Canary Wharf Archives - Page 2 of 21

January 24, 2025January 24, 2025

Kidd Rapinet Solicitors offers immigration services in east London

Wharf Life sits down with Zahira Razaq at the firm’s Harbour Exchange branch on the Isle Of Dogs to talk justice, advice and guidance for businesses

Zahira Razaq of Kidd Rapinet Solicitors in Canary Wharf

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“I’d always been attracted to the law because of my parents’ belief in equality and justice,” said Zahira Razaq.

“I absorbed their advice about finding a career in something like finance, law or medicine – one of the professions.

“It’s very hard to get a job in the law when you’re starting out and it just so happened my first job was as a paralegal working in immigration.

“I didn’t think there was much to this particular area before that, but when I got into it, I could see the impact the work has.

“It’s about helping to change people’s lives for the better.”

It was those first experiences that set Zahira on her path, progressing in the profession to become a trainee solicitor after six months and then a solicitor.

This year will be her eighth in the legal world, having joined the immigration team at Kidd Rapinet Solicitors’ Canary Wharf branch at Harbour Exchange in August.

You don’t have to sit with her for long to understand that her passion for the work burns fiercely.

a passion for immigration

“I’m old-school when it comes to hard work – I come in first thing to do my research because I never want to be the person giving bad advice – I always go above and beyond for my clients,” said Zahira.

“It’s my responsibility to prepare for everything and to be honest.

“I’m always upfront to the point that if I don’t see any merit in a client’s case then I won’t pursue it and waste their funds.

“I understand money is hard to earn and, if someone is in a position where they are struggling to pay for legal representation, it’s essential they get the very best service possible.

“Often my job is about changing a judge’s mind after the Home Office has turned down an application by showing how a client meets the criteria on compassionate grounds.

“I think it was really seeing the effect on clients that drew me deeper into this area of the law.

“There was one man who had five kids and was the sole breadwinner for his family.

“He was doing every kind of job available just to support them.

“I referred him to the British Red Cross and food banks just to help him survive.

“We went back and forth with the Home Office for ages, but eventually I managed to get him leave to remain.

“Seeing the gratitude on the faces of his family was amazing.

“It gave him a lot of security and was a whole new start for them. I’m not sure what would have happend to them had we not succeeded.

“The satisfaction of doing things like that is what makes the job so worthwhile – you can’t really measure it.

“It’s about fighting for justice and equality.

“I hate things that are unfair with a passion.

“What I want for myself is what I want for everybody else – situations where someone’s liberty has been taken from them or they’ve been denied justice without a fair hearing really get to me.”

Kidd Rapinet Solicitors offers free phone consultations on immigration matters

services at Kidd Rapinet Solicitors

Kidd Rapinet offers a comprehensive selection of immigration services for individuals and businesses from its base on the Isle Of Dogs, apt perhaps given the area’s history as a locus of international trade.

“We’re a one-stop-shop for people or companies who want to talk about immigration in any context,” said Zahira.

“A very hot topic is compliance – not all organisations understand things like work visas and right-to-work checks but there can be substantial penalties for those in breach of the rules.

“One of the things I’m especially keen to do here is to reach out to businesses and universities – students will have the qualifications to become skilled workers, but they need the work experience to go with that.

“Businesses often hire students because they are cost effective and can be moulded to specific roles, but a failure to do the right-to-work checks could see firms liable for fines for anyone employed illegally.”

The law is crucial when it comes to immigration.

It establishes whether those who come to this country through both legal and illegal routes can legitimately stay here, for how long and what they are allowed to do while resident.

“It’s always going to be a hot political topic,” said Zahira.

“Governments tighten rules for businesses and educational organisations to bring legal migration down.

“I would advise any migrant coming to the UK, either as a student or on a work visa, to try to obtain legal advice first.

“We can talk to them about how to remain after completing their studies and advise businesses and individuals on compliance when it comes to being employed and employing those from overseas.

“You want a solicitor who knows the law and who will be willing to fight your case if that becomes necessary.

“It’s very important because migrants contribute a lot to the UK economy. Many of my clients have really well paid jobs – that’s true of students who want to remain here after studying too.

“Immigration is an ever-changing field within the law and one that’s not just about what’s in the rules and regulations, but an area that’s based on arguments from other cases that apply to individual situations.”

for those seeking advice

The team at Canary Wharf has more than 25 years of experience helping people and businsses with immigration issues.

These include those who wish to visit or stay in the UK as a partner or child, a student, an investor, an innovator or to work at or start a company.

The firm can also help with permanent residence, indefinite leave to remain, British citizenship and UK Passport applications.

“Whatever issue it is, regarding immigration, then come and talk to us,” said Zahira. “We’ll be able to tell you whether we can help with your case.”

key details: Kidd Rapinet Solicitors

Kidd Rapinet Solicitors offers a wide range of legal services through its Canary Wharf branch based at Harbour Exchange on the Isle Of Dogs.

The firm’s expertise include immigration, conveyancing, wills and probate, employment law, commercial property, family law and an extensive list of services for businesses of all sizes.

Kidd Rapinet offers free, no obligation phone consultations with lawyers on immigration matters. Call 020 7205 2115.

Find out more about the firm’s services here

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January 23, 2025January 23, 2025

Vertus Edit aparthotel to offer flexible studios in Canary Wharf

With rooms and facilities spread across two buildings in Wood Wharf we find our that’s what with general manager Isabel Landaeter

The aparthotel offers studios for flexible stays in Canary Wharf — Aparthotel Vertus Edit offers studios for flexible stays in Canary Wharf

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Where and how we want to live and work, is a debate that will continue to play a potent part in public discourse for years to come.

But one thing is certain. It’s areas that offer the greatest flexibility – real range – that will thrive.

Smart, then that Vertus, Canary Wharf Group’s build-to-rent subsidiary, has unveiled a new product on the east London estate.

Launching in February, 2025, Vertus Edit will run as an aparthotel across two newly-finished brick-faced buildings on Wood Wharf.

Quite where hotels stop and aparthotels start is itself a matter for lengthy debate – and not one that’s necessary to explore here.

Suffice to say, Vertus Edit’s 378 studios and its extensive guest facilities offer those seeking brief or medium-term stays on the Wharf a fresh option designed to satisfy a wide range of needs.

“That’s why this isn’t just a hotel,” said Isabel Landaeta, general manager of aparthotels at Vertus.

“Guests get a bit more space and a fully functional kitchen – they can stay a couple of nights or for a longer period.

“We’ve got a co-working space, lounges, a gym, meeting rooms and outdoor roof terraces – there’s a lot of space for people to explore across the two buildings outside of their studios.

“You have all the amenities you need including a 24-hour reception service and weekly housekeeping.

“Vertus has already made a name for itself in the neighbourhood with a reputation for service, so for Vertus Edit, it was about adapting that for people with different needs – those wanting a shorter stay or more flexibility.

“For example, someone might not want to sign a lease on a rental apartment, but they might want to live here for six months.”

Vertus' Isabel Landaeter — Vertus’ Isabel Landaeter

Vertus Edit: a home-from-home

Vertus Edit offers four studio sizes for guests, the Little, Cosy, Comfy and Roomy, ranging from 200sq ft to 301sq ft in size.

All come fully furnished with an en-suite bathroom, towels, toiletries, a kitchen equipped with cookware, utensils, crockery, glassware and cutlery, a TV and super fast Wi-fi.

While no room service is available, there is a 24-hour self-service pantry for guests to access as well as Canary Wharf’s myriad hospitality and shopping options a few minutes’ walk from West Lane via Union Square.

Vertus Edit will obviously cater for people visiting the area for business, perhaps on secondment at a London office from overseas or in town to seal a deal, but it’s been structured as more than that.

“We’re aiming to appeal to people who might not have considered staying in Canary Wharf before,” said Isabel.

“Of course we’ll be accommodating corporate clients and offering discounts for longer stays, but we will also be there for people visiting for conferences at Excel, gigs at The O2, those coming to see ABBA Voyage or Mamma Mia The Party and even people running the London Marathon.

“This isn’t just about Monday-to-Friday. We think we’ll appeal to people taking a longer period of time to visit London as tourists because of our transport links.”

Vertus Edit is dog friendly with puppy packs costing £50 available to guests

flexible and local

To that end, Vertus Edit reflects the current reality of Canary Wharf – an estate that each day taps deeper into east London and the areas that surround it, increasingly blending its existing aesthetic with local flavours.

Each room features artwork from East London Printmakers – about 1,200 handmade prints in total by 10 artists. Guests can even purchase works from the collective if they wish.

Key toiletries in the studios have been sourced locally too, from Kankan, a business founded by women in Hackney that’s laser-focused on sustainability and minimising its negative impact on the environment.

“That’s something we’re really serious about,’ said Isabel. “For our towel service, we’re using Oxwash, established by Dr Kyle Grant-Talbot.

“He’s a former NASA and SpaceX engineer who has created a laundry process that saves water and carbon and prevents almost all microplastics entering the environment.”

In edition to its green credentials, Vertus Edit’s spaces are intended for broad appeal.

Much use is made of texture, colour and luxuriant wallpapers in the communal areas, with lush furnishings and vibrant art adorning the spaces.

Meeting rooms will be available for hire to both guests and other individuals and organisations, with a truly open and flexible approach to the facilities on offer.

It’s all part of creating a malleable, functional addition to the estate.

The red brick edifice of 3 West Lane, one of two Vertus Edit buildings at Wood Wharf

the next logical step

“The evolution of why people live and stay in Canary Wharf started with private residential homes and Vertus’ rental offerings,” said Isabel.

“Vertus Edit is the logical next step – if you’re looking for greater flexibility, then this would be the product for you.

“We expect there to be some overlap, naturally, as people come for a couple of months and then decide to rent an apartment.

“It works the other way too. For people living in Canary Wharf’s towers, this acts as an extension of their homes when, for example, a relative wants to stay locally for a couple of weeks or longer.

“If you’re renting a studio flat, for instance, this provides the space to accommodate them and residents know they can trust the service because it’s from Vertus.

“We also have plans to run events for guests who are staying here and we’ll be on hand to tell them all about Canary Wharf and east London.

“Those staying for a few months may well become friends with the team and other inhabitants, but we want the feel to be about the neighbourhood rather than forced community.

“Personally I’m most excited about people on the estate getting to understand what an aparthotel is and what it feels like.

“In addition to what we’re offering, we also have 12 commercial spaces on the ground floor between our two buildings and I think the businesses that take these will add so much to the neighbourhood along with what’s coming on the ground floor of 8 Harbord Square.

“Since Union Square opened, I’ve been really surprised by how many people are already walking past us.

“I’ve also been lucky enough to see some of the plans for what’s going to open here and it’s going to be really exciting.”

Vertus Edit studios feature artwork from East London Printmakers

ket details: Vertus Edit

Vertus Edit is open from February 2025 with prices starting at £117.14 per night for a Little studio accommodating up to two people.

The largest Roomy apartments start at £160.12 per night, also for up to two guests.

Find out more about the aparthotel here

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January 22, 2025January 22, 2025

Arc to open sauna and ice bath facility in Canary Wharf

White Rabbit Projects extends its reach in east London with Crossrail Place wellness complex

An artist's impression of the lounge area at Arc in Canary Wharf — An artist’s impression of the lounge area at Arc in Canary Wharf

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Arc is very much a work in progress when I visit.

But the dark chocolate paint that’s being layered on its walls, the sweet earthy smell from the planks of alder that line its vast sauna and the toasty sienna of the tiles in its lounge already speak of the richness of the experiences to come.

Neighbouring Everyman and Barry’s in Crossrail Place, the facility is something new, not only for Canary Wharf, but for the whole of the UK.

Contrast therapy – taking one’s body from one extreme in temperature to another – is having a bit of a moment.

Businesses have sprung up in Royal Docks, Stratford and Hackney, with participants indulging in wood-fired heat before dunking themselves in baths, barrels or miniature swimming pools of chilled water.

Rinse and repeat, then sink into the rush of happy brain chemicals.

Arc, which is set to open on January 31, 2025, is different.

Firstly there’s scale. Its sauna is thought to be the largest in the country with a capacity of 60.

Secondly there’s tech. Its stainless steel ice baths feature UV purified water, chilled and filtered by a wall of powerful machines.

Thirdly there’s community. It’s apt, perhaps, that as I’m walking in to meet co-founders Chris Miller and Alanna Kit, I hear a radio report on the discovery of a Roman bathing complex in Pompeii.

A couple of thousand years ago, people would meet, connect, socialise and talk business in the tepidarium after a wash – not dissimilar to Arc’s lounge or, indeed, the founders’ ambition for the facility.

“Canary Wharf has some of the most high-performing individuals in the world and the most successful companies, all in one place,” said Chris.

“They are going through levels of stress that most people don’t have to deal with every day – so we hope a lot of people will use this for respite

“It’s accelerated therapy. You get 50 minutes when you’re in the heat and the ice and you can’t be thinking about day-to-day distractions or the disasters that are going on in the world.

“You have to be focussed, present.”

Chris Miller of White Rabbit Projects and co-founder at Arc

opening Arc at Crossrail Place

Chris knows Canary Wharf.

Having worked in finance and private equity, he swapped the City for hospitality, spending three years as commercial director of Soho House before setting up White Rabbit Projects.

This “incubator” helps create and scale hospitality businesses with Wharf stalwart Island Poke and more recent arrivals Kricket and Soma in its portfolio.

The company is also working with Italian food store, deli and bar Lina, which is set to take the unit at Crossrail Place recently vacated by The Breakfast Club.

Arc is itself a collaboration inspired by a trip overseas.

“I was in New York, and a friend of mine asked me to try something called Remedy Place – a new, high-end wellness centre,” said Chris.

“That’s where I tried a six-minute ice bath, having historically been someone who couldn’t even do cold showers. I hated the idea and it was intense, but it felt pretty amazing.

“Then we went to a place called Bathhouse, a new, modern bathing house with a spa setup.

“There I saw groups of friends using it as a place to hang out and relax.

“There were different cold pools, different types of saunas and I started to see that this was a growing trend.

“In Toronto, I had a communal experience where saunas and ice baths were combined with meditation sessions.

“It was clear a number of places were emerging that offered contrast therapy.

“The practice, of course,is nothing new if you look at Mexico or Ancient Rome.

“But in the UK, it doesn’t really exist in the way it’s started to proliferate elsewhere.

“I fell in love with it. I was talking to some friends and they suggested I meet Alanna – I told her I was fascinated by this world, got to hear her story and we connected on a lot of ideas and what we wanted to bring to the world with Arc.

“Now here we are a few days away from launching the largest sauna in the UK.”

Alanna Kit, Arc co-founder, neuroscientist and wellness practitioner

sauna and science

Alanna is integral to Arc’s offering.

On the one hand, she’s spent eight years teaching meditation and Yoga, including contrast therapy classes at a facility in her native Canada with a 50-capacity sauna and ice bath.

But she’s also a neuroscientist with a profound curiosity about the effect of such activities on the brain and body.

Incidentally, she’s also researching psychedelic therapy with magic mushrooms in relation to mental health for her PhD.

“It’s been a bit of a personal journey in an effort to understand the world, the universe and people,” said Alanna.

“I’ve studied consciousness, spirituality, psychology and cognitive neuroscience – the past world and the present and found a lot of crossovers.

“What I like to do is bridge these two different languages with offerings, retreats, one-on-one therapy and through education.

“Humans desire connection and community.

“Before teaching at wellness retreats, I’d never experienced belonging like that with strangers or the ability to do that in a safe, open environment.

“It was so beautiful to build that community, to see people come back and change and transform themselves.

“Here, merging the sauna, ice bath and other practices into a specific programme hits not only people’s hearts, but also their desires, wants and needs.”

Arc will feature the 'UK's largest sauna' — Arc will feature the ‘UK’s largest sauna’

classes and guidance

In a nutshell, that’s what Arc does.

“There will be 50-minute classes as well as longer free-flow options for people to go at their own pace when using the facilities.

“The programme includes sessions designed to energise participants in the morning with others aimed at calming the nerves later in the day.

While these might seem like personal goals, part of the point of Arc is that it should be a communal experience – harking back to the days, perhaps, when Romans came together in the pleasure of shared experience.

“What happened to me with contrast therapy was that, despite turning up in a very stand-offish, British way, I’d come out having met lots of lovely, friendly people that I still chat to,” said Chris.

“You’re going through this intense experience together and that’s quite incredible.”

An artist's impression of the ice bath plunge area at Arc — An artist’s impression of the ice bath plunge area at Arc

camaraderie and ice

Alanna added: “It’s one thing to experience the hot and cold on your own, which is beautiful, but seeking discomfort in a safe space with a group creates real camaraderie and connection.

“When you plunge into an ice bath, your dopamine levels can increase by as much as 250% and that may last up to 24 hours.

“If you have an alcoholic drink, that might last 15 minutes.”

So how does the process work – what am I signing up for when I go to a session at Arc?

“Everyone is in bathing costumes and the process begins in the lounge,” said Alanna. “In this busy world, we’re very much in our minds – what we’re trying to do is bring people into their bodies and increasing their awareness of that.

“Then we move into the sauna which includes various elements like aromatherapy, lighting and steam.

“By experiencing extreme heat and cold we’re actually maximising the physiological benefits.

“When you’re hot, your body goes through stress and, with a guide supporting you through that discomfort, you are able to let go of the mind, surrender and move into the body.

“Your heart rate and blood pressure increase and your body enters fight or flight mode – something we’ve been conditioned to do through evolution.

“When that happens, we want to get out, but there’s that little bit just after which you can hold for a minute or two – the part where you can push yourself through that discomfort. This is where you get many of the physiological benefits.

“From there, we guide people through an ice bath.

“Again, your heart rate is high for the first 30 seconds and you want to get out, but if you’re able to surrender the mind to the body and control your breathing that controls the physiological responses.

“You slow it down, your heart-rate lowers, your mind slows down and that’s when the euphoria begins.

“Your dopamine, serotonin and endorphins increase – all these positive neurotransmitters – and you’re training your body to have that response.”

Afterwards, there’s an opportunity to relax in the lounge and rehydrate with water and tea.

Arc says the benefits its contrast therapy delivers are “amplified in community” and as such hopes its facility will be a place for people to meet, socialise and even do business.

“One of the most exciting ways to experience it could be with friends,” said Chris.

“You won’t have a hangover the next day, either. It could even be a place to have meetings with co-workers or potential clients.

“There’s something quite interesting in sauna culture where nobody is wearing an expensive suit or a flashy watch.

“The average price will be about £28 a session so it will also be super accessible – the price of two drinks in a bar.”

Arc is also planning to host two-hour evening sessions for those who really want to immerse themselves in the scene.

“These will be very social,” said Alanna.

“There will be towel waving, aromatherapy and snowballs laced with essential oils as well as one-on-one guidance.

“We’ll have instruments to enhance the experience and there will be DJs and music to enjoy.

“We might even look into bringing in some non alcoholic mixology too.”

key details: Arc

Arc is set to open its doors offering a range of guided sessions and opportunities to access its facilities from January 31, 2025.

It’s located on Level -2 in Crossrail Place.

As an introductory offer, Wharfers can get three classes for £45 to be used within 14 days.

The Arc Founding Membership offers three classes per month for £84 (£28 each).

Find out more about the facility here

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January 9, 2025January 9, 2025

Creative Virtual offers flexibility for firms working with AI chatbots

How CEO and founder of Canary Wharf-based business, Chris Ezekiel is helping companies navigate the technology as it develops

Creative Virtual founder and CEO Chris Ezekiel

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Lego bricks are on Chris Ezekiel’s mind.

His son Matthew, three, is already a proficient builder, while younger brother Harry (one) is quickly learning the ropes with Duplo.

For Chris – CEO of Canary Wharf-based conversational AI firm Creative Virtual – the inspiring thing in their play is the way the boys use whatever materials are available to build exactly what they want.

“It’s now my kids who are giving me direct analogies for our approach,” said Chris, who founded the business on the Isle Of Dogs 21 years ago to provide customer service chatbot facilities for companies.

The firm has grown over more than two decades into a global operation serving customers around the world across multiple sectors in 23 countries and 40 languages but remains based in Canary Wharf close to where Chris grew up.

In that time, perhaps the biggest change in the marketplace it inhabits came in 2022 with the emergence of large language model AI technology, typified by the arrival of ChatGPT.

With the whole world seemingly abuzz and eager to get the most from the promise of this new tech, Creative Virtual stepped up, offering customers free proofs of concept showing how it might be deployed.

“It’s one of the best moves we’ve ever made,” said Chris.

“It was costly, of course, but in those two years companies were becoming very excited about generative AI and needed help to navigate the capabilities – advice on deploying them in a way that’s safe and can be trusted.”

With competitors in the field simply bolting on AI facilities to existing customer relationship management systems, Creative Virtual saw an opportunity.

“They were doing that almost as an afterthought,” said Chris.

“We’ve seen a real kick-back against it, with customers saying they don’t want to be tied into a single vendor.

“With the technology continuing to develop, we wanted a system where we could take the best conversational AI or best customer service system and plug them into each other – combining components.

“That’s where we’re having our biggest successes.

“It’s like building those Lego models, you pick the pieces you want and make something that’s greater than the sum of its parts.

“You want to be able to select the best of the breed.”

Creative Virtual's platform allows firms to select what products they want and put them together like lego bricks — Creative Virtual’s platform allows firms to select what products they want and put them together like lego bricks

putting the pieces together

This idea of the “composable enterprise” is at the heart of the company’s approach, with its V-Person products and V-Studio platform allowing customers to choose and control the services they want.

It’s a strategy that also gives Creative Virtual an advantage because the firm can quickly adapt its offering to meet its clients’ needs and the changing landscape of the sector.

This flexibility is a strength in terms of allowing businesses to stand out too.

“Since OpenAI released ChatGPT, larger companies have set up teams to handle their ethical response to the technology,” said Chris.

“So, while a business might be ready to go live with a project, the brakes might be applied to ensure compliance.

“The EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act has also come in, which affects how organisations operating in Europe can use the technology and so must be taken into account.

“What we’ve done is to put appropriate safeguards – a really key word – in place around the AI systems to control what they can do.

“This means that no matter what changes occur and where a company is going to deploy the technology, there’s support there.

“Organisations want to provide information that’s accurate and consistent in a trusted way.

“They’re all trying to improve the customer experience and increase brand loyalty and this is the interesting part.

“Although price is very important today, what we still see with most organisations is that the number one thing that differentiates companies from their competitors is customer experience.

“There’s a real danger here with AI, because businesses have been sold off-the-shelf solutions.

“When you go to a website or use a mobile app to contact a company, the experience is often very vanilla – some firms are not really thinking about the brand they should be delivering.

“What we’ve done with ours is to make it very easy to create a blend between human and AI-generated content – this is the cornerstone of our product.

“This enables organisations to do what my boys do with their Lego bricks – to build bespoke customer experience offerings that align perfectly with their brands.”

Coming on: This picture was created using Adobe’s AI image generator. While its attempt at “Lego bricks jumbled up” isn’t bad, there’s still a little way to go... — Coming on: This picture was created using Adobe’s AI image generator. While its attempt at “Lego bricks jumbled up” isn’t bad, there’s still a little way to go…

a tailored approach with Creative Virtual

Being able to embed that distinctive character in communications is an essential selling point for Creative Virtual as it continues to diversify into new sectors, whether its chatbots or voicebots are speaking to its clients’ customers or employees.

“We’re able to create a rich, brand-aware experience for users,” said Chris.

“We’re increasingly seeing marketing, digital and the customer contact centre come together in more forward-thinking organisations.

“One of our big growth areas is in retail to help companies offer sales advice and customer contact.

“Employee experiences are just as important and we’re also delivering solutions for HR departments and IT service desks, for example, whether that’s to access information on a self-service basis or to connect with a human.

“That’s one of the pieces that can get lost when considering AI – the human aspect is still key so when the computer isn’t answering the question, then there’s a human at the end of the line to pick things up.

“All in all, we’ve got some really interesting projects happening in financial services, retail, travel, hospitality and government in different parts of the world.”

As for the future, Chris is excited by the rapid development of the technology and the benefits it can bring.

He said: “One especially interesting thing for me with AI is its ability to summarise information because we’re all overwhelmed at present.

“It’s one of the less risky ways of deploying the technology and it’s interesting that only now Apple, the biggest company in the world is starting to explore this.

“One of the things we’ve done as a company working with the technology is to put guardrails in place to constrain the large language models we work with and ensure they are only ingesting and answering questions on the correct material.

“We have a good solution for that, where when the AI is giving a generative answer, it gives a reference for the information.

“While everybody working in this space is interested in the development of general intelligence, for us there are two other areas that are particularly relevant.

“The first is voicebots.

“For years we’ve been able to talk to our devices and dictate messages – people are getting more used to that and it’s improved over the years but some of the technology we’re seeing now is able to have much more natural conversations with people.

“You can pause and interrupt, as though you’re talking to a person.

“We’re doing some beta testing of this for one of our customers around that. It looks promising, but it’s got a way to go.

“The other aspect is about bringing in other media to interactions.

“We’re already seeing AI systems that generate images and video, but soon they will be able to make sense of them, answer questions about them and adapt them.

“All this stuff exists today, but it’s going to accelerate quite quickly, and that’s going to be part of the mix.

“The model’s going to be about much more than text – serving customers and employees with all sorts of other media to help people have very natural conversations.

“We are starting to work with customers on augmented reality, where they’ll create a customer experience in a virtual world.

“Augmented reality will plug into what we do, so that’s why it’s important to be working with customers now – we have to take a long-term view.

“As a company with no investment we’ve been able to do that over the past 21 years.

“Our team is incredible, many of them have been with me on the whole journey – you don’t get many chances in life to create a new sector in business and be a global success.”

key details: Creative Virtual

You can find out more about the company and its products here.

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

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January 8, 2025January 8, 2025

Why booking a table for Canary Wharf Winter Lights is essential

The 2025 edition of the festival is set to draw hundreds of thousands of people over 12 days, so planning refreshment stops is a must

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– Advertising Feature –

Those visiting the 19 artworks, spread across Canary Wharf for this year’s Winter Lights festival will also have the opportunity to discover the area’s extensive food and drink offering – we all need refreshment, especially if there’s a wintry nip in the air.

Due to the event’s popularity, we’re encouraging visitors to secure their tables early to ensure the best experience possible.

With more than 80 cafés, bars and restaurants – including many tempting openings since last year’s festival – warmth and welcome await across the neighbourhood.

Here we’ve selected venues catering for a range of options during the festival, with places close to all of the installations, so those planning a route can find a place to relax, refresh and reflect on the experience with family or friends.

Find full venue listings here

for a date

After a spell touring the installations, what better way to dazzle a date than with a table at one of the neighbourhood’s many romantic spots. Here are a few suggestions, but get in early as bookings will be going fast…

Tucked away on Mackenzie Walk beside permanent artwork The Clew, Humble Grape offers a fully stocked wine menu and a broad selection of small plates and larger dishes that are ideal for sharing.

Also off the beaten path is Kricket, a recent opening on the estate but one that certainly has the wow-factor. Minimal but warm, this restaurant serves up Indian cuisine. Our top tip is to book seats at the counter to watch the chefs work and get service straight from the bartenders.

Also on our list is No. 35 Mackenzie Walk, a restaurant and bar overlooking Eden Dock that has a relaxed, chic vibe. This one’s perfect after gazing down into Illusion Hole in the dark waters.

For a showstopper option, why not book a table at Roe at Wood Wharf. Located by the waterside at the base of One Park Drive, the restaurant offers a rich selection of small plates, skewers, flatbreads, larger dishes and more featuring ingredients such as snails, venison and cuttlefish. An adventure on the plate to rival the journey through the festival.

Wharf Kitchen is located in Jubilee Place

for families

Winter Lights has something for everyone in the family to enjoy and there are plenty of venues in Canary Wharf that cater for kids and adults alike.

Wahaca at Park Pavilion, for example, enjoyed a complete interior refit in 2024 and offers a kids menu with a range of dishes, puzzles and games to keep little ones entertained while they’re waiting to build their own tacos.

Pizza is a tried and tested crowd-pleaser and Franco Manca’s sourdough offerings come in adult and kids sizes. The Canary Wharf restaurant is located at Crossrail Place beside two of the estate’s permanent light installations.

Those heading down into Jubilee Place can stop off at Wharf Kitchen, a market hall-style dining area with street food traders such as Thunderbird, iThai, Biang, Argentinian Grill, Indi-go and Poke House serving up flavours from around the world. This is perfect for families who like a wide variety of dishes and cuisines to choose from.

Emilia’s Crafted Pasta serves up warm bowls of fresh pasta and sauce at its Wood Wharf branch, which overlooks Harbour Quay Gardens. The restaurant will also be hosting a grab-and-go pop-up during the festival for those who don’t wish to sit down.

Located in Cabot Place, Atrium Kitchen offers a selection of casual dining and takeaway restaurants for people after rapid refreshment. Visitors can expect kids to find a warm welcome at the likes of Nando’s, Marugame Udon, Zizzi, Gallio, Burger King and German Doner Kebab.

Pho in Jubilee Place boasts a wealth of plant-based options

for veganuary

Those following a plant-based diet, whether for the first month of the year or on an ongoing basis, will find a wealth of options to delight their tastebuds on the menus of Canary Wharf’s restaurants.

Among our top picks for this section is Mallow, a restaurant that only serves plant-based dishes at its Wood Wharf branch on Water Street. Colourful, sustainable and flavourful, there’s even a Veganuary tasting menu available until January 31, 2025, with four courses promising a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine.

Head to Crossrail Place and you’ll also find plenty of temptations at Sticks’n’Sushi. For group bookings, the restaurant offers its Yasai plant-based menu with five courses, plus loads of a la carte options too.

Our final tip is to visit Vietnamese restaurant Pho in Jubilee Place. This consistently popular spot specialises in the dish it takes its name from, with two vegan versions to choose between. But there’s plenty more on the menu too, including curries and soups made with tofu, plant-based ‘chicken’ or mushrooms.

Find Pergola On The Wharf at Crossrail Place Roof Garden

for groups

One of the best ways to enjoy the festival is to visit in a group. Canary Wharf boasts a wide range of venues that cater for larger bookings to help break up the evening when discovering the installations.

Market Halls, an extensive collection of bars and street food traders located opposite the Elizabeth Line’s western exit, makes an ideal meeting point. While walk-ins are available, bookings are highly advised as this is a popular venue.

Located a little further up the dock is Blacklock in Frobisher Passage. Specialising in chops and roasts, this restaurant offers plenty of sharing options, the venue presents an opportunity to escape the crowds for relaxed dining and drinking beneath the DLR tracks.

If it’s serious size you’re looking for, Pergola On The Wharf, located at Crossrail Place Roof Garden has a maximum capacity of 700 and promises a botanical paradise strewn with flowers, ferns and vines.

For those who prefer a more central location, The Parlour in Park Pavilion offers plenty of room for larger groups, a wide selection of drinks and casual dining options on the edge of Canada Square.

Then there’s MMy Wood Wharf, which in addition to its inside street food market will be curating a series of pop-ups in Harbour Quay Gardens. Booking ahead is especially advised if you’re hoping to secure one of its popular outdoor igloos during Winter Lights or just to ensure plenty of table space for a larger group. This makes a great stop-off point after seeing PORTAL in Union Square.

Chai Guys recently opened in Canada Place

for hot drinks

OK, you can’t exactly book these spots, but one of the essentials for Winter Lights is knowing exactly where to get top quality hot drinks from and there are lots of options…

Recently opened, Chai Guys, brews up fine spiced, warming drinks from its base in Canada Place. In addition to selling takeaway cups, the business also offers tins of its signature blends.

Head down into Canada Place mall and find Joe Blake’s opposite Waitrose for coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

Badiani will also be trading from its three locations in Cabot Place, MMy Wood Wharf and Canada Place, offering hot drinks alongside its speciality Italian gelato for those who enjoy an extra chill.

Well located for installations at both Montgomery Square and Union Square, 640 East offers a range of warming drinks as well as beers, wines and spirits at its two Wharf locations.

do more…

While drinking and dining are a key part of enjoying Winter Lights, there’s a great deal more to do in the area.

For families with kids, Flip Out offers subterranean entertainment until 8pm each evening.

Other activity-driven venues include Fairgame, The Cube, Capital Karts and Ice Rink Canary Wharf for visitors who’d like to get that little bit extra out of their time in the neighbourhood.

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January 8, 2025January 8, 2025

Canary Wharf Winter Lights set to light up east London in January

We get tips for the festival and take a deeper look at Emergency Exit Arts’ Stitching Light installation

One of the show stoppers this year will be Error at Westferry Circus

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January 21, 2025 is set to see the Canary Wharf Winter Lights festival return for 12 days of illumination, filling the estate with installations for a ninth edition.

For 2025, there will be a total of 12 temporary artworks on show, combining with seven permanent pieces making a total of 19 for visitors to discover.

But when the electrons start flowing to create all those photons for our eager eyeballs to absorb, one work in particular will be shining for east London and beyond.

Commissioned by Canary Wharf Group for the festival, Stitching Light is the result of collaboration between Emergency Exit Arts (EEA), artist Ruhul Abdin in Bangladesh and Oitiji-jo.

The piece draws on the stories and experiences of British Bangladeshi women who migrated to the UK early in their adult lives.

The resulting installation will be placed at Wren Landing during Winter Lights.

the genesis of Stitching Light

“We work with hundreds of different arts practitioners and what we’ve noticed with lights festivals is that the pieces featured are often very beautiful but there may not have been participation or much of a story behind them,” said Daniel Bernstein, CEO of EEA.

“Often the artists involved in light pieces are white men, so we’re always interested in bringing in different stories and greater depth to the work.”

With Ruhul in place as creative director, work on the project began with workshops run by freelance artist Shama Kun via the Oitiji-jo Collective at Republic in Blackwall.

running the workshops

“I run a lot of sessions with the Bangladeshi community, dealing with crafts, so I’d bonded with the women locally,” said Shama.

“With this project, I realised that we had never looked into the stories of the mums and aunties.

“So we provided a safe space and invited them to contribute.

“We tried to be relaxed about it, having tea, a conversation, so the process started with that.

“We asked them to bring memorable objects, so the stories could start from there, then we drew maps, starting with their childhoods and what the transition to Britain was like.

“One thing that came out was they described their lifestyles as a rainbow.

“They said that their lives started as colourful, really amazing, and then their transition to here was a rollercoaster, not knowing people – it was a struggle.

“In the community we’ve relied on these women but haven’t looked in depth into their stories.

“They opened up for this project because they felt safe.

“They came here very vulnerable, without any support and talked about many things including being the victims of racism – that trauma is still there.

“After the workshops I realised I am here today because of their sacrifices, that we are resilient because of their resilience.

“This was a platform for them to tell their stories and I hope there will be more spaces like this for them to do that in future.

“We recorded the conversations – lots of discussions about their favourite foods, colours, smells and more – before turning over the material to Ruhul.”

An artist's impression of how Stitching Light will look at Canary Wharf Winter Lights — An artist’s impression of how Stitching Light will look at Canary Wharf Winter Lights

a piece for Canary Wharf Winter Lights

That work formed the basis of the finished piece – a series of three metre-high fabric panels with illuminated thread stitched into the design which will be displayed in a 3D structure allowing visitors to walk through and around the work.

“What you see are very beautiful, soft, subtle layers of the stories we were told,” said Ruhul.

“The panels are stitched and painted with a sound piece to accompany them reflecting some of the women’s thoughts and stories, the songs they sang and the songs they like.

“We worked with a folk artist to translate some of these ideas into Bangla-inspired paintings which would then be taken back to London – it was back-and-forth between Bangladesh and the UK.

“For me it’s important to have this piece on display in Canary Wharf because Tower Hamlets has hosted so many generations of Bangladeshis now – there is a need to be visible beyond the brown person walking our streets.

“There is also the multicultural aspect of London and this is a nice way to celebrate something without it being a research project or an academic exercise.

“We’re creating art together and it’s a beautiful way of highlighting who the women were and are, and the potential of art to begin to make some of these nuanced changes as Canary Wharf itself continues to evolve.”

representation at Canary Wharf Winter Lights

Daniel added: “Being part of Winter Lights its really important for the participants in the workshops and for the people making the work.

“From an audience perspective, there are going to be layers.

“Perhaps half of the visitors will walk through the piece and be impressed by the lights and the images – but they may not understand the Bangla script on the panels, although there will be a panel explaining the work.

“Hopefully, anyone from a Bangladeshi background will come to the piece and see themselves represented. It’s quite subtle.”

Shama said one of the most important parts of the project was to celebrate the local community.

“There is so much out there for us to learn from our past generations,” she said.

“These women might not boast that they have done this or that, but they have silently achieved things and we need to carry their flag.”

Ruhul added: “One of the biggest takeaways is the potential to hope that this work will continue.

“I have spoken to a colleague who is a Bangladeshi migrant elsewhere and they said how crucial it was to understand things from the elders.

“It is important to see that Stitching Light is inspiring, so the next generation want to understand more about who they are, where their families have come from – especially those of us who are not white British, but it’s vital for everyone.”

Emergency Exit Arts was founded in 1980 as an artists’ collective aspiring to make a positive difference to people’s lives – especially those who have suffered discrimination or economic exclusion.

It has been based in Greenwich for more than 35 years.

Wave by Squidsoup will be in place at Columbus Courtyard

top tips for the festival

Canary Wharf Winter Lights is set for a blockbuster turn, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to the estate over its 12-day run.

We sat down with Canary Wharf Group’s associate curator of Arts And Events, Lowri Harries, and Arts And Events manager, Camilla McGregor, to get a few tips on what to look out for…

LH: Vendel And De Wolf are back in Westferry Circus with Error – an upside down pylon with a tornado of lights around it, 13 metres in the air.

Last year they created a piece called Sign, which looked like a huge fire.

They specialise in taking mass produced materials and using them to depict natural phenomena.

For Error, they’ve used technology to give the piece a random element, reflecting the idea that both nature and machines can go wrong.

Don’t Miss Out: Make sure your table is booked for the festival

CM:I’m looking forward to seeing Portal in the flesh. It will be a 13 metre-high mirrored doorway in Union Square that visitors can walk through.

I think the scale and magnitude of it will make people feel quite small in comparison and also acts as a piece to frame the Wharf with great sight lines though it to other parts of the estate.

It’s one of the largest pieces we’ve ever hosted and it’s definitely something new.

LH: I’m also especially looking forward to seeing Aj Vana Be by Benedikt Tola – it’s essentially a stack of 32 reclaimed bathtubs that have been taken from socialist-era residential buildings by the Czech artist.

It draws attention to the scarcity of water.

Even though washing is an an everyday act, it draws attention to that privilege.

CM: Putting Winter Lights on is essentially a year-long process.

A month after it’s finished, we begin work on the next edition, sending out an open call for artists and organisations to contribute.

Then we start looking for work to feature.

LH: It feels really lovely when we see people enjoying the installations.

I think visitors really treasure a free event in January with people coming from the local community and from further afield.

As with Stitching Light, we’re looking to work with and take inspiration from the local community more and more – we want everyone to feel comfortable coming here.

This is a place for everyone.

Canary Wharf Winter Lights will feature seven permanent installations including The Clew alongside the 12 temporary works

key details: Canary Wharf Winter Lights

Canary Wharf Winter Lights is set to run daily from January 21-February 1, 2025, 5pm-10pm, with 19 installations to discover across the estate.

The festival is free to visit.

Find full details of Winter Lights here and plan your visit with the official event map here

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December 19, 2024December 19, 2024

Dez Amore brings burgers to join fresh pasta in Canary Wharf

Co-founder Leonardo Masi talks expansion and speeding up meals with quality ingredients

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Love is always a coming together.

For Leonardo Masi, co-founder of Dez Amore, that meant going beyond serving fresh pasta to customers at Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant And Castle.

“I’d always been in hospitality, with patisseries and pizzerias in Italy,” said the Florentine.

“My parents are architects, my brother is a lawyer, but I didn’t like to study.

“I’m more a practical person rather than a student.

“In 2019, I started selling fresh pasta in London and for six months it was just me.

“I was working seven days a week, but it was a wonderful experience because it meant I found out what the business needed.

“After that, I was able to hire a colleague and we continued like that for a year.

“Our approach was simple – we offered a lot of good quality pasta, made quickly because our customers don’t have much time.

“There was a lot of running about.”

The business was initially known for its fresh pasta offering

growing Dez Amore

That experience of being close to his customers, refining the business and giving people what they want has stood Leonardo in good stead.

While working at Mercato Metropolitano, he also made a contact who would end up joining him as co-founder of Dez Amore.

“I had a good relationship with Simone Parentini who was selling burgers at the Elephant And Castle food hall,” said Leonardo.

“Two minds are better than one and I prefer to have 50% of a company, work together and share problems.

“We both have family in Italy so we need to travel back and forth and this partnership allows us to do that.”

The duo have also brought their food together, with Dez Amore now offering both fresh pasta and smash burgers from its six branches, including two in Canary Wharf.

Speed is of the essence when it comes to the new model with the business laser-focused on delivering food in minutes to suit Londoners’ busy lives.

Dez Amore operates on two sites in Canary Wharf including this kiosk at Reuters Plaza

speeding up the process

“In Italy, when I used to sit down with my grandfather, we started with antipasto, then primo, then secundo, then contorno – the minimum was three hours for a meal,” said Leonardo.

“Now a sit-down meal can be 45 minutes and we want to reduce this to 20. The food culture is completely different now.

“The time to eat is very short.

“Even though the pandemic has made things more difficult for a business like ours, we think there’s a niche there.

“We offer two very popular kinds of food – pasta for the Italian and burger for the American – and we’re about convenience.

“It might be that people coming home from work simply want an easy life so come to us to eat – we want to make life easy for our customers.

“Perhaps a mum with three children will bring them to eat at Dez Amore for some healthy pasta.

“It’s not fast food, but it is good food that is fast. Our customers understand quality and why it’s important.

“We import ingredients from Italy to ensure the quality.

“We make everything from scratch in our central kitchen so that it’s as fresh as possible when we serve it, but also so that we can do it quickly.

“We are only satisfied when our customers are satisfied.

“It’s about reducing the time to finalise the dishes rather than cutting the preparation time.

“With a sauce, for example, we put in the proper time to make it so that it only takes a minute to finish it in the branch.

“We’ve also moved to smash burgers, which are faster to prepare and serve so customers have less waiting.

“People eat our food at different times. Pasta is more of a sit-down dish, but you can eat a burger anywhere, even while you’re working.

“In Canary Wharf, Wood Wharf is more of a sit-down option, while the kiosk is grab and go.

“We actually see an increase in burger sales after 6pm as people like to have them with a beer.

“With both offerings now in our shops, we’re looking ahead to 2025 and we want to open two or three more locations.

“London is the best city in the world and we want to grow here.”

key details: Dez Amore

You can find Dez Amore at MMy Wood Wharf and in one of the Reuters Plaza Kiosks in Canary Wharf.

Other locations include Camden, Wembley and Mayfair.

Find out more about the brand here

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December 18, 2024December 18, 2024

Nicolas Canary Wharf gets a full bodied refit with a tasting room

One Canada Square fine wine retailer brings its focus back to selling bottles but is set to add a cigar smoking room to its tasting facility

Nicolas’ updated store in Canary Wharf’s One Canada Square

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Just as Canary Wharf is evolving, so too are its oldest retailers.

Nicolas has been selling wine on the estate since the 1990s.

Its cosy, bistro-style bar long delivered servings of French flavours and seclusion in the lower level of One Canada Square.

But things move on and 2024 has brought a completely fresh direction for the store.

“The original concept worked well for us back then, but the estate has changed and there are lots of restaurants and bars with outdoor space now,” said Mark Connolly, buyer and training manager at Nicolas UK.

“It was our only bar in London and, with the refurbishment, we wanted to celebrate what we do best – being a wine merchant.

“With the bar gone, it’s really allowed us to open up the store space.

“We’ve got full window displays and there’s plenty of light coming into the branch.

“We’ve changed the way the bottles are displayed – they’re nicely spread out now and it’s really easy to see where everything is.

“For Nicolas it’s a showcase store.

“We’ve been able to increase the range we offer with an improved fine wine selection and more for customers to choose from.”

Nicolas UK's Mark Connolly — Nicolas UK’s Mark Connolly

Nicolas: a radical change

As a retail space, it’s a radical change from the previously cramped corner at the entrance to the shop.

Walk in now and a long vista of pale wood awaits. Bottles relax at jaunty angles in plenty of space on the ample shelving.

Recalling wooden wine cases, Nicolas’ logo is burnt into the timber, giving visitors the feeling of entering a cellar in a chateau after a tour of some excellent vineyards.

None of this is happen-stance, it’s by design.

“We’ve certainly gone for a more premium look,” said Mark.

“We’ve dispensed with the dark red and yellow of the old store for a much lighter, airier feel.

“There’s no more dark-stained wood.

“It’s a much more welcoming space with a large entrance and big open windows so passers-by can easily see in.

“The layout has been designed for browsing – there’s freedom to walk around and for our staff to provide advice, guiding customers to the perfect wine.

“The main purpose was to make the bottle the hero, while ensuring we’re just that bit more approachable.

“We are a French wine specialist, so it makes sense to have the best French wines available – people demand that – and this new layout allows us to offer a wide selection.

“Our range is something that evolves all the time and there’s lots of exciting wines we can bring here now.

“The bottles are displayed by region with red, white, rosé and sparkling from a particular area grouped together.

“If you look at Bordeaux, you’ll have your classic red wines, but you’ll also have classic white wines, so customers can explore.

“Things can become a bit regimented if you categorise wine by colour or kind.

“We know that people often come in with a good idea of what they’re looking for – now they can go straight to that region and see the wines laid out in front of them.”

new facilities and more to come

Perhaps the most consequential change for the store’s refit, however is the provision of new facilities and the promise of even more.

Complementing the extended wine offering, a new brightly-lit space has been created.

“The really exciting thing is that we now have a large tasting room with a glass door so customers can see into it from the shop,” said Mark.

“It can be open for people to explore or closed off for private events.

“It will easily hold around 30 guests and we’re planning a full schedule for 2025 with lots of masterclasses, tastings and other events.

“I am thrilled about what we can now offer to our customers with this facility.

“It has a large TV screen on the wall too, so we’ll be able to offer virtual tastings live from winemakers in other locations.

“Further to the tasting room, if our plans work out we’re hoping to have a smoking room as well for customers to try cigars.

“We’ve always sold plenty of cigars, but this is about offering something a bit more special.

“There aren’t many places that offer this kind of service – only one other on the Wharf and not many in the whole country – so it’s a way customers can linger and perhaps try some spirits along with their cigars.

“We’ll also be making that space and the tasting room itself available for hire for private events.”

investment in Canary Wharf

Alongside the likes of long-standing retailers Waitrose and Holland And Barrett, Nicolas sees Canary Wharf as worthy of investment – a result of increasing footfall and interest in the estate.

“We’ve been here historically and have built up a bit of a following within Canary Wharf,” said Mark. “But the other aspect to our decision to refit the store is that we know there is money here.

“There are lots of businesses with people who are looking for something fine, whether that’s gifts or simply a bottle to take home.

“This project is about meeting those expectations and providing something really special for people in Canary Wharf.

“We now need to spread the word to let people know we’ve evolved and are offering something better.

“We’re looking forward to serving everybody who comes in now that we have the ideal store to do it in.”

Mark, who has been with Nicolas for some 13 years, is the man responsible for deciding what goes on the shelves of its UK stores.

“We offer many French wines, of course, but also source some from the UK as well as exciting varieties from the US, Italy and Spain,” he said.

“It’s my job to make sure we’ve got the right range so that customers know they can still come in and pick up a nice Barollo or a Rioja.

“In terms of popularity it’s very much reds from Bordeaux and reds and whites from Burgundy, but we also have some really exciting wines from places like south-west France, the Languedoc and grands cru from Alsace.

“There’s plenty to explore.”

RECOMMENDED FOR CHRISTMAS 2024

Mark's festive picks from the shelves of Nicolas Canary Wharf — Mark’s festive picks from the shelves of Nicolas Canary Wharf

With Christmas fast approaching, we asked Mark to select three wines from Nicolas’ range that would be versatile enough to please everyone on December 25 and handle the traditional feast and trimmings…

De Saint-Gall Champagne, Le Tradition, Premier Cru, £39.90

“Champagne at Christmas is a classic and this is a really fantastic bottle to open on December 25,” said Mark

Drinkers can expect yellow fruit, toasted almonds and gingerbread on the nose with a lingering finish and a hint of minerality on the tongue

Les Chaudoux, Pouilly-Fumé, 2022, Loire, £26.30

“This Pouilly-Fumé has a real mineral clarity to it, plus a little bit more body to match up well with turkey or salmon,” said Mark

Drinkers will find the aroma of dried flowers and salted butter caramel when opening this bottle before experiencing notes of cinnamon, cloves and candied ginger

Crozes-Hermitage, Calendes 2022, Rhone, £26.30

“You’ll never do too badly with a Rhone red – this has body, spice and versatility,” said Mark

Enjoy blackberry coulis, blackcurrant, black pepper alongside plums and violets in this typical expression of a Syrah

Prices correct at time of going to press

key details: Nicolas Canary Wharf

Nicolas is located on the mall level downstairs from One Canada Square’s main lobby.

It is open 10am-8pm on weekdays, 10am-7pm on Saturdays and 11am-6pm on Sundays.

Find out more about the brand and buy online here

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December 16, 2024December 16, 2024

Conexus Tuition Canary Wharf offers tutoring on the Isle Of Dogs

How Pauline Suarez left teaching to set up a franchise offering tutoring in east London

Pauline Suarez always knew she wanted to be a teacher

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From a very young age, it was clear Pauline Suarez would be a teacher.

“Even at three years old, my mum remembers me lining up my teddies and teaching them how to read and write,” she said.

“However, they were very poor achievers.

“It was something in me – I knew what I wanted to do. I’ve always had a passion for nurturing people and I really wanted to help the world.”

Having grown up in “a very small village in Canada”, Pauline studied education at the University Of Saskatchewan before seeking a position overseas.

She interviewed for a role in Mexico, but only found out she’d got it by letter 12 weeks after she’d already started teaching in London.

“I came to be a supply teacher in primary schools,” she said.

“I actually didn’t take it all that seriously.

“I really wanted the Mexican job and I think London was probably the worst interview of my life.

“But I got the job, I loved it and I thrived.

“My first job was at De Beavoir school in Hackney – the toughest, roughest school I had ever seen.

“The kids were on the tables, totally out of control.

“I called my mum in the first week and told her it was awful and that I was moving home.

“But that was in 2000, it’s 2024 now and I’m living and working in Canary Wharf.

“London is like a woman and you either love her or hate her.

“I’m madly in love with her. This is an amazing city – it just has everything.”

born of experience

Working initially in Southwark before moving to Tower Hamlets and a stint in South Africa, Pauline’s career has see her accrue a great deal of experience in inner-city education.

Before embarking on a new venture, she worked extensively at Malmesbury Primary School in Mile End and most recently at Harbinger Primary School on the Isle Of Dogs.

“I was a phenomenal teacher,” said Pauline.

“But teaching 30 children each day and working long hours left me more and more disillusioned with the education system.

“It was about having everything written down rather than adapting to the child’s needs.”

Having initially started tutoring while still teaching, she decided to leave the classroom in 2022 and try something different.

“I wanted a change,” said Pauline.

“It was a time in my life when I couldn’t get assurance of regular work as a teacher – they would just call when they needed someone, a bit like a zero hours contract.

“I felt like a swan – calm on the surface but frantically paddling under the water.

“So I decided to take on a franchise with tutoring company Conexus.

“Only around 16% of businesses in London are owned by women, so that’s one reason I wanted to do this.

“I started the franchise for the Canary Wharf area in January and I’m so grateful for the support I’ve had – everyone has wanted to help.”

Conexus Tuition Canary Wharf: Isle Of Dogs sessions

Based at the Barkantine Community Hall, just off Westferry Road on the Island, Conexus Tuition Canary Wharf offers tutoring to small groups of students in English, maths and science.

One-to-one and online sessions are also available.

“We cater for children from the age of four and up, right to the end of GCSEs and we have A-Level tutors available too,” said Pauline.

“The story of Conexus itself is really amazing.

“It was started by a woman called Sharon Cawley – a teacher who had a breakdown, a broken marriage and was living with two kids in a council flat on benefits.

“She realised she could tutor to make a living and discovered that teaching them in small groups worked really well.

“That’s backed up by the research from the Education Endowment Foundation, which found that this kind of environment allows children to learn more over the course of a year than one-to-one.

“Sharon was teaching English and found out that many of her students were also going to see a maths tutor.

“She decided to hire one herself and that’s where Conexus was born.

“The company provides small group learning from top quality tutors.

“Each knows their subject really well – we only hire specialists because you need that in-depth knowledge.”

Pauline’s franchise offers online sessions from £20 or in-person classes from £23 on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school.

the benefits of tuiotion

She said: “I don’t believe there’s a child on the planet who wouldn’t benefit from having a tutor.

“Tutoring embeds learning and allows your child to get to grips with their education.

“The school system is overloaded.

“There’s too little money and, in a traditional classroom, the average student might only be spending three minutes with a teacher during a lesson. Tutoring is an investment.

“If a child is top of their class, they often need a push to achieve their potential.

“Equally, if they’re struggling, then they need support. It’s being able to adapt to the child’s needs.

“One small thing can affect them and a tutor has the time to find out what that is and deal with it.

“Children can be terrified of saying the wrong thing or making a mistake.

“I had a child two weeks ago who had been over-tested in school.

“She came in, started learning and she seemed fine, and then she had a panic attack.

“I got her to breathe so that she could calm her nervous system down and then she cried and cried.

“I asked her why she was so upset and she said she’d failed a test in school. I explained to her that as her tutor it was me that had failed if she didn’t know something.

“Now she has the biggest smile and wants to come to our sessions because she knows there’s no judgment.

“In school there’s an exorbitant amount of pressure on these children, and they’re not handling it well.

“We can take away that pressure and we can help them learn. That’s our promise.

“I’ve had phone calls from parents fearful that their child would fail exams and I’m always confident we can get them through.

“One of the mums cries when she sees us – her daughter was failing but ended up getting fours and fives at GCSE and is now training to be dental nurse.

“It feels amazing when you can really change the course of someone’s life – it’s my true purpose.”

key details: Conexus Tuition Canary Wharf

Conexus Tuition Canary Wharf delivers group tutoring sessions at the Barkantine Community Centre each week.

One-to-one and online sessions are also available in children’s homes by arrangement.

Conexus is a member of the Tutors’ Association and is committed to safeguarding with all staff DBS checked every term.

Pauline is also about to launch specialist 11+ Core Classes aimed at helping children in Years 4 and 5 pass entrance examinations for selective secondary schools.

Find out more about tutoring on the Isle Of Dogs here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

December 2, 2024December 2, 2024

Holland And Barrett boosts space in Canary Wharf refurbishment

Regional manager at the health and wellbeing brand, Hammad Amir, takes us through comprehensive update to its Canada Place store

Holland And Barrett's Hammad Amir — Holland And Barrett’s Hammad Amir

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You wait ages for a revamp and then loads come along at once.

Tis clearly the season for investment in Canary Wharf with established brands opting for refits to lure the ever larger numbers of shoppers through their doors.

In addition to Waitrose and John Lewis, Nicolas recently finished restructuring its One Canada Square wine shop.

Then there are both branches of Holland And Barrett, which have now reopened following refurbishment.

“The Canary Wharf refit is part of a £70million programme to help us better cater for customers’ needs and to refresh our brand,” said Hammad Amir, regional manger at Holland And Barrett who looks after both stores on the estate.

The brand has used recyclable steel and certified sustainable wood for its interiors as well as introducing LED lighting to help cut carbon emissions.

“We’ve already refitted about 500 stores. At Canada Place, we’ve changed the whole look and feel of the store.

“We’ve extended it and have introduced many new lines for customers to enjoy.

“For example, we’ve completely transformed our food range.

“We’re bringing in more chilled food and we’ve got an extended range of drinks too.

“Some of those products are made by Holland & Barrett but we stock popular brands too.

“As a business we’re currently engaged in a programme that will see the way our products are packaged and formulated to be better for the planet and for our customers.”

Holland And Barrett in Canary Wharf's Canada Place — Holland And Barrett in Canary Wharf’s Canada Place

key points at Holland And Barrett

To that end, Holland And Barrett is introducing Plant Points in a bid to encourage shoppers to boost the variety of things they eat.

“You’re supposed to eat five portions of fruit and veg every day,” said Hammad.

“Now our packaging will mention Plant Points to help people eat 30 different varieties each week. Like everything we do, it’s about promoting healthy living.”

Hammad joined the business in 2016, having previously worked in retail at Poundland.

He said: “It’s been amazing to see the change we have been through in the nine years I’ve been here.

“At Holland & Barrett our people have always been at the centre of our attention – we invest in them.

“For example, all of our staff members are fully qualified to the equivalent of A-Level standard to advise and recommend products.

“When people join us, they go through an eight-week training programme on the things we sell and then there are regular monthly updates.

“What we’ve also done in the last couple of years is introduce Cerebro.

“It’s a tablet-based technology that uses AI to enhance the customer’s journey.

“Using that system alongside our staff members’ knowledge allows us to better advise people.

“It also allows us to check stock availability locally – so if we’ve run out of something at Canada Place we can check if it’s available at Jubilee Place and so on.”

Holland And Barrett's Cerebro system in action — Holland And Barrett’s Cerebro system in action

designed for local workers

Convenience is key, especially when it comes to time-pressed Wharfers shopping during the working week.

Consequently, the refit has included bringing grab-and-go options very much to the fore.

“If you look at the demographics of our customers in Canary Wharf, the majority are office-based,” said Hammad.

“The products in high demand are bars, milk-shakes, snacking and supplements. Often customers are making impulse purchases.

“They come down, grab a bar or a protein shake and then go back to their desks.

“One of the challenges we’ve had is that it gets really busy on the Wharf during lunchtime.

“We wanted to make sure we can offer a seamless journey for customers, so we’ve added a self-checkout option.

“But we’ve done that without sacrificing service. One of the selling points at Holland And Barrett is personal interaction.

“You’ll come in, be greeted by a staff member and be offered help and support if you need it.

“Now staff spend more time out on the shop floor and we’re intending to bring in things like mobile payments so people don’t even need to queue up with their purchases.”

looking after the staff

Hammad said the drive to help people and Holland And Barrett’s ethos as health and wellbeing brand was one of the reason behind its staff retention levels.

“We have a number of people working locally who have spent between five and 10 years at the business,” he said.

“It’s a brand we’re proud to be part of because you know you’re working for a company that is on a mission to help customers live a better life.

“After studying IT, my life took a turn and I began working in retail at the age of 18. I was store manager a year later.

“The best part of retail is the human interaction – you’re able to help people and at Holland And Barrett you can make a difference in people’s lives.

“It’s great when people come back and say that our staff have been so helpful and they’ve made such a difference, and that’s amazing.

“In our Canary Wharf stores we’ve already had amazing feedback about the refits and the service.

“We’re constantly working to bring people more variety and options for the things they want. For example, following the refit, we’ve increased our sports range alongside the food range.

“Everything is ultimately determined by the size of the store and its customers.

“Because we’ve been able to increase the floorspace here, we’ve been able to boost the range so we have many more products than we did before.”

Products picked for Wharf Life readers by Holland And Barrett's Johnny Burlui — Products picked for Wharf Life readers by Holland And Barrett’s Johnny Burlui

manager’s picks

mbers of people crammed together on public transport, it’s a time for sniffles and temperatures.

Challenged to provide some products to help out, store manager, Johnny Burlui, whipped out Cerebro (coincidentally named the same as Professor Charles Xavier’s fictional device used for detecting mutants in the X-Men films and comics) and set about finding some own-brand suggestions…

H&B Manuka Honey MGO 800+ – £38 for 350g

“This is really for prevention, it will give your immune system a boost and is also antibacterial,” said Johnny.

“It’s important not to get the product too hot as it can destroy its effectiveness.”

H&B Advanced Immunity – £4.87 for 30 capsules

“These are vegetarian and should help to strengthen your body and improve your immune response,” said Johnny.

“That can be a very good idea at this time of year especially.”

H&B Plant Protein Bar – £2 for 60g – Dark Chocolate Raspberry

“It’s important to keep your energy levels up, so I’d also recommend a quick snack,” said Johnny.

“People in Canary Wharf are often very health-conscious, they go to the gym and they’re short on time so this is a great option.”

key details: Holland And Barrett Canary Wharf

Holland And Barrett’s Canary Wharf stores can be found in Canada Place (under One Canada Square) and Jubilee Place.

The former is open from 7am-9pm on weekdays, from 8am to 8pm on Saturdays and from 11am-5pm on Sundays.

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

Find out more about the business here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here