Presented almost completely open-plan (you do get walled off bathrooms), they recall Docklands’ warehouses with more than a nod, stylistically, to the red-brick structures of New York’s Meatpacking District.
But while the flavour is of industrial buildings cleverly converted for residential use, the 11-storey tower is newly built, meaning it comes with none of the hassle or dodgy bodges that can plague refurbishment projects.
Instead, the exposed concrete ceilings, black metal framed windows and cast iron radiators are all carefully thought-through design statements contained within a thoroughly modern structure.
The apartments offer a completely open-plan design with industrial details
Capping the whole thing off, developer Canary Wharf Group has now launched a pair of apartments on the building’s top floor.
The Upper Lofts, both priced at £1,950,000, feature internal living space of 1,400sq ft and feature wrap-around terraces of more than 1,000 sq ft.
Properties feature fully-fitted kitchens with stainless steel units and counter tops as well as Siemens appliances.
Bathrooms come with free standing baths, double basins and black-framed, walk-in showers.
The 8 Harbord Square homes come with fully fitted stainless steel kitchens
a singular offering at 8 Harbord Square
Canary Wharf Group director of residential sales, Melanie Conway, said: “The expression ‘one-of-a-kind’ is sometimes overused, but in this instance, The Upper Lofts represent ‘two-of-a-kind’ apartments not seen before in London.
“Their positioning within 8 Harbord Square and the wider Canary Wharf estate gives them views of iconic surrounding landmarks, which previously you would only have seen from some of our tallest residential buildings.
“With vast wrap-around terraces and totally open plan living spaces, they have been designed to take advantage of these views and the natural light that floods the spaces, giving residents the most incredible sunrises and sunsets.
“8 Harbord Square marks the final building in our residential portfolio on the estate, meaning it’s the last opportunity to own a piece of the Wharf’s rich history and to be a part of the incredible transformation that has taken place here.”
Residents are free to configure and dress their apartment however they like
an emerging neighbourhood
Part of Canary Wharf’s Wood Wharf development, 8 Harbord Square is the final building in Canary Wharf Group’s scheme to feature homes for private sale.
Further residential projects will fall under its wholly-owned subsidiary Vertus, which boasts an extensive portfolio of homes to live in via all-inclusive rental deals.
Wood Wharf itself is rapidly becoming established as an area to visit with restaurants such as Dishoom, Hawksmoor, MMy Wood Wharf, Emilia’s Crafted Pasta and Roe attracting a steady stream of visitors.
Third Space recently opened a new site locally, adding Hot Yoga, Reformer Pilates and a new 20m swimming pool to its Canary Wharf offering, while creative companies such as Qube, Vow Studio and Broadwick also now call the neighbourhood home.
The Cube, a competitive socialising experience is set to open nearby, while Harbord Square itself now boasts a vet, GP surgery, convenience store and a sports hall and gym complex for residents to investigate.
The Upper Lofts feature wrap-around terraces with views over London
key details – 8 Harbord Square
The Upper Lofts at 8 Harbord Square are both priced at £1,950,000.
Other properties in the 82-apartment building start at £770,000 for an 801sq ft home or £990,000 for 1,037sq ft.
- 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
Leah Sams’ Paradise Collection from Power Of Women perhaps typifies the changing face of Canary Wharf.
It’s tech, it’s fashion, it’s illustration, it’s female-led and it’s been created and launched on the east London estate.
Having swapped theatrical costume and set design for art and illustration during the pandemic, Leah found success selling digital works as non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
The move into tech came after her husband Jack also changed career, leaving the performing arts world to fight fires and discovering his colleagues’ passion for crypto assets.
“He showed my artwork to them, which is very female-orientated and empowered, and these burly men were saying they would buy it,” said Leah, who moved to the UK from Malaysia to study theatre arts at university.
“That was the rabbit hole that started my career in the digital art world.
“At the time I started selling NFTs it was a very male space – less than 10% were female collectors or artists.
“I launched a very female-focused collection of works and they sold out within three hours and made more money than I did in a whole year selling on Etsy.
“At the time a lot of artists saw it as a way to make a living, often for the first time as digital creators.”
Artist, illustrator and Power Of Women founder Leah Sams
Leah Sams – the power of tech…
Leah’s success led to an exhibition at Adidas’ flagship London store as well as collaborations with the likes of Manchester City FC.
Much of the hype has gone out of the NFT market.
But Leah is certain the tech that makes it work – an immutable record of the provenance and authenticity of a work stored on a blockchain to identify the owner of a piece – will continue to become an increasingly important part of our digital world.
“A lot of the people who came into NFTs to make a quick buck have all left,” said Leah, who lives on the Isle Of Dogs.
“But what you’re left with is interesting people building interesting things, and that’s great, because it’s now easier to sift through and find amazing pieces.
“The is definitely not perfect, but the people who are working with this technology truly believe that it is going to be part of our everyday lives.
“When we first had the internet, there a lot of sceptics and all sorts of companies building websites, but from that emerged the likes of Google and Facebook and all these goliaths.
“Provenance and authenticity are very important in the traditional art world, so having a public, digital record of works that cannot be changed is going to be really useful.
“The future is that NFTs will be rebranded – the technology will be there but in the background and it’s really important with regard to things like copyright that artists understand where the world is heading.
“At the moment we’re seeing cryptocurrency, AI, blockchain and NFTs all intermingling.
“It’s a really exciting space to be in because it’s the precursor to things that come next.”
Leah’s is an artist creating digital work, prints and now clothes
thinking differently
“Right now, just as in the traditional art world, there are a few artists making a mint in the digital space,” said Leah.
“Others are diversifying their income, but NFTs have significantly changed people’s attitude towards digital art – that it should be respected and people should be paid fairly for it.”
The launch of The Paradise Collection and Leah’s move into fashion, however, has more to do with a desire to keep creating than to find fresh markets for the things she makes.
“As we had a bit of money to invest, I thought we could just do the same old thing or we could do something different,” she said.
“This felt like it was a different iteration of what I’ve been working towards.
“All of my artwork has had a concentration on representation, culture and diversity – fashion has also been a huge part of that because of my history in theatre and costume.
“I’ve also always been drawing fashionable women, so this has been a dream since I was a kid, to be doing something with clothes.”
a learning curve
“A friend of mine in the NFT space – Shreya Bhan – who started her career in fashion said that, when I was ready, we could do something together,” added Leah.
“She’s guided me through it and it’s been fascinating to see the correlation and some similarities with the work I was doing in costume with the pattern cutting elements, use of silhouettes and how fabric falls on the body.
“Lots of people have bought my artwork, but there’s something different in buying an wearing a garment to something that lives on a screen or a wall as a print.
“I feel like my customers are wearing my pieces and that’s quite a responsibility to have, which is why it’s been a long process to fine-tune and curate the collection.
“Designing on fabric is very different from working on an iPad – it’s been a huge learning curve.
“I started off with a budget and had to figure out how to create a diverse line that worked financially but was also an extension of a brand that had only existed as artworks before.
“Now it’s coming into the physical world, how do you represent it and how do I link it back to my art?”
Pink Berry Unisex Shirt, £75 from The Paradise Collection
Leah Sams – The Paradise Collection
Comprising unisex shirts, wrap dresses and tiered dresses, The Paradise Collection features three vibrant prints on cotton as well as colourful designs on a trio of silk scarves.
But, tying in with Leah’s wider brand, there’s more to the pieces than their physical existence.
“Each piece has a chip that I’ve sewn into it, which can be scanned with a phone,” said Leah.
“I hope I will always make sustainable collections and the point of the chips is that people can own the garment on the blockchain, see where it’s come from, what it’s made of and how to care for it.
“But it’s also have a connection to me – the person who’s made it, so that it means more than something you buy from a big brand.
““It’s been a dream since I was a little girl to design my own clothes.
Garments all contain chips that owners can scan for more information, including care instructions
“To be able to launch my own collection of garments, 20 years on, is both surreal and empowering.
“Every aspect of this collection from the colour of each button, to the digital experience that comes with each garment, has been designed with love and care.
“I hope that anyone who wears a Power of Women garment will feel like they are wearing a piece of art.
“I think what’s also important is that I can always update the digital experience any time.
“It feels personal that people can have a connection to me via the Web3 space where The Paradise Collection was born – what I’ve created so far and all the work I’ve done to make that happen.”
Turquoise Chilli Tiered Dress, £95 from The Paradise Collection
an east London creation
“I chose to launch the collection at Grind in Canary Wharf’s Market Halls because it’s where I do a lot of my drawing,” said Leah.
“I have a studio at home on the Isle Of Dogs, but this is where I choose to get away from that.
“Since creating Power Of Women in the Web3 space, I’ve met a few London artists, so we have sketching and coffee gatherings and it felt really right to have our launch party there.
“I also wanted to showcase that there are creators here.
“The Canary Wharf community is enriching and the more we can showcase that, the more we will all benefit from it.
“All of the professional shots for the collection were done at The Vow Studio in Wood Wharf. It was the perfect location to do that and taking everyone for lunch locally after was just lovely.
“There’s something about birthing this collection here because there is an entrepreneurial aspect to doing that – Canary Wharf has a corporate reputation but there’s also a residential side to it that’s more community based.
“Launching here and celebrating all the people who have worked just felt really right.
“I get where the estate’s reputation comes from but I think things have shifted. It’s more of a place to hang around now and it’s very exciting.
“I love the buildings and all of the greenery.
“I have been very unapologetic about my art and I don’t want to be apologetic about my fashion.
“I’ve created pieces that are bold and colourful and I hope people will look at them and thing they’re something a bit different.”
Crab Silk Scarf, £25, from The Paradise Collection
key details – Leah Sams
The Paradise Collection from Power Of Women by Leah Ibrahim Sams is available to buy online with prices starting at £25.
Leah’s other artworks including NFTs can also be viewed and purchased via this link
- 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
This means members can indulge in everything from spinning to sound baths, HIIT sessions or weightlifting.
Third Space CEO Colin Waggett
unveiling Third Space Wood Wharf
But with the opening of Third Space Wood Wharf club, that offering and capacity has received a massive boost – essentially beating an already unbeatable proposition because access is included with membership of the Canary Wharf club as standard.
Expansive new studios mean Hot Yoga and Reformer Pilates classes are now available at for the first time on the estate.
There’s also a fully equipped training space and a swimming pool at the 15 Water Street location, which is spread over two floors above Tribe hotel and Dishoom.
“When I joined, we had four clubs and three brands – it was abundantly clear that the right one to grow was Third Space, which brought together serious business and lifestyle propositions,” said Colin Waggett, Third Space CEO.
“It had a brilliant name too, so the initial challenge was to bring those four locations, which included the former Reebok Sports Club in Canary Wharf, under the Third Space name.
“Having achieved that by 2017, we started to look at new sites including one near Fenchurch Street and then Islington.
“We were gradually building and we started looking at Wood Wharf in 2018.
“It’s been a long time coming, but that’s reflected in the quality of what we’ve created here.
“We decided that for Canary Wharf and Wood Wharf we would only have one membership so people don’t have to make a choice between the two sites.
“If you buy into one club, you get access to both.
“By doing that, it’s made it easier to get the proposition right at Wood Wharf.”
The new club features a large, well-lit multi-functional training area
the Third Space Wood Wharf proposition
“It provides something different to the main Canary Wharf site – more of a country club feel with the pool and spa,” said Colin
“We’ve also got a massive, multifunctional training space.
“Then, over the last five years Reformer Pilates and Hot Yoga have become ever more popular and that’s why we’ve built those studios.
“The former, especially, is having a big moment and, had we not built the Wood Wharf club, we’d have put facilities into our Canada Square site.
“We have to watch the big trends and change our space allocation in both clubs over time to reflect them.
“Right now that means less cardio activity and fewer cross trainers but more racks for weightlifting and greater space for our mind and body offering with Yoga, Pilates and sound baths.”
Third Space Wood Wharf has a dedicated Hot Yoga studio
growing from experience
Colin knows a thing or two about keeping abreast of developments in the industry.
Having joined Fitness First in 2004 as chief financial officer, he was running the company a year later and presided over its growth from 250 locations in 10 countries to 500 in 25, expanding into the Middle East, south-east Asia and Australia.
Striking out on his own, he founded studio fitness concept Psycle in 2012, which included a branch in Canary Wharf’s Crossrail Place albeit before any trains were running.
While on that journey, he met the owners of Reebok Sports Club, who were acquiring Third Space and ended up joining the company as CEO in 2015.
While the pandemic meant pausing plans for expansion, the brand is now very much back on track with sites in Battersea, Wimbledon and Clapham
“Next year we’ll open three or maybe four clubs – which could make seven in two years – and that’s a lot,” said Colin.
“These are all sites we signed four years ago so we’ve known they were coming and we’ve been preparing for them.
“Our business is property and people. The property side happens very slowly, the design, construction and the rest of it.
“The people side can happen quite quickly – we usually need a team of 50 or 60 people to open a club.
“About half to two thirds of them are already working in one of our clubs.
“It’s all about getting the skills and culture right, which is what we spend time preparing for.”
“It’s always a challenge but that is what we’re here for.
The Reformer Pilates studio features equipment for group sessions
keeping that quality
“Preserving the quality we have at our existing clubs is a complete obsession with new openings,” said Colin.
“Our mantra is we get better as we get bigger – so we work really hard to ensure that’s the case.
“The golden rule when opening a new club is always to promote internally. Our heads of department will be two-thirds internal as well.
“The things we’ve been investing in, knowing these openings have been in the pipeline, are recruitment, training and education.
“We have a significant team of master trainers who are out there recruiting instructors and training them up to the standard we want them to be at.
“We’re in the fortunate position of being able to recruit the best.
“Our Canary Wharf and Islington clubs both have what we call Academy Teams, which are gateway jobs for people looking to become personal trainers.
“Our smaller clubs also help because that network provides career pathways which help us fulfil that mantra of being better.”
Third Space Canary Wharf already has a wealth of facilities including a fully equipped combat area
evolving the Third Space Canary Wharf site
With the Wood Wharf launch well underway, the refurbishment of the Canary Wharf club is itself an ongoing mission.
The space formerly used for The Pearson Room is set to be repurposed as a mind and body space to cater for the upswing in demand for Yoga and sound baths, while the existing studio will likely be filled with more Reformer Pilates machines to accommodate larger classes.
It’s all part of a carefully curated mix that’s designed to give frequent users the best deal possible.
“We’re great value if you come regularly and terrible value if you don’t,” said Colin.
“We don’t have membership contracts. If people want to leave, for whatever reason – life’s got in the way, they’re too busy – then they should leave feeling good about us.
“Our aim is to never let people down, but to recognise that some will cease training.
“One in five of our new members is actually someone returning to us.
“For all the things available to you, our price per day or per visit is extremely good value.
“It’s about an investment in something, a good use of time.
“We’re aimed at people who are prioritising their fitness and want good experiences – members who are trying to get the most out of life in busy London.
“We meet their demands as these change and evolve.
“With a master trainer in charge of each area of fitness, they’re always looking at our programme to see what’s performing, how it can be improved or refreshed – a bit like changing a menu at a restaurant.
“You want to keep your favourites, but you want new attractions too.”
Sound baths are increasingly popular across Third Space’s clubs
new thinking at Third Space
“One of the things we’re doing more of across our clubs is focusing on that whole spa experience with saunas, plunge pools and hydrotherapy,” said Colin.
“At one time it was thought they just felt nice but increasingly there’s a real purpose to spending that time, whether for the physical or mental benefits you get from them.
“Sound baths, for instance, are curiously absorbing and a really nice treat.
“If you’re training at a high intensity, adding in softer programming to a club gives our members greater value.
“The ambition is that one day every one of our clubs will close with a session.
“People can then train in the morning and come back at the end of the day for what’s essentially 45 minutes of meditation – that would be wonderful.
“Wood Wharf itself has quite a different vibe to our other clubs – it’s beautiful to look down on the water and the streets below from the third floor.
“Some people will prefer to train there or just come for specific classes while mainly using Canary Wharf. It could just be where the mood takes them on the day.
“The club generates more capacity for us and, now that it’s open, we’ll be doing more to sell the two offerings together.”
need to know
Club membership at Third Space Canary Wharf, including access to Third Space Wood Wharf currently costs £217 per month.
Group access for the brand’s clubs (excluding Mayfair and Islington) costs £245.
- 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
“It’s pretty simple,” said James Robson, in answer to why the trio behind runaway central London success, Fallow, have opened Roe in Canary Wharf.
“The view and the terrace at One Park Drive are stunning.
“You don’t get many terraces like this, with the sun catching it, from about 11am until late evening.
“We wanted to put a world class restaurant in a world class building.”
James is one third of a partnership that has seen much success in recent years.
Together with chefs Will Murray and Jack Croft, he opened nose-to-tail restaurant Fallow in St James, just down from Piccadilly Circus in 2021 to much acclaim and popularity.
Building on that success, they opened Fowl, a beak-to-feet chicken shop with a similar sustainable ethos, nearby.
First of all, it’s big – about double Fallow’s size and in east London rather than the city centre.
It’s tucked back off Water Street and opens out above Harbour Quay Gardens’ Boardwalk.
There’s an open kitchen, much marble, fixtures made of rebar, golden metalwork and a 3D printed plant-based sculpture, intended to recall the structure of a coral.
James Robson, one of the trio behind Roe restaurant in Canary Wharf
Building big at Roe
“It’s huge, it’s a beast – it’s one of the largest independent restaurants I’m aware of,” said James, himself no stranger to east London, having been born in Bow.
“We don’t know where the journey will go yet.
“It will be a fantastic place to come.
“We’ve got about 100 team members and I expect to end up with between 200 and 300 eventually.
“We’re aiming to cater for 400-600 customers a day, and that could end up being 1,000 to 2,000 a day.
“We’re very organic in our approach to things like that.”
Capable of anything from 250 diners to 500 depending on configuration, Roe is the result of extensive thought and planning.
“Opening Fallow was wonderful, but it was intense – it was during lockdown and it was a rush,” said James.
“We had to get it open and everyone came together to make it happen.
“With this one, we’ve had time on our hands to get even more of the details right, so I feel pretty proud sitting here right now.”
Roe’s interior features a large 3D printed, plant-based sculpture intended to recall the structure of a coral
Interior features
The team have transformed a spare concrete box, working with 30 contractors to deliver a finished restaurant.
The installation includes around 16 metres of aeroponic and hydroponic vertical farm that is already being used to grow ingredients for dishes and cocktails.
“The way I put it is that we’ll have about 300 plants growing at any one time, and we’ll be producing about £1,000 to £1,500 worth of produce a month – although this wouldn’t last more than a week with us,” said James.
“What it does do is engage the team, some of whom will never have grown a vegetable in their lives.
“They come to work with us and this way, they get to understand those ingredients, they see things grow, they taste them straight from the vine and that does wonders for the team.
“That comes across in the business and hopefully this comes across to the customer. For me it’s about the team engaging with nature – the customers love it too.
“We’re currently growing padron peppers, lemon verbena, thyme, basil and strawberries.”
Maitake Cornish pasty with walnut ketchup, £9 at Roe
What’s on the menu at Roe?
Vital, of course, to Roe’s reception will be its food, which comes with a focus on sharing dishes served with a side of sustainability.
Snacks include breaded mushooms, charcuterie and oysters, while small plates feature sea bream tartare, cuttlefish fried toast and lamb ribs. These range from £4-£21 and £9-£16 respectively.
Skewers of white cabbage, venison, octopus and rare breed pork are available with prices ranging from £9-£13. Flatbreads come with either scallops, snail vindaloo or pumpkin and cost £10-£16.
Large plates include a venison and dairy cow burger, flamed siracha mussels and a baked potato, with prices from £14-£16 and there are also steaks from £26-£36 or at £11 per 100g.
Feasting options for two or more include seafood, a mixed grill or Jacob’s ladder ribs for £75, £52 or £42 respectively.
It’s fair to say that taking the guidance of the waiting staff on what and how much to order is advised.
Helmed by head chef Jon Bowring – who, like founders Will and Jack, used to work at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal – the kitchen is a hive of activity at Roe.
A snail vindaloo flatbread with mint yoghurt and coriander, £11 at Roe
Full flavour
“Flavour is a massive thing for us,” said James.
“We’re not your average restaurant – it’s very intense, quality products served by a team that is relaxed, casual and happy – not pretentious in any way.
“People can expect great food. I’d really recommend people come and try us – our menu is so diverse.
“It might be vindaloo flatbread with snails, our amazing breaded mushrooms, a fantastic Sunday lunch or our take on Fruits de Mer, which is nothing like the traditional version.
“What you will not get here is the mundane, a light salad, just chicken or just beef – you will get flavour.
“Personally I like to order a snack, a flatbread, some skewers and our banana dessert, which is one of the best I’ve ever tried.
“For a cocktail, my favourite is the Carrot Gimlet with No. 3 Gin – which divides people. We use sand carrots for the cordial that give it a lovely flavour.”
Breaded mushrooms with kombu and garlic mayonnaise, £7 at Roe
Drinks, design and energy
Many of the drinks at the bar feature ingredients from Roe’s vertical farm.
Its signature drinks are all priced at £12 and include a Lemon Verbena Swizzle with vodka and lime and an Apple Sour with butterfuly sorrel, Buffalo Trace, green apple and egg white.
While food, drink and interior design all contribute to success in the restaurant industry, James said the sum of those parts was the important equation to consider.
“A world-class restaurant is a combination of things,” he said.
“If we can be so bold – and we’re not there yet – it’s design and it’s people.
“There’s the team and the customers. It’s food and drink too. All those things together lead to energy, positivity and happiness.
“I’ve seen places that just have amazing service or just have amazing food or just have amazing design fail – but I’ve never seen a restaurant with that good energy go bust.
Cuttlefish fried toast with pork skin, sesame and chilli jam, £11 at Roe
“We’re here to give people a great experience and we’ll do all we can to do this in a timely manner.
“If you want to get in and out really quickly, we may not be the one for you.
“We work on atmosphere, on focus and on flavour.
“A lot of business is done at restaurants nowadays, so I would say we’re the place for a long lunch.”
Raring to go
“We’ve engaged with the neighbours a lot, which has been nice and they’ve been supportive and come back,” said James
“It feels like the start of the journey now.
“I don’t call this Canary Wharf, I call it Wood Wharf, east London.
“There’s a certain demographic that only know the estate for its tall financial towers, but the way it is now is that there are more £1,000 trainers and £200 T-shirts here than there are suits.
Roe features a vertical farm, allowing staff to grow produce in the restaurant
“It’s a wonderful environment – it’s digital lifestylers and Instagrammers – there’s a really good energy to it.
“I think that message is lost when you just say ‘Canary Wharf’.
“It’s about getting across that there are thousands of residents here – not just people working in financial services.
“I would say the demographic we’re after is about 80% non-financial.
“Our main business is our neighbours, followed by destinational foodies, which is why the Elizabeth Line and Jubilee line are fantastic for us.
“We’re not the norm for this area. We bring another level of energy, and hopefully a level of flavour and excitement here.”
Roe boast many dining areas including this long, semi-private table
- 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
The ability to see what isn’t yet there, is arguably Broadwick’s talent as a company.
Having built a portfolio of festivals, the business took a change of direction in 2019, opting to focus on physical event spaces.
Its current portfolio boasts a plethora of venues, many of which are spread across Docklands and east London.
These include the purpose-built temporary structure Magazine on Greenwich Peninsula, former warehouse Dock X in Canada Water and The Beams and Silverworks Island at Royal Docks – one a former industrial sugar store and the other a vast outdoor show ground with Millennium Mills as a backdrop.
While all are essentially blank canvas spaces, they also have something else about them. Magazine looks out over the Thames with Canary Wharf in the background, Dock X sits at the heart of a massive regeneration scheme, The Beams is beside one of Tate & Lyle’s sugar factories and Silverworks boasts an astounding view of Docklands structures past and present.
While clients are free to brand and mould the spaces exactly how they want, the venues are also of and in their surroundings, granting them potent identities all of their own.
A visitor might watch a drone show outside at Magazine, but they’ll remember the little craft soaring above the Canary Wharf skyline in the shadow of The O2.
The venue has been designed as a blank canvas
Typically, the vibe is modern, minimal and industrial. Nowhere was this more true than at Broadwick’s flagship venue Printworks London – with events taking place in the stripped-back press halls at Canada Water’s Harmsworth Quays.
Here, from 1989, Associated Newspapers’ publications rattled off enormous machines, 24-hours a day.
Originally intended only for temporary events use, it proved so successful as a venue, that developer British Land is currently in the process of making it a permanent part of its regeneration of the area.
Which brings us to Broadwick Studio, the company’s latest space.
With Printworks out of action as works are carried out, the company needed a new home and relocated to offices at 30 Water Street on Wood Wharf.
“When development started we began looking for a new space – we already had a great relationship with Canary Wharf as we were operating the East Wintergarden,” said Elisa Chiodi, Broadwick’s managing director for spaces, innovation and growth.
“We thought having our company here would be a great position to be in.
“We are an entertainment, space and culture organisation and it felt like a great addition to the mix of companies which are based here.
“We love it – it’s easy to get here.
“The team enjoys the fact the Wharf is full of restaurants and shops.
Broadwick’s Elisa Chiodi
“It’s also that 30 Water Street is a very beautiful space – it’s very much us as a company.
“We always look for places that are Broadwick – we always try and find spaces we can turn into a good representation of who we are.
“We’re very minimalist and pared-back.
“We believe in energy and agility, so all of our spaces can be turned into almost anything at any moment.
“Being simple and flexible in everything we do is really important.
“We’re very open – nobody at Broadwick has an office, not even our CEO – and that works for us.
“We’re also very bold – when we make something, people know it’s us.”
Given that ethos, Wharfers won’t be too surprised to discover that the company has decided to launch a ground floor facility below its offices.
Broadwick Studio includes three meeting rooms and a main event space, with full height glass walls, which can more or less be used for anything.
“We want there to be a reason why people come to the places where we are,” said Elisa.
“We thought: ‘What better than a new venue at Wood Wharf?’.
“We’ve also found that Canary Wharf Group0 is really keen to work with us to have some community activities happening here – that new talent can use the space, perhaps artists, designers or musicians.
Broadwick Studio has plug and play facilities including lighting and a full kitchen
“We really have an open view on what will happen at Broadwick Studio.
“It could be a meeting space, host workshops, product launches, parties – anything.
“We want to work with all kinds of companies in all sorts of industries, as well as community groups which might be interested in using the space as well as businesses hosting events or Christmas parties.”
Located on the corner of Water Street and Charter Street opposite Tribe Hotel, Broadwick Studio can accommodate up to 120 people for a standing reception.
It includes a fully-kitted out kitchen, bathroom facilities and two points of access to help manage the flow of guests.
While minimal in design, looks can be deceptive as the venue comes with some lighting, AV equipment and screens.
“The idea is to make it as plug-and-play as possible,” said Tara Quish, sales and events manager at Broadwick, who previously worked in events for restaurant brand D&D.
“We are completely flexible. If someone wants to do something, then we want them to get in touch.
“If it’s something we haven’t done before, we’d love to find a way to make it happen.
Broadwick Studio’s suite of spaces includes three meeting rooms at ground level
“To make things simple, on-site furniture, event lighting and house production equipment is included with hire.
“That’s why we’ve decided to include a kitchen, to maximise what people can do in the space.
“You can even paint the walls if you like, so long as you paint them back.”
With an extensive track record of managing events across its portfolio, Broadwick is also well-placed to offer companies assistance in sourcing firms to cater and produce their events in the space if needed.
Vibration Production, for example, can be called on to provide a wide range of technical services.
But Broadwick is also keen to help the space become part of the fabric of its surroundings.
“The buildings at Wood Wharf have a very different feel to other parts of the estate,” said Elisa.
“It’s much more urban – and that’s one of the reasons we like being here – we are a very industrial kind of brand and this fits perfectly with what we do.
“We have been here for less than a year but it feels like home to us and that’s why we wanted to do something.
“One of the things that we want is for people to see what we do.
“We have a lot of clients who already want to use the space for branding opportunities – not just private events and it’s really well positioned for that.
Broadwick Studio’s event space can be used for parties, presentations, launches, workshops and meetings
“But we also want to talk to people who live locally and to local artists about what we might do when there isn’t an event running – how we might give their work some exposure.
“Is there some way we can use Broadwick Studio to showcase what they do?”
In addition to Broadwick Studio, the firm is also gearing up to relaunch the East Wintergarden in Bank Street.
Designed by architect Cesar Pelli – who was also responsible for One Canada Square – the building boasts a vaulted glass ceiling and sits overlooking West India South Dock.
Broadwick is set to officially reopen the venue in April as The Pelligon – a flexible space taking up to 1,000 people – this could be used for awards ceremonies, conferences, launches, filming, parties or weddings.
“It’s going to be something very different to how it’s been in the past,” said Elisa.
For now, it’s a case of watch this space, but Broadwick Studio is very much up and running already.
Those interested in booking an event at the space or collaborating with Broadwick should contact the firm for more details by calling 020 3725 6061.
- 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
Its facilities, spread over three floors above Waitrose in Canada Square, include an expansive Crossfit-themed training area, a combat zone with a full-size boxing ring, a climbing wall, a swimming pool, fitness studios, a dedicated mind and body space and that’s before you even get to the weights and cardio machines.
Billed as Europe’s largest luxury health club, it boasts an unrivalled selection of classes featuring everything from treadmills and Olympic weightlifting to bodyweight HIIT, kettlebells and callisthenics.
Pick pretty much any exercise trend and, if it promises serious benefits, the Third Space’s Canary Wharf facility will pretty much have it covered.
Like Barry’s? then Third Space has Sweat X. Prefer spinning? Choose Hardcore Cycle or Just Ride. Enjoy Crossfit? There’s Yard WOD and so on.
It’s not unusual to have more than 45 classes timetabled on a given weekday for members to choose from – all included in the monthly fee.
Soon, however, that won’t be all they’re getting.
The Wood Wharf branch is set to open later this year
Third Space is set to open a new branch on the estate, with access for Canary Wharf members at no extra cost.
The club is essentially an extension on a second site to the facilities already on offer in Canada Square. It will have its own fully-stocked gym floor and swimming pool, but also a series of new classes..
“We have a great offering already, but the idea is that if a member can think of a type of class they’d like to do, then it should be available across the two sites,” said Gillian Reeves, head of group exercise at Third Space.
“There are a couple of things Canary Wharf doesn’t offer that Wood Wharf will, completing our full suite of facilities.
“We’ll have dedicated studios for hot Yoga and Reformer Pilates.
“They will be great spaces and we can’t wait to welcome our members into them.”
The Wood Wharf branch is expected to open in early summer, with preparations well underway.
The Wood Wharf branch will include a hot Yoga studio
“It’s massive for Canary Wharf,” said Alex Barsby, the new facility’s dedicated general manager.
“With both sites taken into consideration, it’s such a fantastic offering.
“The idea is to deliver extra facilities to what we already have at the existing site without duplicating too much of what’s already there.
“There will be more capacity – there’s a fully equipped gym with Eleiko free weights, a sled track, professional lifting racks, Pulse pin-loading machines with digital screens and cardio machines.
“Upstairs, there will be beautiful changing rooms where members can relax, unwind and get ready before venturing out into the city.
“There’s a 20m pool with a hydro pool and unisex sauna and steam room facilities, which is something new for the club on the estate and will be ideal for couples.
“There will also be poolside loungers and an experience shower that people can use after coming out of the sauna or steam room.
“Being above ground, there’s lots of natural light with windows all round the club, which is really fantastic and gives it a lovely feel.”
While the extra capacity will be of obvious benefit – especially to Tribe hotel guests, who can use the facilities – the chief attractions are perhaps the two new studios and the possibilities they bring.
A Reformer Pilates studio will host a range of classes
While Third Space Canary Wharf offers a programme of mat based Pilates classes and Yin, Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga at ambient temperatures, Wood Wharf will expand significantly on these.
“We’ll continue with all those classes,” said Gillian.
“But these new spaces allow us to offer more.
“The hot Yoga studio will be heated to between 32ºC and 35ºC – a really lovely temperature.
“We know from our other clubs that some people really want to escape to a warm place where they can feel that they’re sweating a bit.
“It can feel a bit more challenging because you have the heat to contend with and that puts your body under greater stress.
“The fact it’s hot and that you have to move and breathe, means you need to work with your mind – to use all the tools that your practice has taught you to focus on the positions.
“To keep things straightforward we’ll be programming the same forms as in the ambient studios but there are variations because we don’t dictate to our teachers the approach they should take.
“Everyone who teaches at Third Space has years of experience and the classes differ based on the way that they have been trained in Yoga.”
Perhaps the most significant addition to Third Space’s offering, however, is its decision to include a Reformer Pilates studio at Wood Wharf.
Third Space Wood Wharf will be included with membership at Canary Wharf
“This equipment is commonly used in smaller groups or one-on-one, but we’ve found there’s growing demand for bigger classes with lots of Reformers,” said Gillian.
“The challenge was to keep the authenticity of Pilates when creating these larger classes.
“To do that, we needed an expert and we found that in James Shaw who has been teaching for more than 10 years.
“He has a wealth of knowledge and experience and he’s really passionate about Pilates – he’s devoted his life to it.
“He’s developed our signature classes and we’ll be running Fundamental Reformer Pilates, Traditional Reformer Pilates and Dynamic Reformer sessions.
“We’ve dropped the word ‘Pilates’ from the last one, because it’s really movement exercises on the equipment and looks quite different from the traditional system, but members love it.
“We’ll also be offering Tower Pilates classes, where participants will work with the structure at the end of the equipment.
“It’s a really nice addition, as it’s a different way of working with the resistance springs.”
Alex added: “Third Space is an investment in yourself – the return you get can be life-changing.
“We really pride ourselves on the fact everything we do is member-assessed.
“We love this feedback and use it to constantly improve what we do and to provide what our members want.”
Membership at Third Space Canary Wharf, which will include the new Wood Wharf club currently costs £212 per month.
- 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
Collaboration is incresingly the lifeblood of the economy – especially when there’s something in it for consumers.
Everyone loves a deal, right? And this is why Canary Wharf-based fintech startup WyzePay’s latest venture should be celebrated.
The prepayment loyalty app has welcomed 10 traders at MMy Wood Wharf in George Street to its roster of participating local businesses (the Temple Of Art And Music basement jazz club at the venue is coming soon, too).
That means anyone signed up for WyzePay can get 10%-15% off anything sold by them simply by paying through the platform.
They purchase credit with one of the traders using a credit or debit card with their money going straight to that business.
As a thank-you for paying up front, the trader gives the user a discount depending on how much credit they buy.
The more you purchase, the greater the discount.
For example, the user might pay £9 but get £10 of credit if the offer is 10%.
That balance is then stored in a closed digital wallet and the user pays the trader by scanning a QR code on the trader’s phone through the WyzePay app on their device.
Buying credit and paying take seconds, meaning a balance can easily be topped up to cover a purchase.
WyzePay head of business development Anya Markitanova
In essence, the system is similar to loyalty schemes, where customers get something for free as a reward for repeat business.
“It’s basically a smarter way to spend,” said Anya Markitanova, head of business development at WyzePay, which is based at Canary Wharf’s Level39 tech community.
“You use it to get rewards for your money and for your loyalty.
“We all have cards from coffee shops in our wallets with one or two stamps from goodness knows where.
“We forget about them or lose them.
“Sometimes we get all nine stamps and a coffee for free or some other perk.
“What we’re doing is reversing the whole way that businesses interact with customers by allowing companies to reward spending up front.
“There’s no waiting to get a full set of stamps.”
This means there’s always a reward for the customer, however much they spend with a business through WyzePay, with a minimum of 10%.
While the company is already working with the likes of The Grandstand Bar, Obica, Boisdale, 640East, Seoul Bird and Brick Lane Bagel in Canary Wharf, MMy Wood Wharf is something new for the team.
“It’s one of the less well-known locations in the busy ecosystem of the estate – a lot of people do not know that this wonderful, cosy place is there and we’re on a mission to change that,” said Anya.
“It’s our first merchant group on WyzePay because it’s different to the other venues.
“It’s a marketplace with different traders in the same space so, by definition it attracts various kinds of customer.
WyzePay users can save 10%-15% with 10 traders at MMy Wood Wharf
“That gives us access to a wider audience who might not even know what they want for breakfast, lunch or dinner – whether it’s gelato, pizza or Lebanese cuisine – but they can use WyzePay with any of the traders.”
A deal with the venue’s basement jazz club – The Vineyard – run by the Temple Of Art And Music, is also in the pipeline.
Anya said: “Personally, I’m a huge fan of the coffee from Badiani, the diet-friendly poke from Maki And Bowl and the Espresso Martinis from Ethika.
“Our platform works very well for people who plan what they’re going to spend, but equally for last-minute decision makers.
“It takes a few seconds to buy credit through the app, so you can do it on the spot.
“Loyalty cards would tend to get lost or forgotten, but we all carry our phones with us everywhere so your WyzePay digital wallet is with you all the time.
“All you need is a charger and a connection to the internet.”
The key to WyzePay is that it doesn’t just work for the consumer.
Obviously Cafe Nero hasn’t just been giving away its 10th coffee for free out of the goodness of the late, crazed emperor’s heart.
“We create value for traders and retailers too,” said Anya.
“As a business, it’s always helpful to have cash today rather than tomorrow and the money goes straight to the trader when a user buys credit.
“Then their customers feel good when they spend that credit and that helps the business create a long-term relationship with consumers.
“There can be a misconception, because we operate a closed digital wallet, that WyzePay is a kind of cryptocurrency.
“That’s not the case. We trade online in Pounds Sterling, the official currency of the UK and we don’t hold any money.
MMy Wood Wharf’s sustainable food market is located in Canary Wharf’s George Street
“The digital wallet is just a representation of the balance a customer holds with a particular trader.
“When you buy credit it goes up and, when you spend through the app with the trader, it goes down.
“The discount with all the traders who have signed up at MMy Wood Wharf is currently 10%-15%, but we actually allow all the businesses to control the level of discount and minimum spend.
“Different discounts can serve different purposes, so the traders can quickly adapt to the ever-changing landscape.
“They might, for example, offer a limited discount at a particular time if they have a seasonal offering.
“People tend to buy less gelato in the colder months, for instance, so it would be possible for Badiani to remind customers they are still there with a bigger discount.
“It’s always more tasty when you get more gelato for your money.”
With WyzePay now live at MMy, it’s hard to see why anyone would pay with a card instead.
One for the cheese lovers, this hot pot is a truly enormous quantity of silken, melted delight, served with plentiful flatbread and garnished with black cumin seeds. The headline halloumi retains its structure, sat in a stretch bath of cheese just waiting to be mopped up
Classic Naples-style pizza served with great rapidity and a wealth of fresh ingredients strewn across its surface. While spicy on the tongue, this expression of a fiery stalwart also features an endearing sweetness in the mouth
While this friendly, gluten free IPA isn’t enough to blow the bloody doors off at a comforting 4.7%, its complex blend of pine and citrus notes should satisfy – especially at up to £1 off per pint, when paying with the app
Already a Wharf favourite since its arrival on the estate opposite Waitrose, the gelato is thick and creamy and the sorbet smooth and sharp. The combination of pistachio and lemon in my cup is a winner, but then what do you expect from a brand that takes its heritage from a store in Florence that started serving top quality ices in 1932?
This is luxury in a bowl. It seems pasta and sauce simply wasn’t enough for the chefs at Dez Amore, who decided to dump a fat lump of burrata in the centre of this dish. If you’re already on track to ordering, adding bacon (£1.40) and Parmigiano (70p), is a natural progression and well worth it
This store is packed with all manner of fresh and dry ingredients, also offering sustainable shampoo and wine from the barrel. The fresh gnocchi is as soft as a cloud on the tongue, ideal paired with fresh pesto
The poke revolution has swept through London and it’s easy to see why. The combination of raw fish and fresh ingredients is pretty hard to resist, especially when it looks like this
Dumplings are, when done well, one of those comfort foods that are far too tempting. These soft, juicy parcels fall into that category – the kind of plate that disappears all too quickly, necessitating a top-up on Wyze and a fresh visit to the counter
For those in the know, Ethika has long been a go-to for quality cocktails on the estate. Snuggled in a corner of MMy Wood Wharf, this excellent bar mixes a sparkling menu with the enthusiasm and charm of its staff. Its salt-rim Margarita is an ethereal, light-touch take on a classic that slips down all too easily. Expect delicate shards of lime slicing neatly through the alcohol
- 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
Tim McHenry’s job is essentially to get people interested in things.
A lithe and slender man with a strong shirt game, the chief programmatic officer of The Rubin Museum Of Art in New York is an erudite guide as he takes me round the institution’s Mandala Lab in Canary Wharf.
The cylindrical installation popped up in Wood Wharf’s Union Square in September, is free to visit and opens daily from noon until 6pm (8pm on Thursdays).
It’s set to remain in place until November 25, 2023 – but what on Earth is it?
“As the name might indicate, it’s an experiment,” said Tim.
“All we do at The Rubin is inspired by the significant body of Himalayan art we have in our collection – it’s an exploration of mind and a negation of life and death, the deep stuff.
“In order to welcome people into that, we thought we might want to bring them into the shallower end of the pool until they learn to swim.
“It needs to be accessible, not only because the wheelchair ramps work, but also because if you look at a painting in the collection, you might not understand it.
“Walk inside this version of a painting that we’ve created here in Canary Wharf, however, and its meaning becomes clear because it’s a visceral journey, and it will help you see what it is about you that you have the capacity to change.
The Mandala Lab is located in Union Square, Canary Wharf
“The experience is based on a Tibetan Buddhist painting in The Rubin’s collection – a mandala, which in Sanskrit means circle.
“It has no beginning and no end, it’s all encompassing. This is a microcosm of your mind.
“Your embarkation point is on the outer rim and you’ve got to find your way to become the middle.
“At the centre is all-encompassing wisdom, but this only comes about by fully understanding what ignorance is.
“The Lab has four segments, each of which has a portal, the green room for envy, blue for anger, yellow for pride and red for attachment.
“You can enter through any of them.
“We’ve represented the mandala in the painting physically so people can step inside – it’s a metaphorical embodiment of the principles in the painting.
“All we’re doing is asking that people step inside – like Mary Poppins and Bert jumping into chalk on the pavement.”
For Envy, visitors synchronise their breathing with a pulsating light
The experience comes in four parts.
Envy sees visitors synchronise their breathing with a light, together with others in the same space.
Pride is a chance to look at oneself in a distorted mirror before deciding which of four categories one fits into.
Attachment is an opportunity to explore scent and memory.
Anger is a chance to hit a gong before lowering it into a tank of water and seeing the furious vibrations quickly dissipate in the calming liquid.
Incidentally, the gongs have been designed by various prominent individuals including celebrated percussionist Evelyn Glennie and Peter Gabriel, formerly of Genesis.
Tim and The Rubin are more than happy to call in celebrities to further the museum’s reach and expose more people to the ideas in its collection.
“Since joining The Rubin when it opened just over 20 years ago, it’s been my job to make Himalayan art accessible and popular, using many techniques including high profile people, contemporary artists and culture,” said Tim who ran events for the New Yorker magazine prior to his role at the museum.
“What was really transformative was recognising that Buddhist art is largely about an exploration of the mind and with that came the interesting idea of looking at this philosophy in comparison to what we understand about how our brains work – the latest neuroscience.
For Attachement, visitors explore smell and memory
“We ran a series called Brainwave where we would have a scientist on stage with someone from a different walk of life and we’d try to unpack our behaviour and the choices we make by virtue of the context.
“We had Jake Gyllenhall on dreams, for example, and Whoopi Goldberg on time, which brought The Rubin attention – particularly secular – that it might not otherwise have had given that the art is largely Tibetan Buddhist and to some degree ritualistic in that it’s an exercise of the mind.”
That’s exactly the point of the Mandala Lab and you don’t need to be famous to experience it – although, incidentally, actor Brian Cox (Logan Roy in the excellent Succession) did pop up at the launch party to bash a gong in anger.
It’s intended as a journey of self discovery – a series of activities designed to provoke thoughts about the self, our place in the world and our relationship to others.
“Envy, for example, is devoted to this exploration of this rather sharp-elbowed, competitive thing that sometimes inhabits our minds and hearts,” said Tim.
Percussionist Evelyn Glennie performs at the Mandala Lab launch
“Why did someone else get a pay rise and I didn’t? Whatever it is, it’s something that we feel we lack in ourselves – it’s always self-centric.
“Here the exercise is super simple – if the first thing you did in your life was take a breath, then it will probably be the last, and that’s all we’re asking people to do.
“They breathe in time with a light source.
“One of the most interesting advances in psychology and neuroscience is the idea of entrainment, where individuals sit in the same space and do something at the same pace.
“Their heartbeats start to align and that starts to develop that subliminal bond and, over time and repeated exposure, will start to foster pro-social behaviour, because we think of ourselves as one.
“When that happens, there’s nobody left to be envious of. It’s a metaphor, but it’s an experience metaphor, and this is what Mandala Lab is all about.”
Over the course of the four segments, visitors are gently exposed to the idea that we are all connected, that we are all the same and that we are also all different and individual – that these things are all true at the same time.
Actor Brian Cox watches his anger dissipate at the Mandala Lab
“It’s about establishing these teachings which are all about how we navigate our emotions – how we can harness the energy that we expend on maintaining them into a greater understanding of how we can deal with life,” said Tim.
“The aim is that we’re not buffeted by these reactive feelings of anger, attachment, envy and pride, which we find hard to control. Indeed, when we can’t control them, we tend to lash out and damage others and ourselves, which can lead to grief.
“Those behaviours can become habitual patterns that are ultimately harmful.
“What we’ve experienced in New York with the Lab is a move to a more selfless nature – from the individual to the community – that’s something we could certainly do with a little more of.
“I hope this installation is a spur to understanding for people on the Wharf – it’s free to everyone so come on down.”
- 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
New York City looms large in the imagination. It’s the smooth vocals of Alicia Keys on Empire State Of Mind, yellow taxis and the splash of water over Carrie Bradshaw.
It’s impossibly tall skyscrapers, hip-hop, Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly and Jules Munshin playing over-excited sailors in On The Town.
It’s Central Park, Central Perk and the Ghostbusters piloting the Statue Of Liberty through Fifth Avenue.
Countless heroes and villains in every kind of drama have made it their home in literature, on stage and across screens big and small.
Often those characters are portrayed living in loft apartments – open spaces with high ceilings and large windows, typically featuring exposed brickwork and concrete, hinting at former lives as offices or places of industry.
London too has had a flush of such properties – albeit on a smaller scale – with warehouses, usually along the Thames, converted.
Many have that NYC-feel, with original features celebrated amid the sleek worktops of fitted kitchens and cleverly cantilevered mezzanines. They are now, however, few and far between for enthusiastic buyers.
Homes at 8 Harbord Square are completely open-plan in the style of New York lofts
It’s styled by Karakusevic Carson Architects as a brick-built structure that wouldn’t look out of place in New York’s meatpacking district – a chunk of the city that became a hotbed of fashion design, culture, dining and residential property in the 1990s and 2000s.
Its story – of industrial decline followed by regeneration – is not dissimilar to Canary Wharf’s.
The difference here, of course, is that 8 Harbord Square is newly built, with none of the potential problems of an industrial conversion but all of the style of a chic, period loft.
“There are 82 apartments in total, spread over 12 storeys and they are very different to anything that we’ve ever built or sold before,” said Melanie Conway, director of residential sales at Canary Wharf Group.
“We’ve stripped everything back, so there’s exposed brickwork and concrete ceilings – the decor is very raw – with huge Crittall windows to let lots of light in.
“There’s a real openness to the lofts.
“They are very unusual – buyers are used to seeing apartments with bedrooms and living spaces laid out.
“Here, it’s very much up to the buyer how they want to live in them.”
The majority of the building’s floors – excluding the penthouses which have already sold – are split into eight apartments in two configurations.
The Prospect Lofts are just over 800sq ft of open-plan, undivided space.
Each comes with a fully-fitted kitchen in stainless steel, with Siemens appliances including a built-in washer-dryer.
Heating comes from cast iron radiators arranged along the walls, while ceiling fans provide air circulation throughout.
The only walls are around the bathroom, which includes a black-framed shower cubicle, a free-standing bath and double sinks.
These properties are single aspect and are located in the centre of the building.
The Gramercy Lofts are similar in every respect, except that they extend to a little over 1,000sq ft and are arranged on the four corners of each floor with twice as many windows.
“We’ve been holding off on a big launch until the building is nearly finished, because the best way for buyers to understand these spaces is to walk into them,” said Melanie.
“We’re expecting people to be able to move in by the end of the year.
The building has been styled to echo properties in NYC’s meatpacking district
“It’s been very interesting to see who has bought here already – it’s a real mix from young couples to downsizers who love the warehouse style, and even students.
“It’s a design that appeals to lots of different people because you can move everything around.
“We could have dropped the ceilings and put in walls to create a typical layout, but we wanted to keep everything real.
“There’s not much decoration to be done and very little maintenance as there’s hardly any wall space that needs painting.
“The properties will also stand the test of time from a design-point of view – they won’t date.
“People buying here might be looking at older warehouses, but 8 Harbord Square is newly built so there won’t be unexpected leaks or any issues like that.
“They’re also really well insulated because they have been designed as homes. They are new, but also really cool.
“They’re very tranquil too, overlooking Harbord Square Park – an oasis of calm away from the bustle.”
The event runs for four days from September 20-23, 2023, with offers, pop-ups and installations.
V– SCROLL DOWN THE PAGE FOR A SELECTION OF OFFERS – V
“Wood Wharf feels very much like the residential district of Canary Wharf and, with 8 Harbord Square offering warehouse-style living, the takeover seemed like a great way to promote the building,” said Melanie.
“New York sits very well alongside the buildings here and on the estate as a whole.
“Right now it’s about awareness and it’s also an opportunity for people to discover what it’s like to live here.
“From the moment people leave one of our stations, the whole estate is managed by Canary Wharf Group.
The Prospect is the smaller of the two layouts stretching to 800sq ft
“There’s also security on site, 24-hours a day and a high level of cleanliness and service across the estate.
“Well known as a commercial area, for us it’s about communicating how much the Wharf has changed even since work began on Wood Wharf in 2015.
“People are now investing their time and money into coming to the estate as a leisure destination – the shops, the bars, the restaurants and so on.
“The transport is fantastic and, while people were initially buying here because they worked locally, we’re now seeing them make their home here and work elsewhere.
“People just love it.”
Show apartments at 8 Harbord Square are now available to view with prices for a Prospect apartment starting at £770,000.
Patty & Bun will be serving up its Classic American burger with a free cocktail for the takeover
AMERICANA ON THE WHARF
Mini Manhattan – that’s what they call the Isle Of Dogs – so what’s this takeover all about, anyways?
Wood Wharf is set to be transformed into the Big Apple for four days from September 20-23, 2023.
Running 11am-7pm, expect big yellow taxis, break dancers, chess tables in Harbord Square, a subway station and an authentic US school bus serving up hot dogs and pizza by the slice.
Have a nice day now.
In addition to the various special events that will be taking place over the four days, many of Wood Wharf’s businesses will be getting involved with the takeover, adding further layers to the immersive experience. Here are the deals to look out for:
Free Manhattan cocktail
Head down to the corner of Water Street and Park Drive, where Mallow will be adding a very special item to its entirely plant-based menu for the duration of the takeover.
Order its French Dip – featuring portobello mushrooms, caramelised red onion, horseradish cream, red wine jus and butter pickles – for £15 and you’ll receive a Chocolate Cherry Pie Manhattan for free to go with it.
The cocktail is made with Bourbon, Mozart dark chocolate liqueur, sour cherry molasses and bitters – for a potent take on a New York classic – and costs £9 on its own.
Mallow will have a French Dip on the menu with a free Chocolate Cherry Pie cocktail over the four days
Fresh gelato and cawfee
Downtown on George Street, visitors will find American flags draped over statues outside MMy Wood Wharf, which inside will be serving piccolo gelato cups with a single espresso for £5 during the takeover.
Mac ’n’ cheese will also be available, as will American craft beers including east coast brew Good Vibrations by NEPA for £7.90 per pint.
NYC flavours
Water Street’s Feels Like June is becoming Feels Like Brooklyn for the duration of the takeover and will be serving up NYC Bagels with pastrami, emmental cheese, pickles and mustard for £7 or with chives and cream cheese for £6.
The venue will also be hosting sets from its resident DJ from 4pm-9pm over the four days.
Free New York Sour
Order up the Classic American for £13 at Patty & Bun on Park Drive and customers will get either a free NY Sour or a can of Coca Cola with their burger.
Hawksmoor is serving three of the best sellers from its actual New York restaurant until Sept 24
Cocktails for £10 each + a free one
Drawing on inspiration from its actual New York branch, Hawksmoor and its bar The Lowback will be offering a trio of the best drinks available at its US location for the special price of £10 each.
So that’s the Manhattans, Cosmos and Dirty Martinis sorted.
But wait, there’s more.
The venues will also welcome tables of up to four guests with a complimentary Big Apple Martini for all diners at lunch or dinner.
Bookings should be made via email to thelowback@thehawksmoor.com quoting NYC x Canary Wharf. Better still, both offers will be available until September 24, 2023 – an extra day after the takeover ends.
Gelato pop-up
George Street restaurant Emilia’s Crafted Pasta is set to step outside its walls with a special pop-up throughout the takeover.
The venue’s gelato cart promises to serve up 100% Italian ice cream – one scoop for £4.50 and two for £6 in either waffle cones or paper cups.
Visitors can expect to choose from creamy mascarpone, Sicillian pistachio, raspberry sorbet and chocolate and hazelnut. There may even be a few bonus surprises from the staff.
The skincare, haircare, fragrance, candle and gift brand will be taking over a corner of Wood Wharf for the NYC event.
Founded in Chelsea (New York City) in 2004, the company aims to create products that will work with all skin types, growing and expanding over the years to meet demand.
For the takeover, its portable cart will be offering samples and cards offering discounts at its Canary Wharf store in Cabot Place. Naturally, terms and conditions apply.
- 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
In contrast, Fish Game is the rock dropped into the serene waters of Wood Wharf.
Here there’s a giant artwork of a man apparently eating credit cards with his head wrapped in cling film, tree stumps supporting glass tables, colourful fishing floats and flailing squid hanging from the ceiling and a private dining room decorated with images of Mafia bosses.
The restaurant, which recently opened its doors is the latest creation of Roberto Costa – the man behind Macellaio RC, a chain of six establishments named in honour of the Italian word for butcher plus his initials.
These feature butchery as theatre and plenty of Italian produce and dishes as befits a son of Genoa.
Fish Game, however, is different again – a bamboozling, hedonistic sort of a place that nevertheless rests firmly on four pillars – bread, veg, fish and, naturally, game.
To ensure those pillars are well founded, Roberto has turned to head chef Matt Colk – who returns to E14 having previously spent eight years cooking at The Gun (a little further to the east and right on the Thames) before a brief flirtation with Soho and then Fish Game.
It’s some distance from his start in hospitality.
“I began cooking when I was 14 in a little chip shop in North Lincolnshire,” he said. “I went on to do graphic design at college but my part-time job in the kitchen was much more fun.
“When I was 18 I came to London and first of all worked at Christopher’s Restaurant And Martini bar in Covent Garden before moving on to Roast in Borough Market.
“Then I worked at the RAC Club in Pall Mall, winning Worshipful Company Of Cooks’ Young Chef Of the Year in 2013 before joining The Gun in 2015.”
Rabbit Croquettes with marjoram and lime zest mayonnaise at Fish Game
The approach at Fish Game, however, strikes a contrast with his previous roles.
Having impressed with two dishes he served Roberto during a cook-off, he got the job and then discovered things in his new restaurant would be quite different.
“Roberto wants everything rustic, a bit more rock ‘n’ roll – everything natural,” said Matt.
“He wants to change people’s idea of what food is – to try all the good bits that people normally get rid of.
“In the beginning it took time because I was making dishes the way I used to, but Roberto didn’t care for recipes or classics. Everything had to be different.
“That took a bit of time to get used to but I sought inspiration and had a few ideas.
“We’ve broken the menu down into four sections with bread, veg, seafood and meat. If you need advice the waiter or storyteller will come and advise you what to have.
“It can all come together or separately – that’s how people enjoy eating.
“They can share and there’s never any rush.
“Diners can have small plates or big plates, whatever they want, and then order more if they are still hungry.
“It’s simple food cooked well. Roberto loves the diversity of England’s produce and wants to showcase that.”
Early signs seem to indicate that’s something customers are eager to experience.
While only open a short time, bookings have been strong with Matt and his team of chefs working furiously to satisfy full services.
Roman Tigella bread withe rabbit and offal at Fish Game
The menu is certainly a singular creation with ingredients cooked primarily on the ash and charcoal of Fish Game’s bank of grills.
“We’re in the middle of four really good restaurants here, but I love that this isn’t a chain,” said Matt.
“The feedback has been really good so far and people are getting used to the food.
“There are dishes on the menu that have taken two months to create, but the one everyone loves is something that took me five seconds to whip up.
“Roberto turned to me and said he wanted a squid dish on the menu – I asked when, and he said: ‘Now’. So I looked in the fridge, found a few ingredients and made the one that’s on there now.
“It’s charcoaled squid served with fermented chilli and fried cavolo nero – it just works. There’s a little bit of sugar and salt in there against that chilli sauce.”
Chilli is a big ingredient for Fish Game. In fact the restaurant is certainly the only place in Canary Wharf that boasts a tasting menu dedicated to the plant’s spicy fruit.
This offers diners the opportunity to taste peppers from Italian farm Vivi Piccante ranging in heat from a prickly 100,000 to 2.3million units on the Scoville Scale.
For contrast, a supermarket Jalapeno is around 2,500 units.
While Matt isn’t afraid of some spice, his dishes are designed to delight rather than melt guests, often focusing on less frequently used ingredients.
“I’m proud of the ox heart, which is marinated for 12 hours in garlic and chilli plus olive oil, that we source from near Roberto’s home in Italy,” said Matt.
“Then it’s seared on the charcoal and served with a crunchy carrot salad, with red onion, salt, pepper and lemon juice.”
Sea bream at Fish Game
Other offerings include a gamey take on an Italian classic in hare arancini, a dish of smoked duck breast and duck leg, a venison tartare with bone marrow and rump of mutton with fresh mint and mustard.
Game dishes range from £6.50 to £52 for a beef ribeye off the bone with bone marrow.
On the aquatic side, there are oysters (£6 for two), langoustines with samphire, mussels with venison nduja and monkfish with rosemary, lime and sea salt.
Dishes range in price from £6 to £50 for a butterfly sea bream served with olive oil, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts and basil.
“If I was ordering, I’d start with the Tigella bread from Rome (£9), which is served with rabbit and offal cooked over ash and finished with parsley, fresh garlic and lemon juice,” said Matt.
“Then, of course, I’d have the squid (£9). Sometimes the people are right.
“They even rave about the potatoes we serve but they’re just crispy new potatoes with chilli, garlic, chives and lime.”
In addition to the skill of the chef – after all Matt used to write a recipe column for Wharf Life when he was at The Gun and we don’t let just anyone do that – key to the success of a restaurant is the produce it has to work with.
Fish Game promises to regularly change its menu to fit in with what’s in season, whether that’s meat, fish or vegetables.
“It’s a little early for game season at the moment, but come August 12 we will have grouse on the menu and we also plan to feature partridge, pheasant and quail at the right time,” said Matt.
“We’ll be sourcing our game from the Windsor Park Estate, which is pretty local to us.
“In fact, if they turn the menu over, diners will be able to see where we get all of the fish, meat and game that we use within the UK, which is a nice touch.
“For Roberto it’s important that we serve things that stand out.
“That includes the fact we only offer two desserts – a tiramisu that’s made at the table and a lemon tart with seasonal fruit.
“We’ve also got an ice cream machine that we’re going to use to make a gelato with olive oil and sea salt. It sounds ridiculous, but it’s really good.
“I’ve been here two months, but as for the future I’d love to win a Michelin star and then perhaps see if we can expand to another site or two.”
Venue owner Roberto Costa with Matt
So there you have it, the Wharf’s latest arrival packed with unusual produce, dishes, decor and verve.
Fish Game is, Matt tells me, currently looking for talented chefs – who wouldn’t want to chance their arm at a project that aims to stand out and get noticed?
Oh, and before I forget to mention it, as if potent art, a chilli menu and plenty of food isn’t enough, the Water Street restaurant also distinguishes itself by offering drinks served from its extensive Agave Bar.
Specialising in Tequila, Raicilla and Mezcal (with a single Sotol on the list too) this promises to add a potent note to any dinner.
And there certainly isn’t time to go into a cocktail list that’s classified by a system of chess pieces.
You’ll just have to head down to Wood Wharf, bag a table and work your way through them, by which time the whole enterprise might make some kind of sense.
- 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
