City Matters Edition 012

DRESSED TO IMPRESS 

Introducing the charity that is 

helping people back into work by 

getting them Suited & Booted for 

job interviews Page 5 

DEVELOPING TALENT 

London covered from all angles; 

can you identify where in the 

Capital these nine stunning shots 

were taken? Page 15 

07-13 December 2016 The City of London’s FREE hyperlocal newspaper Edition 012 

‘Masterplan’ could 

reshape Blackfriars 

SKYLINE CONCERN MOUNTS AS FRESH DESIGNS ARE PUBLISHED 

TWO new skyscrapers are in the offing 

for Blackfriars despite the ongoing furore 

surrounding London’s skyline. 

Design firms Wilkinson Eyre and Brisac 

Gonzalez have unveiled respective plans for 52 

floors of housing and 32 storeys of offices close to 

Blackfriars Bridge. 

The towers – which if approved will stand at 

178.5metres and 136m upon completion – form 

part of a major 18 Blackfriars Road “masterplan” 

for a site just south of the Thames. 

However, with height caps and no-build zones 

being called for by concerned conservationists 

and residents alike, criticism of the designs, and 

London’s ever-changing skyline as a whole, has 

been vocal. 

Encroaching 

In recent weeks Historic Royal Palaces – the 

charity responsible for the upkeep of some of the 

UK’s most iconic landmarks – have demanded 

action over the threat to the Tower of London’s World 

Heritage status from encroaching developments in 

the City. 

Meanwhile, the chapter of St Paul’s are protesting 

a development they say is obstructing the cathedral’s 

protected views (see Page 4). 

A key figure in the committee responsible 

for awarding the Gherkin at 30 St Mary’s Axe, 

Anthony Gormley, recently threw his weight 

behind pleas for a more considered approach to 

development, putting more pressure on developers 

and the local authority to consider a new process 

for rubberstamping proposals. “There isn’t enough 

engagement with the responsibility to make really 

rich and supported environments, not just for the 

people that occupy the buildings, but for the people 

that walk by,” the London-based architect said 

when talking to Dezeen earlier this winter. 

He urged planners to consider the wider picture 

and not just treat each new tower as an individual 

structure on the city’s skyline. “Someone has 

artist’s impression: how 

Blackfriars could look if 

proposals are approved 

to think about what these things do together, 

and hopefully have some responsible input into 

how that works, aesthetically but also 

socially.” 

Proposed by Malaysian property developer 

Black Pearl, the 18 Blackfriars Road project is also 

billed to incorporate a 548-bedroom hotel and an 

additional residential block – the latter structure 

again designed by Wilkinson Eyre. 

Social stars shine 

as ethical business 

is recognised at 

annual bash PAGE 3 

£1million fund to 

explore how best 

to deliver career 

education PAGE 6 

Diciannove is 

the jewel in 

the Crowne of 

Blackfriars PAGE 9

Page 2 | 07-13 December 2016 

CITYMATTERS.LONDON 

News Matters 

On this week 

TfL makes huge 

down the years 

7 December 1941: Japan 

launches a surprise 

attack on American 

bases in the Pacific and 

declares it is at war with 

cycling promise 

Britain and the United 

States. 

8 December 1980: 

Former Beatle John 

Lennon is shot dead by 

an unknown gunman 

who opened fire outside 

the musician’s New York 

apartment. 

10 December 1990: The 

first of the hostages held 

in the Gulf for four and 

a half months arrive in 

Britain after their release 

by Saddam Hussein. 

feared dictator: 

Saddam Hussein 

Corrections & 

clarifications 

The editorial team 

at City Matters 

strives to ensure all 

information printed 

is true and correct 

at the time of 

publication. 

If you notice a 

story has been 

printed with an 

error or omission, 

please contact 

us through the 

website and we will 

be happy to amend 

as appropriate. 

Alternatively, to 

speak to a member 

of the news team, 

please contact us 

on the number 

below. 

Time to make a 

call on old tech 

NEARLY five million Londoners have an old 

phone lying forgotten around their home – 

with £90million of retro tech estimated to be 

stashed away in the Capital. 

A study of more than 2,000 people by 

Talkmobile found that items gathering dust 

at home include games consoles, vinyl record 

players and VCRs; with mobile phones the most 

likely devices to be languishing unused. 

Phone expert Ben Wood, from market 

analysts CCS Insight, has a collection of nearly 

1,000 mobiles from the last three decades, and 

said now is a good time to cash in on vintage 

handhelds. 

“It’s now 30 years since the first mobile 

phone became commercially available and 

a whole generation of people have owned a 

host of different handsets over the years,” he 

explained. 

“Finding an old handset in the back of a 

drawer can be an evocative experience: it’s 

interesting that a piece of technology can 

induce sentimental feelings in many people.” 

CYCLISTS traversing the City and its 

neighbouring boroughs have been given an 

early Christmas present by the Mayor of 

London and City Hall. 

Transport for London (TfL) has awarded 

a total of £190,000 to 46 community cycling 

projects to encourage London’s populace 

get in the saddle more safely and more 

often. 

The financial packages were announced as 

part of the Cycling Grants London programme, 

which is managed by the environmental 

regeneration charity Groundwork London. 

Community groups from 23 boroughs have 

been awarded funding for a range of initiatives 

including cycle skills sessions, guided rides 

and courses to teach basic maintenance 

skills. 

Ben Plowden, TfL’s director of surface 

strategy and planning, said: “Cycling leads 

to a healthier lifestyle, a cleaner environment 

and is a great way to get around the city. 

Tailored 

“We want more people across London 

to discover the benefits of cycling, and we 

hope that through this funding we can reach 

people who haven’t considered getting on 

a bike before and offer them support to get 

started.” 

Working with Groundwork London, TfL 

ensures that grants are available to community 

groups and charities for cycling activities that 

are tailored to local needs. 

Lindy Kelly, executive director of 

Groundwork London, said that cycling is a 

great way to get around – whether it’s to the 

shops, to school or work, or just for pleasure. 

She added: “Not only does it keep us fit, it 

can also help us to feel healthier, happier and 

more relaxed – and cycling as part of a group 

is a great way to make new friends too. 

“Groundwork London is thrilled to be 

able to support 30 new community cycling 

projects across the Capital this year, as well as 

continuing to work closely with those who are 

City is crowned lord of culture club 

THE Square Mile has been voted the best area 

in England for arts and culture, according to 

the 2016 RSA Heritage Index. 

The City of London beat two other local 

authorities – Kensington & Chelsea (second 

place) and Westminster (third place) – to claim 

the top slot. Scarborough and West Somerset 

came fourth and fifth in the index for England. 

The poll by the Royal Society for the 

encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and 

Commerce is produced in collaboration with 

the Heritage Lottery Fund to reveal which areas 

are best at using heritage to foster a distinctive 

identity. The annual index combines over 

CITY MATTERS 

Editorial Director: Tom Oxtoby 

Deputy Editor: Jo Davy 

Publisher: Roy Court 

editorial@citymatters.london 

020 8766 0500 

already benefitting from the Cycling Grants 

London scheme.” 

Bikeworks Commuter Train and the 

Muslim Charity Cycling Club are two Tower 

Hamlets-based organisations that will share 

the best part of £20,000 in funding. 

CarryMe Bikes, Misgav, Wheels for 

Wellbeing are all set for a cash injection and 

Commercial Director: 

Nick Chapman 

Media Executive: 

Laura May Woodley 

Advertising Design Manager: 

Serena Newbury 

advertising@citymatters.london 

020 8766 0500 

operate schemes city-wide, while Southwark’s 

Access Sport group is another notable recipient 

of major funds. TfL also funds free Cycle 

Skills sessions in all London boroughs, and 

offers organisations without cycling facilities 

up to £10,000 worth of cycling products and 

services to help encourage employees to cycle 

to work through Cycling Workplaces. 

120 metrics – from historic buildings to local 

delicacies – and also measures new forms of 

heritage activity, such as community initiatives 

and volunteering, to come up with its results. 

Vivienne Littlechild, chairman of the 

Corporation’s culture, heritage and libraries 

committee, said: “I am absolutely delighted to 

hear that the City of London has been given top 

place in the RSA Heritage Index for England; 

essentially it confirms our firm belief that the 

Square Mile’s cultural hub is one of our greatest 

assets. 

“From Guildhall Art Gallery and the 

Barbican Centre to the Museum of London and 

in the saddle: cycling 

has been given a boost 

Production: Steve Muscroft, 

Michael Obaowo, Robert Money, 

Social Enterprise Press Ltd 

Sex fiend gets 

year sentence 

A MAN found guilty of 

sexual assaults on two 

women in the City has 

been jailed for a year. 

Anthony Constantinou, 

35, of Walton on Thames, 

was sentenced at the Old 

Bailey on 1 December 

following a trial at the 

same court in September. 

Charges related to 

offences committed 

in October 2014 and 

February 2015, both at 

an office in Heron Tower 

in Bishopsgate. 

Protection 

Detective Inspector 

Anna Rice, from the City 

of London Police’s public 

protection unit, said: 

“Each of these assaults 

represented an extremely 

unpleasant ordeal for the 

victims and we hope that 

the verdict can go some 

small way to offering 

them a sense that justice 

has been served. 

“Constantinou 

clearly thought that his 

demeaning, intimidating 

behaviour was acceptable 

and the sentence has 

shown this is simply not 

the case. 

“I’d like to praise these 

women for their courage 

in reporting these 

offences to the police 

and throughout the trial, 

and I would encourage 

anyone else in a similar 

situation to contact 

police.” 

the Guildhall School, the City of London has 

now become a top visitor attraction for people 

who take their arts and culture seriously, as well 

as being a global business centre.” 

After launching last year, the index has been 

adopted as an official performance measure by 

the government in the recent Culture White 

Paper. 

The Corporation invests some £80million 

every year in heritage and cultural activities of 

all kinds. 

The authority is the UK’s largest funder of 

culture after the government, the BBC, and the 

Heritage Lottery Fund. 

We at City Matters 

are committed to 

reducing the City 

of London’s carbon 

footprint – please 

pass this newspaper on 

before recycling.

CITYMATTERS.LONDON 07-13 December 2016 | Page 3 


Nightclub sets 

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS CELEBRATE INNOVATION 

January date 

Soulful socialites 

for re-opening 

FABRIC nightclub will 

re-open on Friday 6 

January. 

The Charterhouse 

Street venue was 

shutdown in September 

after Islington Council 

smiles all round: 

revoked its license, 

toasting success 

citing ‘a drug culture 

that management could 

not control’. 

But after agreeing 

to stringent new 

compliances the 

authority has agreed to 

allow Fabric to re-open 

to London revellers. 

Tax receipts hit 

record highs 

SOME 11.5% of UK 

tax receipts were paid 

by financial services in 

the year to the end of 

March, a report from the 

Corporation and PwC 

has shown. 

The figure represents 

a 7.4% increase on the 

previous year’s total and, 

equating to £71.4billion, 

is the highest payment 

in the nine years that the 

annual report has been 

produced. 

Mark Boleat, policy 

chairman at the 

Corporation, said: “As 

the last set of data on 

financial services’ tax 

contribution before 

the Brexit negotiations 

begin, it is hugely 

important. 

“In light of the UK’s 

decision to leave the EU, 

these new findings not 

only demonstrate the 

significant contribution 

made to government 

revenues, but are also 

key in helping us to 

understand the potential 

impact of Brexit on 

different sub-sectors. 

“As one of the UK’s 

biggest service exporters, 

it’s understandable the 

sector also contributes 

a considerable amount 

of tax. Despite this, 

the sector arguably 

stands most to lose as 

negotiations loom. 

“It makes it clear 

the argument that 

government should be 

engaging with firms as 

it approaches talks with 

the remaining EU 27, 

and the pulling of the 

political trigger.” 

City Giving Day 

could expand 

LORD Mayor Andrew 

Parmley has ambitious 

plans to grow City 

Giving Day. 

Speaking with 

contributors earlier 

this week he outlined 

proposals to spread the 

event across the UK. 

Meanwhile, next 

year’s charitable day 

has been earmarked for 

26 September. 

THE City is on “high alert” after repeated 

warnings about the quality of the Capital’s 

air. 

An estimated 10,000 Londoners die early 

every year because of long-term exposure to air 

pollution, and the latest research reveals that 

more than 400 of the Capital’s schools exceed 

legal pollution levels. 

Compromised 

And after experts at King’s College explained 

that polluted winds have crossed the English 

Channel from France and mixed with London’s 

already compromised air, the public have been 

asked to do what they can to cut their carbon 

ETHICAL enterprises were in the spotlight recently as the 

endeavours of innovative businessmen and women were recognised. 

The annual UK Social Enterprise Awards returned last week to salute 

the firms that exist to tackle social and environmental issues. 

Organised by Social Enterprise UK, the ceremony was held at 

the Grand Connaught Rooms in London and hosted by two-time 

Edinburgh Comedy Awards finalist Nish Kumar. 

The 12 winners on the night included the Welsh renewable energy 

co-operative, Dulas, which took home the Social Enterprise of the Year 

accolade. 

Each champion was presented with a bespoke trophy made by 

Designs in Mind, a social operation which employs people with mental 

health difficulties. 

Peter Holbrook CBE, Social Enterprise UK’s chief executive, said: 

“For many, this year has been marked by economic and political 

uncertainty, divisions, prejudice and inequality. But these awards 

Who was crowned best of the best 

UK Social Enterprise of the Year Award – Dulas (Sponsor, NatWest) 

The One to Watch Award – Change Please CIC (Sponsor, GLL) 

The Prove It: Social Impact Award – Street League (Sponsor, PwC) 

‘Buy Social’ Market Builder Award – Salford City Council (Sponsor, CAN) 

Social Investment Deal of the Year – Bristol & 

Bath Regional Capital (Sponsor, Big Society 

Capital) 

Health & Social Care Award – Wellbeing 

Enterprise (Sponsor, Mutual Ventures) 

Consumer Facing Award – From Babies with 

Love (Sponsor, Johnson & Johnson) 

Education, Training & Jobs Social 

Enterprise of the Year – Cycle Training 

Wales (Sponsor, Wates Group) 

Environmental Social Enterprise of the Year 

Award – The Big Lemon CIC (Sponsor, Landmarc) 

Inspiring Youth Enterprise Award – Real Ideas Organisation 

(Sponsor, P3) 

Women in Social Enterprise Award – Maria Morgan, Kineara 

(Sponsor, Santander) 

International Impact Award – Alive and Kicking 

(Sponsor, British Council) 

There’s trouble in the air 

emissions. Adults and children with breathing 

problems were also told to reduce strenuous 

outside physical activity this week until 

pollution levels return to a more moderate state. 

SADIQ KHAN will instigate the biggest 

boost to step-free access on the Tube in 

the network’s 153-year history. 

A £200million investment over the 

next five years will bring the total number 

of stations with step-free access on all 

platforms to more than 100, representing 

more than 40% of all stops. 

are a wonderful celebration of all the people and organisations in the 

social enterprise movement that are striving to create a fairer, greener 

and more sustainable society. Social enterprises are businesses that go 

beyond ethical.” 

There are now 70,000 social enterprises operating across the 

country, City Matters included. As well as celebrating the work of 

social enterprises, the prizegiving also hailed organisations that are 

supporting the growth of the sector – either by incorporating social 

enterprises into supply chains or by investing in them. 

The ceremony was attended by leading social enterprise firms; the 

minister for civil society, Rob Wilson MP; and large corporates who 

are supportive of the sector. 

Guests were entertained by We Are The Rainbows choir – a group of 

lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) refugees and asylum 

seekers. The choir is supported by Micro Rainbow, a social enterprise 

which tackles poverty amongst LGBTI communities worldwide. 

Stabilise 

Backlash to the 

closure of the club 

had been so great that 

Mayor of London Sadiq 

Khan appointed Amy 

Lamé as the city’s first 

ever night czar in an 

attempt to stabilise 

the Capital’s suffering 

night scene. 

Speaking in a 

statement via Fact 

Magazine the club’s 

management said they 

were looking forward 

to the new year: “It’s 

impossible for us to put 

a measure on just how 

much gratitude we are 

feeling right now to be 

able to announce our 

re-opening proper.”



City alumna on 

100 Women list 

A FORMER student of 

City University London 

has been named in the 

BBC’s 100 Women list 

for 2016. 

Liliane Landor (MA 

international journalism, 

1989) was recognised 

for her role as head of 

languages at BBC World 

Service, where she helped 

to put ‘different voices, 

faces and accents’ in 

front of the cameras. 

Currently a broadcast 

executive, she has been 

with the BBC for 26 years. 

James Rodger, head of 

international journalism 

at the university, hailed 

Liliane’s work. 

He said: “All our 

students – past, present, 

and future – here at 

City, especially those on 

our MA international 

journalism [course], are 

fortunate to have such an 

inspiring role model.” 

Guitar artwork 

hits right chords 

THE 24-hour Tube 

services are to be 

celebrated in musical 

style, with the Night 

Tube map featuring on 

15 limited edition Fender 

Stratocaster guitars. 

They cost £1,500 

from London Transport 

Museum. 

Spreading 

festive cheer 

around the 

Square Mile 

CITY of London Police, the Corporation and 

the Cheapside Business Alliance are inviting 

locals to bring a little Christmas cheer to the 

lives of vulnerable children and young people 

across the Square Mile. 

A week-long ‘Give a Gift’ Christmas tree 

project begins today (7 December) at Bow 

Church Yard, off Cheapside, with the launch of 

the present-giving scheme marked by a special 

festive tribute standing tall for all to admire. 

But instead of the Christmas tree being 

adorned with tinsel and baubles there will be 

tags directing guests to the City of London 

Police website where they can sign up and 

ensure that every child in the City has a present 

to open on 25 December. 

The Corporation’s social care and early help 

teams currently provide support and care to 

69 children and young people, including those 

with disabilities. 

It is the aim of Give a Gift project that every 

one of them has a present waiting for them to 

open on Christmas morning. 

The Lady Mayoress Wendy Parmley will be 

turning on the tree lights at 5pm today and 

members of the public are invited to attend the 

switch-on. 

City of London Police Commissioner Ian 

Dyson said: “I am hugely proud to bring the 

‘Give a Gift’ Christmas tree project to the City 

of London for the first time. 

“I also want to thank our partners the City 

St Paul’s view is 

in ‘serious peril’ 

CONSERVATIONISTS are up in arms 

after it emerged a 42-storey development in 

Stratford is threatening protected views of 

St Paul’s. 

The concerned group, representing Friends 

of Richmond Park, has called on City Hall 

to take action over plans for Manhattan Loft 

Gardens, which they argue compromises 

the view of the iconic landmark from King 

Henry’s Mound. 

And their case gained traction last week 

when cathedral chiefs said they were “not 

notified or consulted by the usual and 

expected procedures of referral which are 

stipulated by the Greater London Authority 

(GLA) and Mayor of London’s London 

View Management Framework (LVMF) 

supplementary planning policy” during the 

development’s application in 2011. 

Requirements 

A statement added: “We note that the 

LVMF states ‘development that exceeds 

the threshold plane of the wider setting 

consultation area will be subject to the same 

consultation and referral requirements as the 

landmark viewing corridor’. 

“At this time, it is not clear why referral 

did not take place and the cathedral will be 

glad to work with other partners to discover 

what lessons will be learned from this 

in jeopardy?: 

the cathedral’s 

iconic dome 

of London Corporation and the Cheapside 

Business Association, who kindly donated the 

tree. 

“We all know that Christmas is a time for 

giving and, if you can, please take a tag and 

add one more present to your shopping list for 

a child in need of help and protection, or those 

in care. 

“I am sure that the generosity of all those who 

live and work in the Square Mile will mean that 

every child will have a present to open.” 

To take part, all participants need to do is take 

a tag from the tree and follow the instructions. 

Once signed up online, they will then receive 

an email telling them a little bit about the 

recipient of the generous gift. 

Those unable to give a gift but who want to get 

involved another way can also make a donation 

to the City of London Police Children’s Charity 

online. 

Ade Adetosoye, director of community and 

children’s services at the Corporation, said: “We 

are proud to serve our children and families in 

need of help and protection here in the City. 

This is an excellent project to make sure every 

child has a present at Christmas.” 

Cheapside Business Alliance manager, Claire 

Dumontier-Marriage, added: “Partnership work 

is at the heart of how the City operates and it is 

great to see how the Alliance, City of London 

Police and the Corporation have come together 

to help make Christmas a special time of year 

for every child.” 

case.” Designed by SOM, the development 

will comprise three extensive sky gardens, a 

145-bedroom hotel, almost 250 residential 

units, and retail and restaurant space upon 

completion. It is being billed as “Europe’s 

most ambitious residential tower.” 

Cathedral representatives say that it is 

“reasonable” for the public and statutory 

authorities to be concerned about the 

Stratford development. 

“The chapter has always recognised that 

the protected views of strategic landmarks 

has been designated for the benefit of all 

Londoners. 

“In this case we observe that LVMF 

requires, from the protected view from King 

Henry VIII’s Mound in Richmond Park, 

developments ‘should preserve or enhance the 

viewer’s ability to recognise and appreciate 

the dome of the cathedral… it is essential… 

that the clear sky background profile of the 

upper part of the dome remains’.” 

Friends of Richmond Park Chairman Ron 

Crompton said the situation was a tragedy 

and called on the GLA and the developer 

to temporarily halt construction while an 

investigation is launched. 

He explained “It’s a tragedy that such a 

wonderful and iconic protected view, between 

two of London’s most historic landmarks 

and created over 300 years ago, should be 

destroyed not just for today but for many 

years to come. 

“We know thousands of people are very 

upset by this and that a view so important 

to Londoners will be spoilt for many 

generations.” 

In riposte a spokesperson for the 

Manhattan Loft Corporation said SOM 

undertook a ‘transparent process’ to gain 

planning permission for the tower. The 

dispute continues. 


New home for 

kids’ lost toys 

ONE child’s loss has 

become another’s gain 

this Christmas. 

Transport for 

London’s lost property 

office has given around 

500 children’s toys and 

games new homes this 

December by donating 

them to The Salvation 

Army’s Christmas 

Present Appeal. 

The charity will work 

with local care services 

in south London, 

including those from 

Lewisham Council, 

to distribute the toys 

among families and 

children who otherwise 

might not have had 

anything under the tree 

this Christmas. 

Delighted 

Paul Cowan, 

manager of the lost 

property office, said: 

“Whilst over 20,000 

items were reclaimed 

from the office last 

year, sadly many 

remained on our 

shelves, including 

hundreds of new toys 

and games. 

“We are delighted 

to be able to find these 

gifts a new home at a 

time of year when it 

means so much to so 

many children and 

their families.” 

Professor makes plea 

for additional studies 

A LEADING cancer expert has demanded 

more research be undertaken to establish why 

black men are diagnosed with prostate cancer 

at a higher rate than their white and Asian 

counterparts. 

Professor Francis Chinegwundoh MBE, 

who works at Newham and The Royal London 

Hospitals under the Barts Trust umbrella, 

recently visited Nigeria to champion the need 

for additional studies to find out why one in four 

black men get prostate cancer – and why one in 

12 die as a result. 

In October, the professor spoke at the 

Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and 

at the African Organisation for Research and 

Training in Cancer conference in Abuja about 

“the need for Africans to become more cancer 

aware.” 

Perplexing 

Professor Chinegwundoh said: “Why are 

black men diagnosed and why do they die 

from prostate cancer at a higher rate than white 

men? This urgent and perplexing question is 

one that I have wrestled with for the majority 

of my career. 

“An important step that can be taken is for 

the black African and Caribbean community 

in the UK and further afield to become more 

cancer aware. 

“We need more black boys and men to 

understand the dangers from a young age.” 

Professor Chinegwundoh was shadowed 

on his African visit by the BBC, who aired a 

report on 15 November to raise awareness of 

prostate cancer and how it disproportionately 

affects black men. Here in the UK, more men 

call for action: Professor 

Francis Chinegwundoh 

contract prostate cancer than any other type of 

the disease. 

According to the charity Cancer Black Care, 

about one in eight men will be diagnosed with 

the illness at some point in their lives. 

The professor added: “Although a tremendous 

amount of work is being done to better 

understand all cancers and we know that age, 

diet and family history are factors – more needs 

to be done to find out why, in this instance, race 

seems to play a role.”



Academy sixth 

Texting while 

formers will 

driving could 

have new home 

lead to life 

A STATE-of-the-art 

SENTENCES up to and 

sixth form centre will 

including life in prison 

open in September 

are to be introduced in 

2017, providing “firstclass 

facilities” for City 

who cause fatalities 

a crackdown on drivers 

of London Academy 

while using mobiles 

Southwark students. 

behind the wheel. 

The facility will 

The current 

accommodate 400 teens 

maximum sentence 

and will be located on 

is 14 years but guilty 

Charity spotlight 

‘My most sincere gratitude for the amazing by City law firm Dentons, which loaned its 

the corner of Rotherhithe 

motorists face tougher 

welcome and service I received in July. You premises and provided refreshments. 

New Road and Verney 

rulings under new 

Suited & Booted 

made me feel so immediately relaxed and Topping the bill was veteran actor Dame proposals. 

Road, a short distance 

A SMALL charity operating out of wanted, the visit became a real and instant Siân Phillips, who gave a talk on clothes and “We are determined 

from the main school 

St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe Church in treat. Compassion and unconditional love read the humorous poem Twelve Days of to make sure 

site. 

Blackfriars is helping men in need prepare suffused the day and David styled me with Christmas (A Correspondence) by John Julius punishment fits the 

The design process 

for job interviews by fitting them with high both sensitivity, humour and generosity. The Norwich. 

crime,” said justice 

has had significant input 

quality clothing, writes Lionel Wright. suit is incredible and I’ve felt utterly shielded Also appearing were dance company Swing minister Sam Gyimah. 

from current academy 

Suited & Booted also provides general in confidence wearing it. It’s been a long time Patrol, together with director Scott Cupit, who 

pupils, with students 

Mudlarkers pay 

support, including advice on interviews from since I brushed up this well and my subsequent spoke about his own experience of interviews 

involved in the firstfloor 

plan layouts and 

recruitment professionals. Other volunteers, interview was much the better because of it’.” since arriving in the UK from Australia, a hefty price 

including stylists, come from the world of Last month Suited & Booted held including his successful appearance on TV’s TREASURE hunters 

decisions on interior 

theatre, film and entertainment. 

a successful fundraising event called Dragon’s Den. Baritone Alistair Sutherland have been told to 

features such as furniture 

Each year the charity helps over 1,000 men, 

Transformations. The event was sponsored provided musical entertainment. 

pay up as the Port of 

style, colour themes and 

a majority of whom obtain employment soon 

London Authority tries 

classroom design. 

after their visit. 

to preserve the heritage 

of the Thames. 

The popularity 

of ‘mudlarking’ has 

boomed in recent years, 

with many scavenging 

the riverside in hope 

of striking it rich with 

the discovery of Roman 

coins or ancient pottery. 

But a new £32 per 

day permit has been 

introduced to prevent 

dressing to impress: 

over-harvesting. A 

with Suited & Booted 

three-year £75 permit is 

also available. 

Aspirations 

Abigail Blessing, 

head of sixth form 

at the academy, said: 

“A first class learning 

environment has a huge 

positive impact upon 

students’ education, 

motivation and 

aspirations. 

“The opening of our 

new sixth form centre 

will enrich our students 

and inspire them to 

reach their full academic 

potential.” 

Catherine McGuinness, 

chair of the City of 

London Academies 

Trust, added: “We are 

committed to providing 

a high quality learning 

environment for our 

students and look 

forward to welcoming 

the next class of students 

to their new sixth form 

in 2017.” 

OFFICERS from the City of London Police have 

been conducting overnight HGV stops in a bid 

to prevent potential acts of terrorism. 

Detective Inspector Dave Timmins explained 

that events earlier in the year have prompted 

a more stringent procedure when it comes to 

dealing with larger vehicles, and used National 

Counter Terrorism Awareness Week as an 

opportunity to promote best practice among 

drivers. 

A total of 84 people were killed in Nice, 

France, when an armed driver ploughed a lorry 

into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day on 14 July. 

The City’s force have committed to learning 

all they can from the incident to prevent a 

similar attack taking place closer to home. 

“We saw in France the devastating effect 

larger vehicles can have if used by someone 

intent on terrorist activity,” said DI Timmins. 

“We are fortunate to have a positive 

relationship with HGV drivers in the City, but 

it is always important that drivers of all large 

goods vehicles are aware [of] and adhere to all 

legal requirements. 

“Smithfield meat market is one of the largest 

of its kind in Europe and as such it sees drivers 

converge there from across the continent. Our 

Job hopefuls are 

looking the part 

Prospect 

Clients include ex-servicemen and people 

leaving care or custody, or recovering from 

mental illness. The charity works with 

115 referral agencies, including Crisis, 

JobCentresPlus, the NHS, and the Probation 

Service. 

“The charity transforms lives,” says charity 

executive Dr Maria Lenn. “It offers a helping 

hand to clients faced with the prospect of a job 

interview. We kit them out with a smart suit, 

shirt, tie, shoes and accessories.” 

Maria continues: “Recently Suited & 

Booted received this testimonial from a client: 

Rev Sarah will be missed 

ST Paul’s Cathedral is 

mourning the loss of 

Reverend Sarah Eynstone 

(right) after she passed 

away last week. 

A statement said: “We 

remember with great 

thanks her many gifts 

to us: her creative and 

able liturgical work and 

leadership.” A spokesman 

for the cathedral said 

the chapter would be 

commending Sarah and 

her family to God at 

services this week. 

All are welcome 

to offer their own 

prayers. 

Photo by Graham Lacdao 

Beefing up HGV security 

activity sends a strong message that we take 

issues of documentation and driver safety 

extremely seriously.” 

Over two nights a team from the City’s 

commercial vehicle unit and officers from the 

counter-terrorism team, together with members 

of the driving and vehicle standards agency, 

stopped 22 HGV drivers. 

Of those stopped, 10 had committed some 

form of offence; including failure to take 

minimum weekly rest and exceeding the 

fortnightly driving limit of 90 hours. A further 

27 drivers were given verbal warnings about 

their driving hours. The number of fines handed 

out over the two nights totalled £2,350. 

The stops all took place in West Smithfield 

and officers were on the lookout for a variety 

of driving and vehicle offences, as well as 

conducting PNC checks. 

“I am pleased to say that the majority of 

drivers that we spoke were really responsive 

to the activity we were conducting,” added DI 

Timmins. 

“It was also heartening to see that most 

drivers had the correct documentation; their 

vehicles were well maintained and road 

safe.” 

Accessible 

However, the charity faces upheaval and is 

due to leave its current home in the new year 

because St Andrew’s is being refurbished. 

“Suited & Booted is looking for premises 

of 1,000sq ft or more,” says Maria. “We want 

to stay in the City to be accessible to clients, 

volunteers and the many City firms which 

help out in different ways. 

“We’re also looking for more volunteers. We 

need stylists and people to help as wardrobe 

assistants and support clients with interview 

advice.” 

To volunteer at Suited & Booted, or pass 

on information about vacant premises, 

email info@suitedbootedcentre.org.uk


Business Matters 

key contributor: 

family business 

Bedrock of business 

is found in the family 

FAMILY business is the backbone of the 

UK economy, and new research reveals the 

important role it plays in driving overall 

growth and development – particularly in 

London. 

The annual UK Family Business Sector 

Report, compiled by Oxford Economics 

for the Institute for Family Business (IFB) 

Research Foundation, reveals family firms 

are continuing to cement their position as the 

bedrock of the economy, as the sector grows to 

4.7million businesses nationwide. 

Reinforces 

Family firms in the Capital account for 80% 

of all private sector firms in the region. 

Speaking about the new report, Elizabeth 

Bagger, IFB executive director, said: “This 

year’s report really reinforces the immense 

contribution family firms make to our 

economy and communities – especially here 

in London, which has a buoyant and thriving 

family business network. 

“Their stewardship and clear commitment 

to a strong and sustainable future is hugely 

inspiring, and the growth of the sector 

demonstrates that the strong values within 

family firms continue to deliver real social and 

economic benefits.” 

Bank on career 

education plan 

FINANCES IN PLACE TO BETTER ADVISE TEENS 

A £1MILLION fund will offer the 

chance to test whether programmes 

such as work experience, CV clinics 

or an online app are the best ways 

to deliver good career education to 

young people. 

The partnership between the 

Education Endowment Foundation 

(EEF), EC1’s Careers & Enterprise 

Company and City-based Bank of 

America Merrill Lynch will trial 

different approaches to careers 

education to find out which are the 

most likely to boost young people’s 

chances of getting a good job after 

school. 

The cash injection follows a report 

from Ofsted which found that the 

majority of England’s schools are 

failing to prepare their pupils for the 

world of work through effective careers 

education. 

It builds on earlier research by the 

EEF, supported by the Bank of America 

Foundation, that found teenagers who 

underestimate the education needed to 

get their chosen job are more likely to 

end up as ‘NEETS’; not in education, 

employment or training. 

The report also revealed that while 

young people from disadvantaged 

backgrounds are disproportionately 

more likely to have career aspirations 

that don’t match their educational 

ambitions, good-quality careers 

education can make a real difference 

to academic, social and economic 

outcomes. 

Many approaches to careers 

education haven’t been explored 

through research, despite them being 

common practice in schools. 

Enterprise 

They include work experience or job 

shadowing, using digital technology 

to provide personalised information 

to pupils, and enterprise education to 

encourage young people to take risks 

and to manage them well. 

The partnership between the three 

organisations aims to address these 

gaps in the evidence base and to 

provide schools and colleges with a 

better idea of ‘what works’ in careers 

education. 

Sir Kevan Collins, EEF chief 

executive, said that schools and 

colleges are “under more and more 

pressure” to provide their pupils with 

a strong careers offering, but that there 

is little evidence available on how 

to do this well. He added: “Teachers 

deserve a much clearer picture of what 

good careers education looks like. 

Investing in rigorous and independent 

evaluations of different approaches is 

the most effective way to do this.” 

The finance package being used to 

evaluate careers education is part of 

a wider £5m Careers & Enterprise 

Company investment to boost social 

mobility and help young people in 

greatest need of support. 

Alex Wilmot-Sitwell, president for 

Europe, the Middle East and Africa at 

Bank of America Merrill Lynch, said 

that his organisation was committed to 

developing the most effective approach 

to careers education. 

“Through our partnership, we will 

trial, support and develop ‘best in class’ 

solutions that will help equip young 

people with the skills and knowledge 

they need to successfully transition 

from education into meaningful 

employment,” he added. 


Space is key 

for Mr Khan 

THE Mayor of London 

has announced plans 

to recruit a team of 

entrepreneurs to help 

protect London’s 

workshops, studios 

and workspaces. 

The Workspace 

Providers Board will 

advise on securing 

workspace through 

the planning process, 

and explain how best 

to refit empty space 

within the existing 

pool of offices. 

A report published 

by The Institute 

for Public Policy 

Research estimates 

that London’s open 

workspaces host 

31,000 people and 

generate £1.7billion 

for the Capital’s 

economy. 

Sadiq Khan said: 

“I promised to be the 

most pro-business 

Mayor London has 

ever seen – and now 

I’m delivering by 

protecting workspace. 

“When we give 

Londoners with skills 

and talent the space 

they need to fulfil 

their potential, we 

pave the way for the 

great businesses of 

tomorrow.” 

Work needs doing 

Call to arms to aid 

to bridge the gap 

VETERANS are assets to be utilised by 

businesses but more needs to be done to 

support them into employment, a report has 

concluded. 

more quickly. In addition, 40% say veterans 

stay for longer, which backs up considerable 

anecdotal evidence that they make loyal 

employees, especially when they perceive an 

SaluteMyJob analysed five studies – employer has taken risk in hiring them. 

conducted by the like of the Royal British 

Legion, Scotland’s Veterans’ Commissioner 

Eric Fraser CBE, and Lord Ashcroft 

KCMG PC – before releasing their 

own assessment of the landscape for 

getting former military personnel 

into civilian careers. 

A spokesman for the charity, 

which works to connect employers 

with potential new staff with an 

However, those pledging their support to the 

employment of veterans are missing out on a 

valuable pool of talent because of 

a lack of accessible channels to get 

people into work. 

The report said: “The research 

has identified a real gap between 

the pledges made by Armed Forces 

Covenant signatories and the reality 

of the actions they take. 

Armed Forces background, said: 

“Although more than 1,200 

“The evidence from all the reports 

employers have signed the 

is clear: businesses who actively 

employ veterans value the range of 

Covenant, many are struggling to 

turn their pledges into sustained 

hard and, especially, soft skills and 

action. Many employers are 

experience they bring to the workplace. 

“Veterans are seen by those employers who 

make a point of hiring veterans as assets to their 

business who impact positively on their bottom 

line. 

“Data from active veteran recruiters in 

the UK confirms a strong business case for 

employing veterans; 72% of employers surveyed 

‘would definitely recommend’ other businesses 

employ veterans; only 2% would not make such 

a recommendation.” 

The report went on to say that in addition to 

offering a broad range of skills, a majority of 

employers reported that ex-military employees 

have lower rates of sickness and are promoted 

confused by the complexity of the military 

environment, bombarded by different charities 

and agencies providing similar services, and 

struggle to access the ex-military talent pool. 

“The expectation of employers that, having 

committed to the Covenant, the government or 

agencies will help them navigate this complex 

landscape remains unfulfilled.” 

SaluteMyJob says that to combat the lack of 

understanding of military skills and culture, 

it is vital that employers connect with the 

Ministry of Defence and specialist agencies who 

understand how best to translate acquired skills 

and experience into the language of commercial 

employers. 

young jobseekers 

THE Corporation met with a handful of City Foundation and 20 Fenchurch Street businesses 

firms recently to outline plans to combat has made inaugural grants of up to £20,000 

youth unemployment in London. 

to support five community groups in East 

The Capital has the second highest rate London. 

of youth unemployment in England – and Paul Rodford, Vanquis’ head of corporate 

in response the authority has committed to affairs, said: “Vanquis is delighted to host such 

supporting Square Mile-based organisations to an important event, bringing together firms 

help reduce this figure. 

who can make a real difference and create 

Representatives from 13 businesses met the opportunities for young people through their 

Corporation’s responsible business team and its activities in the community.” 

charitable funder, City Bridge Trust, to explore 

what more can be done to assist young people 

into work and to develop more responsible 

business practices in the local area. 

Former Lord Mayor Sir Alan Yarrow, who 

joined the discussions, said businesses realises 

that they have a huge part to play in the 

community. 

Auspicious 

He explained: “We have already seen the 

impact of inner London schools of business’ 

involvement. This is the next stage of involved 

outreach. 

“City firms need to be good role models, 

target their support, work more closely together 

and evaluate outcomes to ensure effectiveness. 

All of this combined can help us tackle youth 

unemployment head on.” 

The event was hosted by Vanquis Bank at 20 

Fenchurch Street; a most auspicious setting as 

the building itself is also supporting its local 

communities through the 20 Fenchurch Street 

Legacy Fund. 

The partnership between Land Securities, 

Canary Wharf Group, East End Community 

concerted approach: Sir Alan 

Yarrow and Keith Bottomley


Entertainment Matters 

LITTLE MATCH GIRL IS LIGHTING UP GLOBE THEATRE THIS WINTER 

We’re in safe 

‘Hans’ with 

this classic 

child’s play: Photo 

by: Steve Tanner 

THOSE who grew up the proud owners of 

a Hans Christian Andersen compendium 

could be forgiven for habitually skipping over 

The Little Match Girl in favour of his happier 

fairytales. 

Impoverished child fails to sell matches one 

Christmas Eve, striking each one for warmth 

and comfort until she is found frozen to death 

the following day – it doesn’t exactly radiate 

holiday cheer. 

But Andersen’s darkly beautiful tale has 

found its place as the festive family show in 

‘Noir’, Emma Rice’s first winter season for the 

Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s 

Globe. 

It is the second production of the Noir season, 

and Rice’s first in a directorial role since being 

controversially ousted as artistic director after 

just six months in the position. 

It seems appropriate that one of the Capital’s 

darkest festive shows should be at the hands of 

a director and theatre going through quite a 

PLAY / Sherlock Holmes 

Over a century after it debuted in New York 

City, William Gillette’s classic tale of Sir 

Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective still 

holds its own on stage. Gillette’s version – 

renowned for bringing Holmes’ pipe and 

the phrase “elementary, my dear Watson” 

into the fold – will be brought to life by the 

Tower Theatre Company, with director Andy 

Marchant at the helm. 

13 to 17 December 

Bridewell Theatre, Bride Lane EC4Y 8EQ 

PARADE / Santacon 

Dust off the Santa suit and join hundreds of 

Father Christmases on a merry marathon 

around the streets of London for the annual 

Santacon. Part parade, part pub crawl, 

organisers say: “There’s no particular reason 

to dress up in Santa suits, run around, give 

gifts, sing songs, have strangers sit on our laps 

and decide who is naughty or nice. But it’s a lot 

dark period themselves. Rice’s departure after 

the winter 2017/18 season was prompted by the 

board’s decision to return to more traditional 

production values of lighting and sound; a 

move almost universally criticised by industry 

figures, including rival organisation the Royal 

Shakespeare Company, which labelled the 

divorce a “great shame”. 

Fairytales 

But rather than resting solely on doom and 

gloom, Rice’s adaptation is an exploration of 

balance between light and dark, much like in 

life. 

Working with writer Joel Horwood, she has 

knitted the Dutch author’s legendary fairytales 

together for the festive season, with The Little 

Match Girl as the backbone. 

Every time the girl strikes a match, she (and 

the audience) is rewarded with the vision of a 

troupe of storytellers regaling her with a new 

story of hope, from Thumbelina to The Princess 

The entertainment hot list 

Santacon: Photo: 

Betsy Webber 

of fun so Santa does it anyway!” Register via 

the website and remember to keep yourselves 

upright: “Eat, drink, be merry, but be sensible. 

Don’t let your Christmas cheer become 

another’s grief.” 

10 December from midday 

santacon.co.uk 

SHOW / Smashed: Special Edition 

Gandini’s jugglers return with a blink-andyou’ll-miss-it 

run of their cult hit Smashed, 

developed for the London International Mime 

Festival. Performers challenge the notion 

of juggling by disrupting the constellations 

of flying fruit to celebrate ‘the drop’ as 

apples, oranges and eventually crockery 

come tumbling down around them. Inspired 

by the work of Pina Bausch – the German 

choreographer who turned ballet on its head – 

the show explores conflict, tense relationships, 

lost love, and afternoon tea on an even grander 

scale than the original. 

9 & 10 December 

Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street WC2A 2HT 

CAROLS / MS Society Christmas Concert 

Few places are better for belting out a rousing 

rendition of Little Drummer Boy than St 

Paul’s Cathedral. Join the MS Society for its 

annual Christmas Concert, starring St Paul’s 

Cathedral Consort, Soul Sanctuary Gospel 

Choir, John Mark Ainsley, Gerald Finley and 

Sir John Tomlinson. Actors will also read 

a series of unique pieces entitled Four Days 

written especially for the concert by British 

playwright Abi Morgan. Money raised goes 

towards the MS Society’s Stop MS Appeal and 

tickets are available from the Barbican box 

office. 

8 December, 7pm-8.30pm 

St Paul’s Cathedral EC4M 8AD 

and the Pea. There is puppetry, live music, dance 

and humour, all performed by candlelight as is 

custom in the Globe’s indoor theatre. 

Rice says the effect will “bring the imagination 

of Hans Christian Andersen to fresh life” in a 

space built for such a tale. 

“It [The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse] is a 

bubble, a retreat and a wonder in itself,” she 

says. “I always knew that I wanted to create a 

piece of story theatre for this most magical of 

spaces and The Little Matchgirl has long haunted 

my dreams. 

“We will create a world that is as intoxicatingly 

beautiful as it is dark and political.” 

The Little Match Girl is on at 

Shakespeare’s Globe until January 22.


Community Matters 

What’s on when & 

where in the City 


City Heart Beats: 

Natasha Day 

TALK / Tough Choices: Heritage or Housing? 

There is a general consensus that this country 

is in desperate need of more housing. The one 

thing we can’t agree on in historic towns and 

villages is where and how. The housebuilders 

are branded vandals, while their opponents 

are NIMBYS (not in my back yarders). Leading 

architectural historian Professor Simon 

Thurley will explore some of the ways in which 

housebuilding and heritage can be reconciled 

and what local authorities can do about it. 

7 December, 6pm-7pm 

Museum of London, 150 London Wall 

EC2Y 5HN 

WALK / Roman London 

Join the Museum of London tour guides on a 

journey around the Roman city of Londinium 

and discover what remains of this ancient 

civilisation. Visit the Roman Wall, the site 

of the amphitheatre and walk through the 

eastern side of the Capital to the site of Roman 

London’s grandest monument, the forum and 

basilica. 

8 December, 2pm 

Museum of London, 150 London Wall 

EC2Y 5HN 

masterpiece: Sleigh Ride 

by Steven Chambers 

FESTIVAL / Truman’s Festive Fun 

The Old Truman Brewery will play host to 

live music, local food and festive cheer as 

local mental health charity Mind in the City, 

Hackney and Waltham Forest Councils bring 

the neighbourhood community together to 

raise money for the elderly this Christmas. Kick 

things off with a glass of mulled wine and a few 

carols in the forecourt from 5.30pm, followed 

by plenty of food, Christmas markets, raffle 

items and a silent auction, with all proceeds 

going to City and Hackney Mind. 

8 December, 5pm-9pm 

Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane E1 6QL 

ART / Christmas Card Day 

This year’s e-cards just not cutting it? The 

Mouth and Foot Painting Artists will be out in 

force on Christmas Card Day to showcase their 

spectacular talents in a live, pop up studio. 

This worldwide partnership of disabled artists, 

run by the artists themselves, creates original 

artworks painted either with the mouth or foot, 

due to not having the use of their hands. They 

will celebrate the day the first Christmas card 

was sent by civil servant Sir Henry Cole in 1843 

with live painting over the lunchtime period 

plus an exhibition of their works that you can 

share with your loved ones. 

9 December, midday-3pm 

Spitalfields Market, Brushfield Street E1 6AA 

WORKSHOP / King Lear’s Subjects: Kent 

As the Royal Shakespeare Company begins to 

wrap up its London season for the year, take a 

look at their production of King Lear in more 

detail through the eyes of the loyal subjects. In 

this session, actors in the roles in current and 

past productions discuss the relationship of 

Kent with the eponymous king. 

10 December, 10.30am 

Barbican Theatre, Silk Street EC2Y 8DS 

MUSIC / City Heart Beats 

London-based charity Hearts in Harmony will 

showcase some of the Capital’s finest musical 

talents while raising money to fight heart 

disease with a free music festival at Bishops 

Square. From solo vocalist Natasha Day and 

jazz band Arrietty Ensamble to soul rnb group 

Lyra Band, check out some of the latest and 

greatest musical artists and chow down on 

winter warmers from the top food trucks, all 

while supporting a great cause. 

11 December, midday-5pm Bishops Square E1 6FQ 

TALK / Clothes and Biographies 

Fancy a sticky beak into other people’s 

wardrobes? The Museum of London’s senior 

curator of fashion Beatrice Behlen will unpack 

the museum’s vast ‘wardrobes’: collections of 

clothing that belonged to one individual. Find 

out about the detective work that goes into 

uncovering the lives of the original wearers 

and what clothes can tell us about people and 

societal developments. This special event is 

limited to Friends of the Museum of London 

and must be booked in advance. 

12 December, 6.30pm 

Museum of London, 150 London Wall EC2Y 5HN 

KIDS / Sponge 

Dance company Turned On Its Head makes 

exciting participatory theatre for early years, 

taking children on a creative journey, engaging 

audiences throughout its performances, and 

encouraging lots of family interaction. Roll, 

squeeze and pop yourself through Sponge, 

a new malleable show set to an original 

1970s-influenced score, perfect for babies, 

young children and families. 

13 to 21 December, various times 

The Pit, Barbican Centre, Silk St EC2Y 8DS 

Weekly Planner 

Wednesday 

LECTURE / Tough Choices: Heritage or 

Housing? 

Thursday 

FESTIVAL / Truman’s Festive Fun 

Friday 

ART / Christmas Card Day 

Saturday 

WORKSHOP / King Lear’s Subjects: 

Kent 

Sunday 

MUSIC / City Heart Beats 

Monday 

TALK / Clothes and Biographies 

Tuesday 

KIDS / Sponge 

To act as a City Matters Collection Point 

contact: 020 8640 6015 

Find Our Collection Points: 

Coffee Stall 

In front of St Mary Abchurch, 

Abchurch Lane, London EC4N 7BA 

EL Vino Wine Merchant 

6 Martin Lane, Cannon St, London EC4R 0DP 

James Shoe Care 

59 Moorgate, London EC2R 6BH 

Jeeves Dry Cleaners 

131 Fleet St, London EC4A 2BH 

J Rogers & Sons - Shoe repair shop 

28 Liverpool St, London EC2M 7PD 

Guildhall Library 

Aldermanbury, London EC2V 7HH 

Lord Raglan Pub, St Martins le Grand 

61 St Martins le Grand, St Pauls London EC1A 4ER 

Merchant House Pub London 

13 Well Court, London EC4M 9DN 

Middle Library 

Middle Temple Ln, London EC4Y 9BT 

The Natural Kitchen 

176 Aldersgate St, London EC1A 4HR 

Pod Good Food 

75 King William Street, London EC4N 7BE 

Protestant Truth Society Inc - Book Shop 

184 Fleet St, London EC4A 2HJ 

Romo Coffee 

1 Minster Court, Mincing Ln, London EC3R 7AE 

Scott’s Shoe repair & Dry Cleaners 

City Thameslink Station, Holborn, Concourse 

London EC4M 7RA 

Scott’s Shoe repair & Dry Cleaners 

City Thameslink Station, 65 Ludgate Hill 

London EC4M 7JH 

Sweetings Restaurant 

39 Queen Victoria St, London EC4N 4SF 

The Old Bank of England Pub 

194 Fleet St, London EC4A 2LT 

Ye Old Cheshire Cheese 

145 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2BU 

www.citymatters.london


Food Matters 

DICIANNOVE IS BRINGING VIBRANT ITALIAN FARE TO BLACKFRIARS 

FEW corners of the City die down after dark at quite the 

breakneck speed of Blackfriars. 

Workers make a break for the bright lights of Southbank or the 

West End, or whisk themselves home before the perfunctory pint 

at The Black Friar pub has even touched the sides. 

So it’s a surprise to find Diciannove, the four-year-old Italian 

restaurant on the ground floor of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, 

relatively ‘buzzy’ on a Thursday evening, despite the lacklustre 

atmosphere of its location. 

Of course, its position as a hotel restaurant denotes a built-in 

customer base, and certainly a couple of lone diners suggest 

they’re but a swipe key away from a comfy bed and a basic Sky 

package. 

But the rest of the tables – groups and couples chatting 

animatedly – suggest the offering of Italian classics with seasonal 

flourishes was enough to lure some walk-ins through the door. 

That, or the wind gusts coming off Blackfriars Bridge were 

stronger than we thought. 

One look at the substantial menu and we’re confident it’s the 

former. If you like Italian food, you will be torn in each course: 

ravioli with ricotta and roasted chestnuts and pumpkin puree or 

spaghettini with fresh crab and chilli? Cod and fresh clams or 

spiced monkfish served with peppers? 

There’s the sense that executive chef Alessandro Bay could 

Jewel in the 

Crowne 

nice to eat you: pasta 

making in progress 

LET’S DO... 

BEER AND PIZZA / Tank & Paddle 

Some pairings are just meant to be: Posh 

and Becks, Buzz and Woody, beer and pizza. 

Now the latter will be well represented 

in Fenchurch Street with a casual eatery 

devoted to the best of both. Tank & Paddle 

(see what they did there?) pours craft beers 

from the Meantime Brewery and Brewdog 

and serves a variety of artisanal stone-baked 

pizzas to soak it up. Prefer your cheese with 

less crust and more mac? Opt for one of the 

indulgent mac & cheeses, which include 

pulled chicken and barbecue sauce or 

pepperoni and chilli. 

Minster Court, 3 Mincing Lane EC3R 7AA 

tighten things up a bit and drop a few of the less popular dishes, 

but the regions of origin listed next to each demonstrates a 

geographically well-rounded menu; seafood from Liguria, osso 

bucco from Lombardia, and so on. 

And if the quantity of options ever affected the quality of the 

food, it doesn’t now. 

The antipasti are fresh and produce is king; burrata and 

scallops served simply with seasonal vegetables. 

Pasta courses are generous and pack a punch, particularly in 

the case of a flavor-filled tagliatelle with a beef and pork ragout. 

Moving on to mains and the fillet of beef is worth its £32 price 

tag, the perfect shade of pink and sitting pretty on a cushy bed of 

polenta puree and parmesan-roasted parsnips. The cod, on the 

other hand, was slightly overcooked and a little underwhelming. 

Special menus showcase regional produce, transporting you 

to Calabria one week, Tuscany the next. We’ll take that over 

Blackfriars any day. 

19 New Bridge Street, London EC4V 6DB 

WE ARE CELEBRATORY 

CHEER THIS CHRISTMAS AT 

ALL DAY DRINKING AND DINING / The Kitty Hawk 

The construction site that is Finsbury Square is finally starting to bear fruit in the form of a 

“department store of dining” in South Place. The Kitty Hawk is an all-day, all-night, all-dining, 

all-drinking destination designed to cater for every situation and taste. Start with a breakfast 

meeting at the coffee and patisserie bar, move on to a business lunch at the all-day dining counter, 

seal the deal with drinks at one of the two bars, then celebrate the win over dinner at the steak 

and seafood restaurant. Might as well pitch a tent. 

11 South Place, EC2M 7EB 

PERFECT POULTRY / The Holy Birds 

If your idea of poultry is limited to what 

you can get at the local chicken shop, 

The Holy Birds is about to change your 

life. This brand new bar and restaurant 

from the owners of The Hoxton Pony 

dishes up pheasant, grouse, wood 

pigeon – if it’s got feathers, it’s on the 

menu. With a slick bar at ground level 

inspired by the 1960s’ music and arts 

scene, the only thing left wanting is the 

address – could they not have sprung 

for a spot on Poultry? 

94 Middlesex Street E1 7EZ 

* DECADENT SHARING FESTIVE PLATTERS * 

* FREE-FLOWING DRINKS * FRESHLY PREPARED COCKTAILS * 

We are masters at hosting the best events, so whether it’s a night out or a festive 

lunch, we have some great food platters and drink packages to choose from. 

We are not just any bar, we are your bar this Christmas. 

For bookings and enquiries, call our Sales & Events team on 020 7256 7279, 

email abbie@wearebar.com or visit www.wearebar.com


CITYMATTERS.LONDON


Shopping Matters 

It’s a wrap battle 

City’s top 3 gift 

wrapping services 

Wrapsody 

Want your gifts to stand out under the 

Christmas tree? Wrapsody’s ‘wrapologists’ turn 

paper, ribbon and perfect folding into an art 

form, creating a bespoke design to suit all tastes 

and budgets. Send your loot to their Primrose 

Hill studio or, if you’re feeling crafty, book into 

a workshop to learn how to do it yourself. 

wrapsody.co.uk 

That’s A Wrap 

This London and Essex-based service will not 

only do the gift wrapping, they’ll take care of 

the shopping too. No more after-work rush 

around the shops or standing in queues, just 

hand over your wish list and let That’s A Wrap 

look after the rest. 

thatsawrap.me 

Abokado 

Food chain Abokado is offering customers a free 

gift wrapping service at its Great Portland Street, 

St John’s Street and Newman Street restaurants 

on 8 and 15 December. Time-poor Londoners are 

being encouraged to kill two birds with one stone, 

grabbing a quick healthy bite to eat while having 

their gifts professionally wrapped. We’d call that 

a productive lunch hour. 

abokado.com 

FORGET entertainment, theatre has carved a 

more important role as a source of escapism as 

2016 hurtles to a turbulent end. 

At least that’s one of the reasons Benjamin 

Pollock’s Toyshop manager Simon Seddon can 

offer for why business is booming at the theatreinspired 

toy shop in Covent Garden, where 

others are have long closed their doors for good. 

“People want to immerse themselves in this 

world, it’s almost like a lifestyle brand,” he 

says, nodding towards the hoards of customers 

flicking through the flat-packed toy theatres 

welcome to toy 

town: gift heaven 

Curtain raiser 

SAY HELLO TO THE COVENT GARDEN 

TOY SHOP THAT’S STEALING THE SHOW 

arranged around the cramped shop at the top of 

the marketplace. 

“And they need that escapism – we’re a 

necessity, we wouldn’t still be here if we weren’t.” 

Pollock’s specialises in traditional toy theatres 

– both original and reproductions – from 

around the world. The range includes puppets, 

music boxes, books and games, as well as paper 

models, shadow boxes and dioramas designed 

exclusively for the shop by contemporary artists. 

The former offering is steeped in the shop’s 

history, which can be traced back to Hoxton 

in the 1850s. The original Benjamin Pollock 

made a living supplying theatrical sheets at a 

‘penny plain and twopence coloured’ from his 

shop opposite the famous Britannia Theatre 

on Hoxton Street. Pollock died in 1937 but his 

name and theatrical association continued, 

in various formats, until Marguerite Fawdry 

(also the founder of Pollock’s Toy Museum in 

Fitzrovia) opened in Covent Garden in 1980. 

Current owner Louise Heard says she “came 

with the shop” having worked for former owner 

and Coronation Street star Peter Baldwin for 

many years before taking the reins almost a 

decade ago. 

She says the business is slowly moving towards 

more in-house production with a small stable of 

contemporary artists who regularly contribute 

new product lines. Some of the range has been 

on display at Liberty, Fortnum Mason and the 

Royal Opera House. 

Clientele 

Prices range from models and games at a few 

pounds each to £250 vintage model theatres 

handmade in France. Pollock’s bestseller is a 

Cinderella Pantomime Toy Theatre for a very 

reasonable £15.95. 

Louise says it is important that the product 

range and pricing reflects the diversity of the 

clientele – from tourists with cash to splash to 

kids who have found themselves with a bit of 

extra pocket money. 

However there is one thing you won’t find in 

amongst Pollock’s stockroom. 

“We don’t stock Hatchimals,” Louise says. “I 

can’t tell you how many times a day the phone 

rings with that question.” 

As more customers file through the door, it’s 

clear the omission of the small furry creatures 

on every kid’s wish list doesn’t seem to have hurt 

business during the busy festive season. 

“I think nostalgia and tradition is something 

people want at Christmas,” Louise says. “It’s that 

time of year.” 

44 The Market, Covent Garden WC2E 8RF 

Magic is mapped out 

IF you needed further proof that London has 

officially turned into a great big festive bauble, 

check out this new map of all its Christmas 

attractions. 

Credit finance company Marbles has designed a 

guide to the Capital’s top seasonal events, markets, 

ice skating and shopping destinations based on 

the traditional Tube map. 

Instead of Tower Hill, you’re getting off at the 

Tower Bridge Ice Rink, Old Street is the Nordic 

Yulefeast, while Bank becomes the Christmas Fair 

at Draper’s Hall. 

And for the shoppers, Knightsbridge has 

been renamed Harrods, Bond Street becomes 

Selfridges, and toy land Hamleys takes the place 

of Piccadilly Circus. 

If you would rather stick candy canes in 

your eyes than head to Oxford Circus, the 

map also includes the city’s top Christmas 

markets, including the Craft Central Pop-Up at 

Barbican, Taste of London Winter at Shadwell, 

The Tudor Christmas Market at London Bridge, 

and the Belgravia Christmas Market at Sloane 

Square. 

The map breaks down all the Christmas events 

into categories and tells you how far the walk is 

from the nearest Tube station. 

Marbles is billing the map as the perfect 

accessory for Christmas shoppers who want to 

avoid the queues, or families who don’t want to 

miss a single mince pie or festive fairy light this 

winter. 

Alternatively, Grinches might find it easier to 

just stay indoors for the duration of December. 

Treat to your loved ones this Christmas to a Beauty 

Gift Card from Primas Beauty Clinic, next to 

St Paul’s Cathedral. 

Laser hair removal, facials 

all skin types and conditions, 

cellulite and slimming, 

microblading, tanning, 

massages and more... 

Open till 8pm 

Visit us at 

12 Ludgate Square, Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7AS 

www.primasbeauty.com | 0207 213 9550



Christmas Matters at Leadenhall Market 

Only fair to share the love 

WHY LEADENHALL MARKET IS A PLACE FOR ALL THE TRIMMINGS 

FESTIVE frolicking is gathering some serious 

momentum all over the City as the countdown 

to 25 December heats up. 

And now that the Lady Mayoress Wendy 

Parmley has thrown on the switch to 

Leadenhall’s Christmas lights, the marketplace 

is very much in the full swing of the season. 

So where better place to start in the foraging 

of Christmas fair for friends, family and 

neighbours than in Leadenhall’s illustrious and 

historical setting. 

Here is a convenient pointer to help set the 

table ahead of your winter feast. Full stomachs 

and satisfied guests guaranteed. 

the mature option: 

Cheese at Leadenhall 

It can be ever so easy when you keep 

it cheesy 

IT goes without saying that the staple of any 

post Christmas dinner socialising is the 

cheese board. 

Cheese at Leadenhall, due to the quality of its 

extensive stock, has carved out a reputation for 

delivering taste sensations for all occasions. 

So Christmas is the perfect time for 

connoisseurs to take advantage of 

the 200 varieties on offer and lord 

the fruits of their festive shopping 

labours over their guests. 

Fear not, the hugely knowledgeable 

staff at Cheese at Leadenhall are on 

hand to guide the uninitiated. 

With a dedicated wine selection also 

in the offing, shoppers can bag a bottle or two 

safe in the knowledge they’ll be returning home 

with a match made in heaven. 

Cheese at Leadenhall 

4-5 Leadenhall Market 

Make sure your meat is a cut above 

this winter 

MEAT matters. We know that, you know that. 

And the Butcher at Leadenhall team know 

that. 

Billed as a ‘business like never before’, 

Butcher makes no bones about its quest for 

perfect slices of T-bone steak, racks of ribs and 

slabs of shoulder. 

Only the best will do and that ensures a recipe 

for success; particularly for customers with 

hungry mouths to feed back home. Patrons, 

most of whom no doubt smelled the meaty 

wafts from next door at Cheese at Leadenhall, 

even have the option to park up at the Butcher’s 

sit down eatery and gorge on mouthwatering 

burgers or sandwiches before turning their 

attention to the shopping list. 

The only challenge lies in settling 

on what is coming back home and 

what is staying put for the next 

customer to snap up. 

Butcher at Leadenhall 


A bottle or three never did 

any harm... 

WHILE the eyes of kids light up at 

the sight of a new toy, adults similarly 

become intoxicated by the aromas and 

clinking bottles of wine. 

Indeed, a cheap bottle of the good stuff is the 

easiest way to deal with a secret Santa gift or fill 

a stocking, but there should be no half measures 

when it comes to laying on the liquid pleasures 

prior to the Christmas sit down. 

Which means the exclusive imports at 

Amathus Drinks are a perfect place to start when 

it comes to loading the wine rack. 

Port, Champagne and an unrivalled selection 

of spirits and liqueurs – many of which 

are sourced exclusively – are also on the menu. 

You can’t help but raise a glass to the sea of 

options. 

Amathus Drinks 


iconic venue: a fitting 

scene for shopping 

cheer we go again: 

Santas on the move 

Santas have come to town 

CLAPHAM Common was a sea of red and white on Sunday 4 December when good-hearted boys 

and girls of all ages banded together for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity’s second 

Santa Dash. 

“It was fantastic to see over 2,000 Santas running to raise money,” beamed charity chief 

executive Tim Johnson post-race. “To see so many people put on their running shoes and Santa 

suits was wonderful, and we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken part and is 

raising money to help seriously ill children from across the UK.” 

But the generosity wasn’t limited to London, with thousands more super Santas pulling on their 

red robes to support the charity in similar 10km or 5km races across the country. 

Registration is already open for the 2017 event. No fundraising total had been announced as City 

Matters went to press.


Wellness Matters 

Ab-solutely fab 

City’s top 3 ab workouts 

WHY NOW IS BEST TIME TO TRY LASER HAIR REMOVAL TREATMENTS 

Major laser 

hair eraser: laying down the 

groundwork for summer 

CXWORX 

This internationally-renowned Les Mills 

workout hones in on the torso and sling 

muscles that connect your upper body to your 

lower body. Trainers will take you through a 

workout that uses resistance tubes and weight 

plates, as well as body weight exercises like 

crunches and hovers. 

Lesmills.com/uk 

Get Ab Fab 

A strong core is so much more than a six-pack. 

Virgin Active’s aptly named class promises 

to work your back, butt, abs and obliques to 

build a rock solid midsection that helps ease 

lower back pain and prevent injury. 

Virginactive.co.uk 

Core 

Fitness First advertises a flatter stomach, 

a leaner waist and stronger abdominals in 

this quick and effective class that focuses on 

targeting the muscles of your core using a 

variety of equipment, including stability balls 

and BOSUs. 

Fitnessfirst.co.uk 

WINTER has well and truly set 

in and, as the temperature drops, 

our motivation to keep up various 

health and beauty regimes goes 

right down along with it. 

While it’s tempting to throw 

another layer on and put off 

skincare maintenance until spring, 

experts say the drying effects of 

heaters coupled with less exposure 

to the sun actually makes winter 

the best time to try non-invasive 

skincare procedures, particularly 

laser hair removal. 

What is it? 

Laser hair removal is a procedure 

that permanently removes unwanted 

hair from your face and body. 

It is usually performed as a 

course of treatments at skincare 

clinics by qualified technicians, 

but there are also at-home devices 

on the market that are designed for 

self-treatment. 

How does it work? 

The procedure works by using a 

handheld device that distributes 

gentle pulses of laser light into 

your hair follicle, penetrating each 

strand and preventing it from 

producing new hair. 

Laser hair removal is not to be 

confused with Intense Pulse Light 

(IPL), which is another form of 

permanent hair removal treatment 

that uses a broad-spectrum pulse 

of light to target hair follicles. The 

number of treatments depends 

on the device used, the size of the 

area being treated, skin and hair 

type, but usually at least four to six 

sessions are required. 

What are the benefits? 

Laser hair removal has been 

available in the UK since the 

mid-1990s, although the take-up 

here has been slower than in other 

more sun-loving countries. 

Beautician Alessandra Valencia 

says she found Britain about 

five years behind her native 

Colombia when it came to skincare 

technology, prompting her decision 

to open Primas Beauty Clinic 

with her three cousins earlier this 

year. 

The clinic offers facial treatments, 

semi permanent make-up and laser 

treatments for hair removal and 

skin reparation. 

Winter, she says, is the best time 

to begin a laser treatment because 

there’s generally a three to six 

month turnaround before you see 

results, so it’s all about laying the 

groundwork for summer. 

“Less exposure also means you’re 

giving your skin plenty of time 

to heal and any redness to settle 

between treatments,” she says. 

Primas uses a new laser 

treatment device called the MeDio 

Star NeXT Pro. It’s touted as the 

fasted hair removal laser system on 

the market, but there’s an added 

benefit. 

“The laser penetrates deeper, 

which boosts the collagen in the 

skin, plumping it up,” she says. “It’s 

like a facial for your legs – no more 

dry, scaly skin.” 

How much does it cost? 

Laser hair removal treatments start 

at £55 per session for a small area, 

and are cheaper when you buy in 

bulk. 

Where can I try it? 

Primas Beauty Clinic is based at 

12 Ludgate Square EC4M 7AS. 

stopping a problem: bus 

stops could hold the key 

to tackling air pollution 

It’s Not Magic! 

Bus stop air filters could fight pollution 

POLLUTION busting bus stops could be the 

answer to London’s air quality woes, according 

to a UK start-up. 

Piccadilly-based Airlabs has suggested 

adding oxidation filters to bus stops and the 

sides of buildings to zap exhaust fume particles 

and pump out fresh air for pedestrians. 

The filters, which cost around £4,000, work 

best in high-density areas like the City and 

Oxford Street, where the Capital’s pollution 

levels are at their worst. 

Airlabs chief executive Sophie Power told the 

Evening Standard the technology is particularly 

beneficial for pedestrians close to exhaust level 

on the road. 

She said: “We take in air through the unit, 

which is then passed out to provide clean air 

where people need it. 

“This method is low energy and low 

maintenance, so is well suited to the city’s 

infrastructure.” Ms Power says the system, 

which has been given the backing of Londonbased 

technology group SGO, is effective 

against nitrogen dioxide and PM2.5, pollutants 

commonly found in exhaust fumes that have 

been linked to respiratory diseases. 

Research by Policy Exchange and King’s 

College London shows that it leads to nearly 

9,500 deaths each year in the Capital. If air 

pollution stayed at current levels it would reduce 

the average life expectancy across all Londoners 

born in 2010 by up to two years. 

Scientists from the environmental research 

group at Kings College London performed 

kerb-side tests in Marylebone Road and found 

that 87% of nitrogen dioxide had been removed 

from the air. 

Ms Power said the units have been adjusted 

so that they now remove “almost all” NO2 and 

further testing is planned for Oxford Street. 

Can you make the money 

you spend print work twice? 

Buy your print from the Social Enterprise 

Press. The profit from your work will support 

adults with learning difficulties and ex service 

personnel requiring a route back to civilian life. 

Contact SE Press on 020 8640 6014 or 

Email us at info@sepress.org



Guide to the perfect Christmas 

TERRIFIED OF TURKEY? SOME TOP TIPS FOR DISHING UP A JUICY BIRD 

Avoiding a festive flap 

TURKEY is the traditional centrepiece of a 

British Christmas table, but getting it there 

can send even experienced chefs into a flap. 

An estimated 10million turkeys will be 

consumed across the UK on 25 December, and 

it can be a tricky bird to get right. 

But with plenty of preparation time and these 

handy hints from the experts, readers can easily 

avoid a ‘merry crisis’ in the kitchen and serve up 

the perfect festive feast. 

Size is everything 

If you’re cooking Christmas lunch for lots of 

people, JF Edwards in Smithfield recommends 

going with two smaller turkeys (12 pounds or 

less) instead of a large one. 

“Smaller turkeys are easier to fit in the fridge 

and in the roasting pan, plus they cook more 

quickly and evenly,” the company’s Ginny 

Regan says. “It also gives you the opportunity to 

experiment with two different types of stuffing 

or seasoning.” 

Don’t go in cold 

Stuart Thompson, fourth-generation owner 

of Thompsons of Smithfield and Master of the 

Worshipful Company of Butchers, advises 

bringing your bird up to room temperature 

before attempting to roast it. 

“Take your turkey out of your fridge at least 

two or three hours (depending on size) before it 

goes in the oven,” Stuart says. 

“This will ensure even cooking and stop 

the bird from drying out once it goes into the 

oven.” 

cut above: the turkey 

pros have you covered 

Even split 

If you have gone for a big bird and want to make 

sure all parts are cooked to perfection, top chef 

James Durrant suggests a bit of slicing and 

dicing. 

“For me the breast and the legs cook at 

different times so, when you cook a whole bird, 

you tend to overcook the breast to get the legs 

right or vice versa,” he says. “Ask your butcher 

CHRISTMAS IS 

COVERED THANKS 

TO CITY MATTERS’ 

LATEST GIVEAWAY! 

DETAILS BELOW 

to take the legs off the crown and bone them 

out. Roll them, tie them and then you can roast 

the crown and the legs separately, meaning both 

can be cooked to perfection and the leg is super 

easy to carve with no wastage.” 

Butter up 

“To keep the meat juicy use a spoon to gently 

loosen the turkey skin away from the flesh, 

starting at the cavity end, and smear softened 

butter between the flesh and skin,” Stuart says. 

“Rub additional butter all over the outside of 

the bird, including the legs.” 

Seasons greetings 

Seasoning can be as simple as a sprinkle of 

salt and a spring of rosemary, but you can 

also get a bit fancy with your flavours without 

overpowering the meat. 

James advises seasoning the leg meat with a 

mixture of chopped chestnuts, sage, salt and 

pepper. 

Give it a rest 

Once you’ve pulled your turkey out of the oven, 

Stuart advises covering it loosely with a double 

layer of foil and a few tea towels before leaving it 

to rest for 30 minutes. 

“This allows the meat fibres to relax and all 

the lovely juices to soak back into the meat,” he 

says. 

TAKE HOME A TURKEY! 

Win your Christmas turkey on us! One lucky 

reader will bag a £50 voucher to spend on 

their festive feast from meat and poultry 

specialists Thompsons of Smithfield. To 

enter, simply answer the following question: 

How long should you leave the turkey to 

rest when it comes out of the oven? Submit 

answers with your name and address to 

editorial@citymatters.london. Entries close 

15 December. 

*T&C’s apply, see citymatters.london for more. 

Get everything you need for 

your Christmas Day Roast at 

Thompsons of Smithfield 

We supply a range of turkeys at 

unbeatable prices, as well as honey 

roast ham, pigs in blankets, smoked 

salmon, sausage stuffing, cheese, plus 

much more... 

Come down to our shop in Smithfield 

Market between 2am-9:30am 

Monday – Friday, 

to get all you need for your 

Festive Feast! 

As one of London Smithfield Market’s longest established names, 

JF Edwards (Smithfield) is recognised for the wide range of products 

they supply, namely beef, lamb, veal, mutton, rabbit, poultry, game 

and exotic meats, including wagyu beef, as well as procurements. 

We pride ourselves on providing our customers, who are 

themselves suppliers to discerning customers, with excellent 

service and quality. 

Simply said, we care passionately about what we do. We will 

be the best at what we do — selling the best meat to the best 

customers at the best prices. 

We look forward to welcoming you to 

Smithfield Market in the coming weeks and 

supplying you with quality meats for your 

Christmas Festivities. 

J F EDWARDS (Smithfield) Ltd 

42 Central Markets, West Market Building, London EC1A 9PS 

0207 236 9721 | sales@jfedwards.uk.com



Workers should 

Making a game of 

sleep themselves 

2 

quitting smoking 

into better health 

A GAME developer 

CITY workers should 

from London has 

always remember to 

created a mobile 

get plenty of shut eye 

application designed to 

to ensure a long and 

assist smokers wanting 

healthy life, a study says. 

to quit the habit. 

The working day can 

Cigbreak has been 

be a long one in the 

developed by Hope 

Square Mile, but experts 

Caton, writer of the 

at RAND Europe in 

global hit video game 

Cambridge say that 

TombRaider IV: The 

people who get less 

Last Revelation. 

than six hours of sleep 

Together with 

business partner Robin 

a night could cut their 

Bell, they have formed 

mortality risk by 13% 

1 

Healthy Games with 

if they slept for at least 

the aim of making 

seven instead. 

games that improve 

Researchers at 

health. 

RAND – a not-for-profit 

Cigbreak, developed 

organisation that aims to Photographers have all London angles covered 

with the support of 

help shape policymaking 

WHILE London wasn’t the subject matter of the winning entry at the ‘Through Camden-based IT firm 

– released the data at the 

the Lens’ national photography awards last week, many entries showing the Maldaba Ltd, replicates 

end of November. 

Capital’s ever developing landscape were enough to leave guests and judges the Fruit Ninja game by 

City drives us 

mystified in equal measure. 

getting players to break 

round the bend... 

The competition attracted more than 3,500 entries from photographers cigarettes in order to 

wanting to highlight every region of the UK. From the idyllic countryside to gain rewards. 

LONDON trails only 

gothic architecture, dramatic coastlines to the everyday lives of people living Hope said: “Cigbreak 

Bristol in the top five 

here, there is something to be said about the beauty of Britain. 

is the UK’s first 

riskiest places to be a 

Brian McCready took the winning picture on the summit of Slieve Corragh smoking cessation app 

motorist. 

in the form of a game. 

The West Country 

in Northern Ireland, but it is a collection of images closer to home that have 

“It was co-created 

city’s undesirable rank 

peaked interest. While capturing sides of our great city not frequently framed 

with a medical team 

is primarily determined 

by photographers, these entries have left people wondering where in London the 

and was tested on 

by a high number of 

talented snappers set up their tripods. 

smokers throughout 

vehicle-related crime, but 

Can you guess where these images were taken? 

development. 

other factors include low 

“The result is a 

quality of main roads and 

game that is fun for 

a significant number of 

4 

smokers to play, while 

accidents reported in 2015. 

reinforcing their 

Meanwhile, a total of 

motivation to quit 

9,182 accidents reported 

smoking. 

on the Capital’s streets 

“Research proves that 

last year – according 

when a game mechanic 

to figures from 

mirrors the desired 

MoneySuperMarket 

behaviour change in 

– was enough to put it 

the virtual world, this 

second in the spots to 

change is continued 

steer clear of. 

and maintained in the 

As a result, London car 

real world. 

insurance ranks as the 

“A Canadian study 

priciest in the country 

proved that if smokers 

at £817 on average, 60% 

play a game that 

higher than the national 3 

involves breaking or 

standard. 

crushing cigarettes, 

... And it costs 

they are 13% more likely 

to quit. In Cigbreak, 

those at the wheel 

the player swipes the 

more than £40bn 

5 6 

phone screen to break 

TRAFFIC jams will cost 

cigarettes, hence our 

London drivers in the 

tagline: ‘Break the 

region of £42billion over 

cigarette to break the 

the next decade. 

habit’.” 

Transport information 

Research also 

company Inrix estimate 

indicates that 52% of 

that the value of lost time 

video game players 

because of congestion 

smoke, while 37% of 

out on the roads will cost 

non-video game players 

the UK as a whole £62bn 

do the same. 

by 2025. 

Games form the 

Some 20,000 ‘traffic 

largest market share of 

congestion points’ in 

apps comprising 33% of 

21 cities were used to 

all downloads. 

8 

compile the data. 

“An estimated 69% of 

Edinburgh (£2.8bn) 

people in the UK aged 

and Glasgow (£2.3bn) 

eight to 74 play games 

rank second and third 

on average 14 hours per 

in the list of cities to feel 

week,” added Hope. 

the pinch of time wasted 

“Smokers reported 

behind wheel. 

playing for longer 

durations each 

9 week and 63.7% of 

Never miss a beat... 

smokers believed 

Find us online at 

computer game-based 

citymatters.london 

intervention would 

or search City Matters 

on Twitter or Facebook. 

motivate them to quit.” 

The app is available 

7 

on Apple iTunes and 

Google Play. 

In the 

frame 

1: Alexandra Road Estate, Edward Bray 

2: Brixton, Marcela Motta 3: Notting Hill, 

Tatevik Vardanyan 4: Brick Lane, Tanya Rees 

5: St Pancras, Monny Lam 6: Richmond Park, 

Adrian Jones 7: Regents Park, London Zoo, 

Alison Waldock 8: Trafalgar Square, Shayla Glover 

9: Telecom Tower, Fitzrovia London, Faruk Kara


In Profile 

Martin’s on 

Parr with the 

best when it 

comes to the 

money shot 


in focus: Alderman 

Alison Gowman was 

just one of many 

captured by Martin 

ACE PHOTOGRAPHER ON SNAPPING SECRETS OF THE SQUARE MILE 

A WELL-TO-DO gentleman dressed in a decorated red blazer 

and captain’s hat stands Thames-side, gingerly holding a 

grotty-looking swan away from his crisp white trousers. 

If this image of David Barber, the man who leads the annual 

ceremony to round up and mark mute swans each July, isn’t 

enough to convince you that we British are just a bit mad, then a 

visit to Martin Parr’s latest exhibition at the Tower Bridge Engine 

Rooms certainly will. 

Swans Gloves Roses and Pancakes is the second body of work 

from Parr’s two years spent as photographer in residence for 

the City of London, during which he was given unprecedented 

behind-the-scenes access to all the pomp and circumstance 

surrounding the City’s ancient traditions. 

The eccentricity on display includes schoolchildren whacking 

the ground with wands of willow to reaffirm parish boundaries, 

hats off: the Worshipful 

Company of Mercers 

big talent: 

Martin Parr 

a pair of empty boots observing the swearing in of the new Lord 

Mayor, and the procession of a single rose through the City streets 

on a silken pillow. 

When asked to nominate a favourite shot, Parr pauses: “You 

have to view it as a group of pictures,” he says. “One image needs 

the other to reflect this strange world.” 

So what has Parr learned of these traditions that are largely 

hidden from public view? 

“I think the City of London is almost a feudal society, but at 

the same time it’s at the cutting edge of modern technology and 

banking and business, so it’s a complete contradiction,” he says. 

“And contradictions are my livestock.” 

Parr has documented a great many contradictions in this 

country through his efforts to create what he terms “an archive 

of the British.” 

From working class holidaymakers in 1980s New Brighton 

to rhubarb farmers in West Yorkshire, he has made his name as 

the country’s best-known living photographer through his wry 

observations of British life. 

Quintessential 

“I am a very quintessential British photographer, so inevitably 

that humour, the irony is part of my make up,” he says. “The 

British are very funny…we’re a great subject matter.” 

Parr spent the better part of two years with his lens trained 

firmly on the Square Mile as part of a broader focus on the 

concept of the establishment, which so far includes Harrow, Oxford 

University, Christ’s Hospital and the British Army in Germany. 

He also has his sights set on Eton College, but admits there’s 

plenty left undocumented in the Square Mile. 

“I was originally only going to do one calendar year but because 

there are so many [ceremonies], and they’re so hidden, I had to 

make it two years because often you find out about something 

that had just passed. 

“I could have gone on for another five years and I would have 

never run out of subject matter.” 

Swans Gloves Roses and Pancakes is on at Tower Bridge 

Engine Rooms until 31 March. 

All images © Martin Parr / Magnum Photos 

swan song: David Barber 

WEIRD & WONDERFUL 

CITY TRADITIONS 

Swan Upping 

Annual ceremony dating back to the 12th century where 

the Queen’s official Swan Uppers row up the Thames 

each July to catch, mark and release mute swans. The 

five-day task provides a yearly update on how well they are 

breeding. 

The Pancake Race 

Race between livery companies held on Shrove Tuesday 

where teams run around Guildhall Yard tossing their 

pancakes. The event is organised each year by the 

Worshipful Company of Poulters who are in charge of 

supplying the eggs, while the Gunmakers start each race, 

the Clockmakers keep time and the Fruiterers supply the 

lemons. 

Knollys Rose Ceremony 

A single red rose is paraded from All Hallows by the Tower 

to Mansion House and presented to the Lord Mayor each 

June. It must be taken from a garden on Seething Lane, 

formerly owned by Lady Constance Knolly, who was fined 

a rose in 1381 for building a footbridge between her two 

properties without permission. 

The Trial of the Pyx 

A ceremony that has taken place since 1282 to independently 

check coins produced by The Royal Mint. The chest (or 

pyx) of coins is presented to a jury consisting of financial 

leaders and members of the Worshipful Company of 

Goldsmiths, who will test randomly selected coins for their 

weight, size and metal content. 

Beating the Bounds 

Pupils from local schools mark Ascension Day each year 

by beating the boundary marks of different parishes with 

wands made of willow. This tradition dates back to the 

Middle Ages, when parishes made a ceremony of checking 

their borders and praying for protection and blessing. 

Cart Making 

Car-men gather once a year to stamp their wagons, cars, 

lorries or motorbikes with a red-hot iron on a wooden 

plate. This was originally an ancient form of licensing the 

carts and cars in the City. 

Oranges & Lemon’s Children’s Service 

A church service held in March each year to give thanks for 

the restoration of the bells of St Clement Dane of nursery 

rhyme fame. Children of the St Clement’s Dane Primary 

School receive an orange and a lemon each.

City Matters Edition 012

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