Dock has its day

We've all heard complaints about Canary Wharf it's hard to get to with no shops and nowhere to eat but that was then, as Marley Obi discovered

THERE was a time when temps would baulk at the idea of working in the Docklands. The convoluted journey by rail, bus, Tube and Dock- lands Light Railway that many had to endure, coupled with the distinct lack of places to shop and eat, made the prospect of working in Canary Wharf only marginally more appealing than being exiled to Siberia.

But all that has changed. More and more businesses are relocating there and the current working population of 27,000 is expected to increase to around 100,000 in about five years' time. Consequently, the demand for temps has never been higher and those who find themselves in this influx of workers should not expect to find the ghost town of old. Instead, they are more likely to discover a buzzing, thriving, highly self-sufficient, working village with every single facility and amenity you can think of.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Cabot Place, at the heart of Canary Wharf. Stroll around at lunchtime and the range of places to go and things to do is positively mindboggling. There is the ever- expanding number of caf"s and restaurants, catering for every taste and pocket, from Burger King to Marco Pierre White's restaurant MPW.

Amid the hubbub of people engaged in the usual lunchtime chore of queuing at the post office or the bank, you can't fail to notice those who are taking it easy and catching up with social activities they wouldn't normally have time for.

IMPECCABLY groomed executives get their shoes shined while they read the Financial Times. Working mothers do the weekly shop at Tesco, and twice a week, stressed-out workers gather in the concourse to unwind by listening to a string quartet, while they eat their Pret A Manger sandwiches.

Karen Warren, an art editor, has worked in the Docklands for more than a year and enjoys spending her lunchtime in Cabot Place: "The lunchtime concerts are a really nice touch and sometimes they have art exhibitions."

Even after a year she is still finding new places she never knew existed.

There is the cr"che, the medical centre and a couple of beauty salons. As you wait for that waxing appointment you can browse through the new quarterly magazine Canary, available free to tenants and produced by Cond" Nast, publishers of Vogue, no less.

Canary Wharf Group plc (CWG), the owners of Canary Wharf, has obviously put a lot of thought into its planning and even recruited Hamish the Harris hawk to keep the surrounding area free of pigeons (he's also employed by the Millennium Dome and Westminster Abbey).

And it hasn't overlooked your soul. There is a multi- denominational prayer hall where you can snatch a few moments of quiet contemplation. Florist Peter Felton, who has been in Canary Wharf since the early days, believes the result is a unique feeling of community.

"There is a very friendly atmosphere here. The shopkeepers all know each other and we all help each other," he said.

In case all that isn't quite enough to make you want to work there, on 28 March, the new Canada Place Mall will open in Canada Square. It will adjoin the existing Cabot Place Mall and cover an area larger than Wembley stadium.

Camille Waxer, vice president of retail, for CWG, said: "We carried out extensive surveys to find out what people wanted and the message came back loud and clear that they wanted mid-market fashion."

Hairdressers Toni and Guy, as well as high street giants like French Connection, Kookai, Next and Top Shop, are just a few of the names eager to meet that demand by opening new stores in the mall.

So next time your agency offers you an assignment in the Dock- lands, never mind worrying about how you'll get there, just make sure you take your credit card.

Copyright 2000
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