When the tools finally go back in the van, Berkeley Capital will have delivered around 5,400 new homes on the site of the Ferrier Estate in south-east London.
Spread over 86 acres, the project is one of the larger regeneration schemes in this part of London, kicking off in 2010.
It includes Cator Park (recognised with the Sir David Attenborough award for enhancing biodiversity), two schools, a nursery, a health centre and a range of commercial spaces that have attracted the likes of Sainsbury’s, YoHome and Starbucks. It even has its own pub in the shape of The Depot on Pegler Square.
Since work began, Berkeley has delivered some 1,400 affordable homes as part of the development including 645 built in partnership with the Royal Borough Of Greenwich and housing association L&Q.
Recently council leader Cllr Anthony Okereke joined representatives from the developers and local residents to mark this milestone and officially open the latest apartments.
The properties are split between London living rent, London affordable rent and shared ownership to cater for a range of needs.
Cllr Anthony Okereke celebrates the completion of 645 affordable homes with L&Q and Berkeley at Kidbrooke Village – image by Berkeley Capital / L&Q
marking delivery at Kidbrooke Village
“We’re hugely proud to complete our 645th affordable home and it’s fantastic to see more households settle in,” said Justin Tibaldi, managing director of Berkeley Capital.
“Kidbrooke Village is a compelling example of successful long-term urban regeneration and has made a hugely positive difference to this part of Greenwich.
“Partnership working has been key to that success and shows what can be achieved through a shared vision and commitment to delivery.”
Neil Davis, development delivery director at L&Q, said: “At L&Q our mission is to combine our social purpose and commercial drive to build homes and neighbourhoods everyone can be proud of and we are very proud of what this partnership has created at Kidbrooke Village.
“While this event celebrated the completion of the 645th affordable home in this superb community and almost six years of working in partnership locally, as a housing association, we will be managing these homes for decades to come.
“So we look forward to watching the community grow even further and we will continue to provide support and exemplar services for residents.”
One and two-bed shared ownership homes are currently available – image by Berkeley Capital / L&Q
shared ownership options
Currently one and two-bedroom properties are available through L&Q at Kidbrooke with three-beds expected to be released soon.
Apartments feature open-plan design and full height glazing to allow plenty of natural light in.
Locally there’s an extensive children’s playground by APES (which built the award-winning facilities at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park) and a concierge service for residents.
The development is also well connected, with an on-site rail link connecting directly to the likes of Lewisham, London Bridge, Waterloo East and Victoria. Canary Wharf is about 25 minutes away with a change onto the DLR.
Cyclists can reach the likes of Lewisham and Greenwich in 16 minutes and 21 minutes respectively.
A show home interior at Kidbrooke Village – image by Berkeley Capital / L&Q
key details: Kidbrooke Village
Shared ownership homes are currently available at Kidbrooke Village through L&Q.
Prices start at £93,750 for a 25% share of a one-bed based on a full market value of £375,000.
It’s a category that’s grown and keeps growing, meaning the organisers of the London Craft Beer Festival had to look for a larger venue.
“When we started, we attracted 2,000 people, now it’s 20,000 and there are still new people coming into the industry and doing amazing things – it’s brilliant,” said Greg, managing director of We Are Beer, which runs events in Manchester and Bristol as well as the capital.
“The decision to move to Magazine London on Greenwich Peninsula gives us a lot more outside space and that’s what our partners want so they can do bigger and better things.
“We’ve moved on from Tobacco Dock slightly south of the river, although with the way the Thames wiggles we’re actually a little further north than we used to be.
“We’ve worked with Broadwick, which owns the venue, for a long time and this is a purpose-built event space with a showground.
“You have the A2 right there and the transport links via the Jubilee line are brilliant – Canary Wharf is one stop across the water for the DLR and the Liz Line and we’re directly connected to Stratford and London Bridge.
“Our audience comes from London and the commuter belt around the city so it’s a good spot and it made sense to make the move.”
Greg Wells, managing director of We Are Beer – image by Wharf Life
celebrating a growing category at the London Craft Beer Festival
So what’s in store for the festival as it expands further east on the banks of the Thames?
“It’s grown,” said Greg. “There will be more than 200 traders there including 150 drinks brands.
“Craft beer remains the core of what we do.
“When we started there were about 20 breweries in London and there are something like seven times that number now.
“As a category it started as 0% of the market and now it’s 10% nationwide.
“It’s still the second fastest growing category, but it has inevitably slowed, with post-pandemic and the cost of living.
“There is some consolidation happening – some of the smaller operations are joining together – but the main thing is that it’s now 50% of the beer market in London.
“When you go to a restaurant or a pub in the capital, the selection is often brilliant.
“It used to be hard-to-find – something hidden – but now it’s in every supermarket.
“We’re about celebrating good beer and that’s why we have some of the more traditional brands like Timothy Taylor and exciting brewers from Europe.”
The event will feature a wide range of beers to try and plenty of entertainment – image by We Are Beer
a rundown of the event
On the face of it, the London Craft Beer Festival is a relatively simple proposition.
The ticket price covers entry and all beer with the chance to try more than 800 creations from scores of breweries.
The list is extensive, but the festival will include a strong showing from some of London’s celebrated brewers including DEYA (voted top at last year’s inaugural Top 50 UK Beers awards), Verdant and Tiny Rebel.
There will be international visitors too with beers from the USA, Europe and Australasia including New Zealand’s Garage Project new for this year.
Beyond the beer, there will also be plenty of spirits brands represented as well as wine and even sake and alcoholic tea.
In addition to the drinks, the festival offers a wealth of street food options and plenty of entertainment for those who like to dance off their drinks or even play crazy golf with Ballers.
There are four festival sessions to choose from, each lasting five hours on the afternoons and evenings of the two days.
These start at 11am or 6pm. Groups of four can also buy entry together for a discount.
Alongside all beer and cider, these also include fast track entry, a main dish and side per person from the food traders, two vouchers for non-beer drinks (think cocktails and spirits), a guided festival tour with a beer sommelier on arrival and a dedicated meeting point and host for your group.
Ticket prices include all beer consumed during each five-hour session – image by We Are Beer
primed for growth
“We’re going to be a Magazine for the foreseeable future as we continue to grow the event,” said Greg.
“We want to become a part of the Greenwich community and for as many people in Canary Wharf and the surrounding areas to join us as possible.
“We’re very much an event that’s hitting the mainstream – at 13 we’re through the toddler years and into the angry teens.
“Thinking back, craft beer used to be about being dragged along by your aficionado friends to specific establishments.
“Now, from Bermondsey to Walthamstow there are whole clusters and neighbourhoods where it runs deep – beer, brewing and the whole culture around it is integrated into the city.
“People continue to change ,as well attitudes to drinking, where consuming beer may not be the centre of the experience when visiting a venue.
“But there are many other angles and that’s going to be a big part of the next decade – those who get their taprooms rights will be the ones that flourish.
“Consumer discernment remains really high – people want quality.
“If you look at areas like casual dining or fast food, the options available now are way more nutritious and flavourful than they were 20 years ago.
“I don’t think that’s going to go away, although people will always be looking for value too. Craft beer has always been welcoming – it’s never been about being super specialist and that’s the same as our event.
“It’s going to be a whirlwind, a kaleidoscope of flavour with beer, food, music and more.
“Come and join us, it will be brilliant.”
The London Craft Beer Festival is set to take place at Magazine London – image by We Are Beer
key details: London Craft Beer Festival
The London Craft Beer Festival runs at Magazine London from July 18-19, 2025.
Individual tickets cost £64.50 per person with other options available for a five-hour session.
Group tickets for four people cost £59.50 per person.
There are also options for fast-track entry and hospitality packages for larger groups including drinks and food.
Urban Village Fete is set to return to SE10 on May 18, 2025, with what can only be described as a wealth of activities and performances for visitors to sample.
Taking over Peninsula Square, Central Park and Design District, it’s continued to build and develop the vision outlined in 2015 as a creative form of placemaking, as the residential towers have risen around it.
“The transformation of Greenwich Peninsula since 2015 is extraordinary, and the evolution of the Urban Village Fete is just one example of how much the place has changed in a decade,” said Laura Flanagan, director of Greenwich Peninsula.
“What started as an eclectic community get-together in a brand-new piece of town, has grown into one of London’s most-loved festivals.
“From inspiring talks hosted in the heart of Design District, to games, music and independent shopping in Central Park, there is so much to explore.
“Celebrating 10 years of the Urban Village Fete is a significant milestone for Greenwich Peninsula, giving us the opportunity to bring to life all the very best things about living, working and visiting here in one amazing day.”
The line-up has been designed to attract as wide an audience as possible with highlights including the following:
The festival has something on offer for all ages – image by Kris Huphreys Photography
family fun at Urban Village Fete
Beats And Braids will be providing feather hair extensions and braids from stylist and Design District tenant Stanley Watts, the Incredibly Clever Canine Circus is back, showcasing tricks for dogs and owners to learn and Jon Hicks’ Allympics will host competitive events such as show jumping, a spoon race and a birthday cake hurling contest to mark the 10th edition of the festival.
music and performances
Returning once again, headliner Gilles Peterson will be spinning sounds, while London Soul Choir, the Charity Shop DJ People’sParty and Design District’s Loose.fm are also on the bill.
Another one to look out for is London-based cultural hub and music movement Touching Bass.
>> “I played at the first ever Urban Village Fete back in 2015 and it has been incredible to watch the event grow and come together over the past 10 years,” said Gilles, DJ and top of the bill for 2025.
“It is a neighbourhood that gives back to the community and that’s a special thing indeed.
“You don’t come across many other events that represent a true democratisation of art – something we need now more than ever. Here’s to 10 more years.”
Urban Village Fete will feature many performances over the course of the day – image by Kris Huphreys Photography
health and wellness
Recently opened Greenwich Peninsula gym Gather will be hosting group workouts, Yoga and family sessions.
There will also be the chance to learn to skateboard with the Keep Rolling Project and Skateboard GB coach Rachael Sherlock as well as an opportunity to have a go at Wheelchair Basketball with Brixton Ballers in Design District’s rooftop court.
arts, crafts and creativity
Urban Village Fete has a programme of more than 40 workshops for visitors to take part in.
Make pinch pots and paint ceramics with Pottery Studio LDN, weave baskets with Yi Crafts, blend teas with Hackney Herbal, try Polish paper cutting with Well Crafted or take a one-hour nail art workshop with expert Sophie Harris-Greenslade.
Dogs and owners can learn new tricks at the festival – image by Kris Huphreys Photography
creative conversations
Friend of the fete and BBC Radio London presenter Robert Elms will set up shop at Design District for a series of interviews on topics as diverse as education, collaboration and the evolution of street fashion.
>> “Ten years ago, this part of London was little more than the O2,” said Robert. “But since then, the Urban Village Fete has helped to promote a genuine creative quarter where people can have a great day out while enjoying art, architecture and design.
“I shall be talking to some of those creatives, designers and makers again this year. Coming together to discuss thought provoking topics amid a fun festival is one of the things which makes the event unique.”
shopping at Urban Village Fete
The Urban Village Fete Makers Market will see more than 34 independent stalls open for the event.
Prioritising sustainable goods, these include Aah Kid’s upcycled kids clothing, Elan Skincare’s vegan products, lighbulb terrariums from WildBulb and CharitySuper.Mkt, the UK’s first multi-charity shop.
Every purchase will see money go to the British Heart Foundation, Traid, Emmaus Greenwich and War Child.
The event will take place across Peninsula Square, Central Park and Design District – image by Kris Huphreys Photography
‘doing the right thing’
“HemingwayDesign takes huge pride in being able to curate and contribute to such a successful free event across the last 10 years,” said festival curator Wayne Hemingway.
“Urban Village Fete gives back so much – you don’t have to spend a penny and yet you can experience something truly special
“By being generous and providing the community with culture of this quality and diversity and of this scale, Knight Dragon is simply doing the right thing.
“It is uplifting to see the vital support that the fete gives creatives, designers, artists and small businesses.
“It brings our team incredible satisfaction in creating something meaningful for the community, bringing people together for one unforgettable day in the heart of the city.
“We get so much joy from observing tens of thousands of diverse Londoners have such a great time.”
To help boost the vibe, Urban Village Fete will host five bars and more than 30 food and drink producers including the likes of Smashing Plates, Annie Mae’s Mac And Cheese, En Root and Jerk And Grind.
All events and activities are located a short walk from North Greenwich station, the Thames Cable Car and Greenwich Pier for river bus services.
key details: Urban Village Fete
Urban Village Fete is set to take place on Greenwich Peninsula on May 18, 2025, from 11am-7pm. Entry is free.
It’s only the return of the London Craft Beer Festival, back in the capital, but this year in a completely new location
where’s that then?
For 2025, the event has moved to Magazine on Greenwich Peninsula, just across the Thames from Canary Wharf.
when’s it taking place?
Visitors to the festival are invited to survey and sample its delights from July 18-19, 2025, with afternoon and evening sessions on both days.
These last for five hours from 11.30am-4.30pm and 6pm-11pm on both the Friday and Saturday.
so what’s on offer?
Tickets of all types include all beer (and the occasional craft cider), with more than 800 different brews on offer presented by over 100 breweries.
whet my whistle…
The list is extensive, but the festival will include a strong showing from some of London’s celebrated brewers including DEYA (voted top at last year’s inaugural Top 50 UK Beers awards), Verdant and Tiny Rebel.
There will be international visitors too with beers from the USA, Europe and Australasia including New Zealand’s Garage Project new for this year.
what if I don’t like beer?
Fear not, cider, sake, spirits and more will also be available for those who prefer alternative refreshments.
There will be lots of food traders at the event alongside breweries – image by London Craft Beer Festival
dine at the London Craft Beer Festival
will we starve?
Certainly not.
To help soak up the beer, the festival will be serving up ramen from Bone Daddies, chicken from Chick N’ Sours, BBQ courtesy of From The Ashes, burgers by Meltdown Cheeseburgers and seasonal dishes from 10 Greek Street.
More food traders will be announced in due course.
and the dancing?
Promising to keep the party pumping, a programme of DJs, live music and other entertainments is planned.
how best to attend?
There are a number of ticket options for visitors to choose from.
Standard tickets cost £64.50 per person (did we mention every ticket type includes all beer and cider?).
Group tickets for four people cost £59.50 per person.
There are also options for fast-track entry and hospitality packages for larger groups.
how do I get there?
Magazine London isn’t a publication, but a purpose-built event venue, clad in black, right beside the river.
It’s located on Greenwich Peninsula, a short walk from North Greenwich Tube station, which is served by the Jubilee line and numerous bus routes.
Visitors can also travel to North Greenwich Pier on the Uber Boat By Thames Clippers River Bus service or from Royal Docks to the Peninsula via the Thames Cable Car.
The event is perfect for summer parties with larger groups – image by London Craft Beer Festival
summer special
>> For groups of eight or more, the festival offers Group Hospitality Tickets
Alongside all beer and cider, these also include fast track entry, a main dish and side per person from the food traders, two vouchers for non-beer drinks (think cocktails and spirits), a guided festival tour with a beer sommelier on arrival and a dedicated meeting point and host for your group.
Tickets cost £105 per person including VAT. Ideal for a summer celebration.
The tale of retired pirate-turned-babysitter Orpheus Clinker, who descends on the unsuspecting Terrapin family with his mates for a riotous party, is clever, funny outlandish and overblown.
In some senses it’s a good metaphor for the whole topic of piracy.
We love the hyperbole in it.
Disney’s to blame, of course, for casting alcoholic rake Robert Newton to gurn his way through Treasure Island as the gravelly-voiced, one-legged Long John Silver in 1950.
It was such a popular turn he wound up getting the starring role in Blackbeard The Pirate in the film of the same name, before returning as Long John for another movie in 1952 and a miniseries.
Then you have the fierce passion and dashing acrobatic brilliance of Burt Lancaster in The Crimson Pirate, also in ‘52.
More recently there’s been the entertainment giant’s lucrative decision to employ a Keith Richards impersonator to carry a lacklustre franchise based on a theme park ride to financial success.
These glamorous portrayals are unsurprising.
Pirates have long been drawn as swashbuckling adventurers associated with lush islands, flamboyant dress and buried treasure.
But what’s the truth?
John Ryan’s cartoon Captain Pugwash first appeared in print in 1957 after 12 rejections – image by Isabel Ryan / Estate of John Ryan
Pirates promises to “deconstruct these myths and illuminate the realities” of life for the likes of Edward “Blackbeard” Teach, Anne Bonny, Mary Read and William Kidd – who ended his days at Execution Dock in Wapping and is immortalised in the name of a pub on the Thames.
Taking in stories from across the globe, the exhibition will look to the Caribbean and beyond with tales from the South China Sea, the Indian Ocean and the coast of North Africa.
Visitors will be able to see nearly 200 objects including loans from the National Archives, V&A and BFI.
The exhibition will be presented in sections with the first looking at the image of pirates in fiction and considering the impact of characters such as Captain Hook and Captain Jack Sparrow as well as Long John Silver.
This includes original illustrations from hapless cartoon pirate Captain Pugwash, by artist and writer John Ryan, who began life in a comic strip before starring in a children’s TV show.
Detail from Davy Jones’s Locker by William Lionel Wyllie – image by National Maritime Museum
dispelling the fiction
“Real Pirates” will go on to investigate tales of specific outlaws and their exploits on the high seas, inspired by A General History of the Pyrates by Captain Charles Johnson first published in 1724 as the golden age of piracy came to an end.
Then visitors will see “Global Pirates” with objects selected to showcase piracy around the world including the story of Chinese captain Shap Ng-tsai who was active in the mid-19th century.
Eventually Shap’s fleet of 27 junks was destroyed in a joint action by an Anglo-Chinese squadron under Captain John Charles Dalrymple Hay and Major General Hwáng in 1849.
There’s also a focus on Barbary piracy and the Bombardment Of Algiers in 1816, when a British-Dutch force attacked the city in an attempt to resolve the problem of naval crime in North Africa.
The action resulted in the release of 3,000 Christian captives, but came at a cost, as it was more deadly than the Battle Of Trafalgar.
While the exhibition might not rise to heights of a rumbustification, nor the need to pore through a dictionary to see which words are made up, it nevertheless promises to be a blockbuster.
Apt then that Orlando Bloom’s costume from the first Pirates Of The Caribbean flick will be on show.
The first edition of Treasure Island, which came out in 1883, featured a treasure map drawn by author Robert Louis Stevenson – image by National Maritime Museum
key details: Pirates at the National Maritime Museum
Pirates is set to open at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich on March 29, 2025, and will run until January 4, 2026.
Adult tickets cost £15 and £7.50 for children. Entry for Royal Museums Greenwich members is free.
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.
Greenwich Peninsula is set for a day of events to mark the arrival of the Year Of The Snake on February 1, 2025.
Celebrations for Lunar New Year will run from noon-4pm with a host of free and paid-for activities scheduled.
Those attending can expect workshops, cultural performances, a paper lantern installation and dishes from Asian street food vendors in addition to offerings from Canteen Food Hall And Bar.
“We’re excited to see Greenwich Peninsula once again transform into a hub of celebration for Lunar New Year,” said Greewnich Peninsula director, Laura Flanagan.
“Our riverside neighbourhood is the perfect destination to experience art and creativity, and this year’s programme has something for everyone.
“With themes of connection, prosperity and renewal, we’re delighted to collaborate with so many talented performers, artists and experts to bring these experiences to life.”
Highlights on the programme include the return of the traditional dragon that will once again weave its way through the area as well as lion dance performances – new for 2025.
Through acrobatics, puppetry and rhythmic drumming, these spectacles aim to chase away bad fortune and welcome good luck for the year ahead.
A range of workshops and activities will be on offer
celebrating on the Peninsula
“Greenwich Peninsula boasts an unrivalled offer for anyone looking for a London less ordinary,” said Visit Greenwich chief executive, Barrie Kelly.
“Its Lunar New Year festival is just one of the brilliant cultural offerings enjoyable year-round, bringing community together through creativity.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with them and can’t wait to get involved with all the amazing events on offer.”
The area’s Lunar New Year programme is part-funded by the government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and supported by the Greenwich Council and the Mayor Of London and in partnership with Visit Greenwich.
Activities will include workshops from Yi Crafts, offering visitors the opportunity to try bamboo weaving, Chinese knot-making, woodblock printing and paper cutting.
There will also be an opportunity to learn or master Mahjong, guided by experts from Dear Asia language school.
Its free sessions at Bureau in Design District will also cover the game’s history and explore various strategies available to players.
Greenwich Peninsula is easily accessed from across east and south-east London thanks to North Greenwich Tube station, the London Cable Car and the Uber Boat By Thames Clippers river bus service.
The area boasts a wealth of attractions including the diverse architecture and creative businesses of Design District, the restaurants, shops and venues in The O2 and plentiful parks.
Visitors will find plenty of places for refreshment and entertainment including the independent street food traders at Canteen, Firepit Art Gallery And Studios and Oxygen Active Play and Hollywood Bowl at The O2 for kids.
There’s even the opportunity to try indoor skydiving with iFly’s 170mph vertical wind tunnel, for those seeking a thrill on their trip to the area.
Visitors will be able to try woodblock printing at Greenwich Peninsula
activities for Lunar New Year at Greenwich Peninsula
As Lunar New Year approaches, here’s a run down of Greenwich Peninsula’s activities and attractions on February 1, 2025, so you can plan your visit and avoid missing out…
>> when?Noon
Brut Tea Tasting – £5
Join Brut Tea founders Joyce and Raphael for an intimate tea-tasting session showcasing four blends from the company. Book online for this session at Design District’s Salon
>> when? Noon, 12.30pm, 1pm, 1.30pm
Chinese Knot-Making – £6
Yi Crafts will welcome visitor’s to Design District’s D4 building for a series of 30-minute interactive workshops exploring this intricate art form. Participants will create decorative ornaments. Pre-book online.
Dear Asia will be hosting two sessions of Mahjong
>> when?12.30pm, 2.45pm
Play Mahjong – FREE (book)
Dear Asia will lead two 90-minute sessions where participants will play and learn about this ancient game. Ideal for beginners. Book a spot in advance for a game at Design District’s Bureau restaurant.
>> when?1.30pm, 2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm
Paper Cutting – FREE (book)
Take half an hour to immerse yourself in the delicate and festive art of paper cutting with Yi Crafts workshops. Participants will create decorative pieces during the sessions. Book ahead.
>> when?1.30pm, 2.15pm, 3pm
Lion Dance – FREE
Perhaps the heart of the celebrations will be a pair of dances performed one after the other in Peninsula Square. First up, a dynamic lion dance will chase away bad fortune with vibrant costumes and powerful drumbeats.
>> when?1.45pm, 2.15pm, 3.15pm
Dragon Dance – FREE
After the three lion dances, a traditional dragon dance will follow with the creature winding its way through the crowds under the careful guidance of the performers. The dragon is said to bring luck, prosperity and renewal for the year ahead.
There will be lots to see and do to welcome the Year Of The Snake
>> when?2pm, 3pm
Bamboo Coaster Weaving – £10
These two workshops by Yi Crafts will see participants discover the techniques behind this traditional practice. Participants will use sustainably sourced bamboo strips to make their own coaster. The hour-long workshops, at Design District building D4, should be booked in advance.
>> when?2pm, 2.30pm, 3pm, 3.30pm
Woodblock Printing – FREE (book)
Also run by Yi Crafts at D4, these half-hour sessions are intended for those seeking “a creative and meaningful” Lunar New Year experience with those taking part learning traditional techniques to create their own printed works.
key details: Lunar New Year at Greenwich Peninsula
Lunar New Year celebrations at Greenwich Peninsula are set to take place on February 1, 2025, from noon-4pm.
While much of the festival is free to attend, some activities require pre-booking, while others are paid.
In one important sense, or lack of it, In The Dark is a tough sell.
That’s because, despite positively fizzing with enthusiasm for the project, founder and director Andrea Cockerton can’t talk much about the actual content of its forthcoming performances in anything other than general terms.
To do so, would be to shatter the secrecy and ruin the experience.
What she can tell me is the basics.
In The Dark aims to do for music, what celebrated pitch black dining experience Dans Le Noir has been doing for food since the early noughties in Clerkenwell.
“In a way, watching people performing is a distraction,” said Andrea.
“You’re looking at them, at the other audience members, perhaps checking the time.
“I wondered what would happen if you took that away?
“When you can see, you’re processing a great deal of visual information.
“But, with sound surrounding you in the dark, your brain does all kinds of different things.”
Performers play in the dark, with audience members wearing eye masks to minimise distraction
the origins of In The Dark
Andrea, a pianist, composer, and arts entrepreneur, developed the idea initially for large-scale musical collective
We Are Sound, a group she founded in Cambridge that puts on “gloriously chaotic” gigs featuring more than 120 amateur performers.
“We’d done quite a few shows in London at Scala, Union Chapel, Bush Hall and loads in Cambridge,” she said.
“It was with that group that I was trying to think about what else we could do.
“So I told them we were going to do some shows in darkness.
“The idea was that it would be a really great experience both for learning music and for performing.
“I put the tickets on sale and they sold out within half an hour. We added extra shows and they just kept selling.
“Each performance was about 30 minutes and the feedback was phenomenal. Normally, with music you don’t get much but it came flowing back to us.
“People were saying it was the most extraordinary experience, that they would never forget it.
“Audiences found it profoundly moving.”
In The Dark’s 2025 season includes dates under the hull of the Cutty Sark in Greenwich
pushing forward In The Dark
Just as Andrea, who studied music at Cambridge before spending time in the world of business, and the project was getting into its stride, the pandemic arrived and upset things.
“I knew by our final performance that I wanted to try In The Dark with professional musicians because I thought it had the potential for a wider run, perhaps in the West End,” she said.
“It’s taken five years for two reasons.
“Firstly, I was very sick with Covid and Long Covid and secondly I was diagnosed with cancer.
“I’m OK now and I’m back up to full speed – I felt this needed to happen and I’ve never been someone who doesn’t follow my dreams.
“So then it was a case of finding some venues and a group of musicians.”
In The Dark, featuring Andrea’s Hush Collective, is set for a run of performances at St Bartholomew The Great in Smithfield, Trinity Buoy Wharf in Leamouth and a couple of shows under the hull of the Cutty Sark in Greenwich in celebration of Burns Night.
But why seek out characterful venues at all, if audiences can’t even see them?
“While the shows differ slightly in format depending on the venue, what’s common to all of them is that they are in beautiful buildings, beautiful settings,” said Andrea.
“People have a little bit of time to enjoy that before sitting down.
“It’s a calm, slightly visceral atmosphere.
“People are given masks and they put them on before the show begins.
“The acoustics are an important factor in the choice of venue too – it’s 99% unplugged so you need some kind of resonance.
“While the audience don’t see the performers, there’s quite a lot of movement too, which changes the sound and the experience for the listeners, so we need space for that to happen.
“There are no monitors, no metronome clicks for the musicians, no conductor – nothing – and that’s both risky and extraordinary for the performers.
“It’s all done through rehearsal – the players have to know the material well enough so they know exactly what’s going to happen and when.
“As an audience member you’re not seeing how you respond, and as a performer you’re not seeing how you perform – there’s this fantastic freedom and that’s why people have responded to it so well.
“It really is magical, I’d listen to a performance like this every night if I could.”
Audiences cannot see the musicians who are playing for them at an In The Dark performance
revealed at the end
Audiences only see members of the Hush Collective at the end of the performance, when details of the programme are also revealed.
Without endangering those precious secrets, we can at least say there might be elements of ambient, Scandi, nu-folk and experimental music with hints of electronic and classical thrown in for good measure.
Beyond the music itself, there’s another dimension to In The Dark, which Andrea hopes to develop and grow beyond this run of performances.
“If this goes well in London, the aim is to take it into Europe, especially the Scandinavian countries,” she said.
“Part of our ethos is to pay our musicians fairly – we want to do things right for people working on the project.
“Some years ago I set up The Dosoco Foundation to support music related projects and we’ve given out about £20,000 over the years to a variety of initiatives.
“We’ll be giving 5% of the profits from In The Dark to that organisation to help fund it.”
key details: In The Dark
In The Dark performances in east London are set to take place at St Bartholomew The Great in Smithfield on various dates and times from January 16, 2025, and at The Chain Store at Trinity Buoy Wharf in Leamouth from March 20.
Tickets start at £35.
The Cutty Sark will host two shows on January 25, 2025, at 7.15pm and 9.15pm.
Alistair has a long history with Laser Quest and there’s a sense he’s lost none of the enthusiasm he first felt for the game and its atmosphere.
Born in Bolton, he began playing aged 14 and started working part-time at his local branch while studying at college.
“Apart from the games it was also a bit of a social scene,” he said. “Inevitably I got a job and a foot in the door.
“I lived up there until my mid-20s when I hit a bit of a glass ceiling as one of the managers, so the next step was to own my own centre.
“There was an opportunity for me to get some premises in Croydon and open up.
“So I sold my house and raised some capital to get it up and running as a licensed operation, similar to a franchise.”
The Laser Quest Greenwich alien
opening his first
That first venture was a success, with Alistair getting stuck in to establish the business.
“Once that had happened, all I could think about was opening a second one,” he said.
“Being a northern lad, I was drawn to some opportunities in the north and so I opened the next one in Sheffield.
“That was next to a leisure complex and a cinema, so that worked very well too.
“From there it was a case of me, having understood how the business model worked, copying and pasting the next one and eventually I found myself with eight or nine sites.”
That trajectory may well have continued had the pandemic not arrived in 2020, which forced the closure of his businesses.
However, Alistair leaned into an opportunity.
“I had the chance to buy the whole of Laser Quest, which develops, supplies and licenses the equipment,” he said.
“The owner was coming up to retirement age and I got on with him quite well, so that opportunity was there.
“I figured that, if we didn’t recover from Covid, I was screwed anyway, so I put all my chips on the business.”
Laser Quest GB managing director Alistair Dawson at Laser Quest Greenwich
bouncing back
The man who’d fired his first laser at 14 now owned the company that was ultimately responsible for his first ever job.
“It was bizarre,” he said. “At first there was a lot of pressure and I did question whether I’d done the right thing.
“But then there was a bounce back after Covid – people had been starved of fun.
“When all the centres were open and trading again, there was renewed interest from other leisure operators too – such as Flip Out – so it’s proved to be quite a good decision and I hope it will continue.
“At the moment we’ve got about 60 centres in the UK and I own about 10 or 12 of those sites.
“The others are licensed operations.”
In response to renewed interest, the company has been increasing its operation in Greater London with branches in Bromley, Brent Cross, Kingston, Barking and Romford.
It has just opened Laser Quest Greenwich, tucked away in a basement at Merryweather Place just off the Deptford End of Greenwich High Road.
“We’ve realised there’s a big demand in the capital and we’re now getting round to fulfilling that,” said Alistair.
“Traditionally, the business has always been a venue for children’s birthday parties.
“We do packages that include food, drinks and everything people need for that.
“But it also appeals to all ages – for some there’s a nostalgic feel to it.
“Someone in their 40s, for example, might remember going to parties as kids.
“It’s a fun activity and people get excited just talking about it.
“We still do score sheets for each player so you can see who you zapped, who zapped you and what percentage of your shots were on target.
“Being just down the road from Canary Wharf, we’d love companies to use the facility – we do offer exclusive hire with unlimited games.
“We’ve got a 4,500sq ft arena that can accommodate up to 40 players.
“Catering can be arranged or groups can make their own arrangements – we like to be really flexible.
“We also intend to get the venue licensed so we will be able to serve alcohol to adult players.
“That means we’ll also be fitting into the competitive socialising market, which is really taking off.
“We’ve also introduced something completely new for Greenwich – an attraction called the Laser Maze.
“It’s like something out of Mission Impossible, where players have to navigate their way through a room filled with beams.
“Break one of them and you’ll get penalised.
“We hope it will become really competitive.
“Also on-site, we have an array of video games to keep people entertained.”
Party business: Laser Quest Greenwich is perfectly equipped for kids’ parties
looking to the future
As for the future, the fact that Alistair is now in charge of the wider business means he has oversight on the development of the brand, its equipment and what its future will be.
“As a business we own the trademark and produce the packs necessary to play the game,” he said.
“The great thing about owning the company is that I can help develop new equipment, features and systems to make it even better over the coming years.
“One of the things we want to do is to bring out a Laser Quest app, so photos and scorecards from the game can be downloaded.
“That would also allow us to do members’ leagues.
“We’ve got some really exciting things coming over the next couple of years.”
Will you take on the Laser Maze?
key details: Laser Quest Greenwich
Laser Quest Greenwich is open now from 4pm-9pm on weekdays and from 10am-9pm at weekends, for school holidays and on Bank Holidays.
The standard rate for a single, 20-minute game is £10.95. A go on the Laser Maze costs £3.
Party packages start at £29.95 per guest.
Exclusive hire of the whole venue starts at £350 with a capacity of 40 people.
Corporate hire starts at £795 for one hour with unlimited games included.
- 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
He’s been patron of music at the Cabot Place venue since it opened its doors way back in 2011.
But his musical connection to this part of London goes back even further.
“Growing up, I lived in Greenwich – just the other side of the Blackwall Tunnel – but nobody dared go through ‘the pipe’ as it was known,” said the band leader, pianist, presenter, singer and former member of Squeeze.
“It was another world, but we were teenagers so we went through and discovered the people on the other side of the river were just as nice as us.
“I even won a talent show in one at the age of 15.
“The prize was that you got to play there for four weeks.
“They sacked me after three, because I didn’t know any more songs.
“Pubs used to have piano players and then, once a week, maybe a band.
“There was one in Rotherhithe – The Prince Of Orange – which had trad jazz. It was open all night for a while and it was fantastic, although it’s closed now.”
That regularity of live performance was what first attracted Jools to Boisdale.
“I went to the restaurant in Belgravia a few times and got to know the owner, Ranald Macdonald,” said the musician.
“I just thought it was so great that they put on music, because there aren’t that many places doing that consistently.
“Boisdale does and that’s amazing because it’s a really hard thing to organise.
“Right from the first time I went in there, it had an atmosphere, something a bit glamorous – as though it was from another age like a 1940s American film.”
Jools performs with Gregory Porter and Nick Reynolds of the Alabama 3
patron of music: Jools Holland
As patron of music, Jools regularly hosts a Boogie-Woogie Spectacular at the Canary Wharf venue, featuring his favourite stride and boogie-woogie pianists such as Neville Dickie, German Axel Zwingenberger and Swiss Ladyva.
“Boisdale Of Canary Wharf is really a wonderful place,” said Jools.
“It has a magical atmosphere that’s like walking into another world.
“You have the joy of the music, the food and the buzz.
“The awards are really great because you get people from all different fields of performance at varied stages in their careers.”
Previous winners have included the likes of Alabama 3, PP Arnold, Snow, Tony Iommi, Kiki Dee, Suzi Quatro, Emeli Sande, Lemar, UB40, Lisa Stansfield, Mud Morganfield and Maxi Priest.
It’s also recognised emerging acts such as Errol Linton, Emily Capell and Charlie Pyne.
“Forget what they say in the media, there aren’t different sorts of music, these are just great players and singers,” said Jools, who often collaborates with winners on the night.
“It’s a bit like Later, my TV programme.
“The event is a real mix of things rather than just a load of pop music – although there’s nothing wrong with that.
“I’d use previous winners Gregory Porter and Albert Lee as examples.
“Albert is one of the greatest country guitarists the world has ever known and Gregory is one of the best jazz singers alive today.
“I love the fact that they’re in different spheres, but they can both fit into Boisdale and both receive awards from this venue in Canary Wharf – I think that’s wonderful.”
PP Arnold on stage at the Boisdale Music Awards
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf: home of the unexpected
One of the endearing things about nights out at Boisdale is that you never quite know what’s going to happen and its awards ceremonies are legend for their unexpected appearances and juxtapositions.
Where else might you spot Hugh Laurie swapping tales with a founder member of Black Sabbath or see a Sex Pistol perform with David Bowie’s sideman?
With going on a decade and a half of performances, its stage has hosted an unrelentingly diverse programme of acts, with Mel C, Rebecca Ferguson, Alexander Armstrong and Suspiciously Elvis giving it their all.
“My friend Rod Stewart did go in and perform one night and loved it,” said Jools. “He didn’t realise I could have been there playing with him.
“Boisdale Of Canary Wharf has become a great room. When these places are new, I think they’re harder. I do think rooms have a spirit – now it’s got a vibe in it.
“It’s a curious thing. I’m not a mumbo-jumbo person, but there is definitely something about a musical instrument that’s been played a lot, or a room that’s been inhabited and has had a lot of music played in it, with people enjoying it. That really adds to the atmosphere.
“You can’t put your finger on what it is, but the likelihood of something great happening is much increased.
“For me, that was playing with Gregory Porter at Boisdale.”
The event packs our Boisdale Of Canary Wharf
Jools Holland on Canary Wharf
It’s not just the venue itself for Jools, however.
Having grown up locally and formed Squeeze across the river in Deptford, he’s seen Canary Wharf emerge and grow and he’s a fan.
“Some people say that, years ago – when there was nothing there – it was really great,” he said.
“But I say what the great gurus say, which is that it’s now that’s the moment
“If you have a room with all those great people in it and great food too, then now is its pinnacle – paradise is now – and now is the time to go.
“When Canary Wharf was first built it was a big thing.
“You’d look over from Greenwich and you’d see it towering above everything else, but now everything’s around it – there’s a whole world here.
“When they said the piazza in Covent Garden was a great place after it was first built, others said they’d preferred it as a mediaeval village.
“The great thing about Canary Wharf is that it’s been very well built.
“Then with the live music you have here now at Boisdale it becomes a place.
“You’ve got to give places like the Wharf a chance sometimes, rather than saying it was better in the past or it will be better in the future.
“Now is the time that it’s actually good.”
Son of Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield on stage at the awards
a burger for preference
While on duty Jools prefers a clear head and stomach, so he’ll be waiting until after the presenting is done to enjoy Boisdale’s hospitality on September 18, 2024.
But his dish of choice at the venue perhaps harks back to another memory from his personal relationship with Canary Wharf.
“Their cheeseburger is a delicious thing,” he said. “The food is always very consistent – you feel as though you’ve had a proper night out when you eat there.
“They have a great wine list there, and I quite like wine.
“You could take your aged aunt there and she’d think it was fantastic, or you could take some teenagers and they’d have a fantastic time.
“It has that personal touch, it’s not like a corporate chain, but it has the contents of Ranald’s brain all around the room and it’s a very nice brain to have a look at.
“I remember, back when One Canada Square was first built, I used to take my children through the Blackwall Tunnel and we’d pretend we’d driven all the way to the USA.
“There was an American diner at the foot of the tower serving burgers and that was great.
“There’s a lot more than that here today.”
Emerging artist Emily Capell performs at Boisdale Of Canary Wharf after receiving an award
key details: Boisdale-Xejoff Music Awards 2024
The Boisdale-Xerjoff Music Awards 2024, hosted by Jools Holland, are set to take place on September 18, 2024, with ticket prices starting at £149.
The evening starts at 6pm with a Champagne and cocktail reception followed by a three-course dinner.
The awards will then be presented by Jools Holland and YolanDa Brown alongside performances from the winners.
- 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
