Where have you been? This is the AFK Beach Volleyball court in Wood Wharf’s Union Square.
what’s that?
It’s a pay-as-you-play facility for anyone who fancies bashing a ball around while diving about on sand to use.
what do I need?
Court hire is for four or more people on an hourly basis and costs £15 per person – £60 minimum.
Volleyballs and guidance on the rules are provided, so players just need to turn up in kit that’s appropriate to play a game or two on the sand.
when can I book AFK Beach Volleyball?
The court is already in place and will be in Canary Wharf until August 10. 2025.
Bookings are available Tuesday-Sunday although some slots may be unavailable due to special events.
why should I play?
Isn’t it time you did some exercise?
In all seriousness, beach volleyball is a fantastic sport and an ideal way to get some fresh air.
Also, every single thwack of the ball helps raise money for AFK, a charity that helps children who are disabled or neurodiverse live more independent, fulfilling lives.
This year the court is located in Union Square in Wood Wharf – image by Canary Wharf Group
tell me more
Corporate partnerships manager at AFK, Lyn Prodger said: “It’s an amazing small charity and this event is a big shop window for us.
“We wouldn’t be speaking to the likes of JP Morgan, Barclays and Accenture without it and the support of Canary Wharf Group.
“We provide mobility equipment for disabled children and young people all round the country and we also fund the maintenance of that equipment which is vital and not something all charities do.
“It’s no good if you have a £2,000 wheelchair that’s your whole life but you can’t use it for the sake of a £200 repair.
“But it’s not just about buying some equipment and saying goodbye, it’s an ongoing dialogue and opportunity.
“We’ve also started providing work placements in London because we’re based in the capital.
“We support anything that fosters independence and wellbeing and that includes helping people into work.
“We realised quite early on that many of the young people we work with aren’t ready for employment, so we have an outreach team that supports them to help change that.
“When you’re in a special school, for example, no-one ever asks what you want to do when you leave.
“The employers we work with are like gold dust – they raise confidence and aspirations.
“What we say to them is that we’re not bringing a problem, we’re bringing an amazing group of talented young people who are ready for work.
“We also put our money where our mouth is by giving young people paid employment roles with us. Some of them help with this event and they really are amazing.”
The charity will be hosting its Corporate Championship – image by Canary Wharf Group
what’s coming up at AFK Beach Volleyball?
In addition to free access play on the court, AFK hosts a corporate tournament for businesses and there are still a couple of slots left.
Taking place on July 31, 2025, the event sees companies face off on court in a five-vs-five format with most teams entering a squad of 10 players to allow for subs.
Teams commit to fundraising £2,000 to enter.
This can simply be paid as a donation from the business and covers a full day of play, lunch and refreshments as the competition for the 2025 Corporate Championship trophy heats up on the court.
AFK corporate partnerships manager, Lyn Prodger – image by Jon Massey
who’s the team to beat?
Lyn said: “We’ve been running these events since 2009, first at Broadgate Circle in the City before moving to Canary Wharf in 2013.
“Barclays have won the most championships, but Accenture won it last year after being silver medallists in about four contests.
“They’re both coming back this year. It’s a wonderful event with plenty of dressing up. We’ve had Smurfs, Oompa-Loompas and Baywatchers over the years.
“We start from 10am and everyone gets a good day of play – then after lunch we go into the play-offs and then the finals.
“Whether it’s in the corporate championships or members of the public simply playing on the court, when I see what we’ve done here I have to pinch myself a little bit.
“We’re a small charity and realising we can do something like this is fantastic.
“It feels so good to know everyone who plays here is contributing.
“Just stepping on that sand makes a real difference in people’s lives.
“What’s really great about Canary Wharf is that we have this audience and we’re able to tell them about AFK and what it does.
“It’s a great community here and we’re working with The Island Studio to offer Pilates on the sand, with Signorelli on a deal for players who come down and, of course, with 640 East.”
The minimum booking for the court is four people – image by Canary Wharf Group
key details: AFK Beach Volleyball
AFK Beach Volleyball’s court will be in Union Square until August 10, 2025.
Court hire is for a minimum of four people and starts at £60 per hour.
All proceeds go to the charity.
The Corporate Championship is set to take place on July 31, 2025, with slots still available.
“I want Malaysians, Singaporeans and south-east Asians to feel at home here and for people who have never tried Malaysian food before to have a really great experience,” said Robert Ngo, co-founder and director of Ong Lai Kopitian – set to open its doors at Harbord Square in Wood Wharf soon.
“I knew I didn’t want a simple place with four walls and a kitchen where we would just cook food.
“We’ve spent a long time and a lot of money and effort on the fit-out.
“I believe restaurants are really important, not just places to eat, but places to hang out at – somewhere for the community.”
Ong Lai is joining a rapidly emerging part of Canary Wharf based around independent businesses.
Already Italian bakery Signorelli is drawing Wharfers down to Union Square, with another new restaurant – Nora – coming later this year.
There’s also Wayne Hairdresser Salon, floristry from The Flower Club and beauty services from Awe London as well as recent arrival The Island Studio offering Reformer Pilates classes.
So what does Ong Lai bring to the mix?
Well, firstly, kopitiam means coffee shop, so there will be plenty of robusta-based brews on offer with beans imported from Malaysia.
But there’s also the food and hospitality, something that’s in Robert’s blood.
Robert Ngo of Ong Lai Kopitiam outside his soon-to-open restaurant – image by Jon Massey
a journey into food
“I’m a first generation Chinese immigrant child – I was born in Hackney and raised in Leyton,” he said.
“When I was five, my dad opened up his first restaurant and, at his peak, he had about four takeaways – I was already in the kitchen from a very young age.
“By the time I was seven I was washing dishes, even though I was only as tall as the sink, so I was always around my parents doing business in the food and beverage environment and my dad was always getting me ready to take over the operation after my studies.
“But being young and naïve, I told him I had other ideas.”
After realising aerospace engineering wasn’t for him, Robert embarked on the lengthy training necessary to qualify as an architect.
But then the Credit Crunch dealt a double blow.
The family business suffered a serious financial hit and Robert took a break from his studies to work as an architect’s assistant.
By the time he returned to education part-time, he realised the recession had damaged the industry to an extent that made finishing his training financially unattractive.
Instead, after a brief flirtation with estate agency, he went back into architecture working his way up in computer aided design to run a team of five people, rounding off the first decade of his career.
“I’d always been creative but that working environment wasn’t,” he said.
“People were coming in, doing the hours and getting paid silly amounts, but the environment was quite toxic. I needed a different outlet.
“I came home everyday hating my life and myself.
“My wife, Mel, got the worst of it – hearing me complaining.
“She said I should quit my job and start my own food business.
“The lowest point of entry was street food so I went all-in and spent about £7,000 getting a van and gazebos – I did everything properly, buying all the right equipment and created a decent brand.
“That’s how it all started.”
The restaurant will offer plenty of vegan options, including Kolo Mee with tofu and okra – image by Ong Lai Kopitiam
Eat Lah and blue rice
Co-founded with his wife, Eat Lah began serving Nasi Kerabu, a dish built around vibrant blue rice flavoured with herbs and spices that originated in Mel’s native Kelantan in Malaysia.
Following a steep learning curve that has included street food markets as well as spells at Boxpark in Croydon and Canteen at Design District, the brand now operates around a professional prep kitchen, allowing it to trade at multiple locations as well as at events.
It’s a regular at Canary Wharf’s Thursday pop-up Lunch Markets, for example.
Positive feedback from customers on the quality of the food, plus a desire to offer something more complex than street food setups can has driven the couple to establish Ong Lai.
Menu experiments in Croydon and, more recently, at a pop-up in Canning Town, proved the viability of the concept and Robert and Mel began searching for a space in 2024.
The restaurant will serve kopi – coffee – specially imported from Malaysia – image by Ong Lai Kopitiam
opening Ong Lai Kopitiam
“We looked all over, but mainly in east London and then we were approached by an agent for Canary Wharf Group who was looking for independent businesses for Wood Wharf,” said Robert.
“We wanted somewhere that we could build the new concept from the ground up.
“Ong Lai means: ‘Prosperous fortune come my way’, but it also translates as ‘pineapple’ in Chinese. At New Year they have big pineapples as decorations, so we’ve used the fruit in our branding.
“The reason we created that name is that Malaysians and Singaporeans know what it means – it’s an inside joke.
“For people who don’t know, it’s a good conversation starter.
“The design is based on a traditional kopitiam with interior design by a Malaysian agency.
“Ong Lai is about being creative,” said Robert.
“Doing festivals, markets and office catering, Eat Lah always revolves around the blue rice, but we’ll be doing much more than that in the restaurant.
“We will be doing an elevated version of it as well as Kolo Mee – noodles flavoured with soy sauce and shallot oil, Hainanese Chicken Chop and Malaysian Fried Chicken Wings.
“We’ll also be serving really good pork.
“The name shows we’re leaning more towards the country’s Chinese food – we didn’t want to be a Malaysian restaurant that tries to do everything.
“But this will be somewhere people can come in for an Egg Tart or Kaya Toast with a coffee.
“The beverage side of Malaysian cuisine is not that celebrated over here, so we really wanted to do that.
“We’ll be serving the Kopi black with sugar or with condensed or evaporated milk as well as Teh Tarik.
“These are wonderful flavours that I drink every day when I’m visiting Malaysia.”
Hainanese Chicken Chop will be available at the restaurant – image by Ong Lai Kopitiam
key details: Ong Lai Kopitiam
Ong Lai Kopitiam is set to open soon at Harbord Square in Wood Wharf.
The restaurant will seat up to 30 diners and will be open daily.
The Argentinian dancer and dance teacher suffered a slipped disc and turned to the exercise system to help her recover and strengthen her body.
“I’ve always been interested in movement and I have a degree in musical theatre, jazz dancing, singing and acting and I trained in New York at the Broadway Dance Centre,” said Sol.
“I’ve been working as a dance teacher since I was 21 and living in London for 12 years now.
“It was when I started to do Pilates after that injury that I discovered it was wonderful, not just for me but for everyone.
“As a dancer, I train very intensively, but I don’t like the anxiety that comes with training hard in the gym.
“I found Pilates very calming and mindful – you’re connected and you train very directly in every way.
“It’s not just about being strong.
“It helps you to walk, to stand, to be flexible, to be mobile.
“It doesn’t matter what age you are, or what your fitness level is, there’s always an option for you in a class.”
Founder Sol Bouille – image by The Island Studio
founding The Island Studio
After qualifying as a Pilates instructor, Sol built up her class load until she was full time.
Then after a number of years working in studios she realised she was dispensing advice to other instructors and started thinking about starting her own business.
“I wanted to have better ambience, better music and a better space in general,” she said.
“Initially, I wasn’t a hundred per cent sure about opening my own studio, but a space became available, right next to where I live,” said Sol.
“It was spacious and airy, with beautiful natural light and, when I walked in, I knew it was for me.
“Many studios in London are underground or don’t have many windows, so I was lucky to find this place.
“It was perfect, so I started with just nine beds for Reformer Pilates.
“The classes are small and there’s so much you can work on. It’s an intimate experience, so I now have a lot more friends.”
Classes feature dynamic movements based on the classical Pilates system – image by The Island Studio
growing the business
Opened in November 2022, Sol started as the only instructor, carefully building up the business, discovering the appetite for Reformer was strong in the predominantly residential community at Hackney Wick.
After hiring more instructors, her attentions turned to the future and growing the business.
While pregnant, a walk round Wood Wharf inspired her to get in touch with Canary Wharf Group, which was seeking Tower Hamlets-based companies to expand their operations in its newest neighbourhood.
Having also expanded to Kentish Town, Sol’s third studio has opened at Brannan Street, close to Union Square, this month.
“I’ve done all that and had a baby five months ago,” she said. “But I’ve always been creative beyond dancing – with colours, design and choreography.
“I’m doing everything at The Island Studio, I’ve created the role I always wanted.
“In Canary Wharf, just as at our other branches, we are offering small group Reformer Pilates classes.
“These are dynamic, following the principles of classical Pilates but with a modern approach.
“Each class is a full body workout based on flexibility, strength and mobility.
“We plan the classes in such a way that everyone is welcome, so you don’t have to be strong or flexible, you just have to be there.
“You can train at the level you want.
“The advantage of training in a small group is that the instructors can personalise exercises and modifications to your needs – similar to what would happen in a private one-to-one session, but more affordable.”
what to expect at The Island Studio
Reformer Pilates is unquestionably having a moment with studios opening across London and group classes at gyms consistently fully booked.
The Island Studio offers Wharfers a range of ways to experience its services.
“We have packages and memberships – the more you buy, the cheaper it is,” said Sol.
“When clients enter the space they will be greeted by an instructor.
“Then they take their shoes off and find their machine – the space is very clean and airy.
“People can buy grip socks from us or use their own.
“Then it’s simple, you don’t have to remember anything – the instructor will tell clients everything they need to perform every exercise and offer modifications where needed.
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
key details: The Island Studio
The Island Studio is now open in Wood Wharf’s Brannan Street.
A three-class intro offer is available for £48.
Full details of classes and packaged can be found online.
But these arrivals are very much in the vanguard of a cascade of launches to come.
With Union Square acting as a wide boulevard through to the eastern edge of the estate – picnic and ping pong tables already attracting a healthy flow of Wharfers – it’s perhaps the ideal time for Signorelli to arrive in the neighbourhood.
“The message is simple,” said Rebecca Rosmini, CEO of Signorelli, which she founded with husband Alberto a little over 10 years ago.
“We do great coffee, pastries, focaccia, cakes, cookies and biscuits.
“In Italy, you have places where you buy your croissant and your coffee, have a chat with a neighbour and then go on with your day.
“Our recipes are Italian-inspired – the ethos is very much from Alberto’s mum’s way of cooking – but we’ve adapted them for the UK market.
“Our coffee is fantastic, Italian blends and roasts, different to much of east London where there has been a trend for darker roasts.
“Our espresso is really lovely.”
Signorelli co-founder and CEO, Rebecca Rosmini – image by Jon Massey
the learning curve of Signorelli
Wood Wharf will be the fifth branch in what has become a finely tuned east London operation.
However, Signorelli’s genesis was not without its learning curve.
“My background is as a surveyor in commercial real estate,” said Rebecca, originally from Hartlepool.
“My mum started investing in residential property in the 1990s and needed a mini-me to go around building Ikea furniture for her.
“I still like doing that – it gives me a very tangible before-and-after feeling and you can see the results immediately.”
Joining the Tesco graduate scheme having mastered the allen key, Rebecca forged a career with the supermarket giant before a move to Sainsbury’s property team.
She then founded RSR, her own commercial real estate advisory company, that has since worked with the likes of Deliveroo, Asda, Boots and local authorities.
“After starting the business, I met Alberto, an agronomist – he moved to London to look for a job because it wasn’t the right time for me to relocate,” said Rebecca.
“Then he started baking at home. He can be very obsessive and it got a bit out of control.
“We started giving out baked goods to our neighbours, then we started doing picnics and having big dinner parties at home in our tiny flat in Camden.
Freshly baked loaves for sale – image by Jon Massey
“People started joking that we should have our own catering company.
“One day, an Italian pizzeria company approached me to find a site in London and they were looking for a manager, so I put my husband forward.
“We went on a journey with them and went through the process of finding locations but we discovered they wanted to import frozen food from Italy and defrost it here to serve.
“That wasn’t what we wanted, so we parted ways.
“Alberto was so disappointed. He’d spent six months developing recipes and was really down, so we thought: ‘Stuff it, let’s do it ourselves’.
“I knew that East Village in Stratford was launching retail units and thought we should go and have a look.
“I hadn’t been back since my time at Sainsbury’s and it was October 2014, windy, cold and empty.
“There could have been tumbleweed.
“There was no transport hub, no retail – I just didn’t see it. But Alberto thought it was perfect.
“He said I should imagine it, that it was just like Italy – pedestrianised with water and trees – that it would all be about people walking, talking and interacting.
“I made peace with it.
“We designed the unit ourselves, it immediately felt like home and we had friends popping in to help.
“The Ikea skills came back too and then the vinyls came down, even though I didn’t really feel ready to have people in.”
Filled focaccia at Signorelli – image by Jon Massey
opening the doors
“It was carnage,” said Rebecca.
“We had no idea what we were doing and, before we opened, I suddenly decided we were going to do scrambled eggs, because that was what people needed.
“We looked up how Jamie Oliver did them and then we opened.
“We forgot to hire people, so we had a queue out of the door and people came to help us.
“We had lawyers and accountants, some vegetarian, cooking sausages – we didn’t even know that you had to prep food ahead of service.
“We were cooking like you would at home – we just thought it would be the same.
“We went on a three-year learning curve and there were so many terrible stories along the way.
“I think it was the community that made us survive – we had so many people rooting for us.
“People wanted us to succeed and I was blinded to how crap we were. It took a long time.”
Latte art on the coffee – image by Jon Massey
fighting for Signorelli
In the end, the pandemic was part of the solution. The first lockdown provided a forced stop, time to rest, regroup and rethink.
“I always say we’ve had two businesses – the crap one from 2015 to 2020 and then 2.0,” said Rebecca.
“We decided we were determined to fight for Signorelli – we had put so much into it and we weren’t just going to kill it.”
Salvation began with a serendipitous decision taken in 2019 to install a serving window out onto the street.
This reopened in April 2020 to serve pastries and coffee. People queued in socially distance fashion.
Back as a small team, with Alberto – as ever – baking overnight, Signorelli had two baristas serving and Rebecca doing deliveries in her trusty 25-year-old SEAT. It was a fresh foundation.
Suffering “PTSD” from the smell of burnt eggs, they resolved never to offer brunch again and set out on a new path – baked goods, coffee and alcoholic drinks for later in the day.
The arrival of the couple’s second child prompted another change as Signorelli opened its Bakehouse, centralising production in part to allow Alberto to work fewer antisocial hours.
Instead, the new direction was the catalyst for creating the current shape of the business, allowing greater capacity for more staff and the founders to step back a bit from the day-to-day.
The cafe serves coffee, pastries, sweet treats and savoury options – image by Jon Massey
a complex symphony
“No-one in our baking team trained as a baker – they have all learned in our business and they’re doing an amazing job,” said Rebecca.
“It’s like a perfect symphony – you just watch them and everyone knows their role.
“We chose Canary Wharf for our latest expansion because it’s about 15 minutes from the bakehouse by cargo bike for deliveries.
“In lockdown, my husband, me and our little boy came to E14 a lot – we used to do these really long walks along the canal.
“Both Alberto and I grew up by the sea, so being close to the water felt familiar.
“Our strategy now is about creating mini pods of branches to grow Signorelli and we’d love to create one in Canary Wharf.
“It’s always been my husband’s dream to recreate the town squares of Italy in the UK, bringing people back to the table, to conversation.
“The Wharf allows us to share that energy.
“We are so much about getting people together, getting them off their phones and getting them to talk to one another.
“It requires patience and you can’t go into it expecting a quick turnaround.
“It’s a journey that you go on with the landlord, with the community, and everyone needs to work together to make it come alive.”
Stuffed with tomatoes, pesto and mozzarella – image by Jon Massey
sustainable baking
Signorelli’s arrival in Canary Wharf also brings with it catering services and celebratory cakes, all delivered with a consistent focus on sustainability and healthy ingredients.
“The Italian philosophy is to have really good raw produce from rich soils, then you can create something really amazing from just three or four ingredients,” said Rebecca.
“We’re not about cutting costs to produce a better margin.
“We’re really happy to accept less profit on our baked goods to deliver better quality.
“My rule is that if I wouldn’t feed it to my three-year old, then I will not feed it to my customers.
“We guard massively against ultra-processed foods, although we haven’t yet found an alternative to Nutella, so there is one naughty thing.
“We also monitor our waste really carefully.
“We’re always looking to re-use anything that goes unsold, but is still delicious.”
Signorelli Wood Wharf is located in West Lane off Union Square, Wood Wharf – image by Jon Massey
key details: Signorelli Wood Wharf
Signorelli Wood Wharf is located at 5 West Lane off Union Square and is open every day from 7am-7pm.
The bakery and cafe operates a “once it’s gone, it’s gone” policy to minimise food waste with customers seeking pastries advised to visit before noon for the full range.
The launch of an aparthotel in Canary Wharf is a smart move.
Those wishing to live on the estate long-term already had two options – they can buy a property from Canary Wharf Group or rent one through it’s subsidiary Vertus.
Short-term visitors can, of course, stay in Water Street at Tribe. But now Wood Wharf also offers something in between.
Vertus Edit, which celebrated its official launch this month, houses 378 studios of varying sizes split across two buildings in West Lane, overlooking Union Square for short or extended stays.
That could be for one night or six months and every inch of its design embraces that level of flexibility.
In contrast to trad hotel rooms, guests get fully equipped kitchens and access to communal rooftop spaces as well as more intimate lounge and terrace areas.
Please clean my room – a wooden sign for the door at Vertus Edit – image by Jon Massey
comfort at Vertus Edit
This is a place laser-focused on the comfort of its inhabitants whether they’re just passing through or living in Wood Wharf for a while – perhaps visiting family or working locally.
On my stay, we’re allocated a “Cosy” studio for a single night.
While this is the second smallest on offer, its 257sq ft feels palatial in comparison to many hotel rooms with an expansive bathroom and shower.
The strip of kitchen running from the door to the bedroom includes an oven, a toaster, a kettle, a proper four-burner hob and a real fridge – enough to cook a complex meal.
In-room, what Vertus delivers best is functional luxury.
Aside from the colourful East London Printmakers artworks, the aesthetic is plain, even minimal. But what is provided in spades is quality.
The furniture and appliances have a solidity, a dependability about them, which promises reliability – a kind of subtle reassurance to aid a good night’s sleep in the supportive cloud of the bed.
Rooms at the aparthotel are decorated in a cosy, minimal style – image by Vertus
a clean, green stay
Sustainability is here too.
My room features toiletries supplied in refillable metallic dispensers from Kankan.
Nothing feels throwaway.
Chief among Vertus Edit’s attractions is its location.
About five minute’s walk from the eastern exit of the Jubilee line station, it’s within easy reach of the whole of Canary Wharf and much of central London thanks to the area’s transport links.
But a close second is definitely the facilities on offer.
While the rooms are relatively neutral in their design, the lounges, co-working spaces, meeting rooms and private dining space pop with personality.
There are rich colours, exotic wallpapers and even a neon ice lolly installation (it’s art).
Its facilities for guests to do their own laundry, an honesty market pantry system for ingredients, snacks and drinks plus a gym for workouts really cement Vertus Edit’s proposition for practicality.
It may not feature some of the trappings of a traditional hotel (although staff are always on hand), but the clear depth of its communal spaces marks it out as something special.
Then, of course, there are all the benefits of being moments from Canary Wharf’s increasingly vibrant offering.
And with more to come in Wood Wharf, stays will only get better.
The spaces are decorated with art by East London Printmakers – image by Vertus
key details: Vertus Edit
Rates at Vertus Edit vary depending on the date and length of stay, but those booking can currently get 15% off using code HELLOEDIT in celebration of the aparthotel’s launch.
Canary Wharf is built on connections, creating a community of people and organisations with opportunities to come together, grow, evolve, discuss, create ideas and make things happen.
From large team meetings and workshops to corporate parties, private dining, team bonding and more, we’ve got the space and the opportunities to showcase, engage, impress and bring people together.
Looking for the right location for your next event?
Bask in the rays on the terrace at No 35 Mackenzie Walk – image by Canary Wharf Group
celebrate outdoors in Canary Wharf
>> When the sun starts shining, it’s time to head outside and Canary Wharf has some amazing venues with outdoor space to arrange an alfresco meet-up…
The Boathouse
Harbour Quay Gardens / Wood Wharf
Inspired by intimate speakeasies and chic Parisian jazz clubs, The Boathouse boasts modern facilities, stylish décor and a large rooftop area with ample seating.
Max Capacity – 25 seated, 200 standing
bookings@boathouselondon.co.uk
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The Parlour
Park Pavillion / Canada Square
This is a gorgeous bar and restaurant perfect for both daytime and evening events with its large terrace.
Max Capacity – 200 seated, 550 standing
info@theparlourbar.co.uk
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Humble Grape
Mackenzie Walk
This venue boasts more than 400 artisan wines on its list, innovative cooking in its kitchen and private hire spaces.
Max Capacity – 90 seated, 120 standing
events@humblegrape.co.uk
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Hawksmoor Bar
Water Street / Wood Wharf
The water-level floating bar and events space offers a variety of different options including a beautiful outdoor terrace.
Max Capacity – 300 standing
woodwharf@thehawksmoor.com
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BrewDog
Churchill Place
Whether you’re planning a business meeting, private party or special celebration, BrewDog Canary Wharf is ideal.
Max Capacity – 310 seated, 510 standing
canarywharfbar@brewdog.com
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GoBoat
Churchill Place
Enjoy a team social with a difference aboard your own self-drive boat, cruising the waters around Canary Wharf.
Boat Capacity – 8
ahoy@goboat.co.uk
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Emilia’s Crafted Pasta
George Street / Wood Wharf
Walking into this venue is like entering a bustling trattoria in Italy’s Emilia Romagna region, with all the plentiful food and drink options one would expect. There’s also an alfresco space for outdoor dining.
Max Capacity – 60 plus 24 seated outside
hello@emiliaspasta.com
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No 35 Mackenzie Walk
Mackenzie Walk
No 35 Mackenzie Walk is a lively bar and restaurant – the perfect spot for large scale breakfast or brunch events, seated three-course dining or drinks receptions with DJ and substantial canapés or finger food.
With a dedicated events team on hand to help organise your event, they have tried and tested menus and packages to suit all occasions. The large bar and extensive south-facing waterside terrace makes it a perfect summer party destination.
Max Capacity 90 seated, 300 standing
reservations@no35mackenziewalk.co.uk
TRIBE Hotel offers hospitality at its on-site bar and restaurant, Feels Like June – image by Canary Wharf Group
stay in Canary Wharf
>> For Summer Socials that stretch into the night, why not book a place to stay and cut out the commute in the morning?
TRIBE Hotel
Water Street / Wood Wharf
With 312 rooms set across six floors, this venue also boasts a 24-hour, free-flowing ‘Social Hub’ plus dining and event destination Feels Like June which can seat up to 220.
Rooms To Book – 312
reservations.canarywharf@mytribehotel.com
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Vertus Edit
Union Square / Wood Wharf
Opened in March, Vertus Edit offers guests a choice of 378 studios across two buildings in West Lane with rooms ranging in size from 200sq ft to 301sq ft.
Each comes with a fully-equipped kitchen, dining space, comfy double beds, super-fast wi-fi, and a bright bathroom with a walk-in shower and complimentary toiletries.
Guests can enjoy shared spaces, including a lush garden lounge and landscaped terrace, co-work, gym, meeting rooms and private dining rooms.
Rooms To Book – 378
reservations@vertusedit.com
Dishoom has plenty of options for group bookings – image by Canary Wharf Group
fine dining for Summer Socials
>> Food is at the heart of a good celebration and Canary Wharf offers an extensive range of options for group bookings, ideal for team lunches or larger gatherings
Blacklock
Frobisher Passage
Nestled beneath the train tracks of the North Dock in Canary Wharf, Blacklock is perfect for group dining, serving up sharing plates of chops, succulent steaks and plenty in between.
Max Capacity – 120 seated
canarywharf@theblacklock.com
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Brasserie Marceline
Water Street / Wood Wharf
Planning an event? French cuisine specialist Marceline has the perfect space for it. Choose from the elegant main dining room, their waterside terrace, or semi-private and fully private dining rooms.
Max Capacity – 400 standing
events@marceline.london
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Din Tai Fung
Crossrail Place
A Taiwanese restaurant and bar where award-winning Xiao Long Bao soup dumplings meet group dining perfection. There’s even a private space that can accommodate up to 16 guests.
Max Capacity – 130 seated
canarywharf@dintaifung-uk.com
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Food at Caravan – image by Canary Wharf Group
Caravan
Reuters Plaza
Located in the heart of Canary Wharf, sitting alongside Konstantin Grcic’s iconic Six Public Clocks artwork, Caravan Canary Wharf delivers superb all day dining.
Max Capacity – 150 seated
events@caravanrestaurants.co.uk
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Dishoom
Water Street / Wood Wharf
Nestled in a little corner of Wood Wharf, Dishoom brings to life the glittering-shimmering, big-business, metropolitan scene of ‘70s Bombay. Perfect for groups.
Max Capacity – 40 on terrace
reservations@dishoom.com
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Hawksmoor Wood Wharf
Water Street / Wood Wharf
Hawksmoor’s dedication to flavour and ethical sourcing has seen the venue achieve the highest rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association. The venue boasts a 150-cover restaurant, a 120-cover bar and private dining room for up to 20 guests
Max Capacity – 150+ seated
woodwharf@thehawksmoor.com
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Kricket
Frobisher Passage
Tucked beneath the DLR in Canary Wharf, a reimagined space combines new and unique design. Kricket offers a vibrant setting for groups. Known for its modern Indian food, the menu is perfect for sharing.
Max Capacity – 80 seated
events@kricket.co.uk
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Roe
Park Drive / Wood Wharf
Set across three stunning floors with a wrap-around terrace, Roe offers
event spaces overlooking the water – perfect for private dining or special occasions.
Max Capacity – 250+ seated
events@roerestaurant.co.uk
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Mallow
Water Street / Wood Wharf
This 100% plant-based restaurant in the heart of Wood Wharf serves seasonal, sustainable food, inspired by cuisines from all over the world. The first floor is available for private hire, with movable seating to assist in creating memorable gatherings.
Max Capacity – 100+ seated
canarywharf@mallowlondon.com
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Patty&Bun
Park Drive / Wood Wharf
This is your one stop shop for an epic team lunch, boozy bash or even
full venue hire for something more bespoke. The team can tailor menus and packages to help your event run with ease.
Max Capacity – 60 seated
canarywharf@pattyandbun.co.uk
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Wahaca
Park Pavillion / Canada Square
Wahaca brings the vibrant energy of Mexico to Canary Wharf. Available spaces include a bookable private terrace bar overlooking the park and exclusive venue hire.
Max Capacity – 180 seated
canarywharf@wahaca.co.uk
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The Ivy In The Park
Canada Square
The venue offers a range of options for group bookings including two private dining spaces decorated in vivacious botanical style. The first floor is also available for hire.
Max Capacity – 50 seated
events@theivy-collection.com
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Roka
Park Pavillion / Canada Square
Roka Canary Wharf offers several versatile spaces for your events. The dining room features elegant interiors and a central robata grill, for dining groups of up to 60 guests or 120 when hired exclusively.
Max Capacity – 120 seated
infocanarywharf@rokarestaurant.com
Fairgame offers games, street food and fairground-themed bars – image by Canary Wharf Group
competitive socialising
>> Action-packed gatherings are an increasingly popular option for groups looking to add an extra layer to their events. Check these Canary Wharf options out…
The Cube
Charter Street / Wood Wharf
Combining intense physical and mental skill, The Cube pushes the boundaries of immersive gaming. Based on the Bafta-award winning TV gameshow, players must master balance, speed and judgement across seven games.
Max Capacity – 440
groupbookings@bookthecube.com
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Pitch Wharf
Churchill Place
Pitch Wharf is a dynamic, multifunctional venue with a stunning waterside terrace, designed to host events of all sizes. Guests can enjoy
everything from virtual golf games and Mario Kart in their immersive bays to roulette and shuffleboard, creating a unique blend of energy and competition.
Max Capacity – 400
events@pitchldn.co.uk
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K1 Speed
Cabot Place
K1 Speed is one of the UK’s most trusted corporate event providers, offering an exhilarating indoor go-karting experience in Canary Wharf. Featuring over 500m of track, next-generation electric karts, and an exclusive bar and lounge area, K1 Speed is the perfect choice for your next event.
Max Capacity – 150
sales@k1speed.com
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Fairgame
Fisherman’s Walk
Classic fairground games, reimagined. One unique, immersive experience. This is the funfair… exactly like you don’t remember. With games and drinks packages starting from just £41pp, get in touch with the team now to discuss your next event or social.
Max Capacity – 600
events@wearefairgame.com
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Electric Shuffle
Cabot Square / North Colonnade
Bringing together groups of up to 350 guests can be a hassle, but it doesn’t have to be. Electric Shuffle’s high energy tournaments are the ultimate team-building activity
that’s sure to make you the hero of the office party. Located in the heart of Cabot Square, their venue
features two stylish bars, 10 cutting-edge, digially enhanced shuffleboard tables, and vibrant interiors, perfect for turning good nights into great ones.
Max Capacity – 350 standing
bookings@electricshuffle.com
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Clays
Cabot Square / Wren Landing
Take a shot at a fantastic interactive experience and make Clays your target for a guaranteed fun-filled
event that everyone will love. All packages include unlimited gameplay in private or semi-private shooting pegs, fully loaded with
delicious food and premium drink options. Set in a spectacular cocktail bar where you can enjoy dancing and post-game celebrations all in one place.
Max Capacity – 330
events@clays-group.com
Boisdale Of Canary Wharf is ideal for Summer Socials that stretch into the evening and beyond – image by Boisdale
Summer Socials lates…
>> Summer Socials need not end early evening – Canary Wharf has plenty of venues where the party can go on into the small hours…
Soma
Frobisher Passage
A modern and minimalist take on the classic speakeasy, Soma serves drinks inspired by the Indian subcontinent and beyond. In 2022, Soma Soho, the sister to the brand’s new Canary Wharf bar, was voted Best Bar at the GQ Food And Drink Awards. This is a hidden gem – elegant and understated – just waiting to be discovered, a favourite of those in the know.
Max Capacity – 50 standing
canarywharf@hovarda.london
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Hovarda
Water Street / Wood Wharf
Hovarda, the iconic Aegean restaurant and bar that’s already turned heads in Soho, has arrived on the Wharf and it’s everything you’ve been waiting for. Nestled in the trendy Wood Wharf district, this isn’t just a place to eat – it’s an experience.
Max Capacity – 250 standing
canarywharf@hovarda.london
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Pergola On The Wharf
Crossrail Place
Pergola On The Wharf is a botanical waterside Eden, grown for naturally good times. Flooded with natural light via floor-to-ceiling windows, strewn with vines and ferns, the indoor space is home to two bars, a beautiful open kitchen and a private dining room.
Max Capacity – 700 standing
events@incipio-group.co.uk
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The Alchemist
Reuters Plaza
The Alchemist Canary Wharf is a creative cocktail bar and restaurant with theatre and immersive experiences at its core. Cocktails include serves that change colour, smoke and even levitate. The food menu takes influence from South East Asia and the Americas with playful versions of much loved dishes. The vibrant location has live DJ’s throughout the weekend, playing disco house, classic house and soulful tracks.
Max Capacity – 300 standing
reservations@thealchemistbars.com
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Brera Lounge
Cabot Square
Located next to the fountains in Cabot Square, Brera Lounge offers a captivating escape. Guests are invited to indulge in the flavours of authentic Italian pizza, expertly crafted cocktails, and the calming
ambiance of premium shisha beside rushing water.
Max Capacity – 200 seated
tasso@italika.co.uk
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The Cocktail Club
Cabot Square / Wren Landing
The venue benefits from a large,
open-plan space with eclectic interior design and a large outdoor
terrace. Have Champagne roaming on trays for your guests’ arrival and why not surprise them with a couple of immersive circus acts. Expect swinging lamps and a large range of cocktails.
Max Capacity – 200 standing
info@thecocktailclub.com
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Boisdale Of Canary Wharf
Cabot Place
A lively restaurant and music venue serving modern British food, comprising of the UK’s largest whisky bar, a garden terrace, the Hine bar, a cigar lounge and library, overlooking Cabot Square with the City’s skyline in the distance. There are multiple spaces available for private hire within the venue.
Max Capacity – 250 seated
reservations@boisdale-cw.co.uk
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COMING SOON
Canary Wharf never stands still and Mediterranean venues Barbarella and Brother Marcus at YY Londonplus Lina Stores in Crossrail Place will soon be opening their doors to offer further options…
This year, in addition to a selection of free activities, the festival will also feature an extended range of paid-for classes offering Wharfers the chance to experience discounted sessions from top brands.
“Wharf Wellness is a celebration of the health and wellbeing brands we have in Canary Wharf,” said Poppy Price, retail events and partnerships executive at Canary Wharf Group.
“This is the third time we’re hosting it – we held four-day events in 2023 and 2024 to showcase our diverse offering.
“It’s really grown in popularity and classes were selling out very quickly, so this year we wanted to extend it to a whole month, working with our partners for a longer period of time.
“We wanted to ensure as many people as possible could come here as we know there’s a real appetite for these kinds of events and activities.
“Workers can take a break from their desks for a taster session at Padium or Pilates with Third Space trainers at Eden Dock.
Canary Wharf Group’s Poppy Price – image by Jon Massey
“For our residents it’s an opportunity to try different things that are on their doorstep.
“For visitors, it’s a chance to discover a different side to Canary Wharf and to see what else is here.
“It’s about showing people they can really make a day here, participating in our programme of wellness activities, then making use of the offers our retailers are running throughout June.”
Retailers across the neighbourhood will also be participating in Wharf Wellness with June offers and experiences available from the likes of Aesop, Malin+Goetz, Jo Malone, Pure, Feels Like June and Get A Drip.
Pure is offering a 20% discount for the whole of June to customers mentioning Wharf Wellness at the till – image by Pure
Wharf Wellness, going deeper…
Poppy added: “We know wellness goes beyond fitness. It’s your mental health, self-care and the chance to spend some time with nature too.
“Canary Wharf offers all that. We’re really excited to be working with Arc Community on a series of talks during June.
“Arc is a contrast therapy space where people can engage in meditation, communal saunas and ice cold plunge baths.
“For Wharf Wellness the venue will be hosting three expert-led sessions in the beautiful lounge space they have.
“It’s a chance to both see Arc and also learn something. There’s one on hormonal optimisation, which is an area that’s growing.
“There’s another one on sleep too, which is a huge trend. We’re all so busy it’s about finding time to relax and take time out.”
Scroll down to find full listings for Wharf Wellness’ month-long programme and booking links.
Padium in Bank Street Park is set to run social events and introductory sessions in June as part of Wharf Wellness – image by Padium
a chance to win
In celebration of Wharf Wellness, Canary Wharf Group is also running a competition for one person to win a £500 gift card to spend on health and wellbeing on the Wharf.
Jun 2-8, daily, times vary, Freedom Clinics, Cabot Place, £49
The challenge – join Freedom Clinics for seven days of Pilates (or at least 3x a week) and experience the transformation this form of exercise delivers.
Every participant is entered into a draw to win a 10-class pack
Jun 2, 6.45pm-7.30pm, Arc Community, Crossrail Place Level -2, £35
This workshop provides multiple tools to optimise mental, physical, and emotional performance in our chronic burnout culture.
Through intention setting, education on the science of peak performance and self-assessment activities, you’ll gain actionable insights to enhance your performance sustainably.
Meet other padel enthusiasts in a fun, social setting where you’ll play a series of 15-minute matches, moving up or down a court based on wins and losses.
After the games, unwind and connect over delicious pizza in Padium’s mezzanine area.
Barry’s in Crossrail Place will be hosting two charity classes for Wharf Wellness – image by Matt Grayson
United We Barry’s Charity Class
Jun 14, 3pm-4pm, Barry’s, Crossrail Place Level -2, donations
Experience Barry’s legendary workout while supporting a worthy cause.
This special charity class offers the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself in their signature Red Room while contributing to their partner charity.
All proceeds go to United We Barry’s partner charity.
Docklands Sinfonia String Quartet are set to delight with a programme of classical chill-out, helping audiences relax to their favourite melodies. No booking required.
The early season sunshine has already started making an appearance across Canary Wharf, with pleasant evenings tempting workers, residents and visitors to the area outside.
The time of summer socials is almost upon us, with the smart and the organised already beginning to consult diaries, form plans and make bookings.
With whole businesses, teams and small groups of colleagues all looking to capitalise on the clement weather ahead, it’s best to secure key dates early, especially at the estate’s top spots.
Having arrived in the vanguard of the area’s regeneration Hawksmoor Wood Wharf quickly established itself in the upper echelons of the estate’s hospitality scene.
Both have terraces for guests to enjoy dining or refreshment in the open air.
Wood Wharf is the brand’s largest venue and, moored at the head of Water Street, acts as a gateway to a part of the estate that’s become well known for drinking and dining in recent years.
Oysters with bone marrow at Hawksmoor
just ‘a little unexpected’
Hawksmoor says: “Our Wood Wharf venue isn’t about reinventing the wheel.
“It’s about doing things properly: sustainable food, an award-winning cocktail menu and genuine service – all delivered in a space that feels considered, open, and just a little unexpected.”
Those planning seasonal events can look forward to a solid offering menu-wise.
Hawksmoor has long specialised in “dictionary-thick steaks”, chicken dishes and seafood such as lobster, monkfish, hake and Dover sole.
The cooking is big, bold and honed by the team over many years to reflect the quality of the sustainably sourced ingredients.
Crowd-pleasing sides such as Tunworth mash, macaroni cheese and beef dripping fries sit happily on a menu next to starters such as potted beef and bacon, smoked salmon with Guinness bread, roasted scallops and oysters.
>> Hawksmoor Wood Wharf boasts a 20-seat dining room for guests or businesses hosting private gatherings.
It’s fully equipped for presentations and groups of 34+ can take a semi-private space with a dedicated waiting team and sommelier to ensure guests are effectively refreshed.
To make planning easy, Hawksmoor offers both a canapé menu, with bites inspired by the flavours on its main menu as well as bowl food options for those seeking something more substantial.
Bite-size desserts can also be arranged to send guests away with a sweet taste in their mouths.
The Queenie Watts private dining room at Hawksmoor Wood Wharf
key details: Hawksmoor Wood Wharf
Hawksmoor Wood Wharf is located on a floating pontoon beside Water Street and is open from 11.45am-11pm, Monday-Thursday, 11.45am-11.30pm Friday and Saturday and 11.30am-8.30pm on Sundays.
At weekends, the venue offers extensive traditional roast options.
Event enquiries can be made online for all of the venue’s spaces or via email to woodwharf@thehawksmoor.com.
The largest creatures on Earth have inspired countless works of art and fiction, often used to draw attention to matters of importance.
In the Hebrew scriptures, Jonah finds redemption in the belly of a great sea creature, having turned back to a righteous path.
There’s Moby Dick and Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan too, but we needn’t get bogged down with revenge, obsession and highfalutin social philosophy.
More recently, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home saw Captain Kirk and crew forced to time travel back to 1986 on the silver screen to pick up a pair of humpback whales, thereby averting ecological disaster after an alien probe comes seeking the ocean giants, only to find them extinct in 2286.
That’s almost as far-fetched as everyone running around with hand-held communication devices and tablet computers…
Recently unveiled on Water Street, Whale On The Wharf, then, belongs to that proud tradition of leveraging the largest animal on the planet as a lodestone for attention and it’s exactly what StudioKCA’s intallation does.
Leaping from the waters of the dock close to Marceline and Dishoom, the 12-metre high sculpture successfully breaches the consciousness of passers-by.
StudioKCA have also created similar pieces in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and in Bruges, Belgium.
The whale’s skin is made from plastic waste reclaimed from the ocean – image by Jon Massey
the story Whale On The Wharf tells
“We’re telling the story of how we live, what we use, where it ends up and what we should do about it,” said Jason Klimoski, who along with his wife Lesley Chang run the Brooklyn-based art and design studio that created the piece.
“It’s about the 150million tonnes of plastic in the ocean and the 8million we add to that each year.
“A lot of that is hidden, so bringing some of it here hopefully helps people visualise it.
“The plastic used in Whale On The Wharf comes from the Pacific and the Atlantic. We worked with the Hawaii Wildlife Fund to collect about five tonnes of plastic.
“We cleaned it, organised it by how long it had been in the water, sorted it by colour and cleaned it piece by piece.
“We chose to make a whale because, pound-for-pound, the plastic in the ocean weighs more than the total of all the whales on the planet.
“We thought it would be the perfect metaphor to help people understand the scale of the problem.”
The sculpture is supported on a recylced steel frame and concrete foundations made with biochar from spent coffee grounds collected from Canary Wharf – image by Jon Massey
a sustainable foundation for Whale On The Wharf
While the leaping creature is the public-facing portion of the work, Whale On The Wharf is also a creation of significant depth.
Canary Wharf Group’s commission is about a lot more than adding to its extensive public art collection.
Wharfers sipping coffee on the estate and then discarding their cups in its waste bins have contributed to its construction.
The sculpture sits on a foundation of concrete made with biochar, a material that replaces sand in the mix and is made from those discarded grounds.
This also prevents CO2 being released when the coffee breaks down and reduces demand for the extraction of traditional raw resources from the Earth.
“We understand the power that art holds,” said Sophie Goddard, director of environment, social and governance at Canary Wharf Group.
“It can provoke emotion and it can create change.
“With this project we’ve really pushed the boundaries of what can be achieved.
“We thought about how we can take the principles of the circular economy and push those forward.
“We’ve locked up spent coffee in the foundation and we’ve been able to do that through the efforts of our in-house waste management team.
“They hand-sort the rubbish that goes into our bins and their work means we’ve sent no waste to landfill since 2009.”
Whale On The Wharf is free to visit and stands 12 metres tall – image by Jon Massey
a strong steel core
On top of the concrete, Whale On The Wharf is supported by a braced steel structure made from recovered and reused steel to further reduce its environmental impact.
Jason said: “Inside the sculpture there’s a steel spine that supports the structure and aluminium armature to make the shape of the whale.
“Onto that we attached each of the pieces of plastic using steel ties and screws.
“We really want people to see the things they use every day, to recognise them and then wonder what happens to them. How did the things that make up this sculpture get here? What was their journey?
“There’s a car bumper, a kid’s toilet. It’s really the items that relate to children I find both funny and sad.
“Hopefully there’ll be a conversation at home after, especially with the kids, about how we use plastic and what we do with it afterwards.
“When we were building it, we were focussed on the scale of the issue, not necessarily on the thing itself.
“We have a son and so we have to think about the stuff we buy him and what will happen to it.”
Now Canary Wharf has both a head-turning artwork and also a constant reminder of the consequences of unbridled consumption on our planet.
As well as its role in drawing attention to environmental issues, the installation is a significant addition to the estate’s sculpture collection – the largest publicly accessible collection of outdoor works in the UK.
“The whales is a landmark, it’s visually stunning and it really stops people in their tracks,” said Lowri Harries, associate curator of public art at Canary Wharf Group.
“That’s exactly what we want. Since our initial call with Jason, the installation has involved pretty much every part of our business.
“Construction, development, sustainability, marketing and communications as well as all the external contractors that have worked on the project.
“It’s taken a village to make this happen and we’re really thankful to everyone involved.”
An Ode To Never Fitting In, 2024, by Ashley Cluer is seen at Refuse in Broadwick Studio – image by Jon Massey
Visitors can expect to see a selection of sculptures including a vast chain made from medicine blister packs and vibrant lime green shapes made from cement, newspaper and recycled wood.
Free to access, the exhibition is on display at Broadwick Studio.
Perhaps when prompted by all these signs, we might take more notice of the way we’re living as a species and even avoid alien annihilation in the future.
PS, at Wharf Life we’re calling the Whale Bruce. You didn’t hear it from us…
key details: Whale On The Wharf
Whale On The Wharf is located on the corner of Water Street and Park Drive in Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf. The installation is free to visit.
Refuse is in place until April 26, 2025, and is open from 10am-6pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at Broadwick Studio on the corner of Water Street and Charter Street in Wood Wharf.
“My grandma told me recently that she wasn’t surprised I was starting this business, because I grew up with flowers all around me,” said Julia Knyazevich.
“As a child I lived with her in a little village in the mountains in Ukraine.
“She had a big garden where she’d plant lots of different flowers and I loved it.”
A major change in Julia’s life came at the age of 16 when, speaking no English, she travelled across the sea to join her mother in the UK.
Adapting to her new environment, she studied fashion buying and worked with major brands such as Dior and Tommy Hilfiger before embarking on a career with luxury lifestyle management company Quintessentially.
Now she’s decided to transform a passion into a business.
“After the pandemic, I spent time travelling, including a long period in Thailand,” said the West India Quay resident.
“I also studied floristry. It’s a discipline that’s always developing, with new trends constantly emerging and I had the idea to start a business.
“While travelling, I’d organised a big birthday party for my husband in Italy – I was looking for a company to help with that, but I couldn’t find one so I decided to do it myself.
“I really enjoyed the process of finding all the decorations and flowers for the long tables and creating the event.
“My husband suggested I should start my own business, so I have.”
The Flower Club is set to open this spring in Canary Wharf – image by The Flower Club
Her brand is inspired not only by the flowers in her grandma’s garden, but also by one of her favourite places in London.
“I absolutely love Petersham Nurseries in Richmond,” said Julia, who moved to the Canary Wharf area in May.
“When I visit the nurseries, I never want to leave. It’s not for everyone because some people prefer classic bouquets to the more unusual arrangements and installations they create.
“For The Flower Club – a name inspired by Thai cafe The Coffee Club I used to visit while living there – my preference is to use a technique that involves positioning flowers in a bouquet to reflect the way they grow in the wild.
“The aim is to create something that looks natural rather than artificial and it’s better for the flowers because they last longer.
“When I do arrangements I like mixing flowers with fruit or vegetables. It might sound crazy to some people, but it’s something different.
“I also get a lot of inspiration from the Cotswolds. I love visiting the area every few months and looking in the flower shops.
“My aim for Canary Wharf is to bring something similar here.”
Julia has been inspired by her grandmother’s garden and the work of Petersham Nurseries – image by The Flower Club
building a dream with The Flower Club
Julia is starting small – working with one other florist and freelancers – but dreaming big.
Ultimately, her idea is to foster a community around her business by hosting workshops under the umbrella of The Flower Club.
“I know this is just opening one little shop, but I have made a business plan,” said Julia.
“I know it’s a big dream, but I’m working hard on the branding. We’re starting slowly, but I want to build that community and eventually teach other florists.
“I have an unusual style of floristry and I’d love to set up a franchise model, not just in the UK but in other countries too.
“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. It’s been a journey getting to this point, but we’re almost there.
“Starting your own business lets you feel a kind of freedom compared with working for a company, but you also have to work on all aspects of the operation.
“It’s stressful because you feel like you want to control everything, but to be successful you need to do that work and be aware of every part of the business.”
One of the key drivers for The Flower Club is a mission to lessen the environmental impact of floristry.
“I try to source flowers direct from growers,” said Julia.
“There’s a wonderful farm in Surrey that I’m planning to work with this spring and summer and there’s another in Cornwall – it’s a long way, but they specialise in wild flowers, which I love.
“It’s better from a sustainability perspective to buy from UK growers because the flowers don’t travel so far and they don’t have to use chemicals to keep them fresh.
“It’s hard to say no to plastic wrapping completely, but The Flower Club is trying to minimise its use. I mainly use craft and tissue papers and biodegradeable products for my bouquets.
“For example, I use string to tie the stems together that’s made from natural materials.
“All of the bags we use in the shop will be paper too and the interior will be mostly decorated with wood and reclaimed furniture.
“It’s a small workspace, but it’s enough and it’s better to start from the ground up rather than take big risks.
“I’ve planned the layout and have made it as comfortable as possible both for workers and our customers.
“Having studied floristry, I know how to use the space professionally and it should be sufficient for our needs.
“I also want to use social media to educate people who want to know more about sourcing and also caring for flowers.
“It’s important to know how to treat the arrangements and all of my orders will have cards on how to properly care for the flowers.”
Prospective customers can find out more online – image by The Flower Club
opening The Flower Club at 8 Harbord Square
While the 8 Harbord Square shop will sell fresh cut flowers and gifts, there will be two further strands to Julia’s business that emerge when she’s up and running.
“I’ll be hosting workshops for people to participate in, especially around events in the calendar,” she said.
“That might be wreath making at Christmas, for example, or creating Easter displays.
“We’ll also have a service for events, which I have a lot of experience doing.
“Clients who want something special for their tables will be able to order flower arrangements, but also tableware and decorations.
“We will be here to explore ideas and designs to make things really special.
“There are lots of options – I’m a big fan of Murano glass, for example – and we can work in private homes, private dining rooms or in restaurants depending on a client’s needs.”
key details: The Flower Club
The Flower Club is set to open soon on the ground floor of 8 Harbord Square in Wood Wharf.
Visit the business’ website for updates or follow @theflowerclub_ldn on Insta.
