One sunny Sunday morning at the Wapping Project

Just last weekend I had what can only be described as a delightful and inspirational sunny morning at the Wapping Project, in Wapping, as the name suggests. Courtesy of a drunken conversation with Seb Emina about the best breakfast places in London the weekend before, I awoke with a heavy head following the Christening of the baby of one of my best friend’s. Instantly it was clear we needed a fabulous breakfast and through the haze rememebered the Wapping Project, which was Seb’s recommendation for the best breakfast in London (check this link out for more http://londonreviewofbreakfasts.blogspot.com/), so after a quick call and a 20 minute high speed bike ride, we arrived at the Wapping Project… 5 minutes after the breakfast menu had finished (12.20pm for future reference).

It didn’t matter that we’d missed the very breakfast we came for as the friendly staff encouraged us to stay for a coffee anyway… and the venue, an old hydraulic power station was a feast (for the eyes) in itself. Fabulous green tiles, large metal objects, light, space and a quirky platform in the middle of it all where we were seated for coffee, that turned into lunch. I’m not sure if anyone reading this has done ‘the Artists Way’ book by Julia Cameron. I did, this year. You become familiar with ‘artists dates’ that aim to fill up your creative well and ensure you are always topped up with inspiration – well, this was one big fat artist date for me.

As if I was’t exploding with excitement enough as it was, a woman apprached us and started chatting about the building.. they also had a gallery space, film nights, a glasshouse aka the bookshop, bee hives and what I discovered t be the most beautiful chanmpagne cocktails with rose essence.. quite fitting as I am about to start working with the Royal Horticultural Society… I wonder if they’ve thought of that for Chelsea, Hampton Court Palace, Tatton Park or Cardiff Garden Shows… hmmm… I feel a partnership coming on…

This interesting information provider turned out to be the founder and owner of the Wapping project – Jules Wright. She bought the place 10 years ago when, in her own words, ‘you could still see the river from the building’. Also a film maker, the first to shoot another of Britain’s gems, Daniel Craig. I have to do a whole lot more research before writing more, but this woman became a true idol for me within minutes, and it turns out we’ve walked many a shared footstep through Liverpool’s Playhouse Theatre, to name but one example.   

I’ll have to go back and try their eggs benedict, although I can recommend their cerviche scallops, bresaola and freshly made ciabatta. But beter than any breakfast was the feeling of pure joy and inspiration hanging out in this place, which was exemplified when I read their membership brochure…

‘ The Wapping Project remains an idea in a state of transformation, consistently re-made and re-invented. It is an idea rooted in a magical building and realised within it. While solid and substantial, it is also mercurial and inexplicable. It draws in people who share our sensibility.’

I thought that was beautiful. You should see if you do, too.