jonmassey, Author at Wharf Life

September 6, 2024September 10, 2024

Laser Quest Greenwich opens its doors for parties and more

We catch up with Laser Quest owner Alistair Dawson who went from working for the brand as a teenager to buying the whole business over the pandemic

Image shows a man and a woman playing at Laser Quest Greenwich — Laser Quest Greenwich is now open for business

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“Do you want to see my alien?” said Alistair Dawson, as he takes me on a tour of Laser Quest Greenwich in the run-up to the venue’s launch.

“I’m really pleased with him.”

Alistair has a long history with Laser Quest and there’s a sense he’s lost none of the enthusiasm he first felt for the game and its atmosphere.

Born in Bolton, he began playing aged 14 and started working part-time at his local branch while studying at college.

“Apart from the games it was also a bit of a social scene,” he said. “Inevitably I got a job and a foot in the door.

“I lived up there until my mid-20s when I hit a bit of a glass ceiling as one of the managers, so the next step was to own my own centre.

“There was an opportunity for me to get some premises in Croydon and open up.

“So I sold my house and raised some capital to get it up and running as a licensed operation, similar to a franchise.”

Image shows a green alien in a cage at the venue — The Laser Quest Greenwich alien

opening his first

That first venture was a success, with Alistair getting stuck in to establish the business.

“Once that had happened, all I could think about was opening a second one,” he said.

“Being a northern lad, I was drawn to some opportunities in the north and so I opened the next one in Sheffield.

“That was next to a leisure complex and a cinema, so that worked very well too.

“From there it was a case of me, having understood how the business model worked, copying and pasting the next one and eventually I found myself with eight or nine sites.”

That trajectory may well have continued had the pandemic not arrived in 2020, which forced the closure of his businesses.

However, Alistair leaned into an opportunity.

“I had the chance to buy the whole of Laser Quest, which develops, supplies and licenses the equipment,” he said.

“The owner was coming up to retirement age and I got on with him quite well, so that opportunity was there.

“I figured that, if we didn’t recover from Covid, I was screwed anyway, so I put all my chips on the business.”

Image shows Laser Quest CEO Alistair Dawson at Laser Quest Greenwich — Laser Quest GB managing director Alistair Dawson at Laser Quest Greenwich

bouncing back

The man who’d fired his first laser at 14 now owned the company that was ultimately responsible for his first ever job.

“It was bizarre,” he said. “At first there was a lot of pressure and I did question whether I’d done the right thing.

“But then there was a bounce back after Covid – people had been starved of fun.

“When all the centres were open and trading again, there was renewed interest from other leisure operators too – such as Flip Out – so it’s proved to be quite a good decision and I hope it will continue.

“At the moment we’ve got about 60 centres in the UK and I own about 10 or 12 of those sites.

“The others are licensed operations.”

In response to renewed interest, the company has been increasing its operation in Greater London with branches in Bromley, Brent Cross, Kingston, Barking and Romford.

It has just opened Laser Quest Greenwich, tucked away in a basement at Merryweather Place just off the Deptford End of Greenwich High Road.

It’s close to well-established aim-based business Archery Fit.

Image shows a Laser Quest Greenwich employee giving a briefing — Laser Quest can be played by adults and children

Laser Quest Greenwich: meeting demand

“We’ve realised there’s a big demand in the capital and we’re now getting round to fulfilling that,” said Alistair.

“Traditionally, the business has always been a venue for children’s birthday parties.

“We do packages that include food, drinks and everything people need for that.

“But it also appeals to all ages – for some there’s a nostalgic feel to it.

“Someone in their 40s, for example, might remember going to parties as kids.

“It’s a fun activity and people get excited just talking about it.

“We still do score sheets for each player so you can see who you zapped, who zapped you and what percentage of your shots were on target.

“Being just down the road from Canary Wharf, we’d love companies to use the facility – we do offer exclusive hire with unlimited games.

“We’ve got a 4,500sq ft arena that can accommodate up to 40 players.

“Catering can be arranged or groups can make their own arrangements – we like to be really flexible.

“We also intend to get the venue licensed so we will be able to serve alcohol to adult players.

“That means we’ll also be fitting into the competitive socialising market, which is really taking off.

“We’ve also introduced something completely new for Greenwich – an attraction called the Laser Maze.

“It’s like something out of Mission Impossible, where players have to navigate their way through a room filled with beams.

“Break one of them and you’ll get penalised.

“We hope it will become really competitive.

“Also on-site, we have an array of video games to keep people entertained.”

Image shows kids blowing party blowers in a party room at a branch of Laser Quest — Party business: Laser Quest Greenwich is perfectly equipped for kids’ parties

looking to the future

As for the future, the fact that Alistair is now in charge of the wider business means he has oversight on the development of the brand, its equipment and what its future will be.

“As a business we own the trademark and produce the packs necessary to play the game,” he said.

“The great thing about owning the company is that I can help develop new equipment, features and systems to make it even better over the coming years.

“One of the things we want to do is to bring out a Laser Quest app, so photos and scorecards from the game can be downloaded.

“That would also allow us to do members’ leagues.

“We’ve got some really exciting things coming over the next couple of years.”

Image shows a man trying to avoid green laser beams in a room — Will you take on the Laser Maze?

key details: Laser Quest Greenwich

Laser Quest Greenwich is open now from 4pm-9pm on weekdays and from 10am-9pm at weekends, for school holidays and on Bank Holidays.

The standard rate for a single, 20-minute game is £10.95. A go on the Laser Maze costs £3.

Party packages start at £29.95 per guest.

Exclusive hire of the whole venue starts at £350 with a capacity of 40 people.

Corporate hire starts at £795 for one hour with unlimited games included.

Find out more about the branch here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

September 6, 2024September 6, 2024

Riverscape’s proximity to amenities is of big benefit to buyers

Ballymore’s James Boyce explores the advantages of moving to Royal Docks, an area where regeneration is already well underway

Canary Wharf, as seen through a window at Riverscape. Window is gold framed — Canary Wharf, as seen through a window at Riverscape

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In many ways, simply visiting Riverscape in Royal Docks is enough to understand its appeal.

Located on a strip of land between Royal Wharf and Lyle Park – running between the Thames and North Woolwich Road – Ballymore’s development is essentially a grand final phase in the story of its neighbour.

“It’s worth looking back to when Ballymore was master-planning Royal Wharf,” said James Boyce, the developer’s associate regional sales director.

“At the time, in 2013, there was nothing in this area – no amenities or services.

“That meant the original development had to be self sufficient.

“Now it is a destination that people in Royal Docks come to.

“The wider development is essentially a town in its own right.

“There’s a doctor’s surgery, a dentist, a pharmacy, a primary school, a nail salon, a beauty parlour and a hairdresser.

“Then there are two estate agencies, a selection of restaurants, a pub and a Sainsbury’s Local – one of the most well-used in London.

“We’re really fortunate to have established one of the most complete, new neighbourhoods of any large new-build project in the capital.”

Those moving into Riverscape, which recently launched a collection of homes in The Pearsall building, can take advantage of these benefits immediately.

This is in contrast to big regeneration schemes, where early arrivals sometimes have to wait years for amenities to arrive locally.

Image shows Ballymore associate regional sales director James Boyce, a man with grey hair, blue eyes and a grey jacket over a white shirt — Ballymore associate regional sales director James Boyce

Riverscape: the right design

“We had real confidence to build Riverscape, with Royal Wharf selling off-plan in five years,” said James.

“We knew the demand was there.

“It was being designed and delivered during the pandemic, however, and there was a lot of uncertainty.

“We postponed the launch of the development, went back to the drawing board and looked at all of the best things from our projects.

“We also looked at how the way people were using their homes had changed.

“Residents were demanding a lot more from the spaces they were living in.

“So we created day rooms – internal spaces that are segregated from the rest of the apartment by acoustic screens.

“They can be used as dining rooms, offices or even as a kid’s playroom.

“We also created workspaces in most of the apartments we have available, so buyers have flexibility.

“Where we could, we maximised the living spaces too.

“Initially we were a bit concerned about the number of three-bedroom homes that we were building, but they’ve turned out to be our most popular properties.

“A few years after Covid – and with businesses requiring people to come into the office more often – there’s been a move into London.

“A development like Riverscape affords people the quality of life that they might have become accustomed to in a less urban area – it’s not high density and there’s a lot of green space.”

Image shows Ballymore's Riverscape development right beside Lyle Park with Greenwich Peninsula and Canary Wharf in the distance — Ballymore’s Riverscape development is right beside Lyle Park

fully opened up

This is a key point regarding the development’s appeal.

It’s right next to Lyle Park, with Thames Barrier Park a short walk away on the other side of Royal Wharf to the east.

“Then there’s the kilometre of land that borders the Thames stretching between the two,” said James.

“We built the Royal Wharf pier in 2019 – the longest in the river – and the Uber Boat By Thames Clippers service will get you to North Greenwich in two minutes and to Canary Wharf in 19 minutes.

“Often with riverside developments, it can feel like there’s a barrier of housing on the water.

“But Ballymore’s master plan has taken a different approach.

“Royal Wharf and Riverscape are arranged around a town square with the estate offices located there.

“That really encourages people out of their homes to access those core amenities and that’s part of the success of the scheme and the community we’ve created.”

Image shows a day room as part of a living area at the development — Apartments at Riverscape include day rooms separated from the rest of the property by glass walls

a wealth of facilities for Riverscape

Richard added: “The Clubhouse was built for Royal Wharf, but it was built in terms of capacity with Riverscape in mind.

“We’ve also recently refurbished it and extended it by 20% to ensure the facilities satisfy the residents.

“There’s a swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and spa, a big cardio and weights area and two dedicated studio spaces.

“It’s the biggest residents facility of its kind in east London and it’s been incredibly popular.

“There’s also the Community Dock, which is managed by the residents and is essentially a town hall.

“It has a pretty jam-packed timetable of activities ranging from ballet lessons for kids to language sessions and a table tennis club that’s based there.

“Specifically for Riverscape, we decided to replace a three-bedroom property on the top floor of one of our riverside buildings with a lounge for residents.

“It’s a co-working space but it also has a private dining space so people can host dinner parties up there too with views over the river.”

Image shows a bedroom in an apartment at Ballymore's development — Riverscape properties feature large format glazing to maximise natural light

a broad appeal

One, two and three-bedroom homes are available in the latest launch, featuring interiors designed by Jaki Amos of Amos & Amos.

These promise brushed brass, fluted glass kitchen cabinets and natural wood finishes inspired by Lyle Park, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year.

But while Riverscape and Royal Wharf have their specific attractions, their appeal is part of something bigger.

James said: “Since the opening of the Elizabeth Line, we’ve seen that it’s unlocked this area for people who would never have considered moving to the Royal Docks before.

“Young professionals are relocating from more central locations because the cost of living crisis is making it harder for them to stay in those areas.

“What we’ve found is that when they come here, they find they get value for money and that their lifestyle is actually improving.

“They have more space, nearby amenities and the transport is superb.

“We’ve been delighted to see that trend, because it’s something that’s really needed in the capital.

“I think the movement of London to the east started with the 2012 Olympic Games.

“Royal Docks has so much potential.

“For the future, we’re very fortunate to have the site on the other side of Lyle Park too.

“We’ve opened up the riverside with these developments and eventually further regeneration will bring even more benefits.”

Image shows Riverscape buyer Sophie Gong in her east London apartment, a woman in a blue dress on a beige sofa with a stuffed cat — Riverscape buyer Sophie Gong in her east London apartment

case study: Sophie Gong

As a fan of Royal Docks, Sophie Gong has been living in the area for more than six years and decided to buy a home at Riverscape having previously had apartments at Royal Wharf.

Here’s her perspective:

“I first moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Royal Wharf at end of 2018, hence I know the area and neighbourhood quite well,” said Sophie Gong.

“In 2020, I felt the need to move to a two-bedroom property, as my dad had started staying with me from time to time.

“Following the end of the pandemic, I started to actively look for properties and the launch of Riverscape in 2021 came at the perfect time.

“I had been living in Royal Wharf for about three years and found the area had developed a lot since I moved in.

“It became very convenient to live in, with an NHS clinic, a pharmacy, a hairdresser, a couple of grocery stores and a number of restaurants within the development.

“Additionally, Lyle Park and Thames Barrier Park are within a short walking distance for green space.

“The transport around Riverscape is ideal for me to travel into central London, with the Elizabeth Line and DLR the two main options.

“Even more conveniently, the new 241 bus route goes through the development, linking us to Custom House station and Stratford.

“Additionally, the Uber Boat By Thames Clipper stops at Royal Wharf Pier, which makes travelling to central London, as well as The O2 and Greenwich, both easy and exciting.”

key details: Riverscape

Homes in The Pearsall building at Riverscape have recently gone on sale, with prices starting at £471,500.

One, two and three-bedroom homes are all available.

Find out more about the development here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

September 5, 2024September 5, 2024

Jools Holland prepares to host the Boisdale Music Awards 2024

The musician, presenter, band leader and singer talks Isle Of Dogs pubs and playing in special rooms

Image shows Jools Holland and YolanDa Brown hosting the Boisdale Music Awards — Jools Holland in full flow hosting the Boisdale Music Awards with saxophonist YolanDa Brown

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Jools Holland has a long association with Boisdale Of Canary Wharf.

He’s been patron of music at the Cabot Place venue since it opened its doors way back in 2011.

But his musical connection to this part of London goes back even further.

“Growing up, I lived in Greenwich – just the other side of the Blackwall Tunnel – but nobody dared go through ‘the pipe’ as it was known,” said the band leader, pianist, presenter, singer and former member of Squeeze.

“It was another world, but we were teenagers so we went through and discovered the people on the other side of the river were just as nice as us.

“I cut my teeth playing in pubs on the Isle Of Dogs such as The Watermans Arms and The Gun.

“I even won a talent show in one at the age of 15.

“The prize was that you got to play there for four weeks.

“They sacked me after three, because I didn’t know any more songs.

“Pubs used to have piano players and then, once a week, maybe a band.

“There was one in Rotherhithe – The Prince Of Orange – which had trad jazz. It was open all night for a while and it was fantastic, although it’s closed now.”

That regularity of live performance was what first attracted Jools to Boisdale.

“I went to the restaurant in Belgravia a few times and got to know the owner, Ranald Macdonald,” said the musician.

“I just thought it was so great that they put on music, because there aren’t that many places doing that consistently.

“Boisdale does and that’s amazing because it’s a really hard thing to organise.

“Right from the first time I went in there, it had an atmosphere, something a bit glamorous – as though it was from another age like a 1940s American film.”

Jools performs with Gregory Porter and Nick Reynolds of the Alabama 3

patron of music: Jools Holland

As patron of music, Jools regularly hosts a Boogie-Woogie Spectacular at the Canary Wharf venue, featuring his favourite stride and boogie-woogie pianists such as Neville Dickie, German Axel Zwingenberger and Swiss Ladyva.

He also hosts the Boisdale Music Awards annually and is set to do so again on September 18, 2024, in the company of saxophonist YolanDa Brown – herself now an east London restaurateur.

“Boisdale Of Canary Wharf is really a wonderful place,” said Jools.

“It has a magical atmosphere that’s like walking into another world.

“You have the joy of the music, the food and the buzz.

“The awards are really great because you get people from all different fields of performance at varied stages in their careers.”

Previous winners have included the likes of Alabama 3, PP Arnold, Snow, Tony Iommi, Kiki Dee, Suzi Quatro, Emeli Sande, Lemar, UB40, Lisa Stansfield, Mud Morganfield and Maxi Priest.

It’s also recognised emerging acts such as Errol Linton, Emily Capell and Charlie Pyne.

“Forget what they say in the media, there aren’t different sorts of music, these are just great players and singers,” said Jools, who often collaborates with winners on the night.

“It’s a bit like Later, my TV programme.

“The event is a real mix of things rather than just a load of pop music – although there’s nothing wrong with that.

“I’d use previous winners Gregory Porter and Albert Lee as examples.

“Albert is one of the greatest country guitarists the world has ever known and Gregory is one of the best jazz singers alive today.

“I love the fact that they’re in different spheres, but they can both fit into Boisdale and both receive awards from this venue in Canary Wharf – I think that’s wonderful.”

PP Arnold on stage at the Boisdale Music Awards

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf: home of the unexpected

One of the endearing things about nights out at Boisdale is that you never quite know what’s going to happen and its awards ceremonies are legend for their unexpected appearances and juxtapositions.

Where else might you spot Hugh Laurie swapping tales with a founder member of Black Sabbath or see a Sex Pistol perform with David Bowie’s sideman?

With going on a decade and a half of performances, its stage has hosted an unrelentingly diverse programme of acts, with Mel C, Rebecca Ferguson, Alexander Armstrong and Suspiciously Elvis giving it their all.

“My friend Rod Stewart did go in and perform one night and loved it,” said Jools. “He didn’t realise I could have been there playing with him.

“Boisdale Of Canary Wharf has become a great room. When these places are new, I think they’re harder. I do think rooms have a spirit – now it’s got a vibe in it.

“It’s a curious thing. I’m not a mumbo-jumbo person, but there is definitely something about a musical instrument that’s been played a lot, or a room that’s been inhabited and has had a lot of music played in it, with people enjoying it. That really adds to the atmosphere.

“You can’t put your finger on what it is, but the likelihood of something great happening is much increased.

“For me, that was playing with Gregory Porter at Boisdale.”

People attend the Boisdale Music Awards dinner hosted by Jools Holland — The event packs our Boisdale Of Canary Wharf

Jools Holland on Canary Wharf

It’s not just the venue itself for Jools, however.

Having grown up locally and formed Squeeze across the river in Deptford, he’s seen Canary Wharf emerge and grow and he’s a fan.

“Some people say that, years ago – when there was nothing there – it was really great,” he said.

“But I say what the great gurus say, which is that it’s now that’s the moment

“If you have a room with all those great people in it and great food too, then now is its pinnacle – paradise is now – and now is the time to go.

“When Canary Wharf was first built it was a big thing.

“You’d look over from Greenwich and you’d see it towering above everything else, but now everything’s around it – there’s a whole world here.

“When they said the piazza in Covent Garden was a great place after it was first built, others said they’d preferred it as a mediaeval village.

“The great thing about Canary Wharf is that it’s been very well built.

“Then with the live music you have here now at Boisdale it becomes a place.

“You’ve got to give places like the Wharf a chance sometimes, rather than saying it was better in the past or it will be better in the future.

“Now is the time that it’s actually good.”

Son of Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield on stage at the awards

a burger for preference

While on duty Jools prefers a clear head and stomach, so he’ll be waiting until after the presenting is done to enjoy Boisdale’s hospitality on September 18, 2024.

But his dish of choice at the venue perhaps harks back to another memory from his personal relationship with Canary Wharf.

“Their cheeseburger is a delicious thing,” he said. “The food is always very consistent – you feel as though you’ve had a proper night out when you eat there.

“They have a great wine list there, and I quite like wine.

“You could take your aged aunt there and she’d think it was fantastic, or you could take some teenagers and they’d have a fantastic time.

“It has that personal touch, it’s not like a corporate chain, but it has the contents of Ranald’s brain all around the room and it’s a very nice brain to have a look at.

“I remember, back when One Canada Square was first built, I used to take my children through the Blackwall Tunnel and we’d pretend we’d driven all the way to the USA.

“There was an American diner at the foot of the tower serving burgers and that was great.

“There’s a lot more than that here today.”

Emerging artist Emily Capell performs at Boisdale Of Canary Wharf after receiving an award

key details: Boisdale-Xejoff Music Awards 2024

The Boisdale-Xerjoff Music Awards 2024, hosted by Jools Holland, are set to take place on September 18, 2024, with ticket prices starting at £149.

The evening starts at 6pm with a Champagne and cocktail reception followed by a three-course dinner.

The awards will then be presented by Jools Holland and YolanDa Brown alongside performances from the winners.

The party will go on until 1am.

Find out more about the awards here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

August 26, 2024August 26, 2024

Artist Ed J Bucknall teams up with The Space Bar to show works

Visitors to the arts centre can now view and buy paintings and prints by the Wapping-based creative

Image shows a painting of The Space arts centre, a converted church made of yellow bricks with a red door by Ed J Bucknall — Ed J Bucknall’s painting of The Space in Westferry Road

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Serendipity played a part in bringing Ed J Bucknall’s art into The Space Bar.

Specialising in capturing views of east London, his native Wapping and especially the Thames, he’d painted The Grapes pub for co-owner Sir Ian McKellen, a work that now hangs in the actor’s riverside watering hole.

That same image caught the eye of Andrew Finnegan, bar board chair at The Space Bar, who saw it on Ed’s stall at Wapping Docklands Market next to Shadwell Basin and decided it would make the perfect present for a friend.

“He drinks regularly in The Grapes and he’s a keen cyclist,” said Andrew. “The painting had a bike outside the pub, so it was the ideal gift.”

Having made the connection and, keen to forge local partnerships for mutual benefit, Ed was duly invited to exhibit some of his work at The Space Bar – the hospitality arm of the Westferry Road arts centre on the Isle Of Dogs.

Completely coincidentally, its patron is Sir Ian.

Image shows Ed J Bucknall sketching in The Space Bar – a man in a red T-shirt with grey hair — Ed is often to be found sketching around Docklands

an amazing building

“It’s an exciting venture for me because The Space is such an amazing building and one that’s not particularly well-known outside the area,” said Ed.

“The bar now has some of my original works on the wall as well as prints that are available, framed or unframed.

“People are buying about one a week at the moment.

“With this collaboration, what I’ve tried to do is capture the local area – pubs, the historic cranes, Millwall, the dock and the Docklands Sailing And Watersports Centre as well as other locations along the Thames.

“My watercolour of The Space itself has already sold and prints have gone off round the world.

“I’ve got loads more pictures in the pipeline and – working in this area, I’ve been introduced to other buildings and other pubs – so this is the start of something that I hope will continue to be a real success.”

Image shows Ed's painting of Millwall Outer Dock with Canary Wharf's towers in the background — Detail from Ed’s image of Millwall Outer Dock

from architecture to painting

Originally an architect, Ed found the increasing digitisation of the profession less than satisfying and began selling his paintings at Wapping Docklands Market in 2021.

He also trades at its sister markets in Canada Water and Tower Hill and sells his paintings through Skylark Galleries on the South Bank, working full time as an artist.

“My work appeals to different people – locals who have lived in the area for many years, people moving into the area, those moving out and tourists visiting,” he said.

“Commissions are a big part of my income too.

“Only this morning, I was talking to a boat-owner about doing a painting of their boat, which is fantastic.

I also recently delivered a big order to Tower Bridge’s gift shop, which is their fourth in the last couple of years, so it’s all going really well

“Thanks to social media I’m now selling work internationally, which I never thought would happen. I’m always out drawing and painting with my sketchbook.

“It’s like when you’re out walking a dog, people come and talk to you and you get a lot of feedback that way.

“I’m planning to do more panoramic views of the Thames which are popular and have already painted the oldest pub on the Isle Of Dogs – The Ferry House – and places like Burrells Wharf, which is where Brunel’s ship The Great Eastern was built and launched from.

“That sold within 24 hours of going up at The Space.”

Ed’s signed prints start at £50, with original paintings available from £295.

These can be purchased at The Space Bar or online via Ed’s website.

Image shows Ed's painting of The Ferry House pub on the Isle Of Dogs, available to buy at The Space — Detail from Ed J Bucknall’s painting of The Ferry House pub on the Isle Of Dogs

key details: Ed J Bucknall at The Space Bar

You can find out more about Ed’s work here and more about The Space Bar, which incidentally does the most incredible chicken burgers, here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

August 26, 2024August 26, 2024

How 3equals1 Design specialises in timeless commercial interiors

Founded by Maz Mahmoudi, the studio relocated to Cannon Workshops near Canary Wharf in 2023

Image shows 3equals1 Design founder and director Maz Mahmoudi, a woman wearing a gold necklace with red hair in front of a yellow brick wall — 3equals1 Design founder and director Maz Mahmoudi

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Next time you’re in an office or a workspace of any kind, just stop for a minute and take time to notice its design.

The colours, the furniture and even the layout will have likely been chosen and combined by someone like Maz Mahmoudi, founder and director of 3equals1 Design.

The company moved its clutch of creatives to Cannon Workshops, adjacent to Canary Wharf, a year ago, relocating from Waterloo to build on nearly a decade and a half in business.

“We were based at an old city farm in Waterloo for seven years before moving here, but developers got their hands on it,” said Maz.

“I looked around and was trying to think what the good transport links would be.

“Selfishly, I wanted somewhere I could get to my home in Kidbrooke from, as I have a baby.

“We looked at a place in Mile End, but it was a bit sketchy and then noticed a ‘To Let’ notice as we were going past Cannon Workshops. We saw this unit and loved it.

“The move allowed us to reimagine our own workspace.

“We did the flooring, all the painting, the wiring and the electrics.

“I like that it’s on two levels and we love the community aspect of being here too.

“I had no idea this whole world even existed – the dock, the nice little pubs and London Museum Docklands.

“This was the first time I’d signed a five-year lease, which felt very grown up – we need to keep the business going for at least that long.”

Image shows the brick buildings of Cannon Workshops under a blue sky with white clouds — 3equals1 Design is now based at Cannon Workshops next to Canary Wharf

a history in design

Maz is energetic, interested and interesting, suggesting that another few years won’t be much trouble to achieve.

Having originally trained as a furniture designer, she initially embarked on a career as a maker and found herself the only woman on the workshop floor.

“I had a great time,” she said. “But furniture making is physical.

“By 30 a lot of the guys were having back problems and I found myself at a crossroads trying to decide what I wanted to do.

“I did a bit of set building for movies and some art direction, before going on to work at a furniture dealership.

“I’ve always loved furniture. People identify with it.

“There’s comfort and longevity there – history and craftsmanship too.

“A dining table might be used for Christmas dinners or summer parties, but it’s also where the kids do their drawing.

“Dealers curate pieces for architects and it was mostly workplace stuff.

“I was made redundant in the 2008 credit crunch and then went on to work for a design-and-build architecture firm, learnt a lot about that sector and was then made redundant again.”

Image shows an interior by 3equals1 Design for a show room in Clerkenwell. Features include orange and dark grey walls — The company has taken on a diverse range of projects in its 14 years

founding 3equals1 Design

While dreaming of relocating to New York, but with limited visa prospects, Maz decided to start her own design business with two friends.

Her partners went on to pastures new, but she stuck with 3equals1, evolving the company as new work came in.

“I started it in London at my kitchen table and it’s really changed,” she said.

“Initially my customer base was all furniture dealers.

“I’d get floor plans and made sure furniture fitted the spaces.

“Then I’d get work from design-and-build companies that didn’t have their own in-house designers.

“There wasn’t any huge strategy, just a lot of interest – going out, networking and speaking to the right people.

“I’d meet clients who would ask me to come back and do more work and now we work with a few asset managers when they are trying to get tenants into their buildings.

“After Covid, nobody wanted to be in a workspace with desks and boardrooms, everybody wanted to feel places were personalised – a home away from home.

“Then there’s sustainability to consider.

“We really have grown organically.

“Today we are predominantly commercial interior designers for workplaces, hospitality venues and some residential properties for developers.”

Image shows a CGI of an office interior by 3equasl1 Design — Maz’s firm always aims to design a space for the people who wil use it

interrogating the space

Whatever the project, understanding how a space will be used by those inhabiting it is crucial to Maz and her team’s process.

“I couldn’t do any of this without the people around me – having different designers with their own ideas is what keeps us varied as a business,” she said.

“Each of us challenging each other is what makes design really exciting and organic and prevents it from becoming stale.

“It’s especially important when we’re designing an environment for lots of people not to be a lone ranger – you need different voices to make sure you’re catering for the different people you’re designing for.

“When a client comes to us with a space, we try to understand the demographic of the people working in the company.

“How do they dress? Are they in suits, smart casual or jeans?

“We need to create an environment where they will feel at home.

“ Everyone says that most of our lives are spent in work – so to have a comfortable space allows people to be productive.

“We look at everything, from the flooring to the architecture of the building we’re working with and we try to give a nod to that.”

Image shows the exterior of Fleurie wine bar in south-east London, designed by 3equals1 Design — 3equals1 Design recently designed Fleurie wine bar in Bermondsey Street

a sustainable approach

“We also look at longevity – we typically don’t want to do overly fashionable design that’s cool for a year and then everyone would feel deflated.

“For me, a big part of sustainability is how long the materials you put in will last.

“It’s about getting the right stuff in – timeless design that doesn’t shout.

“It’s also about speaking to people. But it’s not about what I or the team want for their office.

“It’s about what the client wants. They have to be happy where they are.”

3equals1 Design is eager to collaborate with more companies in Canary Wharf and east London and there’s one particular project on Maz’s wish list.

“I really want to design a pub,” she said.

“It would be great to really rethink what the space could be. I have this idea that it could be a co-working space during the day and then turn back into a drinking den in the evening.”

Image shows the interior of Fleurie in Bermondsey Street, a warmly lit wine bar with white walls — The wine bar’s warmly-lit interior

key details: 3equals1 Design

3equals1 Design is a workplace interior design company based at Cannon Workshops near West India Quay.

Maz and her team offer a range of services to transform and refresh spaces for all kinds of organisations and businesses.

Find out more about the business here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

August 26, 2024August 26, 2024

Royal Albert Wharf shared ownership, a first-time buyer case study

How history teacher Farhana Mallick put down roots in east London at NHG Homes’ development

Image shows first-time buyer Farhana Mallick, pictured in a white kitchen at her home. She is wearing a grey top and black trousers and has long black hair — Fahana Mallick, pictured in her apartment at NHG Homes’ Royal Albert Wharf

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“I would still be renting or living with my parents if it wasn’t for shared ownership – it gives you a lifeline, especially in your 20s or 30s,” said Farhana Mallick.

The history teacher turned to affordable housing provider NHG Homes when she began looking to put down roots in her home city.

Having been raised in east London, she’d spent her early 20s living in this part of the city and so initially looked at properties in Tower Hamlets and Ilford.

However, it was Royal Docks that ultimately turned her head, opting to purchase a quarter of a three-bedroom apartment in 2021.

“I decided I was done losing my money on rent,” said Farhana, who now teaches at a school in Barking And Dagenham.

“I wanted to invest in a property, and have a home I could make my own.

“Shared ownership really appealed to me because it meant I required a much smaller deposit than if I was buying privately.”

Image shows a show home living area including a balcony with a view of the Thames — More shared ownership homes are set to become available at Royal Albert Wharf

a deposit, a mortgage and rent

Farhana, then aged 25, used a £13,250 deposit to buy her share of a property at NHG Homes’s Royal Albert Wharf scheme, taking out a mortgage to cover the remainder of the £132,500 cost.

The apartment, which was then valued at £530,000, costs her £1,391 per month which breaks down as £606 on the loan, £497 in rent and £288 in service charge.

“As a first-time buyer, NHG Homes really helped me to understand the process, and what the steps were,” said Farhana.

“I think many people aren’t aware of what shared ownership is or its benefits, but NHG Homes was so transparent and happy to answer all of my questions – the whole purchase was smooth and enjoyable, with wraparound care from the team.

“As a young person, living in this city, this home gives me great flexibility to either increase my share or sell it based on the market – I could definitely see myself raising a family here.

“With shared ownership making my home more affordable, I’ve now got a spare bedroom and a great community on my doorstep.

“If I was to move homes, I think my next purchase would also be with shared ownership – I can’t recommend it enough.”

Image shows Royal Albert Wharf at sunrise with the Royal Albert Docks impounding station in view. The buildings are brick-clad and around six storeys high — The development is located at the end of Royal Albert Dock and is on the banks of the Thames

selecting Royal Albert Wharf

NHG Homes and other affordable housing providers offer multiple locations where buyers can purchase shared ownership homes, so what made Royal Albert Wharf stand out?

“I’ve stuck to my roots as I grew up in east London and the Royal Albert Wharf community has got a really modern and stylish twist to it,” said Farhana, who has now lived in the area for more than two years.

“I do travel into central London, but often I feel like I don’t really need to, because I’ve got so many things on my doorstep.

“If I am going into town, then I’ll take the DLR as it has so many connections.

“I shop locally a lot, including at Gallions Reach Shopping Park and also Beckton Triangle Retail Park, both of which are very close.”

The development is well connected, with Gallions Reach DLR station less than 10 minutes’ walk offering connections across east London including to the Elizabeth Line at Custom House.

From there, Canary Wharf is three minutes’ away, while Liverpool Street is nine minutes.

Royal Docks itself, which is currently undergoing billions of pounds of regeneration, offers multiple amenities including watersports, events at Excel, restaurants, bars and a new strip of attractions at Immerse LDN – find out more here about The Friends Experience: The One In London, which recently opened there.

More locally, Royal Albert Wharf is home to exhibition space Art In The Docks, Cyrus Todiwala’s Cafe Spice Namaste and The Well Bean Co.

Image shows Royal Albert Dock at night with lights reflected in the waters of the dock — Royal Albert Dock is an established community

fitting into a community

Farhana said: “Residents have created a great community here and that’s really rare to find, especially as a young person.

“We have our own group, which is great as you can get to know other people living here.

“When I have friends or family visit, there is so much to do on the doorstep – from brunch to Yoga classes and a regular food market on Fridays as well as events happening in Royal Docks.

“There’s a children’s playground being built at the moment as well, and there’s a gym planned – I feel like it’s constantly evolving.

“I’m trying to get into my fitness these days and living here has helped that because it makes me want to get outside.

“It’s so rare to see open water like this in the city. It’s a lovely area to be in.”

As a location to buy, Royal Docks makes a solid case. With much regeneration taking place locally and further transport links proposed, demand for homes is only likely to grow.

Image shows Farhana sitting in a wood-lined cafe enjoying a cup of coffee from The Well Bean Co — Farhana enjoys a coffee at The Well Bean Co, her local cafe

key details: Royal Albert Wharf

NHG Homes is set to launch a fresh collection of shared ownership properties at Royal Albert Wharf in September.

A new show home is set to launch at the scheme on August 31, 2024.

Apartments are also available for private sale at the east London development with prices for one, two and three-bedroom homes starting at £375,000, £494,995 and £660,000 respectively.

Call 020 3733 3571 to register your interest or find out more here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

August 25, 2024August 26, 2024

Docklands Sinfonia lines up concerts in aid of St Anne’s Limehouse

Orchestra founder Spencer Down talks learning brass from his granddad and preparing to conduct Handel’s Water Music at the nautical venue

Image shows Spencer Down conducting the string section of the Docklands Sinfonia with a keyboard player and harpist in the background — Spencer Down conducting the Docklands Sinfonia

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St Anne’s Church in Limehouse is set to host a programme of events to help raise £3.6million towards the restoration and transformation of the building.

These include the Lonely World Youth Festival (August 31), a performance by the multicultural east London-based Grand Union Orchestra (September 7) and the Thames Festival: Sail Out (September 21) where young people will celebrate the building’s proud Docklands history.

We’re forward planners at Wharf Life, however, and so are looking even further ahead to an evening with St Anne’s resident orchestra, the Docklands Sinfonia on September 28, 2024.

“It’s our home – it’s where we rehearse and it’s been really important for us over the past 15 years,” said Spencer Down, the orchestra’s founder and musical director.

“After our first concert in 2009, we got a call from the BBC to ask if we’d do a programme for them and we ended up playing in the Royal Albert Hall.

“Then loads of things started to happen – we played for the Queen at Buckingham Palace, we did a concert with Katie Melua at the London Coliseum and performed at the Barbican, but it is really important that we remain grounded in this community.”

That’s something especially close to the conductor’s heart, given his journey into music.

Image shows Spencer Down, a man in a white t-shirt and grey coat wiht close cropped mousy hair — Spencer was introduced to playing music by his granddad who worked as a shipwright in Docklands

from generation to generation

“That was through my granddad – he was a shipwright in the docks and then would play in the working men’s clubs at night,” said Spencer.

“He was a trumpeter and he’d take me and my brother along to the local brass band at Tilbury Docks – they gave us free instruments and got us going.

“I played the trombone and euphonium and my brother the trumpet.

“I started at seven and my granddad and members of the band taught us.

“We made great mates and that’s what kept us going back each week – not just the music, but the social side.

“It was multi-generational. On Sunday nights we would go with my mum and sister and everyone would spend the evening together.

“That ethos was very important when I was setting up the Docklands Sinfonia.

“Until he died, when I was 19, my granddad took us to so many concerts and rehearsals. I think he would be immensely proud.

“If he was here now he’d have been able to sit back, listen and enjoy himself.”

Image shows the Docklands Sinfonia on stage mid-performance — The orchestra, which is based at St Anne’s has performed in all sorts of places

from brass to the baton

After cutting his teeth as a brass musician, Spencer went on to study at the Guildhall School Of Music And Drama in the City.

He eventually specialised in conducting, before embarking on a career at the music college’s junior department that has seen him take charge of various ensembles and co-ordinate its brass operation for the past 25 years.

“I was born in Grays, so it’s always been east London for me,” he said.

“At the time I was thinking about starting the Docklands Sinfonia, I was living on the Isle Of Dogs – a vibrant area that didn’t have an orchestra.

“Setting one up was always a dream and finding St Anne’s was actually down to my wife, Kirsty Walker.

“After our first child was born, we were out walking and went past the church.

“She popped in and came out saying she’d found the place for the orchestra.

“Then, along with her mum, she helped me set it up.

“We met with the vicar and he was very helpful, telling us that they were coincidentally doing work to clear the altar, which would allow us to fit an orchestra in there.

“It was a bit like fate.”

Image shows St Anne's church in Limehouse, a white building surrounded by green lawns — Proceeds from the concert will go towards supporting the restoration of St Anne’s

creating the Docklands Sinfonia

“Putting it together was great. I got loads of mates involved – professional musicians and students from Guildhall and Trinity,” added Spencer.

“Over the years we’ve put on all sorts of concerts that have attracted lots of different crowds with film music, sitar concertos and Cuban pieces.

“We were the first British orchestra to do a whole programme of Persian music,

“It’s about playing and understanding music from different cultures.

“Across London there’s a lot of different communities, so it was important for us not to just perform classical pieces that everyone knows.

“Music’s a great way to bring people together – a language we can all understand and enjoy.

“We also want to bring people into St Anne’s so we can help raise the money and make it an even more amazing place.”

To that end, the orchestra will perform Oceans Of Sound: A Nautical Night At The Proms next month.

Spencer said: “The concert is part of the Thames Festival and so we’ll be playing Handel’s Water Music.

“It was written for King George I and was actually played as he went up and down the river on his barge in 1717.

“There was another barge filled with musicians and the story is the Thames was covered in boats with everyone listening to the music.

“The king went from Whitehall Palace up to Chelsea and then back again and is said to have been so pleased with it, the musicians had to play it a further three times.

“We won’t be doing that at St Anne’s.

“There will be other pieces too including Fantasia On British Sea Songs arranged by Henry Wood in 1905 to mark the centenary of the Battle Of Trafalgar.

“It starts off with bugle calls and ends with Rule Britannia.

“There will also be some lighter music including the theme from Pirates Of The Caribbean. It all fits because the church has such strong naval connections.”

key details: Docklands Sinfonia at St Anne’s

Oceans Of Sound: A Nautical Night At The Proms is set to take place on September 28, 2024, from 7.30pm.

Early bird tickets cost £18, rising to £25 for general release. Children’s tickets cost £12.

Docklands Sinfonia will also perform a candelit concert in aid of St Anne’s on October 24 at 7.30pm.

You can also find out more about the Hawksmoor 300 campaign and its efforts to restore St Anne’s and its gardens for the people of Limehouse via this website.

Find out more about the orchestra here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

August 24, 2024August 24, 2024

Black Eats Fest returns to Woolwich Works with weekend of flavour

South-east London venue set to host street food and shopping event on September 14 and 15

Image shows Black Eats founder Jackson Mclarty at Woolwich Works, a man with a full beard and tightly cropped dark hair — Black Eats founder Jackson Mclarty at Woolwich Works

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Black Eats was born from a hobby.

Working at a marketing agency, Jackson Mclarty enjoyed lunches and dinners with clients.

Outside office hours, he liked visiting restaurants, bars and cafes – posting his favourites to social media as many do.

But that changed in 2020.

“During the pandemic, we had the George Floyd incident in the US and the Black Lives Matter movement that emerged,” said Jackson.

“I was trying to support local, black-owned businesses as much as I could with my own personal spending.

“But I thought that, if I could encourage other people, then that would have a greater impact.

“So that’s why I created Black Eats as a directory – a place to educate and share information with people on where to go.

“I wanted them to know that they didn’t have to order online, that they could just go down the road and get food from a local supplier.

“We started with 100 restaurants in August 2020 – it seems such a long time ago now.

“At the time the Government’s Eat Out To Help Out scheme was offering 50% off and we launched a marketing campaign for the 45 businesses listed on Black Eats that were participating.

“That provided an incentive for people to visit those restaurants – we were saying: ‘Go on, try something new, get out of the house’.

“There was no financial benefit for me, I wasn’t gaining anything – it was just about educating people, which is the first step for anything.”

Image shows a man in a hood cooking food at Black Eats Fest — Black Eats was formed to support black-owned businesses

so what then for Black Eats?

The next step – building on the directory – was telling more people about it. Jackson increasingly used social media to promote black-owned hospitality businesses and generate an audience.

Today that stands at more than 70,000 followers and a directory of just over 500 restaurants.

However, the online presence was not an end in itself. Jackson had added a second string to Black Eats’ bow in 2021 by entering the world of live events.

“With the first Black Eats Fest in Hackney, I was going into unknown territory, I’d never run anything like that before,” he said.

“I hadn’t even put up a gazebo. All I had was an audience – customers – and a concept.

“It was a massive risk, but I had a vision of what I wanted to execute and I was going to find out how to do it.

“At that first event, we had something like 25 traders and 2,000 ticket registrations across the weekend.

“That’s quite small compared to where we are now, but it felt impressive.”

Solid growth and success then saw two things happen.

Firstly, Jackson was able to leave his day job and focus full-time on Black Eats and, secondly, crowds of up to 15,000 people meant the live events needed to expand beyond Bohemia Market’s capacity to accommodate the footfall.

Image shows a tray of ribs from a recent festival in Woolwich — A tray of ribs at a recent festival

the right location

“For what we do, we had to look for a very particular space,” said Jackson.

“For us, having food of the correct quality means having an outdoor space so dishes can be cooked fresh.

“When you come to Black Eats Fest, you’re going to see the barbecues, the jerk pans and the fryers – all these different delights from different countries made right there.

“Woolwich Works is perfect because we have the courtyard, but there’s also indoor seating just in case we get attacked by rain.

“We never push the venue to full capacity, because we want the festival to be a place people can move around easily, so that they can try four or five different things over the four hours.

“There is real warmth in a carnival atmosphere where people are shoulder to shoulder, but this is a food festival and we want guests to be able to get around more easily than that.

“There’s so much to try.

“Back in June we had a Zimbabwean barbecue, a couple of jerk chicken vendors, a couple of Nigerian vendors, Guadelupean cuisine, Ethiopian cuisine and so much more.

“There are bars serving cocktails, one stall was doing drinks in pineapples and the cane juice was flowing.

“However Black Eats Fest also goes beyond food – there’s a whole cultural celebration.

“We have black-owned businesses selling everything from skincare to clothing, art, educational books and sunglasses.

“We try to be as diverse as possible, because we don’t want our visitors to see 10 of the same thing and the brands don’t want to be competing.

“It’s about people interacting with their customers – that’s what we really love.

“The whole point is to not be like a typical market or event where people come and it’s just transactional – a financial relationship.

“We want people to come here and feel fulfilled. Right now, those coming to Black Eats Fest will find around 15 food vendors and plenty of other businesses.

“It’s about coming and having an experience.”

Image show women enjoying drinks at Black Eats Fest at Woolwich Works' Fireworks Factory venue — Woolwich Works has space to eat indoors and out making it weatherproof for traders

expansion and growth

While the popularity of Black Eats Fest itself seems assured, its parent organisation is also in fine fettle.

Black Eats – alongside championing the businesses in its directory – has also diversified into supplying traders for events and this year sent businesses to some 10 festivals in two weeks, including the likes of Wireless and UK Black Pride.

“Running events around the UK would be the next step – we could do my home town of Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield,” said Jackson, who has relocated to Woolwich from north London.

“We need to find the right spaces and balance of traders, but that would be great.

“Then we’d love to look at major European cities like Paris, Amsterdam and Berlin.”

From there, who knows…

Image shows Every Fish Bar, serving up food at a Woolwich event — A wide range of traders feature at Black Eats’ events

key details: Black Eats Fest

Black Eats Fest returns to Woolwich Works from September 14-15. Each day features two sessions – from noon-4pm for families and from 5pm-9pm for over 18s.

Tickets cost £16.50 and are available on Black Eats website.

Previous events have sold out, so stay sharp.

Find out more about the event here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

August 22, 2024August 22, 2024

Friends The Experience: The One In London opens at Excel

Exhibition and conference centre’s kilometre-long waterside entertainment district, Immerse LDN, welcomes its first attraction

Three people sit on the orange Friends sofa in front of a fountain at Friends The Experience: The One In London — Friends The Experience: The One In London has opened its doors in east London

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“It’s comforting, welcoming and inviting – many people watch Friends again and again and have told us it’s the last thing they see before going to bed,” said Kathleen Wallis, vice president of global themed entertainment at Warner Bros. Discovery and one of two people heading up the creation of a new attraction in east London.

Together with Stacy Moscatelli, CEO of OGX Productions, the pair have taken a space at Excel’s newly minted Immerse LDN waterfront strip and conjured forth a little bit of sitcom magic.

The Friends Experience: The One In London opened its doors this month (August, 2024), offering visitors the chance to pose and snap away in a series of painstakingly recreated sets from the show.

Not only that, there’s a chance to enjoy themed refreshments in a New York-style space after exploring the attraction and a gift shop.

That this experience should be launching some two decades after the final episode aired, is testament to the comedy’s enduring popularity – the fact it has found fresh fans as younger audiences fall for the trials and tribulations of Rachel, Ross, Monica, Phoebe, Chandler and Joey.

Image shows three people posing at a table in Monica's apartment at The Friends Experience — A series of Friends sets have been painstakingly recreated at Immerse LDN

the mass appeal of Friends

“It’s got universal themes and many people use the show to learn how to speak English,” said Stacy.

“Everyone growing up experiences first love, room mates, navigating apartments, jobs, choosing careers, falling out – it’s just very relatable.

“The show was really well done and has held up – it’s still very enjoyable to watch.”

The attraction at Immerse LDN – which will house a number of visitor experiences as well as a food hall at the east London conference and exhibition centre – has its roots in a New York pop-up.

“We were talking around the studio about the 25th anniversary of Friends, so we decided to do something like a pop-up in New York City for 30 days in Soho,” said Kathleen.

“That was in 2019 and it was massively successful. I think everyone is a Friends fan on some level.

“We’ve been creating these live experiences in different locations for a few years now, so we see the emotional reaction people have when they come into the spaces.

“The novelty of that never wears off – watching people being in the space, their reactions and where they take their pictures.

“With this one, we started off by thinking about what a fan would be disappointed by if we didn’t have it in a location like this – what should be in London?”

Image shows three people posing with mugs on the Friends sofa at Central Perk — Visitors can relax on the sofa at Central Perk

£20 entry to Friends The Experience

Visitors who pay the £20 ticket price will find a selection of sets such as the fountain from the title sequence, the characters’ apartments and a faithful recreation of coffee shop and sometime gig venue, Central Perk.

What’s fresh for this edition of the experience, however, are some significant nods to London including a tribute to Joey getting lost with his camcorder and Emily and Ross’ wedding.

“This is more than a pop-up, it’s a flagship creation here in London, where we bring to life all of the iconic sets and some of the fun from some of the episodes that people loved the most,” said Stacy.

“They get to immerse themselves in those places and relive what they loved about the show.”

Kathleen added: “While it’s a show that everyone has watched at some point, people haven’t stepped inside the physical spaces before.

“We start with the opening credits, the fountain, the music and then all the things you would expect.

“But we also fly visitors to London and we’ve got the interior of the chapel where visitors can recreate Ross’ wedding.”

While the altar isn’t real – you have to hop on the DLR to Shadwell to visit St John’s Church in Wapping, which was used for the location shoots in the series, for that – the romance certainly is.

“My favourite thing about these experiences we’ve created is the proposals,” said Kathleen. “We’ve had 270 across all our locations so far, which is amazing.

“I think it shows the emotional connection people have with the series, that it makes sense for them to do that in our sets.”

Image shows two people posing at an altar in a church from Friends — Locations from scenes in London have also been recreated

emotional scenes

Stacy added: “I’ve seen the doors open and people just break down crying because it’s so emotional for them to be here on a set.

“We really hope that people have a joyful experience.

“As you walk through, we have a lot of episodes playing and you can’t help watching, laughing and smiling.

“We’ve been around the world, and we still stop and laugh.

“We’re both Friends fans – my favourite episode is when Ross has trouble with his leather pants.

“We know we can’t disappoint people who love the show, so we created the sets with a forensic level of detail – we have to get it right, because the fans know – and we’ve worked really closely with Warner to make that happen.”

All this means that when you open the fridge in Monica’s apartment, Rachel’s traditional English trifle is right there lurking.

Jam, good. Custard, good. Beef, gooooood…

Image shows two women stood in Central Park at Friends The Experience at Excel London — Kathleen Wallis, left, and Stacy Moscatelli of Warner and OGX

key details: Friends The Experience: The One In London

The Friends Experience: The One In London is now open, with bookings for dates all the way into February, 2025, available.

Tickets start at £20. VIP packages (including professional photography, which is typically extra) cost £65.

Find out more about the attraction here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com

August 13, 2024August 13, 2024

Greenwich + Docklands International Festival ready for ‘all change’

We catch up with artistic director Bradley Hemmings as east and south-east London prepare for a full programme of free performances

Image shows spectacular fireworks being let off for GDIF production Silence — Silence is set to open Greenwich + Docklands International Festival 2024

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Once again areas across south-east and east London are set to be filled with free, often breathtaking performances.

Now in its 29th year, the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival (GDIF) is back for 2024, bringing its traditional blend of awesome spectacle and thought-provoking shows to locations straddling the Thames.

In charge since the very first show, artistic director Bradley Hemmings and his team have put together a series of blockbusters and smaller happenings aimed at delighting residents, local workers and visitors.

We sat down with him to go over a few of the highlights to help you plan your diary.

“We’ve long been associated with very surprising and unusual events that pop-up and happen in locations across Greenwich and east London,” he said.

“This year we’re opening with a phenomenal performance by a French company – Les Commandos Percu.

“The show is called Silence and will take place at 8.30pm on August 23 at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich.

“This awesome parade ground space will be filled with a fusion of pyrotechnics and percussion.

“With people going though difficult times, having something joyous and uplifting like that will be just the tonic.

“They’re a company we’ve worked with before – way back in 2016 – so we’re very much looking forward to welcoming them back.”

Image shows an artist's impression of a kiosk at Greenwich + Docklands International Festival 2024 — GDIF will feature World Kiosk in Green Street

Greenwich + Docklands International Festival – the small things

“We work across all sorts of different scales, it’s not all about large spectacles,” said Bradley

“For many people who come to the festival, it’s about having transformational experiences that disrupt the rhythm of the everyday.

“This year’s theme is All Change – we’re inspired by Gandhi’s message to be the change you want to see.

“We’re going through seismic times and something that brings people together to reflect, think and have a great time is really important.

“One of the highlights for me will be smaller in scale, but very intimate and considered.

“World Kiosk will be in Green Street from noon-6pm from August 29 to September 1.

“It invites people to take a breath – a moment outside the busyness of life – and provides a window into other people’s lives.

“Visitors are welcomed to the kiosk, which then serves them tea in a very ritualistic and beautiful way.

“Then they listen in to voices from people in other parts of the country who have been through this same process, sharing stories.

“It’s a sublime and beautiful experience, a wonderful reprieve from daily life.”

Image shows a performer on the edge of a 2/5 tonne block of ice suspended from a crane — Thaw takes place on top of a 2.5 tonne block of ice suspended from a crane

melting away

“At the other end of the scale, at Royal Albert Dock, we have an extraordinary spectacle from an Australian company called Legs On The Wall called Thaw,” said Bradley

“This production takes place on a 2.5 tonne block of ice suspended above the dock on a crane.

“Each day it runs for eight hours with a performer on top trying to navigate the changing shape of the block as it starts to melt.

“There’s a sense of jeopardy but also a wonderful soundscape that provides a chance to reflect and think very hard about what’s happening to the planet and the climate emergency.

“I think this will be one of the abiding images of this year’s festival – it runs on August 24 and 25, from 1pm-9pm at the University Of East London’s Royal Docks campus.”

Image shows dancers in tartan kilts, white shirts and blue trousers — Dancing City is set to take place in Stratford this year

miraculous movement

On September 7, from 1pm-6pm, a number of areas in Stratford will be awash with many forms of movement.

“Dancing City is an event that is really dear to my heart,” said Bradley.

“We set it up at Canary Wharf in 2003 and people have come to really love that event.

“This year it will take place at East Bank, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and in Stratford town centre.

“There’s a phenomenal range of dance companies taking part.

“We’re working very closely with Sadler’s Wells East and East London Dance as well as other partners including Stratford Cross, UCL and the London College Of Fashion.

“What will be wonderful about it is that it will be taking place in the midst of the Paralympic Games in Paris.

“I co-directed the London 2012 Paralympic opening ceremony, so there’s a personal history there and we’ll be presenting work led by deaf disabled artists.

“It feels wonderful to be continuing that Olympic legacy 12 years later.

“One of the pieces is called Synergy and has been choreographed by Mark Smith, who worked on the Paralympics with me.”

Image shows a woman with a pram participating in a Parkworks event at Greenwich + Docklands International Festival 2024 — Parkworks is set to bring a day of family fun to Stratford

this year and the future

“One of the things that we will be doing next year is marking our 30th anniversary,” said Bradley.

“It’s enormously satisfying to see that GDIF is still there thanks to our partners.

“It seems to me that this will be a moment where we should be taking stock and thinking about what the next three decades will look like.

“Back to this year and we have A Ballad Of Thamesmead on September 6 and 7 at 8.30pm.

“It typifies what we aim to do – to create something miraculous and wonderful that reveals the story of this emerging part of London.

“Dante Or Die have created a piece around a clock tower, which originally sat in Deptford before the GLC transported it by barge down the Thames and rebuilt it as the centrepiece of Thamesead town centre.

“An 18th century structure improbably located in the middle of the 1980s development.

“Then my final highlight is festival of family fun – Parkworks, which takes place on August 25 and 26 from 1pm-6pm in Stratford Park.

“There will be a giant interactive climbing frame built from bamboo and parents with prams choreographed with headsets.”

key details: Greenwich + Docklands International Festival

The Greenwich + Docklands International Festival runs from August 23 to September 8, 2024.

All events are free to attend. These highlights are the tip of the iceberg.

Find full listings for the festival here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com