Specifically, The Photography And Video Show is set to arrive at Excel London for the first time over four days in March.
what’s it all about?
Professional and amateur photographers plus film, video and content creators are invited to the east London exhibition centre in Royal Docks to check out the latest kit and techniques.
what brands will be there?
The major players will all be present including the likes of Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, OM System, 3 Legged Thing, Pentax, Tamron, Lowepro and Sigma.
In total more than 250 brands will be showing cameras, lenses, equipment and accessories, with visitors able to try out kit and purchase it at the event.
Retailers such as Wex Photo Video, CameraWorld and London Camera Exchange will also be present, offering exclusive show discounts and trade-in finance options.
New for 2025 will be exhibitors such as Tilta, Imagen AI, Viltrox, Tiffen, Nya-Evo and Sandisk.
there’s more?
Education is a major component of the event, with a range of talks and demonstrations on offer across six stages and theatres.
Photographers participating in sessions include Lindsay Adler, David DuChemin, Joel Grimes, Colin Prior, Andy Gotts, Julieanne Kost, Scott Kelby, Sarah Edmunds, Kelly Brown and Belinda Richards.
On the moving image side, Teja Lisjak, Libby Penman, Mandy Celine, Dan Thorburn and Dean Sherwood will be sharing insights and tips for making films and capturing video.
and for content?
The show has invited content creators Oliver Howells, Kym Moseley, Tati Kapaya, Tamara Gabriel, Andy Burgess, Ellis Reed, Bax Mundoba and Courtney Victoria to share their expertise on its Creator Stage.
Visitors will be able to try out all the latest kit – image by The Photography And Video Show / Future Publishing Events
discover the latest kit at The Photography And Video Show
beyond the stages?
Many of the brands exhibiting will also be hosting their own programmes to demonstrate kit and skills on their stands.
Adobe will be running an education programme at its hub, while the show will also host the Nikon School, Canon Spotlight, Fujifilm School and offerings from Sigma and Digital Camera World.
places to play
The Photography And Video Show has partnered with Creativity Hub Events to offer visitors interactive shoot sets where they can practise their skills and try out their purchases.
The Creator Playground will also return for a third year with attendees told to expect giant garden gnomes, illusion tunnels and much more besides.
they say…
Event director, Ruth Folkard, said: “The Photography And Video Show isn’t just ‘another trade exhibition’, it’s far more than that.
“It’s a date for the diary for anyone who loves to be behind the camera.
“This is the event’s debut in London and we’re really looking forward to welcoming thousands of tech geeks and creative artists alike.
“Beginner or pro – it really doesn’t matter, there’s something on for everyone and we’re family friendly too.”
More than 250 brands will be participating in The Photography And Video Show – image by The Photography And Video Show / Future Publishing Events
key details: The Photography And Video Show
The Photography And Video Show is set to make its debut at Excel London from March 8-11, 2025.
Open from 10am-5pm each day, standard tickets cost £18.95 with discounts available for multi-day access.
That’s where Thaisa Uchoas first contacted personal trainer, Ilona Drob, with the idea that their fledgling businesses might collaborate.
She also wanted to book some gym sessions.
“I was going through some issues with my body at the time, feeling it was not mine any more and I wanted to get back into fitness,” said Thaisa, who started a massage therapy business in 2022.
“I signed up for a programme with Ilona, which really helped me get back into shape.
“It was during those gym sessions in March 2023 that we got talking about how running a business on your own was like.
“We were sharing our thoughts about how lonely it can be and wondering if there were other women locally who might want to help each other in the same way we were.
“We’d started sharing clients and supporting one another, so we thought it might be possible to create a community.”
Before starting their businesses, both women had worked in corporate roles in the recruitment sector.
Ilona, originally from Poland, had supported herself through university in London before forging a career at a “fantastic female-led company”.
She said: “I really enjoyed that, but my goal was to have my own business.
“My parents had always told me from an early age that, if I wanted to get ahead, I’d need autonomy – to be in charge of my own destiny.
“They always encouraged me to pursue my studies and try things on my own.
“My dad was a small business owner and my mum worked at a hospital doing day and night shifts, for many years.
“She had four kids, so it was really hard.
“She was the one who told me to continue to study and put myself out there, so I wouldn’t have the same fate as her.
“That’s what sparked the desire in me to take charge of my career.”
Ilona is founder of Your Vegan Trainer and co-founder of both BeThriving Wellness and Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs
giving up the day job
Having long had a passion for health and fitness, Ilona left her job to become a personal trainer at Gymbox in December 2018, simultaneously founding Your Vegan Trainer to deliver exercise programmes and plant-based nutrition for private clients.
“I’d had a few health problems and I wanted to heal – I did a lot of research around nutrition to get myself stronger,” she said.
“I’d been working very long hours in recruitment. I loved the buzz, but it had an impact on my wellbeing.
“I went on a course and decided to take a chance, say goodbye to my salary and start my business.
“It was scary at first, but it was worth taking the risk.”
She’s since gone on to co-found a second company with Raffaela Kestel, inspired by working in the gym with people in corporate careers.
“I was seeing how amazing people are when they’re in the gym, but hearing that they were not fulfilled and happy in the office.
“So we decided to see how we could change this through consultancy, by installing a culture of health and wellbeing within organisations so it’s at the forefront of what they do.
“That means the employees are very well looked after, happy and fulfilled, which is one of the most important things a company can do for its sustainability and to make it an attractive place to work.”
Thaisa is founder of The Massage Space and co-founder of both Her Sanctuary and Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs
a journey to wellness
Thaisa’s journey to business ownership was also through personal experience.
Coming to the UK from Brazil aged eight, she’d grown up in Hertfordshire, studied in Birmingham and moved to London “working crazy hours” in recruitment.
“I always felt I needed to do something different,” she said.
“I wanted a job where I would have more impact working with people on a more personal level and I decided I wanted to make people feel better – but didn’t know how.
“In 2020 me and my partner were starting a family – we were going through IVF and there was lots to think about.
“I went on maternity leave and that’s when I was having some health issues and started seeing an amazing massage therapist who helped me through my pregnancy – she was my inspiration.
“Those sessions made me feel so good and I decided to retrain.
“I was still in my job, but I wasn’t fulfilled, so I handed in my notice in December 2022 to take massage therapy seriously.
“I took on clients, initially working from home. Then I met Ilona.”
starting Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs
In addition to supporting each other, the two entrepreneurs decided to see what appetite might be out there for other women in business to network in the local area – Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs was born.
“We felt there was a real need to connect with others after the pandemic,” said Ilona.
“That’s what made us look to see if there were others like ourselves who were feeling like that.
“We created a Facebook group – in the beginning it was five of us having a coffee.
“After a few weeks we started to become more active on that page and more people started joining.”
Thaisa added: “Then we thought about a monthly meet-up and we started doing that in October 2023 in a corner of the bar at the Marriott West India Quay because it was free and the staff are lovely.
“I think there were 12 of us including Michelle, who’s now an ambassador for the group.”
Since then things have grown.
The group’s monthly meet-ups have grown to an average of 85 attendees, now hosted at Republic next to East India DLR station.
The events are ticketed with entry starting at £5, with the February gathering starting at 6pm for welcome drinks and introductions.
As well as the networking, events typically feature a guest speaker who shares their entrepreneurial journey – the highs, the lows and any tips they want to pass on.
The February session also features a prize draw with various benefits available to win before things wrap up at 9pm.
telling the story of Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs
“Our aim right now is for more people to know about our network,” said Ilona.
“We’d love to think that every aspiring female entrepreneur locally would want to come to us to meet other people who have done it, so they can start sooner and get their business off the ground.
“It’s about tapping into people who do have a dream, even those who have the idea as a side hustle.
“For us, it’s about creating an ecosystem where everyone who comes to one of our meetings will find value.
“Absolutely any kind of business is welcome.
“We’re also aspiring to boost diversity and inclusion, so we want people with differing backgrounds to be included.
“There is so much to learn from people with different businesses from our own.
“Even though we’ve grown, it’s still about women coming together to collaborate – we now have a team of nine ambassadors to help organise what we do.
“It’s about women checking us out and actually getting support with what they want to do.
“We are a friendly group – people are so accessible.
“We’ve found there are so many powerful women who have had successful careers in the corporate world coming into entrepreneurship and finding they have no-one to turn to for advice.
“It’s so important to have people to bounce ideas off.”
As one of the original attendees, Isle Of Dogs-based businesswoman and senior leader, coach and mentor at Tropic Skincare, Michelle Buchan, has become one of the group’s ambassadors.
“A friend said I should go – my background is in the corporate world and I’ve often felt men dominate the conversation in that setting,” she said. “You often come up against egos. A group of women produce a different atmosphere – more supportive and collaborative.
“It’s a different kind of networking. There may be a lot of women sitting at home thinking they’ve got an idea, a scheme, but that it’s only them struggling with those problems.
“This group really wants to help them through those struggles because we know it’s easy to feel isolated.”
making space for women
Thaisa, who recently started offering massage therapy services at One Canada Square in Canary Wharf, said: “We wanted to create a space for women and for them to have a voice in this area.
“It’s about education, co-working and networking and it’s really worked.
“Initially we ran it for free but we needed it to cover its costs which is why we now charge a fee to attend.
“This is because it takes time and effort for us to organise the network, to sustain it and to grow the group.”
Thaisa is also now a serial entrepreneur, herself, having co-founded Her Sanctuary with founder of E14YogaCoach Sharon Osu.
She added: “One of the most important things about this group is for our members to collaborate with each other and to get work out of it.
“I’ve collaborated with Ilona, of course, and it’s important that this is a part of it.
“We know it’s not always simple to make sales or to find clients.
“That’s why we ask a key speaker to share their story each month.
“It’s good for people to see that the journey isn’t always easy and for them to hear that in language that they can understand.”
key details: Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs
Canary Wharf Female Entrepreneurs is open to women who have started their own business or are hoping to do so.
The group is not restricted geographically, despite its name, and welcomes women from across Canary Wharf, east London and beyond.
The group holds regular monthly meet-ups with the next set to take place at Republic on February 28, 2025, from 6pm-9pm. Tickets start at £5.
Premium memberships, which include full access to CWFE’s regular monthly events are also available.
An opportunity for attendees to expand their networks, to connect with more than 120 exhibitors and to boost the skills they use in their careers.
who’s exhibiting?
Suppliers will be represented from the fields of business travel, corporate gifting, workplace solutions, event planning services and many more.
what about activities?
There will be a range of opportunities including speed networking sessions and the return of The PA Show Passport, an initiative that encourages delegates to visit suppliers for the chance to win prizes and collect a goody bag. This year it’s sponsored by Thorntons.
how about on stage?
The Keynote Theatre is free to attend on both days, with highlights on the programme including Lifting Your Potential: Strongwoman Stories To Help You Say Yes To Success from coach and speaker, Zoë Thompson, and Lead Up: How To Move From PA To EA And Beyond by keynote speaker, trainer and coach at The Like Me CIC, Jasmine Mbye.
The event will offer plenty of networking opportunities
CPD-accredited content
that’s not all is it?
No. The event is well-known for its CPD-accredited sessions, which can be accessed at the event for an all-inclusive cost.
Firstly there’s the Tech Theatre. Running both days, highlights include Crafting Precision: Advanced ChatGPT Prompts For Proactive Assistants with Paul Pennant of Microsoft MVP and Using AI To Supercharge Your Social Media from Kati Noakes, founder of KN Comms. The event will also host a Personal Development Theatre on both days.
Then, on the first day the show will also host the VA Content Stream for virtual assistants including VACT Limited’ s VA trainer and mentor, Amanda Johnson with a talk entitled Be The Boss Of Your VA Future and Shelley Fishel, founder of Tomorrow’s VA on Saving Money And Boosting Efficiency With Microsoft Tools For Virtual Assistants.
The second day will see the event host the EA Leadership And Progression Conference Stream offer sessions on Mastering Business Skills For Growth And Leadership from Clare Lucas of UK Ducks In A Row Ltd and From Uniform to Suit: Boot Camp For Executive Assistants by Claudine Martin, senior EA at BNY Pershing.
Marketing director at Mash Media, Charlotte Fewlass
register for The PA Show now
they say…
“We’ve added a theatre stream specifically designed for executive assistants aspiring to leadership roles,” said Charlotte Fewlass, marketing event director at Mash Media, organiser of The PA Show.
“These sessions will equip attendees with the strategic thinking, resilience, and communication skills needed to excel in today’s evolving workplace.”
who’s supporting?
In addition to Thorntons, the event’s 2025 headline sponsor will be train travel specialist SWR Business Direct.
It’s also supported by meeting and event space provider Convene and business travel management firm Corporate Traveller.
anything else?
The show’s sales and event director, Lisa Farnfield, said:
“The PA Show offers unparalleled opportunities for skill development, networking and career growth.
“Our exhibitors provide cutting-edge solutions tailored to executive support professionals, ensuring attendees leave with actionable insights and valuable connections.”
Sales and event director at The PA Show, Lisa Farnfield
key details: The PA Show 2025
The PA Show Spring 2025 is set to take place at Excel in Royal Docks from February 26-27, 2025.
Exhibition and Keynote Theatre passes are free for PAs, EAs, VAs and office managers.
Full access including all CPD-accredited content costs £199 for one day or £239 for two ex VAT.
Group discounts of 20% for five+ delegates are available.
Lebanese restaurant Byblos Harbour has a long history of serving up colourful, flavourful dishes on the edge of Millwall Inner Dock.
The establishment serves a cuisine described by owner Aboud Grimesty as similar “to Turkish food” thanks to 400 years of occupation by the Turks, “but more refined” from a period of French influence and control from the early 20th century.
It’s been attracting diners to the Isle Of Dogs since opening its doors in 2008.
“We had a good plan and the financial crisis hit, but things got better until Covid came,” said Aboud, who lives in Canning Town.
“However, we carry on and we’re in good shape.
“When we opened, there was no authentic restaurant serving proper Lebanese food in east London, so I thought I’d give it a try.
“It’s a varied cuisine – after the occupation by the Turks, there was huge poverty so there’s lots of vegetarian food – people had to do a lot with a little.
“The menu is compact to keep things under control – you can order a range of starters and then a main course.
“My personal favourite is the mixed grill with chicken and lamb.”
Restaurateur Aboud Grimesty
a new look for Byblos Harbour
It’s clear when I pop in to interview Aboud that his connection to his customers is paramount.
The consummate host, he’s unfailingly attentive and frequently stopping to chat to regulars and newcomers alike.
On leaving, he presses a bottle of Lebanese red into my hands, telling me the country has the best wine in the world – how does he know?
It’s where Jesus pulled his infamous party trick with the water.
This closeness with his customers and the importance of his homeland sit perfectly in explaining the reason for my visit.
The restaurant has been refurbished recently
To cap off Byblos Harbour’s refurbishment, which has included the construction of a covered, heated and sheltered terrace for diners and shisha enthusiasts, Aboud called on a regular for some assistance with the interior of the restaurant.
“I came here about six months ago, and Aboub showed me his empty walls,” said Kyrsten Perry, an artist and Isle Of Dogs resident.
“He said he wanted to celebrate Byblos – the city from which the restaurant takes its name – so I asked him what the stand-out features of the city were and we went from there.
“It’s a port that’s been operating for about 7,000 years.
“I researched the history, found out all about its connections to the Egyptians, the ancient Greeks, the Phoenicians and its Roman ruins.
“These include an amphitheatre overlooking the ocean, but there’s also a 5,000-year-old pier with many restaurants nearby, which inspired Aboud initially.
“That’s how the collaboration began.”
Stuffed vine leaves at Byblos Harbour
creating the paintings
Kyrsten set about creating a series of watercolours from images of Byblos, with the collection recently unveiled at the restaurant.
“I wanted to capture what it must have been like in Roman times,” she said.
“Initially I thought I’d do a semi-aerial view, but it didn’t look right.
“I also didn’t want to do one of those big murals.
“It was really a collaboration. I’d send Aboud images and he’d like some and not others.
“We talked extensively about how the culture of the country has affected the food, the people and the whole atmosphere.
“To me, it was something uplifting and joyous.
“There have been so many awful things happening in that part of the world, I thought it would be great to create something positive.
“Aboud supports multiculturalism – people coming together.
“It’s been a real privilege to work with him because I can see what he’s trying to do.
“He brings people together with good food, good wine and good times.”
Isle Of Dogs artist Kyrsten Perry
inspired by the water
Born in Cornwall, Kyrsten was brought up in Australia before returning to the UK, gravitating to the Isle Of Dogs after a stint running a venue in Islington.
In addition to her full-time job working for a Labour MP, the former Tower Hamlets councillor is a practising artist working from a studio in Roman Road.
“During the day we deal with a lot of people who are acutely desperate and in need of support,” she said.
“The art is a good counterbalance to that.
“Some friends and I share the studio and I’m absolutely in my element when I’m painting.
“I’ve really enjoyed the process of working with Aboud – I trust him and he’s got really good taste.
“When you’re in that creative process, trying something new, that’s really important.
“I’ve done lots of things in the past – I have two art degrees – but I’ve only really taken it seriously in the last couple of years.
“I’ve been doing the art class at the Shadwell Centre in Whitechapel and that’s how I met the friends I share the studio with.
“Something happens in that creative space which is very precious and I’ve felt that doing this project with Aboud.
“I’m certainly up for more commissions as I’ve finally got my website and Instagram sorted.
“I’m definitely looking for more opportunities to collaborate, but I’ll be doing my own thing as well.
“I really have to take my hat off to Aboud.
“Byblos Harbour is always reliable – my mum, who is originally from Streatham loves coming here with her friends when she visits from Australia.
“You know you’re getting good quality food and that it will be a fabulous day.
“Aboud has had to be creative over the years, to reinvent his restaurant but always with what the customer needs and wants in mind.
“I’ve known him for 10 years and I’ve always loved the food – having been a councillor, I know how much restaurants struggled over the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, so it’s fantastic that he’s adapted and is still delivering that quality.
Another of Kyrsten’s paintings for Byblos
key details: Byblos Harbour + Kyrsten Perry
Byblos Harbour is open Monday-Saturday, from noon to 11pm and on Sundays from 1pm to 10.30pm.
Takeaway options include Deliveroo and Uber Eats for those who prefer to dine in their homes, although you’ll be missing out on the artwork.
The Silvertown Tunnel is set to open on April 7, 2025, assuming Riverlinx and TfL’s carefully laid plans come to fruition.
what’s that?
It’s a new road crossing under the Thames between Royal Docks and Greenwich Peninsula, named for the neighbourhood in the former where its twin bores pop up.
isn’t that the route of the Blackwall Tunnel?
Not quite. That one runs between the Peninsula and, well, Blackwall.
but there’s quite an impact on both isn’t there?
Correct. From April 7, tolls will apply for drivers in both tunnels.
This is to fund the construction of the new link and ongoing maintenance of the two crossings. It also avoids pushing drivers towards one tunnel.
go on, how much?
Charges will apply between 6am and 10pm. At peak times (6am-10am and 4pm-7pm on weekdays) cars and small vans will pay £4 for each crossing, large vans will pay £5.50 and lorries £6.50.
At weekends and from 10am-4pm and 7pm-10pm on weekdays, the charge is £1.50 per journey. There is no charge between 10pm and 6am for any vehicle.
In contrast to the Congestion Charge and the fee for the Dartford Crossing, motorcyclists and moped riders are not exempt with peak journeys charged at £2.50 and off-peak at £1.50.
how do I pay?
The best option is to sign up for TfL Auto Pay, which also administers the Congestion Charge and LEZ and ULEZ levies in the capital.
Users register their details online and can choose to pay by Direct Debit or card.
Those not using this system pay peak charges via phone or online at all times when using the tunnel.
are there any discounts?
There are. Drivers on low incomes can get 50% off if they live in the boroughs of Barking And Dagenham, Bexley, Bromley, City of London, Greenwich, Hackney, Havering, Lewisham, Newham, Redbridge, Southwark, Tower Hamlets or Waltham Forest. This will be available for at least the first three years.
The link features a dedicated bus lane, with most road users charged to drive through it
what about businesses?
Small businesses and charities based in Greenwich, Newham, or Tower Hamlets can register up to three vehicles for a £1 discount per off-peak journey for at least the first year of the tunnel’s operation. This discount applies to Auto Pay only.
Vehicles with a disabled tax class, taxis licensed by TfL, Blue Badge holders and certain other exempt vehicles will be able to use the crossing for free.
what are the benefits?
TfL says the tunnel should help reduce congestion, delays and queues, help tackle pollution and improve the resilience of the road network by providing alternatives for drivers when either tunnel needs to close.
In addition to boosting road capacity, the opening of Silvertown Tunnel will provide new public transport routes.
so more buses?
Yes, at peak times, the crossings will see the number of buses rise from six to 21 per hour thanks to the introduction of Superloop SL4 between Grove Park and Canary Wharf and an extension to the 129 from Lewisham to London City Airport and Great Eastern Quay.
These join existing services on the 108 through Blackwall Tunnel.
TfL says cross river services will be free for the first year to encourage people to use public transport through the new links.
wait, free?
Yes, there’s more too.
For the first 12 months, those making journeys between Island Gardens and Cutty Sark or Woolwich Arsenal and King George V on the DLR will also find their journeys refunded as TfL works to tempt people to swap their cars for alternatives.
The discounts only apply to pay-as-you-go journeys between the stations listed, not longer trips.
anything else?
There’s good news for cyclists too.
The Silvertown Tunnel will have a Cycle Shuttle Service, free for the first year and operating for at least three years, running between Seagull Lane in Royal Docks and Millennium Way on the Peninsula.
This will run every 12 minutes every day from 6.30am to 9.30pm.
are the kids alright?
A puzzle. At the time of going to press, it looked like drivers under the age of 18 – moped riders aged 16+ and car drivers aged 17 – might have to pay the maximum peak toll for crossing through either tunnel at all times.
That’s because off-peak discounts on the charges are only available when using TfL Auto Pay, a service that says it’s only available to those aged 18 or over.
No discounts apply for payments made by phone or online, which are the only other options to make payment.
At off-peak times, that means mopeds riders and motorcyclists would pay an extra £1 per journey and car drivers an extra £2.50.
A TfL spokesperson told Wharf Life: “We are currently looking at how we can ensure that those aged 16 and 17 with a registered vehicle can access TfL Auto Pay to benefit from off-peak user charges for the Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels and will provide an update in due course.”
It said vehicles registered with TfL Auto Pay under a parent or guardian’s account would benefit from the discounts.
It has now altered its web page to clarify that only vehicles registered via an adult’s account will get the discount.
Fine for those aged 17 and under with access to a willing parent or guardian…
key details: the Silvertown Tunnel
More updates and information on the Silvertown Tunnel, which is set to open on April 7, 2025, as well as all the services that are due to come into effect once it does can be found on TfL’s website here.
There are 17 chances left to get on the property ladder at SO Resi Canning Town.
Well over half of the shared ownership properties at the east London scheme – a collection of 37 one, two and three-bedroom homes located at the Manor Road Quarter development – have already sold.
But there’s still time to pick up a share and, with mortgage costs likely to fall if the Bank Of England cuts the base rate, the apartments are looking ever more affordable.
“SO Resi Canning Town offers a real opportunity to purchase a Zone Two apartment in 2025” said Kevin Sims, director of SO Resi, the shared ownership brand of Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, the fifth largest housing association in the UK.
“Proposed plans from Newham Council mean the new town centre is set to be home to a new community hub, cinema, shops, office spaces, as well as brand new shared ownership homes.
“By choosing from our final 17 properties, prospective homeowners are set to gain a foothold in London’s property market alongside becoming a part of a vibrant and emerging community.”
There are 17 properties still up for sale
getting on the ladder for less
While a first-time buyer purchasing a property worth £395,000 at SO Resi Canning Town might normally expect to have to find a 10% deposit of £39,500, the government-backed shared ownership scheme means raising significantly less up front.
For a 25% share of that apartment, worth £98,750, they could secure a deal with a 5% deposit of just under £5,000, paying rent on the unowned portion of the home as well as the service charge.
Owners then have the option to increase the share of the property they own in a process called staircasing, decreasing the rent payable on a home.
SO Resi Plus offers owners the opportunity to incrementally increase their stake by 1% each year with no additional fees or valuations, a scheme that has proved so successful it is now available nationwide.
The Canning Town apartments themselves feature open-plan living areas, fully fitted kitchens with Zanussi appliances and solid timber floors.
All enjoy private balconies and feature built-in storage solutions, with living spaces ranging from 557sq ft to 971sq ft.
The area is increasingly attractive to buyers with extensive regeneration ongoing and a multitude of transport links connecting it to the rest of the capital.
Homes are available on a shared ownership basis
key details: SO Resi Canning Town
Prices at SO Resi Canning Town start at £98,750 for a 25% share of a one-bed.
Price is the driver behind first-time buyers’ appetite for Royal Docks properties according to Fairview New Homes.
The developer, which is currently marketing The Silverton in E16’s North Woolwich Road, says renters looking to buy are increasingly heading further east.
“The current climate means buyers are naturally looking for the best value for money when it comes to buying a home, especially those looking to join the property ladder,” said the company’s sales manager, Sohail Saiyed.
“While the Royal Docks is an emerging area and almost halfway through its major regeneration life cycle, it’s within easy reach of so many fantastic locations that offer everything young professionals are looking for.
Royal Docks is significantly less expensive than the area around Canary Wharf
“Therefore, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing renters from Canary Wharf, Limehouse and the Isle Of Dogs buying here, as for a like-for-like property they’re saving over 20%.
“Given the ongoing regeneration and huge investment in the Royal Docks, I would expect this trend to gather pace and as a result drive up house prices, meaning now is the best time to invest in the area.
“Due to its proximity to Canary Wharf, I would expect the area to follow a similar trajectory to the Isle Of Dogs, where house prices have risen by 82% over the last 20 years according to data from Foxtons.”
The estate agency’s numbers back up the argument.
It says the average asking price for a one-bed in the areas around Canary Wharf including Limehouse, Poplar, Blackwall and the Isle Of Dogs is £435,938.
For Royal Docks, that figure drops to £353,841 – a 19% difference and a potential saving of £82,000 for prospective buyers.
Homes come with fully fitted kitchens in open-plan living areas
The Silverton: attracting buyers
The Silverton itself is evidence of the trend.
More than a third of buyers at the scheme have come from addresses in E14 and Saiyed said that, with many working in the financial and insurance sectors not having to compromise on their lifestyles thanks to efficient transport links, it had proved popular.
By DLR via Pontoon Dock, Canary Wharf is about 20 minutes from the development or a 12-minute drive.
The scheme also enjoys direct links into the City and is within walking distance of London City Airport.
Billions of pounds are currently pouring into Royal Docks with many new homes, amenities and attractions expected to be built in the coming years.
The Silverton’s location, however, puts it within easy reach of the cafés, restaurants and shops that have already taken up residence at nearby Royal Wharf including The Windjammer pub, brunch spot Little Hudson and Korean barbecue Keonbae.
It’s a neighbourhood that is continuing to change with much more to come including a new pedestrian bridge linking the north and south sides of Royal Victoria Dock as part of The Silvertown development, a similarly named scheme nearby.
For Sohail, it’s an area primed to appeal to an active demographic of buyers.
“40% of our reservations have come from people aged 30 or under, which is a further indication of how popular this area is proving with the younger generation,” said Sohail.
“It’s a neighbourhood where we’ll see young families grow and a sense of community establish itself even more in the years to come.
“While almost half of those living in the Royal Docks are renting, nearly all of our first-time buyers are 30 or younger, demonstrating that once financially able, east London’s younger generations are clearly keen to put down roots here.”
To help them do that, Fairview is currently offering 5% mortgage contributions on selected plots up to a maximum of £25,000 on reservations made by March 31, 2025.
Terms and conditions apply.
An artist’s impression of winter gardens at The Silverton
key details: The Silverton
Prices at The Silverton start at £350,000 for a one-bed.
A selection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and two, three and four-bedroom duplexes are available.
“I’d always been attracted to the law because of my parents’ belief in equality and justice,” said Zahira Razaq.
“I absorbed their advice about finding a career in something like finance, law or medicine – one of the professions.
“It’s very hard to get a job in the law when you’re starting out and it just so happened my first job was as a paralegal working in immigration.
“I didn’t think there was much to this particular area before that, but when I got into it, I could see the impact the work has.
“It’s about helping to change people’s lives for the better.”
It was those first experiences that set Zahira on her path, progressing in the profession to become a trainee solicitor after six months and then a solicitor.
This year will be her eighth in the legal world, having joined the immigration team at Kidd Rapinet Solicitors’ Canary Wharf branch at Harbour Exchange in August.
You don’t have to sit with her for long to understand that her passion for the work burns fiercely.
Zahira discovered a passion for immigration law early in her career
a passion for immigration
“I’m old-school when it comes to hard work – I come in first thing to do my research because I never want to be the person giving bad advice – I always go above and beyond for my clients,” said Zahira.
“It’s my responsibility to prepare for everything and to be honest.
“I’m always upfront to the point that if I don’t see any merit in a client’s case then I won’t pursue it and waste their funds.
“I understand money is hard to earn and, if someone is in a position where they are struggling to pay for legal representation, it’s essential they get the very best service possible.
“Often my job is about changing a judge’s mind after the Home Office has turned down an application by showing how a client meets the criteria on compassionate grounds.
“I think it was really seeing the effect on clients that drew me deeper into this area of the law.
“There was one man who had five kids and was the sole breadwinner for his family.
“He was doing every kind of job available just to support them.
“I referred him to the British Red Cross and food banks just to help him survive.
“We went back and forth with the Home Office for ages, but eventually I managed to get him leave to remain.
“Seeing the gratitude on the faces of his family was amazing.
“It gave him a lot of security and was a whole new start for them. I’m not sure what would have happend to them had we not succeeded.
“The satisfaction of doing things like that is what makes the job so worthwhile – you can’t really measure it.
“It’s about fighting for justice and equality.
“I hate things that are unfair with a passion.
“What I want for myself is what I want for everybody else – situations where someone’s liberty has been taken from them or they’ve been denied justice without a fair hearing really get to me.”
Kidd Rapinet Solicitors offers free phone consultations on immigration matters
services at Kidd Rapinet Solicitors
Kidd Rapinet offers a comprehensive selection of immigration services for individuals and businesses from its base on the Isle Of Dogs, apt perhaps given the area’s history as a locus of international trade.
“We’re a one-stop-shop for people or companies who want to talk about immigration in any context,” said Zahira.
“A very hot topic is compliance – not all organisations understand things like work visas and right-to-work checks but there can be substantial penalties for those in breach of the rules.
“One of the things I’m especially keen to do here is to reach out to businesses and universities – students will have the qualifications to become skilled workers, but they need the work experience to go with that.
“Businesses often hire students because they are cost effective and can be moulded to specific roles, but a failure to do the right-to-work checks could see firms liable for fines for anyone employed illegally.”
The law is crucial when it comes to immigration.
It establishes whether those who come to this country through both legal and illegal routes can legitimately stay here, for how long and what they are allowed to do while resident.
“It’s always going to be a hot political topic,” said Zahira.
“Governments tighten rules for businesses and educational organisations to bring legal migration down.
“I would advise any migrant coming to the UK, either as a student or on a work visa, to try to obtain legal advice first.
“We can talk to them about how to remain after completing their studies and advise businesses and individuals on compliance when it comes to being employed and employing those from overseas.
“You want a solicitor who knows the law and who will be willing to fight your case if that becomes necessary.
“It’s very important because migrants contribute a lot to the UK economy. Many of my clients have really well paid jobs – that’s true of students who want to remain here after studying too.
“Immigration is an ever-changing field within the law and one that’s not just about what’s in the rules and regulations, but an area that’s based on arguments from other cases that apply to individual situations.”
for those seeking advice
The team at Canary Wharf has more than 25 years of experience helping people and businsses with immigration issues.
These include those who wish to visit or stay in the UK as a partner or child, a student, an investor, an innovator or to work at or start a company.
The firm can also help with permanent residence, indefinite leave to remain, British citizenship and UK Passport applications.
“Whatever issue it is, regarding immigration, then come and talk to us,” said Zahira. “We’ll be able to tell you whether we can help with your case.”
The firm’s expertise include immigration, conveyancing, wills and probate, employment law, commercial property, family law and an extensive list of services for businesses of all sizes.
Kidd Rapinet offers free, no obligation phone consultations with lawyers on immigration matters. Call 020 7205 2115.
It’s an important year in the ongoing story of east London.
The launch of Sadler’s Wells East will be the first truly public-facing slice of East Bank to open on the edge of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, marking the advent of the 2012 Games’ most significant cultural legacy.
Its first season will kick off with Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu’s Our Mighty Groove from February 6-9, 2025 – the first show to attract audiences to a building designed to pull people in with a bright neon welcome sign.
Its ground floor bar and cafe have the feel of the Southbank centre and, thanks to a free programme of performances on its foyer dance floor, will doubtless soon attract a troop of regulars.
The listings for the main auditorium, which has a seated capacity of up to 550, are packed with transformations of the space for shows planned to include immersive nightclubs and a skatepark.
Suitable for ages seven and up, the solo 40-minute show features a highly physical turn from dancer Kévin Coquelard and a beaten up Volkswagen.
“I created Birdboy for my daughter,” said Emma, who makes work from her base in Carlow, a little over an hour outside Dublin.
“I’ve always admired people who create work for kids but before this I never had. As an audience they’re not polite, they’re honest.
“I’d seen one or two beautiful pieces of work made for children and I had them up on a pedestal, so it always felt like it was something I had to work my way up to.
“It took me a few years to take the plunge.
“I had ideas for working around themes like loneliness and getting to grips with yourself as a person in the world.
“My daughter was eight at the time – it’s the age when children start to see themselves in relation to others.
“I started to see how she related to people and to the world, figuring out who she was. I went into a room with Kévin, a dancer I hadn’t worked with before, but had often seen performing.
“We started with a few images and it started growing – a true collaboration between us. Birdboy grew out of that process.
“It’s a story, told in a non-linear way about a character who has an interior and exterior world.
“There’s bullying happening and he feels a lot of negative emotions, but he has all these different devices to distract himself.
“He eventually finds a way to relieve himself of his worries and confront them.”
Choreographer Emma Martin of United Fall – image Ferdia Mooney
from Carlow to Sadler’s Wells East
Emma began her career as a ballet dancer before stepping away after getting “a bit of a wake-up call and taking a break before I hated it”.
She studied drama, theatre and Russian at university with a plan to be “a one-woman show, lighting, directing and making my own work” as a choreographer.
It’s more or less what she’s done since 2012.
“I have my own company now, United Fall, which since 2018 has been the production machine behind what I make,” she said.
“I create a show roughly every two years, depending on the rhythm of the piece.
“It is a long time and I tend to do it in stages.
“There might be two weeks and then another meeting two months later.
“It gives me time to test ideas – I find I like my work better if I have had time to have a love affair with it, to sit with it.
“It’s important that it doesn’t feel like a transient idea, but something I’ll always believe in.
“We’re funded by Arts Council Ireland so that’s easier.
“We don’t have tons of money but it’s a luxury and somehow we make it happen.
“It used to be that you’d do four weeks and then you’d have an audience – I don’t feel that serves the work.
“I prefer things to be slower so there’s more time to realise the technical side too.”
The performance is suitable for audiences aged 7+
a metaphor for the interior world
For Birdboy, that includes ensuring the automobile that accompanies Kévin on stage is suitably reinforced and able to play its part in the production, which has now been touring for 18 months.
“The car comes from an idea I had for the show of one human left in the world, completely alone, surrounded by debris from human beings,” said Emma.
“We were talking about doing it in a junk yard environment, but I decided in the end to do it in an empty space.
“Then the car came back, because I was thinking about being inside the character’s head in contrast to the outside world.
“I rang the designer one day and we put a car onstage, and that’s how it came about.
“It looks like a car and functions like a car in some ways but it’s a metaphor for our interior worlds.
“The idea of Birdboy taps into the bird imagery that is so ubiquitous in children’s literature.
“You have this idea of being human and not being able to get up and fly away – so, if you could have one superpower, would it be to fly away and see the world from a great height?
“A lot of superheroes can fly, so it’s what the character is wishing for.
“When he experiences difficulties, he wishes that he could just fly away.
“My daughter was also quite involved in the process.
“We were making it in Carlow, so I would bring her and her pal to see it.
“There are a lot of nods to her world, like SpongeBob and YouTube – cartoony references, so I was constantly testing her, to see what she thought.
“She liked it, but I don’t think she necessarily saw herself in it.
“A lot of people have read the character as neuro-divergent.
“My kid is not, but has plenty of friends who are, so she felt an empathy there.
“That’s really what I want audiences to feel – that it’s OK to be different because everyone has something to offer.
“It’s a very high-energy performance, using really raw physicality in combination with lots of emotion, that hopefully should give young people an understanding of the character.
“We’re using hardcore dancing, so the car has many places where it needs to be reinforced.
“I think it speaks to both adults and children and I’d love to see people of all ages there.
“We’re all children really – while I was making it, I was thinking about everyone’s inner child.”
The work is Emma’s first piece for children
key details: Birdboy at Sadler’s Wells East
Birdboy comes to Sadler’s Wells East in Stratford for six shows over February 20-22.
Quite where hotels stop and aparthotels start is itself a matter for lengthy debate – and not one that’s necessary to explore here.
Suffice to say, Vertus Edit’s 378 studios and its extensive guest facilities offer those seeking brief or medium-term stays on the Wharf a fresh option designed to satisfy a wide range of needs.
“That’s why this isn’t just a hotel,” said Isabel Landaeta, general manager of aparthotels at Vertus.
“Guests get a bit more space and a fully functional kitchen – they can stay a couple of nights or for a longer period.
“We’ve got a co-working space, lounges, a gym, meeting rooms and outdoor roof terraces – there’s a lot of space for people to explore across the two buildings outside of their studios.
“You have all the amenities you need including a 24-hour reception service and weekly housekeeping.
“Vertus has already made a name for itself in the neighbourhood with a reputation for service, so for Vertus Edit, it was about adapting that for people with different needs – those wanting a shorter stay or more flexibility.
“For example, someone might not want to sign a lease on a rental apartment, but they might want to live here for six months.”
Vertus’ Isabel Landaeter
Vertus Edit: a home-from-home
Vertus Edit offers four studio sizes for guests, the Little, Cosy, Comfy and Roomy, ranging from 200sq ft to 301sq ft in size.
All come fully furnished with an en-suite bathroom, towels, toiletries, a kitchen equipped with cookware, utensils, crockery, glassware and cutlery, a TV and super fast Wi-fi.
While no room service is available, there is a 24-hour self-service pantry for guests to access as well as Canary Wharf’s myriad hospitality and shopping options a few minutes’ walk from West Lane via Union Square.
Vertus Edit will obviously cater for people visiting the area for business, perhaps on secondment at a London office from overseas or in town to seal a deal, but it’s been structured as more than that.
“We’re aiming to appeal to people who might not have considered staying in Canary Wharf before,” said Isabel.
“Of course we’ll be accommodating corporate clients and offering discounts for longer stays, but we will also be there for people visiting for conferences at Excel, gigs at The O2, those coming to see ABBA Voyage or Mamma Mia The Party and even people running the London Marathon.
“This isn’t just about Monday-to-Friday. We think we’ll appeal to people taking a longer period of time to visit London as tourists because of our transport links.”
Vertus Edit is dog friendly with puppy packs costing £50 available to guests
flexible and local
To that end, Vertus Edit reflects the current reality of Canary Wharf – an estate that each day taps deeper into east London and the areas that surround it, increasingly blending its existing aesthetic with local flavours.
Each room features artwork from East London Printmakers – about 1,200 handmade prints in total by 10 artists. Guests can even purchase works from the collective if they wish.
Key toiletries in the studios have been sourced locally too, from Kankan, a business founded by women in Hackney that’s laser-focused on sustainability and minimising its negative impact on the environment.
“That’s something we’re really serious about,’ said Isabel. “For our towel service, we’re using Oxwash, established by Dr Kyle Grant-Talbot.
“He’s a former NASA and SpaceX engineer who has created a laundry process that saves water and carbon and prevents almost all microplastics entering the environment.”
In edition to its green credentials, Vertus Edit’s spaces are intended for broad appeal.
Much use is made of texture, colour and luxuriant wallpapers in the communal areas, with lush furnishings and vibrant art adorning the spaces.
Meeting rooms will be available for hire to both guests and other individuals and organisations, with a truly open and flexible approach to the facilities on offer.
It’s all part of creating a malleable, functional addition to the estate.
The red brick edifice of 3 West Lane, one of two Vertus Edit buildings at Wood Wharf
the next logical step
“The evolution of why people live and stay in Canary Wharf started with private residential homes and Vertus’ rental offerings,” said Isabel.
“Vertus Edit is the logical next step – if you’re looking for greater flexibility, then this would be the product for you.
“We expect there to be some overlap, naturally, as people come for a couple of months and then decide to rent an apartment.
“It works the other way too. For people living in Canary Wharf’s towers, this acts as an extension of their homes when, for example, a relative wants to stay locally for a couple of weeks or longer.
“If you’re renting a studio flat, for instance, this provides the space to accommodate them and residents know they can trust the service because it’s from Vertus.
“We also have plans to run events for guests who are staying here and we’ll be on hand to tell them all about Canary Wharf and east London.
“Those staying for a few months may well become friends with the team and other inhabitants, but we want the feel to be about the neighbourhood rather than forced community.
“Personally I’m most excited about people on the estate getting to understand what an aparthotel is and what it feels like.
“In addition to what we’re offering, we also have 12 commercial spaces on the ground floor between our two buildings and I think the businesses that take these will add so much to the neighbourhood along with what’s coming on the ground floor of 8 Harbord Square.
“Since Union Square opened, I’ve been really surprised by how many people are already walking past us.
“I’ve also been lucky enough to see some of the plans for what’s going to open here and it’s going to be really exciting.”
Vertus Edit studios feature artwork from East London Printmakers
ket details: Vertus Edit
Vertus Edit is open from February 2025 with prices starting at £117.14 per night for a Little studio accommodating up to two people.
The largest Roomy apartments start at £160.12 per night, also for up to two guests.
