Death Note The Musical, first performed in London in 2023 as a concert, is back in the capital, this time with a full staging at the Barbican.
For those of us who missed out the first time round, it joins a growing trend of musicals based on books that don’t obviously lend themselves to song and dance numbers – Trainspotting, I’m looking at you.
But, like Adrian Mole: The Musical, I’ve been surprised before – those clever adaptors know how to have a character burst into a ballad without it seeming unnatural.
Death Note itself started in print as a manga in 2003 and has since become an anime series, a film and a TV show.
The premise is that Shinigami – death gods from Japanese folklore – each possess a notebook and if a person’s name is written into it, then that individual will die.
One Shinigami – Ryuk – seeks more excitement than an eternity condemning mortals, however, and drops their notebook into the human world.
Meanwhile on Earth a student named Light Yagami, is angered by the lack of fairness in the criminal justice system.
Light finds Ryuk’s notebook and begins writing down the names of people who are guilty of crimes, taking justice into his own hands and earning the nickname Kira in the media.
One of the fatalities is the murderer of popstar Misa’s parents.
Having been given her own notebook by a Shinigami called Rem, Misa is able to find Light and pledges to help him rid the world of criminals.
Naturally, this attracts the attention of the National Police Agency Of Japan and a great detective, known simply as: “L”.
Through attempting to remain undiscovered, Light’s power goes to his head until his actions are no longer about righteousness.
On stage, Xander Pang portrays Light’s arrogance and intelligence beautifully, while Colin Ryan embodies L’ s appearance and mannerisms perfectly.
Tokyo’s neon signs in the rain provide the ideal backdrop to the dark story at play and the costumes – particularly the Shinigami – create an enthralling illusion to effectively pull the viewer into the story.
The songs are far from the usual, light-hearted west end musical ditties and their inclusion adds to the drama of the plot, rather than pausing the action.
Fans of the manga will be relieved the story has retained Ryuk’s humour, Misa’s manic devotion and Rem’s indomitable compassion.
While the stage show strays from plot of the original stories – something not unexpected in a show that lasts two hours when there are 12 volumes to cover – the musical doesn’t leave me unsatisfied.
Much the opposite, in fact. The performance is exhilarating and I find my loyalties switching back and forth in a show that’s great fun and captivating to the end.
Go and see it while you can – you’ll probably catch me in the audience again.
****
4/5
key details: Death Note The Musical
Death Note The Musical is set to run at the Barbican until September 12, 2026.
Standard tickets start at £34. The show lasts two hours plus a 20-minute interval, with performances at 7.30pm and at 2.30pm on Thursdays and Saturdays.
“We picked this gemstone because it has a nice strong colour and we wanted to avoid beige,” said Zee Filho.
“We don’t want to look the same as everyone else because we’re not.
“We know the classical way to teach Reformer Pilates, but we’ve created our own method.”
“Our logo has different facets – they represent different parts of a person’s life and we wanted to have a place where people could pay positive attention to them,” added Julio Nadalini.
Drenched in a deep, calming red, the space offers Reformer Pilates, Yoga, sound baths and HIIT classes on a daily basis.
Julio Nadalini sits amid The Garnet Studio’s suite of Reformers – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
a route into fitness
“We’re originally from Brazil and arrived in London in 2008 during the credit crunch,” said Julio.
“The jobs market wasn’t great so we started off in low paid jobs in restaurants and retail, but at some point we decided to move into something else.
“Fitness has always been a passion for both of us – we met in the gym, decided to come to the UK and got married in 2010. Instead of travelling we saved money to start our own business here.”
Zee added: “I’d been in the army for 10 years and it had got to the point that if I stayed any longer I would have been there forever.
“Originally we were only going to come to the UK for six months but then we stayed longer and longer.
“We learned the language and trained as fitness instructors.”
Zee Filho spent a decade in the army before moving to the UK with his partner, Julio – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
from Brazil to Kore to Garnet
The pair’s first business together was Kore Gallery in Fleet Street, which they ran for a year before relocating successfully to Whitechapel for five years.
However, the landlord of the space they were leasing had a different plan for it, so the couple took a step back from fitness for a bit before coming across a unit close to where they’d bought a home, in Canning Town.
While Kore had broadly been built to appeal to the LGBTQIA+ community, the aim for Garnet is to welcome everyone with a programme of classes to cater for all levels of fitness and ability.
The two brands, however, do have something else in common – a focus on community.
“We want to be welcoming to everybody,” said Julio.
“Fitness is about much more than just building muscle mass – it’s about feeling good.
“What we want is for people to come here, enjoy their class and then stay for 10 minutes after to get to know each other – we want to create a community.
“Sometimes in London, people from the same building might not know each other, but we’ve noticed since we opened that people now come to classes together and everything becomes more friendly.
“We don’t make anyone talk to others, we just create an environment where the teachers are nice to people and it allows them to chat freely.”
In addition to Yoga, HIIT and sound baths, The Garnet has its own take on Reformer Pilates – image by Marlene Landu, Lifestyle Photographer
fully equipped
The Garnet Studio is arranged over two levels. Upstairs on the mezzanine, a line of cutting-edge Reformer Pilates machines await the next class.
Downstairs there’s plenty of equipment for high intensity exercise, TRX straps and shelves neatly stacked with Yoga props.
But beyond the workouts, Julio and Zee have plans to further develop their offering with a coffee shop to allow both clients and passers-by to hang out.
“It’s a quiet, calm space,” said Zee.
“The windows are sound-proofed so you don’t hear anything from outside.
“Our classes last 50 minutes and we typically run seven or eight each day. After, it’s really lovely if people can stay a bit longer instead of running home.
“We arrange the classes so people are able to talk to each other a bit, but nobody has to do anything they don’t want to.”
While the core of The Garnet Studio will always be its focus on Reformer Pilates, HIIT and Yoga, Julio and Zee are also happy to experiment and have hosted sessions for parents and kids as well as a floristry workshop combined with fitness.
“We realised we can do events like this and it can bring people closer,” said Zee.
“We’d love to move more towards this.
“For us, The Garnet Studio is all about feeling better.
“We always want to be positive. If people don’t feel great at the end of our classes, then we have failed in what we’re trying to do.
“Fitness should be functional, not about losing weight.
“We offer full body workouts that develop balance, flexibility and strength.
The studio is arranged over two levels at Caxton Works – image by Marlene Landu, Lifestyle Photographer
“When you get stronger, your posture changes, you stand taller.
“Just losing weight using drugs, for example, doesn’t make sense to us.
“We avoid using before and after images, because exercise should be about how you feel, not about how you look.”
Julio added: “The other problem with the drugs is that you lose muscle mass as well as fat, so you can end up being weaker when you’re older.
“Nobody wants that. We want to support the people who come to our classes.
“We are very mindful of the things we and the other instructors say and how we train people.
“If people are coming together, feeling better and doing exercise, then that’s good for us and right now we are working to make The Garnet Studio a success.
“We want to get things stable here and it’s really encouraging to see more and more people signing up for regular memberships.
“We want to be a place where we keep in touch with our clients, where we know their names and that we can maintain the quality of the product and control what’s happening.
“Perhaps then we might look at expanding through a franchise model.”
Community is very much at the heart of The Garnet’s approach to exercise – image by Marlene Landu, Lifestyle Photographer
key details: The Garnet Studio
The Garnet Studio is open from 6am-10pm on weekdays and from 8am-2pm at weekends.
The business has an introductory offer of three classes for £45.
Running from September 18-20, 2026, the brand has been hosting live gatherings for more than 30 years offering access to hundreds of suppliers, free advice and expert seminars.
“I was the editor of Homebuilding And Renovating magazine in the 1990s when we started doing live shows and then I became editor-in-chief for about 10 years,” said journalist, TV presenter and business founder, Michael Holmes.
“Now I look after the shows as director of content.
“We run eight across the country, which are on for around 20 days during the year and our London event is the biggest. I appear at every single one.
“I host the seminar stages, with our Ask The Experts feature, which involves people with unrivalled experience in fields such as self-build, renovation, sustainability and architectural design.
“All the speakers, including me, also appear at our Advice Centre stand and visitors are able to book free 15-minute one-to-one appointments with them to talk about their projects.
“That means they can talk to the likes of planning consultants, architects, builders and designers, who specialise in all sorts of areas.
“They are free to ask them anything they like about a project. From an educational perspective, it’s an invaluable opportunity.”
At its heart, the show is a simple proposition.
The advice and suppliers on offer are there to help people who are thinking of, or engaged in, either improving a property they own or building a new one to live in.
That might be the likes of loft conversions, extensions or replacing kitchens and bathrooms in the former category or executing a grand design in the latter.
Michael Holmes of the London Homebuilding And Renovating Show – image supplied by the show
recycling space and adding more
Michael said: “In London you would expect the majority of visitors to be those who want to improve their existing homes, but there are a surprising number of self-builders as well.
“You wouldn’t expect there to be anywhere left to build, but there are little infill plots, perhaps adding on to the end of a terrace, or where a rather tired house has been demolished and is replaced.
“Sometimes there are old industrial units or garages, where people take the buildings down and create a new home.
“What’s more common though, is people recycling their existing space – reconfiguring rooms and layouts for better flow or to open things up.
“Projects that add square footage can also add serious value to an existing home and, if you have the space, it makes a lot of sense to investigate the possibilities.
“London is blessed with very high quality housing stock, and that’s why things need constantly regenerating, because people reinvest in those lovely old houses, built of beautiful brick.
“They are worth restoring or improving for our lifestyles today.
“If you’re buying a house that’s not to your taste, undoing that and making it fit with your design ideas will likely not add significant value, but buying a property that needs renovating anyway means you’re adding value and getting it the way you want at the same time.”
There will be plenty of advice on offer for those updating kitchens or bathrooms – image by Malcolm Menzies
starting with the essentials
Michael said those embarking on projects should ensure the basics in a property were taken care of and keep a close watch on finances to ensure changes made were both worthwhile and beneficial financially.
“Number one, you need to make sure you’re aware of the condition of a property and spend money on the essential repairs,” he said.
“Any sign of structural movement – fix that. Any sign of damp, old wiring or leaks – get those sorted first.
“Then think about space.
“Any way to increase it is usually a good banker, as long as the value of the extension exceeds the cost of creating it.
“Beyond that, embracing things like open-plan design and using large expanses of glazing to help bring the outside in, often make homes more attractive to buyers.”
Such changes are both practical and cosmetic and Michael said boosting a property’s energy efficiency was also an increasingly hot topic at the shows.
“Investing in this area is seriously worthwhile,” he said.
“Especially if you’re going to be living in a home for a long period of time.
“You’ll save money on bills and so on, but you need to make sure the changes are appropriate for the property you’re working with.
“If, for example, you have a 1950s house that has no insulation, it’s not a good idea to install a heat pump and slap solar panels on the roof.
“What you should do is invest in the building envelope first to prevent heat loss.
“Then, if you have the money you can look at those other technologies and, if there’s any cash spare after that, then installing batteries to store electricity is a great way to help reduce running costs.
“As with all these things, it’s important to do the right calculations to work out the costs involved and how much money you’ll save.
“People are also starting to consider air conditioning and cooling options, given the climate, but these also need careful consideration and may not be an option for everyone.”
Michael advocates embracing open-plan design to maximise space – image by Kasia Fiszer
the value of advice
As with all the experts appearing, Michael will be on hand to offer advice at the show.
“People ask me absolutely everything,” he said. “I do tend to get questions related to design and remodelling, especially with kitchens.
“That is my speciality and I’ve ended up running a design and build business.
“Where we can help is when, for example, people know they want a kitchen extension and they’ve got some plans – they know instinctively how it should be but can’t quite get there on their own.
“Often they don’t want to knock down part of their house to make the design really work, even if they know they should be doing that.
“So, I’m there to confirm and give them the licence to follow their instincts.
“These projects are often semi-open-plan, extending at the back or the side and integrating that kitchen into the new design of the house.
“The number one project I see is to convert the existing kitchen into a utility room and then have an extension to create a new kitchen-dining area, followed by loft conversions, which typically become the master bedroom with an en-suite.
“The one thing I’d love to build would be a bungalow, although these days that means confronting land prices – which is why we often have smaller properties on multiple storeys.
“But I’d love to create a single-level dwelling in woodland or by the sea – preferably on a Greek island – in quite a traditional style.
“It’s a dream, but then that’s the point of the show – it’s somewhere people can come to explore those ideas and turn them into a reality.”
key details: London Homebuilding And Renovating Show
The London Homebuilding And Renovating Show is set to run at Excel from September 18-20, 2026, from 10am daily.
The brand’s latest launch sees owners Denis Gobjila and Victor Rosca build on their success in Stratford as they deliver Peruvian-Japanese fusion dishes
Bamboo Mat serves Nikkei cuisine, a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese cooking – image supplied by Bamboo Mat
Already it’s hard to remember a time when East Village in Stratford wasn’t a thriving community.
What was once the athlete’s village for the 2012 Olympic Games has become both an attractive place to live and a sustainable home for hospitality businesses.
That the likes of Darkhorse, Signorelli and La Gelatiera have all been trading for more than a decade, is no small achievement in a turbulent sector.
Having truly come alive over the last year, there’s a sense something similar is happening to the food and drink scene at the eastern end of Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf.
Ong Lai Kopitaim, Mama Li, Cafe Seek and Signorelli have all proved popular since launching, while Osteria Al Molo and Lockdown are finding their feet.
Beam, a rapid re-brand of Nora London from the same owners, is also attracting all-day diners, having moved towards more brunch-friendly fare.
Walk through on a sunny weekend and you’ll find al fresco tables packed with Wharfers enjoying food and drinks from across the world as awareness rises.
With more rental properties on the estate due to come on stream through Vertus, it feels like an auspicious place to expand to.
That’s very much the hope of Denis Gobjila and Victor Rosca, co-owners of Bamboo Mat, who are aiming for a September opening next door to Beam.
An artist’s impression of how the Canary Wharf restaurant will look when it opens – image supplied by Bamboo Mat
growing in east London
Born in a small unit in Leyton in 2022, their first Bamboo Mat achieved runaway success following a glowing review from Grace Dent in The Guardian.
This allowed them to quickly open a bigger site in Stratford, which has been their focus ever since and continues to grow steadily despite pressures in the industry.
Now it’s time to branch out and their plans are for a venue unlike anything else on the estate.
“What we are building will be one of the nicest restaurants in Canary Wharf,” said Denis.
“It will be a journey. Customers are not going to come just for the food, but will be excited by what they’re seeing, hearing and feeling.
“Gynda Gourmet Hospitality Management group has overseen the design based on the combination of two cultures – Japanese and Peruvian, which is at the root of the Nikkei cuisine we serve.
“We’ll be recreating the beautiful Rainbow Mountain – the restaurant will have the feel of a house in the Peruvian highlands.
“Everything is hand-made, with wood as the key material.
“We’re having chairs carved especially for us – there’s an artist working on them for us non-stop.”
Bamboo Mat co-owner, Denis Gobjila – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
a focus on detail and balance
It’s not just the furniture.
Bamboo Mat takes great pride in presentation, with all the ceramics used in the restaurant hand-thrown in Denis’ native Moldova to create backdrops to the restaurant’s dishes.
Overall, the approach is similar to the style of food that will be on offer – an exacting approach to high quality ingredients that fuses into a result that’s more than the sum of its parts.
Nikkei cuisine is all about the delicacy of Japanese preparation married with the fiery vibrancy and crunch of Peruvian cooking.
For Denis and Victor, that looks like an 82-cover restaurant that features a raw bar and cocktail bar on its ground floor and a robata grill, hot kitchen and sushi operation upstairs.
When it opens it will be the only establishment serving dishes of this kind on the estate.
“Canary Wharf will have a menu that is a 90% match to our Stratford restaurant, but there will be some differences,” said Denis.
“We’ll have the charcoal grill, which is a nice update and we’ll have ceviche and our signature salads downstairs so people can enjoy them with a glass of Champagne.
“Bamboo Mat is really a sharing concept so people can try as many flavours as possible – there will be our take on sushi, teriyaki and tiradito.”
Nikkei dishes make much use of fresh fish and ceviche techniques – image supplied by Bamboo Mat
combining the flavours
Victor added: “The bar will serve wine, all kinds of spirits and, of course, Peruvian cocktails and other drinks that match with our food.
“We like our dishes to always be balanced when it comes to texture and taste. My favourite on the menu is the Chicken Anticucho, which is flavoured with coriander and mashed potato.
“There are 25 ingredients on the plate including produce from Peru and the Amazon.
“Using those in balance is what we’re always trying to do as chefs and it’s one of the most difficult parts of the job – we know we did it right when we see empty plates.
“If we can keep doing that, I’m confident we’ll do well in Canary Wharf.”
Bamboo Mat itself is, perhaps, a venture that could only have emerged in London.
A pair of European chefs cut their teeth in the capital at the likes of Sushisamba, Inamo, Lucky Cat and Roka before meeting at trailblazing Nikkei restaurant Chotto Matte.
They team up in east London to cook food inspired by a South American reinvention of Japanese cuisine and go on to successfully grow and expand. It’s a fusion of multiple, potent ingredients.
Bamboo Mat co-owner, Victor Rosca – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
targeting the top
“We started out by wanting to make something we are proud of – to create and deliver good food and, if you do that in the right way, then money follows,” said Denis.
“Hospitality is a big challenge for everyone and the bills are massive, so we have to be careful, but alongside the stress comes happiness.
“We want to become the best restaurant in Canary Wharf, to make everyone happy after a day in the office and we’ll do that by offering really good quality at the right price.
“One of the trends we’ve noticed is that people like to dine out at restaurants in the neighbourhoods where they live so they don’t have to travel after dining.
“If you create a nice atmosphere, then that will attract customers.
“Everything at Bamboo Mat is going to be open, so guests will see how we cook and create what we’re serving.”
Chicken Anticucho at the Stratford restaurant – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
key details: Bamboo Mat
Bamboo Mat is set to open at North Lane between Union Square and Harbord Square in Wood Wharf in September.
One of the benefits of the regeneration of London is the number and variety of free events organised by the developers and housing associations to attract new residents to their schemes and to entertain those who have already moved in.
There are currently around 7,000 people living at Barking Riverside, a significant cohort, albeit less than a fifth of the 50,000 inhabitants that will call the development home should all 20,000 homes be built on the 443-acre site.
Come Saturday, September 12, 2026, they and visitors to the area are set to welcome back Emerge East, a one-day event featuring live music, food traders, art, “wellbeing experiences” and workshops.
Organised by Barking Riverside Limited, a joint venture between housing association L&Q and the Mayor Of London – which are delivering the scheme alongside Bellway London, TfL and Uber Boat By Thames Clippers – the festival is set to run from 11am-9pm promising its “biggest line-up yet” as the annual event turns five.
“Emerge East is a chance for visitors from across the capital to discover this distinctive part of east London,” said Sarah McCready, director of social infrastructure at Barking Riverside Limited.
“Whether you come for the music, food, art, wellbeing, or for a family day out, the festival delivers an electric atmosphere where Barking Riverside’s diverse and creative spirit takes centre stage.
“We have some really exciting announcements ahead, including revealing the headline DJ and Luke Jerram’s new installation, so we’re encouraging everyone to sign up via Eventbrite to be among the first to hear more.”
The festival will feature street food and a makers’ market – image supplied by Barking Riverside Limited
highlights to look out for
While the full programme – co-curated with HemingwayDesign, known for its work organising Urban Village Fete on Greenwich Peninsula for many years – has yet to be revealed, we do know that The Home Cooks’ Taste Of Barking Riverside will be transforming residents into street food chefs for the day as they share family recipes with visitors.
There will also be a Riverside Sauna with cold plunges and a Wellness Zone for attendees to unwind in.
Another highlight will be the Emerging Makers Market in Station Square, with traders offering locally made products.
Perhaps the two biggest attractions, however, will be a “major new interactive installation” commissioned by Creative Barking And Dagenham in partnership with Barking Riverside Limited from artist Luke Jerram – known for his inflatable versions of the Earth and the Moon – and the return of the Barking Riverside Block Party.
The latter promises a live music takeover of the development with an open air stage featuring a mix of local performers, emerging talents and a closing set from “a very well-known DJ”.
Barking Riverside is easily accessed via the Thames Clippers’ river bus service to Barking Riverside Pier or via Overground services on the Suffragette line to Barking Riverside station.
The quickest route from Canary Wharf is to take the Elizabeth Line to Woolwich, then the river bus to Barking – a journey of around 22 minutes.
For those interested in moving to Barking Riverside, L&Q is currently offering shared ownership properties at the scheme from £66,250 for a 25% share of a one-bed and incentives for reserving before September 12.
Even in the sun-scorched conditions the UK currently finds itself in, following record-smashing heat and dryness in June and July, the Surrey countryside looks appealing when framed through the window of a mercifully air-conditioned train carriage.
Catching a direct SWR service from London Waterloo to Cobham And Stoke D’Abernon to explore a landscaped park on a day where the mercury was forecast to tip 33ºC in the shade, might not have been the most sensible plan.
But the train arrived as a welcome relief after the intense warmth of the Jubilee line from Canary Wharf and we were soon zipping through still-green forests past fields of horses.
Created by politician and garden designer Charles Hamilton on land he acquired and transformed between 1738 and 1773, the park is laid out as a series of scenes and views inspired by its owner’s travels on grand tours of Europe.
Follies were built and botanical specimens planted with the aim of creating a collection of living paintings around a central lake, fed by the adjacent River Mole.
The park’s ruined abbey – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
an early success
It was a hit with visitors.
The future American president John Adams, wrote that “Paines Hill is the most striking piece of art that I have yet seen”, but the loans Hamilton had taken from university friends to finance the extensive project fell due and, unable to pay, he was forced to sell it in 1773.
Private owners then presided over its gradual decline until the Second World War.
After being requisitioned for use by Canadian forces, it was portioned up and sold at the end of the conflict and was used for commercial forestry and pig farming, with much of the park becoming overgrown, its architectural features left to decay.
Things might well have remained this way had Elmbridge Borough Council not got a grip on the situation in the early 1980s.
It took control of some 212 acres of Hamilton’s original park and embarked on an ambitious project to restore this landscaped curiosity to its original glory before opening it to the public.
The human-made crystal grotto is the largest of its kind in the UK – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
pure escapism
Today, those travelling to Painshill are greeted with a swish visitors’ centre, a cafe and a gift shop before they set out into the park proper.
There the promise that striking views will unfold before them is made good.
There’s a vineyard, a ruined abbey, a gothic temple, a Turkish tent, a derelict arch, a gothic tower, a Temple Of Bacchus and several bridges to encounter, all carefully arranged to create and be the focus of a series of tableaux as walkers progress.
Perhaps most striking is the UK’s largest artificial crystal grotto, a delicately realised cave with shells on the floor and slivers of quartz, Blue John and feldspar lining its walls and manufactured stalactites.
Then there are the plants and trees, carefully selected and some of national significance – all contributing to a feeling that one has stepped into some sort of fantastical alternate reality, a wonderland conceived to generate awe, amusement and delight in those bearing witness.
This is a place of pure, marvellous escapism.
Painshill is open from 10am to pm daily. Adult tickets start at £12.50 and child tickets (ages 5-16) start at £5.50. Kids under 5 go free.
Please note the crystal grotto is typically closed on Mondays for ongoing restoration work.
The park is a short bus or cab ride from Cobham And Stoke D’Abernon station.
Cilbir at Bici Bistro – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
dine – Bici Bistro, Cobham
>> Fuel is certainly necessary before embarking on a walk around Painshill and this newly opened all-day dining spot, in nearby Anyards Road, fits the bill.
Bici boasts artfully distressed walls, golden lighting and, perhaps most impressively, retractable windows that can raise or lower depending on the breeze or need for air conditioning.
This is a smartly realised establishment with a menu of brunchtime favourites for the morning and even more options for lunch and dinner.
I opt for the Cilbir – a dish of eggs, diced sujuk garlic sausage and creamy garlic yoghurt that comes with a plentiful supply of chilli-laced flatbread for £14.95.
My companion orders the Bici Choice (£15.95) from the venue’s “toast bar”, which arrives as a doorstep-thick slice topped with spinach, avocado, salmon, roast peppers and poached eggs.
The kitchen is on-song. Ingredients in both dishes perform in harmony via portion sizes that are almost overwhelmingly generous.
This is a venue that’s well worth a visit…
Joe says SWR Business Direct offers business information in three clicks – image supplied by SWR
on track with SWR’s Joe Thurgood
Q
It’s important in any business to keep abreast of the details of operation. How does SWR Business Direct help companies report on their travel expenses and is this easy to do?
A
If we’re honest, nobody actually enjoys chasing down crumpled train tickets and building messy expense spreadsheets at the end of the month.
Yet, in business, keeping on top of the data is everything.
If you don’t know where the money is going, you can’t manage the budget.
That is exactly where the SWR Business Direct platform comes into play.
Think of this free-to-use portal as your company’s personal rail travel command centre. Instead of every employee buying tickets independently and filing separate claims, the platform centralises everything.
It tracks every journey a firm books across the entire British rail network, including the carbon footprint, any savings made and even reasons for travel (or whatever metric a customer chooses).
When it comes to reporting, it completely eliminates the administrative friction.
how does it help you report?
It lets you pull down-to-the-penny data instantly.
You can easily analyse exact travel expenditures, track custom fields like project names or client accounts and even log specific purchase order numbers.
Plus, for companies tracking sustainability targets, it automatically captures and generates carbon footprint reports.
It delivers audited, decision-ready data whenever you need it.
is it actually easy to do?
It’s incredibly simple.
You can run detailed expense reports in just three clicks.
Because the system captures the data automatically, your finance team won’t have to spend hours processing manual employee expenses.
It gives you full visibility and total control over your corporate travel outgoings, plus it still books all national rail travel, including TFL and PLUSbus products.
Born in Archway and growing up in Watford, she’s always had a love for busy, urban environments and now really enjoys living and working in London, indulging her passion for playing football locally, having grown up watching the Hornets at Vicarage Road with her dad.
But she’s not only a team player on the pitch, it’s a trait she’s carried into her career, most recently as the University Of Sunderland In London’s placement and internship programme manager.
“After graduating, I had that period of trying to work out who I was, what I cared about and what I was interested in,” she said.
“Initially I worked in clothing retail, but I realised that helping people was where I wanted to be.
“I stayed in the sector and found a role at the Fashion Retail Academy, having realised that I’m 100% a people person.
“The opportunity was in education and I was working to find placements for students across our courses.
“I couldn’t do a job where I’m not communicating with other individuals every day – it was during lockdown that I found a group of women to kick a ball around with because it was all we were allowed to do with social distancing.”
supporting those seeking careers
Next came a spell at Blueprint For All in Deptford, formerly the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, a charity with an ambition to create a fairer and more inclusive society.
“My role there was to develop programmes and I worked across lots of different projects, which reinforced my love of supporting people,” said Hermione.
“Following on from the Black Lives Matter movement we saw a lot of partnerships come through the door and we had a lot of success getting funding, so it was a really exciting busy time.
“I spent some time in fundraising, but I realised what I needed to do was programme management, so I moved to Future Of London, a not-for-profit organisation that helps people who want to start a career in the built environment, planning, regeneration and community engagement.
“Working in the world of diversity and inclusion we’d find people internships, support them and see them shine.”
delivering Elevate
All of these facets of her story are important because Hermione’s own career is one where broad experience over many years has equipped her for the role she’s now undertaking at the university from its base at Harbour Exchange on the Isle Of Dogs.
The programme she’s running – Elevate – is specifically designed to provide those who have finished courses with skills and opportunities to help boost their careers.
“This is something new for our campus,” said Hermione.
“We know some of our graduates struggle to gain graduate-level employment, especially those who don’t necessarily have the background of a traditional university student.
“In some cases, graduates may still be working in the same part-time roles they were doing while studying and we want to support them to secure graduate-level work.
“Our employability and enterprise hub already offers ongoing support for up to three years after students graduate.
“But we’ve developed Elevate specifically for graduates who are not in further education or jobs at the level they should be.
“It’s designed to provide them with some practical work experience via paid internships, as well as training and support to develop their abilities.
“It lasts three months and we’re working with businesses across the area to deliver these opportunities to thrive, learn new skills and gain a better understanding of working environments they might not be used to so they have leverage to make job applications and secure graduate-level employment.”
The University Of Sunderland in London is based at Harbour Exchange on the Isle Of Dogs – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
paid internships to boost job prospects
The first five students are about to complete the pilot programme at the university and Hermione said flexibility had allowed participants to access opportunities they might have otherwise struggled to find.
“It’s about helping people get to where they want to be,” she said.
“The internship is flexible, which means those with caring responsibilities or who are unable to work full-time can still take part.
“Often, the reason people aren’t in graduate-level jobs is that there are so many barriers in the way – it’s all so competitive.
“Perhaps a person’s digital skills aren’t very broad in a professional setting, so we help with that and things like writing CVs, job applications and research skills, as well as AI competency.
“Elevate gives people the practical skills to have the right experience in a working environment and to feel confident while they’re there.
“Most employers expect people to arrive prepared to operate at a high level, which may not be realistic for all graduates.
“We offer one-to-one advice and guidance while they’re in the programme and regularly check in with them so they get that wrap-around support.”
why the University Of Sunderland in London is seeking partners
The university is looking to expand the number and variety of businesses it works with through its Elevate programme.
“The internships need to be at a graduate level, but we’re open to a range of different employers,” said Hermione.
“The university offers courses in business, finance, healthcare, technology, hospitality and tourism.
“As part of the programme, we cover the salaries of the interns on the scheme so there’s minimal risk to employers.
“It’s about offering experience, time and resource to support people when they come into work and we make every effort to minimise the challenges.
“We work with businesses to understand their expectations – what’s included in the job description – and we weave that into the application.
“Before we send interns out to an employer, they attend a boot camp with us to ensure they have all the skills they need.
“It’s about giving people a safe space to figure things out – it’s OK not to get things right first time.
“We’re keen to connect with employers who need extra pairs of hands over a three-month period to help people go on and be successful in their careers.”
key details: Elevate at the University Of Sunderland In London
“WheelPower is all about enabling people to enjoy sport and lead more active lives,” said Paul Rushton, head of fundraising, data and communications at the national charity for wheelchair sport.
“Wheelchair padel isn’t a very big thing yet, but we would like it to be.
“As a sport, padel is very accessible and there are an increasing number of courts.”
Paul said: “I was contacted by Simon Turner from Optinet – one of our sponsors over many years, which is based in One Canada Square – who had an idea that we hadn’t done a wheelchair padel event before and thought it would be good to have one in Canary Wharf to raise awareness of the sport and what the charity does.
“On the day, we’ll be hosting two sessions – one for juniors aged eight-17 from 11am and one for adults from 1.30pm.
“We supply everything necessary, including lunch for participants, and both sessions are suitable for complete beginners.
“We put those taking part in sports wheelchairs, do some drills, show them how to move around and how to hold the bats.
“Coaches will then do some training in how to hit the ball.
“There will be some practice rallies before players take part in matches.
“It’s going to be a magnificent event, to get local disabled people playing sport.
“The benefits are enormous. Wheelchair users have a sedentary lifestyle, especially as they get older, so being active helps with daily tasks, like tackling kerbs and getting in and out of cars.
“Upper body strength is really important.
“We also find that sport is really good for people’s mental health.
“There are many different reasons why someone may be in a wheelchair, including suffering catastrophic injuries.
“I have met people who are told they are paralysed and immediately start a new life.
“Most people aren’t like that and it can take them a long time to get used to the new normal.
“Through sport, they can meet other disabled people who have often had similar experiences and can talk about those with them because of that shared understanding of those lived experiences.”
The taster sessions will be held at Padium in Canary Wharf – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
getting people into wheelchair sports
Padel is the focus for this event, but WheelPower’s mission extends to a wealth of sports, competitions and activities from its base at Stoke Mandeville Hospital where the organisation has been running in one form or another since 1948.
“We just want to get people active and we don’t care how,” he said.
“That might be helping people to find an accessible sports club, helping them with equipment or training teachers, coaches and physios, so they can make their sports sessions more accessible for disabled people.
“We’re involved in the wider Paralympic movement – the Paralympic Flame has been lit at the Stoke Mandeville Stadium since 2012 – and we’ve managed to help a lot of athletes succeed at the Games, but it’s more than that.
“Disabled people are likely to be half as active as their non-disabled peers.
“We’re trying to address that, whether it’s going down the Paralympic route with football, rugby and athletics or it’s something as simple as joining a gym, swimming at a local pool or going for a push every day.
“Even something as simple as that can really help to raise the heart rate a bit and make people fitter, so that later in life they’ll be healthier.
“We’ve got different sports for different people – everything from archery to hand cycling. We’re promoting about 38 different sports and the growth has been massive.
“The biggest thing I’ve seen over time is the increase in access to these sports locally, which has really improved. People’s attitude to disabled sport has also changed and improved massively, especially since 2012.
“We mustn’t forget that not every disabled person is superhuman, and they all have their struggles, depending on their impairments.
“Everybody with a disability is different, and it’s our job to support them to do what they want.”
supporting the charity
WheelPower, which supports more than 77,000 people to access sports across the country, is funding the sessions at Padium, which are being run with the help of Optinet and Canary Wharf Contractors.
A range of sponsorship opportunities and volunteering places at the event are still available, should companies or organisations wish to get involved.
Paul said: “Sport is so important for everyone and to give people around here the opportunity to participate in padel is going to be a magical thing.
“I’ve been lucky to have been involved as a fundraiser with WheelPower for 23 years now. It’s the best job in the world.
“I speak to people who are so giving and generous, and then with people who have so many amazing stories about what they’ve done with that support.
“You can really see the impact that sport makes on people and we see it every day – it really is wonderful.
“There are astonishing stories of Paralympic medal success, which will never leave me and I’ve met so many incredible people like that.
“But you also meet the parents of children, for example, who might not compete at that level, but whose lives are improved so much because they are able to play sport.
“That’s something really special.”
key details: Learn To Play Padel With WheelPower
Learn To Play Padel With WheelPower is set to take place on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, from 11am-3pm at Padium in Canary Wharf.
The taster sessions are free to attend but must be booked in advance – there’s a £15 deposit that’s refunded after the event.
At the time of going to press, the adult session was fully booked with a waiting list in operation, however spaces remained for juniors aged eight-17.
A fresh programme of free dance classes is set to begin at Sadler’s Wells East in September.
Held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from September 14, 2026, the initiative takes place on The Dance Floor at the East Bank venue, a deliberately public-facing space on the ground floor that looks out over the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
“In our first year we had more than 6,600 people participate in these classes,” said Natasha Anderson.
“And that’s just one of the ways we use the space.
“Creating The Dance Floor when Sadler’s Wells East opened was done with the vision that dancing in the foyer, on the stage and in the rehearsal rooms upstairs are all the bread and butter of what we do.
“It’s positioned by the window so there are lots of people passing by who see what’s going on and come in to take a look.
“The floor feels like our most welcoming space, so we spend a lot of time thinking about the dance styles we want to showcase on it, the type of artists we’ll feature and what we’re going to teach people.”
Natasha Anderson of Sadler’s Wells East – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
welcoming people in
As Sadler’s Wells head of community engagement, Natasha is tasked with reaching out beyond the organisations’ walls to connect with residents, organisations and visitors, with The Dance Floor central to those efforts in Stratford.
“People might just stop by to visit the café or the toilets at Sadler’s Wells East,” she said.
“No matter how you come into this building, we want you to feel welcome and that this space is for you.
“The Dance Floor is our shop window and it’s one we’re really proud of, whether that’s the classes we’re hosting or the performances we’ve programmed.”
From September 14, there will be free lunchtime classes three times a week, this season covering Afro-Caribbean Fusion, Funky Social Dance and Reggae + Soul Line Dance.
These are suitable for all ages, but under-18s must be accompanied by an adult.
A free class on The Dance Floor – image by Sylvie Belbouab
a place where friendships start
“I tell people to expect the unexpected in terms of how they’re going to feel,” said Natasha.
“People who are dancing for the first time often come with hesitation and trepidation, but they leave with such big smiles on their faces because they’ve had so much fun.
“It’s been a place where friendships have started – those interactions are so important for mental health, as well as the physical benefits of getting on the floor and dancing.
“There are so many joyful things that happen to your body when you move to music – serotonin levels rise and it makes you feel good.
“We work with a pool of really talented teachers who work in a variety of different styles. The important thing for us is to set a bar for positivity – that’s really important.
“I encourage as many people as possible to take part in these classes, including our own staff.
“They can be a real jumping off point for people to discover what they like and then to find other places to dance too.
“New this term will be the Reggae + Soul Line Dancing – it’s something that’s really big in the States. We ran a trial session in June and it went down really well.
“People might know the steps to Candy from parties, but there so much more to explore.”
The space is used by a wide range of ages in a variety of ways – image by Sylvie Belbouab
Natasha said: “The community groups we work with use it as a performance space too and we’ve had some really lovely feedback.
“For a lot of the groups we work with, getting the support, the care, being heard, being seen and respected, has been really amazing.
“We’ve even had some dancers ending up on stage because they performed here on The Dance Floor and were seen by artists putting on shows here.
“We also use it in our work with schools across east London for our regular Creative Classroom sessions.
“We have set times when anyone can come and use the space called The Floor Is Yours – people just need to sign in and then they can get moving.”
Natasha, who worked for the Barbican before joining Sadler’s Wells, said she especially enjoyed watching young children dancing with their adults at the regular Family Freestyle sessions, which are also free but need to be booked in advance.
Family Freestyle sessions take place on Thursdays, from September 14 and are also free but must be booked in advance, suitable for ages 2-4 accompanied by an adult.
As a nation, we’re soundly hooked on the black stuff.
According to the British Coffee Association, UK drinkers consume 98million cups a day – nearly one and a half for every person living in the country.
Judging by the number of outlets across Canary Wharf, it’s reasonable to suppose those working, living or visiting the estate, punch a little above average on that figure.
While there are many places to get your fix in the malls, one venue has a significant point of difference.
The coffee from Circle Collective, located at the bottom of the escalators to the western end of the main mall, comes with a secret ingredient – opportunity in every cup.
The London-based charity, founded in 2011 by CEO Turly Humphreys, was set up to support unemployed people aged 16-30 through training and experience working in its shops, with the aim of helping them find jobs.
Having originally opened its Canary Wharf store in 2023, with ongoing support from CWG, the charity has moved a couple of times, but location hasn’t been the only change.
“This is a new model for Circle Collective,” said Turly.
“We’ve moved away from predominantly fashion to more of a mix with gifts, cards and homewares, stocking sustainable local products for people to buy.
“Very excitingly, we’re also now serving coffee and one of the reasons we wanted to do that was because the young people coming on our programmes were telling us they couldn’t afford to buy a cup.
“We wanted to both offer drinks at an affordable price and also expand our programme so our young people could train to become baristas in the hospitality sector.”
Cups decorated by trainees at Circle Collective – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
more than just a drink
Branded “Coffee With Purpose”, from the consumer’s point of view, Circle’s operation features espresso for £2.50, while a flat white is £3.50.
“There’s also a Coffee And Cookie deal for £5 – a saving of more than £2 – with the sweet treats sourced from Rinkoffs bakery in Whitechapel.
The decaf is by Cruise Coffee – a company founded by Turly and her son George – which imports from Colombia and uses a by-product of the sugar cane industry to remove the caffeine before roasting takes place in small batches at Tate Britain.
Served alongside a menu of fine teas plus hot chocolate from Ghana and Venezuela, it’s a compelling proposition for those seeking warm refreshment.
Presiding over this selection and heading up the operation is cafe manager and trainer Gareth Bell – a self-confessed jack of all trades, with a background that includes selling a photography retail tech startup to Jessops, extensive experience in the coffee sector and work for charities.
Circle Collective founder and CEO, Turly Humphreys – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
building skills and confidence
“At Circle Collective, we run a training programme for six weeks,” he said.
“We work on a few different elements of the hospitality and cafe industry, with soft skills, confidence and mentoring, but also the technical skills of making coffee and the bigger story of the product itself, from farm to cup to customer.
“It’s all about appreciating the work that goes into making a hot beverage.
“One of the things I try to do with trainees is to prepare them to be able to explain it all to customers who want to know more.
“If people who visit us go away with a little more knowledge then it’s mission accomplished.
“If trainees can get to a point where they’re sharing that with customers, that they know what they’re talking about and can communicate it, then that gives them a platform to stand on.
“But we also want them to be themselves, to enjoy what they’re doing – we don’t want this to be a strict, corporate environment.
“What we want to do is build a business for Circle Collective based on people coming in and seeing there’s a purpose behind what we’re doing.
“We have regulars coming in every day, word-of-mouth has been important and it’s a great opportunity for us to share what the charity does.”
Gareth works on latte art at Circle Collective – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
from training to experience and employment
The first cohort of trainees has just completed the programme, with a week’s work experience at Hilton London Canary Wharf the final piece in the puzzle.
Turly, who generally orders a decaf latte, said: “What we would like is for more companies to come to us with internships, apprenticeships, work experience placements and jobs.
“One of our challenges is brand awareness and we want people to know that by shopping with us they are helping to give young people opportunities.”
Gareth, whose preference is for an oat flat white, added: “For me, change is a good word to think about – education and awareness are important.
“That’s why I write inspirational quotes on the coffee machine.
“Making the coffee is one thing, but the transferable skills gained from this programme, such as selling to customers, means those participating can go into anything.
“Coffee is a vehicle and you can drive it to go into anything. It’s about trainees seeing the bigger picture.
“There are lots of opportunities – it’s also about identifying what our trainees’ values are.
“For example, I have one at the moment who loves fashion and design, so they are looking after the layout of the products.
“If they finish the programme and they walk our of here more educated than when they arrived then that’s a win for me.”
From August 12-26, 2026, Wharfers visiting Circle Collective can use the code PURPOSE to get any coffee for £1, limited to one drink per customer, per day.
Circle Collective is located in Jubilee Place at Canary Wharf – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
key details: Circle Collective
Circle Collective serves coffee from its Canary Wharf store in Jubilee Place from 7.30am-2.30pm.
The store is open to shoppers until 7pm on weekdays.
