I’d thought holistic health was a fallacy.
“But in building that business, I saw the opportunity to create Until.
“As I explored health and wellness, I found that the existing operating model for practitioners in the sector was to spend some years learning their craft, often while being paid relatively poorly.
“Going freelance was seen as taking a risk, so the majority were still working for companies with others choosing to set up on their own.
“In this sector, typically, you don’t learn business skills when you’re training as a doctor or a physio.
“The idea for Until was to build an infrastructure that would help practitioners create their own businesses and unlock their potential.
“I thought it might attract more people to their services and be a cool journey to go on.”
In short, Vishal’s concept was to collect a diverse set of practitioners in a single location to both support their operations and to foster collaboration between them.
Until co-founder Vishal Amin – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
a place that fosters collaboration
“It is a practitioner-first business, where we wanted to allow top-rate people to be able to collaborate and build multi-disciplinary teams,” said Vishal who co-founded the company in 2021 and is currently CEO.
“In doing that, we’ve created locations where you can get all your services instead of having to shop around with different postcodes and different waiting rooms.
“We provide a very integrated experience.
“The practitioners join the ecosystem and, for a membership fee, they can service their clients at our clubs.
“Consumers come to us with a specific need or problem and we’ll help to provide a team of people to help.
“Gone are the days when only professional athletes access these services.
“High performance comes in many different forms and we need a team to support that.
“What we do is help consumers build that team.”
Opening initially in Soho with coaches and trainers, Until has since branched out to host medical professionals.
It’s gone on to launch clubs in Liverpool Street and Marylebone and is gearing up to unveil its Canary Wharf location at YY London in the spring.
“Every day there is new learning, especially with how to get practitioners to work collaboratively,” said Vishal.
“We haven’t nailed it yet, it’s not straightforward, which is probably why it wasn’t there before.
“Step one was building environments which practitioners can work from.
“Step two is helping them to access the customers, so we have to find ways to get people to use the services.
“The idea is that we will act as both landlord and referrer.”
Until has won the backing of investor, entrepreneur and podcaster Steven Bartlett who joined the business in 2023 as marketing co-founder.
Its expansion to Canary Wharf, taking space in a building where it will count Revolut and Deutsche Bank as neighbours is something of a statement of intent.
Until’s club will offer fitness facilities for personal trainers to use – image supplied by Until
bringing Until to east London
“Canary Wharf has always been part of our vision,” said Vishal.
“Health and wellness isn’t just aspirational any more, it’s essential.
“Since the pandemic, everyone has their eye on it.
“The great thing about Canary Wharf is it allows our practitioners to build their brand.
“The transport connections here mean we can serve a wider area – you really feel you’re in the city centre.
“This will be our largest club and the first where we have all five facilities available – train, treat, coach, medical and dental.
“I’m most excited about the combination of expertise we’ll be offering here.
“It’s going to be a beautiful club to visit in a fantastic location.
“Once all of our practitioners come together, it allows consumers to experience how their services join up.
“Once that happens, they begin to understand the deeper benefits.
“For example, we offer dental services because oral health is connected to brain health.
“Adding in medical services is really important to what we’re doing.
“Also there are huge businesses around here and they all want to help their employees to get healthier.
“Many have facilities within their premises, but they’re just not activating them. It’s not inspiring.
“I’d like to help them to put programmes together, some of which could be delivered within their buildings and others outside.
“We have a community of practitioners in London who could come and leverage that.
“So we want to build corporate relationships. We’re here to add value to the estate.
The facility will also have treatment and consultation rooms – image supplied by Until
key details: Until Canary Wharf
Until currently operates clubs in Soho, Marylebone and Liverpool Street, with Canary Wharf set to open this spring.
You can find out more information, including a list of practitioners working from its sites via this link.
Until’s clubs are intended as a one-stop-shop for health and wellness – image supplied by Until
Corporate travel platform has designed-in green tools to help firms report on their carbon footprint when using the railway across the UK
Taking a train to Woking from London Waterloo saves about 5.71kg of carbon emissions compared to driving there in a diesel car – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
The town – a rapid 23 minutes by direct train from London Waterloo – is hot on sustainability.
That makes it an ideal setting to talk about the increasing importance companies and their suppliers will be putting on assessing, logging and publicising their emissions, given new reporting standards that are coming into force across the UK.
Travel on SWR’s network to the destination and you’ll have generated an estimated 1.47kg of CO2 per traveller.
This is a marked reduction on riding a motorbike there (4.72kg) or taking a car powered by petrol (6.76kg) or diesel (7.18kg).
One of the benefits of the operator’s Business Direct service is that such data is instantly available for all journeys at the point of booking, enabling easy comparison and reporting.
The ideal place to grab a quality coffee at Woking station – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
why Woking?
So why travel to Woking?
The area has long been a hive of human activity, with archaeological remains dating back at least 4,000 years.
Listed in the Domesday book as Wochinges, the town was home to King Henry VII’s mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, author HG Wells, while he was writing The War Of The Worlds and welcomed its first train in 1838.
Today, Woking is a base for a wealth of businesses including the UK headquarters of Japanese brewing giant Asahi, the main location for high end car manufacturer McLaren Automotive and a key site for power firm ABB.
It’s serious about green issues too, with both the local borough council and nearby horticultural powerhouse of RHS Wisley aiming to be carbon neutral or better by 2030.
Such forward thinking is why it’s also home to The Living Planet Centre – headquarters of the World Wildlife Fund’s UK operation and an ecologically sound structure that provides extensive events space within easy reach of the station.
The Living Planet Centre in Woking – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
green space and attractions
Woking is both close to London and in touch with nature, thanks to the likes of Wisley and the historic Horsell Common, making it well placed to welcome guests with numerous hotels for longer stays.
There’s also a vibrant hospitality and cultural scene with regeneration attracting names such as Gordon Ramsey as well as a succession of independent operators to serve the needs of locals and visitors alike.
The centre also features theatres and cinemas, plenty of shops and a spacious library.
The Lightbox Gallery in Woking – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
The Lightbox Gallery, opened in 2007, acts a museum and creative space at the heart of the town for those who prefer to take things at a slower pace, presenting regular exhibitions and core collections.
All-in-all, this is a destination that’s well worth exploring beyond the confines of pure business travel.
At a mere 30 minutes from Canary Wharf (via the Jubilee line to Waterloo), it’s an intriguing prospect for a half-day outing, a place to stage an event away from the smoke or a venue for a working lunch that rolls over into the afternoon and then the evening.
The Gosling offers top quality service and delicately cooked food – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
The Gosling Restaurant And Bar
>> Set a short taxi or bus ride from Woking station, this cosy, modern restaurant delivers on flavour and value.
Perfect for a business lunch, it offers a three-course set menu for £30, including a choice of dishes from the the likes of gently curried cauliflower soup, pan-fried sea bream, corn-fed chicken breast and Madagascan vanilla pannacotta with spiced winter berries.
Set on the edge of Horsell Common, this is a must-visit locally and diners should give serious thought to indulging in the rock oysters for £3.80, neatly shucked and dressed on a bed of ice.
Marvellously ramshackle: Cellar Magnifique is close to the station – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
Cellar Magnifique Wine Bar And Café
>> Tucked away on Church Path a few steps from Woking Station, this quirky venue includes a table supported by a bicycle, a chair suspended from its roof and an improbably large collection of wine bottles behind its sprawling bar.
Ideally placed for those catching trains back into London or travelling further afield, the menu extends to vintages by the glass, carafe and bottle, craft beers, ciders, spirits, liqueurs, cigars and cocktails as well as coffees and teas.
There’s even a selection of snacks, savoury platters and sweet treats to enjoy while the clock ticks onwards.
SWR’s Joe Thurgood says SWR Business Direct makes reporting on travel’s carbon footprint easy for companies – image supplied by SWR
on track with SWR’s Joe Thurgood
Q
With mandatory UK Sustainability Reporting Standards coming into force for 2026/27, how can SWR Business Direct help large companies, and those supplying services to them, keep track of their carbon footprint when booking travel?
A
Now businesses will need to report on their carbon footprint, South Western Railway Business Direct can take the headache out of the paperwork and get your carbon house in order.
Carbon tracking might sound a bit daunting, so we’ve built the tools directly into the booking process to make it feel like second nature.
When your team logs on to book a train, they aren’t just seeing times and prices, they’re seeing the real-time CO2 impact of those journeys.
It turns a mandatory requirement into an easy, everyday choice.
Because we use industry-standard benchmarks (aligned with the Rail Delivery Group), organisations can trust that the data is “decision-ready” for official reports.
No more messy spreadsheets or best-guess estimates at the end of the financial year, the data is available with just a couple of clicks and you have a full report at your fingertips, plus comparisons to other modes of transport.
For suppliers, it’s a total win, too.
When your clients ask what the carbon footprint of the team you’re sending to us is, users can give them an exact, professional answer.
SWR Business Direct essentially acts as your sustainability sidekick, capturing all those miles and converting them into the clean, audited data the new UK standards demand.
“If you’re still looking at your hands, you’re not playing music,” said Darryl Powis, founder of Kitchen Jam.
That sentence may sound a little daunting to rusty players or those who’ve never even tried to strum a guitar, but it needn’t.
The music school Darryl and his wife, Jennifer Barlow, founded more than a decade ago is here to help and it’s opening a second branch in Canary Wharf.
Kitchen Jam is the latest business to launch in Wood Wharf, thanks to a collaboration between Canary Wharf Group and Tower Hamlets Council, offering companies affordable commercial space.
On the food and drink front, Mama Li, Nora, Ong Lai Kopitaim, Cafe Seek, Lockdown, Supershakes and Signorelli are all now trading.
Other openings include floristry from The Flower Club, Wayne Hairdresser Salon, beauty salon Awe London, Pawsome Pet Grooming And Spa, The Island Reformer Pilates Studio and clothing repair business Omnifix.
Kitchen Jam, however, is something truly new for the area – the first time retail premises have been used to offer music tuition in the district.
As a kid, Darryl tried learning the violin and then had some piano lessons aged around 10.
Kitchen Jam’s Wood Wharf school is fully equipped for group lessons – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
obsessed with guitar
“My parents had been musicians in a former life – guitar players – so I was around music the whole time,” he said.
“I really got into guitar at the age of 15, as I was banned from computers because I was so addicted to them.
“I taught myself guitar and bass. My piano teacher, who also taught me some clarinet, came back when I was 15 because he could play guitar a bit.
“He’d sit with me for half an hour while I played and he’d talk to me about music. I did music GCSE, but they didn’t really want me, even at A-level.
“You had to study pieces from the 1800s, and I couldn’t read music or chords at that time, although I could play guitar really well.
“I always had a good ear, so I could listen and then play what I’d heard.
“I just knew it was what I wanted to do.
“I played in a couple of bands in my school. Then, aged 17, I became the lead guitarist in my brother’s band.
“He was older than me and at university already.
“That took many different forms and that was my education – getting gigs and playing to very few people.
“I moved to London in 2012 with my band Neon Nurse, determined to make it.
“We thought retro-funk was going to have a resurgence. It didn’t. In fact, I’m not sure there was really a ‘surgence’ in the first place.
“When I came to London, I played in a lot of bands, although it was all by ear.
“I still didn’t really know the notes on the guitar neck, but people would book me for gigs and said what I was doing was great.
“When I first started teaching, I was really fixing my own problems.
“Initially I thought I was going to support my music career, but I ended up falling in love with the actual teaching itself – seeing people grow.”
The school is one of a number of independent businesses now calling Wood Wharf home – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
developing a system of tuition
At first, Darryl taught students in the kitchen of the house he was sharing in Leyton.
More traditional methods of tuition follow graded exams as a way to mark progress and provide goals for players, but Kitchen Jam goes its own way.
Darryl said: “All the times I’d made progress as a musician were when I was playing in a band – it gave me something bigger to play for, like a gig coming up.
“So, I was looking for how I could give someone a personalised experience and that took me about six years to figure out.
“Once you get guitarists jamming in a room with others – people you may have thought you’d never spend time with – suddenly you all have something in common.
“It’s a community.
“I’ve been using the method I developed for more than a decade and we’ve had adults who couldn’t play the guitar at all go from that to fronting a band and playing gigs.
“Our approach is quite structured, but it’s intended to feel very fluid and be great fun.
“Everything you learn is in context and these are the milestones that unlock people’s abilities.
“We use a system of levels on the guitar so we can work out where people are before it then branches out into personal musical tastes.
“For example, someone might be able to play chords and some scales but doesn’t know how to solo.
“That’s a typical entry point at Kitchen Jam.”
Kitchen Jam comes complete with amps, guitar and a vintage Triumph motorbike – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
from a kitchen table to a school
With a sound philosophy established, the next chapter in the business’ story began with a new location.
“Jen, my then girlfriend, who’s now my wife, couldn’t believe it was actually working, that I was getting people to come for lessons in my horrible house,” said Darryl.
“I was already using a community centre across the road as a venue where I’d invite guitarists from around the world to come and do workshops for my students.
“But she said she would figure out how to get a proper space.
“We looked at loads of places but the first unit we viewed – in Stratford’s East Village – was the one.
“It was closer to the stations and was a safer walk, so we thought we’d get more people. When we started trading it just exploded.”
Having grown and expanded, Kitchen Jam now caters to students of almost any age with sessions for babies as young as four months, guitar and ukelele programmes for younger children, lessons for teenagers and lessons for adults of all levels.
Darryl’s oldest student is in his 80s. It even welcomes bass players.
“This whole thing is about creating the space for what people want to do,” said Darryl.
“It’s about how we can help people fall in love with playing – with trying to do this thing.
“The first session is free and it’s always on a one-to-one basis – people need to know that relationship is going to work before they commit.
“If you’re a complete beginner, we’ll teach you something.
vIf you’re more experienced, you’ll go through an assessment to find out what your skills are, where it is you want to go and then we’ll formulate a plan.
“We also ask people to go away and list 30 songs that they love so we can get a rounder picture of who they are as a musician.
“They might be guitar related or not.
“Mozart, Metallica and Eminem will all help us see where you may be going and what techniques you’re going to need to get there.
“It also helps us refine what we teach – we’re not going to force a student to learn power chords if they have no interest in music that uses them.
“Through this process, we produce a sheet for your teacher and that becomes the plan when you come to your first group lesson.
“Every class is an hour long and they’re themed so the student understands the context – it might be guitar theory, phrasing, soloing and so on.
“These allow players to build confidence by playing real songs and jamming regularly.
“Our monthly rate includes five classes plus a workshop at the end of the month which is a larger, three-hour jam session based around one song.
“We break it down and play it through. Then there’s space to hang out after.”
a different offering to online
Kitchen Jam also organises gigs, open mic nights and facilitates the formation of bands to give students as much real-world experience as possible.
Darryl is passionate about the benefits that playing in a group can bring, partly as an alternative to learning online in isolation.
“Playing with people or in a band on stage is completely different,” he said.
“You might end up learning really impressive things online – because that’s what gets attention – but they don’t always make sense when you’re jamming with a group.
“When you listen to the Beatles, for example, the musicianship is incredible but the individual parts probably wouldn’t get much attention on TikTok or Instagram.
“Real playing is about learning how to fit in with other musicians and understanding how the sounds are created and work together.”
The business’ latest branch feels like the ideal place to facilitate that understanding.
Fully equipped with high-end amps and walls dripping with mics, guitars, basses and even tools to keep the instruments in shape, it’s an impressive addition to the Wood Wharf street scene, not least because of the hefty (working) Triumph motorbike in the window.
With a drum kit that’s always set up, substantial rugs on the floor and walls painted black, it’s just waiting to be filled with the sound of strings strummed.
key details: Kitchen Jam
Kitchen Jam’s Canary Wharf branch is located in Wood Wharf’s East Lane on the ground floor to the rear of 8 Harbord Square.
Initial one-to-one taster sessions are free. Guitarists signing up before April 1, 2026, will also benefit from the Founders discount, with monthly rates at £200 for adults, normally £257.
Three, six and 12 month packages are also available.
The honeyed brick-built expanse of the Fireworks Factory at Woolwich Works is set to ring with the subtle clink of glasses and the sound of distilled liquids gently filling them, as Whisky Live And Fine Spirits London returns towards the end of March.
Over two days, around 3,000 visitors are expected to taste products from a wide range of distillers at the showcase, this year celebrating its 26th edition.
“It’s the ultimate whisky event,” said Jamie Brodie, media director at Paragraph Publishing – a company that founded WhiskyMagazine in 1997 and put on its first show three years later.
“We license Whisky Live all over the globe – in France, Ireland, Spain, Germany and many more countries – it’s gone from strength to strength.
“Visiting the event is a real journey of tastes and flavours from all over the world.
“For our 2026 London show we’ll have more than 50 stands with different brands – the best from Scotland, Ireland, Europe, America, India and Japan.
“We have visitors coming who are seasoned enthusiasts alongside beginners who are trying whisky for the first time.
“Whether you’re new or returning to the show, this is a chance for you to come to an event where you can spend a day talking to people about whisky and other spirits.
“It’s not just about tasting them.
“It’s finding out about their heritage, how they are created and made – things like the maturation processes, how long it takes and the differences between all the different brands and expressions.
“People coming have the opportunity to try whiskies from all over the globe, not just the straightforward single malts, but wheats, ryes, grains, blends – a real variety of different types.
“We’ll also have tequillas, vodkas and gins.”
The gathering will see enthusiasts and producers brought together in the venue’s Fireworks Factory – image supplied by Whisky Live
tastings at Whisky Live
The format is straightforward.
Standard ticket holders get unlimited whisky pourings in their Glencairn tasting glass over a three-hour period, with five-hour and six-hour packages also available, the latter with a succession of premium perks.
Street food vendors will be on hand to provide fuel for those who need it, alongside soft drink options and plenty of water stations.
“It’s very important for people to stay hydrated,” said Jamie.
“Whisky Live is all about enjoying these spirits responsibly – tasting them in the right environment and appreciating them.
“The show is for finding out more about whisky and making it accessible without being patronising, so people can understand what they’re tasting in a comfortable, welcoming space.
“We want people to take back some really strong memories and to have a fun day out.”
Brands represented include Glencadam, Tomintoul, Aber Falls, Green River, Fuji, Jura, Fettercairn and Crazy Cock.
The show will also feature entertainment from pianist and sing-a-long specialist Tom Carradine as well as plenty of movers and shakers from the world of whisky.
Masterclasses include the opportunity to blend your own whisky on the day – image supplied by Whisky Live
masterclass experiences
Jamie said: “You’ve got some of the great master blenders working today as well as the writing teams from Whisky Magazine on hand to share their expertise.
“We’re not about swilling whisky, we’re about sipping and talking it over.
“People who come to these events often want to take something special away with them and brands will be retailing throughout the two days.
“We’ll also be running a number of masterclasses – an opportunity for people to find out more about particular whiskies from the people who make them.
“For example we’ll have master blender Dan Callaway from Bardstown Bourbon Company in the USA and master blender Jota Tanaka from Fuji Gotemba in Japan running sessions and inviting visitors to taste some of their range.
“Whisky Magazine editor, Bradley Weir will be hosting a masterclass where people can learn to blend their own whisky.
“It’s something we’ve been doing for a number of years now and visitors can choose to have their whisky bottled and then engraved ready for collection the same day.”
Ticket prices include unlimited pourings during a set period – image supplied by Whisky Live
the world’s best at Whisky Live
In addition to the wide array of tasting options, the show is also an opportunity to sample some of the very best spirits the world has to offer.
“We run the World Whiskies Awards and the winners are set to be announced on March 25,” said Jamie.
“We’ll have those brands available on our World Whiskies Awards Premium Stand at Whisky Live for visitors to try.
“Those who opt for premium tickets get that experience included – the opportunity to try the very best across a range of categories.
“Some distilleries will also be bringing special casks produced specifically for the event along for people to taste – whiskies that are not available anywhere else on the planet.
“This will be our third time at Woolwich Works, which is easily accessible thanks to the Elizabeth Line.
“We deliberately keep it as an intimate show that’s designed to be very straightforward.
“It’s not overwhelming or intimidating.
“It’s not about the look, but about the flavour, whether you’re new to whisky or already enthusiastic about it.
“People can choose to taste and ingest or taste and spit – the important thing is that they have the opportunity to try unique whiskies that they wouldn’t normally get to sample and they find something they like.”
key details: Whisky Live And Fine Spirits London
Whisky Live And Fine Spirits London is set to take place on March 27 and 28 at Woolwich Works.
Tickets start at £61.91 with entry times varying depending on the level of access.
Readers can get 10% off all tickets to the show by using code LDN26 when booking.
For the last 14 years, financial services firm Investec Bank has been fostering social entrepreneurship in east London.
Run in partnership with the Bromley By Bow Centre, its Investec Beyond Business programme has seen scores of businesses created with the aim of solving social problems.
These operations have a collective turnover of nearly £10million since the initiative was started in 2011 and support some 430 jobs.
Now entering its 15th year, individuals and organisations are encouraged to submit their applications by March 15, 2026, for up to £24,000 of funding each.
Ideas must have a clear social purpose and support communities in Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham, Waltham Forest, Islington or Barking And Dagenham
“We are typically looking for entry-level startups, which are no more than two years old, that will generate profit and reinvest this money in what they’re doing,” said Amitava Guha, enterprise team leader at the Bromley By Bow Centre.
“You don’t have to have a registered company – you might have identified an issue and want to start something to help address it. We can work with that.
“For 2026, I think we really want to elevate this programme, to support big ideas.
“People often opt for the safe route, but I think you can’t really become a successful entrepreneur if you don’t take risks.
“You have to have determination.”
The Bromley By Bow Centre in east London – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
mentoring, coaching and support
This is an area in which Amit is well versed.
Having founded and led digital consultancy Magicframe in India from 2006 to 2020, his own journey has been steeped in business development.
Having relocated to the UK and exited that company, he’s recently spent time coaching, mentoring and advising others on how to turn their ideas into viable operations.
“I joined the Bromley By Bow Centre in 2024 to take care of the Investec Beyond Business programme,” he said.
“Last year we received 148 applications, long-listed 30 and then short-listed 10 to present their ideas to the Investec panel, Dragon’s Den-style.
“Each year, we try to fund four or five enterprises.
“What’s essential is that, if you are called to make that presentation, you can explain your idea well so we can understand what you want to do because, ultimately, it will be you driving this change.
“Many of the ideas that are submitted have been quite good, quite interesting, but I think we can go further.
“We’d love to see some interesting thoughts coming out of Canary Wharf, for example.
“One of the important things to consider is that, while we understand people often come from a social action background, social action is not social enterprise.
“These ideas have to work as businesses.”
One of last year’s winners was Round Retail, a charitable resale platform for branded items where sellers get a third of the sale price and the balance goes to local charities and to fund expansion.
Feeling Social and TrailFam also won funding, providing mental health first aid training to organisaitons and offering trail running programmes to young people, respectively.
While Bamboo Bicycle Club is already an established business in Canning Town, the panel decided to fund its project to work with parents serving custodial sentences to build bikes for their kids to help maintain a tangible connection with their children.
Bamboo Bicycle Club founder James Marr received funding from Investec Beyond Business – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
ideas with the potential to spread
Amit said: “We made an exception for this company because it was such a good idea.
“It was quite emotional for us and the programme has gone really well.
“It’s a good example of exactly the kind of projects Investec Beyond Business wants to fund.
“They can be small ideas that start in east London but have the potential to spread everywhere.
“We really like ideas that get people to think differently.
“They don’t need to be absolutely radical or outside the box and it can be something that needs some development.
“One of the key things for us is that the £24,000 is seed funding, to support the person or the organisation the idea has come from.
“We don’t restrict how that money is spent, but we do have quarterly meetings with the winner and produce a report.
vWe’re also on hand to mentor and support them and many previous winners also participate in the programme in this way.
“That’s a process that continues beyond the first year.”
With 50 applications already received, the 2026 programme of funding is set to begin in May, after shorlisting and interviews in April.
Issues typically addressed by applicants include social enterprises working in youth unemployment, social isolation and loneliness, mental health and wellbeing, community cohesion, the rehabilitation of ex‑offenders, food insecurity and environmental sustainability.
Those applying – and IBB especially welcomes applications from under-represented founders – are expected to demonstrate how their idea would benefit at least one of the six boroughs it operates across.
Amit said one area of focus he would like to see tackled was the pervasive effect of social media on both the young and old.
“I think there are a lot of problems around attention and interaction,” he said.
“Through social media and AI, we’re in danger of creating generations of people who have no idea what they’re talking about and can’t articulate their ideas when they go for an interview, for example.
“I worry these technologies are damaging our ability to think independently and I’d love to hear ideas around what can be done to address this.”
key details: Investec Beyond Business
Applicants to the Investec Beyond Business programme are invited to submit their ideas to the programme by March 15, 2026.
…my feet slip in first, breaking the gently shifting blue surface of the water, liquid so chilled it feels silken as I sink down into it.
Muscles tensing, heart-rate climbing, my breathing quickens as my body goes into full fight or flight mode in response to the unrelenting cold.
But I don’t lose it to the panic, I take deeper breaths, bringing the shock under control, then relax into the balm of the icy water, counting my inhales and my exhales.
The monolithic sensation of the chill is all I can think about – sensory overload – until a few minutes later it’s time to wake and emerge from the water…
Third Space mind and body master trainer, Clare Walters – image supplied by Third Space
some like it chilled…
“Contrast therapy and cold exposure are not new disciplines, they’ve been around since ancient times,” said Clare Walters, mind and body master trainer at Third Space.
“There has been a really rich culture of sauna and polar plunges in lots of the Scandinavian and eastern European countries and the practices in this country go back at least to Roman times with baths of different temperatures.
“However, there’s a growing recognition of their benefits in the wellness industry.”
Recently, in response to this demand, the luxury health club fitted a Brass Monkey cold plunge facility at its Wood Wharf branch, offering members who’ve heated up in its steam room and sauna, or who just feel the need for a profound full-body chill, a poolside option overlooking the dock far below.
“The brand is one of the leading providers of ice baths and they really know their stuff,” said Clare.
“The products are of a really high standard with the water constantly filtered to ensure its clean and that the temperature remains stable.
“That’s important, because you need that cold shock to get the benefits.
“Recovery and wellness is very much something we’re prioritising in our clubs and, for me, it’s a mission to help people regulate their nervous systems.
“We have lots of ways of doing that and cold exposure is an important tool we can use.
“We offer cryotherapy at our Recovery Spa in Third Space Canary Wharf, which some people prefer.
“It’s much colder than the water of a plunge could ever be, but it’s a dry cold for up to three minutes and you warm up quickly afterwards.
“You still get the benefits, but it doesn’t feel quite as intense.
“An ice bath can feel more dramatic and, because exposure is for a longer time, there’s an aspect of building mental resilience to it as well.
“When you go into the cold, you’re experiencing something which, in large quantities, could be very bad and possibly fatal – but is very beneficial for small amounts of time.
“Doing hard things you don’t necessarily want to do can help build mental and emotional resilience.
“It’s similar to training really hard in the gym.
“When you push yourself lifting weights, for instance, you know you’ve accomplished something and you feel really good about yourself.
“There’s also a neurological aspect to cold exposure.
“When you plunge or do cryo, you get a huge rush of dopamine into the bloodstream – around 200% higher than your baseline rate.
“Drugs may induce that kind of change but only for a few minutes whereas, a cold water rush can last for many hours.
“When I do a cold plunge, I can walk around the city for hours feeling happy.
“It can be really good for regulating mental health, particularly in the winter months, when it’s grey and dark and there’s very little Vitamin D coming to us.”
Ready and waiting, the Brass Monkey cold plunge at the Wood Wharf Club – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
advice on cold plunging at Third Space
Alternating between hot and cold is also widely thought to further boost these benefits with both environments having the added bonus of easing muscle pain and other physical stresses.
But how best to approach the icy depths?
Clare said: “First of all I’d say you should not aim for a long period of time in the water.
“If you’re new to cold plunging, you should aim for 30 seconds plus, but definitely try to get all the way in.
“I’ve seen so many people going in, getting to knee height, saying ‘no’ and getting straight back out again.
“Some get straight in and then out again.
There will be benefits, because you’ll be getting into your fight or flight response, but the real benefits come if you stick to it for a little bit longer.
“Doing it gradually can be real torture, so get in swiftly, but smoothly, not in a chaotic way.
“Get the water to neck height if you can – over you shoulders and to the back of your neck. It will feel more intense, but you’ll be able to calm down quicker.
“The gasp reflex is what we want – your sympathetic nervous system is triggered and your stress hormones are released.
“The heart rate starts to speed up and you get more blood flow around the body, but the longer we’re in the cold, we want to calm ourselves down – that’s when we think about breath.
“Focus on exhaling through pursed lips, which will force you to extend your exhale and start to calm down.
“Once you feel that’s happening, start to take an even, slow breath – breathing in for a slow count of four and then out for the same.
“Hold still. You can even close your eyes if you like.
“When I’m in the cold, my mind just goes clear, I just sit there and it feels amazing.
“Some people feel their extremities get cold – that’s because your blood vessels constrict and direct the blood flow to your vital organs to keep you alive.
“Combining a plunge with the sauna is great for this because in the heat your blood vessels open up and going between the two can be really good for circulation.
“Hands can also be kept out of the water for those who feel the cold in them.
“Ultimately a good rule of thumb to aim for is about one minute of immersion per degree of the ice bath.
“At Wood Wharf it’s kept between 5ºC and 7ºC.
“Typically women need less time, while men tolerate the cold a bit better.
“Conversely the opposite is true in the sauna.
“Across a week, we say 11 minutes of cold plunging and an hour in the sauna will give you optimum benefit for both, although not in a single session.”
The sauna at Third Space Wood Wharf – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
embracing contrast therapy
With the facility at Wood Wharf up and running, further change is coming to the Canary Wharf club, which is set to open a new Wellness Spa later in the year.
This will include a hydropool, a cold plunge pool, a steam room, heated loungers as well as two different kinds of sauna.
There will also be a sky garden for members to relax in.
We’ll bring you more news on this major development in a future issue of Wharf Life.
key details: Third Space membership at Canary Wharf
The Wharf membership at Third Space includes access to both its Wood Wharf and Canary Wharf clubs and costs £245 per month.
Group and Group Plus memberships, which include access to other sites are also available.
“It was while I was working in finance in the City that I had the idea,” said Catherine Hua, founder of Mama Li.
“My mum has an extensive background working in Chinese restaurants and each day she would make me a packed lunch with Cantonese roast meats, rice and vegetables.
“I’d bring in food and heat it up because I didn’t really like the options around me – nowhere was offering the type of food or the quality my mum was making.
“Some of my colleagues noticed and started asking where I’d got my lunch.
“When I told them I was bringing the meals in from home, they asked whether they could get some too.
“That’s when I thought there might be something here.”
During the pandemic, Catherine’s mum was furloughed amid the uncertainty and the pair decided to start a business together, initially cooking takeaway orders from a small kitchen in Shoreditch.
“We named it after mum – it’s also what the chefs would call her in the kitchens that she worked in – and began with a small selection of rice, noodles and roast meats to see if people would like the food or not,” said Catherine.
“We had crispy pork, roast duck, soy chicken and our BBQ pork.
“We also had egg fried rice, a small selection of noodles, beansprout chow mein, Singapore noodles and a selection of other wok dishes.
“We were delivery only at that point – it was easier because we were testing an idea.
“Then, we opened our first store in Tower Hill about a year and half later.”
Mama Li founder, Catherine Hua – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
expanding Mama Li to Canary Wharf
Since then, the business’ five-year journey has seen it open a second branch at London Wall in the heart of the City and now a third at Canary Wharf.
The new location recently opened its doors on Wood Wharf’s Union Square – one of a multitude of independent businesses that now call the area home thanks to a collaboration between Canary Wharf Group and Tower Hamlets Council to offer companies affordable commercial space.
In addition to Mama Li, those in search of food and drink can check out Nora, Ong Lai Kopitaim, Cafe Seek, Lockdown, Supershakes and Signorelli.
Other openings include floristry from The Flower Club, Wayne Hairdresser Salon, beauty salon Awe London, Pawsome Pet Grooming And Spa, The Island Reformer Pilates Studio and clothing repair business Omnifix.
Catherine, who recently moved to the Isle Of Dogs, said Mama Li has evolved with each opening and that the brand’s latest site was an opportunity to try something new.
Mama Li’s new Wood Wharf store includes sit-down dining – image supplied by Mama Li
the evolution of a brand
“We call them stores because we were not offering a sit-down, restaurant-style table service in our first two branches,” she said.
“They’re more like a cafe. Customers order at our kiosk, go to the counter, get their food, find a seat, eat and then go.
“Of course, they can also get their meal as takeaway.
“This one is a bit of an evolution where we have introduced a sit-down dining experience with table service and a bar.
“That enables us to deliver a more extensive menu for those who want to spend a bit more time with us.
“Over the other side, we still have the to-go elements where people can order on the screens and either have a quick bite or grab their food and head off.”
Catherine remains in tune with her busy customer base, working full-time in tech as an analyst, while also running Mama Li.
Her mum continues as “the core of the business” overseeing its kitchens and operations.
“Without her, I don’t think there would be a Mama Li,” said Catherine.
“She makes sure we deliver and is constantly quality-testing to make sure everything is where it needs to be and everyone is doing what they need to do.
“She’s one of my biggest supports, as I am one of hers.
“Then there’s our incredible team, without whom we just wouldn’t be here.
“It is wild to see how far we’ve come in such a short space of time.
“I tell people this is still the beginning, but the journey has been incredible, the people we’ve met and worked with.
“I’m really grateful for the experience of building something together.”
Brightly coloured crockery stands ready at the new branch – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
based on the data
With a growing Asian population, opening in Canary Wharf felt like a good fit for Mama Li, but the decision to open further east was soundly based on the numbers.
“I’m a data person – every choice I make has to be backed by data,” said Catherine.
“I noticed a lot of our orders came from this area, so I thought, why not open a store nearer to our customers?
“We’ve had a lot of requests to open new branches, especially from this area.
“The opportunity for this space came up, so we thought it would be silly not to take the opportunity and run with it.
“It does make sense to be here and it’s a step in the right direction.
“We wanted to extend our footprint out of the City and Canary Wharf was the natural direction to go in, both because of our current customer base, but also the office crowd too.
“I’d love to open more stores across London and perhaps beyond, but we’ll see how this one goes first.”
The Canary Wharf branch has an extended menu featuring a wide range of dishes including noodle soups – image supplied by Mama Li
‘I want to see what they think…’
For Catherine, opening on the Wharf is all about watching the impact Mama Li has.
She said: “I’m excited to see people coming, for them to try our food – both those who have not been to us before and are eating it for the first time and those who have been before and are coming again.
“I want to see what they think and then use that feedback to do even better.
“We have a menu that caters for different groups. If you’re a meat eater, then we have our signature roast meats.
“These are hung on our meat display for everyone to see and you can see our chefs in action as well.
“Every meat order is chopped to order, so you know you’re going to get the freshest slices. Presentation is key for us too, we always try to make our dishes look nice and appetising.
“With our range of Cantonese roast meats, customers can have one, two or three different types paired with rice and vegetables, which is a complete, wholesome meal – my go-to is duck and crispy pork. It’s very comforting.
“In Canary Wharf, we’ll also be offering a new menu with noodle soups. The broth is made in-house and simmered for 24 hours for the flavour.
“Again, customers will be able to choose to have different types of meats and vegetables paired with either more traditional thin, flat noodles or with a chewier, rounder variety.
“I started Mama Li because I wanted more people to experience the lunches my mum made for me.
“Having something to connect with is really important – when we were starting out, people would message us and tell us the food reminded them of home and that’s exactly what we wanted.
“I hope people will continue to connect with us and get that comfort from what we’re doing.”
key details: Mama Li
Mama Li is located on Union Square in Wood Wharf’s 3 West Lane building.
“When I first went to university, it was all about theory,” said Dr Alessandro Ferrazza.
“Working in industry, I’d have to ask how to transfer that theory into practice.
“The ideas sounded good in the book, but I didn’t know how to apply them in reality. What we try to do here is to break down those barriers.”
As senior lecturer and programme manager for the MSc International Business Management (IBM) course at the University Of Sunderland In London, Alessandro is perhaps perfectly placed to take on that task.
A long career in industry – interwoven with a consistent thread of study and personal development – preceded his move into academia, after he enjoyed guest lecturing at the University Of Sunderland In London, following completion of an MBA in business administration, management and operations there in 2017.
Going full-time in 2019, initially as an associate lecturer, Alessandro completed his doctorate in business and remains passionate – alongside the wider team – about continuing to develop the university’s IBM offering.
And, frankly, who better to teach international business?
Born in Switzerland, Alessandro grew up in Rome, completing a diploma from the Institute For Hospitality Management in the Italian capital.
The University Of Sunderland In London is based at Harbour Exchange on the Isle Of Dogs – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
starting out in hospitality
“I started off washing dishes in Guernsey and I hated every single minute of it,” he said.
“After one week, I packed it in and walked out. They didn’t even pay me.
“My lecturer in hospitality had told me I needed to speak English, so I’d moved to the Channel Islands and, after I’d quit my first job, I walked into the hotel next door.
“I hardly spoke any English – I couldn’t even read the name of the place – but I said I wanted to see the manager.
“It might have been luck, but this Italian guy came out.
“We got chatting and he agreed to take me on.
“My first job was to take the dirty dishes to the kitchen, so already it was a step up.
“My career took off from there.”
Moving to mainland UK a couple of years later, Alessandro built his career in hotels in London and rediscovered education.
He said: “I met someone really clever, the then manager of the Cavendish Hotel, and he suggested I should go to university.
“That sounded really good and, in those days it was free, so I signed up at the Ealing College Of Higher Education, which is now West London University.
“On the first day, I sat down in the lecture room on the first floor with my pad and pen out. The lecturer came in and said: ‘Good Morning’.
“After that, I couldn’t understand anything else, so I left.
“But then I took elocution lessons for a year and a half, went back and completed my degree – I was very proud of that.
“One of the things the Cavendish’s manager did was put in my head the idea of personal development.
“It’s something I tell my students. Annual reviews are really bizarre things in business.
“Your boss sits you down once a year and points out where you’re going wrong.
“But what I tell my students is they should go to those meetings armed with what they want. It should be a two-way conversation.
“Do you have all the training and tools to achieve what they want you to do?
“If the answer is yes and there are issues, perhaps the role isn’t right for you.
“But, if the answer is no, then you must ask for what you need to bring your work up to the level the firm expects.”
The university offers wide range of courses, including an MSc in International Business Management – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
connecting with the University Of Sunderland In London
Having spent many years working in the hospitality sector in London, Switzerland, Italy and France, Alessandro joined catering giant Compass Group in 2001, initially as a general manager before rising through the ranks to become regional account director.
There, with contracts across England, Italy and Switzerland through his contacts, he had responsibility for more than 500 employees, with the company also sponsoring him to pursue first an MSc in strategic management and leadership and then the MBA that led him to the University Of Sunderland In London.
Today, Alessandro continues to use his links to industry to enrich his students’ experience by inviting senior contacts including CEOs of top companies to participate in their programmes.
“It gives them hands-on knowledge,” he said.
“They get to understand what it’s really like to be in an international managerial setting, running operations remotely across the world.
“Anyone can read a book, the one thing you cannot buy is experience.
“What we try to do with our IBM programme is to create something tangible our students can bring with them to their careers.
“Things have changed. When I first went to university, the Government paid for the course via a grant.
“Now our students are customers – we need to include the element of added value, to ask ourselves what makes our programme different?
“Theory is important, but our IBM course has more of the feel of a hands-on apprenticeship.
“For example, we run a game simulation where students become the board of directors for a company.
“They need to make all the decisions, and those choices then determine how the organisation they’re running progresses.
“The questions for me are: ‘How do I make the books come to life? How can real businesses reflect and use what’s in the books?’.
“There needs to be a real synergy between what’s written in the books and what happens in industry.
“For example, over the years I’ve invited CEOs to come in as associate lecturers, to set the students a problem and then have them report back.
“In the latest one, they’ve been given an issue that a person is actually trying to fix in their business and, in March, he’s going to come back with the head of the global company and listen to their proposals.
“You can’t get any closer to being in the boardroom than that.”
staying relevant
With the business landscape constantly changing and evolving, the University Of Sunderland In London believes such links to real organisations are essential in maintaining the relevance of its courses, with Alessandro also stressing the importance of developing, honing and implementing essential skills.
“One of the reasons I made the move into education is that I want to help shape the managers of the future,” he said.
“When I was in industry, I’d sometimes recruit managers who looked really good on paper, but who turned out not to be very effective on the ground.
“That wasn’t because of an inability to understand business concepts, it was because of an inability to put the theory into practice.
“That’s what I wanted to change. I’d seen lots of people who’d achieved qualifications and wanted more senior roles as a result but then failed.
“Often they didn’t understand how to deal with people. In senior management you are really only managing two things.
“The first is resources. The second is people. If you can’t deal with colleagues, then you’ve had it.
“You’ve got to make sure your team follows your leadership, your strengths, or they won’t do what you want them to do. In the end, the company will recognise that and you’ll be out of a job.
“This is why we run group exercises and encourage collaboration to equip them with those experiences.
“I’m not saying it will be easy for students embarking on our courses. It can’t be, they won’t be spoon-fed.
“But I do want to make sure I give them all the tools possible from the toolbox I’ve built up over my years in industry so that the next generation of management coming out of programmes like our MSc in IBM is going to be well equipped for whatever industry they choose to make their career in or whatever else they do in the future.”
key details: Business
The University Of Sunderland In London offers a wide range of business-focussed courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Its MSc in International Business Management is a full-time course over one year, based at UOSiL’s Isle Of Dogs campus.
On February 21, 2026, visitors to Peninsula Square will be treated to dragon dances and lion dances to usher in the Year Of The Horse.
Also in place at Design District from noon-5pm will be The Eternal Market.
Curated by Eastern Margins, this will showcase east and south-east Asian food, arts and crafts featuring independent makers, artists and designers selling hand-crafted goods, prints, ceramics and more.
A selection of street food traders will also be serving up Asian dishes such as handmade dumplings, sizzling noodles, grilled skewers and sweet treats.
Laura Flanagan, director at Greenwich Peninsula, said: “Over the past three years, our Lunar New Year celebrations have become a well-established part of the peninsula’s programme and a regular fixture in London’s events calendar.
“The celebrations offer an opportunity to bring our diverse audience together to enjoy live performances, food and creative experiences across the neighbourhood.
“We have engaged many of our local businesses from Canteen Food Hall And Bar to our riverside art gallery Firepit and residents and visitors are encouraged to explore and enjoy the whole peninsula during the festivities.”
Catch the Lion Dances on Greenwich Peninsula – image by Kris Humphreys Photography
don’t miss the dances
Lion Dances, combining movement, percussion and acrobatics will take place at 2.30pm and 3.30pm on the day.
Each lion embodies good fortune and protection, intended as “a vibrant symbol of strength, unity and celebration”.
Dragon Dances will take place at 3pm and 4pm.
These colourful performances feature rhythmic drumming and sweeping movements, symbolising “strength, prosperity and the promise of a bright year ahead”.
All dances last approximately 15 minutes and are suitable for all ages.
Visitors can expect DJ sets throughout the day at Canteen – image by Kris Humphreys Photography
go deeper
In addition to the central performances, Loose.fm DJs will be playing tracks throughout the festivities at Canteen Terrace and Barton Yard in Design District, with a set of contemporary sounds and global rhythms promised to help mark the occasion.
Free to view from February 17 until March 14, 2026, this special exhibition in honour of the Year Of The Horse features ancient craft techniques, textiles and contemporary works from China’s Henan province.
A number of Lunar New Year craft workshops are also set to take place during the celebrations with full details available online. Each activity costs £5.
Firepit Art Gallery And Studio will be hosting a special exhibition – image by Kris Humphreys Photography
need refreshment?
Greenwich Peninsula also boasts an extensive food trail, with plenty of Asian flavours available from businesses locally.
As well as the global offerings at Canteen, Kiki And MiuMiu Market offers Asian groceries, baked treats and bubble tea, while Eat Fan serves up a wide range of Chinese dishes.
key details: Lunar New Year 2026
Lunar New Year festivities are set to take place from noon-5pm at various locations on the Peninsula on February 21, 2026.
All performances are free to attend and easily accessed from nearby North Greenwich station, the IFS Cloud Cable Car or Uber Boat By Thames Clippers’ pier.
