Fed Up Of #WFH? How About #WFP (Work From the Pub?)

Rishi Sunak has stated that he believes packed offices will be a thing of the past once the UK reopens post-COVID, and we have to agreee.

The Chancellor told Politico that a full return to the workplace will “probably not” happen, with staff likely to try hybrid or flexible working and “hotdesking” in local hubs.

Let’s face it, we’re fed up of working from our kitchen tables, but the idea retruning to commuting – the cost, the stress, the risk – just doesn’t appeal.

So where to work from?

Following the first lockdown, when hospitality reopened, many bars and restaurants rented out tables as hotdesks for remote workers, and this trend looks set to continue as employees reject requests to make tiresome and expensive commutes, preferring to work closer to home in a COVID-safe and relaxed environment.

Such spaces are easily sourced on Work Anywhere Hub, a free online portal launching as lockdown lifts enabling ‘space seekers’ to search their local area for hotels, bars, restaurants and cinemas selling hotdesk space by the hour, day, week and more.

“People no longer want the stress or risk of commuting to a headquarters, they want to work close to home where they feel safe, work in peace, and can have friendly interaction if they fancy it.” So says James Santi, CEO and founder of Work Anywhere Hub.

Sunak cited the rise of “neighbourhood” shared spaces designed for workers who wish to work more locally but operate away from home.

During his interview, he said: “There’s a new thing that’s growing up in New York, this was in Brooklyn, a new business model of serviced offices, but in neighbourhoods, and very small so it’s for people who are, they’re not doing the commute in, but they don’t want to work at home when they’re doing their days at home.

“So it’s a different serviced office hot desking thing in neighbourhoods, so you can leave your home, do kind of essentially working in your neighbourhood, rather than making the for commuting to work which kind of an interesting model and see whether that picks up.”

This opportunity and trend is precisely what Santi has seen while running his own family restaurants and bars in west London.

“We have never struggled for custom, but every venue manager knows there are quiet times, times when tables are free and footfall is low. These ‘off-peak’ times can be used to provide hotdesks for remote workers, thus creating a new stream of revenue for venues as well as providing a safe and comfortable working environment for remote workers.

“When the last lockdown was lifted we offered a table as a desk for remote workers, and for £15 a day they benefited from a desk for the day, light lunch, and free water refills. Other packages could include free coffee refills, breakfast as part of the deal, function room hire, the possibilities are endless.

“All tables are adequately distanced, all surfaces are regularly cleaned, and sanitiser is available throughout the venues. We found that people loved having a quiet workspace with free Wi-Fi, and the option of a quick chat with someone if they fancied it. Add the options of great food and drink and stylish surroundings to the mix and you can see why working from your local bar, restaurant or hotel is so appealing.”

According to data garnered by Global Intelligence Streetbees, one in three Britons would be happy working from a bar/restaurant post-COVID. This news comes as research by Capita Consulting revered the benefits of employees working away from central offices, even in sectors such as Customer Service, traditionally based at purpose-built call centres.

And the shift is proven by the news that social giants Pinterest recently paid $90million to terminate a lease agreement for office space in San Francisco, and shares in companies such as Zoom have skyrocketed in the past 12 months.

Santi told Belle About Town: “With Work Anywhere Hub venues set their own prices and they chose when customers can book spaces. It’s all totally free to use both for venues and space seekers, so there really is nothing to lose by signing up.

“Remote working is the future – the Chancellor said it himself. This is a way for employers to cut unnecessary rental overheads, and employees to benefit from a healthier work/life balance.”

Work Anywhere Hub has already attracted the attention of the award-winning Marylebone Leisure Group, owners of Belle favourite The Portobello Star and several other chic venues in London and the south east.

• Find out more about remote working locations once lockdown lifts at www.workanywherehub.com.