Regeneration was very much the word when the Canary Wharf project was starting out.
But 35 years after One Canada Square was officially opened, it’s renewal and evolution that are everywhere.
Quietly, across the estate, structures that have stood for most of the last three decades have been refurbished and improved.
Some have been less obvious – 25 Cabot Square and One Cabot Square don’t look all that different from the outside but have enjoyed internal improvements.
Similarly, Citi’s £1billion refit of 25 Canada Square is also largely an internal affair that won’t massively alter the skyline.
But that’s not the only approach.
30 South Colonnade, once home to Reuters, has been transformed into YY London with glass and metal preferred as a much more open facade to the dated white marble cladding.
This striking glow-up was enough to attract Revolut as anchor tenant with Deutsche Bank and Until as neighbours.
25 North Colonnade has also had a polish, a rebrand as Cargo and may soon be back on the market for £250million having been fully let by owner Blackstone.
Canary Wharf Group itself is currently consulting on plans for a radical overhaul of 8 Canada Square, currently occupied by HSBC and possibly in line for a new life as a mixed use scheme with chunks carved out of its upper levels.
Canary Wharf Group development manager Sarah Moss is part of the team working on One Eden – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
a new identity: One Eden
But perhaps the poster-child for the estate’s latest rebirth – a process that’s clearly playing a part in the rush of companies relocating to or within the Wharf – should be One Eden.
Located right opposite YY London, there are plans to take 33 Canada Square, originally part of Citi’s cluster, and give the structure its own identity at the head of Eden Dock.
The reason for this is that Canary Wharf Group’s approach to urban renewal schemes of this kind is significantly more complex than simply getting out the paint pots and laying some new carpet.
To find out more, Wharf Life sat down with development manager Sarah Moss, part of the team working on One Eden.
“With this kind of project, it’s about looking at an existing building with really brilliant bones and asking how we can transform it into a sustainable office space suitable for companies to use today and in the future,” she said.
“It’s my job, day-to-day, to deal with the architecture, that sustainability mission and to engage with occupiers so we can bring all these things together and make a really great product for our stakeholders.
“At present, Citi staff are using the building as they prepare to move into the tower next door when it’s refurbished so we’re gearing up to redevelop One Eden so a new occupier can move straight in.
“With schemes like this, it’s always a decision to be made – do you let the building as-is, do you do a light refurbishment or a major reinvention?
“We’ve looked at the market, at Canary Wharf and what we want this asset to be. It’s right in the middle of the estate and has such great potential to be a better class of building.
“Responding to occupier demand, we think we can deliver something really great for our customers.
“Our conclusion is that it’s a really well-structured building that can be made more sustainable.”
energy and regeneration
Originally from Australia, Sarah has spent the last eight years working in development in various roles for Lendlease, which brought her to the UK in 2022.
She joined Canary Wharf Group after a spell at British Land about seven months ago.
“Britain has these incredible regeneration projects and to be involved in them as part of my career was a real drive for me to come here,” she said.
“Canary Wharf was always somewhere we looked at when I was studying and working in Australia and I love the vibrancy of London.
“There’s always something to do and the drive to get things done.
“Everyone seems really engaged and excited to do things whether that’s working on projects like this or their social lives.
“I love the energy that the city brings.”
It’s not too much of a stretch to say that Canary Wharf Group’s plans for One Eden are squarely aimed at bringing fresh energy into the building.
Sarah said: “One of the really innovative features that we’re intending to bring to the tower is opening up an entrance on its lower level – so it’s right there when you emerge from the Jubilee line.
“It should really help the building come alive, creating new connections and allowing people to walk through.
“One of the things about the building is that it’s so well situated and we’re looking at including three retail spaces in the face of the building.
“That activation of the ground floor will be great – we know our occupiers value the friendliness it brings to a building and we want their staff and clients to feel that as well as making the spaces more permeable.”
retain and reuse
In addition to the changes on the lower levels, the plans include an extra floor with a pavilion structure and terrace, capping off the existing tower.
Sarah said: “We’re also looking at making the building a really functional space with end-of-trip facilities such as showers and bike storage for commuters coming in.
One of the most important things is that we’re modernising the structure in a sustainable way, re-using 97% of the substructure and superstructure.”
The plans would see One Eden become fully electric, with 62,000 tonnes of existing concrete retained in the structure and 47% less carbon produced in construction when compared with a new-build.
The project is targeting BREEAM Outstanding certification and will include 25,575sq ft of internal balconies and terraces laced with greenery as well as 19,644sq ft of outdoor terrace space.
Overall, One Eden comprises 545,000sq ft of workspace.
future-proofing the project
Making a space for workers of the future is also an opportunity to keep an eye on the future.
Undertaking this project has meant Canary Wharf Group delving into its paper archives to understand the existing structure so, as part of the renewal, much better records of the scheme will be created to aid similar refits in the decades to come.
Sarah said: “While the existing materials we have are excellent, we’ve been taking this opportunity to implement a really structured system of building information management.
“Everything is now 3D-modelled and tracked so we know we have really accurate information about what’s been built so that if people want to change part of the structure they will have those details instead of having to undertake fresh investigations.
“One of the questions we ask ourselves on projects like this is how we make these buildings last longer.
“What we hope is that, by collecting this information comprehensively, it will make it easier to redesign and refit in future.”
Following the successful completion of a mammoth project to extend Excel London by 25%, the venue is enjoying something of a purple patch as it attracts new shows and ever-increasing numbers of visitors.
“Everything we do needs to be looked at through the lens of how we get to be the best event destination in the world,” said Jeremy Rees, who joined Excel in 2010 as sales director and took over as CEO in 2017.
“That comes from standards and values, but also from investment.
“It’s something we will strive to achieve every single time we improve something.
“For example: ‘Is our Wi-fi and 5G technology equal to what the best event destination in the world would offer?’.
“I would say today the answer is no, it needs to improve.
“We’ve assessed what it should be and have invested many millions of pounds, which means in a few months our new system will be up and running.
“When that happens, we will be the world’s most technologically-enabled event destination.
“We’re taking this approach across Excel.
“Our extension is world class and we’ve invested a lot in Immerse LDN, but we’ve also addressed a wide range of things in areas visitors don’t always see.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for our customers to have as good an experience as they can, so we’ve been improving the wider infrastructure behind the scenes and the visitor facilities to help achieve that.
“Every week we fixate on how we can make marginal changes to the inside and the outside of our buildings to make them as good as they can be.
“It’s also about being open to feedback and, in the events business, we’re lucky because we constantly get that from visitors and organisers.
“Then we have a framework in place for our teams to think about how we can respond to an issue and in what time scale.
“It might be something we need to plan ahead for, perhaps one, two or three years in the future, but what we have is a constant programme of change and development that asks how we can do things better.
“Expectations are constantly rising and we need to always be thinking about how we rise to meet them.”
Hyrox London has grown to see more than 40,000 competitors take part – image supplied by Excel London
shifting the dial
This process of consistent, iterative improvement – never standing still – is perhaps why the venue is busier than ever, recently attracting 250,000 visitors over just seven days from April 19-26, 2026.
Despite much of the capital slowed by a Tube strike, the east London venue hosted 10 events in the period, with the Elizabeth Line unaffected and playing a solid part in helping the exhibition centre record one of its busiest weeks since the 2012 Olympics.
Around 40,000 of those visitors travelled to Excel to collect their registrations for the 2026 London Marathon, with the venue noting that sport and fitness are playing an increasing role in its success.
“It’s an important part of what we do – it’s a sector that’s passion-led, tribal and one that reflects society,” said Jeremy.
“People are thinking more carefully about what they eat and how they look after their bodies and their minds.
“Two or three years ago brands like Hyrox were on their journey to growth.
“Now it’s gobsmackingly astonishing that last year more than 40,000 people took part in Hyrox London at Excel and this year more people will be doing it here than running the marathon.
“It’s a triumph, an event where people at any level can take part and compete for themselves while improving their fitness.”
Hyrox, which sees participants take on a succession of exercise challenges interspersed with 1k runs, held its first event at Excel in 2021 with 650 contestants.
Now hosting events across the globe, the brand has achieved enormous success and its 2026 edition – scheduled for December 5 and 6, 2026, in east London – will also feature Youngstars, its contest for those aged eight to 15.
Formula E returns to the venue this summer – image supplied by Excel London
a destination for competition
“That’s been one extreme, but sports and fitness in a broader sense have long been important for us,” said Jeremy.
“We’ve been hosting the London T100 Triathlon in various forms for 25 years and last year that saw around 6,000 athletes taking part and 25,000 fans attending the event.
“Formula-E has also been astonishing and will return this August.
“Technically it’s a great show and it’s been amazing to have cars break the indoor land speed record while racing through our building.”
On a wider point, Jeremy said it was Excel’s flexibility – the ability to become a race track while also having the likes of Gym Race, Turf Games, ATHX, Nike’s After Dark Tour and the London International Horse Show on its calendar – that was most attractive to organisers.
“This place is a global trade hub, a centre for ideas – somewhere people want to come to listen and learn,” he said. “Then they take those ideas away with them all around the world.
“I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much of an impact our extension has had – building a space organisers were asking for has seen them vote with their feet in the corporate market it was designed to serve.
“Large-scale technology events that once booked one year in advance are now booking three or even five years ahead because they know that our space fulfils their requirements.
“They’ve seen the results and they know there’s going to be even greater demand for it in the future.
“There’s also a real benefit for shows when they become associated with a venue – events such as the World Travel Market, for example.
“For those top tier brands, Excel offers an established ecosystem and the Elizabeth Line enables visitors to access that.
“Take Canary Wharf, for example, which is now three minutes away and has such an amazing selection of bars, restaurants and facilities.
“It’s that quality that is helping us attract these events to London.”
Excel London hosts the London International Horse Show, which is set to return to the venue from December 7-21, 2026 – image supplied by Excel London
Growing up in Cumbria – three miles from the nearest village – Plant And Person founder, Will Daltrey, became accustomed to chatting with the neighbouring cows for company.
“If you stand at the gate of a massive field and wait about 10 minutes, you’ll find they all come over to you slowly,” he said.
“My dad left when I was quite young, although still lived nearby, but it was quite lonely, so I shared much of my upbringing with them.
“You can definitely sense what they’re thinking and I knew they were interested in me because they’d keep on coming over.”
Each is treated to Will’s gentle advice and guidance. Some tell tales, other ask earnest questions.
Patiently, he dispenses suggestions and answers.
Slowly it dawns on me that this steady flow of patrons serves very much the same purpose as his bovine mates of old – the warmth of community.
Having studied computer science at Newcastle University, an institution he and his friends described as “a place of drinking with a learning problem”, he became a teacher, relocating to London to train and then work.
He spent 15 years in the profession when the pandemic prompted a change.
“In some ways, lockdown was a good time because we were looking after the wellbeing of the children – teaching them values for life,” said Will.
“But then it felt like the plug was pulled and we were back teaching to the tests again.”
Will had grown up around his parents’ gardens and vegetable plots but had “never realised” he liked gardening until the pandemic provided an opportunity.
“I have a large balcony and, with that extra time, I started growing plants on it,” he said.
“I created a real jungle – tunnels, waterfalls and plants all along the railings and trained over the ceiling. There’s even a grape vine.
“I really enjoyed learning about the different species and looking after them, seeing the cause and effect of my actions and how they responded to it.
“I could spend hours just dead-heading – it was very mindful.
“What was in my head at the time was the idea that the plants were looking after my mental health.
“That’s really the idea behind the name Plant And Person.
“Initially the big idea for the business was about doing workshops to make terrariums – miniature gardens in glass containers.
“My wife also started selling them and found out there wasn’t much money to be made doing that.”
Plant And Person runs terrarium building workshops at Corner Corner in Canada Water – image by Plant And Person
helping others build tiny gardens
But the creativity persisted and Plant And Person has also branched out into retail with Will selling plants from a stall at Canada Water and at Wapping Docklands Market on Saturdays, just across the river.
“We’re currently running workshops at Corner Corner in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre in partnership with British Land,” he said.
“People come from all over London and they really get the wow factor when they arrive here.
“We set everything out on long tables. There’s a tutorial and everyone gets 90 minutes to build their terrarium.
“There’s loads of different materials to choose from, with different sizes and colours of stones.
“Then we have a variety of soils and mosses as well as trinkets.
“The price includes three plants, so I need 90 for a class, but I bring about 500 so everyone gets exactly what they want.
“That’s only workable because I can sell the ones that are left over on the stall.
“I never do a demo because then people would copy it, but you see everyone collecting what they want to use and taking inspiration from each other.
“They come up with some amazing ideas.
“I do miss being a teacher, so I really value the opportunity to get up in front of people and talk about something I’m interested in.
“Selling plants on the stall is really lovely when it’s the summer and the weather is good. It can be more of a slog in winter, of course.
“But you get to know all the people locally and that’s absolutely wonderful. I’ve been doing it for three years and I’ve made loads of friends.
“It’s also really lovely to be approached by strangers and then to see them come back over time.”
Will’s favourite plant is the Prayer Plant, Maranta Fascinator, available from Plant And Person for £7 – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
selling plants in east and south-east London
Will sources his plants from Holland, Belgium and the UK, offering a wide, ever-changing variety.
In addition to the succulents and small plants used in the terrariums, he sells much larger specimens.
On the day of our interview, the stall is a riot of early summer colour with pots of vibrant flowers and plants sporting exotic-looking foliage.
There are fuchsias, a relative of the jasmine and lavenders already starting to come out.
“My favourite is the maranta fascinator or prayer plant with its beautiful green and pink leaves,” he said.
“It’s really the species that got me into decorative foliage and house plants and it’s absolutely stunning.
“The most important thing for me though, is that the plants I sell work for the people I sell them to and fit what they’re looking for.
“If people are looking for something that’s easy to care for I’ll often recommend the snake plant – dracaena trifasciata – which is a really popular choice and very low maintenance.
“Another really good option is a zamioculcas or ZZ plant, which are really easy to care for because it’s happy in all sorts of conditions indoors.
“It can even go without water for a while.
“I’m always learning myself, but I love when people ask for advice or suggestions so I can help them find the plants that work for them.”
A low maintenance option, the Snake Plant, Sansevieria Trifasciata, available from Plant And Person for £12 – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
key details: Plant And Person
Plant And Person’s next Terrarium Building Workshop is set to take place at Corner Corner on May 26 at 7pm.
You can find Will selling plants and dispensing advice at Deal Porter Square in Canada Water most weekdays and at Wapping Docklands Market on Saturdays.
A festival of health is set to nurture the minds and bodies of workers, residents and visitors to Canary Wharf.
Wharf Wellness returns to the estate in June with a packed programme designed to showcase the breadth and depth of what’s on offer locally.
Taking in sports, fitness, recovery, beauty and nutrition, the festival offers Wharfers the chance to engage with the likes of Third Space, Barry’s, Arc, Padium and many more.
Early booking is advised and, to help you plan your diaries, we’re listing the more than 20 events and pop-ups already announced in full.
Padium will be hosting both social and beginner events as part of Wharf Wellness – image supplied by Canary Wharf Group
the 2026 wharf wellness programme
Roof Garden Pilates – £25
THE ISLAND STUDIO, June 3, 8am, Crossrail Place Roof Garden
Join the Wood Wharf-based studio for a pop-up class in the leafy surroundings of the Crossrail station’s rooftop park for a chance to move, stretch and reset. Suitable for all levels.
Win A Mini Facial – Pop-Up
WEATHER + PALETTE, June 3-4, Canada Place
Visit this pop-up and play for a chance to win a range of prizes including a Mini Facial, 20% off facial treatments, samples and more from the Jubilee Place store.
Run Club – FREE
TRIBE LONDON CANARY WHARF, June 4, 11, 18, 25, 6pm, 15 Water Street
Taking place every Thursday in June during Wharf Wellness, Tribe London Canary Wharf will be hosting a free Run Club. The guided 5k leaves from the hotel’s main reception with finishers receiving a protein bar and vitamin drink to help them refuel. Places can be booked in person at the hotel or via DM on Instagram to @tribe_londoncanarywharf
After Dark – £20
ARC, June 5, 7pm, Crossrail Place
Promising a “more social, high-energy” way to experience contrast therapy through music, this session allows participants to move between the heat of the sauna and the chill of its cold plunges at their own rhythm in a community atmosphere.
Big Club Social – £20
PADIUM, June 6, 20, 9am, Bank Street Park
Meet other padel enthusiasts in a fun, social setting where players take on a series of 15-minute matches, moving up or down a court based on wins and losses. There are two dates to choose from over the month.
Reformer Taster Sessions – FREE
FREEDOM CLINICS, June 8-12, 9am, Canada Place
Treat yourself to a free Reformer Pilates class, open to all levels. Those booking should select One Pilates Class Pass and then enter code WHARFWELLNESS when reserving to reduce the cost to £0 for the 9am sessions. These will likely sell out fast.
Intro To Padel – £20
PADIUM, June 8, 22, 5pm, Bank Street Park
These early evening classes have been designed for first-timers with the aim of helping participants learn all the fundamental rules, techniques and strategies to allow them to play padel tennis. All equipment is provided.
Atis Moves Run Club – £6.50
ATIS, June 9, 6.15pm, Canada Place
Enjoy a 5k around Canary Wharf followed by a bowl from the salad chain. Runners should arrive in their kit with filled bottles ready for a 6.30pm start. Spaces are limited so book early.
Swing Social – FREE
PITCH WHARF, June 10, 6pm-9pm, 30 Churchill Place
Sip low and no alcohol drinks and indulge in a bit of active wellness at the golf simulator venue. Those attending can expect Nearest The Pin challenges, pro-led swing clinics and plenty of virtual holes. Admission is free, but online registration is required.
A Moment Of Hygge – FREE
SØSTRENE GRENE X OLE & STEEN, June 9, 10, 11, Jubilee Place
Søstrene Grene and Ole & Steen are set to collaborate on a series of bookable one-hour workshops where participants can create personalised memory jars, paint and decorate flower pots or design and embellish candles. Each session includes Danish refreshments and pastries.
In2Sports at Wood Wharf will be running Let’s Get Moving events – image supplied by Canary Wharf
scroll down for more Wharf Wellness highlights
Mat Pilates – £5
THIRD SPACE, June 10, 17, 24, 7.30am, Eden Dock
Join these intimate morning classes to explore the discipline in a slower format with a strong focus on proper alignment and posture. What a way to start the day. Book early.
Health Optimisation – Pop-Up
LE CHALET CRYO, June 10, 11, Canada Place
Find out about whole-body Cryotherapy and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and get the chance to win a free session.
Let’s Get Moving – FREE
IN2SPORTS, June 12, 19, noon-4.30pm, 40 Harbord Square
These community-focused events are aimed at promoting active and connected lifestyles with participants getting access to a range of sports during each session. Tickets need to be booked online.
First-Timer Class – FREE
BARRY’S, June 13, 3pm, Crossrail Place
Experience the delights and challenges of the red room with a session exclusively open to first-timers. Expect high-energy interval training making full use of the treadmills and gym equipment.
No experience is needed for this session, which will feature the brand’s signature combo of pumping beats, positive vibes and supportive coaching.
Outdoor Class – £15
BARRY’S, June 16, noon, Canada Square Park
Enjoy a special pop-up class in the sunshine with Barry’s trainers who promise to get you moving and sweating with a full body workout in the open air. Expect to burn up to 1,000 calories with plenty of upbeat encouragement.
Wellness Week – £10
SPACE NK, June 21-27, Cabot Place
Book a slot and pop into the beauty store for a 15-minute makeover. Refresh your look and get plenty of advice from the brand’s beauty advisors. The £10 is redeemable against purchases.
Wharf Wellness – Pop-Up
YUMMZY, June 25, Canada Place
Enjoy complimentary tastings and exclusive offers as the vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free eatery brings its products to the heart of the Wharf.
Contrast + Journalling – £20
ARC, June 28, Crossrail Place
With timings yet to be announced, this slower session features guided contrast therapy in the venue’s sauna and ice baths as well as breathwork and journalling to help participants reconnect with what they’re processing and what might need to shift. Bookings open May 28.
Friday Night Lights is set to team up with Third Space – image supplied by Canary Wharf Group
check out these Wharf Wellness highlights
Friday Night Lights x Third Space
FRIDAY NIGHT LATES + THIRD SPACE, June 24, from 6pm, Canada Square Park
Canada Square Park is set to be transformed into a space for outdoor fitness on June 24. From 6pm-9pm, Friday Night Lights and Third Space will be running a programme of classes aimed at everyone from seasoned gym-goers to complete beginners.
First up is Yoga at 6pm, with participants guided to move from one pose to another in tune with their breath. At 7pm it’s Pilates on the mat with trainers on hand to ensure proper posture and solid alignment.
Finally, at 8pm, it’s Bodyweight HIIT, featuring a mixture of plyometric, multidimensional, sport-based exercises to help develop stability, muscular endurance and overall fitness.
Each class costs £5 and bookings are open now. Friday Night Lights is also the organisation behind popular 5k event Run The Wharf, which returns to the estate in September.
Former Olympic swimmer Katy Sexton will be hosting two sessions at Sea Lanes Canary Wharf
Swim With An Olympian
SEA LANES CANARY WHARF, June 25, 5.30pm, 6.30pm, Eden Dock
Olympic swimmer and former world champion, Katy Sexton, will be on hand to deliver two guided open water coaching sessions at Sea Lanes Canary Wharf in Eden Dock on June 25.
Running at 5.30pm and 6.30pm, the sessions will see swimmers work on “pacing, positioning and efficiency in a relaxed, supportive environment” guided by lane coaches.
Designed for swimmers looking to build confidence and refine their technique in open water, the structured sessions are an opportunity to learn from one of the sport’s most accomplished swimmers. Tickets for the classes cost £15 and must be pre-booked online.
Sea Lanes Canary Wharf is a new floating lido, sauna and events complex that’s set to open in June in Eden Dock. Founder memberships are now available for £75 per month over a year. Individual swim sessions will cost £10.
“For me, food is tradition, community, family – something that brings people together,” said Adam Abadi, operations manager at Harvest London.
“It can be something that’s lost nowadays where everyone’s at desks on their phones or screens, not looking at or engaging with others.
“We can lose that connection with our food and each other.
“What we’re doing here in Canada Water is an opportunity to change that.”
Stood in the company’s facility at Corner Corner at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, the very placement of the farm is part of that mission.
The south-east London venue recently celebrated its first birthday and every single visitor to the venue over the past 12 months will have seen its plants basking under their LEDs through the facility’s glass walls.
But the tightly sealed space is much more than a brightly-lit backdrop to Kerb’s street food, drinks at the bar, beats from the DJ booth and free live music from the stage.
Broadwick’s emerald green refurb of a retail space that once housed The Range includes this fully functional agricultural operation where a staff of five tend to a wide variety of crops.
Better still, the produce can be sampled on-site via cocktails and dishes on sale from Corner Corner’s vendors – food metres rather than food miles.
“I’ve been working in vertical farming for the past six years across London, having got into agriculture in Australia where I was looking at how plants actually grow and the different ways of doing that closer to the consumer,” said Adam.
“I was born and raised in London and the way we use water, pesticides, herbicides, shoot animals and erect fences on farms was a bit of a shock to me.
“We’re so used to going down to Tesco or the local corner shop and buying sandwiches wrapped in plastic, we don’t tend to think about how those ingredients are grown or where they come from.
“We don’t consider the processes, people, businesses and logistics involved in growing them and getting them to our plates.
“As an urban farmer, that’s why I want to engage with people to help them understand why we do what we do and what it means for urban populations.”
The vertical farm is located at the heart of the venue behind glass walls – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
expanding Harvest London
Harvest London was founded by Chris Davies and Matt Chlebek in 2017 and launched its Corner Corner facility in 2025.
But what does it actually produce?
“The farm operates all year round, 24-hours a day,” said Adam.
“We’re about 190sq m of space and within that we’re able to make use of about 400sq m of growing space because of our vertical design.
“One of the key questions is how much you can grow in the smallest space possible. One name for what we’re doing is ‘environment controlled agriculture’.
“It means we work with technology to grow our crops.
“The plants need a perfect environment to grow efficiently and effectively.
“There’s a lot of precision involved, a lot of accuracy.
“The farm is around 22ºC and about 60% humidity – it’s like a really perfect day in Tuscany.
“With traditional farming, a lot of the time you’re guessing – pouring water and fertiliser here or there.
“With the kind of vertical farming we’re doing, you can see the exact amount of water we need to use.
“As a result we can use fewer resources – typically about 90% less water and 75% less fertiliser as well as considerably less land.
“Our irrigation system sends water full of nutrients right to the plants’ roots and then it comes back into the tanks so it can be re-dosed and recirculated.
“We save as much as possible.”
Controlled environment agriculture can be used to grow a wide variety of produce – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
growing food for the capital
Harvest London is also able to grow its plants without pesticides or herbicides.
Ahead of our tour, we don hair nets and shoe coverings before entering the space.
Tightly controlling the farm helps protect the plants from unwanted contaminants and pests, meaning chemical intervention isn’t needed.
The business has grown more than 100 species of plants in its facilities since launch with popular products including basil, mustard greens, kale, parsley, coriander and Peruvian black mint.
Its clients include the likes of Pizza Pilgrims and Ole And Steen as well as local businesses such as The Pear Tree and Pizza 1889, also based at Surrey Quays Shopping Centre.
“The process differs slightly depending on what we’re growing,” said Hari Sasidharan, farm manager at the Canada Water facility.
“We plant our seeds on jute – there’s no soil used at any point during the process. Sometimes we use a machine to help distribute them.
“Then we wrap the trays and keep them in darkness until they have germinated.
“Then we place them under the lights. Sometimes we manually re-plant the seedlings.
“Some plants need more space to grow – we leave gaps in the trays of basil, for example, so they have plenty of room.
“Usually the plants develop more or less at the same speed as they all get the same treatment.”
At every level, the farm is verdant with life, making it simple to see why chefs and brands view the produce as an attractive option.
We taste a few leaves and are rewarded with the rich pungency of basil, the spice of its Thai cousin, the zing of mustard and the unexpected delicacy of baby kale.
Plants can be grown two or three times faster using Harvest London’s approach – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
rapid quality
“All the plants we grow are premium quality,” said Adam.
“Generally we’re able to produce them two or three times faster than traditional outdoor environments.
“The lighting they are under is a combination of daylight and red light to encourage growth – each species has its own recipe.
“The fact we can turn them over more quickly means they spend less time in our system and so we use less power and fewer resources to nurture them.
“It’s very exciting to be part of the vertical farming industry, especially over the last five to 10 years.
“A lot of investment is going into the sector and it’s entering its next phase.
“Everyone is coming into it with really good intentions – growing crops closer to consumers.
“Companies like ourselves, having been in business for nearly a decade are still going and we’re still expanding.
“We’re seeing more farms pop up.
“It’s not a silver bullet for every problem in the food industry, but my opinion is having more farms like this, bringing people back to more sustainable food and showing them where those ingredients come from is an important thing.
“A lot of the time agriculture is hidden out of sight, which is a shame.
“I think that having this kind of farming into public spaces is special, especially in urban environments like Corner Corner.”
Basil at Harvest London destined for Pizza Pilgrims – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
key details: Harvest London
Harvest London is located at Corner Corner in Canada Water in Surrey Quays Shopping Centre.
The Canada Water venue, a short walk over Asif Khan’s sweeping red bridge from the station, boasts deep green walls and a chunky event space, formerly home to the underwhelming “immersive” take on Minecraft.
In addition to Harvest London, it’s also a live music venue, home to a regular series of DJ performances and a drinking spot with food from two vendors operated in partnership with Kerb.
There are comfy sofas, creamy plywood and plenty of chairs and tables.
The vibe is of a market hall, even if there are only a duo of traders on offer.
That’s not to say, of course, that the food’s not worth a visit.
Its Thai Chicken Salad with herbs, I believe, from the vertical farm, is a steal for £10. Generous, juicy tenders sit atop a crunchy bowl of shredded carrot, mooli, beansprouts and spring onion.
While initially it looks a little stingy in size, the sheer density of this nutrient-rich offering turns out to be the ideal portion, generously doused in Nahm Jim Dressing, Sriracha Sour Cream and crispy shallots.
On our visit, the events space was hosting a market by Playing Outside, a welcome, vibrant collection of makers and traders selling art, clothing, scents and jewellery. Alongside the free live music, this is a place worth visiting.
The glorious, crumbling walls of Wilton’s Music Hall are set to reverberate with the buzz and verve of Rendez-Vous Dance’s latest show.
The Monocle is a cabaret, dance homage to nightclub Le Monocle, a sanctuary for the lesbian community in Paris opened in the 1920s by Lulu De Montparnasse on the Boulevard Edgar-Quinet.
Billed as a “sizzling dance and music production”, the show has been created by the Rendez-Vous founder and artistic director, choreographer Mathieu Geffré.
Celebrating the history of the club – named for the optical affectations some lesbians used as a symbol of recognition in their community – The Monocle aims to transport audiences to an era of glamour, jazz, dressing up, dressing down, secret passions, sex and cocktails.
The company’s seven-strong cast tell stories of the venue’s clientele and their time spent in a place where they could dine, dance, sing and socialise without fear of persecution.
Rendez-Vous Dance founder and artistic director, Mathieu Geffré – image supplied by Rendez-Vous Dance
relevant and meaningful
“Over the years, Wilton’s Music Hall has built a reputation for celebrating diverse, boundary-pushing, excellent art,” said Mathieu.
“Bringing the final performances of The Monocle to Wilton’s Music Hall after a successful night at the same venue in 2024, feels deeply relevant and meaningful.
“There’s something about the venue’s layered, rich and slightly subversive history that resonates with the queerness of our production.
“After three tours and such a generous response from audiences across the country, it feels like the right place to bring this journey to a close – intimate, relevant, charged and full of memory.”
Lasting 90 minutes, including an interval, the show features a mix of sensual choreography, passionate drama and live song from early-jazz performer, Imogen Banks.
“The beauty of The Monocle is how effortlessly it has welcomed a broad and diverse audience,” said Mathieu, who graduated from the Paris Conservatoire in 2006 before embarking on a career as a dancer across Europe.
He founded Rendez-Vous in 2021 with the aim of engaging with LGBTQIA+ themes.
He said: “While the show offers a strong sense of entertainment, it also carries an educational and quietly political weight, particularly in drawing attention to the disappearance of safe spaces within our community.
“One of the most moving parts of the tour has been meeting members of the lesbian community who shared how deeply the work resonated with them.
“Ultimately, this is a show for everyone. It’s entertaining, informative, political and a joyful celebration of identity.”
For Mathieu, it’s also a work that resonates with his interest in LGBTQIA+ history, especially in France.
The show is an homage to lesbian nightclub Le Monocle in Paris – image by Cave And Sky
the roots of The Monocle
“One of my ongoing curiosities in life is understanding my roots as a member of the queer community,” he said.
“In 2021, while reading A History of Homosexuality by Florence Tamagne, I first discovered Le Monocle.
“I wanted to challenge the conventional perceptions of contemporary dance and explore the intersection of cabaret and movement as a way to reach new audiences.
“The Brassaï photographs of Le Monocle became a way in for me, showing that a man could indeed capture the essence of this extraordinary space for the lesbian community in Paris.
“When developing a work, I also consider its universal and contemporary resonance and, in this case, it felt essential to acknowledge the disappearance of lesbian safe spaces in public life.
“As a gay boy growing up in the French countryside, coming of age was a vulnerable path.
“But that began to shift when I started my dance studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur De Musique Et De Danse De Paris in 2001.
“The capital was a territory of fear, extravagance, and adventures.
“I emancipated myself in Le Marais, where I witnessed love lived unapologetically, drag artists fabulously striding through the streets and communities welcoming me into a freedom I hadn’t thought possible.
“I’m passionate about LGBTQIA+ history and my French heritage.
“When I learned about Le Monocle, a lesbian bar that mysteriously closed in June 1941 during the Nazi occupation, I couldn’t separate it from more recent tragedies.
“The story felt urgent, a necessary testimony about safe spaces and the risks we still face.
“I’ve never cared so deeply about getting something right. The Monocle was a unique opportunity to foster an environment where love transcends differences, creating a space where everyone feels seen, valued and embraced.
“When it was open, Le Monocle celebrated refinement, taste, and understated glamour.
“The costumes and set together capture that spirit, while subtle, playful details, like the iconic monocle itself, anchor the work in its historical and cultural context.
“The overall effect is immersive – audiences step into a space where elegance, celebration and queer history coexist, fully alive for the contemporary moment.”
The Monocle promises plenty of sizzle and thrill – image by Rhiannon Banks
key details: The Monocle
The Monocle is set to be performed at Wilton’s Music Hall in Wapping on May 15 at 7.30pm and on May 16 at 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
Programme manager Madhini Sivasubramanian explains why she loves sharing the knowledge and experience she’s built up over many years
The University Of Sunderland In London’s Harbour Exchange campus includes a suite of technologically advanced facilities for use by its nursing students – image by UOSiL
Madhini Sivasubramanian has spent her whole career immersed in healthcare and education.
As a young woman in India, she decided to become a nurse and worked in theatre with heart surgeons, before making the move to intensive care because “after the few hours of surgery are done, the biggest challenge is getting patients well enough to go home”.
Having moved into paediatrics and getting married, she seized on the opportunity to come to the UK and spent seven years at Great Ormond Street Hospital before going on to work for other NHS trusts in London.
But what really stands out over the course of her career is a simultaneous commitment to education – juggling nursing, study and raising a family – and balancing that with a desire to pass on her knowledge to others.
She qualified as a teacher officially in 2015, having worked as a guest lecturer and began her academic career at the University Of West London before going on to help set up the nursing department at the University Of East London between 2017 and 2020.
Today she’s a senior lecturer at the University Of Sunderland In London on the Isle Of Dogs and programme manager for its MSc Nursing Practice and MSc Public Health courses.
“I still consider myself a student – I’m still learning every single day,” said Madhini.
“I’m incredibly proud when I’m able to pass on the knowledge I have to others.
“What’s the use if only I know about something? It’s about being able to share it with the students.
“The staff we have here on our courses are absolutely top class.
“This is a beautiful set of people and the courses we offer are fantastic.
“These new facilities allow students to reach their full potential.
“I’ve always believed that a department shows the personality of the person leading it and it’s been my job to convince a board of non-clinical, non-medical, non-nursing staff to invest in these courses.
“That’s why we have the facilities that we do.”
Senior lecturer and programme manager at the University Of Sunderland In London, Madhini Sivasubramanian – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
courses at the University Of Sunderland In London
The university offers both undergraduate and postgraduate public health and nursing courses, the majority of the latter aimed at qualified nurses already working within the profession who want to reach the next level in their careers.
“We have this smart offering so we can film what people are doing when given a task and use the recording to debrief them on their actions and identify any learning points,” said Madhini.
“The vital thing is that we can have a conversation about something if it went wrong and the student will learn not to make the same mistake.
“These simulations are so important because they enable people to experience things with no risk to a patient.
“Our one-year MSc course is designed to prepare students who might want to go into research, teaching or leadership in the future.”
The university campus is located on the Isle Of Dogs close to Canary Wharf – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
a passion for her subject
While talking about her extensive career and her approach to education, Madhini fizzes with energy – an attitude that has both got her to where she is today and also infuses the courses she oversees.
“Nursing can be a job where you work very long hours for comparatively little money,” she said.
“But you don’t care because you’re so passionate.
“I remember being in the operating theatre for the first time and it was amazing.
“You’re scrubbed up and it’s very tough.
“You’re working with people’s hearts and there’s no concept of working hours. But we made history and that’s why I’m here.
“In India, through a conference I was able to mingle with some of the best heart surgeons in the world from the UK.
“I was mesmerised and that was the first time I thought that I should go out into the world.
“Fortunately, my husband is a bit mad like me and encouraged me to make the move.
“At the time I was the only Indian nurse at Great Ormond Street.
“Originally I was due to return to India but instead I stayed.
“I see it in my children – I’m very proud of both of them.
“My daughter is in general surgery and has lots of plans – she’s very much like me in this. My son is a computer scientist.
“Balancing the demands of family life and nursing can be a challenge, especially if you want to do postgraduate study as well.
“But that can also be a motivation.
“My daughter has grown up always seeing me working and studying and now she’s flying around running conferences.
“It’s so important that people are able to access opportunities.
“One of the things the university does is offer a BSc course because there is a cohort of nurses in the NHS who were recruited at a time when you didn’t need a degree.
“These are often wonderful people with so many skills but, because they don’t have that qualification, it’s preventing them from getting promotion and that’s so unfair.
“The course is designed as a year-long top-up for those who don’t have a degree and would like to move up.
“Nursing is a very demanding career and it’s important to make space for people to progress.
“One of the other groups of students we have are those from overseas.
“People often want to come to the UK to study because of the culture we have here.
“While some are coming here with the intention of working, lots are not necessarily settling here. People want to say they studied in Britain.
“They come here, gain confidence and experience London before returning home.”
key details: nursing at the University Of Sunderland In London
You can find out more about nursing and public health courses available at the University Of Sunderland In London including entry criteria via UOSiL’s website.
The Drury bag was left to infuse in an elegant glass supplied with a refined tea-timer to avoid over-brewing.
There were tongs for efficient removal and a little bowl for the spent bag, as well as a tiny glass jug of oat milk (I prefer my tea to taste faintly of porridge, what of it?).
I mention this because the level of care taken in the serving of a simple cuppa illuminates the venue’s whole approach.
At its heart, Yummzy is about three things – detail, safety and flavour.
Yummzy co-founder, Jolie Gindi – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
pay close attention
“So many times you read the word ‘healthy’ but the regulation around it is non-existent,” said Jolie.
While that might be of comparatively little consequence to some, for her it’s a matter of life and death.
As a Type 1 diabetic, Jolie must carefully balance what she eats.
“When we decided to start Yummzy, the idea had been brewing for quite a while,” she said.
“I was 33 before I had a proper slice of cake and didn’t feel unwell for days.
“The final straw was when a well-known brand released a sugar-free cupcake.
“I calculated the carbs, injected the right amount of insulin and then ate one.
“I was so excited, but within five minutes I could barely breathe.
“My feet felt like they were cemented to the floor. My whole body was shutting down.
“I hadn’t accounted for any sugar because the product was branded sugar-free.
“But we went back and found out they’d used coconut sugar instead of refined sugar.
“That’s like claiming organic peanuts are better for someone who has a peanut allergy.”
Thoughtful cuppa: Tea service at Yummzy – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
creating Yummzy
Tired of such episodes, together Jolie and Adrian decided to do something, to create a brand based on scrupulous attention to production to give those avoiding certain ingredients confidence in what they were buying.
Opened before the pandemic in Greenwich, Yummzy went online over Covid and returned to bricks and mortar in Canary Wharf in 2025.
“In the UK, I think we’re about five to 10 years behind countries like the US and Canada, where the kind of thing we’re offering is everywhere,” said Jolie, who previously ran a travel business and continues to work in consulting in the field of analytics and innovation.
“We’re an eatery – open for coffee in the morning, food throughout the day and also in the evening.
The eatery serves a wide range of sweet and savoury food, all of it gluten-free, ketogenic, vegan, sugar-free – image by Yummzy
“Our menu is totally gluten-free, ketogenic, vegan, sugar-free and is high in protein and fibre.
“Our food is gourmet – usually when people think of healthy food, they think they’re going to taste like cardboard or something.
“For us the flavour is so important – we have something for everyone with different levels of sweetness and savoury options too.
“To be honest I prefer the latter – there’s our award-winning vegan sausage roll, our focannini, a cross between foccacia and panini which come with different fillings and our burger, which has 28g of pea protein to keep you full.”
Yummzy co-founder Adrian Pascu – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
keeping things light
Having won much recognition for their products, there’s a playfulness about Yummzy with both Adrian and Jolie keen to keep things light.
“My favourite thing on the menu is our Not Dubai Chocolate,” said Adrian, who works both in teaching and as a photographer and videographer as well as helping to run Yummzy.
“It’s not super sweet, but it’s crunchy inside, thanks to the pistachio butter and covered in chocolate.”
Jolie added: “It’s hard for me to pick one thing, but it’s either our focannini or our avocado on toast, which we call Av A Good Day.
“But I also love our Yummzy Rocher which are made with our Yummtella spread.
“It contains chocolate and hazelnuts but is free from gluten, dairy, palm oil and added sugar.”
The couple, who first met at a tango class and live within walking distance of their eatery, hope to grow the business on a franchise model, providing products to other branches in the future.
The Canary Wharf branch is both production kitchen and hospitality venue, with appropriately health-focused alcoholic options for those keen to indulge in wines, low-carb beer or tipples such as Mayan hot chocolate with rum (laced with cinnamon and chilli).
Drinks in general are taken as seriously as the food, with Yummzy working with Drury Tea And Coffee in Woolwich as a key supplier.
The venue also sells ceremonial grade matcha and will even whip up a concoction made with baobab juice, ideal as a hangover cure.
While there’s an obvious focus on creativity and delivery, perhaps the most satisfying thing for the couple is when their business has a genuine impact on a customer.
Yummzy’s desserts often feature its award-winning Yummtella spread – image by Yummzy
the reward in Yummzy’s impact
“Our hearts melt every time someone tells us what we’re doing has changed their lives,” said Jolie.
“One day a mother hugged me and started crying.
“At first I was worried we’d done something wrong.
“But then she told me that her daughter had never been able to enjoy a hot chocolate and a cake with her friend without having to inject insulin.
“Here she was able to have a normal time with her friend and not have to worry about that.
“Being able to say to the parents of a child who’s coeliac, for example, that everything is gluten-free and then see the kids’ faces when they know they have that choice is special.
“Sometimes the parents have to say the children are only allowed to eat one thing here and the rest has to go home.
“Running a business has its hardships, but that positive impact is what keeps us going.
“Right now, we just want more locals to know about us and what we’re doing so we’d ask anyone who has tried our products to spread the word and others to come and visit us.”
Savoury options: The eatery has multiple options for those without a sweet tooth – image by Yummzy
key details: Yummzy
Yummzy is located on the southern edge of Cabot Square and is open daily.
It sells a wide range of hot drinks, sweet treats and savoury food.
The Brady Arts And Community Centre in Whitechapel is hosting a solo exhibition exploring the “layered identity of Canary Wharf and Docklands.
A series of works, collectively titled Memory Of A New City, by Russian-born artist Olga Regina will be on show at the east London venue until April 25.
“As a child I painted furniture and experimented with photography and, aged 10 I started to feel driven to become an artist,” said Olga, who has lived in London since 2023.
“I changed my location to Canary Wharf and, walking around, I realised there’s just something different about this area.
“The combination of the high buildings and the water is very inspiring and I also wanted to learn about the history of the area so I visited London Museum Docklands on West India Quay.”
Here First, 2026 – image by Olga Regina
reality and fantasy
Using a camera and an iPad, Olga blends reality and fantasy in an attempt to reflect the world around her – conceiving the images she wants to make before heading out onto the streets.
She said she uses her camera as a starting point before indulging in “digital intervention” to create work that sits somewhere between documentation and imagination.
She said: “Before I take a photo, I imagine what will be in it and then I completely change it.
“The images are like a canvas for me. I add my feelings.
“Some of the pieces include characters from childhood.
“I like birds a lot too – they were here before everything else was built in this place.
“For me it’s a very unusual area unlike any other.
“Here you have a combination of locals, the history and the landscapes – the water and the trees. I find a lot of inspiration in them.”
Olga said she hoped her works would give people pause in a part of London known for its hectic pace.
“I hope they notice things they don’t normally see,” she said. “We rush in the big cities, so we don’t always see the architecture or the people who live here.
“I want people to feel happiness when looking at my artworks and then to share it. I’m interested in how the city feels, not just how it looks.
“Canary Wharf is often seen as structured and controlled, but when you spend time there, you notice something softer — a human rhythm that exists alongside the financial one.”
Walk, 2026 – image by Olga Regina
key details: Olga Regina
Memory Of A New City by Olga Regina is set to be on display at the Brady Arts And Community Centre until April 25, 2026, and is available to view for free on weekdays and Saturdays.
When Cody Dock’s Heritage Pavilion opens later this year, the exhibitions it displays will be sheltered by a tangible link to the area’s past.
The structure will use the fully restored Frederick Kitchen lifeboat as its roof, protecting visitors from the elements.
One of the last boats to be built at the Thames Ironworks, just downriver from its new home, the vessel’s story includes a period of three decades where it was used to rescue imperilled mariners off the coast of Wales.
We’ll be taking a deeper dive into the boat’s history later this year when the new facility opens on the banks of the Lea.
But before the paint goes on and it’s flipped over and hoisted onto the pavilion walls, we wanted to take advantage of this point in its history to celebrate the many different skills being used to restore and preserve the vessel ahead of that next chapter and feature the craftspeople engaged in the work.
Tom Myers is overseeing the project as restoration manager and has been working on the Frederick Kitchen for two years.
“I grew up on an old Dutch barge in east London, moving between various waterways,” he said.
“When I was about eight years old, we settled in Canning Town at Cody Dock on the River Lea.
“Living on the water, I fell in love with boats.
“I got into woodworking and decided to become a carpenter when I left school – naturally I went towards working with boats and that’s what I’ve stuck with.
“Carpentry gives you a really good base for that – it helps you understand materials, how they should be engineered and used.
“I love working with timber and different kinds of wood.
“Over the past 18 months I’ve been working on the Frederick Kitchen full-time and it’s become my life – it doesn’t feel like a job, it feels like a thing I have to do.
“After I studied boat building, I had a lot of knowledge from my course, but not a lot of confidence.
“With this project, everything seemed really daunting at first, but I’ve just had to go for it and I’ve learned a lot.”
The boat will eventually be used as the roof of Cody Dock’s Heritage Pavilion – image by James Perrin
from shipwreck to a roof
Made primarily from a type of mahogany, the Frederick Kitchen was crafted at the absolute zenith of wooden boat building on the Thames and also features elm, oak and now Douglas fir in her construction.
Tom said: “This project isn’t about restoring it to put it back in the water – it was about taking a shipwreck and turning it into a viable roof for the pavilion.
“It had essentially been left to rot and was too far gone to bring back to sailing.
“You’d be better off just building a new boat.
“When we started, there were plants growing in its timbers and you could see daylight though parts of the hull.
“But this is how it can be preserved for people in the local area in a way that shows off how it was built, providing a direct link to history.
“There’s also an echo of the Vikings who once lived on this side of the Lea – they used to use their old boats as roofs for buildings.
“What we’re doing is using traditional boat building techniques to make a waterproof shell to protect the building beneath.
“When we’re finished, the boat’s exterior will look very much as it did when she was in service as a lifeboat, with red, white and blue paint and an RNLI badge.
“Inside you’ll be able to see the layers of history where we’ve revealed parts of the structure that would originally have been boxed off.
“For example, the boat has been built with two layers of planking for strength and to reduce weight, which we’ve revealed so people can see how it was put together.”
Tom decided to become a carpenter with a special interest in boats – image by James Perrin
no right angles
Originally weighing around 10 tonnes, Tom and the team have removed the boat’s cast iron keel to drop the craft’s mass to a more manageable 4.5 tonnes, replacing the metal with a wooden replica.
Tom said: “We used Douglas fir to make a piece that only weighs about 120kg.
“It was probably my favourite part of the project so far.
“We ripped the tree right down the middle with a huge band saw, seasoned the two pieces then flipped them round and glued them together for extra strength.
“We also replaced the cutwater, which is at the front of the boat and helps it glide through the water.
“Traditionally you’d look for a piece of timber that had the right curve or use steam to bend a piece.
“I decided to build a mould in the right shape and then used oak structural veneers, laminated together, to create the shape.
“It was very difficult to do, but it’s also one of the most satisfying things I’ve done.
“Finding shipwrights like Laurie and Lucian to work on the project has also been great.
“The tools might be the same or similar, but their approach to working with wood is different.
“If you’re making a cabinet as a carpenter it’s all straight lines and perfect fits.
“But the Frederick Kitchen is all curves – there are no right angles anywhere.
“You can do as much maths as you like but in the end you have to learn the art of making things fit.
“We’ve been cutting out rotten planks and replacing them with new timber, scarf-jointed to the old wood. We’ve even made our own bolts from bronze.
“The techniques used to build the Frederick Kitchen originally were pretty much as good as it got in terms of using wood to make boats.
“But nobody thought people would want to see the construction – the interior would have just been grey all over.
“Restoring it can be tough. No matter what modern equipment you have, working on an old boat is challenging.
“They weren’t built to be restored. You’re going to hurt your knees, your back.
“It’s a physical task in some quite demanding ways.
“You’re squeezing into awkward positions and then having to do precise work – finding timber that looks OK and then discovering it’s rotten under the surface and there’s a lot more to do than you thought.
“Knowing when to stop is a big part of a project like this, but the whole process has been really enjoyable and, because it’s wood, it will always need maintenance, so I have a job for life.”
Scroll down to meet some of the other people helping with the restoration.
Visitors to Cody Dock’s forthcoming Spring Forward event on April 18, 2026, will also be able to catch up on the progress of its Heritage Pavilion project.
key details: Spring Forward at Cody Dock
Cody Dock’s Spring Forward event is set to take place on April 18, 2026, from noon-6pm.
The day will feature workshops, stalls, live music, performances, exhibitions, a plant sale, free bike repair and refreshments from the new on-site cafe and bar.
Shipwright Laurie Watkins is working on the project – image by James Perrin
LAURIE WATKINS
shipwright
“I grew up in Essex on a little river with little boats,” said Laurie, who’s been helping to restore the Frederick Kitchen for a little under a year.
“Now I live in London on a barge, just upriver from Cody Dock.
“I generally work on Thames sailing barges and was refitting one in Kent prior to coming here. I didn’t always want to be a shipwright.
“My dad had a keen interest in boats through his dad and he encouraged me when I was a child.
“But, like most young people I rebelled against my parents a bit. I think I absorbed some things, though and came back to it.
“I didn’t go to college or do official training programmes, I just saw boats and would hassle the owners and builders to let me come and do mundane tasks so then they’d let me help with more interesting bits.”
Laurie’s extensive experience has seen him maintain and sail some of the Thames’ most iconic vessels including working on the Cutty Sark in Greenwich.
Craftspeople often have to squeeze themselves into tight places – image by James Perrin
“We are lucky to rebuild these boats in an age when we have a lot of mechanical advantages, such as power tools,” he said.
“They relieve a lot of the strain and stress, which can be challenging.
“When I started at Cody Dock I was mostly repairing and replacing planks on the boat.
“The majority of it is still original and we’ve tried to retain as much as possible, but if you just patch things up now, you’d have to replace it in a few years.
“Nobody wants a roof that leaks.
“Because it’s not going back in the water we’re able to restore it sympathetically in line with how it would have been on the day it was built.
“We don’t have to worry about bringing it up to the regulations you need to sail a boat.
“We’re getting to the point where there are now more bits going back into the boat than there are coming out, which is good.
“Initially the shape of it didn’t look right to me but after months of working on the project I realised that the way it had been built was really quite clever.
“The knowledge they had when they were building these boats more than 100 years ago was vast compared with what we know today.
“If you make too many changes you’ll lose the way the boat was made.
“It’s about preserving all the weird little things in the original and working out why they were done that way.
“What I really enjoy is solving those puzzles from the past.
“The amazing thing about boats is that building and maintaining them is such a vast thing – there’s woodworking, metalworking, rigging and then sailing them or operating them using motors.
“It’s been great to welcome kids of primary school age to see what we’re doing, but I wish this sector was presented to more youngsters as a career option.
“It’s perfect for certain people.”
Shipwright Lucian Hawkes now works for himself following an apprenticeship – image by James Perrin
LUCIAN HAWKES
shipwright
“I was apprenticed for four years in Maldon, Essex– the town I was brought up in – learning the rudiments of the trade in a little boatyard there,” said Lucian.
“During that time, I spent some of it with Laurie, working on the Cutty Sark.
“Then, after my apprenticeship, I started working for myself, mainly in Essex and some in Kent.
“I’m now back in London, having a fantastic time working on this heritage vessel.
“I became a shipwright because of time and place.
“I’ve always been incredibly appreciative of Maldon and its strong involvement with the craft of looking after boats.
“We have our own Thames barges there and I fell in love with the romantic idea of playing with wood all day.
“I’ve been on this project for three weeks as I was aware there was a bit of a time crunch and the work has been very varied and most enjoyable.
“I was asked to rectify the aft deck where we have to reattach the remaining deck beams – oak for the most part.
“They are half-dovetailed in and now we’re onto the planking, which is a lovely member of the mahogany family called utile.
Lucian says learning from the ways boat builders worked in the past is inspiring – image by James Perrin
“It’s quite interesting, because, due to the sweep or curve of the planks, they render straighter as you go through, so you don’t have any which are short, meaning there are no weak points.
“I like the idea of helping to repurpose something that was used 100 years ago.
“It’s like a palimpsest – you can put layer on layer over each other, whether for practical or community purposes.
“When you’re doing a project like this you try to make it look as though you were never there.
“It’s not for the faint-hearted, but the preservation of these skills and trades can only be done from person-to-person.
“You can read every book under the sun, but you’re not going to be a shipwright at the end of it.
“There’s a great deal of knowledge here – that’s why I like working with Laurie.
“He’s ever so good at what he does and he’s very involved with boats in the local area.
“That does it for me.
“I would argue that the learning starts when you’ve got your qualification.
“It’s very interesting on a project like the Frederick Kitchen to try and work out how the people who built it did what they did.
“It’s important not to leave your own stamp on things too much because they had generations of experience and a bloody good idea of what they were doing.
“You find there was always a very good reason for doing it the way they chose to.
“I’d recommend this trade to anyone looking for a fulfilling way of life.”
Ben Bradford has spent considerable time caulking the gaps between the Frederick Kitchen’s planks with rope – – image by James Perrin
BEN BRADFORD
carpenter + caulker
“I first came to Cody Dock about eight years ago,” said Ben.
“I studied architecture at Central Saint Martins, which is where I first met architect Nicolas Henniger, who’s responsible for most of the buildings here.
“We worked together for a long time doing a lot of furniture and bespoke carpentry.
“When I learnt that the boat was coming down, I asked to join the project because I love this place.
“It’s really unique – there aren’t many places in London that have a story that is not being eradicated.
“I’m an artist, but realised it’s hard to make money, so teachers gradually pushed me into design and then architecture.
“While it was funnelling me into a precise field, I knew it was also a channel that would allow me to open up again.
“Perhaps architecture makes me better at carving wood somehow and understanding three dimensional forms.
“The people at Cody Dock had seen me working on the buildings here – I’m pretty adaptable.
“I think they like that I will do almost any job including soda blasting, which is the environmentally safe way we used to strip down the boat’s timbers.
“It’s similar to sand blasting.
“It gives you great feet – my boots would fill with baking soda every day, I’d go home and it would peel off the top layer of skin and I’d have the softest soles ever.
Ben works to create a watertight seal between the timbers – image by Ben Bradford
“I’ve also done the caulking on the boat, which is a traditional form of waterproofing where you force material into the gaps between the planks and seal it with resin. It’s a lost skill.
“If water does get in then it just seals itself.
“At first I was doing half a seam a day, but worked out that you don’t need to use the hammer that much and just a twist of a chisel gets the caulk into the groove.
“Then the speed was ridiculous and the quality was close to what it would have been originally.
“In the end I was doing six full seams a day, getting into the flow.
“I learnt that if you do all the seams and then compact them, you get a much more even displacement of the wood and a better seal.
“The wood constantly moves. If you’re sitting by the boat when the sun comes up, you can hear the cracks as it changes shape as the temperature rises.
“When you’re taking the boat apart and looking at it, you can see the decisions that were made, and you naturally want to do as good a job as possible.
“You definitely feel connected to the original builders even though we’re 100 years apart.
“I’ve absolutely loved it – it’s very rare to get a job that lets your mind really contribute to the work.
“I’m weirdly attached to it. I’ve lost sleep thinking about how it will finally be craned into place. It’s scary having put in all this work.”
“I’m a coach-builder and fabricator, who initially trained as a designer in the automotive industry,” said Laurent.
“In 2013, I started my own business, having moved to the UK from France in 2007.
“We are a small team – three people – two directors (myself and my wife), and Stuart, who joined us over a year ago in the workshop.
“Metal is our medium and we use all types of material – copper, aluminium, brass.
“The biggest part of the business is working on classic vehicles.
“Tom approached us because there was some metalwork to do on the boat – quite intricate, specialised work, that not all fabricators can do.
“We’re installing copper cladding on what used to be the boat’s engine bay.
“Originally it would have protected the wood from oil spillages.
“The original parts had completely perished having corroded over the years.
“They asked us if we could do something about it, so we looked at it and thought we could produce something very close to the original design.
“It’s not too dissimilar from what we do with vintage cars, because it’s from the same era – right in the middle of the Edwardian period, the 1910s and 1920s.
“We’re using thin sheet metal to clad the timber bay, following the contours of the frame. The process is very much what a tailor or seamstress would do.
“We start with cardboard or paper templates, and then we use them to shape the metal to suit the boat structure.
“The pieces overlap and are pinned together to make everything as seamless as possible.
“Fitting it is a gamble and one of the reasons we make it in sections so it can be adapted on-site.
Laurent and Stuart install the copper on the boat – image by James Perrin
“We’re working remotely after measuring up so we only know how it will fit in reality on the day.
“Altogether we have nine pieces of metal to fit.
“Nothing on the boat is straight so we know we’ll have to adapt it to some extent.
“It’s not an exact replica of what would have been there but it’s a strong evocation of how it would have looked so people can see that.
“The fitting will be done by hand – we’ll be using hammers, mallets, caulking and chasing tools to make it fit nicely.
“Copper is very malleable, so we can work it fairly well, although it does harden over time. We’re really honoured, privileged and happy to be working on this project.
“There’s a nice energy at Cody Dock and the people are wonderful.
“It’s great to have the opportunity to meet people from other trades on a project like this.
“There are so many people out there recycling, recreating, transforming things, we need people with hand skills more than ever.”
Danny O’Sullivan has lent his contacts and expertise to the project – image by James Perrin
DANNY O’SULLIVAN
consultant + timber expert
Defining Danny’s role in the Frederick Kitchen project is tough, given the wide range of ways he’s contributed to Cody Dock over the years.
“I specialise in wood recycling in London and, before that, I was volunteer number one for the Brighton And Hove wood recycling project,” he said.
“Recycling wood is easy because it’s just there – slicing up old trees is my speciality.
“I have a special portable saw called a Wood-Mizer, which you can run a 4.5 tonne log through.
“When they’re doing the boat, if they can’t get the wood they need then I’m here to help.
“That’s my consultancy role.
“I grew up seeing my dad work wood for wheels – elm for the hub because of its stability. It’s my favourite timber, the pin-stripe of wood.
“It’s incredible when you look at it – my desk at Citywood I made from a large piece of oiled-up elm and it’s just amazing.
“It’s really strong and sturdy, which makes it great for building boats.
“In my life I’ve always wanted to help people who want to help themselves and Tom’s like that.
“Nowadays, people expect a mini-digger machine to come and dig the hole for them. In my day, you just asked for a pick and a shovel.
“When Tom asked, I told him I could get him a piece of Douglas fir long enough to make the keel of the boat.
“I’d found some for people restoring a windmill near Blackpool, so I took Tom to the same place– a sawmill in East Sussex – and asked them to treat him well.
“They showed him the tree they were going to cut it from and two weeks later it was ready. He asked me to cut it down the middle with the Wood-Mizer.”
Over the years, Danny has worked with artists, architects and builders.
He’s lived in squats, fought a campaign against the M11 and come to Cody Dock’s rescue on numerous occasions.
As a fixer he even helped out with moving the Frederick Kitchen to its current location, closer to the spot where the heritage pavilion is going to be built.
He said: “A date had been set to move the boat and a guy had said he’d bring a trailer to put it on and move it down the roadway next to the dock.
“The day before, Tom contacted me and said we couldn’t move it because the trailer wasn’t long enough.
“I told him I’d seen one down in Dartford and I managed to track it down and negotiate the hire of it.
“The tractor driver was 21 and he was so confident, really brilliant.
“I was revelling in the fact that it was these young people who had taken over and were making this happen.
“One day they were saying it couldn’t be done and the next day it was.”
