It’s just a jump to the left, and then a step to the right.
Put your hands on your hips, you bring your knees in tight.
But it’s the pelvic thrust, that really drives you…
No. Hang on. This is a preview of Timewalk.
Hot on the heels of House Of Dreamers, Immerse LDN has done it again with the unveiling of another attraction at Excel’s waterfront in Royal Docks.
While DEM Museums’ offering has nothing to do with the Rocky Horror Show other than a tenuous similarity to the title of its catchiest song, the experience does promise “spectacular audio and visual storytelling”.
Billed as an immersive walk-through, Timewalk takes visitors on a journey from Göbeklitepe (“the moment humanity moves beyond survival to create ritual, meaning, and collective consciousness,” apparently) to encounter the early civilisations of Babylon, Ancient Egypt, the Maya and Rapa Nui (Easter Island).
The attraction uses “cinematic storytelling” with environments intended to recreate what it was like to be in some of these places.
The attraction promises visitors a walk through ancient civilisations – image supplied by DEM Museums
bringing the past to life
“Ancient civilisations represent an extraordinary heritage that has fundamentally reshaped everything we know about human history,” said Eda Bildiricioglu, CEO of DEM.
“We believe it is a great responsibility to present this heritage accurately to global audiences.
“At DEM, our core mission is storytelling through history.
“However, we do not do this through conventional methods; we transform it into immersive, multi-sensory experiences through advanced technology.
“We remind people of what has been forgotten and teach what is unknown.
“With 35 years of experience in visual and auditory technologies and having contributed to the realisation of 18 museums and cultural complexes, along with earning 15 global awards through the Hagia Sophia and Ephesus Experience Museums, our goal is to bring together the universal narratives of ancient civilisations.
“By interpreting these through a contemporary storytelling language, we aim to help visitors form deeper and more lasting connections with cultural heritage.”
The show takes in Egypt, Rapa Nui, Babylon and more – image supplied by DEM Museums
a growing attraction
The exhibition is the latest attraction to be announced at Immerse LDN, with House Of Dreamers set to open this month.
Damian Norman, director, immersive entertainment at Excel London and Immerse LDN, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Timewalk and to collaborate with the multi award-winning team at DEM, a global leader in technology-driven cultural storytelling.
“Its unique approach to combining historical research with advanced immersive technologies is redefining how audiences engage with heritage at scale.
“Since launching, Immerse LDN has introduced more than 10 groundbreaking immersive experiences to London, selling 1.7million tickets and further cementing the capital’s reputation as a world-leading destination for immersive entertainment and cultural experiences.
“Timewalk represents another significant step in that journey, bringing a truly world-class cultural experience to the heart of the city.”
Visitors will, of course, decide for themselves whether the time slip will prove a bit of a mind flip and leave them spaced out on sensation.
With apologies to Richard O’Brien.
key details: Timewalk
Timewalk is set to open at Immerse LDN at Excel’s Waterfront in Royal Victoria Dock on July 23, 2026.
Ticket prices for the exhibition start at £28.50, with booking now open.
The attraction will be open daily from 10am-7pm daily and lasts between an hour and 90 minutes.
In his role as student recruitment and conversion manager at the University Of Sunderland In London, he’s responsible for showcasing what the institution has to offer to prospective students.
But beyond increasing the numbers enrolling at its Isle Of Dogs campus, there’s a wider mission.
“While a lot of other universities focus on selling their courses, our goal is quite different,” he said.
“We’re very conscious of the role that we play in the community.
“If we’re able to go into schools and colleges, explain the benefits of studying at university and then see people decide to continue their education, then we’ve achieved something big, whether that’s with us or somewhere else.”
Having opened its new £10million campus in 2025, the University Of Sunderland In London is, however, also preparing to showcase its facilities next month.
Based at Harbour Exchange, it offers a wide range of courses in business, management, finance, nursing, health, tourism and hospitality as well as opportunities for postgraduate research.
The university’s LSEG Fintech Lab – image supplied by UOSiL
welcoming visitors to the open day
“It will be run by our recruitment and admissions team with the support of student ambassadors,” said Harpal.
“Students coming in on the day will get a presentation about life at university, an insight into what we offer here – not just the courses, but also the support.
“There will be a video from our graduates, to give an idea of what students can go on to do too.
“Then there will be a chance for visitors to speak to our staff, get assistance with making applications and even help applying on the day, if they would like to.
“There will also be tours of the campus, to see all the different facilities to help prospective students make an informed decision.
“For us, a big part of that is the student ambassadors.
“They can give visitors real personal insight into what they can look forward to if they study with us.
“This will be our second open day since we opened this campus.
“Having these facilities gives us a lot more to showcase and to offer so that prospective students and their families can really see what’s on offer.”
The university campus is located at Harbour Exchange close to Canary Wharf – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
catering for diversity
The university is well versed in dealing with the needs of a diverse student body that includes people coming from overseas to study in the UK as well as mature individuals seeking further education for a range of reasons including improved employment prospects.
“I studied marketing at Middlesex University and then found a natural route to working there in marketing,” said Harpal.
“My role gave me experience across that department and I really liked student engagement, so became a manager there working on that before moving into recruitment.
“I joined the University Of Sunderland In London in 2021 in a similar role as we look to increase the number of people from the UK enrolling here.
“To achieve that, one of the things we do in our department is to go into schools and colleges in the community, as well as recruitment fairs, so we can talk to prospective students directly.
“It’s also to raise awareness of who we are and what we do – that we are located on the Isle Of Dogs right next to Canary Wharf.
“That we have that proximity to the financial district and the companies that are based there is to our advantage and it’s something we can really shout about.
“Our teams work really hard to engage with the businesses here to secure both expertise and work experience opportunities for our students that will help them in their careers.
“Just walking over to us from the station really opens their eyes to what we have here and the environment they will be studying in.
“The building we have now is also fantastic with facilities such as our mock hospital ward and our fintech lab.
“One of the things we are looking for are more local education partners within a 10-mile radius that we can work with to help students find the right path.”
The simulation ward at the University Of Sunderland In London – image supplied by UOSiL
a strong student culture
Harpal said that, beyond the courses on offer, the culture of the university was also a key selling point.
“A lot of work goes into making students feel welcome here, whether they are international students or from the UK,” he said.
“What I enjoy here is the fact that the student body mixes very well, we have a lot of events and activities.
“We have a great student union space that hosts lots of activities and acts as a meeting space for those studying here.
“What I find most rewarding, however, is seeing students progress into jobs in the fields they’re gaining qualifications in.
“I know from my personal experience how beneficial a university degree can be.
“It feels really good when you see people you’ve engaged with choose to come to your university and then to embark on a career that is aligned with the course they’ve been on.
“The teams here do a lot of work to ensure that our courses are giving graduates the skills they need in the workplace.
“We are constantly evolving our offering and there’s a big emphasis on giving students practical experience that will be of use to them in their careers.
“I’d love anyone who’s interested to come along to our open day and see what we offer.”
In 2025, secretary of state for education, Bridget Philipson MP, opened the £10million campus in the presence of University Of Sunderland chancellor Leanne Cahill, vice-chancellor Sir David Bell, Alan, deputy directors of the University Of Sunderland In London, Lynsey Bendon and Geoff Paul and head of marketing, recruitment and admissions, Jelena Miljanic – image by UOSiL
key details: University Of Sunderland In London open day
The next open day at the University Of Sunderland In London is set to take place at the Harbour Exchange campus on July 11, 2026, and will run from 1pm-4.30pm.
Open days are also planned for September 12 and November 26.
The university also offers personal consultations that allow prospective students to explore the institution’s facilities and courses.
“Doing something like this – showing up and surprising people so they can interact with their bank in a different way to just logging in and checking their money – is a way to do more for our customers,” said Emily Lewis, head of growth for the UK and Ireland at Revolut. “It’s a bit of guerilla marketing.”
Earlier this month, the Canary Wharf-based bank staged a takeover in front of its global headquarters in Reuters Plaza, parking a Formula One racing car in a glass-sided shipping container outside for Wharfers to admire.
Photos were snapped and give-aways were queued for, but the stunt had a wider purpose.
In addition to celebrating the bank’s status as title partner to the Audi Revolut F1 Team, the pop-up showcased the unveiling of a market-leading boosted interest rate of 5% AER (variable) on its Instant Access Savings Account.
The introductory offer is available for new customers on deposits of up to £25,000 who sign up before August 4, 2026.
The rate runs until December 4 this year.
Emily Lewis, head of growth for the UK and Ireland at Revolut – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
accelerating the savings
“Bringing the Audi show car out is a nice way for them to get involved,” said Emily.
“Canary Wharf was the first stop on our UK tour with dates all around the country through to June 30.
“We know that following sports like F1 can be expensive and our instant access account is designed to make saving much easier.
“The 5% rate is the most competitive on the market and we don’t lock your money away.
“With our account, interest is paid daily and people can withdraw their money with no penalties – it doesn’t impact the rate.
“For example, I was the budget master for a friend’s hen do – I wanted to keep the money people were paying towards it separate from my own savings to avoid any confusion.
“I opened a separate account with Revolut, which is very quick, and transferred the funds in.
“From there we earned daily interest on those funds and were able to spend them together on the hen do.”
Crowds gather at Revolut’s pop-up – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
growing Revolut’s operation
Founded at Level39 in Canary Wharf in 2015 by Nikolay Storonsky and Vlad Yatsenko, the company has gone from small startup to having its name atop the YY London tower in a decade.
“When you’re a digital bank, having the concrete legitimacy of a building is a good thing,” said Emily, who worked for THG before joining Revolut four years ago.
“Having that visibility helps.
“Working with distinguished partners such as F1 and Audi means we can further raise awareness of what we’re doing.
“In the UK, we want to be the primary bank for everyone.
“In each of our products we’re on a par with our competitors, but our aim is that there’s also an element that’s better – like reward points on your debit card spending or the speed with which you can access your money.
“It’s about educating people about what we offer so that they can make an informed decision about who they bank with.
“We’ve expanded at an amazing rate, but even with this growth we must make sure that we’re still being true to what a trusted bank should do.
“I believe introductory rates like this are helpful because they make the market more competitive.
“We see institutions battling to present the best offers, which is good for consumers.
“We’re constantly working on how Revolut can be super lucrative for existing customers and how we can reward people who have been loyal to us.”
Revolut is based at YY London in Canary Wharf – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
key details: Revolut’s savings offer
To get a Revolut Instant Access Savings Account, customers must open a Personal Current Account with the bank.
The 5% AER variable bonus rate for up to £25,000 in savings is only available to new clients who sign up before August 4, 2026.
After December 4, the savings rate reverts to the base rate of the customer’s plan (currently between 2.9% and 4%).
Taking a dip costs £10 a go, but Sea Lanes has a great deal more to offer than just splashing about.
Wharfers seeking a place to relax by the waters will find a new complex of pergolas, tin roofs, glazed weatherproof igloos and extensive seating all served by a bar and on-site kitchen.
Earlier this week, Sea Lanes Canary Wharf hosted a preview event in partnership with Canary Wharf Group complete with a friendly relay race and a chance to get a sneak peek at the facilities before the public dive in.
Sea Lanes managing director, Ross Gilbert addresses the preview event – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
for swimmers who want to try open water
“Sea Lanes began with a very simple idea – to create a stepping stone that would encourage more people to get into open water swimming and to make that accessible for everybody,” said Ross Gilbert, managing director at Sea Lanes.
“That vision was realised when we opened our pool in Brighton. Since then we’ve opened Hilsea a month ago and now Canary Wharf.
“We have six lanes and finely crafted saunas – this will be a facility that helps people to explore the wider Eden Dock.”
In addition to the floating pool, Sea Lanes also intends to offer dock swimming, paddleboarding, freediving and open water events from its base close to Newfoundland tower.
The facilities include a six-lane floating pool fed by Eden Dock – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
part of Canary Wharf’s evolution
Canary Wharf Group CEO, Shobi Khan, said the estate had been focused on the water for six years starting with the opening of the boardwalk at Harbour Quay Gardens and four years of open water swimming at Eden Dock.
He said: “Everyone who has worked on this project deserves a big round of applause.
“Two years ago some folks from Sea Lanes were present when we opened Eden Dock during a virtual monsoon – that was the start of this evolution.
“This is a unique environment and will hopefully become the envy of London.
“These really are amazing facilities that Sea Lanes has created in partnership with Canary Wharf Group.”
There are on-site saunas for swimmers to warm up in – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
inspiring for London
Also attending the preview was deputy mayor of London for environment and energy, Mete Coban.
He said: “What I think this project here today does is to inspire the whole city.
“We need to reimagine how we can use spaces to make London healthier – a place people can thrive in. I don’t know how to swim.
“I was one of those people who didn’t have access to affordable swimming lessons when I was growing up.
“This and access to nature are still big racial and social justice issues today.
“One of the things we will be doing in the capital is selecting specific sites where we’ll take inspiration from this vision and create more access to safe swimming, because we know that 700,000 Londoners currently do not know how to swim.
“It isn’t just about having the infrastructure, however, it’s about the work that happens with the community so they feel a sense of ownership.
“This is a flagship project and I want to thank Canary Wharf Group and Sea Lanes because it takes real courage to be able to imagine these spaces – what it was then and what it is now.”
Sea Lanes Canary Wharf includes extensive hospitality facilities with a bar and fresh food offering – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf’s seasonal offering demands attention.
The venue recently unveiled three market-leading offers at its Hine Bar And Garden Terrace aimed at attracting Wharfers to the lower of its two floors as the mercury rises.
But its also the eclectic establishment’s flexibility and the sheer depth of its proposition that will be of interest to those arranging get-togethers in the coming weeks.
It’s perhaps the only venue in Canary Wharf that can do dinner for two or 250.
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf’s executive head chef Andrew Donovan, left, and general manager, Tony Havin – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
“We really think we’ve done everything to create a great offering this season.
“Boisdale is right in the middle of Canary Wharf, but on our terrace guests feel secluded.
“It’s away from the bustle of the street below – our own secret garden on the first floor.”
With cooking from executive head chef Andrew Donovan and drinks from bar manager Malika Kirchel-Sharper, the venue aims to tempt drinkers and diners to visit with three core offers this summer.
The venue is offering pints of lager for £5 and glasses of wine for £6 – image supplied by Boisdale
chilled refreshment
“We’ve extended our Happy Hour on drinks from noon-7pm, covering selections from the bar and our range of frozen cocktails,” said Tony.
“The idea is that you can come for lunch and then stay into the evening.
“We’re always trying to improve and so we have a new menu of cocktails that I think even top what we were offering last year.
“We’ve done extensive tastings and the flavours are really there.
“Personally, I like the take on a Pina Colada, but I’m also pleasantly surprised by the Bittersweet Delight, inspired by a Margarita with a dash of Orange Angostura Bitters and a spicy jalapeno.”
The venue’s Happy Hour has been extended from noon-7pm on weekdays – image supplied by Boisdale
buy-one-get-one-free
The frozen cocktail list, which also includes the likes of Tennessee Peach Punch and Banana Split, presents a selection of drinks for £14 or £14.50, with customers getting a pair for that price during Happy Hour..
Other drinks on offer during that period include pints of Harbour Singlefin’ Lager for £5 and glasses of Boisdale’s Bekaa Valley red or white for £6.
The set menu includes a Scottish Flat Iron Steak With Chips – image supplied by Boisdale
on to the Boisdale food
“We always offer seasonal dishes at Boisdale and we’ve got morel mushrooms, asparagus, peas, broad beans and sardines on the menu,” said Andrew, who’s been cooking in the restaurant’s kitchens for well over a decade.
“I think now, more than ever, people want value and quality and that’s what we offer.
“We pride ourselves on using the best ingredients cleverly to hit the right price point.”
The second of Boisdale’s key offerings is its set menu, available noon-3pm. Depending on their schedule and commitments, diners can order one course for £17.50, two for £23.50 or three for £28.50.
Options include the likes of Crispy Salt And Pepper Squid and Asparagus With A Crispy Hen’s Egg to start, Scottish Flat-Iron Steak With Chips and Char-Grilled Breast Of Suffolk Chicken for mains and Affogato and British Cheeses for dessert.
“My personal choice would be to start with the Grilled Cornish Sardines On Toast, which come with wild garlic and Isle Of Wight tomatoes,” said Andrew.
“Years ago we had whole industries based on oily fish – sardines, herring, kippers – all those great things.
“Now we catch them and sell them to the Europeans who, rightly, adore them.
“After that richness, I’d want something more delicate, so I’d order the Broad Bean, Courgette And Pea Risotto with lovely Suffolk goat’s cheese.
“Then, because I’d been so well behaved, I’d have to go with the Boozy Cherries With Dark Chocolate Mousse, which comes with a hazelnut praline. It’s amazing.
“Another favourite is one of the starters on the set menu – Gnocchi With Wild Venison Ragu, served with shavings of Parmesan.
“Being a Scottish restaurant, we use a lot of game, and we’ve currently got a dish on the evening show menu – roast haunch of venison with morels and wild garlic mash.
“All of the trimmings are used to make a ragu for four or five hours – in there you have carrots, garlic, rosemary, juniper and balsamic vinegar for richness and red wine.
“We just braise the meat until it’s completely tender.
“Then we take the gnocchi and just toss them in that wonderful sauce.”
An evolved version of Boisdale’s Ultimate Surf And Turf is back for summer 2026 – image supplied by Boisdale
land and sea
Last – but, by no means, least – following a successful run last year, is Boisdale’s “Ultimate Surf And Turf” – also available on weekdays from noon-3pm.
Diners can choose to pay £19.95 for Chargrilled King Prawn Brochette with either a Scottish Wagyu Burger With Cheese or a 200g Scottish Flat-Iron Steak, all served with pickles and lettuce hearts with blue cheese.
Alternatively they can opt to pay £29.95 for Half A Grilled Lobster with the burger or steak, served with a house salad and garlic butter.
“This was an incredibly popular option on our terrace last year and we’ve given it a bit of a twist for 2026,” said Tony.
“We’re expecting our offers across food, drinks and cocktails to draw in locals and visitors. There’s really no excuse not to come.”
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf has an extensive portfolio of spaces for private dining and parties including gatherings of 250 for a seated banquet – image supplied by Boisdale
party season at Boisdale Of Canary Wharf
For those planning events over the coming months, Boisdale presents a compelling offering, whether it’s a team lunch, after-work drinks or a full company celebration.
“We can host more than 400 people for a standing reception across the whole venue or cater for up to 250 seated,” said Tony.
“We’re very flexible about the size and style of gathering and we’re also happy to hire the venue on Mondays when we’d usually be closed – that includes the Terrace, which is just one of the many spaces we have for groups to host in.
“We can tailor every aspect of an event to a client’s needs and we’ve done all kinds of things over the years including barbecues and hog roasts.”
Andy added: “We have tremendous teams here with a lot of experience.
“That’s testament to the fact we’re always changing, evolving and offering new things.
“I think now, more than ever, people want value and quality and that’s what we’re able to deliver.
“I love cooking for events. In my view a canapé should be something fresh and amazing. There should be just enough so that you get that flavour, but not so much that it’s overwhelming.
“My top choices would be bitesize versions of Prawn Cocktail, Steak Tartare and Ceviche.
Then there’s our Smoked Salmon, of course, and our Venison Empanadas, which are made with the same ragu that we offer with gnocchi on our set menu.
“We always try to let the ingredients speak for themselves.”
The collaborative promise of East Bank has been long in the making.
But now the wait is over.
V&A East, Sadler’s Wells East, UCL East, BBC Music Studios and the London College Of Fashion have all come together for the first time publicly to play their parts in The Music Is Black Festival in east London.
Essentially a creative response to V&A East Museum’s first exhibition – The Music Is Black: A British Story – the programme includes four weekends of live gigs and performances as well as film screenings, talks, digital elements and exhibitions.
The aim is to reflect the breadth and depth of the impact made by black music in the UK.
East Bank director Tamsin Ace – image by Christian Cassiel
collaborating on The Music Is Black Festival
“Each of these five institutions have pivoted to respond to this theme and, layered on top of that, we have our programme of four live weekends – one each month,” said Tamsin Ace, director at East Bank.
“For example, the BBC has created The Music Is Black digital hub across TV, radio, iPlayer, Sounds and online to celebrate some of the key genres, personalities, scenes and compositions that define the last 125 years of black music in the UK.
“They’ve also created amazing educational resources through BBC Bitesize for secondary schools to use.
“It’s all been developed in collaboration with V&A East Museum.
“UCL East have organised a series of talks looking at black British visual culture, fashion – all kinds of different things – throughout the season.
“The London College Of Fashion is also hosting an amazing exhibition looking at sound system culture and designer identity.
“Then the four live weekends will bring people down to East Bank to celebrate the artists and musicians through free public performances.
“For these we’ve worked with an amazing curator, Gillian Jackson, and for each event we’ll have three stages – two right on the East Bank waterfront, with the Sadler’s Wells East public dance floor making up the third.
“The idea is we’ve got intergenerational dances, workshops and specially commissioned choreographed pieces, with live music, DJs and MCs.
“That’s the format we’ll follow for each of the weekends.”
The festival is inspired by the V&A East Museum’s The Music Is Black: A British Story exhibition – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
The Music Is Ours
The live programme kicks off on June 13 and 14 with The Music Is Ours, featuring acts curated by Footsie, of grime collective the Newham Generals, on the Saturday and saxophonist and Soul Mama restaurant owner, YolanDa Brown, the day after.
Performers will include the likes of King Original, Tailor Jae, Nicole Blakk, My Runway Group, Acantha Lang and Melodees From Heaven.
Tamsin said: “We’re kicking off with a real block party, a celebration of east London’s huge contribution to black music.”
Sadler’s Wells East will feature Garage X Grime Reload curated by Kloe Dean on the first day with Breakin’ Convention taking over the dance floor on the Sunday for exhibition battles.
Power And Respect – image by Flashpop
Power And Respect
Black women and non-binary people take centre stage on July 11 and 12 with Jamz Supernova on curatorial duties for the first day with Yaazmin Lacey and Tyson handling the second.
At Sadler’s Wells East, Jade Hackett’s Let Love Be Your Rock will showcase original group work set to lovers rock and reggae on the Saturday, followed by DJs L’attise Rhoden and Glade Marie the day after.
“This will have a different flavour and feel to it,” said Tamsin. “We hope people will come to all four of the weekends, but others may just pick one to attend.
“One of the things we’re really excited about is building that kind of recognition, that people will start getting to know that the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is a place where you can just turn up and bump into culture and creativity. We’re building that into a regular rhythm of free programming.
“We also know that people are hungry for moments of congregation and celebration and being in a joyful environment, and that’s what these free weekends will create.
Queer Frequencies – image by Leo Patriz
Queer Frequencies
Bringing together the queer collectives and communities that shape the rich tapestry of London’s queer scene, August 22 and 23 will be curated by Shy One, Donnie Sunshine, Mark-Ashley Dupé, Joel Mignott and Zinzi Minott.
Sadler’s Wells East will be blending dance with poetry and sound art alongside a pre-carnival party from Faggamuffin Bloc Party.
“This weekend is all about focussing on the huge contribution that queer creators have made to the scene, delivering a different vibe and energy,” said Tamsin.
Black To The Future – image by Atlantide Phototravel
Black To The Future
“This is all about showcasing people who are really pushing the dial, bringing together different ideas and genres to mix things up,” said Tamsin.
“We don’t know what the music of the future is, but these are some of the people who are imagining what it might be.
“What’s exciting about it is that there are people right now, in their studios and bedrooms, in their youth centres and their schools, creating sounds we have not even heard yet.
“That’s what east London has done so brilliantly over so many decades.”
Taking place on September 12 and 13, the final live weekend features curation from Flohio, The Blues Project and Dannielle ‘Rhimes’ Lecointe.
It’s hoped that the festival will form something of a blueprint for future years with East Bank’s members continuing to collaborate.
“It feels like a significant moment for the project,” said Tamsin.
“It’s amazing to see the momentum and we’re supporting 20 jobs for east Londoners to help deliver the festival programme.
“The ambition is to build a corps of freelancers that East Bank can tap into and invest in – a pipeline of local creative talent and that’s so important.”
key details: The Music Is Black Festival
The Music Is Black Festival runs from June 13 until Sept 13, 2026, and includes four free weekends of music.
“Back in the day, access to venues and pubs was key for me in learning how to do what I do,” said Glenn Tilbrook, co-founder of Squeeze, who is set to play a gig in support of Theatreship on the Isle Of Dogs later this month.
“I wasn’t taught by anybody. I started out playing with Jools Holland in pubs in east and south-east London as well.
“We did that for a couple of years and it taught us a lot about communicating with people – there’s no real substitute for that experience.
“That’s where we got our training – how we got ourselves together to move on and climb the ladder.
“It’s why you need these spaces to do that work in – they’re so important, not just for musicians, but for people to come and access performances – for it not to be all about money.”
Glenn is set to perform on board Theatreship – image by Theatreship
playing the festival
Glenn is set to perform alongside his son Leon at the venue as part of the Music Venue Trust’s Everywhere At Once festival, which will see more than 1,200 gigs take place from June 26-28, 2026, nationwide.
Thousands of artists are set to participate with the likes of Fatboy Slim, Becky Hill, Tinie Tempah, The Divine Comedy, Rizzle Kicks and many more all performing.
Glenn, who has fond memories of performing early in his career at The Waterman’s Arms – just down the Isle Of Dogs from Theatreship – is scheduled to perform on the Sunday evening.
“I’ll be playing with Leon, who has joined Squeeze,” said Glenn.
“He’s 23 now and a great musician.
“We’ll be playing a selection of his songs and mine – we’ve just finished a short tour, so we’re well-versed in performing together and we’re sounding great.
“I first went to Theatreship about two months ago and I was so impressed by what they’ve done with the space – the atmosphere is great and it has a lovely bar at the back.
“I think it’s important for people to recognise what venues like this bring to an area.
“They’re quirky, but they work so well.
“Theatreship is clearly a place people will come and be surprised by what you can do on a ship.
“Squeeze have played on boats – we did a cruise gig last year, which was interesting.
“We were only on board for one day between Florida and The Bahamas, where we got off.
“It was a small stage, but it seemed like there were thousands of people in the audience.”
Glenn and squeeze will also be performing at The O2 Arena later this year – image supplied by MVT
how Glenn Tilbrook co-founded Squeeze
Born in Woolwich, Glenn grew up in Docklands, forming Squeeze after meeting Chris Difford via an advert posted in a shop window. Jools Holland also joined.
The band first found fame in the 1970s with albums such as Cool For Cats and Argybargy, with Glenn and Chris continuing their partnership to this day.
“Squeeze is having a bit of a moment in the sunshine and we’re relishing that,” said Glenn.
“We’ve got an album called Trixies out at the moment, which is a set of songs that Chris and I wrote when I was 16 and he was 19 in 1974.
“At the same time we did an album of new songs that will be coming out next year. I’m keen to prove that our chops are still intact and we’re still growing.
“The old songs really sound like they were written in 1974, and the influences in the songs were in the three years leading up to 1974.
“When you’re 16, you don’t have a lot of history, so we were listening to contemporary music at the time and that’s what we were absorbing.
“Now I’ve had a lifetime of going to see lots of different acts and I’m thrilled by it even now.
“I love the journey – it’s never-ending, it’s fantastic.
“Who would have thought that at this stage in our career more people would be coming to see us than ever?
“It feels really great and we’re a really tight, professional band – we sound fantastic.
“The reaction we get from audiences now is unlike anything we ever had, even from the beginning of our career.
“We were really exciting when we started out and we’re really exciting now, at the other end of my life.
“It’s wonderful to play locally. I have my studio just yards from the Thames in Charlton.
“I’ve always been around Greenwich, it’s where I grew up and I love it.
“I remember that there was a tradition among the people who worked in the dock and on the ships to sound the ship’s horn at midnight on New Year’s Eve, and it was a really thrilling noise.
“I also love what’s happened to Canary Wharf, which I can remember before anything was built, and I’m amazed at it – it’s a brilliant place.
“It was a big vision to develop that, and it’s ongoing – a really exciting place to be.
“What’s important is that it isn’t just on a monetary level.
“What places like Theatreship do is so good for people’s souls. I don’t think it’s too much to say that.
“It’s a place that brings people together, it’s so enriching.”
Inigo Lapwood, project director of Theatreship and Artship – image Matt Grayson
how Glenn Tilbrook is supporting Theatreship
Inigo Lapwood, Theatreship director said: “We’re so thrilled to be working with MVT for their Everywhere At Once festival.
“At the moment we’re sadly all too accustomed to hearing about grassroots music venues when they’re under threat of closing.
“We’ve lost almost a third of them nationwide over the last three years alone.
“The trust has worked tirelessly to try to stem that tide.
“At Theatreship we’ve been hugely grateful for that work – they’ve been instrumental in our own ongoing battles to stay afloat.
“Everywhere At Once is a great counterpoint to this narrative of loss – a nationwide celebration of the spaces that remain.
“We really appreciate this timely reminder that we’re not alone, that the UK is filled with passionate grassroots music venues showcasing incredible work, and that brilliant, inventive artists like Glenn can be found in them.
“Since opening Theatreship, we’ve been consistently amazed by the sheer depth of musical talent in London.
“From the upper decks of the ship you can see The O2 where Glenn will be playing later this year, but we’re absolutely certain that he won’t be the only artist currently performing on the grassroots music circuit who’ll be headlining stadium gigs in short order.”
key details: Glenn Tilbrook and Squeeze
Glenn And Leon Tilbrook are set to play Theatreship on June 28 at 7pm. Tickets cost £33, although the gig has now sold out.
Whole Foods Market may be owned by Amazon and have opened its doors in the Wood Wharf unit formerly known as Amazon Fresh, but it’s a very different kind of offering.
Gone are the smart price labels and the till-free shopping experiment, replaced by nearly 3,000 carefully selected product lines with an emphasis on natural and organic groceries.
The store also boasts the Wharf’s first at-checkout fridges, tempting shoppers to cold beverages at the point of payment.
Perhaps the biggest contrast here, though, is in the people.
Even amid the chaos of opening, there’s good humour and positivity – a feeling that everyone present is genuinely happy to be there.
It’s an ethos embodied by Jade Hoai, the brand’s executive leader of purchasing for its UK stores.
Beyond the job title, she might just as well be known as chief enthusiast as she guides me around the new store, pointing out her many favourites on the shelves.
Jade Hoai, Whole Foods Market’s executive leader of purchasing for its UK stores – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
growth and heading overseas
“For me, it started 25 years ago,” she said.
“I was working for the US Government’s Department Of Justice in Washington DC – a great job – and I had my afternoons, evenings and weekends free.
“I was already a regular Whole Foods customer and so I decided to take a part-time job as a cashier for the staff discount.
“I just loved the product, the ethos of the company and the people I met here so much.
“Having a job where I get to help nourish the people on our planet is fulfilling – it’s been a joy to see it grow.
“When I started, we had 180 stores.
“Now we have 500 in the US – it’s been quite an expansion and I was very lucky to have great mentors and leaders who believed in me.
“When we had the chance to open a branch in the UK, I had the opportunity to come over for a couple of years.
“Then I got an extension and, 19 years later, I’m here talking about the opening of our Wood Wharf store.”
The store is located on Water Street – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
“Here, we have a 9,000sq ft store that is going to be a centre for the community,” said Jade.
“People can pop in, get a snack, a salad or do their full shop.
“We have an amazing choice of products, but we also stock the essentials such as pet food and loo roll.
“At its heart, the store is like a foodie playground for adults where people can come in and discover something they didn’t know about or had never tried before.
“Our aim, ultimately, is to bring joy – that a visit isn’t a grocery shop or a chore, but something that our customers look forward to, whether that’s browsing our selection or talking to our team members.
“We’ve always wanted to be in Canary Wharf, so when this opportunity presented itself, we jumped at it.
“We think it’s a great community and it’s our customer – the people here are really conscious about what they’re eating and spending their money on and that’s their health and wellbeing.
“I think it’s an understatement to say we’re absolutely delighted to be here.”
Whole Foods Market in Canary Wharf carries nearly 3,000 different product lines including essential ingredients – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
finding products for Whole Foods Market
Jade’s role in the business is a crucial one in Whole Foods Market’s operation.
She oversees merchandising, marketing and supply chains for the business – in essence holding responsibility for what’s going on the shelves, ensuring it gets there and then telling people why it matters.
“My teams have a lot of impact – working with new brands, finding new products, working with existing lines and growing their sales,” she said.
“The marketing team does a great job of telling our stories – talking about who we are and what we’re trying to do.
“With the supply chain, we oversee the journey from the farmer who grows the food to the person who puts it in the packaging, then how it arrives at our distribution centres and our stores.
“There are so many people connected to that process and what we try to do is to make sure that they are respected and celebrated.
“We recognise how amazing it is that we can grow food that nourishes ourselves and is also good for our planet.
“One of my favourite products, for example, is our 365 Whole Foods Market Hot Smoked Salmon, which we’re producing.
“The fish is farmed, but I believe the quality is the best because we’re very strict and conscientious about the welfare of the animals and what goes into the feed they eat.
“I like to enjoy it with a little salad with capers, tomatoes and lemon juice – it’s delicious.”
The Canary Wharf store is also targeting workers on the estate looking for grab-and-go options and hot food at lunchtimes.
The store offers a wide range of produce including wines, pasta cheese – image by Jon Massey / Wharf Life
something for lunch
“Something that’s new for this branch is our Pinsa Romana concept. These are Roman pizza-style slices that are customisable and made to order.
“Customers will chose their base, toppings and then we’ll cook it and they can enjoy it hot on our terrace. People can also take them away to cook at home.”
The idea that Wharfers living locally will interact with the store is also key to its operation.
“This is really vital for us,” said Jade. “We want people to come in to talk to us.
“Our staff are there and will happily sit with customers and discuss the relative merits of pearl barley and wholegrain rice.
“We really believe in what we’re doing.
“I’m definitely a culture warrior within the company.
“As soon as people start with us they can take a course to understand the history of the brand and its values.
“It’s also really important to reflect the community in what we stock. We’ve tested and tried every single thing on our shelves.
“We’re very lucky, because brands find us. Also, every quarter, we have a pitch day that’s open to anyone.
“People apply, come along and tell us why they think we should stock their products.
“Some come with a concept, or a package design, others with finished products.
“In the end, nothing makes it to our customers unless we’ve tried it and we can say that it’s really good.”
key details: Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market is located on Water Street in Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf.
The store is open from 7am-10pm on weekdays, from 8am to 10pm on Saturdays and from 11am-5pm on Sundays.
One of the key elements of Wharf Wellness is bringing people together to share experiences, knowledge and skills.
Dr Pippa Wood is a Canary Wharf-based personal trainer at Third Space and a practising psychologist – one of a number of experts set to take part in a panel discussion as part of the festival at 6pm on June 23, 2026 at Sea Lanes Canary Wharf.
Entitled Wellness Or Performance? Are We Driving Ourselves Into Exhaustion? the public event will consider changing attitudes to exercise and activity.
The other panellists will be Poppy Delbridge, founder of Rapid Tapping, Ross Gilbert, managing director of Sea Lanes, Zanna Van Dijk a content creator and author of Strong and host Adrienne Adhami of the Power Hour Podcast.
“Earlier on in my career, people would come to me with more aesthetic-focused goals – they wanted to get leaner and build more muscle,” said Pippa.
“Now, what I’m seeing with the majority of my PT clients is that they want to train for longevity, general health and wellbeing.
“They might be looking to address lower back pain, knee pain or low energy levels.
“They’re mindful of what may occur in the future, so they’re looking at exercise from a preventative standpoint – it’s a welcome change.”
Pippa grew up in Leeds and dabbled in dancing but “wasn’t very sporty”.
She started going to the gym as a teenager and found she really enjoyed it, experimenting with different classes and feeling good.
She’d also train with her rugby-playing dad every Saturday.
Third Space’s two clubs in Canary Wharf offer a wide range of facilities and classes at all levels of intensity – image by Third Space
discovering the gym
She said: “He was born in Australia and has always been active, so I followed that model and eventually got there.
“Exercise became a really big part of my life – it was energising and left me feeling ready to study.”
After qualifying as a trainer, studying psychology in London and completing her PhD in resilience and mental wellbeing in Leeds, she relocated to Australia.
Taking in Sydney and the Gold Coast “over five or six years” she engaged in further clinical training as a psychologist and worked in private practice before moving back to the UK.
In London she’s reinvigorated her role as a trainer alongside her work in mental health, separately but with each discipline informing the other.
“As a psychologist, I often see people in a clinical setting for treatment of anxiety and depression,” she said.
“When people incorporate more movement in their lives, the therapeutic benefits are very evident, especially when they set themselves relevant and achievable goals.
“From a physiological perspective, even 15 minutes of activity can do so much for the brain.
“It pumps more oxygenated blood, delivering dopamine, serotonin and endorphins to make us feel great.
“My background in psychology and my PhD have been super helpful in my career, whether it’s treating clients or on the gym floor.
“What I found in the research is that training harder isn’t always better, from a mental health perspective.
“Training smarter and being in tune with your body is key.
“We found more significant improvements in mental health with low to moderate exercise.
“Setting yourself goals and running a marathon and achieving that can be beneficial too, but a hard regime and a structured approach isn’t always beneficial for the way you feel.”
For Wharf Wellness, Third Space is teaming up with Friday Night Lates to offer special evening classes on June 24 – image supplied by Canary Wharf Group
pursuing fitness through enjoyment
“The whole ethos of Third Space is it’s about training for life,” added Pippa.
“That includes the social aspect as well as enjoying the exercise.
“It’s good to do things because we want to, not because we feel we have to.
“That really is super important.
“That’s one of the reasons I wanted to work at Third Space.
“My partner had brought me over to Canary Wharf and I just fell in love with the place.
“At the two clubs, people will experience very warm and welcoming spaces that offer a wide variety of classes to meet an incredible range of needs.
“The advice I give people is to keep an open mind and try different things to see what you like.
“Enjoying yourself is vital and it will help give you the confidence to navigate the equipment on gym floor.
“The feel is supportive – we’re all part of the same community working towards the same goal.”
key details: Wharf Wellness
Wellness Or Performance? Are We Driving Ourselves Into Exhaustion? is set to take place on June 23, 2026, at 6pm at Sea Lanes Canary Wharf.
Being unable to decode complicated written texts can affect all areas of a person’s life.
The charity says people with poor literacy are twice as likely to be unemployed and, for those in work, earn 60% less on average than those able to read well.
Then there are many wider social impacts – the challenges faced by children when their parents struggle with literacy, the shame and stigma the adults feel when masking a lack of ability and the extreme social exclusion of simply not having access to the same information as everybody else.
Worse still, marginalised communities are among the worst affected including ethnic minorities, ex-offenders and those living in poverty.
To help break those cycles, the trust recruits volunteers to act as reading coaches for adults.
Working with learning providers, they take part in free one-to-one sessions for people on courses to help them improve their skills, gain confidence and boost their employability and general wellbeing.
Being able to decode the written word is an essential life skill – image by Megan Lee / Pexels
giving something back
“My father left school at 13, so his education was interrupted,” said Declan Cashin, who volunteers as a reading coach through the Adult Literacy Trust at New City College’s Poplar campus.
“He could read, but it probably held him back.
“I’ve made a career out of reading and writing, I know the joy they can bring and how important these skills are, but I also understand how vulnerable someone can feel if they’re having trouble with them.
“I’ve been involved in voluntary work before, but that was usually over the phone or through text messaging.
“I missed interacting with people and being a reading coach is something you have to do in person, so it seemed the perfect thing to try.”
Born in Ireland, Declan knew he wanted to become a journalist at a young age but initially studied English at university after a teacher talked him out of it.
Nevertheless, after graduating he trained to be a reporter and spent years working in the media, moving to London more than a decade and a half ago.
Today he lives in Hackney and works in communications in Stratford having succumbed to the lure of a “steady desk job”.
Having discovered the Adult Literacy Trust online, he applied to become a volunteer, enrolled on its training programme and began one-to-one sessions earlier this year.
from interview to training
“The trust had an initial chat with me and then invited me for an interview to get a sense of my style and temperament – to ensure I had the right approach and level of empathy for the role,” said Declan.
“Part of that process was about remembering what it was like to learn a skill, recalling being bad at something and then learning to keep that in your head because it’s probably how the person you’re matched with will be feeling about reading.”
Volunteers, who must be 18 or older, complete training sessions across four modules that include topics such as the purpose of the coaching role, who the learners are, the skills and knowledge needed and safeguarding.
They are then matched with a reader and meet with them weekly during term time, typically for an hour.
“During training we were taken into classes at New City College to meet people who were using the trust’s service and to see how they were responding to it,” said Declan.
“One of the things I noticed was how much more seriously everyone seemed to be taking their education in comparison to a school classroom.
“These people are really dedicated.
“Older students often have many responsibilities – multiple jobs, kids and studying – and on top of that they’re taking time to improve their literacy.
“It’s incredible to see people making that effort to succeed.
“I learnt that people often come to the Adult Literacy Trust when they are aiming to get a particular job or responsibility within their career and that further education is a route to that.”
Declan said that, while those using the trust’s services were struggling with literacy, that didn’t mean they couldn’t read at all.
meeting for the first time
“I was matched with a learner from the charity’s waiting list and we met for our first session just to get to know one another,” said Declan.
“He was born overseas and came to the UK as a teenager, so his schooling was interrupted.
“His reading was actually already very good, but he wanted to gain confidence. He was also very clear that he wanted to maximise what he was getting from his course at the college.
“We sit in the library and read.
“At first we used the Metro newspaper because there are passages of different lengths and lots of different levels of complexity – everything from features to advertorials and sports stories.
“It was a good way to get a sense of his ability and what he was interested in, and then I could start to tailor the material.
“A couple of weeks later he brought his own book from home, and we’ve been reading some of that for the last few weeks.
“He knows what his issues are and what he needs to work on.
“He’ll run into certain words he needs to spend longer on.
“He can read very well, but it’s making sure the comprehension is there too.
“One of the things I’ve learnt from volunteers and the trust is that it’s crucial to make sure the learners are understanding what they are reading.
“It’s something that’s easy to take for granted if you don’t have that issue yourself.
“People want to improve their skills for many different reasons.
“It might be to read for themselves for pleasure, reading to their kids, understanding official documents or reading material related to their studies.
“We’re not there as teachers – we always refer learners back to their course leader to answer any questions on their studies – we’re there to help them develop the tools to engage with text, to break it down and to understand it.
“You certainly don’t have to be an expert on what they are studying.
“In the end, all you need to be is patient and constructive with your feedback to encourage them.
“English is a strange, irregular language – it’s not always easy to understand. With my guy, we go at his pace.
“We’ve been reading his book for the last few weeks.
“There might be certain words we need to spend longer on but that’s absolutely fine.
“Sometimes it’s about helping him understand that something isn’t actually very well written in the first place and why that might be.
“Getting through a few paragraphs is better than none.
“His book is quite academic and complicated, but seeing him dive into it and his confidence growing has been really wonderful.”
getting something back
Declan said volunteering with the charity had been a pleasant surprise since he began as a coach.
“It’s very rewarding,” he said.
“I get to come to New City College, which is so buzzy – filled with people who are getting on with things.
“It’s allowed me to meet people I perhaps wouldn’t have otherwise encountered and taking an hour out of my day to help someone is a real privilege.
“You also learn about yourself – how good you are at giving feedback and putting people at ease.
“It’s also about getting involved with something local that connects you to the people in the area you live and work in.
“I’ve got so much out of it, I come out of our weekly session feeling really pumped up.
“Everyone – the learners and the volunteers – are in this for the right reasons and it’s really inspiring.”
they say
The Adult Literacy Trust gathers regular feedback from service users. Here are some of their comments on the sessions it provides:
“It helps me to catch more, you know, so, with my teacher, I can ask him more questions. So, he is explaining more about what I’m interested in and I can talk with him about whatever I wish. It’s helping me a lot to improve my English.”
“Learning to read has opened so many doors for me. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but my volunteer, Janine, stuck with me through it all. She never stopped encouraging me.”
“Because of her, I found the courage to apply for a job I never thought was possible – and I landed it. This programme has helped me read, but it’s much more than that – it’s been a turning point in my life.”
“Before, when they say we should read in class, well, I tried to put myself back. But now when it gets to my turn to read, I’m happy to, even if I make one mistake.”
“It helps you with your mental health and wellbeing because you are reading with someone that will listen to you. It’s really helpful to become, for a moment, separate from all the hustle and bustle around you.”
Source: Adult Literacy Trust
key details: Adult Literacy Trust
The Adult Literacy Trust is currently accepting applications from prospective volunteers for training sessions in September.
Those wishing to find out more can email the charity’s volunteer and training coordinator via laura@alt.org.uk for more details or visit the organisation’s website here.
