SUMMER 2018 // INSIGHT // 03 Texts to This Number Are Charged at Your Standard Network Rate

Home , Above The Stag Theatre, Beautiful Thing (play)

SUMMERInsight 2018

WIN! AN iPAD MINI Just the tonic First distillery delivers for Manchester

IN THE SPOTLIGHT CHAIN REACTION Curtain up Bike charity on new for refugees LGBT+ theatre moves up complex a gear

NR_Summer_p01.indd 1 03/07/2018 15:02 OUT& ABOUT NEWS

WITH LET’S INSIGHT GET EDITOR SOCIAL CHRISTINA SALZANO

Welcome to the Summer issue of Insight. This edition is packed with lots of fantastic venues that I’m sure will leave you shouting ‘encore’. Some of the many food and drinks businesses in our arches have been making hay during World Cup fever with promotions and big screen events but there TUNNEL OF LOVE are plenty of great venues that can’t be beat for entertainment all year round. A great example is Manchester, where we travelled to for the Tour this issue. From bowling alleys and a

baseball bar to the chance to create your own gin – ▲ A series of colourful hearts floating in space have been Jimmy C said he was delighted that people were engaging there really is something to keep everyone amused. painted inside a Southwark railway arch in memory of with the mural, which he hoped conveyed the message, “that We chat to Jay Cahill, a para-Jiu-Jitsu gold medallist, those who died in the 2017 London Bridge terror attack. love is the force that will always come through”. co-founder of Base Mcr and owner of a martial arts Street artist Jimmy Cochran, aka Jimmy C, transformed the It’s not the first time Jimmy C has worked with Network and fitness centre. Network Rail arch in Stoney Street, painting eight hearts to Rail. Last year he created a mural of William Shakespeare in We also visited the newly opened Above The Stag represent the eight people who died in the attacks. Clink Street, just around the corner from the Globe Theatre, to Theatre and The Bike Project Jimmy said: “The terror attacks shocked everyone who loves commemorate the 400-year anniversary of the playwright’s – a charity that repairs our city. It’s a great honour to be able to create a lasting image death. CONTACT US and refurbishes bikes to the memory of those who lost their lives and to the Eddie Burton, community engagement officer, said: “We’ve for refugees and resilience and spirit of London.” worked closely with Jimmy C in the past and knew he would If you have a story to tell or a asylum seekers. Since the mural was unveiled it has become popular with create something beautiful for London on our arch. question about the magazine Follow us on visitors to the area, who enjoy having their picture taken “The murals brighten up our structures, brighten up our Drop us a line at Twitter and let with the artwork. communities and engage with the community.” [email protected] us know what Have your say using you are up to @Insight_NR or if you’d like Water fountains allowing to feature in the Call the editor rail passengers to refill next issue. NEWS their drinks bottles on 020 7922 5685 Until then, have REPEAT PERFORMANCE

the go have been an ▲ a great summer… IN Southwark Playhouse is to return to instant hit. the arches at London Bridge after a BRIEF Free water five-year hiatus. fountains were installed The Playhouse, renowned for its HOW ARE WE DOING? at Liverpool Lime Street, inventive and creative productions, was Birmingham New Street, Please rate this magazine. Text ‘Rate Insight’ with a based at London Bridge from 2006 until Manchester Piccadilly and number from 1 to 5, where 1 is poor and 5 is excellent 2013, when it had to relocate due to the London Euston stations for (e.g. Rate Insight 4) to 81888. Every response will be redevelopment of the station. entered into a free prize draw to win a £25 Amazon people to reuse water bottles. Next year it will open a new venue Southwark Playhouse – London Bridge voucher. Look out for the winner in the next issue. In just one week, an on the site of the former Southwark will be one of two new bases for the impressive 5,000 bottles were SUMMER 2018 // INSIGHT // 03 Texts to this number are charged at your standard network rate. Your information Playhouse at the corner of Tooley and theatre company. The second will be a will be treated confidentially and will not be shared with other organisations. re-filled at the fountains, helping Bermondsey streets. 700-seat theatre in Elephant and Castle. Don’t forget to follow to reduce plastic waste. The venue will occupy five arches and Artistic Director Chris Smyrnios said: us @Insight_NR for all Insight is written, designed and produced for Network The initiative is in line with have two flexible performance spaces “It means we can continue our good the latest from Insight Rail by AB Publishing, Unit B Gemini House, 180-182 Network Rail’s commitment to magazine, small business Bermondsey Street, London SE13TQ with 200 and 150 seats, and rehearsal work but also significantly increase WATER reduce our energy consumption tips and Network Rail Insight is printed on revive 50:50 Silk – a recycled paper containing 50 per rooms. It will be used to nurture and the opportunities we can offer to local cent recycled waste and 50 per cent virgin fibre and manufactured at a mill by 18% and carbon emissions community highlights certified with ISO 14001 environmental management standard. GREAT IDEA promote work by emerging playwrights. Southwark residents and new artists.” by 25% over the next five years.

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NR_summer_p2-3.indd 2 03/07/2018 10:46 NR_summer_p2-3.indd 3 03/07/2018 10:46 INSIGHT TOUR Insight TOUR Bowl with it MANCHESTER THREE RIVERS GIN BASE MCR New BeGINnings Founded by former university lecturer Dave Rigby, the tasty DOG BOWL tipple turned out by Three Rivers is the only gin to be blended using oats. And the business is Manchester’s first ever distillery. Located near COVERED: 1.3 MILES the banks of the River Irk, its name General harks back to the city’s historic Manager Adopted in the 19th Century, waterways and started life in Grace Evans the Manchester Bee symbolises August 2015. the city’s industrious nature and its Dave, who runs the business with people. The insect can be found on friends Mike Hughes, Louise Rivers- street furniture and on the mosaic Hull, and Greg Hull, came across the floor of the town hall premises by chance. Since 2012, visitors have Manchester University He said: “It’s very difficult to professors developed the been striking it lucky at find property in Manchester. I had first computer to have a stored Dog Bowl – a ten-pin one fall through and I lost a bit of bowling alley, restaurant programme and memory in 1948. It was nicknamed Baby heart.” and bar nestled among the arches When he got off a train in in Manchester’s Whitworth Street Manchester after visiting Greg in West. It’s the latest venue to join the London, he noticed the arch. “I Black Dog Ballroom group of bars, owned was so tired of messing around I by Ross Mackenzie and business partner thought, I want that arch.” Jobe Ferguson. Insight caught up with Ross to 1960 A few months later, Manchester Stay dry! the year Coronation Street was dip into life at Dog Bowl. Three Rivers launched. The specially MY first screened. The world’s (Victorian crafted gin, flavoured with cinnamon INSIGHT longest running TV soap opera How did you come across the archway? arches can be and Madagascan vanilla, is distilled is filmed in the city As well as being food and drink spaces, our bars on the ground floor in Dave’s susceptible are activity spaces. Our first two are pool-based, to damp) custom-made copper pot called and we were looking into bowling. The arch was ‘Angel’. While the mezzanine level is close to one of our bars, which is opposite the home to the gin experience, where railway arches. It previously traded as an Italian visitors learn about distilling, taste- restaurant and I’d visited a few times, so I knew test a range of cocktails and get to of it and it just seemed a good fit. make their own tipple. Having been rated the number Does the space lend itself to a bowling alley? one ‘Manchester experience’ on Trip With it being underneath Oxford Road station Advisor, Dave and the team are now MY Our there’s a lot of train tracks above so there’s lots expanding this side of the business SUCCESS honesty of length for us to do the bar and restaurant at into a neighbouring arch. the front, and bowling alley at the back. It’s quite “It’s the perfect space for us and so and narrow so it is limited in the number of bowling many similar businesses have set integrity lanes we have. It would’ve been lovely if we could up around us, it’s almost like a and refusal to have knocked through to the arch next door. creative community.” compromise

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NR_SUMMER_p4-7_Tour pages.indd 4 03/07/2018 10:53 NR_SUMMER_p4-7_Tour pages.indd 5 03/07/2018 10:54 INSIGHT TOUR COMMUNITY

MY Enjoy SUCCESS yourself. There’s no point in having all the stress and hard work of running a business if it isn’t fun UPWARDLY Smash hit At Base Mcr Si is a former baseballer to accommodate the in the up-and- with experience in the events batting cages. coming Green industry, Jay is an ex-teacher Si said: “Finding the right MOBILE Quarter of and Para-Jiu-Jitsu gold space in Manchester was Since moving to a new workshop in Deptford arches, Manchester, punters can medallist who runs a martial difficult, but the arches enjoy a drink, watch Major arts and fitness gym and provided an answer to our The Bike Project has stepped up a gear League Baseball (MLB) games Mark is a business analyst. problem. and test their sporting skills. The trio decided to open “A lot of customers say he Bike Project is a the bike mechanics worked out The charity started three years said: “A bicycle offers more The venue has three Base Mcr after recognising it feels like an underground charity that repairs of the charity’s Denmark Hill ago as a way of recycling some than just a free and sustainable batting cages, each the growing trend in social bunker, a hidden gem. We’ve and refurbishes headquarters. of the 27,000 bicycles that are means of getting around, containing a pitching game playing, such as had lots of enquiries about second-hand bikes Stuart Harwood-Hope, chief abandoned in London each year. although that is clearly machine that fires balls. bowling and golf. hosting events because the and donates them to mechanic, said: “Space was very Since then it has given away important. Riding a bike can be Guests stand at one end When it came to choosing venue is so unique and has so refugeesT and asylum seekers. tight at Denmark Hill. Moving more than 3,000 bikes. a real confidence booster. We’re and using a bat attempt to a venue, the challenge was much character.” Each week 25 bikes are given here has allowed us to step up It also runs cycle training helping to create a sense of well- hit the balls at a target. finding a location big enough, away, providing refugees – many production and work in a more for refugee women and Bike being and community.” Entrepreneurs Si Kendal, Jay and with a square ★ of whom survive on a weekly efficient way by setting up Buddies, a programme that aims A small number of the bikes Cahill and Mark Bassett are or rectangular footprint, allowance of £36 – with a low different work stations for gears, to reduce isolation and improve refurbished by the charity the driving forces behind cost means of transport while wheels and brakes. We can store social cohesion. Individual are sold to the the business. they navigate the complicated more bikes here too. refugee cyclists are matched public through For more ★ ★ ★ asylum process. Each beneficiary “It’s also changed the with a ‘buddy’; a competent the charity’s on the charity, also receives a helmet, lock, lights dynamic; it feels more welcoming local cyclist, who takes them for online shop. or to view the bikes and basic cycling training. and relaxed and – for the regular rides in their area. All proceeds for sale, Fighting spirit ★ Prior to moving to the 1,800 refugees who visit us – less Anna Chapman, The Bike go back to visit https://the sq ft arches in Deptford, London, intimidating.” Project’s marketing manager, the charity. bikeproject.co.uk When Jay Cahill isn’t overseeing enterprise Fighting Fit Martial Arts accessible; we have 6,000 square ★ the running of two enterprises in and Fitness Centre, which offers feet of flat, open space.” the railway arches of Manchester, boxing, powerlifting, Muay Thai The former teacher took up she’s ruthlessly employing joint and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes. martial arts 20 years ago but later locks and chokes on her opponents Jay, an above the knee tried Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a discipline on the mat. amputee, said: “Inclusivity is very that predominantly focuses on Jay is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu important to me. Martial arts have ground fighting. ★ practitioner who won gold in the given me so much self-confidence She said: “I started training para division at the UAE JJF World and I want others to experience without my prosthetic and my Championships in 2017. the benefits. movement was so much better. She’s also the co-founder of “Our arches premises are close When I’m competing on the mat Base Mcr and the nearby social to public transport and very I’m no different to anyone else.”★

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NR_SUMMER_p4-7_Tour pages.indd 6 03/07/2018 11:04 NR_SUMMER_p4-7_Tour pages.indd 7 03/07/2018 11:04 IN THE SPOTLIGHT BEHIND THE SCENES

Debut play Beautiful Thing is a sell-out

The UK’s only full-time LGBT+ theatre has a space that can support a range of LGBT+ location and only had a 70-seat theatre. We 60-seat theatre where more challenging approachable and accessible way.” raised the curtain on its slick new premises works.” wanted to be able to expand our offering, works can be staged. Even though it’s still early days, the move in arches in London’s Vauxhall. Above The Stag was founded by Peter have a nicer bar and be open during the “In the past, we just didn’t have the to the new premises appears to have been Above The Stag Theatre’s new £1.4million Bull 10 years ago. Its first home was a daytime. This new venue has allowed us to capacity to stage edgier works, whereas now a hit with the first show to run at the new home features two performance spaces, a theatre above The Stag pub in Victoria – realise our ambitions.” we have the flexibility to do that, which is stage, Beautiful Thing, a story of teenage rehearsal room and a bar and art gallery. hence the name. The new theatre on Albert Embankment great,” he said. love on a London council estate, winning General manager Tom McGregor said: When the pub closed, the theatre moved has a 100-seat performance space, which “There are so many LGBT+ issues that critical acclaim and selling out. “We’re thrilled with our new home. It has to a small space in arches at Vauxhall. Tom will host more elaborate productions, such need to be discussed. Theatre is a great way And there’s plenty more to come this year allowed us to fulfil our dream of creating said: “We were in an off-the-beaten track as the theatre’s annual panto, and a flexible to raise awareness and explore issues in an including musicals, cabaret and comedy. OTHER THEATRES IN ARCHES

UNION THEATRE CERVANTES THEATRE WATERLOO EAST THEATRE Many top West End performers and Just a stone’s throw from the This busy fringe 120-seat theatre, directors got their start by treading Union, is the Cervantes Theatre, located in arches under Waterloo the boards at the Union. The fringe another independent venue Station, was set up eight years theatre in Southwark has been breaking new ground. The proud ago to support independent, running for more than 20 years creation of the Spanish Theatre experimental productions. It and is best known for its musicals, Company (STC), the Cervantes hosts everything from productions although it also stages comedy and brings the best Spanish and Latin of classic works by Shakespeare drama. It is now in a new home American theatre to London and and Ovid, to cabaret and in Old Union Yard with musical to British audiences. Shows are satire. Trump the Musical is theatre star Ruthie Henshall staged in Spanish and English. coming soon. a patron.

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NR_SUMMER_p8-9_THEATRES.indd 8 03/07/2018 11:17 NR_SUMMER_p8-9_THEATRES.indd 9 03/07/2018 11:17 IN THE SPOTLIGHT IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE – If you know how to use an extinguisher and it’s a small fire, you can try and put it out yourself – If you don’t, then close the door, raise the alarm and evacuate the BE SAFE, building. Leave it to the fire service FIVE-STEP FIRE SAFETY RISK ASSESSMENT

STEP Identify fire hazards NOT SORRY such as sources of ignition, fuel and James Holland knows only too well the 1 oxygen dangers of failing to take fire safety seriously STEP Identify people in and In his previous a safe escape route at all around the premises job as a times. firefighter, he This includes conducting 2 who are at risk, battled several regular fire risk assessments. especially those with serious blazes Easy-to-follow guidelines a disability or poor mobility that could have been avoided explaining this five-step “Sometimes I visit premises had basic safety measures process are available to and see basic housekeeping been taken. help smaller enterprises do errors: boxes blocking fire STEP Evaluate the risk of a James now works as this themselves (SEE BOX exits; stacks of paper next fire starting, the risk Network Rail’s principal BELOW). to heaters; and multi-socket to people and remove fire safety specialist. He is After the first risk adaptors overloading electric 3 encouraging all tenants to assessment, a review should circuit boards. any potential hazards. carry out regular safety checks be carried out every year, or “A lot of it is common Protect people by providing fire and follow a few common- when there is a change in sense. But if people do have precautions sense housekeeping rules. layout or equipment. questions they can contact James said: “All enterprises, James said: “General their local fire service for no matter how small they are, housekeeping is also an advice. STEP Record any major have responsibilities when it important issue, especially “It’s better to be safe than finding and action you comes to fire safety.” for businesses that use sorry. Imagine the impact have taken and involve By law, reasonable steps flammable goods, such as gas a serious fire would have on 4 must be taken at all premises cylinders, or equipment such your business and on the other responsible to reduce fire risks and ensure as industrial freezers. entire train service.” people. Prepare an emergency plan and share it with relevant people. Provide training BASIC HOUSEKEEPING TIPS FOR TENANTS STEP Carry our regular fire risk assessments and make changes where 5 necessary

For more information visit https:// Maintain fire safety If you have an tinyurl.com/y777zxdf to download equipment – fire extinguisher, Ensure fire extinguishers people need to extinguishers a short guide to making your Check your fire need to be serviced be trained to are accessible Don’t obstruct premises safe from fire. alarm regularly every year use it at all times fire exits

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NR_Summer_p10-11.indd 10 03/07/2018 16:58 NR_Summer_p10-11.indd 11 03/07/2018 16:58 BIG ADVENTURES When she’s not travelling around the North West, lettings manager Joanne Cruickshank likes to explore the globe

What does your job entail? towns and cities across the UK, My main role is to market and let Manchester has become my the vacant properties across the home and of course my favourite North West. place to be. Manchester is home to some of the world’s greatest What skills are important to musicians and two major football the role? clubs. It’s always an exciting As I speak to a variety of place to be and the people are so customers on a daily basis, it’s friendly and welcoming. essential to have good people skills and the ability to sell, What would your dream career negotiate and communicate be? effectively. My first degree is in contemporary art and creative writing, so if I What’s the best thing about wasn’t focused on becoming a the job? chartered surveyor, I would see It’s a diverse role and no two myself as a writer. I love to travel days are ever the same. I’m not too. It would be a dream to travel restricted to my desk. I travel the world and write. around the North West and juggle office work and on-site meetings. People would be surprised to know: What is your biggest challenge? I travelled solo through South Sourcing the right customer for East Asia and spent Christmas our properties and the local areas. Day travelling down the Mekong I have visions of creating busy river with people from all over neighbourhoods and communities the world. The whole experience and to do this we need the right was incredible and I would do businesses. it all again in a minute. I’m on a mission to visit 30 countries by Favourite place? the time I turn 30! Only two years Having grown up in various and two countries to go…

CAN YOU SCORE IN OUR WORLD CUP COMPETITION AND NAME THESE FOUR FABULOUS STRIKERS? Send your answers, with your name, place of work and contact number via email to [email protected] or tweet us @Insight_NR. You can also post your answer to Insight editor, AB Publishing, Unit B, Gemini House, 180-182 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ. Catherine Dunton, from Plymouth, won an iPad Mini in the last issue.

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WIN! AN IPAD MINI

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