“Value” is the topic on the lips of David Ronson, sales and marketing director at Avanton.
We’re talking about The BeCa, the first phase of the developer’s Ruby Triangle scheme, located in South Bermondsey just off the Old Kent Road.
This £150million red brick-clad structure takes its name and inspiration from the former industrial buildings of New York’s Tribeca neighbourhood – also the reason why it’s pronounced “becca” rather than “beaker”.
The 170 apartments available for private sale within, form part of the 1,400 homes that Avanton is set to build on the five-acre site.
It’s located around 22 minutes from Canary Wharf via bus and the Jubilee line from Canada Water, but could also be on the Tube if the mooted Bakerloo line extension to Lewisham is approved.
It’s a tough time for buyers and those selling property at the moment.
The cost of living crisis and high mortgage rates present a challenging landscape to those keen to get on the ladder and those servicing that market.
The BeCa is inspired by converted industrial buildings in New York
As a counterweight, Avanton has come up with London @Last, a three-part package of incentives aimed at first-time buyers to encourage them to purchase a home at The BeCa.
“We’re concerned with the domestic market because you want to build a place that has a community in it – somewhere that has a soul,” said David.
“If you sell everything to overseas investors, it has only transient tenants living there.
“Our Coda scheme in Battersea is rated as one of the best places to live in south-west London and that’s because it has a community of owner-occupiers.
“That’s what we want to do with all our developments.
“Typically first-time buyers are at a disadvantage when it comes to buying off-plan.
“The least expensive units typically offer the best rental yield for investors to pick up.
“But prospective owner-occupiers, especially those feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis are not in a position to tie up money for long periods of time without the ability to access it.
“With some developers, that could be as much as 25% of the purchase price and that’s one of the reasons we’ve created London @ Last.”
One and two-bedroom apartments are available at the scheme
The incentives on offer are threefold, amounting to a possible £40,000 saving on a property.
Firstly, first-time buyers can exchange on a property with a 5% deposit under the scheme.
Secondly, Avanton will put in a further 5% and cover legal fees for buyers using its recommended solicitor.
This allows purchasers to take out 90% mortgages on the property rather than 95%.
Thirdly, the developer says it will guarantee a 4.99% interest-only mortgage for a year.
With rates coming down in any case, it will also likely reassess this to ensure it remains competitive.
Avanton will also pay 10% interest per year on deposit money it is holding, payable on completion.
“If your circumstances change prior to completion, we’ll give you back your money,” said David.
“If not, we’ll pay you better than a bank to hold the money for you and we’re only taking 5% as a deposit.
“It gives you the flex that, if something does happen, you have the ability to step out of the contract.”
An artist’s impression of a kitchen at The BeCa
With starting prices for one-beds at £450,000 and two-beds at £585,000, the package presents the possibility of significant savings on the initial cost of buying a home.
Avanton, however, isn’t only about deals in the short-term.
David said the design of The BeCa had taken into consideration what residents actually wanted from a home rather than stuffing it full of facilities they may not want to use or pay for through their service charge.
“We’ve been very conscious on this scheme regarding people’s affordability,” he said. “Some developers put in too many residential amenities within a block.
“We’re a little bit different. We look at what the key essentials are for people.
“At Coda, for example, we have some flexible workspace, meeting rooms, a small gym and a 24-hour concierge service as well as two podium gardens.
“We completed these and the service charge has now come in at about £6 per sq ft.
“If you look at the south-west market, that’s quite affordable in contrast to some developments with all the amenities under the sun, and the charge is around £13.
“If, before you’re even looking at the mortgage, you’re being hit with £10,000 of service charge a year, your average domestic buyer can’t afford it.
Many apartments will feature views over the London skyline
“That’s why some developments are primarily bought by investors from overseas who rent out these properties to transient tenants.
“It’s one of the reasons 80% of our Coda scheme was sold to owner-occupiers who want to live there and not feel like they are being charged for amenities they are not actually going to be using.
“This can be a deterrent for people considering buying into a scheme.
“With The BeCa, we’ve ensured the service charge is as low as it possibly can be.
“We’re looking at £4.27 per sq ft and that will have a day porter, about 2,000sq ft of flexible workspace and residents’ access to three roof terraces.
“In the current market, you have to look at specific locations where buyers can see real capital appreciation. Old Kent Road is the cheapest place you can buy in Zone 2.
“Ultimately Ruby Triangle will become an extension of London Bridge and Bermondsey, where you have some of the best lifestyle amenities in London.
“As the whole wider South Bermondsey regeneration takes place, you’ll see 20,000 new homes, 10,000 jobs, it’s going to change the place massively.”
Even with all that change, Avanton is also addressing any concerns about connectivity with a further incentive.
It’s offering buyers a free electric bike on completion, or the cash equivalent off the purchase.
- 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
“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.
“They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages”.
While it’s almost certain Jaques isn’t describing The Stage development in Shoreditch by Galliard Homes when he utters these words in Shakespeare’s As You Like It, they nevertheless resonate pretty well with the scheme.
Built on the site of the Bard’s Curtain Theatre whose remains were discovered during construction, the £750million, 37-storey tower has been seven years in the making rather than seven ages.
It does, however, boast entrances and exits – although they are among the least of the attractions in a building of many parts.
Its 412 apartments, ranging in size from studios to four-bedroom duplex penthouses sit atop a wealth of facilities in one of the capital’s most vibrant areas.
Prices start at £750,000 for a studio, £830,000 for a one-bed, £1.3millon for a two-bed and £2.5milion for a three-bed.
Prices for the penthouses have yet to be released, with rumours of a Valentine’s Day launch next year – apt, as the Curtain may well have been the site of the first performance of Romeo And Juliet.
During construction, archaeological evidence was uncovered indicating the area was very much a cultural quarter in Elizabethan times with Londoners in crowds of up to 1,400 flocking there to see plays such as Henry V, and to eat and drink.
As part of the development, the remains of The Curtain will be preserved as a major component of the new Museum Of Shakespeare, which is expected to open its doors next year.
The building has two basement levels of amenities
More immediately of concern, however, are the properties that tower above the forthcoming attraction.
Tucked away off Great Eastern Street, a five-minute walk from Liverpool Street, the structure offers impressive views over the surrounding area, especially to the north which has many buildings of lesser stature.
“The really good news here for buyers is that we’re finished,” said David Galman, sales director for The Stage.
“We offer a brilliant customer journey for people interested in making a purchase.
“When you’re selling off-plan, there’s less of a connection with the buyer.
“Here, there’s an opportunity to build a relationship – a proper viewing at The Stage is a minimum of an hour.”
That’s partly because there’s a lot to see.
The tower’s two basement levels offer some 13,700sq ft of space staffed by a dedicated games and amenities concierge to ensure services are running smoothly.
Facilities include a two-lane bowling alley, a golf simulator, a pool table, air hockey, table tennis and a selection of arcade games.
There’s also a 32nd floor sky bar, lounge and terrace for residents
There are also two screening rooms – both decorated with film posters of Shakespeare adaptations – a gym, changing rooms and a Yoga studio.
In addition, The Stage boasts a boardroom space and working facilities, including booths and a breakout area for use by residents.
Then there’s the 32nd floor sky lounge and terrace, complete with a bar and seating area. Various facilities can be booked by residents for private parties and events through the 24-hour concierge service.
“We always start by showing prospective buyers the amenity spaces,” said David.
“Today’s buyers want access to state-of-the-art amenities, and this is where The Stage stands out, with our underground amusement arcade, flexible workspaces and stunning sky terrace overlooking London.
“We are very proud to show the lifestyle on offer, an unparalleled experience in a sought-after location.
“Obviously, it’s a different conversation with an investor, who is primarily concerned with what a property will rent for and how much it’s likely to appreciate over time.
“But these properties have got to be among the easiest to let in London at the moment. You just show people the amenities on offer.”
Properties feature high-end interiors
As for the properties themselves, David said their size was a key selling point.
Each includes a private balcony, oak engineered flooring as well as brushed bronze and exposed brickwork details.
They boast mood lighting, multi-room speaker systems and bespoke entertainment units with 50” TVs and Sonos playbars.
Kitchens come with oak units, white quartz worktops and Miele integrated appliances.
Bathrooms feature ceramic herringbone tiles, white sanitaryware, Crittall-style shower doors and 22” TVs over the baths or in showers.
Bedrooms come with full height fitted wardrobes and, along with living areas, benefit from comfort cooling systems.
David said: “These properties and the communal areas of the building provide really great accommodation.
“That might suit a domestic buyer, but The Stage is in an international location.
“People come to live in London from around the UK and around the world.
“There are also students who come here with parents who can afford to purchase apartments like these.
Each apartment has a private balcony
“There are also three penthouses, which we’re not releasing to the market quite yet.
“They are fabulous too, extending to between 2,200sq ft to 2,600sq ft and they are all duplexes.
“Each has good outside space and they offer stunning views.”
The Stage is located on the edge of the City within easy walking distance of myriad amenities including Broadgate and Spitalfields.
Nearby Liverpool Street station offers a multitude of Tube and rail connections.
Total journey time to Canary Wharf is around 15 minutes via the Elizabeth Line.
- 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
In a world where people’s experiences and cultural references are increasingly diffuse, Disney100: The Exhibition prompts a conversation pretty much anyone can participate in.
The question: “What’s your favourite Disney movie?” is one that, perhaps, unites more people globally under the umbrella of a single producer than any other.
Its answers are frequently generational, surprising and in some cases contested – can Marvel and Star Wars really be counted when so much of the original development of those brands happened before they were brought into the fold?
But almost invariably, it’s a question that’s met with fondness and warmth – often a connection to a childhood remembered or time spent with one’s own children.
That, of course, is before we even consider the TV output, the theme parks and the theatre shows.
With such resonance in the public mind, curating an exhibition that celebrates the output of The Walt Disney Company to mark its centenary, is a mammoth undertaking.
Little wonder, perhaps, that this creative titan has risen to that challenge with characteristic zeal resulting in Disney100: The Exhibition running at Excel in Royal Docks until January 21.
“Selecting the exhibits was probably the biggest challenge we had because Disney has an embarrassment of riches in terms of the assets we can show,” said Matthew Adams, manager, exhibitions for the Walt Disney Archives.
Matthew Adams of the Walt Disney Archives
“We’ve had 100 years and we have so many different business units now which have all contributed to Disney’s success, so it was really difficult.
“The great thing about Disney is, because it’s been around for so long, I can’t think of another company that has left such an indelible mark on people’s lives.
“There are meaningful moments for baby boomers all the way up to the children of today and everyone in between.
“I think about all the films I watched as a kid including all the movies like Hocus Pocus that came out in the 1990s.
“I was also a big fan of Sword In The Stone – those are two that really resonated with me when I saw props from the movies, so I can imagine how other people will feel.
“I often joke with people that the archives are the keepers of their childhood memories – but I also really mean it.
“Many are unique and we have both a domestic version of the exhibition in the US and an international touring collection, so deciding what would be in each was challenging.”
With the exception of the first gallery – which tells the story of how Walt set up the company and created his first animations including the pioneering Steamboat Willie with its synchronised soundtrack – the exhibition is not arranged chronologically.
The exhibition features a host of exhibits from Disney’s first 100 years
Instead its nine galleries are thematic, each looking at a different aspect of the company’s operations.
“That really helped us narrow down what we were going to put on show,” said Matthew, who started off his career in theatre before going on to work at 20th Century Fox in themed entertainment and joining Disney when it bought his previous employer.
“Everything after the first gallery is based on the philosophy of Walt Disney – whether that’s storytelling, creating believable characters, adventure and discovery and so on, which helped us decide what to include.
“Then we were only selecting exhibits that were in service to that story of each gallery.
“For example, everything in the music gallery helps tell the story of how important the music and sound effects are in Disney films.
“One thing that Disney is really well known for and comes into clear view when you’re in the exhibition, is the attention to detail with everything the company does.
“For instance there’s a display about creating the sound effects and you would never think those noises were made in the way they were – the minds that came up with those ideas were pretty astounding.
There’s also an extensive gift shop selling official merchandise
“Another example is when you’re looking at the costumes for The Lion King stage show and the level of detail that goes into them, which audiences would never even see at a distance.
“It’s those things that make the Disney difference.
“In The Illusion Of Life gallery, we talk about all these individual characters and what makes them seem real.
“There are the minute personality details, which may seem obscure and unimportant, but combine to create the effect of a living, breathing character.
“To me, seeing those things is a ‘wow moment’.
“In the exhibition, you really get a sense that everyone, from Walt Disney up to the people who work for the company today, has been really passionate about the work and our history, our legacy, and the stories we continue to tell today.
“These people really believe in it and really love it.
“They realise what they are doing has made a huge impact on their lives and makes a real impact on other people’s lives – that’s why being part of the exhibition is really something special for me.”
That Disney100: The Exhibition is in the UK is apt.
Walt and the company he built has had a long association with Britain.
Its first live action film, 1950’s Treasure Island, was shot in Cornwall and Buckinghamshire with Robert Newton creating a host of immortal pirate tropes as the wild-eyed, one-legged Long John Silver.
Walt also traced his roots to the village of Norton Disney in Lincolnshire, visiting during filming and cementing the link by placing his family’s coat of arms above the archway to the company’s famous castle.
“This started something that was consistent with many of the company’s most famous stories like Mary Poppins and Bedknobs And Broomsticks, which feature in the exhibition,” said Matthew.
The exhibition features all kinds of exhibits including costumes from live action movies
“There’s a definite affinity with London and the UK. I hope that seeing the exhibition will reignite people’s passion and love for Disney films, parks and everything else we produce.
“There’s so much content out there these days – it’s over-saturated – but it’s really nice spending an hour or two going back and looking at those touchstone moments in our lives, saying: ‘I remember this being really important in my life’ and remembering.
“An exhibition spanning 100 years is a really huge moment that will only come once in our lifetimes, so we want everyone to feel inspired and happy when they leave, and hopeful about the future.”
Spare a thought, then, for the next generation who will likely have more than double the archive to draw on when 200 years have passed.
“The collection is huge and already spans multiple buildings and locations,” said Matthew.
“We have buildings that are dedicated to our three-dimensional assets, others that are dedicated to our photo collection – it is a pretty enormous operational undertaking.
“We rely on the actual creators and the production teams of those films or park attractions to tell us what’s important to keep.
“Similarly, with park attractions, when they are changed or updated, we ask what the fans’ most popular items are and which are worth keeping.
“We wish we could keep everything, but that’s just not possible when we have a finite amount of space and, with the advent of Disney+, output has increased significantly.”
Fortunately, thanks to the acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, there is potentially a solution.
That deal means it now owns the warehouse from Indiana Jones flick Raiders Of The Lost Ark – plenty of room for another century of stuff.
- 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
Around five years ago, his family relocated from Jordan to the UK with the aim of establishing a global business – building on the work of its Middle Eastern company, International Technical Sources For Industrial Equipment.
Based first at One Canada Square and now in 25 Cabot Square, the company offers a range of services including hospital design, planning and the supply of equipment, especially related to medical gas systems.
“After more than 20 years in Jordan, working in the Middle East, we had the know-how, as my father likes to say,” said Ali, who heads business development for the company.
“So we thought about coming to the UK to create a worldwide operation and we’ve more or less been based on the Wharf the whole time.
“We’ve mostly been working in exports around the world.
“We wanted a base that was close to where we were living on the Isle Of Dogs.
“As a family, you need somewhere that’s quieter where there’s not always something going on 24 hours a day and we found this place near the Wharf.
“You have the water, the sky at night and you can get everything here with lots of facilities for the same price as a place in Swiss Cottage that has fewer amenities.”
However, this isn’t an article about the family’s medical business. It’s about a problem Ali identified while working on the Wharf.
“To be honest, I think we’re struggling here with dry cleaning,” he said.
“It’s a very big business area, there are lots of people in the towers and every time you want to do dry cleaning, you wind up queueing for a long time just to drop off your clothes.
“That’s a waste of your lunch hour that day. It’s your break, you deserve it.
“So we thought: ‘why not create and offer a service to all the people working and living locally?’.”
Canary Wash is a dry cleaning and laundry business for Canary Wharf and the Isle Of Dogs
The solution he came up with was to start a business.
“The app we’ve created is live and we’re competitively priced,” said Ali.
“We’ll collect your dry cleaning and laundry, do it for you and then bring it back for the same price as you would pay if you went into a shop, queued there, dropped off your clothes and then went back another day to pick them up via the same process.
“We picked the name Canary Wash, because this is where we are operating, with a logo that features the towers.
“We started two months ago with Canary Wharf and then added the Isle Of Dogs.
“We’re expecting it mostly to serve businesses and residential addresses in the area.
“We offer dry cleaning, washing, ironing – and washing and ironing together.
“For example, customers can send pieces just for ironing or bulky items just for washing, such as duvets or blankets.
“Of course, we deal with all kinds of delicate clothes that can’t be washed at home.
“People always need dry cleaning – with delicates you just can’t risk it.
“I lost one shirt that way myself. I put it in the washing machine at home and it shrunk.
“When I put it on it was really tight – I’d been exercising in the gym, but not enough to get quite so big.”
The process has been designed to be simple.
The app deals with washing, ironing and dry cleaning for ally types of garments
Customers download the Canary Wash app, itemise which pieces of clothing they are sending and which service they require.
Then they pick a two-hour time slot for collection.
A driver arrives to collect the laundry, the order is checked, cleaned and then returned 48 hours later.
“When you make an order via the app, you will select which services you want and then we’ll know what to expect when we get the order,” said Ali, who coaches kids’ football in his spare time.
“Before we wash, we confirm the order against what has been supplied and that we know exactly what we’re doing with each item of clothing.
“If we get a piece we’re not expecting or that doesn’t fit with the order, then we contact the customer via the app to tell them that their order needs to be adjusted.
“We send all the relevant details.
“For example, if an order is for two pieces and there’s a third included, then we’ll ask whether it’s for dry cleaning, ironing or washing and, once confirmed, then we can proceed.
“For me, this business is a new challenge. There have been a lot of things to learn.
“Obviously, when you’re getting into something new you want to do as much research as possible, so we’ve been doing that.
“We’ve visited lots of businesses and seen how it could be done before designing our service where we’ve tried to merge everything we learnt.
“Our aim is to deliver the best possible quality for the customer.
“People in this area mostly care about the quality of the service and the time more than anything else – so those are the two things we’ve focused on.
“We’ve been live for two months now and it’s been going well, but we’re looking to reach more and more people to take this as big as we can.
“We have the capacity and we’re excited for that to happen and then to expand further.
“Our plan is to roll this out to other business areas such as Liverpool Street, where people need their time to be saved through our collection and delivery service.
“We aim to collect, clean and deliver a customer’s order back to them within 48 hours.
“That includes extra time built-in, so we can easily achieve that goal and not disappoint anybody.”
To give readers an idea of pricing, Canary Wash offers suits and dresses dry cleaned for £16.50 and £12.99 respectively.
Comparative prices from retail dry cleaners on the Wharf are from £21 and £15 for the same pieces.
Canary Wash’s app offers free pick-up and delivery on orders over £5.
- 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
There’s been much talk of late about the future direction of Canary Wharf.
HSBC’s forthcoming departure, Clifford Chance’s move and Credit Suisse’s enforced purchase by UBS are all significant changes for the estate.
But, quite apart from the flourishing retail and hospitality scene that has seen a deluge of openings in recent years, the direction of travel in the office market is far from one-way.
Areas of London evolve continually. Companies’ requirements change over time, generating a constant churn of relocations.
The City is packed with wine bars and hotels in buildings that once held banks, vacated by the businesses they were built for. It’s a natural process as firms grow, merge or close.
Whatever the Wharf looks like in 20 years’ time, for now, it’s continuing to attract companies.
Growing construction firm McLaren is delighted with its light and airy space at 20 Churchill Place, having got significantly more square footage for its budget than alternative locations in the City.
Digital challenger bank Revolut, currently based at Westferry Circus, is also apparently eyeing a chunk of YY London in Reuters Plaza by the Tube station rather than moving out as it navigates its ongoing expansion.
“Our decision was driven by value for money but also by different ways of working,” said Andrew Ball, chief executive at BLME.
“We had an opportunity to come out of our existing lease and as well as it making financial sense, we wanted to improve the space we use.
“In addition to BLME, we have a fintech company that sits under our licence and delivers technology for our fintech bank Nomo.
“Obviously that’s a different way of working to traditional banking – software engineers, for example, need collaboration space rather than separate offices.
“While I do have a small office for private discussions with shareholders and so on, we’ve made the rest open space.
Canary Wharf is getting busier again
“There are phone booths for people to have private calls, but the design allows for hybrid working and gives people flexibility for the time that they are in the office.
“It’s a space they can really use rather than cramming into little meeting rooms.
“It’s possible to get stuck in an office environment which you’ve always been used to having, with the same desk layout.
“Here we’re coming to something we can actually use.
“The executive management used to have their own offices, but now they are sitting amongst people, whether it’s with the payment team, the tech guys around the corner or the customer service team.
“Now people are finding out things about the organisation, just by sitting somewhere different with different people.
“We have a desk booking system and nobody gets the same desk, unless they have a role where they have to be in the same place every day, such as IT.”
BLME employs around 250 people, with space in its offices for 90, meaning staff rotate in and out depending on need.
Andrew said the bank had ambitious growth plans and would hopefully be looking for more space in three years.
“We’ve grown quite a lot as we have come out of the pandemic,” he said.
“We launched Nomo completely remotely during Covid – a digital bank for clients in the Middle East, who want a British bank account. In that way we saw what was doable.
“You have to offer flexibility if you want to attract the best staff.
“But, if you’re a graduate, starting your career, then sitting with someone, talking to them and finding out what they do is vital.
“When people do come into the office – and we’ve had a lot of new staff starting in the last year – they actually welcome the fact that they can meet people in person.
“This is a very different environment to what we had over in Cannon Street – our plan is to live in it, figure out what works and what doesn’t and then adapt working styles accordingly.
“On Wednesdays, for example, our fintech compant takes over the office so they can get that engagement and rapport going, otherwise it will be to the detriment of corporate culture.
“We like to be very open – so people know each other.
“We’re not about working unseen on the 50th floor – a lot of what we do is driven by relationships, whether internally or with our clients.”
Andrew says BLME has ambitious growth plans
What BLME does is a little different to most of the other financial institutions on the Wharf.
Both the firm and Nomo are Sharia’a compliant institutions, offering Islamic banking and financial services to customer in the UK and the Middle East.
“There are lots of debates about what Islamic finance is,” said Andrew, who has a long history of working in the Gulf.
“BLME is the first Islamic institution I’ve worked for – prior to this role, all my experience was with conventional banks.
“In essence, Islamic finance is very open and transparent. For many clients it’s a different way of working.
“In essence, it’s a contract between two different parties, with a notion of shared risk.
“Everybody goes into a transaction knowing what they’re going to pay, what the bank’s obligations are and what the client’s obligations are – that makes it very transparent.
“If it isn’t in a document, we can’t do it and we can’t charge you for it.
“What’s in the contract is key. There are no hidden fees or agreements. It’s very clear – we’re a very simple business.
“Once an organisation has got its head around the paperwork, they can see it’s a better way of doing business.
“We had a firm that did one development with us who initially found it difficult.
“But now we’re their go-to bank because they saw the advantages.
“We handle real estate finance, whether it’s developments, investment properties or big buy-to-let portfolios.
“We also offer private banking, which may be around property, and then we have our digital bank, which is focussed on affluent customers who want to operate in the UK.
“Perhaps they have children studying here, or they are investing here or looking to buy here.
“We don’t do things we don’t understand and we’re pretty cautious as an organisation and we see UK regulation as an asset – people want to know their money is safe.
“We don’t finance things which have anything to do with tobacco, defence or arms – anything that wouldn’t comply with Sharia’a law.”
That also means BLME essentially doesn’t pay or collect interest on money – customers instead get a portion of the profits on shared investments – a system the Bank Of England now supports through its Alternative Liquidity Fund.
“That levels the playing field to a certain extent because it means we can get a return on our surplus liquidity,” said Andrew.
“Our future very much lies in the Gulf, which is where our clients are.
“You can divide our bank into two –we have pure UK-based clients who invest, build and rent UK property and then we have clients based in the Gulf who are investing in the UK.
“I think that part of our competitive advantage is that BLME was conceived to bridge that gap in terms of inward investment.
“Then we believe what we offer through Nomo is a world-first, where a client can sit in their armchair in Kuwait and open an account in eight minutes – that’s unheard of because dealing with UK banks is usually a long process.”
For Greenwich resident Andrew, the return to the Wharf was not without some personal anxiety.
“I was filled with a sense of trepidation, coming back to the this area, having worked here at Citibank 20 years ago – but I’ve been more than pleasantly surprised and the feedback we’ve got from the teams has been brilliant,” he said.
“People were worried what it was going to do for their commute, that Canary Wharf is a soulless place where you can’t get a decent sandwich with no restaurants, but it’s not like that at all.
“From a business perspective it’s certainly value for money – and there’s a real buzz around the place.
“The atmosphere here, even at the weekend is great – people are coming to Canary Wharf as a destination.
“Dishoom is one of my favourite restaurants and now there’s a branch a stone’s throw away. When you think what it was like 20 years ago, it’s fantastic.”
- 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
Canary Wharf’s food scene is unquestionably the best it’s ever been.
Gone are the days of underwhelming Pizza Express lunches.
The estate in 2023 is host to myriad dining options spanning cuisines from across the globe.
In celebration, Canary Wharf Group (CWG) has unveiled its Season Of Culinary Discovery campaign, aimed at shining a spotlight on venues all over the estate at a time of year when – more than any other – people want to get together, break bread and celebrate.
It’s an open invitation to explore, taste, experiment and discover new flavours and venues – something Wharf Life is proud to get involved with.
“The reason we’re doing this is to reflect the diversity of the restaurants and cuisines we have on the estate,” said Claire Slater, retail marketing manager at CWG.
“ We wanted to show how people can sample flavours from across the world without ever having to leave the Wharf.
“I don’t think anyone would expect the sheer number of phenomenal restaurants that we have here.
“Until you come and you visit, you won’t be aware of the depth – I think people really are spoilt for choice.
“Also, because it’s a holiday season we wanted to remind people that there’s something for everyone.
“Whether you’re celebrating with a significant other, your family, your work colleagues or a group of friends, there’s somewhere that caters for every taste and every kind of occasion.”
To that end, CWG is showcasing restaurants on the estate in four categories – WhenEast Meets East, North, South Or Central, Frosty Days And Sizzling Dishes and From Farm To Fork.
In support we’ve selected dishes from restaurants featured in the above categories to help spark your dining ideas.
Served up with sage and pumpkin seed pesto, butternut squash, chard and cold pressed olive oil, this handsome piece of fish is a fitting crown for one of Boisdale’s oxblood red-bordered plates. The Scottish restaurant, jazz venue, whisky Mecca, cigar library and oyster bar has more than a few strings to its bow – so many, in fact, that it’s easy to overlook the food. This is a place of rich, bold flavours. The fish is often smoked, the haggis soused in liquor and the menu shot through with whisky matches to help ease the dining. This brightly coloured dish is just one of the options on a Christmas set menu that offers three courses for £59.50 and features silky Jerusalem artichoke soup alongside the inevitable festive classics. Just don’t forget a noggin or two as a chaser…
There’s something of the speakeasy about Blacklock, with its dark wood furniture, leather banquettes and screened windows. While chops and plentiful portions are what this place is known for, don’t visit without trying its classic white chocolate cheesecake, doled out table side in astonishing quantities…
All of the traders at MMy Wood Wharf must adhere to strict sustainability guidelines that conform to Mercato Metropolitano’s vision for good food that doesn’t harm the planet. This melange of cheeses with flat bread is a great example of how doing the right thing needn’t be a compromise on taste and texture
Pedler has come up with some of our favourite things for its seasonal offering this year. Its menus start at £45 for two courses, £55 for three with bubbles, coffee and mince pies or £65 to add 1/2 a bottle of wine per guest. Tipsy or not, there are some serious flavours at play here to enjoy. Our picks are St Ives Smoked Salmon to start with sourdough and capers, followed by a zingy Beetroot Tarte tatin for mains with feta, rocket and tomato salsa. Then to finish, it has to be the Bailey’s And Vanilla Creme Brulee, topped off with icing sugar-dusted raspberries. Expect a warm welcome throughout the colder months..
A festive experience at Hawksmoor is really all about the beef and the company. The Water Street restaurant boasts a private dining room where revellers can indulge in sirloin, rump, prime rib, T-bone, porterhouse and chateaubriand across a selection of two or three-course set menus ranging from £62 to £98. The floating venue (complete with The Lowback bar beneath) may feature an opulent art deco interior, but at heart is about the simplicity of presenting high quality meat to the very best effect. Oh, and don’t forget to round things off with the sticky toffee pudding and clotted cream, it’s ace.
Goose And Turkey Shepherd’s Pie, £55 (part of set menu)
Part of The Ivy In The Park’s seasonal set menu, this dish suggests the shepherd may have decided to branch out from their traditional diet in favour of more extravagant produce to celebrate Christmas. Eschewing lamb in favour of confit goose and turkey as a filling, the mash-topped pie comes served in a high-sided dish complete with pigs in blankets. Suffice to say, the swineherd and poulterers may well be livid. Fortunately, The Ivy has plenty of foliage behind which to hide and remains one of the most beautifully kitted out interiors on the Wharf. Not a bad place to lie low at all.
Right on the cutting edge of Canary Wharf’s food scene, Matt Colk’s seafood and game-dominated menu presents fiery cooking and vibrant combinations of British ingredients. The cooking is precise and skilled, typified by this simple dish that marries meaty, succulent fish with rosemary, lemon and smoked Maldon sea salt. It even comes with a big knife to slice up the surprisingly delicate fillet. This is a venue that’s not afraid to try new things and comes complete with a chilli tasting menu and an agave bar packed with South American spirits. Go for the £16, two-course lunch menu, just to start the addiction off gently…
Street Food, £48 (plus £35pp for the matching wines)
Trying to feature a specific dish at Six By Nico is almost impossible as its menu of six courses changes every six weeks. Currently, the Canary Wharf branch is serving Street Food, a selection of dishes “meticulously crafted to pay homage to a diverse array of global flavours and iconic culinary staples that have originated from local street food vendors”. Diners can expect Gochujang Pork Steamed Bun, Samosa, Kebab, Taco, Satay and Coffee to arrive when visiting before December 17. There’s also the option to go for some snacks (croquettes) and a cocktail aperitif if you wish to go all-in.
FROM FARM TO FORK
The second strand of the campaign celebrates sustainability and British produce, home grown and delivered on the plate
Always a leader, Iberica’s innovative Spanish cooking under chef director Nacho Manzano is a treat. For the festive period, the restaurant is serving up a sharing dish of black ink rice, complete with fresh squid and prawns. Diners can expect a touch of garlic aioli to top off this tapas, served in a paella pan.
Plant-based powerhouse Mallow consistently serves up some of the most beautiful, complex food on the Wharf and this tight coil of filo pastry is no exception. It comes on a bed of bulgur wheat, muhammara, dates and spices plus green tabbouleh, baba ganoush cream, sour cherry molasses and ezme…
Caravan is packed with festive cheer this year with a feasting menu filled with luxurious dishes with a European flavour. It’s a fair bet that there will be some competition round the table when the confit duck leg with braised cavolo nero, white beans and salsa verde makes an appearance. Knives and forks at the ready.
Sprouts are proudly star ingredients at Humble Grape with this dish only available at its Canary Wharf restaurant. In addition to the main veg, there’s cranberry sauce and bacon to further lift things. Also on offer during the festive season is a small plate for £8 that brings whipped goats cheese together with crispy sprouts, pickled cranberries and candied chestnuts for a blend of sweet and sour on the tongue.
Christmas can be a time of indulgence and having a whole pizza generously coated in fior di latte, mozzarella, truffle paste and shavings of black truffle definitely qualifies. It’s worth noting, though, that Cafe Brera hasn’t become one of the most enduringly successful brands on the Wharf by stinting on ingredients. It also offers a Parma pizza for £15.90 that comes heavily topped with parma ham, san marzano tomato sauce, fior di latte mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, rocket leaves and shards of parmesan. Expect to walk away filled with rich flavours and already planning a return visit.
Available throughout December, this rich, sweet dessert features panettone soaked in custard, toasted in butter and served with silky smooth gelato. Finished with spiced sugar, it’s a blend of hot and cold, crisp and fluffy from this popular Italian restaurant that demands a glass of sweet Moscato on the side. The Wood Wharf venue has proved popular since opening its doors, drawing workers and local residents alike with its uncomplicated offering of eight pasta dishes in an unfussy, cosy environment. Diners can expect to pay less than £17 for a bowl, with pasta made fresh on-site each day. There’s also a bar menu to explore.
Customers visiting Zizzi restaurants, including the Canary Wharf branch, can indulge in three courses for under £26 with options including the Festive Formaggio And Prosciutto Pizza, pictured below. Expect meatballs, shiitake mushrooms and free range eggs to arrive on a truffle-infused white base.
There’s something tempting about the copper and turquoise hues of this Med-focused restaurant. Its pizzas eschew the neapolitan sourdough crusts that have become ubiquitous in recent years in favour of a denser base, here topped with honey and soft charcuterie.
Obica’s festive specials are all about fusion and this dish is no exception, mixing the classic pairing of lamb and mint with thick ribbons of egg pasta. If you fancy an even bigger twist, there’s rolled turkey with prosciutto, smoked mozzarella, sage stuffing, trimmings and gravy. A singular festive creation.
WHEN EAST MEETS WEST
The third strand of the campaign is focused on Asian restaurants, so dig into noodles or a curry and prepare for some serious spice…
Like this enormous, 1kg cut of flame-grilled steak, there’s no part of Roka that isn’t exceedingly well done. The Japanese sushi and robata restaurant is exquisite, right down to the perfectly irregular ceramics it serves its exacting dishes on. This dish might seem expensive but it will easily do for three or four people prepared to tuck into pink, supple meat and unctuous, partially rendered fat. For extraordinary value, try it as part of Roka’s bottomless brunch for £51.50 per person plus a £33 supplement and indulge its outrageously good, free-flowing sushi before tucking into the beef.
The rich colour of this dish is a clue to how this blend of tandoor-smoked chicken thigh in a spiced tomato, fenugreek and butter sauce is going to taste. Since the day it opened in Canary Wharf, Chai Ki has stood out from the crowd with its vibrant, flavourful and beautifully presented Indian cooking. Put simply, it’s unafraid to be different and all the better for it. Try this dish with a simple tandoori naan (£2.90).
How do you find Dishoom? Follow the queue. Those people are waiting outside to get a table for a reason. At this time of year, this dish could well be it. A whole turkey leg is marinated overnight before being prepared in the traditional Indian raan style – cooked slowly over a day until it basically melts. The meat is then gently pulled off the bone and piled into a warm brioche bun. Cranberry mayo, spinach, red onions, crispy onions and a slice of brie are added to finish things off. Best enjoyed with slaw, salli crisp-chips and deep-fried green chillies. Order it with the house black dal for something truly indulgent to dip into…
Seoul Bird founder Judy Joo says: “Kimchi and cheese is a combination that is winning fans all around the world – at first bite you’ll surely swoon and taste why. The tangy and spicy notes of kimchi complement and cut through the creamy richness of the cheese, transforming a traditional combination into a fully balanced, deeply satisfying sensation.” But don’t just take her word for it. Grab a fork and dig in yourselves. It’s £9.50 for a large….
Slick and efficient, is the best way to describe a meal at Pho. The chain promises fresh and healthy Vietnamese food and delivers filling, but surprisingly light dishes to order at rapid speed. This punchy curry came served with a ridge of peanuts and a side of “broken rice” that all came together in a beautiful mess of flavours and textures in the mouth. Top tip, add some pickled chillies and garlic.
Wowzer, this is one hot bowl, as sizzling as the late 20th century soundtrack that plays over this evergreen Japanese ramen specialist. Think Footloose, It Wasn’t Me and Under Pressure for the ear worms and thin, glorious noodles soaked in Kakara miso paste, dashi broth and garlic oil on the tongue. There’s serious depth here with plenty of bean sprouts, kikurage mushrooms and fried tofu to top what lies beneath…
Is this umami-packed little bowl of fish dashi and noodles the best value dish in Canary Wharf? At 243 calories (for the small bowl), it’s a warming, simple snack. But in a complicated world there’s a lot to be said for purity, clarity and excellence. This is traditional Japanese comfort food at its best and you’ll still get change from a fiver (at least you would if anyone actually paid in cash any more).
NORTH, SOUTH OR CENTRAL
The fourth strand is North, South Or Central – a grouping that could be subtitled This Is Americas (in homage to Childish Gambino).
Whether it’s the full-on, bombastic cuisine of the USA with burgers and BBQ, the refined cuts of Argentina or the spice of central and South America, there’s plenty to try and experience. Here are a few places to start…
The British burger brand has long looked to the States for its inspiration with offerings named Ari Gold and Smokey Robinson. Little surprise then that this year’s festive burger channels James Dean. It’s a burger built aroung Ogleshield cheese, billed as “the West Country’s answer to Raclette” and promises a pungent, melting partner to the dry-aged beef patty. Italian pancetta and red currant jam are also within to add something of a pigs-in-blankets vibe with just a little sweetness on the side. Eat at a festive celebration with the team or simply on your own with rebellion in your heart.
There’s something about the smell of smoke as you walk into Big Easy that, when combined with the strains of raunchy blues guitar, makes you wish you were wearin’ cowboy boots, a plaid shirt and sportin’ a stetson. The food it serves is perfect for those whose heels have bin’ hittin’ the boards, with plentiful portions of home-smoked meats. Go for the venue’s express menu, which includes a beverage such as a half pint of lager, a glass of Prosecco or a soft drink for £10. The Taste-O-Rama is top of the list and acts as a culinary tour of the food on offer. Expect a dish groaning with pulled pork, chicken, Texas hot links, pork rib, Bar.B.Q beans and house slaw with a sweet little cornbread cake at its heart. Rapidly served it’s a good ol’ lunchtime treat.
While Gaucho is unequestionably a steak specialist and there’s a fillet and a ribeye on the chain’s seasonal four-course set menu, beef is far from the only attraction. Top billing goes to an Argentinian twist on traditions with the chimichurri butter roasted turkey. There’s also a whole grilled sea bass for fish lovers and a mushroom tagliatelle with truffle oil for those who prefer to avoid meat altogether.
This innocent-looking bowl of burrito ingredients (conceived, presumably for those who insanely prefer to eschew carbs) must not be underestimated. Mention to your server that you like it spicy and they will be more than happy to oblige, dressing the chunky cubes of beef in a sizzling hot sauce that’s enough to warm anyone on a winter’s day. But then what else would you expect from a chain named after a smoked chilli?
You’ll have to wait until November 22 for these, but just look at them… The brand’s development chef, Leo Da Cruz says: “The Christmas Ham Hock Taco is a dish I’m really excited about. We’ve combined a familiar festive ingredient, with a whole host of flavours and spices inspired by Mexico.
“It’s topped with pink pickled onions and crispy crackling pieces. You can also dig into all these flavours and more in our sharing festive feast.”
This Christmas menu will be available until December 24, 2023, costs £35 per person and is available for parties of six or more. Flavours include the likes of smoky Sonoran hummus, golden roast cauliflower, churros with sprinkles and, of course, ham hock served with a crispy crackling crown.
Fancy a plate piled high with mashed polenta and lamb shank drizzled with a balsamic vinegar sauce? Then California-inspired restaurant Feels Like June is the place to go. Located on the ground floor of the Tribe London Canary Wharf hotel in Wood Wharf, the venue promises a sunny welcome year-round. For Christmas, it’s offering a three-course set menu available until Christmas Day, featuring the likes of beef tartare, clam chowder and mushroom and truffle arancini to start. Mains include the lamb, a duck breast fillet and a cauliflower steak. For dessert, there’s red velvet cake with hot fudge and chocolate sauce, gingerbread cheesecake with chantilly cream or a spiced chocolate mousse. Feeling festive yet?
- 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
Right now, for the head of sales at Legal And General Affordable Homes, it’s proving a fertile source of shared ownership buyers.
The company is currently delivering East River Wharf, part of Ballymore’s Riverscape scheme in Royal Docks and is finding its offering is attracting tenants under pressure from rising rents.
“We launched the development in July and the sales rate has been really good – there’s a fantastic appetite for the scheme,” said Jen.
“The key reason for that is because the area is very popular with renters.
“What we’re seeing is that landlords have pushed prices up and that’s prompted people to look at alternatives.
“At East River Wharf some people will be moving into one-beds, having moved out of rented studios at Royal Wharf, for substantially less of a monthly outlay.
“That also means, of course, that they have got a foot on the ladder.
“It’s been a really positive start in a turbulent market.
“Shared ownership has been less affected by this as higher interest rates don’t have as great an effect because the portion of the property under mortgage is typically much smaller.
Legal And General Affordable Homes head of sales Jen Cobley
“The other thing about shared ownership is that people can think long-term.
“While interest rates may be shocking right now, if you’ve bought a 25% share, you will be in a better position financially than someone with a mortgage on 90% of a property.
“This means when interest rates stabilise, it will then be easier for people to staircase and buy a larger share of the property, right up to 100%.
“It’s also the deposit levels. While buying outright might be on some people’s agendas, when you think about what 5% or 10% of the full value of a property actually looks like, it is out of reach for most people.
“Shared ownership requires a much lower initial outlay. At East River Wharf, you are looking at a deposit of just under £5,000.
“Our one-bedroom homes start at £387,500, meaning a 5% deposit on a 25% share at £96,875 would be £4,843.
“That feels do-able for people. The mortgage market is currently very stable and there are lots of lenders offering 95% mortgages right now.
“On that one-bedroom apartment, you’d be looking at monthly outgoings of just over £1,500.
“I’ve spoken to a considerable number of people renting studio flats in the surrounding area for £1,800-£1,850 per month.”
All properties come with outdoor space
Legal And General has taken on four buildings at Riverscape, with apartments in two of them for sale on a shared ownership basis.
The others will be let to tenants on an affordable rent basis.
One, two and three-bedroom apartments are available to buy at the scheme, which is essentially an extension of the Royal Wharf development on the Thames between West Silvertown and Pontoon Dock DLR stations.
The neighbourhood has its own pier served by the Uber Boat By Thames Clippers river bus and is within walking distance of the Elizabeth Line.
It will benefit significantly from a planned new bridge across Royal Victoria Dock, part of the ongoing regeneration of Silvertown, which will make this journey even easier, putting it within about 20 minutes of Canary Wharf.
Legal And General is set to host an open day at East River Wharf, from 10am-4pm on December 2, 2023, for anyone interested in buying a shared ownership property or who would like to know more about the scheme.
Jen said: “At our event we have a fantastic sales office and apartment to show people. We’re in the very fortunate position to be taking control of a lot of the units we’re selling quite soon.
“We have one, two and three-bedroom apartments that people can see, unfurnished too and a team of sales consultants who would be delighted to meet with potential purchasers or anyone who just wants to know a little bit more about shared ownership.
One, two and three-beds are available
“We’ll also have an independent financial advisor on hand, for anyone who would like to discuss accessing a mortgage.
“We really are ambassadors for the tenure rather than just our brand – we’re more than happy to have wider conversations about affordability and ways people can buy properties.
“Shared ownership is not just for first-time buyers.
“If you have a property that’s sold, subject to contract we can take an application from you.
“If you’ve previously owned a property and have left the market then we’re also an option for you.
“We see people coming to us in a wide variety of situations, whether they are looking to buy their first home, relocating after a divorce or dealing with a change in circumstances.
“It’s really open to all as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.”
Buyers at East River Wharf will get access to a wide range of facilities with the vast majority already up and running.
“In terms of the apartments at East River themselves, the quality is on a par with Ballymore. That’s a real key selling point for us.
“Everything has outdoor space – either a balcony or a terrace and they are, of course, in a fantastic location.
“Buyers also get access to all the Royal Wharf facilities.
“There’s a real sense of community with the clubhouse.
“Something I’m really excited about is the Sky Lounge, which will be on the 16th floor of one of Riverscape’s buildings.
“It’s due to open next year and will be a business lounge with far-reaching views across to Greenwich and Canary Wharf – a place to meet neighbours and collaborate with guests.
“There’s also a concierge service that oversees the seamless running of the estate too.”
- 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
There’s a new beauty treatment in town. Third Space Spa in Canary Wharf’s Canada Square recently added Jovena Face Stim to its extensive range of aesthetic and wellbeing services.
While the largest luxury health club in Europe has plenty of ways to train the body’s muscles, the spa’s new machine offers a way to work out facial muscles with the aim of tightening and toning the skin to give clients a healthier and younger appearance.
The treatment, which costs £250 per session, promises visible results after the first application, with a course of six recommended.
Third Space is currently offering customers £50 off their first treatment. Those booking five sessions will get a sixth for free.
what do you get for your money?
Each session lasts approximately one hour, which includes cleansing, radio frequency therapy and muscle stimulation.
tell us more
“It’s a two-part facial, although you can also have them done in isolation,” said Third Space Spa therapist, Samelia Connor.
“The Jovena Face Stim treatment begins with a radio frequency procedure, which tightens the skin and boosts collagen production.
then what happens?
“The second part is the facial stimulation,” said Samelia. “It causes contractions in the face, so it’s working the muscles to create a lifting effect for the skin.
“We can target the right muscles to achieve the effect. In combination, you get tightening and lifting, which works with your existing skin regime.”
what are the benefits?
“From what I’ve seen with my clients, it gives them a more youthful appearance and I feel like that’s something everyone is looking for,” said Samelia, who has been a therapist for more than seven years, relocating to the UK from the Caribbean following a hurricane.
“Even if, like me, you’re in your 20s, you still want to look fresh.”
how does it feel?
“It’s quite relaxing,” said Samelia. “When someone invests in their skin, I feel like they know the procedure will benefit them and when you see the instant results, you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth.
“For longer lasting results, I would recommend the full course of six. It’s for men and women.
“Before there was a stigma about men getting treatments but now it’s seen as self care.
“Whoever you are, if you’re doing a presentation or appearing at an event, you want to look your very best.”
THE DETAILS
Jovena Face Stim, Third Space Spa
The cost per treatment is normally £250 per session
Third Space Spa’s introductory offer is £50 off a first treatment
Therapists recommend a course of six treatments for longer-lasting results. The spa offers six for the price of five
The two-stage procedure takes around an hour to complete
Instantly visible results are promised after one session
Third Space Spa is accessible to members and non-members at Third Space in Canada Square. A first Jovena Face Stim costs £200.
I am – in some ways – the ideal candidate to experience this treatment for a review.
My body has been blessed with many things, but prominent bone structure is not one of them.
I am therefore a good guinea pig to road test a treatment that claims to produce results of lifting, sculpting and tightening after only the first session.
Before my appointment at Third Space Spa for the Jovena Face Stim, I’ve also accidentally gone out every night for a week and my skin is definitely a bit dull and dehydrated.
The treatment is meant to promote a refreshed appearance, so I’m giving the technology a serious challenge.
To start things off, my face is cleansed. Then it all gets a bit unusual.
Conductive gel is applied and a little, warm device is moved over one half of my face. It’s like a small, friendly koala is massaging me with his tiny fingers.
This is the radio frequency treatment – the part that stimulates collagen production and, once I got used to the sensation, it was quite relaxing.
Then comes the next step and things get even more unusual.
This is the part where the therapist stimulates the muscles in your face like a mini gym work out.
It’s done with the same wand, but the koala has gone on his break.
The first jolt is definitely a shock – it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. Is it an electric pulse? Suction? It feels a little bit like an epilator.
It pulses all over one half of my face and this is where my therapist Samelia’s professionalism comes into play.
While the first few applications are a bit alarming her soft, hushed tones are there and she makes me laugh.
It’s not the most comfortable I have been in my life, but by the time we get round to doing the other half of my face I’ve gotten so used to things I’ve zoned out and am thinking about something else entirely.
The treatment begins with facial cleansing
The session ends with the removal of the conductive gel and a soothing application of moisturiser.
The results? In the mirror there stands before me someone who’s apparently had seven nights of blissful eight-hour sleep and green tea before bed.
The puffiness under my eyes is gone and it’s the same for my cheeks.
My skin is glowing, hydrated, smooth and tight. But that isn’t all.
The changes are subtle, but definitely there.
There is, without doubt, a small part of my chin that has been sucked up into my jaw.
The sides of my face are straighter and – what’s this? I can actually see an ever-so-small curve of a cheekbone.
Days later my skin feels just as smooth.
I’m amazed the results are still there when I wake up.
This is definitely not a typical facial but, with effects like these, bring on more koala massage and face pulsing.
- 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
It’s now less than a year until the latest extension to Excel in Royal Docks is due to open its doors for business, and the exhibition and conference centre’s CEO is buzzing with the anticipation of what it means for the UK, London and the local area.
To say live events have bounced back after the pandemic would be an understatement.
Fuelled by a period of almost total shut down, when meetings were deemed illegal, the demand and desire to reconnect is at an all-time high.
“This year will be 10% busier than we’ve ever been in the history of Excel’s business,” said Jeremy.
“There will be more events, more exhibitors and more visitors here than ever before – that’s a really strong catalyst for activities, innovation and ideas.
“It puts Royal Docks right at the heart of our trade agenda in the UK once again.
“Historically, it was an area where innovation was rife, where trade was a huge driver for the capital.
“That tailed off with containerisation.
“But it’s a great example of what London does, it adapts and changes into something else – so the Royal Docks began reinventing itself as a centre of excellence and innovation.
“Transportation links improved and, over the years, pieces were put in place to remove the friction of travel to get here.
“Now, with the Elizabeth Line, we’re a very strong proposition for our customers. Excel is three minutes from Canary Wharf and 15 minutes from the West End. It’s so accessible.”
Excel CEO Jeremy Rees says the benefits of increased space will bring increased growth and prosperity to Royal Docks, London and the UK as a whole
Riding the wave of that regeneration and infrastructure improvements, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), which owns Excel, has invested significant cash in expanding the venue.
When the doors to the extension open in October 2024, Excel will see its available space increase by 25% to some 125,000sq m.
The new facility will connect seamlessly to the existing centre’s eastern end, with landscaping outside, including a public park.
“We’ve designed a £220million building connected to the existing one, which will genuinely delight and surprise everyone with a world-class experience,” said Jeremy.
“The process of regeneration here is far from complete and that’s one of the reasons our expansion programme is so important – because it’s demand-led.
“Our customers in the corporate, association and exhibition markets – both nationally and internationally – have told us what they want.
“That’s the future of face-to-face events – a building that needs to be not just physically but also technologically fit for purpose and a place that’s sustainable and puts delegate health and wellbeing right at the heart of the proposition.
“The brands that are coming now care deeply about the experience and that’s something we’ve catered for really carefully.
“The expansion is a place where millions of moments will happen, where people will go away saying that their needs were fulfilled when they came to Royal Docks – whether that was for trade, fun or engagement.
The project will see Excel get a second main entrance
“It will be where their preconceptions of the area, of London and of the UK, will have been shifted.
“Our vision for the future is to add significantly to where we are now and this is deeply exciting.
“From a stakeholder perspective, from ADNEC downwards, I think it shows a belief in London and the Royal Docks.
“They’re investing hundreds of millions of pounds in our buildings and the experience.
“That’s being reinforced by our customer base who are signing contracts now for 2024, 2025 and beyond. We’ve got agreements in place for 2030 already.”
Take a step back and Excel currently generates about £4.5billion in economic impact for the UK, attracting around 4million visitors to the Royal Docks each year by hosting roughly 400 events.
“The expansion is necessary to ensure the virtuous circle of growth continues.
Jeremy said: “What our existing customers are saying is that if we can’t cater for them, they’re going to go somewhere else.
“There is a significant emphasis on investment internationally and cities are competing aggressively with each other.
“The difference with London is that most other cities in the world own their convention centres – here it’s privately owned, so all the investment coming through us is driving a vast ripple effect through the city.
“The economic impact is huge and costs the public purse nothing. In other cities, the events industry is asking for subsidy or support from governments whereas we are a massive contributor to the Treasury and UK PLC as a whole.
“Our investment is driven by the fact we believe there is a commercial need – it’s what our customers want.
“The benefit from this is also for the hotels, bars and restaurants – and so for the Exchequer as well – due to the increase in activity across these sectors.”
At a more immediately local level, the expansion will also benefit those living and working in Royal Docks in a variety of ways.
Put simply, the larger Excel becomes, the more potential there is for success.
The more successful the venue is, the bigger its economic impact will be, with greater and greater audiences coming to the area with needs to satisfy.
“From a successful exhibition perspective, it means that we’re generating more income, and that flows through to Newham, where tourism and hospitality are key pillars that drive job creation,” said Jeremy.
“As a business ourselves, there is no doubt we are already employing more people from the local area than ever before.
“Similarly the businesses we’re supporting and working with are also employing people, so you get this multiplier effect.
“The hotels locally are running at around 85% occupancy, very largely filled by people attending events at Excel.
“We aim to make sure that, we’re working harmoniously with the residents who benefit from hospitality, bars and restaurants.
“But it’s also the reason why we’re investing in transport links, why there are, for example, 5G networks here, and that infrastructure generally is being improved, because all the activity is here.
“That’s interesting because it changes the dynamics of the ecosystem.
“What used to be the case is that people came in, conducted their business and then left.
“That’s shifting and I foresee over the next five or 10 years that the dwell time here is going to be significantly greater within the Royal Docks.
“I think that the east of London – Royal Docks, Canary Wharf and all the other areas – have all got very bright futures. There’s absolutely no doubt about it.
“With the Elizabeth Line now in place, Excel is the natural home for events for companies on the Wharf – the journey is only three minutes now.
“It’s incumbent on all of us in this area to set the tone, develop, grow and do it in partnership.
“If we can accelerate this with our investments and support from Abu Dhabi, then we’re going to do that.”
One of the other things the venue is already doing is shifting its programme.
“We’ve been planning all this since 2018 and the final pieces of the puzzle were the arrival of the Elizabeth Line, a commitment from our investors to expand and, lastly, Excel’s complete adoption of immersive events and experiences,” said Jeremy.
“We’ve got truly world-class creators, innovators, production houses and agencies who are exporting immersive experiences to other countries, where they have residencies.
“There hasn’t really been a place where they can host them here, so we’ve observed and responded to the need – and we’ve done it very quickly.
“We’ve been really keen to work with some of the best brands globally to do this, which is the reason we’ve hosted Jurassic World and Disney100.
“These are world-class experiences and there will be more announced soon.
“Brands invest tens of millions in some cases and what we want is families and children to come here and be surprised and delighted by what they find so that they return again and again.”
In some senses, the countdown to the future of Excel has begun. In others, it’s here already.
- 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
McLaren is the company responsible for actually building Excel’s extension.
The firm, which has just moved its headquarters to Canary Wharf from the City, has seen significant growth itself in recent years increasing its turnover from around £400million to more than £1billion, thanks to a programme of diversification that’s seen it enter a number of new markets.
“We’re a roll-your-sleeves-up business where everyone’s really valued,” said Paul Heather, group managing director of construction for the UK.
“We’re strong on our values of being supportive, agile and proud.
“The difference here to other places I’ve worked is that we all come together and feel part of a team, whether we’re out on a project or at head office.
“It’s the team ethos – finding solutions – that gets people out of bed in the morning here and that’s great to see.”
Walk through McLaren’s Churchill Place office and you’ll see exactly that – open-plan spaces and meeting rooms filled with people collaborating.
It’s easy to imagine they’re all striving to solve complex problems at a firm that’s expanded into many different areas of construction.
Clear focus on agility and solutions is probably just as well, because Excel’s extension would be a daunting task for any contractor.
Not only is the scale of the building vast, but everything has to be built without any disruption to the workings of the existing conference and exhibition centre, not to mention the race track that has to weave through the construction site for Formula E twice over the course of the project.
Sir Robert McAlpine, the firm that built the first two phases of Excel, had been awarded the contract for enabling works, before the venue opted to work with McLaren on the main build.
Read More: What Excel CEO Jeremy Rees has to say about the expansion of the venue
“It was a proud moment for us to become involved in such a prestigious scheme as this,” said Paul, who moved from McAlpine to McLaren himself in March 2022.
“We engaged with Excel in November 2022 and had our first digger in the ground in mid-January 2023, which is pretty quick.
“The team worked very hard and operations director, Gareth Peebles, knew the job inside out.
“As a company, McLaren ultimately comes from industrial logistics.
An artist’s impression of how Excel will look when work is complete
“We’d pretty much cornered the market as big industrial shed builders and had made a huge success of it, constructing distribution centres for clients such as Amazon across the country.
“That mentality is at the heart of many people who work for the business and, because an events venue is similar in many respects, we had some ideas for this project that allowed us to be more competitive – to offer the client more certainty on the programme, which is what the team at Excel wanted.”
Sustainability is also at the core of the build, with the new building targeting a BREEAM Excellent rating.
That means both its design and construction aim to minimise their impact on the environment – increasingly a factor for organisers when they’re deciding where to host their events.
Paul said: “Using recycled materials and reducing carbon emissions is very much part of the agenda.
“This will be one of the first major projects to use Cemfree masonary mortar – which has no cement in it – and that will reduce emissions by 11,000kg of CO2.
“Half of the steel used is recycled and it’s been quite a challenge to find that quantity but we’ve managed to do it.
“We’ll also be installing air source heat pumps, which is a sustainable approach to heating, as well as solar panels over 32% of the roof, which should generate 599kw to help power the building.”
With 90 weeks from start to finish allowed, the build is now over halfway completed and construction continues apace.
“We’re coming up to winter, so we’ve got to get the structure up because there’s a lot of work to be done internally,” said Paul.
“We need the roof on, the cladding on and then it will be time to get stuck into the finishes inside.
“With just a year to go, it’s going to be full steam ahead, with no rest, that’s for sure.
“The biggest challenge is the speed we have to work at to hit the all-important end date.
“We’ve learned a lot from the last season Formula E – with the track running through the existing Excel buildings and our site, so we’ll all ready for the next season.
“To have to stop when you want to keep going can be a frustration, so there’s a challenge to keep everyone motivated, but as soon as the racing is over, we’ll be going for it again.
“There have also been challenges to ensure the way we were erecting the steel fitted in with the needs of flights in and out of London City Airport, making certain not to impinge on the air space.
McLaren group managing director of construction for the UK, Paul Heather – image Matt Grayson
“But we resolved that quickly and the steelwork went in over a number of weekends to avoid having an impact on flights.
“The most important thing is that we can’t shut down half of Excel while we build for a year so we have to have a really good relationship with the venue – to know what’s coming in and out, what events are on and how that will impact what we’re doing.
“As a company, we’re very big on relationships and that goes to the highest level of our business.
“Our chairman, Kevin Taylor, will check in with Excel on a regular basis. We always want our customers to have a great experience and to come away wanting to work with us again.”
While the Excel build is scheduled for less than two years, its been designed to have a much longer-lasting social impact on the area.
As part of the project, the builder has committed to offering 36 apprenticeships through its employment and skills plan and 15% of McLaren direct staff have applied through local council-run body Our Newham Work.
The business has also run Women In Construction T-Levels workshops with local colleges and is working with UEL to offer students site visits.
“Construction isn’t just about building,” said Paul.
“We work with a lot of supply chain partners – sub contractors – and their location becomes especially important if you have a client that says they want local community engagement.
“We will select who we work with based partly on those criteria.
“They have to be competitive, but we will be saying to our customer that we are bringing locally based people in to work on their project.
“We’ll try and select materials locally where we can and, in terms of the community, if we can entice people into the business as new employees who are based here, then we’ll try for that as well.
“All of our partners understand that for them to be recognised in the right way on a scheme, then they need to be bringing apprentices from the local area.
“They themselves are proud to say that they are giving people a chance to understand what construction is and what they can do within it.”
Full steam ahead on all fronts – there’s a deadline to hit.
- 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
