East London Archives

December 2, 2024December 2, 2024

Holland And Barrett boosts space in Canary Wharf refurbishment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

key points at Holland And Barrett

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

designed for local workers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

looking after the staff

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

manager’s picks

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

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

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

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

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

H&B Advanced Immunity – £4.87 for 30 capsules

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

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

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

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

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

key details: Holland And Barrett Canary Wharf

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

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

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

Find out more about the business here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

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November 29, 2024November 29, 2024

Waitrose and John Lewis in Canary Wharf embrace change via refit

Canada Place stores feature updated layout, more bar space and a packed events programme says branch manager Amy Stickland

Waitrose and John Lewis have been going through a period of change in Canary Wharf

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While we often cover new retailers and hospitality venues opening their doors in Canary Wharf, they by no means account for all the change that’s taking place on the estate.

Waitrose and John Lewis, which has long dominated the eastern edge of Canada Square has recently undergone a freshening up.

First of all Gail’s arrived beside its main entrance in the malls, kicking off a series of tweaks and refinements all aimed at serving Wharfers with what they want more efficiently.

That’s meant a remodelling in places, more space for the iconic shop floor wine bar, longer aisles with products arranged more logically for convenience, a boost to the freshly baked items on sale and an extra 11 self-service checkouts for those grabbing lunch.

Upstairs, John Lewis customers now walk straight into the store’s Christmas shop and toy department with fashion for men, women and kids brought together in the same location and puzzles and games given their own space.

There’s also a real sense that both brands are working to make a visit to the store more interactive with a packed programme of events, promotions and happenings scheduled.

Overseeing the investment and change is partner and branch manager Amy Stickland, who’s been heading the Canary Wharf operation for the last two years.

Waitrose and John Lewis Canary Wharf branch manager Amy Stickland

a passion for retail

“Being in charge here is everything I imagined and more,” she said.

“I’ve always loved retail. I remember going to the shops with my dad as a kid and seeing all the food on offer, getting to be a part of those choices.

“I actually did a generic degree in management with IT and Spanish and did a placement at a tech firm but my heart wasn’t really in it.

“After my final year I got a place on the Waitrose graduate scheme and I’ve just celebrated 18 years of service.”

Having managed John Lewis stores in Stratford and Chelmsford as well as Waitrose in Billericay, the opportunity to work with both brands on the Wharf was too good to pass up.

“It was a brilliant opportunity,” said Amy. “The blend works well here and the teams are able to collaborate as well as work separately.

“There are challenges, of course, when you’re leading a team of 470 people, but I’m really lucky to have some amazing colleagues.

“Our model of co-ownership, where partners have a stake in the business, makes them feel connected to it – there’s a sense of responsibility there.

“The team really care about the service they’re giving because they know our success depends on it.

“In such a busy marketplace, with so many other retailers, that’s one of our big attractions, people know we really want to go the extra mile, to surprise and delight our customers.

“They come here expecting great service and because of all the other guarantees such as our ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ promise, people believe they don’t need to shop around as much.

“It’s up to us to deliver on those expectations when it comes to price and customer experience.”

John Lewis’ Christmas shop is located at ground floor level

logical layout

Part of that operation involves ensuring the store itself is fit for purpose and that products are where customers expect to find them.

This is why both Waitrose and John Lewis have spent the past few months rebalancing things in the Canary Wharf store.

“We’ve extended our physical shelf space by extending two of our aisles,” said Amy.

“From a situation where we had food and non-food items mixed together, we now have the left hand side of Waitrose for things you can eat and the rear right of the store for things you can’t.

“On the left there are scratch cook and store cupboard items, breakfast options, snacks and drinks, while over the other side it’s products for laundry care and toilet tissue.

“It does take a bit of time for customers to get used to the new layout, but we hope overall that the journey and the product placement makes more sense, refreshing the shop floor and making it feel more intuitive.

“Also on the food floor, there’s a re-energising of the main payment area with an additional 11 self-scan tills with a better layout.

“We’ve preserved what we call the stunt space where brands such as Heinz can come in and we saw that used quite a lot over the summer.

“It’s a little bit of retail theatre and we want to continue to make use of it with pop-ups and interactive give-aways – a nice moment at the start of someone’s shop.

“We’ve refreshed the wine bar, changing the orientation of some of the seating.

“It’s convenient and excellent value and customers love it for the people watching.

“It has some very loyal customers – one even told me they could write a book about it.”

Waitrose's wine section has been completely reorganised — Waitrose’s wine section has been completely reorganised

overhauling Waitrose wine

In fact the whole wine section has had an overhaul with bottles grouped by whites, reds, rosé and sparkling.

More of the fine wine selection has been brought out onto the shop floor with the glassed-off area instead used for more convenient storage.

“It’s more efficient and it makes it easier for customers to shop,” said Amy.

“Our fantastic wine specialist Nat will continue to host wine and cocktail tasting events to help introduce customers to our range.

“We’ll also be hosting interactive experiences every weekend in December.

“That will be a great opportunity for people to bring their families.”

This touches on a wider point.

“While the Wharf of old was very much a weekday destination, increasingly customers are shopping at the weekends with their kids.

“Canary Wharf Group has done a fantastic job in reinventing the estate,” said Amy.

“We see a lot of families at the weekend now and our Saturday and Sunday trade is really growing post-Covid.

“Early on we get scratch-cooks shopping for ingredients.

“Then the children arrive with families often having lunch on the Wharf and then grabbing something nice for dinner.

“Even though our hours are shorter on Sunday, the shop is still busy after closing with partners dashing around to fulfil online grocery orders.

“We’re introducing a new dedicated space for our partners at the front of the store as we work with Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat.”

meal deals and free parking with Waitrose

While Saturday sees the biggest take at the tills, transaction rates during the week eclipse all others with working Wharfers attracted by one offer in particular.

“Our meal deal is one of the most popular things we sell,” said Amy.

“It’s fantastic value for £5 – you get a main such as a sandwich, a snack and a drink.

“For many customers that’s their main mission at lunchtime and the quantities we sell are phenomenal.

“But people visit the store for many different reasons.

“You get people driving into the Wharf who make use of the free parking when you spend £10 with us.

“They get two hours on weekdays – which is exclusive to Waitrose – or three at the weekend.

“You can even order your groceries to be ready for collection from the car park at Canada Place.

“Typically after work people are buying food for their evening or grabbing emergency purchases.

“It’s also a big attraction to have the John Lewis range on the upper floors.

“There’s always things we’re looking to do in future, more products we’d like to add.

“I’d love us to have a more compelling beauty offer and with more fashion brands opening on the Wharf we’ll definitely be looking at more men’s and women’s clothing.”

As for the more immediate future, with Christmas already in full swing with foodie treats downstairs and festive decorations in place, Amy said her team were looking forward to welcoming customers over the next month.

“We’ll be hosting a special Waitrose Christmas Customer Evening in Canary Wharf on December 12, 2024,” she said.

“We’ll be having some fantastic music and people will get the chance to taste some of our festive range too.

“It’s a free event, taking place from 5pm-7pm so there are no tickets to worry about.

“People can just drop-in.”

Waitrose and John Lewis are hosting numerous events in the run-up to Christmas

WHAT’S ON IN-STORE –

As the festive season gets into full swing, Waitrose and John Lewis in Canary Wharf have planned a packed programme of events to engage shoppers.

Here we list just some of the happenings to watch out for over the coming weeks in 2024…

The store will be hosting live music every Saturday and Sunday until December 22. Performances are free to watch

The Salvation Army is set to perform outside Waitrose on the mall level in Canada Place from noon-5pm on December 14

John Lewis will be hosting toy demonstrations on the shop’s ground floor in the toy department at 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays until December 21

The shop will also be running a series of food tastings in its Christmas shop at weekends, also at 1pm on Saturdays and Sundays until December 21

Customers will be able to post a letter to Santa in the run-up to Christmas beside John Lewis’ main tills at ground floor level

Visitors to the store can take part in the Elf On The Shelf Treasure Hunt, with those finding all six receiving a Merry Minis collectable and a special sticker as well as the chance to enter a prize draw for a £500 gift card

Father Christmas will be making a very special visit to the Canary Wharf store on December 5 and 6 for Santa’s Tea Party. Tickets cost £17.50 per child plus a £1.75 booking fee and £6 per adult (includes a hot drink and a slice of cake) plus a 60p booking fee with early morning slots still available

The store will also be running a series of talks and events for My John Lewis members including fashion masterclasses focused on versatile styles and cosy clothing for adults and children. The store will also be hosting a series of Christmas Treetorials offering advice on decorating that festive essential

Wharf Life's £5 Meal Deal picks at Waitrose Canary Wharf — Wharf Life’s £5 Meal Deal picks at Waitrose Canary Wharf

GET THE BEST – £5 Meal Deal

Nobody asked us, but we love value at Wharf Life and the Waitrose £5 Meal Deal is a stone cold Canary Wharf classic.

All selections are not created equal, however, so we set about trying to max out the deal by picking the most expensive items included for the main, snack and drink.

Top of the list is the GLO Pulled Beef And Onion Salad offering an impressive 397 calories and 22g of protein for a list price of £4.80.

Our chosen snack is the Taiko Mini Nigiri, including salmon and cucumber sushi.

This costs £2.50 off the shelf and adds about 150 calories and a further 4.9g of protein to the mix.

Top that off with Jimmy’s Iced Coffee at £3 for another 148 calories and 8g of additional protein and there you have it, products worth £10.30 for £5, 695 calories and 34.9g of protein.

Prices correct as of 11/2024

key details: Waitrose and John Lewis

Waitrose and John Lewis in Canary Wharf are located in Canada Square and are open daily.

Full details of all events at the store are available online, including links to book tickets where appropriate.

Find out more about festive events at the store here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

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

November 29, 2024November 29, 2024

Our Urban Oasis draws on Hidden Gems to foster creativity

Photographer, designer and entrepreneur Steve Nyman has brought his talents together in Royal Docks spaces beside Tate & Lyle

Our Urban Oasis is located in Royal Docks at The Factory Project opposite Tate & Lyle

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Venture to the banks of the Thames in Royal Docks and, on a patch of land close to Tate & Lyle’s North Woolwich factory, you’ll find a small forest of logs and tree stumps arranged behind a shipping container.

But this collection of offcuts isn’t a pile of unwanted timber, dumped by an unscrupulous tree surgeon.

It’s the raw material from which two interrelated businesses have emerged.

Steve Nyman knows the power of an image.

Bitten early by the photography bug he was “obsessed with the camera” as a schoolboy, turning that passion into a successful shooting career in the fashion sector that’s taken him all over the world working with models and brands.

However, there was also an underlying desire to explore creativity beyond the lens.

“During the pandemic, I was just sitting there and thinking,” he said.

“I’d always been good at sourcing locations – I guess I’ve got a sense for an aesthetic and an eye for design.

“I love nature and it was on a trip to Thailand that I found inspiration.

“There was this piece of driftwood on a beach that just looked like a coffee table – I wanted to take it home and regretted leaving it behind, although I did bring back an amazing shell.

“I thought that if I could find these kinds of pieces of wood and work with them in England, then that’s what I’d like to do.

Steve Nyman of Our Urban Oasis and Hidden Gems Design, surrounded by the raw material he works with

“By chance, I met a guy with a woodworking shop at Thames-Side Studios in Woolwich where I was based.

“I approached him with some of my ideas and designs, started working in his workshop and learnt a lot from him as he turned them into a reality.

“That’s how Hidden Gems Design was born.

“We use pieces of natural wood that would otherwise be burnt or end up in the chipper to create pieces of furniture and sculptures.

“We reclaim them from tree surgeons and give them a new lease of life.

“It’s very sustainable because we’re saving this material from going to waste.

“If it wasn’t for someone making something out of a fallen tree, it would be burned.”

The furniture at Our Urban Oasis comes from Hidden Gems Design

creating Our Urban Oasis

Hidden Gems took off, with Steve’s work in demand from interior designers and a stream of direct commissions, but things haven’t ended there.

In tandem with his furniture business, he’s created a fresh, innovative venture in Royal Docks that’s also proving a hit with clients.

“I live locally and I was scouting around with the idea of opening a photography studio,” said Steve, who also makes ceramic pieces.

“I used to store my wood at The Silver Building which is also owned by Projekt and space at The Factory Project came up so I took it on and opened Our Urban Oasis.

“I now have two photography studio spaces that I hire out and my workshop is also here, so it’s really convenient.”

Both studios are on two levels and, in contrast to the typical blank canvas approach of many providers, Steve has kitted them out with a wide selection of pieces from Hidden Gems that clients are free to incorporate into their photoshoots, videos or other creative works.

Steve has filled his studios with furniture and sculptural pieces mostly made from natural wood

Visitors can even buy the pieces on display, should they so wish.

“A lot of these studio spaces tend to copy each other, but I trust my own tastes,” said Steve.

“I think that if I like it, then there will be other people that do too.

“It’s satisfying to see people enjoying it and we’re very popular. I think people hire the spaces because they want something different.

“I hope they find the furniture and decor inspiring – some of the walls are natural clay.

“It’s a creative space where people can come and it’s organic, they can use it for whatever they want.

“It can be a film set, a place to record podcasts, video content or to do fashion shoots. Everything can be moved around and we have plain backgrounds too so it can be used for e-commerce.

“There’s a kind of zen feeling about it, so I get a lot of people involved in the wellbeing sector using it.”

Steve’s pieces from Hidden Gems fill the space, with everything from sofas and chairs to dining tables and tree stumps on wheels available as props.

“A lot of them feature live edge work – where the bark has just come off and the wood has a natural shape to it,” he said.

“Each piece is truly unique. I could make a new version of a piece we’ve already done, but it will never be exactly the same because the wood will be different.

“I always get surprises with the timber we work with because, until you get it inside the workshop and start to cut it and work with it, you don’t know what it will be like.

“We’ll plane a piece down and it’ll be: ‘Wow, look at that,’ and there’s the inspiration.”

Our Urban Oasis' spaces are available for a wide variety of uses — Our Urban Oasis’ spaces are available for a wide variety of uses

providing flexible spaces

Our Urban Oasis enjoys a varied array of clients with people finding all kinds of uses for the space.

“It’s such a mixture,” said Steve.

“We’ve had celebrities here doing shoots for magazines and we get big fashion brands as well. It’s really surprising.

“We get plenty of natural light and there’s a real summer vibe when the sun is streaming through the window.

“The building itself is very secure and I think people sometimes wonder what they’re coming into when they arrive at the gates because of The Factory Project’s industrial history, but it also means we’re nice and quiet.”

That’s likely to be of special benefit for Our Urban Oasis’ forthcoming evening of Candlelit Yin Yoga And Sound Bath.

The event is set to take place on December 7 from 4pm to 6pm and will be led by Yoga and Pilates teacher Suzan Altay.

Tickets for the event, which include home made muffins and herbal tea, cost £40 per person and are available online via this link.

Fitting for the flexibility of the space, that this event offers a fresh dimension to the possibilities amid Steve’s sculptural creations.

key details: Our Urban Oasis

Our Urban Oasis offers a range of studio spaces at The Factory Project in Royal Docks, decorated with pieces from Hidden Gems Design.

Steve’s pieces are also available to purchase online and he remains available for interior commissions

Find out more about the studio spaces here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

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

November 28, 2024November 28, 2024

Hera aims to elevate Greek cuisine with opening at Stratford Cross

Recently opened restaurant and bar promises traditional flavours and dishes from Greece with a twist in presentation and approach

Hera is located at Stratford Cross between East Bank and Westfield Stratford City

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A s I walk into Hera in Stratford for the first time, I receive a warm, unabashed and vocal welcome from the staff.

While the interior of its expansive, double-height space has been filled with high-end decor, it immediately manages the challenging trick of coming off as welcoming.

Its owners might be from a different part of the Mediterranean, but they’ve successfully extracted the bonhomie from a bustling Athenian taverna and transplanted it to a ground floor restaurant at Stratford Cross.

Located off the main drag between Westfield and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hera has opened its doors with a weather eye on the future.

It’s opposite V&A East Museum, which is set to become a major pull for visitors from 2026 and is right beside a new footbridge to the cultural and educational hub whose full complement of organisations will include the London College Of Fashion, BBC Music Studios and Sadler’s Wells East.

Visitors and students need to eat and drink and the owners are betting Hera, with its views over the park to the Hackney Wick skyline, will be well-placed to serve them.

Hera's main dining room — Hera’s main dining room

elevating Greek cuisine

“There aren’t many options in London for elevated dining when it comes to Greek food,” said Stefan Petrushev, the establishment’s marketing manager.

“While we look in some senses like a fine dining restaurant, we wanted to make our food and drink accessible – Stratford Cross is a modern area and we wanted to reflect that.

“The menu is Greek through-and-through, using seasonal ingredients with beautiful presentation on the plate.

“With the menu, we wanted to reflect different aspects of Greek cuisine such as seafood, vegetables and meat, but to make the dishes a little more intricate and sophisticated than you’d find in a casual dining setting.

“For example, with our starter of melitzano salata, everything is made fresh. It’s about taking people’s expectations and going beyond them with the flavours and the way the dishes look.

“One of the wonderful things about Greek cuisine is that there’s a simplicity to it – you can really taste everything that goes in.”

Marketing manager at Hera, Stefan Petrushev

small plates at Hera

Hera’s menu is split into starters ranging in price from £4 to £9.

Beyond that, it’s essentially a small-ish plates place with dishes split into Cold And Raw, Garden, Farm and Sea.

There’s a bone-in sirloin for £40 and a whole grilled sea bass for £35, but the majority come in between the mid-teens and mid-20s.

The aim is to encourage sharing and sampling, with dishes arriving when ready rather than in sequence.

“In the run up to our official launch, we’ve tried to think of everything,” said Stefan, who grew up in Canning Town.

“It’s lovely during the day but at night it’s especially beautiful with all the lights visible through the window.

“The location doesn’t seem perfect yet, but it will be.

“With all of the openings at East Bank, we’re playing the long game.

“We’ll be right in the heart of it, especially with the unveiling of the new bridge, which will be the quickest way to reach the park from Stratford International station.

“In addition to the restaurant we will also have a winter garden which will be enclosed and fully heated in the winter and can then be opened up in the summer and that will be great.

“We’re also set on making sure we don’t replicate the formality of a West End restaurant.

“In terms of hospitality, we’re taking the things that work to ensure people get a professional service, but also the warmth of the Greek welcome.

“We’ll have the perfect lighting and the sexy groove of the music in the evening but without that intimidating atmosphere some restaurants can have.”

A warm, sweet pillow of Feta Saganaki, £13

indulging in drinks

Beyond the food, there are the drinks and Hera boasts an illuminated wall filled with colourful, inviting bottles.

“We felt there was a space for a really nice wine and cocktail bar in Stratford,” said Stefan.

“We only have our signature cocktails on the list alongside plenty of Greek wines – sparkling, white, red and orange.

“They’re so nice they can be a little dangerous to play with, especially the white.”

It’s a list designed to pair well with the dishes on offer, which feature a panoply of Greek flavours.

There’s a dish of baked feta, wrapped in kataifi and bathed in a rich bath of lemon honey.

Grilled octopus comes with a thick mashed swirl of fava beans, while beef meatballs are rich with mint and jazzed up by a little pile of tzatziki.

These are dishes to dip in and out of, a less stuffy and traditional take on a series of well-known classics.

Everywhere there’s honey, thyme and aubergine.

Stefan said: “If you’ve never really tried Greek food, we’re a great place to start because we focus on making things just that bit more special.

“If you’re going to a restaurant, you want to have an experience and that’s what we offer.

“We have an incredible space here and we want people to feel that personal touch – that this is food made by people who really care.”

Grilled octopus with fava beans at Hera, £19.90

key details: Hera

Hera is located on Arber Way at Stratford Cross and is within easy walking distance from Stratford International and Stratford stations.

It’s open daily from 11am-11.30pm. The winter garden is set to open in due course.

Find out more about the restaurant and bar here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

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

November 20, 2024November 20, 2024

London Dock unveils homes at Jade Wharf in Wapping scheme

Development’s latest phase includes landscaped gardens as 2,000-home scheme rolls out

An artist's impression of London Dock in Wapping — An artist’s impression of London Dock in Wapping

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The translucent hues of a semi-precious stone much prized across Asia and readily imported over generations by the British, have given the latest phase of residential development London Dock its name.

Jade Wharf in Wapping is part of St George’s 2,000-home scheme and presents buyers with 99 apartments to choose from ranging in size from studios to three-beds.

The properties, which feature open-plan design and outdoor space as standard, are available to purchase off-plan now.

Prospective purchasers can expect floor-to-ceiling windows and kitchens set out with oak herringbone flooring, stone-effect worktops, a choice of colours and integrated smart appliances.

There’s also a Curators Collection of apartments that feature add-ons such as app-controlled security and Alexa-controlled lighting and music.

Bathrooms will boast free-standing marble basins and stone floors.

St George, which is part of the Berkeley Group, will also be undertaking extensive landscaping for residents to enjoy, promising a “calming and tranquil” communal garden with water features, trees, plants and places to sit.

Facilities at the development include The Club, which boasts a gym, squash court, virtual golf suite, swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room as well as a private screening room.

Properties at Jade Wharf feature balconies overlooking landscaped gardens

lounge around

Freshly launched alongside Jade Wharf is the scheme’s Mauretania Lounge, offering residents a wealth of facilities themed on a 20th century ocean liner.

Extending to some 6,000sq ft of space, these include a private dining room, an observation lounge, a drawing room and a Palm Room dedicated to relaxation.

St George managing director, Marcus Blake, said: “The London Docks was a bustling area of discovery and travel in its heyday and we have carefully honed this spirit into the creation of our latest collection of homes in Jade Wharf.

“The combination of artfully designed apartments, private gardens and hotel-style amenities, nestled between two of the largest financial centres in the world, creates a captivating offer for buyers.

“An established and friendly community, London Dock is already home to many residents who love the harmonious balance of living amongst 7.5acres of tranquil open space, just moments from the hustle and bustle of some of London’s most dynamic neighbourhoods.”

The Mauretania Lounge will open alongside Jade Wharf

building a community at London Dock

As a major regeneration project, London Dock already offers a selection of on-site amenities including established hospitality businesses such as Champagne Route, Urban Baristas, Slurp Noodles and Motherdough for pizza.

As well as a pharmacy, there’s E1 Crossfit and the recently launched Club Pilates (see Page 12) for those seeking to boost their fitness levels.

Located within walking distance of Shadwell DLR and Overground stations and Tower Hill Tube, the development also benefits from its proximity to the attractions of St Katharine Docks, Tower Bridge and the Tower Of London.

Residents can also easily walk to Whitechapel or Aldgate East for more restaurants, bars, shops and connections to the Elizabeth Line and District and Hammersmith And City lines respectively.

An artist's impression of the main staircase at the Mauretania Lounge — An artist’s impression of the main staircase at the Mauretania Lounge

key details: Jade Wharf at London Dock

Prices at Jade Wharf range from £715,000 to £1,335,000. Interested parties can call the sales team on 020 3966 6164, email sales@londondock.co.uk or visit the London Dock Sales and Marketing Suite at Arrival Square for more information.

Find out more about the development here

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

November 20, 2024November 20, 2024

Emily Jo Gibbs embarks on artist residency at Trinity Buoy Wharf

How silk organza and thread are worked into portraits and pictures that depict the people she meets

Artist Emily Jo Gibbs - image Jon Massey — Artist Emily Jo Gibbs – image Jon Massey

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There’s a clear sense you get when talking to Emily Jo Gibbs that making work is simply a natural response to the world around her.

For the next six months, she will be artist in residence at Trinity Buoy Wharf and aims to capture something of the place and those who call the Leamouth creative hub home.

“I’m hoping to meet other people, see the things that are going on here, hear stories and make work about them,” said the Forest Hill resident.

“I’ve already met the guys who are restoring the SS Robin and heard about their backgrounds in blacksmithing, cabinet-making and carpentry.

“That research will evolve into finished pieces and there will be an exhibition of those.

“Part of the project is also to run workshops too, although those are still being arranged.

“What is certain is that I’ll be hosting Stitch And Talk sessions at The Orchard Cafe.

“It’s about being here, meeting people, drawing, stitching and seeing what comes out of that.”

The stitching is key to Emily’s practice as she uses appliqué embroidery and silk organza to create her pieces.

Taught to sew by her mother, it’s a style that’s emerged from her background as a crafter.

Emily Jo Gibbs at work on one of her pieces — Emily at work on one of her pieces

a journey through materials

“I grew up in a family of makers and designers and I was passionate about art and making growing up,” she said.

“I actually went to study wood, metals and plastics at Wolverhampton University and it was only in the third year of that course that I started making fashion accessories in textiles and metal.”

Unsure what direction she wanted to pursue, she dabbled in leather work and shoe-making but ultimately found the processes restrictive after the comparative artistic freedom of her university course.

Building on the success of her degree show she managed to secure funding to start a small business making high-end handbags in London.

“That really took off and it was very exciting,” she said.

“It was ironic because I’d been quite intimidated by fashion students when I was doing my degree.

“But I did well because I was interested in materials.

“My bags were featured in Vogue and other magazines, travelling to Paris and Japan.”

After a decade of making, Emily changed direction when she had children, taking a “convenient” admin job.

While the handbag trade was unpredictable, she realised how important having a creative outlet was to her and began making work about her family.

“I used silk organza that I had from making the bags, initially for my own pleasure – portraits in what I call flat-work because they weren’t three dimensional like the accessories,” she said.

“That evolved as well. I went on to do portraits of kids who lived in our street.

“Through Craft Central in Clerkenwell I reconnected with Bridget Bailey who had been on the fashion scene making hats and was repositioning herself as an artist too.

“We got chatting about doing a collaborative project and I wanted to make a portrait of her, but she was quite shy about that.

“That got us thinking about other ways you could depict an artist, so I made a self portrait of her and me by depicting our pin cushions.

“I then did a whole project with seven contemporary makers, meeting them, talking to them and making portraits of them through their tools.”

Emily's art combines embroidery with translucent layers of silk organza — Emily’s art combines embroidery with translucent layers of silk organza

making work

Emily’s practice involves the combination of delicate stitches – each done by hand – with the translucent, ethereal finery of her chosen fabric.

“It feels really good to say that I’m an artist – I’ve now been doing it longer than the time I spent making the bags,” she said.

“It’s lovely to meet other makers and make work about them.

“There are a lot of artists in the world who may not be working in contemporary craft, who may be quite hidden, and I’m interested in those people.

“I did a nice project with a boatyard in Lymington because it had a really interesting apprenticeship scheme.

“There I took photographs of the people and talked to them, and made work about them.

“Since doing that, I’ve been trying to get a project where I’m embedded and get to know the people better, and see how the work evolves.

“That’s how I came to apply to Trinity Buoy Wharf – they really liked my work and the projects I’ve been doing and selected me for this residency.

“Here I feel there’s lots going on behind closed doors, and I’d like to know what that is.

“The really exciting bit is not knowing exactly what’s to come and what I’m going to make while I’m here, engaged in this project.”

A piece depicting a tradesperson's tools — A piece depicting a tradesperson’s tools

key details: Emily Jo Gibbs

Emily Jo Gibbs is artist in residence at Trinity Buoy Wharf for the next six months, culminating with a display of her work during London Craft Week in May.

Dates are yet to be confirmed.

Emily will be hosting drop-in Stitch And Talk sessions from 10am-noon on Tuesdays in November 2024 at The Orchard Cafe in Trinity Buoy Wharf.

These are for anyone interested in creating some art or finding out more about her practice and are free to attend. Materials and ideas provided.

Follow the artist on Instagram for details of future projects or find out more via her website

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

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

November 19, 2024November 19, 2024

Bombe aims to boost business’ bottom line via machine learning

Co-founder Mike Joslin talks success, growth, polling data and basing a startup at Level39 in Canary Wharf’s One Canada Square

Bombe co-founder and CEO Mike Joslin - image Jon Massey — Bombe co-founder and CEO Mike Joslin – image Jon Massey

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Mike Joslin is a man of clarity.

“The success of our company is down to the success of our customers – if they don’t succeed, we don’t succeed,” said the CEO and co-founder of Bombe.

For Mike, delivering that success means using data.

Having spent much of his career crunching numbers and utilising tech to help boost political campaigns for the likes of Ed Miliband, Angela Rayner, Keir Starmer and Sadiq Khan – inspired by Moneyball, a book by Michael Lewis and later a film that highlighted the importance of using metrics to drive a run of wins on the baseball field.

After working at the National Education Union for several years and running its campaign to improve teachers’ pay, he saw a commercial niche for the techniques and tech he’d developed to deliver results in the political sphere.

Bombe, named for Alan Turing’s codebreaking Second World War machine that deciphered Enigma messages, was born and Mike quit his job in March this year to run it full-time.

the basis of Bombe

“Our thesis is that there is a lot of data out there which tells you what people are doing, but it’s not that interesting for a lot of businesses because you want to know why people are doing what they’re doing,” said Mike, who is based at Level39 in Canary Wharf’s One Canada Square with his rapidly growing team.

“That’s the basis of our company.

“This kind of machine-learning approach has been absent from products I’ve experienced in my career in marketing.

“I’ve been using machine learning for well over a decade – people think AI is ChatGPT but that’s just a powerful iteration of it.

“The technology has been around for a long time.

“When setting up Bombe, which is strictly non-political, we looked at the market, did an analysis of where we would fit, then developed our data proposition, working with our polling partner Deltapoll.

“A lot of people are obsessed with technology, but it’s not about technology, it’s what you use it for.

“Our tag line is that we’re trying to build the best audience and data targeting model in the world and I think we’ve done that – so do our clients and that’s why they’ve chosen to use us.

“If you’re a business we can tell you for every postcode in the country the likelihood someone will purchase from you and the price they’ll pay for your product.

“Companies may have huge amounts of data, but they don’t necessarily know who is purchasing goods or services from them. That is a necessity.

“We’ve built a number of persona sets to reveal what is actually driving people’s decisions using machine learning.

“Those groups have been battle-tested with our clients and that has propelled our success.”

Commuters come in and out of Canary Wharf Jubilee Line station – image I-Wei Huang

delivering a return on investment

The idea in some senses is simple.

Bombe’s service tells businesses where best to concentrate their marketing to deliver the best return on their investment.

“What our clients are buying from us are models,” said Mike.

“We make our own data – we’re not buying it. It comes from interviews, from machine-learning models, from statistical techniques, from battle-testing and then spending hours making sure it all works.

“However, how we’re doing it is less relevant than whether it works for our customers. What matters is what’s driving their sales, their top line, whether you’re going up or down and how you can change that.

“What we do is tell our customers why their revenue is where it is.

“Some of our clients are seeing results that are 85% better with Bombe.”

Initially the startup is working with medium and large-scale businesses, but plans to launch products for smaller companies next year.

Bombe is open for business

“If you are selling to consumers, come and talk to us,” said Mike.

“Our mission is to help everyone who wants to engage with their audience to be doing it through us.

“We take great enjoyment and pride in doing that.

“We have a team of about 20 people, and we’re growing strategically, which is very important to us.

“We don’t want to grow too quickly, but we are offering something unique and different.

“We’ve seen the market reaction to that and that’s helping us to make sure our product is the best.

“We have to have the best data and we think we do, but we can’t rest on our laurels – the market is changing so quickly and we want to make sure that our customers continue to come to us.

“We think we’ve got an incredible team and Bombe would be nothing without the people working for it.

“Starting the business was a leap of faith.

“It’s hard, it’s tough, there’s always a challenge, always something to solve and always something more to do.

“You’ve got to be level-headed, have a strategy and a team to deliver it and I think we do.

“That’s really where our success has come from.

“Our clients need to see that they’re getting value, seeing an increase in their revenues from our product and that’s when we succeed.

“That’s what drives me to make sure that’s happening.

“I work extremely hard and don’t do much apart from that and look after my young son at the moment.

“If you want to start a business, you’ve got to be all-in.

“Your staff, your investors and your customers need that. If you’re not prepared to do that, don’t start a company.

“I don’t think there’s been a learning curve with Bombe, it’s just hard work. Success is 1% idea and 99% hard work.

“We want the best for our customers, so we’ve got to keep pushing. I like my work so I have no problem with that.”

success and growth

Bombe has attracted clients through the reputation of Mike and his team as well as press exposure.

The company also hosts webinars to showcase its data.

“Most of our work has come from people coming to us,” said Mike.

“We’ve got a growth strategy team who have significant commercial experience and they’re doing a really good job.

“We’re doing a number of webinars over the coming months to showcase what we do via LinkedIn.

“The first will be on November 19 at 11am with Joe Twyman, co-founder of Deltapoll and will reveal key insights into the shifting patterns of Londoners’ transport habits, using the latest data from TfL.

“It should be really interesting for readers.”

Transport links played a part in Mike’s decision to join the tech community at Level39 in Canary Wharf too.

“It’s a really buzzy area,” he said.

“I came to Level39 a few times before I took space here and they’ve done a great job with it.

“It’s a really interesting environment, with so many events and the view is fantastic.

“The wider area is also great – the shopping is amazing and the food offering here is the best in London.

“It’s incredibly accessible, too with the Elizabeth Line.

“It has changed the way a lot of people behave in the capital and between it and the Jubilee Line, pretty much anyone can get here, so that makes Canary Wharf good for recruitment, good for the company and good for clients.”

setting goals

It’s also not a bad environment from which to target fast growth – former Level39 startup Revolut is set to put its name atop YY London in Reuters Plaza in the not too distant future.

“Our objective is to be the best in the world,” said Mike. “We believe we have the best data, and we think that means the market will respond to it.

“Our ambition is to grow rapidly as a business, if that happens and we have the investors backing us and the team to do that.

“We want to be a name that rings out alongside the other market leaders in the space, and we think we’ll do that.

“Perhaps people reading this will be sceptical.

“There are thousands of data companies in this country. What I would say is come and talk to us to understand how we are different.”

key details: Bombe

Bombe is based at Level39’s One Canada Square offices in Canary Wharf.

It currently offers a one-off Targeting Package for businesses priced at £5,000 aimed at telling clients where and what they should be saying and who it should be directed at to best reach their audience.

The firm’s £25,000 yearly package includes monthly reports specific to the client’s industry and access to its platform and AI dashboard on an ongoing basis.

At £5,000 per month, clients also get a strategy manager to run campaigns on behalf of their business.

Those interested in its services should email contact@bombe.io for more details or visit its website.

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

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

November 19, 2024November 19, 2024

V&A East Storehouse to bring something fresh to museum sector

V&A deputy director and COO Tim Reeve on the institution’s ambitions and plans for the Here East site

An artist's impression of V&A East Storehouse - image Diller Scofidio + Renfro — An artist’s impression of V&A East Storehouse – image Diller Scofidio + Renfro

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“I hope it will feel welcoming, but I also really like the idea of visitors wondering if they’re really allowed access to all these space, that maybe they’re somewhere they shouldn’t be,” said Tim Reeve, deputy director and COO of the V&A and chair of the East Bank Board.

We’re talking about the first of two sites that the museum is set to open in Stratford as it expands its offering across the capital.

V&A East Museum is set to launch in spring 2026 at East Bank and will celebrate making and the power of creativity to effect change in the world.

V&A East Storehouse, however, goes far beyond conventional displays and promises something entirely new.

Housed at Here East about a 10-minute walk across the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from East Bank itself, the V&A is creating a vast publicly accessible facility where its diverse non-display collection and archives can be looked after for the next century.

Spread over some 173,000sq ft, it is set to arrive first, opening its doors to the public on May 31, 2025.

V&A COO and deputy director Tim Reeve - image Jon Massey — V&A COO and deputy director Tim Reeve – image Jon Massey

a second site

“While we were engaged in the process of working out what V&A East Museum would be – how it would be distinctive and reflect the local geography and demographic of the people around East Bank – we were also talking to the Government about the future of Blythe House,” said Tim.

“That’s the place in West Kensington where we stored all our non-display collections – about 250,000 objects, 350,000 books and 1,000 archives.

“It was made clear to us, along with the Science Museum and British Museum – which also use it as store – that we needed to leave because the building was to be redeveloped.

“That was a pain, because you don’t want to be moving a collection of our sort more often than you have to, due of the delicacy of the objects and the expense.

“However, it was also a clarifying moment for the V&A East project with the idea that we could find a place for our Blythe House objects, books and archives and that we could create two sites in east London.

“We just needed to find a space big enough and close enough to East Bank to make sense. Looking at the two sites together, you get a complete 360-degree view of the contemporary museum world.”

tucked away: V&A East Storehouse

While V&A East Museum, with the dramatic angles of its purpose-built home at East Bank, will be the more visually striking, in content it will probably feel the more familiar of the two with galleries, exhibitions, a cafe and a shop.

Somewhat tucked away in the former Media And Broadcast Centre built for the 2012 Olympics, V&A Storehouse is deliberately radical.

Storehouse will be a place where our objects live and where we look after them,” said Tim. “We know people want to see what they’ve been told they can’t – where the magic happens.

“So V&A East Storehouse has been created to facilitate people’s exploration of the bit of our organisation that would normally be hidden – a visitor experience that’s self-guided and free every day of the year.

“We have an absolutely enormous, amazing space, where we can fit everything in, with some space to spare as the collection grows.

“We’re building some of our showpiece objects into it such as architectural fragments from the Robin Hood Gardens estate and we’ve come up with a public network of spaces intertwined with the collection.

“That will be a 60 to 90-minute, self-guided tour of exploration as people burrow their way up through the building and arrive in this incredible atrium.

“From there you can keep exploring and see how far you can get – it’s been designed to allow visitors to get as far as possible.

“Moving all our stuff from Blythe House is incredibly expensive, so we thought we might as well create a new world with it and that’s what we’ve done at Storehouse.

“The idea is you will breathe the same air as the objects we hold.

“A visit is the start of a journey and we hope people will come back when they realise they can browse as much as they like.

“Here East is a warehouse, an industrial building – not a marble-clad museum. It’s humble and we want as many people as possible to visit.

“It’s also a source to be mined and returned to, constantly changing as it’s also a working building with objects going out on loan or for conservation.”

A section of the Robin Hood Gardens estate is installed at Storehouse – image by V&A

east London influence

Designed by architects Diller, Scofidio + Renfro, Storehouse will be home to an extensive and varied collection including creative works from The Glastonbury Festival Archive, PJ Harvey and Elton John’s costumes, vintage football shirts, Dior and Schiaparelli haute couture, Roman frescos, samurai swords, mid century furniture and the iPhone.

A dedicated David Bowie Centre will showcase artefacts from the musician and performer’s archive with rotating displays set to open in September.

More than 100 miniature displays on the ends of storage systems will highlight specific exhibits including those relating to this part of the capital.

“There will be lots of east London influence in the way we’re displaying and interpreting the collection,” said Tim.

“Our piece of Robin Hood Gardens was the first thing we installed here because it’s so enormous.

“It’s one of the first things visitors will see when they climb the stairs.

“Our collection is international and so we want to bring out its full splendour, depth and range and there are some really wonderful east London stories we want to showcase, drawing inspiration from the connections with the local community we have built.

“I think walking in on opening day will be a really emotional moment.

“Colleagues across the institution have poured so much time and energy into it, through some really tricky moments, of which we’ve had more than our fair share.

“It’s the most important thing I’ve done in my professional life, and will probably be the most important thing I ever do.

“I feel I’ve been really lucky to be involved in creating such a project since 2013.

“You have a light bulb moment and think what it would be like to see it happen – to be around from beginning to end.

“There were moments when it felt like it might never happen.

“But as an institutional lift, it doesn’t get any better.

“And we are here for the long term.

vWe have a 100-year lease at Here East and 200 at East Bank.

“One of the biggest treats for us is seeing people who were here before the Olympics realising that these things are being created for their benefit.

“The interplay between the different types of organisations at East Bank make the future very interesting – a special destination.”

An artist's impression of the David Bowie Centre - image by IDK — An artist’s impression of the David Bowie Centre – image by IDK

key details: V&A Storehouse

V&A East Storehouse is set to open on May 31, 2025, at Here East on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Entry will be free. The David Bowie Centre will open on September 13.

V&A East Museum will launch in spring 2026 at East Bank in Stratford.

Find out more about the openings here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

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

November 13, 2024November 13, 2024

Club Pilates brings comprehensive fitness offering to Wapping

London Dock development welcomes American chain as the business expands to the UK

Club Pilates' Wapping studio can host classes for up to 12 participants and boasts a wealth of equipment for people to use — Club Pilates’ Wapping studio can host classes for up to 12 participants and boasts a wealth of equipment for people to use

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It would be nice to think that those living in the prosperous capital of a G7 country would have access to pretty much the best stuff in the world.

But it’s clear London is lagging behind in some areas.

A recent visit to Tokyo left me agog at its bullet trains, spotless streets and high quality cuisine.

Its urban planning makes the City look like a rather unambitious provincial backwater.

Then there’s the astonishing level of hygiene facilities – plentiful and mostly free – in a culture that really wasn’t content for the evolution of the toilet to essentially stop with the invention of the manual flush in 1596.

A trip to Wapping made something else plain – that the UK is also behind on certain health and fitness trends.

Pilates is clearly starting to have a moment in London.

Visit Third Space in Canary Wharf and you’ll find its Reformer Pilates classes consistently oversubscribed.

It’s really the extra kit that makes the difference.

Mat-based Pilates sessions are not so rare in community centres across the country.

But studios that allow groups of people to stretch and strengthen their bodies on equipment such as the spring-loaded reformers, Pilates chairs and springboards are far less common.

Club Pilates has opened its third UK branch at London Dock in Wapping

seeing an opportunity

It’s a niche Club Pilates is looking to fill.

Founded in San Diego in 2007, the business has expanded to more than 1,000 locations globally via a franchising model.

With a target of 50 clubs for its initial UK roll out, it recently opened its third location in the capital at London Dock in Wapping.

Offering classes for up to 12 participants, the Gaughing Square facility is packed with Pilates paraphernalia and offers locals a range of classes to cater for all fitness levels and ages.

Jada-Rae Poku, master Pilates instructor and director of sales, marketing and education at Club Pilates

Club Pilates: a one-stop shop

“It’s an all-inclusive, one-stop shop for all your Pilates needs,” said master Pilates instructor and director of sales, marketing and education at Club Pilates, Jada-Rae Poku.

“We’re an American company, founded in California by Allison Beardsley whose mission was to bring Pilates to the masses.

“Historically, it wasn’t accessible to many people, so, by having more equipment, she could have more people at one time and that brought the price point slightly lower.

“It’s about community and bringing people, who might not otherwise take part, into the practice.”

Jada-Rae is currently splitting her time between the States and the UK, having been with the business for seven years.

“At school I did track and field, and my first experience of Pilates was in rehab from an injury – I was a high jumper,” she said.

“I was planning to become a physical therapist, but found Club Pilates along the way, and now I’m involved in the management of the business as well as teaching the practice.

“Having started on the sales team, I was working to open up branches on the coast of New Jersey, then in Irvine, California.

“I also run a certification course at Wapping for people wishing to become instructors themselves.

“We offer a fully comprehensive Club Pilates certification for everything you can see in our studios and those who complete a course can take those skills wherever they like.”

Of course, with a further 47 branches of Club Pilates expected to create some 900 jobs across the UK, those 500-hour programmes could well be a route to employment with the company as it grows.

Jada-Rae takes a class at the Wapping branch of Club Pilates — Jada-Rae takes a class at the Wapping branch

a little history

That interest in this country is increasing feels especially apt given the exercise system’s roots.

Born in Germany, Joseph Pilates had overcome childhood asthma, rickets and rheumatic fever thanks to a passion for exercise and martial arts.

Having become a gymnast and bodybuilder, he moved to England in 1912 and earned a living as a circus performer and a self-defence instructor for the police.

However, when the First World War broke out he and many other German citizens were imprisoned through the Government’s policy of internment, first at Lancaster Castle and then on the Isle Of Man.

It was during these periods of incarceration, teaching his fellow inmates wrestling and self-defence, that he developed the fitness regimen of mat exercises that evolved into Contrology, the basis of modern Pilates.

He taught thousands of men his methods during these years.

While the evidence is inconclusive, the spring systems used to create resistance in his Reformer machines may have been inspired by those in the frames of the hospital beds he helped to rehabilitate injured prisoners of war on.

He returned to Germany after the war but decided to emigrate to the USA, meeting his future wife on the crossing and dedicating his life to teaching his method and spreading its benefits from their base in New York.

Club Pilates shares that mission as it expands to the country where the exercises it teaches had their genesis.

Exercises on the Reformer are often performed on the back making them accessible to people of all abilities

a warm welcome at Club Pilates

“People can expect super-friendly, smiling faces, here to make sure they have the best experience,” said Jada-Rae.

“There is a lot of equipment and it can be overwhelming, but we’ll make sure you have a full-body workout – that you move your spine, feel good and get stronger – in every class.

“You’ll always be working on the stabilisation of muscles, mobility and flexibility, which are all needed for proper functional movement.

“I go to a gym as well and, when I have a solid Pilates practice, I’m not getting injured as frequently and I’m getting stronger more quickly, because I’m rehabbing my muscles in the Pilates classes.

“You’re able to push more if your muscles are more limber, so it’s great for any movement practice.

“Pilates is life-changing. It’s great for rehabilitation, it’s low-impact, so literally everyone can do it.

“The method is a very controlled and precise way of moving your body – we’re very focussed on the mind-body connection.

“The more you do it, the better you get.

“It’s about engaging every single muscle, so there’s a lot to take in when you start, but it becomes easier and easier.”

key details: Club Pilates in Wapping

Club Pilates is located in Gaughing Square at Wapping’s London Dock development.

New clients can take advantage of an early Black Friday offer and purchase three classes for £30 via the link below.

Membership options are also available with prices ranging from £150 to £299 for unlimited classes.

One-to-one training options are also available.

Find out more about the studio here

Read Wharf Life’s e-edition here

Subscribe to our free Wharf Whispers newsletter here

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

November 5, 2024November 5, 2024

Santa Stair Climb from The Felix Project returns to Canary Wharf

How Wharfers can climb 48 storeys of One Canada Square to help charity feed hungry Londoners

The Santa Stair Climb is back at One Canada Square in aid of The Felix Project

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Having filled the stairwells in One Canada Square with a sea of green last year, Wharfers are once again being invited to take on the tower to raise money for charity.

The Felix Project’s Santa Stair Climb is set to return to the heart of Canary Wharf on December 8, 2024, with participants challenged to scale 48 storeys of the building on foot.

The reward?

A spectacular view across the capital and the knowledge that the cash you’ve raised will help save surplus food from the bin and be redirected to feed Londoners in need.

The Felix Project's Will Savage, right, completes the climb last year — The Felix Project’s Will Savage, right, completes the climb last year

a surge in need

“We’ve experienced a real surge in need this year, and we know that winter is going to be really tough for many people across London,” said Will Savage, head of corporate partnerships at The Felix Project.

“We are London’s largest food re-distribution charity.

“We rescue high-quality surplus food that can’t be sold and would therefore go to waste and deliver it to about 1,000 community organisations, such as food banks, homeless shelters and primary schools – all working on the front line to feed people who are experiencing hunger in the capital.

“A lot of that work is done locally in Tower Hamlets where we deliver to more than 100 organisations and dozens of primary schools.

“We know that more than half of working families are having to turn to food banks to put food on their tables.

“Unfortunately it is a problem that’s getting worse.

“We’ve moved from a pandemic straight into a cost-of-living crisis and we know that’s having a devastating effect on communities across London.

“We also found in our survey that one in four working families are struggling to feed themselves, and for one in seven that’s a daily struggle.

“This demand means many food services are buckling under increased pressure and that’s why The Felix Project wants to save more food and feed more people.”

This year's event is set to take place on December 8 — This year’s event is set to take place on December 8

how the Santa Stair Climb contributes

To do that, like any organisation, it needs both cash and volunteers.

After launching last year, the Santa Stair Climb is the charity’s flagship fundraising event with capacity for 1,000 participants.

In addition to an entry fee, climbers commit to raising £300 each for the charity – a sum that could provide 825,000 meals for Londoners in need should the maximum number of people take part.

“It’s a really great way for people to support our work and help feed Londoners in need,” said Will. “I went up last year and it was amazing.

“When you’re at the bottom, 1,031 steps feels like a lot but it was great to get to the top and to see the support that was there.

“It’s Santa-themed, so we provide a Felix green Santa outfit for everyone in the spirit of Christmas, which also recalls the fact that Santa was green originally.

“There’s a fantastic atmosphere at the top and beautiful views. Participants’ families can even come along for the celebration.

“We’re hoping as many people as possible sign up this year because it really will have a huge impact on what we can do.

“The climb takes about half an hour to complete although that will vary by who’s taking part.”

The Felix Project gathers surplus food that would otherwise go to waste

filling the stairwells

Last year saw hundreds of participants take on the challenge – a mixture of corporate supporters and individuals.

“The Santa Stair Climb is both challenging and rewarding and Morgan Stanley is looking forward to taking part again this year as we continue to support The Felix Project,” said Anish Shah, Morgan Stanley’s managing director, global capital markets.

The Santa Stair Climb is part of Canary Wharf Group’s ongoing collaboration with The Felix Project, which kicked off in 2023 with the launch of the partners’ Green Scheme.

Will said: “We know CWG aims to achieve net zero by 2030 and one way is to help reduce food waste.

“In the first year of the Canary Wharf Green Scheme, we got seven restaurants signed up.

“In practice, teams of people pick up food from retailers and outlets based on the estate and they take it by bike or electric van directly to organisations who are feeding people in the vicinity.

“In that first year we saw 118 individuals volunteer with us, which equates to 26,000 hours of work and this meant that over 6,900kg of food was redistributed.

“That’s about 16,500 meals that we’ve been able to rescue and save from going in the bin.

“The mission to tackle the twin problems of food waste and hunger really resonated with me – it’s why I wanted to join the charity.

“Seeing what it does, it’s not difficult to understand it’s very valuable.

“I remember going to our Park Royal depot at the time to meet the team and see what it was about.

“Seeing the volumes of really high quality food that would have otherwise gone to waste made me think how insane it was that this resource was available but could have gone to landfill, even though people are hungry.

“Having been here for four years and seeing the need is still growing, I know there’s still much more that we need to do.

“I’m really proud to play a small part in that mission.

“You never quite get used to the idea that food would have been thrown away if it wasn’t with us.

“It’s great that The Felix Project is there to redistribute it and make such a difference to people’s lives at the same time.”

Slots are still available for the Santa Stair Climb so Wharfers can play their part in supporting the charity’s work.

The Felix Project is also looking for volunteers on an ongoing basis to support its activities.

Find out more about its work here

Participants in the Santa Stair Climb get a hat and T-shirt as a memento of their challenge

key details: the Santa Stair Climb

The Santa Stair Climb is set to take place at One Canada Square on December 8, 2024, with half-hourly waves of climbers starting at 10am.

The final wave will set off at 2pm.

Individuals can participate for £30 each, while groups of four can book in for £100 (£25 per head).

The fundraising target for each person taking part is £300.

Find out more about the challenge here

The charity distributes food and meals to charities and organisations across London

case study: EastendHomes – why the Santa Stair Climb matters

>> The housing association provides homes to people based in Tower Hamlets.

In early 2020 it started offering a food service to just a handful of residents but now supports around 225 households a week.

EastendHomes’ community engagement manager, Paul Wilson, said: “We get new people each week.

“The hardest thing for us and our volunteers, is when we have to send people away.

“That is always dispiriting, but at least we are doing what we can.

“The service we provide could not happen without the ongoing support of The Felix Project.

“We would not be able to afford to give people this food – if each bag is just £10 worth, it would cost thousands of pounds a week to fund.

“That’s why it’s so important that Felix gets more support and funding, because it means we can do this and fewer people get turned away.

“This service is helping. We supplement people’s budget and that might give a family a bit of slack in the autumn to buy their kids school uniform, a pair of shoes or a treat for a child.

“All parents want to do that whenever they can and Felix is permitting that, it’s wholly positive.”

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