With Easter and the London Marathon already behind us, Spring is most definitely in full swing in St Katharine Docks! Our new membership year started on 1st April and we are delighted at how many members have already renewed, thank you for your support! We have organised some great events for you over the next few months, the majority of which will be for current members only because of limitation on numbers and we have two new concession scheme retail partners, details of which are in the concessions section of this Newsletter below and on our website www.foskd.org
Do please remember that your old membership card expired on the 31st March and can no longer be used to claim concessions from our partners. To renew your membership, simply pay £30 by bank transfer using the account details on the membership form on www.foskd.org/becomeAMember.php remembering to use your surname and your existing membership card number as a payment reference. Please direct any queries to membership@foskd.org
We look forward to welcoming you to an event soon!
Sue Hughes
Chairman
Social Events
Tuesday 9th May
Social Evening in the Dickens Inn
- Copperfield Bar – Drinks & Canapés
Timing from 18.30 BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL FOR CATERING please click here to register. If you wish to bring any potential new members to this event please email their names and email addresses to contactus@foskd.org rather than registering them on the booking form.
Douglas Glendon the Operations Director for The Dickens Inn has kindly invited us to a social evening in the Copperfield Bar. A welcome drink and canapes will be served and Douglas will be on hand to tell us about their new menus and forthcoming events over the Spring & Summer.
Tuesday 30th May
Behind the Scenes at Waitrose
Timing 18.30 BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL FOR CATERING please click here to register
Come to a party in Waitrose and meet Tom Sanger the branch Manager in Thomas More Square to hear about his vision for the future of the store and improvements planned. You will also have an opportunity to give your feedback about the branch.
The evening will include:-
- Cheese and wine tasting led by the branch wine specialist
- Tastings from the new Sushi counter and talks on the products they make and their made to order service
- Tastings of Waitrose Entertaining products that can be specially ordered in
- Information on the Waitrose delivery service and on their "Community Matters" Scheme
Concessions
Dokke
We are pleased to welcome this independent restaurant to Ivory House. Owner & Chef Neil Wager tells us that his menu at Dokke will feature produce from the nearby Borough, Billingsgate and Smithfield markets with healthy and exotic dishes chosen to showcase the culinary skills he learned in the Far East and Africa. Neil has been Chef and consultant at four of the top ten iconic remote destinations in the world and is regularly featured in luxury and travel media including Vogue Living and Conde Nast Traveller. "Dokke"" is the medieval word for docking a boat and marks the end of a journey which Neil has captured with a décor that has all the comforts of a home-coming whilst being able to enjoy the fruits of a global culinary adventure. The venue will operate as a high-end café during the day and will transform into a chic restaurant in the evening, offering sharing plates and communal seating, with brunch and a roast served on Sundays.
Members of FOSKD will be eligible for a 20% discount off food only on Mon & Tues and 10% off food only Weds – Sunday on production of their membership card. Neil is also introducing a lunchtime loyalty Jar which can be purchased for a one off cost of £10 and members can bring their jar in to fill it with takeaway food attracting a 20% discount. www.dokke.co.uk
Bellavita
We are delighted that "Bellavita" has joined our concession scheme as a retail partner. Their store, which showcases the finest Italian food and drink brands, is located just across the Highway from St Katharine Docks at the bottom of Dock Street. They also operate an online shop at www.bellavitashop.co.uk The store also houses the Bellavita Academy which runs cookery demonstrations and classes https://bellavita.academy
Current members of FOSKD will be eligible for a discount of 10% off all food and drink purchased in store (not in conjunction with any other offers) and also from the online shop when you enter the code "FOSKD" when checking out.
Emilia's Pasta
If you haven't tried this great new pasta restaurant in Ivory House yet, they have been getting some great reviews from the London food critics and the good news is that as a member of FOSKD you will receive 10% discount off food when you dine with them from Monday to Thursday
Please see the Concessions page on our website for full details of these offers and offers from all our other Concession partners www.foskd.org/concessions.php
News
Dance Classes
On Monday afternoons throughout February and March a very jolly group of intrepid members aided by the talented (and very patient!) dance teacher Angelo Ruggieri from www.ruggieriacademy.com have been learning to tango, foxtrot, salsa and waltz their way around the Dickens suite in the Dickens Inn. It has been huge fun and as a group of non-dancers they have greatly enjoyed the experience of learning both ballroom and Latin dances as their comments below testify. We are now asking for "expressions of interest" from all interested members with regards to starting the next series of classes in September – absolutely no prior dance experience is required and you don't need to be part of a couple to come along – we actively encourage singles – particularly men, to come and join the fun! Please click here if you would like to register to receive further information about the next series of classes.
"Loved our dance classes! Have enjoyed getting to know other members in a relaxed atmosphere. Angelo is a caring and patient instructor, who includes everyone regardless of ability. He is an engaging and entertaining teacher, who always makes the classes fun!"
"Gentle exercise tick Enjoying company of friends tick Increased self-esteem (you always thought you had two left feet!) tick Angelo's dance class has all this and more - and it's great fun!"
"To learn anything new as we grow older is very good for the brain and dancing certainly exercises both brain and body so well. To have the opportunity to share it with fun friends, both concentrating and giggling is a perfect gift!"
Marina & Public Realm Works
With the refurbishment works to the Marina now completed, work is underway to improve both the north-west and south-west entrances to the Docks. The new staircase in the north-west entrance is due to be completed towards the end of June and the works to improve the area around the International House loading bay is just beginning. This will include changes to paving and lighting which should hopefully make this very busy area safer for both pedestrians and vehicles. Part of St Katharine's Way underneath the hotel will be closed to traffic for a period of three weeks from 24th April to facilitate these works. New signage around the whole estate will also be installed over the coming weeks. The FOSKD Committee have been involved in consulting with Blackstone over these projects which has resulted in a number of amendments to the original proposals.
Event Diary
Thursday 8th – Sunday 11th June
Complimentary entry to The London on Water Show
With a reception for members being hosted by Abode2 on the 8th June – booking details to follow soon.
Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th June
A choice of cruises aboard MV Balmoral
From Tower Pier to Gravesend / Southend / North Greenwich – further details to follow soon, so save the dates and bookings will be via www.whitefunnel.co.uk
Saturday 1st July
ART Night
Will be showcasing the work of Scottish Artist Charles Avery in St Katharine Docks aided by our Friends at White Mulberries www.artnight.london
Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th September
The Classic Boat Festival returns to the Docks
Monday 4th December
Festive Dinner in the Bridge Suite of the Guoman Tower Hotel
Contact us
Should you require any further information, please feel free to contact us at contactus@foskd.org
www.foskd.org
Follow us on Twitter @OfficialFOSKD