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CRA French Bar And Cafe brings rhum arrangé to Deptford

How Faziha Zed and Sam Stewart have created a venue with spirit in south-east London

Faziha Zed and Sam Stewart of CRA French Bar And Cafe in Deptford
Faziha Zed and Sam Stewart of CRA French Bar And Cafe in Deptford

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BY LAURA ENFIELD

Harvest time is drawing to a close in England and many of us may have dabbled in picking fruit and foraging nature’s bounty.

We may even have fermented a few things or made some sloe gin.

But for Faziha Zed and Sam Stewart, the business of finding ripe produce is the backbone of their Deptford bar.

From the outside CRA French Bar And Cafe is a pretty unassuming venue, nestled among a row of shops on Deptford Broadway.

But step inside and you will find the UK’s first bar serving homemade rhum arrangé – offering a taste of the exotic in south-east London.

The drink originated in the 18th century in the French West Indies – the parts of France located in the Antilles islands of the Caribbean.

Every drop served up in Deptford is handmade by Faziha based on an old family recipe that she has adapted and refined over the years.

Flavours on offer include pineapple, mango and passionfruit, plum hibiscus, vanilla honey cinnamon, banana, fig and grape, caramelised pear, lychee and summer fruits.

Faziha makes it using fresh-pressed sugar cane juice from Barbados, which has been slowly infused with fruits, herbs and spices.

And finding the different ingredients can be a fickle affair.

Faziha makes Catford Rhum Arrange, right, with sugar cane juice, fruits, herbs and spices
Faziha makes Catford Rhum Arrange, right, with sugar cane juice, fruits, herbs and spices

the right ingredients

“Recently, I made one with elderflower and nettle,” said Faziha.

“But you can only pick elderflower in the spring and I only use quality produce.

“So, if I don’t have enough quantity to last through the winter, I will have to wait until next spring to make more.”

The business started – as many do – by happy accident.

“I come from France and have family from Guadeloupe in the French West Indies, and I always used to bring back rhum arrangé when I visited,” said Faziha.

“Every family have their own recipes and think theirs is the best.

“It is a very old drink but is becoming extremely fashionable in France now and you will find it in bars and the supermarkets.

“But during lockdown I obviously couldn’t get any, so I had to make it for myself.”

The Deptford venue has a strong local following
The Deptford venue has a strong local following

born in Catford

She began in her kitchen in Catford using kilner jars and, when restrictions eased, she took it along to parties and found it was a hit.

“People started to ask us about it and to make orders for some,” said Faziha.

“We weren’t sure at first if the nice things they were saying were true, but then we started selling it in some markets such as Greenwich and it sold out very quickly.”

The couple soon realised they wanted more.

“We started talking a lot about opening a bar when we were sitting in the markets,” said Sam.

“They were great, but can be quite limiting with the amount of money you make and they are only at weekends.

“So we decided we needed a bar in order to continue doing this full time.”

They found a vacant unit in Deptford and renovated it themselves on a shoestring.

Sam, who used to teach at Camberwell College of Arts, handles the day-to-day running of the establishment.

CRA French Bar And Cafe serves a small selection of food
CRA French Bar And Cafe serves a small selection of food

opening CRA French Bar And Cafe

“We wanted to create an intimate space inspired by the small bars of France – a place where people feel welcome and comfortable,” he said.

“Deptford has a very strong community and we feel quite honoured to have been accepted so quickly into it.

“We get a lot of regulars coming in.

“And this area has a long history of rum being imported into the docks so it feels very fitting.”

Customers can enjoy the rhum neat, with a mixer as a cocktail or choose from a menu of Belgian beers, French wines and pastis and a small selection of food.

In the mornings, there is coffee from Drury and viennoiserie from Boulangerie Jade.

For lunch during colder weather, the bar serves homemade vegan soup and a variety of toasties.

In the evenings there is a choice of charcuterie, cheese and vegan and seafood platters designed to complement the drinks menu.

Faziha, who was previously a social worker, has kept her day job in SEN education and makes the rhum in the evenings and weekends.

Today, this takes place at a unit in Catford where the varieties of drink are made in vast containers and refined over months of tasting.

“It is a bit like wine from one year to another, you can use the same recipe but it will never come out the same,” said Faziha.

“We will test after three months and see if something is missing – maybe it needs more vanilla.”


The bar serves a wide range of drinks including Catford Rhum Arrange
The bar serves a wide range of drinks including Catford Rhum Arrange

a secret recipe

Exactly what goes into the rhum is a closely guarded secret.

Even Sam isn’t permitted access.

“He doesn’t know the recipe and never will – if we get divorced he will still know nothing,” said Faziha.

If she did decide to share the making, because of her day job, the couple would love to employ people with learning difficulties.

But they are undecided about whether to rock the boat by increasing production. 

“There’s the potential to upscale, expand and produce and sell that more, “said Sam. “But to do that we’d need a bigger place.

“At the moment what we’re doing is a success and no-one else is doing it.

“Opening another bar would be a lot of hard work.

“So, for now, what we want is to continue to enjoy it.

Faziha added: “We quite like having a small bar. It has its limitations – but do we really want to expand and make more money just for the sake of making more money?

“At the moment we are living our dream, enjoying the moment and following the flow.” 

key details: CRA French Bar And Cafe

The bar is open Wed 10am-4pm, Thurs 10am-11.30pm, Fri 10am-12.30am, Sat 10am-12.30am, Sun 11am-10pm.

Find out more about the venue and the drink here

All images by James Perrin

Read more: Canary Wharf unveils Eden Dock at the heart of the estate

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
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The Social Art Of Braided Hair is set to arrive at Art In The Docks

Exhibition forms part of Newham Black History Month with a focus on African and Caribbean culture

Image shows a woman with braided hair in a denim jacket
The Social Art Of Braided Hair will be on show from October 18-20 and 26-27

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BY LAURA ENFIELD

The practice of combining strands of hair has been around for thousands of years. But it is about much more than creating a neat appearance.

Exhibition The Social Art of Braided Hair will showcase it as an art form and the people who design it as artists. 

The show has been produced by Royal Docks collective Art In The Docks with Stratford-based social enterprise Nurture Academy.

It will be open to the public on October 18-20 and 26-27 as part of Newham Black History Month.

Matilda Russell from Art In The Docks tells us more about the people and ideas behind it.

what can visitors expect?

The Social Art of Braided Hair is a photo essay positioning the cultural and social importance of braided hair.

All of the work being shown in the exhibition is contemporary to Newham Black History Month.

Rather than images of professional models with carefully manicured hair shot in soft focus, this show centres entirely on local east Londoners, shown as they really are.

the meaning behind it?

As well as portraying braided hair as an art form and the people who wear it as living artworks, the exhibition will show the powerful social impact of braided hair.

The time spent between a mother and child braiding hair is a deeply bonding moment.

The legacy hair design remains as a visual reminder of a time spent together. 

what is Art In The Docks?

We are an artist-led social enterprise in east London, committed to making art and culture accessible to people who might otherwise feel excluded. 

Regular events, activities and workshops are delivered to the local communities, as well as exhibitions, dance and theatre performances. These are free and open to everyone. 

what is Nurture Academy?

It’s also a social enterprise based in east London working with individuals of all ages to promote and understand the significance of braided hair. 

The organisation nurtures, mentors and teaches individuals lifelong skills while unlocking confidence. 

As well as working with families and young children, Nurture Academy shines a pathway into new career directions for ex-offenders and the long term unemployed.

Image shows the back of a woman's head with braided hair in place
Art In The Docks has worked with Nurture Academy to create the exhibition

how have you worked together?

Nurture Academy promotes the understanding of braided hair, its cultural significance and the techniques used.

While braiding skills are often handed down from one generation to another and practised between siblings and friends, Nurture Academy teaches people how to optimise these techniques in workshop environments.

The exhibition will include images of these workshops, and the teaching methods used. Several of these workshops will accompany the exhibition on Saturday, October 19, 2024, and will be totally free to access.

what inspired the exhibition?

This project came about as the result of shared values between both Art In The Docks and Nurture Academy.

Both are committed to showing how the capacity for creativity fundamentally defines who we are as a civilisation.

The title of the exhibition reflects these values and highlights the importance of societal reference points.

why is it important?

Much has been said about braided hair and cultural appropriation. In the same way that tattoos are ‘not just for sailors’, exclusive title to the of art braided hair cannot today be claimed by any one section of society.

However, there is no doubt that it is deeply rooted in black African and black Caribbean culture and we have chosen this as the central theme to this exhibition.

This visual human story will be told in 22 frames, each the same size and dimension. It will centre on the people we see around us every day and invite us to stop and look, maybe to learn.

key details: The Social Art Of Braided Hair

The event runs October 18-20 and 26-27 at Art In The Docks in Royal Albert Dock, a short walk from Gallions Reach DLR station. 

Find full details of the exhibition here

Image shows traders at a Black Pound Market
Black Pound Markets are set to take place on October 12 and 19

more to do during Black History Month

Newham Black History Month is here offering free talks, workshops, markets, and musical performances.

The programme runs from October 4 to November 4, 2024, with the theme Reclaiming Narratives, dedicated to addressing historical inaccuracies and seizing control of stories, allegories, and histories.

It has been organised by Newham Council as part of its 15-year Building Newham’s Creative Future Cultural Strategy, launched in March 2022.

Mayor Of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz said: “Black History Month provides a crucial opportunity for us to recognise and celebrate the immense contributions of black African and Caribbean communities to our borough and beyond. 

“This celebration is not only a reflection on the past, but also a source of empowerment for our present and future.”

Councillor Rohit Dasgupta, deputy cabinet member for equalities, social justice and culture said: “Through this celebration, we aim to challenge ignorance, prejudice, and racial hatred, and to build a more inclusive and harmonious society.”

Black Pound Markets

A celebration of Newham’s black businesses and entrepreneurs featuring music and entertainment for the whole family.

Saturday, October 12, 9am to 3pm at Woodgrange Market

Saturday, October 19, from noon to 4pm at Rathbone Market

My Story Is Of Healing

Two workshops produced by East London-based mixed-media artist Marilyn J Fontaine.

The first is Rewriting the Health Narrative Of Black Women on Tuesday October, 15. It will explore the link between emotional healing, black women’s activism and care provided for black women, referencing Dr Angela Davis and Dr Melba Wilson. 

Participants will create an “emotional genogram” using coloured pens, fabric and self-portraits followed by reflections and discussions.

The second is Women’s Rest is Resilience on Thursday, October 17. It will be an exploration of language around black women (sacrifice, resilience, endurance) and community organisations in the 1980s and 1990s in Newham who delivered art workshops for the black community to support mental wellbeing.

Creative activities will be used to craft a new narrative to reflect the relationship between self-care, community empowerment and wellbeing. Participants are required to bring a picture of themselves.

October 15 and 17, 6-8.30pm, Applecart Arts, The Passmore Edwards Library, 207 Plashet Grove, E6 1BX

Improving Black Health

An event focused on enhancing the health and well-being of Londoners within the black community. 

It will include discussions on various health topics affecting the Black population. 

The aim is to hear and understand the health experiences of individuals from black communities in order to initiate a discussion on addressing long-standing health and wellbeing inequities, explore culturally appropriate public health strategies for combating chronic conditions such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes and discuss and develop strategies to improve health outcomes for patients from the black community at a local level.

Friday, October 18, 6-7.30pm, City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE

Art Workshop Inspired By Professor Sonia Boyce

Part of a series of events to reclaim narratives by exploring the political innovations, artistic achievements and cuisine of black residents and how they have contributed to life in Newham and further afield. 

This event will focus on the trail-blazing career of Dame Sonia Boyce. The British Afro-Caribbean artist and educator is a Professor of Black Art and Design at University of the Arts London. She explores art as a social practice and has been closely collaborating with other artists since 1990.

In 2016, she became the first black female to be elected to the Royal Academy Of Arts in London.

Wednesday, October 23 (time TBC), Custom House Bookshop, 3 Freemasons Road, E16 3AR

Finale: From Beats to Legacy – 30 Years of Black British Influence

A showcase of grime music, film, poetry and a special guest Q&A. More details TBC.

Saturday, October 26, 6-9pm, Stratford Old Town Hall

Find full details of Newham Black History Month here

Read more: Canary Wharf unveils Eden Dock at the heart of the estate

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
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The Eleventh Hour finds its niche serving coffee on the Isle Of Dogs

Entrepreneur Daniel Bull on opening The Lockdown Room and The Eleventh Hour in east London

Image shows Daniel Bull, the man behind The Eleventh Hour and The Lockdown Room, drinking a cup of coffee
Daniel Bull, the man behind The Eleventh Hour and The Lockdown Room

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BY LAURA ENFIELD

He is the kind of guy who runs a spontaneous marathon on New Year’s Day and goes on to clock 3hrs15 for the London event.

The kind of guy who sold sweets in the playground aged 13 to make money and, by 17, was the top salesman in a car dealership.

The guy who can lead a failing coffee shop business through the pandemic and emerge with venues The Eleventh Hour on the Isle Of Dogs and The Lockdown Room at London City Island

“I remember my sister went on a ski trip with school and I said ‘Can I take the cash option?’ and bought DJ gear with it,”said Daniel Bull on his first move as a teen entrepreneur.

“I was into my music and saw the business opportunity, because what else can you do at that age?

“So I put an advert in the Yellow Pages and off I went.”

This seemingly innate entrepreneurial drive has always been matched by an attitude of never giving up – which emerged when he wrote off his first car after two weeks.

“I thought I would never get insured again so I emailed a few car dealerships and said I would work for commission only,” said the Isle Of Dogs resident.

“I was back in a car within a week.

“At 17 I was a top salesman and within two years I was managing the dealership.”

It was also this mindset that saw him land a spot on an MBA course aged 26 with almost no formal qualifications.

“So many business schools turned me down because I didn’t have an undergraduate degree, but I managed to get a fairly decent GMAT score and ended up going to Cass, which is now Bayes Business School,” he said.

“I was the only person without an undergraduate degree, but they liked that because they were trying to diversify the class and not just have a cohort full of investment bankers.”

It was while studying that he crossed paths with floundering company The Espresso Room.

It opened one of London’s first speciality coffee shops in 2009 on Great Ormond Street but by 2019 the owners were considering cutting and running.

Daniel picked up the baton as part of his final project and ended up taking it over.

The cafe is located on the ground floor of Wardian off Marsh Wall
The cafe is located on the ground floor of Wardian off Marsh Wall

turning things round

“There were two investors at the time and they said it was losing money and wanted to know if they should sell it or if it could be turned around? The product was amazing, but behind the scenes, it was a mess,” said Daniel.

“So I did a whole turnaround plan and decided to invest in it.

“I ended up opening two more shops with them and then the pandemic hit.

“Three of the four coffee shops had to be closed and most of the staff furloughed.

“We were basically bankrupt, but I decided to take it on fully and to fight to keep it going.”

The Bloomsbury branch had survived and Daniel and his team landed a gig handing out subsidised coffees to NHS workers battling Covid.

“I didn’t really know what I was doing and it was a whirlwind, but we kept busy. I think that’s why we survived,” he said.

“A lot of people threw the towel in during that time. I didn’t.

“I took a £50,000 bounce back loan and worked around the clock to make something happen.

“I kind of wish we’d gone online now like Grind did but I’m not complaining, because we managed to keep half our team.”

Instead of turning to the internet, he focussed on the community in Leamouth where he was living at the time.

His venue at English National Ballet had shut down and so he began offering a grocery delivery service to residents.

Through the various restrictions, it evolved into what is now known as The Lockdown Room.


The Eleventh Hour serves up a wide array of pastries and food
The Eleventh Hour serves up a wide array of pastries and food

launching Lockdown

“When everyone realized how bad things were and supermarkets and shops were staying closed, we asked the developer Ballymore if it had an empty space,” he said.

“They threw me the keys for one of their biggest retail units on the island.

“It was an empty shell with no water, no lights – nothing – and was full of old desks and chairs all covered in dust.

“We put a table out at the front and became a grocery pop-up.

“A few weeks later we put in a coffee machine and after a month a pint machine and ended up with loads of east London craft beer.

“Then, around June 2020, we bought a PA system and started doing live music outside and theme nights.

“We were building this community as we went along.

“We got a lot of residents involved and some friends set up a kitchen, and started doing Vietnamese street food and some other friends started doing a bottle cocktail business.

“It was an interesting time. I would never have thought to open a bar there, but it was definitely a fun project.

“Now we’ve had to diversify and scale it back a little bit, but we’ve also brought in our own Mexican street food concept called Taco Hut and get events with 400 people being booked in.

“We’re not just a standard venue. We’ve sort of found our niche and we get a lot of repeat bookings and repeat customers.

“So yeah, we’ve learned.

“It’s the hub of the community there and people are now recognising what we do as a business with all our venues.

“We’re not just the place you go to grab a product and leave. It’s about much more than that.”

A staff member makes a coffee at The Eleventh Hour
A staff member makes a coffee at The Eleventh Hour

opening The Eleventh Hour

Today Daniel has 35 staff and manages his brands and venues under The Bull Group.

They include The Barre at the English National Ballet and the Lockdown Room, both on London City Island and The Eleventh Hour on the ground floor of Wardian.

Despite the fact he speaks roughly 12,000 words in our 70 minute interview (that’s almost three words a second) Daniel is not fuelled by free caffeine from his shops.

Instead, he starts every day with a glass of water and a ginger shot, followed swiftly by a healthy juice or shake.

These are consumed in his Wardian flat before he descends a few hundred feet to his coffee shop below to check it is all running smoothly.

The Eleventh Hour opened last November and, like all Daniel’s venues, has found a niche.

“Before we opened a lot of people didn’t really know each other – no one really spoke to each other in the lobby,” he said. 

“Now everyone feels they can talk and get to know each other and it’s amazing the difference it made even within a month.

“That’s what makes it fun and not feel like work.”

Latte art at The Eleventh Hour
Latte art at The Eleventh Hour

different designs

The space was created with interior designer Anna Moller, who also worked on The Lockdown Room and the penthouse at London City Island.

“She’d never done commercial,” said Daniel.

“Her background was high-end residential stuff, so it has created an interesting mix.

“We wanted it to be a neighbourhood coffee shop – a place that is warm and a home-from-home, where people just want to hang out.

“We’re not a big chain where we’re just trying to do them cheap and roll them out.

“Every venue we open has personality.”

The coffee it serves is a house blend made by a roastery in Winchester, but Daniel has also started introducing coffees discovered on his travels around Europe.

About 70% of the food menu is made at a central production kitchen, with items such as brownies, cookies, sausage rolls and energy balls made by a long-standing pastry chef and pastries supplied by a local bakery.

Having got the coffee crew rolling in, Daniel is now about to launch a cocktail menu with a party on October 31 to entice in an evening crowd.

“We thought we’d go big for Halloween,” he said.

“I think there is demand for this here. Even in Canary Wharf, there’s not many quirky neighbourhood bars. 

“We wanted to crack the daytimes first, because the quality can slip if you’re trying to do everything at once.

“Now that we’ve nailed that, this is like a second phase.”

The cocktail menu will be served Tuesday to Saturday from 3pm to midnight and includes five different espresso martinis and a menu of gourmet bar snacks. 

Not content just tackling the evening scene Daniel is also about to enter the health food market with Supershakes, due to launch on the Isle Of Dogs and as a pop-up at Royal Wharf later this year.

It will be a step away from coffee towards a more health conscious offering – driven by Daniel’s own fitness makeover.

He ran his first marathon on a whim four years ago and now regularly competes in Ironman events, mostly without any training. He also gave up alcohol two years ago.

Takeaway cups stand ready at The Eleventh Hour
Takeaway cups stand ready at The Eleventh Hour

more of a challenge

“I do like the fact of proving the impossible in a way,” he said.

“People who train for six months or a year, I’ve got a lot respect for them, because that’s what you’re supposed to do.

“But part of me likes to give myself even more of a challenge.

“I’m an all or nothing person – I used to get a buzz from partying and drinking and now I get it from this.

“I have learned not to be like that in business though, to not sacrifice everything for it.

“I know a lot of people who have done that and they’re not happy.

“For me it is about keeping a balance.

“I almost burnt out two years ago, because I didn’t have that and was using going out and drinking as stress relief – it was a recipe for disaster.

“But I found that if I keep nutrition, sleep and exercise in check, everything else seems to fall into place and be a bit more manageable.”

Keeping the balance in work is also a constant challenge but one Daniel is more than up for.

“The coffee scene is definitely saturated,” he said. “People’s attitudes have changed, with more supporting local and wanting to know about sustainability and that employers are paying the right wage. 

“The pandemic was survival of the fittest and the coffee industry is definitely a lot tougher now. I wouldn’t go into it again because – with increased rents, wages, the cost of coffee, packaging – it’s not an easy win.

“We’re surviving because we’ve diversified. 

“It’s like an Ironman – you just keep fighting.

“Nothing really fazes me anymore and I’m never short of ideas. If we were sat here twiddling our thumbs, then I’d be worried.”

key details: The Eleventh Hour

The Eleventh Hour is open Mon-Fri from 7.30am-5pm and Sat-Sun 8am-5pm. 

Find out more about the cafe here

Read more: Canary Wharf unveils Eden Dock at the heart of the estate

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

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

Tallulah Hug and Heidi Pathiaki talk trends and design as the new shop welcomes customers

Image shows Newbie's dark grey store front and products within in Canary Wharf
Newbie has opened a store in Canary Wharf at Cabot Place – image Matt Flynn

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Newbie has spotted a niche.

The Swedish lifestyle brand, which sells clothes and products for babies and kids aged 0-8, recently opened a new store in Canary Wharf’s Cabot Place as it expands its presence in the UK.

Founded in 2010, when a child-focused company would likely have avoided the estate with extreme prejudice, its growth comes at a time of change for the malls.

The arrival of Flip Out – the first attraction solely aimed at children in Canary Wharf – has already met with success and with schools and an increasing population of young families living locally both on and near the estate, Newbie’s opening makes sense.

“There’s a huge gap in the market and we’re seeing a huge change in the area,” said Tallulah Hug, store manager at Newbie in Canary Wharf.

“It’s become a more residential area and there are a lot of international visitors to the estate as well, so it’s a lovely opportunity for us to open in east London and explore the market here.

“Newbie is a timeless brand focussed on classic pieces in muted colours.

“For girls, we do a lot of florals and, for the boys, we do animal prints.

“We want kids to have fun with fashion, too.

“What we do is aimed at inspiring the next generation to get involved and to be creative – to explore for themselves.

“We’re also here to make everyone feel special, and we want everyone who comes into the stores to have a really fantastic experience.

“We’re here for their child’s first Christmas outfit, their first coming home outfit or simply something that will be loved and cherished time and time again.”

Newbie is packed with clothing for kids aged 0-8 - image Matt Flynn
Newbie is packed with clothing for kids aged 0-8 – image Matt Flynn

dedicated to ages 0-8

While online the brand also sells gifts, homeware and womenswear (including matching outfits to its kids’ range), the Canary Wharf store is dedicated exclusively to clothes for babies and children as well as toys.

It’s a range intended to appeal both to parents and those shopping for gifts.

“Our range for babies is the most popular, because our products are so beautiful,” said Heidi Pathiaki, UK country manager for Newbie.

“We have an artistic department in Sweden and it’s the best gift you can give parents who are expecting.

“Our designs are sustainable too.

“They’re designed to be passed on and will look as beautiful as the day they were made.

“That’s why we’ve introduced our pre-loved range where customers can get a discount off a new product when they trade in pieces that have been outgrown. 

“Then we sell those at our Northcote Road store and that can be an affordable option, especially for new families.”

Newbie store manager Tallulah Hug
Newbie store manager Tallulah Hug

durable and long-lasting

Tallulah added: “Our pieces really are made to last.

“They use really high quality fabrics, with garments made from 100% organic cotton, for example.

“Our new wool range is made to the highest quality, with true craftsmanship too.

“Wash after wash, the colour won’t fade and the stitching doesn’t come loose, so the garments are built to last, to be passed down.

“In a society where fast fashion is at hand, we don’t want to create something which can’t be used again after a couple of months.”

While the store’s muted colours and carefully arranged shelves are clearly aimed at adult shoppers, make no mistake – Newbie enthusiastically welcomes younger customers too.

“You’ll certainly see children running around in this store,” said Heidi.

“We sell teddy bears and bunny rabbits, but we don’t mind kids coming in and having a chit-chat with them .

“We also have a colouring table so the children can be occupied with the drawings in sight while their parent focuses on what they’re interested in buying.”

Heidi Pathiaki, UK country manager for Newbie
Heidi Pathiaki, UK country manager for Newbie

further expansion for Newbie

 As for the future, Newbie is already set to open further stores in Brent Cross and Guildford over the autumn, having been buoyed by the response from British consumers to its first six stores.

“We’re doing both online and in-store shopping,” said Heidi, whose career in retail has seen her work for brands such as Mamas And Papas and Clark’s.

“Of course people buy online – it’s easy and fast – but customers also enjoy coming out, and touching and feeling the products.

“We’re constantly talking about how we can expand and we will be putting womenswear into our stores in due course.

“We’re also looking at putting homeware into our Bluewater store.”

Until then, Wharfers can look forward to the more immediate launch of Newbie’s collection, launching in time for Christmas over the coming weeks.

The shop features a wealth of products and toys
The shop features a wealth of products and toys

key details: Newbie in Canary Wharf

Newbie is located in Canary Wharf’s Cabot Place mall on the lower level.

The store is open from 10am-8pm on weekdays, from 10am-7pm on Saturdays and from noon-6pm on Sundays

Find our more about the brand or shop online here

Read more: Canary Wharf unveils Eden Dock at the heart of the estate

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
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Lyle Park centenary celebrated as Riverscape unveils The Latham

Ballymore set for programme of activities drawing attention to its Royal Docks schemes

Maud Milton's celebratory mosaic, commissioned for Lyle Park's centenary
Maud Milton’s celebratory mosaic, commissioned for Lyle Park’s centenary

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The 100th birthday of Lyle Park in Royal Docks is a reminder, perhaps, that we are simply custodians of the land – morally obliged to leave it better than we found it.

Created originally on land donated by Sir Leonard Lyle (of Tate & Lyle) to West Ham Council, it was initially intended as a vital strip of green open space to improve the lives of residents and workers living in cramped conditions around the factories during the docks’ heyday.

It rapidly became an essential lung in a sea of grimy, polluting industry – a place where at least people could find an escape from their toil for a few hours and enjoy a stroll by the Thames.

But with the factories’ decline and departure (Tate & Lyle being a notable exception), this parcel of grass and trees became a somewhat overlooked anomaly, at least until plans for regeneration arrived.

For now, 100 years after its creation, Lyle Park is once again centre-stage – a valuable and treasured asset for the emerging communities at Royal Wharf and, more recently, Riverscape.

A new building – The Latham – is set to launch later this month at the latter and developer Ballymore is eager to emphasise its proximity to the open space. 

To that end, it’s spent time and money sprucing up the park for its 100th birthday and creating a series of attractions to help bring more people to the area.

Driving visitors to the space is also part of the company’s ongoing regeneration plans as Lyle Park should – if planning permission is granted – soon be bordered on its far side by the developer’s scheme for Knights Road.

This will see a further 1,300 homes created along the Thames alongside light industrial units, open spaces and shops.

Lyle Park has been cleaned up for its 100th birthday
Lyle Park has been cleaned up for its 100th birthday

marking the anniversary of Lyle Park

“The park had been surrounded by industrial land, so we’ve been working on how we could get people back there and celebrate its 100th birthday,” said James Boyce, associate regional sales director at Ballymore.

“Given we’re just completing the construction of Riverscape, we’ve been thinking about the best way to activate it, to pull people in from all the surrounding developments to come and enjoy the park.

“We’ve been making improvements in partnership with Newham Parks such as pruning some of the larger trees, tidying up the paths and works to the steps – we’re really excited to share them with people.”

Should planning permission be granted for Knights Road, Ballymore will further update and polish the park’s offering.

But in the meantime it’s celebrating the space’s centenary with a pair of installations. 

The first has seen east London artist Maud Milton and her team at Trinity Buoy Wharf-based Artyface cement a series of four mosaic artworks into the fabric of the Lyle Park marking its 100th birthday and highlighting some of the birds found on the Thames and its tributaries.

Lyle Park sits beside Riverscape right on the Thames
Lyle Park sits beside Riverscape right on the Thames

The second will see SuperShakes operate a pop-up at the park.

The new health-focused drinks brand has been created by owner of The Lockdown Room and The Eleventh Hour, Dan Bull, (find out more about him here) and it will be the lynch pin of a series of fitness events in partnership with Royal Wharf Club House and One Element Docklands.  

All of these activities officially launch on October 5, when interested parties can also get a sneak peek at homes in The Latham.

James said: “It’s a fine building, housing 52 apartments split into one, two and three-beds. It’s also the last opportunity to buy a home facing over Lyle Park.

“For nature-lovers, these properties are ideal.

“The apartments all have big balconies or terraces and you can see the grass and trees – some of which are 100 years old – stretching out in front of you.

“If you walk down the steps from The Latham, you’re literally in the park, it’s a real selling point.

“What’s also a little more unusual is that on the ground floor, we have four apartments – two one-beds and two-three beds – that have almost double-height ceilings and they’re really special. 

“The three-beds, especially, are spectacular if you’re a family looking for lots of space and easy access to the outdoors”

In addition, residents at The Latham will enjoy all the amenities of both Riverscape and Royal Wharf as well as excellent transport links via the DLR.

Homes at The Latham are set to go on sale on October 26
Homes at The Latham are set to go on sale on October 26

key details: The Latham at Riverscape

Homes in The Latham at Riverscape are set to officially launch on October 26, 2024.

Prices start at £430,000.

Those seeking an early preview can take a tour of the building on October 5, 2024, at 11am, 1pm or 3pm departing from the Riverscape Sales Gallery at Royal Wharf.

For more information about Riverscape and SuperShakes’ fitness events over the coming months, follow @supershakes and @riverscapeldn on Instagram

Find out more about homes at the scheme here

Artist Maud Milton, hard at work in her studio at Trinity Buoy Wharf
Artist Maud Milton, hard at work in her studio at Trinity Buoy Wharf

meeting Maud Milton

Artist Maud Milton set up Artyface Community Art in 1999 in Tower Hamlets and has been making public works ever since.

Based at Trinity Buoy Wharf, a neighbour to Ballymore’s Goodluck Hope scheme in Leamouth, she and her team were commissioned by the developer to create a mosaic mural trail in celebration of Lyle Park’s centenary.

The four works are set to be officially unveiled on October 5, 2024.

“I got a degree in ceramics from Cardiff and then did a residency in North Wales for a year,” said Maud.

“But my mum was from east London and moved back here and I joined her in Stepney Green to set up the business.

“I got an office job in London to pay the bills, but had repetitive strain injury from long hours working as a web editor and copywriter, so I was forced to leave work with no idea what I could do.

“I showed my portfolio around to lots of people and got a commission with one council.

vThen I met graphic designer Catherine Clark through another job and she’s been working with me ever since.”

With Catherine creating the designs and Maud using ceramics and mosaic techniques to bring them into reality, Artyface has made a name for itself across London and beyond with its colourful, community driven works including roundel signs for stations.

Maud with one of the mosaic's she and her team have created for the project
Maud with one of the mosaic’s she and her team have created for the project

“We’ve been doing it for 25 years and Catherine is incredible,” said Maud.

“The nice thing about these pieces is that they’re there 24/7 and they’re free for people to look at. 

“For the Lyle Park pieces, as is often the case, we’ve worked with residents and children at a local primary school to make the blue tiles that form the borders. 

“The mosaics we’ve created are a celebration of the wildlife on the Thames.

There’s a swan, an oyster catcher, a mallard duck and a kingfisher.

The idea is that the pieces also serve as an educational tool, because they’re labelled with the name of the species in English and Latin.

“It’s about literacy too – a lot of our projects have got words in, so you’ve got words woven into the pieces via the tiles people have created.”

Fired to 1,280ºC the ceramics used to make the works should survive anything the UK weather can throw at them and remain durable enough to last another 100 years.

“I hope people are curious, happy and surprised when they see them,” said Maud.

“They become part of people’s daily lives and some go and visit them specially. That makes us so proud.

“Public commissions should become part of the streetscape.

I know with some of our works, there are children who want to go and see the animals on their way to the nursery, so the mosaics wind up becoming a loved part of their daily commute.

“It’s not just children – I’ve got a photograph of a family – three generations – leaning up against the wall and touching one of our pieces.

It makes them proud of their area and that someone cared enough to make something like this.

“I love getting photographs from people on Instagram, because I forget how many are out there getting that appreciation.

We’re always up for new commissions and I’d love to do a DLR station or a roundel with a rainbow for Pride in Soho. We want all the challenges.”

Artyface also makes work for sale including private commissions for pieces such as door numbers or signs.

Find out more about Artyface here

Read more: Canary Wharf unveils Eden Dock at the heart of the estate

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

We sit down with Canary Wharf Group’s Sophie Goddard and the Eden Project’s Sir Tim Smit to talk ecology, life and nature at the heart of the estate

Image shows Eden Dock at Canary Wharf
Eden Dock officially opened to the public on October 2, 2024

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Eden Dock, which officially opened on October 2, 2024, is a project with multiple layers, both literal and philosophical.

Wharfers will doubtless soon festoon its golden-lit benches.

It will become a meeting place for passengers pouring out of the Jubilee line station, a spot for a coffee, lunch or simply to read a book during a break.

Visitors to the estate both during the day and at night will be drawn in by its rich foliage and subtly illuminated boardwalks.

At face value, it is a physical extension of the Canary Wharf estate – a new amenity.

Many will use it as such, probably not thinking too much more about it.

That’s absolutely fine – it’s one of the project’s aims. 

But to view it as just a new park a would be to miss much of the detailed thinking and ambition behind its creation and, crucially, the statement of intent it represents. 

Sure, it’s a pretty place to sit, a decent backdrop for a few selfies.

But it’s about much more than floating planters and smart wooden benches. 

Canary Wharf Group has worked in partnership with ecological heavyweight the Eden Project in Cornwall to create “an urban oasis” with the stated aim of boosting flora and fauna on the estate.

It’s also intended to foster greater connection between us humans and the rest of the animals and organisms we share it with.

Image shows Canary Wharf Group's Sophie Goddard with two of the figures from Nature Rising at Eden Dock
Canary Wharf Group’s Sophie Goddard with two of the figures from Nature Rising

a different measure of success

“Typically, real estate companies take projects forward and work out the leasing income as a  measure of success,” said Sophie Goddard, director of environment, social and governance at Canary Wharf Group.

“But that isn’t the case with Eden Dock, which is like no other project in Canary Wharf.

“Success will be judged on whether people are connecting with the space.

“We’re hitting a biodiversity net gain of 55%, which is phenomenal and we’re improving air quality but we want people to come here and use this space.”

Eden Dock is now officially open to the public.

Comprising a series of gardens and waterside spaces, the waters of Middle Dock have further been transformed by the presence of 20 living figures made from flowering shrub ligustrum – a lush art installation entitled Nature Rising that will become part of the estate’s permanent public sculpture collection and help to draw attention to the new walkways, seating areas and bridges. 

Three years in the making, its launch on the estate is being supported by a programme of events including night kayaking (from Oct 2, see Page 6) dockside Yoga with Third Space (9am on October 10), the arrival of Square Mile Farm’s hydroponic agriculture at Jubilee Place (open until November 1) and a Glow In The Dark Flower Shop from Bompas And Parr, which is set to open on World Mental Health Day (October 10, also in Jubilee Place).

Image shows Eden Dock from above with seating areas and waterside boardwalks
The project has seen a series of boardwalks, seating areas and floating gardens installed at Middle Dock

Eden Dock: coming to life

However, for the Eden Project’s co-founder, Sir Tim Smit, Eden Dock is part of a wider message about how we view all of life in the context of the places we inhabit.

“One way of looking at what’s happening in the dock is to see it as a body coming to life,” he said.

“We want to create a sense that the more bugs there are, the healthier the area is likely to be

“I think we’ve got to look at Canary Wharf as an incredibly powerful, moral story of people wanting to create a place, where they’ve established a habitat to live and now want to start sharing that with other things to make us all healthier.

“What is happening in cities, which is very interesting, is that there are so many different niches where creatures can develop.

“For example, in Canary Wharf, you will find these under each window ledge, beneath every rock or stone and every different material that’s been used.

“There is already greater biodiversity in the suburbs and the centre of our cities than there is in the average field in Britain, which has been nuked with pesticides and nitrates. 

“One of the really exciting things I would wish to champion with the team at Canary Wharf would be a grown-up look at who is sharing this place with us and how we can encourage the maximum amount of life to thrive here.

“The estate is a great location in which to ground the lightning of innovation around enhancing biodiversity.

“It is also our belief that the varied surfaces, textures and environments found at Eden Dock will encourage a greater diversity of life than much of the open farmland in this country.

“Moreover, the attention to life and beauty, plus the softer edges that characterise the natural worlds, will directly influence the happiness and sense of belonging of all who work, live and visit the estate.”

Image shows Eden Dock at night
Eden Dock has been created in partnership between the Eden Project and Canary Wharf Group

an injection of wellbeing

That focus on wellbeing and mental health has provided vital impetus as Canary Wharf continues to change and grow. 

“As we’re evolving the estate, we need to look to what we believe will have value in the future, said Sophie. 

“This is the first of many projects and it is ultimately about creating paths at multiple levels, whether that’s on rooftops or at the ground level, with all these interconnecting spaces to allow green space to flow through Canary Wharf.

“We had 67million people visit the estate last year and we have 3,500 living here, but we need to constantly be asking: ‘Do they feel they belong? Are we having a positive influence on their wellbeing?’. 

“Projects like this are an example of how we’re trying to not just attract a greater number of people here, but also to have a beneficial effect on our residents, workers, visitors and neighbours.”

Image shows a couple looking at a series of living, mossy figures at Eden Dock
The living figures that adorn Eden Dock are part of an art installation called Nature Rising

beautifully realised

Tim added: “If the brief is to create a sense of life and livelihood, the colour, vibrancy and shape of everything that’s required needs to suggest life to the people who live and work here. Eden Dock is very much a valid first step towards doing that.

“It’s beautiful. You can see from the way the planting has been done that, very soon, it’s going to have soft lines everywhere – people are going to want to have picnics there – and that’s something you can build on.

“Nature is pretty cool at doing the biodiversity thing, it’s been doing it a long time.

“It’s important to realise we are all part of nature – it’s not a third party that we interact with.

“When I talk to children, I talk about opening up their guts, which always gets their interest.

“I ask them whether they are aware that there are around 3trillion things living inside them and that our bodies are the most brilliant hosts. 

“It’s really important to remember we are a part of nature, not apart from it.

“And nature is so resilient.

“As we go, we need to proceed, not by planting trees along walkways, but doing a little bit here, a little bit there and then watching what happens.

“We really need to think about the environment we live in and the spaces where we gather.”

The suggestion is that spending time surrounded by living things is not just a desirable way to spend some time, but perhaps a more primal need that is as vital to our mental health as the oxygen we rely on plants and trees to create for us.

As Tim puts it, Canary Wharf going “punk rogue” on ecology at the heart of the estate generates excitement for the future and exhilaration in the present.

You can feel it now, for free at Eden Dock.

The installation is free to visit at Canary Wharf

key details: Eden Dock

Eden Dock can be found right outside the main exit of Canary Wharf’s Jubilee line station.

The area is completely free to visit.

Full details of the project and the activities in celebration of its launch can be found online.

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
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HCA Healthcare expands at Canary Wharf into 40 Bank Street

Chief operating officer Greg Bale talks engineering and patient-based design at the new facility

Image shows the lobby at 40 Bank Street in Canary Wharf
Patients access the facility from the building’s main lobby

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Canary Wharf is constantly evolving.

Some changes are obvious, while others are hardly visible from the outside.

Take the first floor of 40 Bank Street, for example.

Looking at its exterior, few would guess that major engineering has taken place to reinforce a section of the building. 

This change was made to enable it to carry the 15 tonnes of weight associated with two state-of-the-art MRI scanners – both craned in through a gap in the wall on a single day. 

This retooling of office space has allowed private provider HCA Healthcare to significantly expand its presence in Canary Wharf.

Its recently opened facility now takes up the whole of the building’s first floor.

“It’s 20,000sq ft and offers full diagnostic and treatment facilities,” said Greg Bale, the company’s chief operating officer.

“We have GPs on site offering primary care appointments as well as secondary and tertiary level consultants providing special level care. 

“We also have imaging and diagnostic facilities, with MRI, ultrasound and X-Rays, alongside a range of treatment options.

“It’s a one-stop shop for patients – they can have their referral immediately from GP to consultant, then treatment if appropriate. 

“If they need more complex surgery, then there’s the backup of the wider HCA network.

“As a provider, we offer everything, right up to the most complex healthcare an individual might require, including cancer care, liver transplants, cardiac surgery and orthopaedic surgery.

“Anyone can access the outpatient services if they’re self-paying, but the majority will have private medical insurance.

“We estimate 75% of local employers provide cover and about 30% of the wider population will have this in place.

“Canary Wharf has been my pet project for the last two years and it feels incredible now that it’s open, having taken it through from concept to our first patient.”

HCA Healthcare chief operating officer, Greg Bale – a man with short brown hair in a grey suit, white shirt and a blue tie
HCA Healthcare chief operating officer, Greg Bale

designed around patient need

Greg worked as a pharmacist at Great Ormond Street Hospital before continuing his career at HCA and then making a move into management.

He said he was especially proud of the Canary Wharf facility’s design.

“Involving the medical team throughout the process is the bit I’m most proud of,” he said. “It’s been built around the patients. 

“We’ve taken the lead from one of our other flagship facilities at The Shard, which has been really successful as a patient diagnostic centre.

“At Canary Wharf, we’ve taken all the learning from there, and our clinical team has looked at the patient and doctor experience and their requirements and tried to elevate it.

“I think we’ve done that incredibly successfully and the patient feedback we’ve received already – two months in – has reinforced this.”

Measures taken include ensuring waiting areas have plenty of natural light and calm views over the dock to minimise stress.

Treatment rooms each also have their own changing rooms so patients can dress and undress in a contained, coherent environment in privacy.

HCA has also been unafraid to do things differently, creating dedicated treatment facilities for specific procedures thereby opening up more time for the general treatment rooms to be used.

It’s a joined-up approach that streamlines the approach to diagnosis and treatment, ultimately meaning patients should wait less time for results and then any action that may be needed.

With breast cancer, for example, the centre boasts the latest in mammography scanning alongside facilities to biopsy suspect tissue that can potentially deliver a diagnosis in as little as an hour. 

Consultants are then on hand immediately to explain the potential implications and next steps.

Image shows the exterior of 40 Bank Street with foliage in the foreground
HCA Healthcare’s Canary Wharf facility is based at 40 Bank Street

strong demand for HCA Healthcare

“I hope patients will feel reassured and confident in the service we’re providing,” said Greg.

“I want them to walk away having had a very positive experience.

“Patients should receive whatever it is they were hoping to gain from the advice they’re given on the condition they came with.”

With such depth and quality in its offering, it’s perhaps little wonder that HCA’s Canary Wharf expansion is already proving popular with patients.

“It has exceeded our expectations,” said Greg. “In our first month, we welcomed more than 2,500 patients, which is a very strong start for a recently expanded facility.

“We’re projecting 50,000 patients will walk through our doors within the next 12 months.

“Patient feedback has been very positive too and, as people come back from their holidays, we anticipate more activity.

“At a steady rate, we’re expecting to see between 250 and 300 patients a day, although we have the capacity to increase that further.

“For us, this expansion has been driven by a number of factors.

“We see the City and Canary Wharf as the two most economically strong markets in the UK and feel that will endure. 

“For us, the Wharf is a second major hub.

“Tower Hamlets is a rapidly growing borough and the estate’s own strategy, of diversification to become the best residential, retail and corporate market, was key.

“HCA works closely with many major companies to provide health screening for their employee base and we pay a lot of attention to those clients.

“There really is nothing else like us that has the same comprehensive offering.”

Image shows the outpatients reception area at HCA Healthcare in Canary Wharf
Waiting areas have been designed to promote calm

a one-stop-shop

“People know when they come to us that they will encounter experts in their field – whether that’s GPs or consultants.

“They will receive one-to-one care for whatever they have come to see a specialist about and they’ll know the diagnostic facilities are the best available.

“For example, we put two MRI scanners in – a 1.5T and a 3T.

“One isn’t better than the other.

“They have different magnetic field strengths so can be used for different things.

“We wanted to have both at our clinical team’s disposal.

“This approach leads to benefits for our patients.

“For instance, we represent a much younger demographic in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer than the average in the rest of the country.

“The reason for that is our detailed health screening, that patients have rapid access to a GP, can get a diagnosis quickly and then secondary and tertiary care.

“We hope that this results in better outcomes for them.

“It’s all about that one-stop shop – we’re providing patients with choice and building our services around their needs.

“Now patients don’t need to leave Canary Wharf for these services and why should they?”

Image shows people interacting at the primary care reception desk at HCA Healthcare in Canary Wharf
Patients can attend GP appointments at HCA Healthcare

key details: HCA Healthcare

HCA Healthcare is located at 40 Bank Street on the southern edge of the Canary Wharf estate.

It offers primary care, outpatient consultation and treatments and a wide range of diagnostic services.

For a full list of what’s available here.

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
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SO Resi Canning Town set to launch east London show home

Affordable housing provider is offering shared ownership properties at Manor Road Quarter

Image shows a bedroom at SO Resi Canning Town
A bedroom at SO Resi Canning Town

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“Renting in London is a daunting situation for first-time buyers, many of whom feel they have no choice but to accept sub-par conditions for an extortionately high price,” said Kevin Sims, director of affordable housing provider SO Resi. 

His statement is backed up by data.

Property portal Zoopla’s latest report on the rental market found that around 21 people were competing for each new listing appearing on its site nationwide, let alone in London.

The organisation’s most recent rental report also found the average monthly rent in the capital was £2,172 – almost 70% higher than the UK average.

While the forthcoming Renters Rights Bill may go some way to addressing issues in the sector for tenants, the changes are not expected for many months, which will be of scant comfort to those renting now.

“There is a solution, however, and that is shared ownership,” said Kevin.

“The scheme offers a low-deposit route onto the property ladder and many buyers of such homes find their monthly repayments are lower than renting in the capital. 

“With shared ownership, Londoners finally have the chance to build up equity in their property and find the peace of mind that comes with home ownership.”

Image shows an artist's impression of SO Resi Canning Town with Canary Wharf in the background
SO Resi Canning Town is located at Manor Road Quarter

new homes at SO Resi Canning Town

Locally, SO Resi Canning Town is currently offering one, two and three-bedroom shared ownership homes located at Manor Road Quarter – a latest development by the English Cities Fund.

The scheme is located a few minutes from Tube, DLR and bus links at Canning Town station and enjoys the many benefits of the area’s extensive regeneration.

For example, there’s craft beer at Husk’s taproom, modern Italian food at Pepenero, a bouldering facility at Rise Climbing and outdoorsy activities at Bow Ecology Park and environmental community project, Cody Dock. 

But what will buyers actually be getting at the scheme? SO Resi – part of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, the fifth largest housing association in the UK – is set to launch a show home at the development on September 26, 2024, so interested parties can get a feel of what’s on offer. 

Apartments come complete with fitted kitchens and bathrooms, fully integrated Zanussi kitchen appliances, and solid timber floors. 

They feature open-plan layouts – with total living space ranging from 556sq ft to 971sq ft – and each has a private balcony as well as plenty of storage.

A kitchen at SO Resi Canning Town
A kitchen at SO Resi Canning Town

getting on the ladder

Buying a share in a property is affordable and may be attractive for multiple reasons.

Firstly, the amount of deposit a buyer requires is lower.

The scheme allows people to purchase between 10% and 75% of a home (although usually starting at 25%), while paying below market rent on the rest, alongside a service charge.

That means buyers could purchase their share with a mortgage and potentially only need 5% of its value as a deposit – £4,906 at SO Resi Canning Town, for example.

Buyers are free to live in their homes as though they owned the whole thing with no threat of eviction.

If desired, they can also choose to increase their share in a process known as staircasing until they own the property outright.

Image shows a living room at the scheme with a balcony in the background
The apartments feature open-plan layouts and balconies

key details: SO Resi Canning Town

Prices at SO Resi Canning Town start at £98,125 for a 25% share of a one-bedroom apartment (based on a full market value of £392,500). 

A new show home is set to launch at the development on September 26, 2024.

Find out more about the development here

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
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Sadler’s Wells East unveils programme for first season in Stratford

Associate artistic director Rob Jones on what the new venue will bring to London’s dance ecosystem

Image shows Sadler's Wells associate artistic director Rob Jones
Sadler’s Wells associate artistic director Rob Jones

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“We’ve been talking about it for so long, now is the time to do it,” said Rob Jones, associate artistic director at Sadler’s Wells.

“We want people in the building, for them to be curious, to come along and have a cup of tea and meet friends – everyone’s welcome and we want them here.”

We’re discussing the opening of Sadler’s Wells East in Stratford.

While construction issues and re-jigs have delayed the launch, dates have now been released for the venue’s inaugural programme.

One of five organisations that make up East Bank on the edge of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the opening is especially significant for the campus as it’s the first building on site with a clear mission to bring visitors in.

For Rob and the team, it offers a theatre and facilities created specifically to address demand in London’s dance sector.

But it’s equally important to them that the new venue makes good on links the organisation has been building locally.

“We’ve been working with community groups for about six years now – a lot of groundwork to lay foundations,” he said.

“The content of the programme is important – we wanted to make sure there were multiple moments where local people could come and be in the theatre, whether that’s to watch performers on the community dance floor, take part in a monthly disco or just be in the space by visiting the cafe.

“Even in our first season we’ve included community casts for shows such as Our Mighty Groove, which will open the venue or Skatepark (April 10-12, 2025), where Danish choreographer Mette Ingvartsen has worked with local skaters.

“It’s about making sure we have those connections, going into local schools, for instance, with balletLORENT from Newcastle for their production of Snow White (April 16-19, 2025).

“We’ve been trying to make sure there’s something for everyone with as many access points as possible – not self-indulgent programming, but good quality dance.

“I think it’s going to feel really exciting and this first season is a test for us, in a way –  we want to see how the community connects with the theatre and the programme, especially the free elements.

“That’s where the work really begins – making sure that the theatre belongs to local people.”

Image shows image of Sadler's Wells East in Stratford
Sadler’s Wells East is set to open in February 2025 – image David Hewitt

an opening spectacle at Sadler’s Wells East

Sadler’s Wells East will kick off its first season with Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu’s Our Mighty Groove with five performances split over February 6-9, 2025.

Inspired by New York club culture, it includes local dancers in the cast, with plans to bring it to the stage for more than a year.

“It’s existed in an immersive format before, but this is a new version and it’s had a whole revamp,” said Rob, who joined Sadler’s Wells a little over two years ago having worked extensively as a producer for the likes of Dance Umbrella, Roundhouse and Brighton Dome And Festival.

“It’s difficult to pick highlights, because you can’t have favourites but we’ve got a lot of work from companies in London coming to Stratford.

“For example, there’s Impact Driver (April 24-26, 2025) by artist and performance maker Eve Stainton where the seats in the theatre go away and it takes place in a container in the middle of the space.

“It’s an incredible immersive happening.

“It’s got live welding, guitars and sound systems set up on either side. 

“When I first saw it, I wasn’t sure I would get it, but it’s one of the most magnetic performances I’ve watched in a long time – it’s really beautiful.

“Completely different, is a piece by choreographer Emma Martin from Ireland making her Sadler’s Wells debut as we spotlight international voices.

Birdboy (February 20-22, 2025) is a work for family, suitable for ages 7+ all about being a loner and an outsider.

“But the character is also a superhero – a mash up of Batman – with a car that’s a time machine and a projector. It’s very vivid.”

Image shows dancers posing in promotion of Ourr Mighty Grove
Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu’s Our Mighty Groove will open the venue – image Camilla Greenwell

shows and education

The venue has announced more than 20 shows for its first season, including eight UK premieres and 10 commissions or co-commissions from the theatre.

That’s a statement of intent in itself, with a sense that Sadler’s Wells is firmly focused on making the most of the facility now it’s finally arrived.

“It’s a project that’s been a long time in the making,” said Rob.

“It began more than a decade ago as part of the legacy of the Olympic Games.

“The main space at Sadler’s Wells East has 550 seats and a stage that’s as large and agile as our main auditorium in Islington.

“Those seats can also go away so you have a giant black box that can host completely immersive productions.

“This reflects how people are working in dance now – increasingly moving away from traditional formats.

“Within the building, we also have studios and a very large space, which is the same size as the stage, where we can make projects to perform in the theatre.

“We’ve never had this facility before.

“There will also be two schools based at Sadler’s Wells East.

“The Rose Choreographic School supports artists to explore their practice and is led by leading choreographers.

“Then there’s Academy Breakin’ Convention, which will offer the UK’s first free Level 3 Extended Diploma In Performance And Production Arts specific to hip hop theatre to 16-to-19-year-olds.”

Image shows a dancer in Birdboy, a man bending over a smoking car
Emma Martin’s Birdboy will be performed in February – image by Luca Truffarelli

open to the community

“There are also the public-facing parts of the building,” added Rob.

“It’s really exciting, because people will have the opportunity to be more creative than they may have had in other dance spaces in the city.

“There’s a huge community dance-floor in the foyer, and you can see into one of the studios.

“I had this realisation earlier in the year – I’d been to see ABBA Voyage near Pudding Mill Lane and walking back it was clear that passers-by would be able to see people working and dancing at Sadler’s Wells East when we’re open.

“Often when visiting theatres you might see dancers milling around but unless you’re in the auditorium, you don’t see them dancing or get a real sense of the incredible magic which is being created in the building.

“That’s why this new space will have a completely different energy.

“It will be open all day and there will be an ‘always on’ feel.

“It will be a social space alongside all these other cultural institutions at East Bank.

“I think it’s going to be a crucial part of the hub. 

“The five organisations at East Bank already meet monthly to discuss how we can collaborate and we’re all looking forward to being fully open.

“For Sadler’s Wells, the new venue is also going to broaden the lens of what we can do.

“With everything that’s going on in the world and how difficult arts funding is in the UK, artists need to be able to dance at mid-scale venues like this one.

“Our theatre in Islington has a capacity of 1,500 and there’s a studio that seats 80.

“This gives us something in the middle, which is important because we can support artists at the start of their careers, as they grow and at the top.

“There aren’t many places of this mid-scale size in London, so this provides a whole new facility for what’s possible in the capital and it’s a really exciting moment both for artists in the UK and internationally.”

Impact Driver features live welding as part of the performance – image by Anne Tetzlaff

diary dates for the first season

Tickets are set to go on general sale on September 25 for Sadler’s Wells East’s first season, so here are a few not to miss:

  • Top of the tree is obviously Our Mighty Groove, the show selected to open the venue – complete with local performers in the cast.  Catch it from February 6-9, 2025
  • Looking further ahead, Inside Giovanni’s Room by Phoenix Dance Theatre tackles the themes of love, sexuality, guilt and self-acceptance in James Baldwin’s novel. See it June 11-14, 2025
  • Then, Over And Over (And Over Again) by Candoco and Dan Daw promises to take audiences to a place where “everyone is welcome; where you love doing something so much that you never want to stop”. July 2-4, 2025

key details: Sadler’s Wells East

Sadler’s Wells East will officially open its doors on February 6-9 , 2025, with five performances of Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu’s Our Mighty Groove.

Tickets for this (from £15) and other shows will be on sale later this month.

Full listings for the venue’s first season are available here

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

Senior group exercise manager Vicki Antoniou on why taking a class is a great way to train

Third Space Canary Wharf group exercise manager Vicki Antoniou, a woman sat in a hot yoga studio smiling at the camera
Third Space Canary Wharf group exercise manager Vicki Antoniou – image James Perrin

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“Don’t fear the unknown”.

That’s the message from Vicki Antoniou, senior group exercise manager for Third Space’s two Canary Wharf clubs.

“If people are walking past The Yard – our crossfit inspired training space at the Canada Square club – and there’s a class on it can look like everyone knows what they’re doing,” she said.

“Or they hear a spin session getting underway, it can sound really overwhelming.   

“But it’s vital people understand that our classes operate for all levels of fitness – everyone taking part went for the first time at some point.”

We’re sat in Third Space Wood Wharf for our interview.

While the brand’s second site on the estate is in a separate location to the Canada Square club, it essentially acts as a massive extension to the existing facilities as local membership includes access to both.

That means there’s a second pool to swim in and an extra gym floor to train on.

But it also adds something wholly fresh in terms of group exercise – Hot Yoga and Reformer Pilates studios. 

This, alongside installing equipment for the latter at the original Canary Wharf site, has allowed the club to extend its already extensive timetable of classes, with more than 300 available every week.

Organising and managing that operation across two sites is no small task, but it’s one Vicki clearly relishes. 


The Canary Wharf and Wood Wharf clubs offer more than 300 classes each week – image shows members engaged in a Formula 3 class at Canary Wharf using weights and rowing machines
The Canary Wharf and Wood Wharf clubs offer more than 300 classes each week

the benefits of group exercise

“We get more than 30,000 attendances at classes each month,” she said.

“Around half of the people coming to Wood Wharf are going to a group class, with Canary Wharf a little under that.

“I get really excited about the benefits of working out with other people. We know that once members try a class, they keep coming back. 

“The hard part is just getting into the studio. Once you’re there, we’ll look after you.

“If you’re a bit hesitant, get there 15 minutes early and tell the instructor and they will make sure you’re comfortable.

“Everyone’s on their own journey.

“I’m big on inclusivity, so our instructors are trained to make sure everyone who comes into a class has the best possible experience and does what suits their mood for that day.

“We’re also happy to give members a tour of the studios when not in use if they’re feeling unsure.

“We can also advise what classes are best to start with, such as Fundamental Reformer for Pilates or Yin Yoga.”

Vicki’s own journey into the fitness industry began with group exercise, after friends invited her to be part of a film so they could gain Les Mills Bodypump certification.

Having “never picked up a weight in her life” before – a legacy of hating exercise at school – she was hooked and began going to classes.

Later she trained as an instructor and began teaching classes herself. At that time, fitness was more of a side hustle while Vicki worked in banking at Barclays on the Wharf and then in the City.

The arrival of her son saw her spending more time teaching fitness classes, which fitted around his school commitments, before heading back into the corporate world – this time in telecoms.

With her son grown, she “dipped her toe into nutrition”, setting up a company to offer workshops to businesses and organisations.

Third Space Wood Wharf boasts a large Hot Yoga studio
Third Space Wood Wharf boasts a large Hot Yoga studio

teaching at Third Space

“Around 2017, a friend of mine had started teaching at Third Space and I went to do a class with him,” said Vicki.

“It was fantastic and I thought I’d really like to teach there.

“I auditioned and began working as an instructor in 2018, first with one, then two and three classes a week. Eventually it was 10.

“At that point, I knew I wanted to manage, mentor and lead other instructors and so I applied for the group exercise manager at the Tower Bridge club and got the job.

“At first, despite my experience, I was petrified, but the support network was amazing.

“If you’ve done the job yourself, it puts you in a good position to manage others and I try to lead as I like to be led.

“Transparency and a lot of communication are essential.

“I’m a bit maternal and nurturing and really want to bring people into the fold.

“If you feel confident and that you belong, you’re going to lead classes as your authentic self.

“It’s vital that we have brand standards and that those are maintained across all our classes so members will always get that high quality experience.

“But I also want the instructors in my team to be themselves, not to put on a persona.

“They should feel free to express their personality and bring something of themselves to the sessions.

“We have thousands of members at Canary Wharf – the demographic is vast – and people really respond to instructors who deliver classes like that.”


Wood Wharf also has a dedicated Reformer Pilates studio
Wood Wharf also has a dedicated Reformer Pilates studio

what Third Space Wood Wharf brings

Wood Wharf’s additions to the timetable have proved immensely popular, with Reformer Pilates capturing members’ imaginations to the point where extra equipment has been brought in at the original site too, in order to keep up with demand.

“I think, with Reformer classes, it’s the accessibility of it,” said Vicki.

“The way the equipment and the classes have been designed means everybody can do it. We have Fundamental, Traditional and Dynamic classes, so it doesn’t matter what level of fitness you’re at.

“It’s about coming to try something different and learning a new way to move your body with equipment that doesn’t put pressure on your joints.

“It’s perfect for people who don’t want to jump around in the gym.

“But it complements other exercises too.

“If you incorporate it weekly into your training you’ll really see the benefits in strength and flexibility.

“People often need to be a bit brave to try it, but we’ll always look after them and teach them how to use the equipment and give lots of options for those at different levels.

“Hot Yoga has been very well attended at our other clubs, so we wanted to bring a studio here too. 

“Practising in a warm room gives you the ability to move your body in a more fluid and challenging way both from a physical and a mental perspective.

“It can feel as though the heat is lubricating your joints and giving you that extra mobility.” 


Members take part in a Lift class at Third Space Canary Wharf - men and women lifting kettlebells while doing lunges
Members take part in a Lift class at Third Space Canary Wharf

key details Third Space

The Wharf membership covers Third Space’s Canary Wharf and Wood Wharf clubs and costs £230 per month.

This grants access to facilities across both sites and includes unlimited group exercise classes including Hot Yoga and Reformer Pilates.

Third Space also offers group membership, starting at £279 per month, which allows access to facilities at Third Space’s growing collection of clubs including Soho, Marylebone, Wimbledon, Clapham Junction and Tower Bridge. It currently excludes Mayfair.

Find out more about membership here

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