Straddling the River Avon in the southwest of England, close to several areas of outstanding natural beauty, the city of Bristol is that rare combination of a buzzing, progressive metropolis that still feels a world away from the urban mayhem of London. Boasting a prosperous maritime history, today the city is a veritable cultural hub with a burgeoning commercial scene that attracts young families and job-hunters from around the country.
A scenic view of the Bristol cityscape (Photo: Andrew Gustar via Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0)
Bristol’s growing appeal as a place to both live and work has had some notable effects, one of which has been the emergence of several coworking spaces across the city. If you’re planning to spend some time in Bristol and like the idea of working in a communal space, we’ve selected 10 of the best coworking venues the city has to offer.
Distil Co-working
Located in St Nicholas Market, one of Bristol’s most historic marketplaces and still full of bustling food stalls today, Distil is among the city’s newest coworking spaces – and certainly one of the best positioned for enjoying the local offerings. Affording views over a glass arcade, the space shares its premises with a cocktail bar and micro distillery. Its calm and light space features just 14 desks and has been designed to encourage the distillation of ideas and new initiatives. Hot desk membership starts at £70 per month for 30 hours monthly access, and £120 for 60 hours. Dedicated desks are £280 per month and there are also day passes priced at £20, or you can hot desk in the bar area on the ground floor for £80 per month (unlimited) or for £10 for a day pass. On-site amenities available to members and guests include printing equipment, a meeting room, unlimited teas & coffees, cocktail bar drinks allowance, lockers, and a registered business address.
LOCATION All Saints Lane WEBSITE www.distilcoworking.space
(Photo: Distil Co-working)
North Gallery Workspace
Try a different working environment – an art gallery! North Street Gallery is a community art gallery run by artists and open at weekends only. During the week they offer hotdesking space in a unique environment – inviting you to enjoy the art while you work. On your doorstep, North Street is busy and vibrant, with a wide and varied choice of cafes and takeaways. Membership rates start at £75 per calendar month for access three days per week. Four days per week costs £100 per month and five days is £125. The space is also available for group hire Mon-Sun evening at £30 per hour.
LOCATION 135 North St, Bedminster WEBSITE www.northgalleryworkspace.co.uk
(Photo: North Gallery Workspace)
OneUp Coworking
Located just off the buzzing Park Street, OneUp Coworking welcomes both hot desking and permanent members. With a sprawling two-floor coworking space and event space, a meeting room and a photography studio, there’s something for everyone. Skill-building events and expert talks are exclusive to members and hot deskers, and with excellent transport links your commute couldn’t be easier. Both the photography/film studio and the meeting room can be booked for £20 per hour. Membership plans start at £20 a day for hot desking, and permanent desks start at £275/month.
LOCATION 3 Unity Street WEBSITE www.oneupcoworking.com
(Photo: OneUp Coworking)
Pollen Place
Situated in the heart of Bristol’s artist quarter, Pollen Place is a creative work and event space for entrepreneurs, innovators, freelancers and small businesses. A series of light, spacious and colourful coworking studios promote creative thinking and calm concentration, aided by the presence of plants and books that can be enjoyed and perused at your leisure. Fixed desk membership is priced at £195 per month and includes a personal desk with optional lockable pedestal. 24/7 access and a free hour in the venue’s meeting room. Other on-site amenities include fibre optic WiFi, a locked bike shed, and printing equipment. There are also regular networking events and free Friday beers.
LOCATION 15–17 Backfields Lane, Stokes Croft WEBSITE www.pollenplace.com
(Photo: Pollen Place)
Gather Round
Positioned in Bristol’s riverside cultural hub of Southville, on the ground floor of the Cigar Factory, an original 1900’s red brick building and part of Bristol’s industrial heritage, Gather Round is a flexible workspace featuring fixed and casual desks, private studios, break out areas, and various nooks and crannies that encourage quiet contemplation. In total there are 6 private studios and 16 dedicated desks as well as areas for group gatherings, workshops and events, plus a large communal kitchen. There are three different tiers of membership, along with the option to purchase day passes for guests or friends. Ideal for remote workers, Flexi memberships are priced at £175 per month for midweek access and invite you to pick a spot to work across the communal areas. Permanent desk membership is £250 per month. All members have full access to the venue’s facilities, such as bike storage, changing rooms and free tea & coffee, as well as a busy events programme that includes morning workouts, after work clubs, get-togethers and Friday DJ nights.
LOCATION Cigar Factory, 127-131 Raleigh Road, Southville WEBSITE www.gather-round.co
(Photo: Gather Round)
BankSpace
A contemporary co-working office space in the Bristol district of Bedminster, BankSpace is spread over two floors in the former Lloyds bank. The venue offers a choice of single or multiple dedicated desks available on flexible monthly rental terms, for a minimum contract of one month. A wide variety of small businesses use the space, including architects, market researchers, music management, advertising agencies, software developers, charities and social enterprises. One-month contracts are priced at £175 per month, 3-month contracts at £165 per month, and 5-month at £155 per month. Among the space’s facilities are a private meeting room, kitchen, break out room, free tea & coffee, overnight secure storage, and bike storage.
LOCATION 147 Bedminster Road WEBSITE www.bankspace.co.uk
(Photo: BankSpace)
Square Works
A unique workspace and private members’ club in the heart of Clifton, one of Bristol’s most beautiful and upscale suburbs, Square Works is used by likeminded creative professionals for both work and play. Set in a newly renovated Grade II listed townhouse, the space provides tailor made packages from individual desks to serviced office space. There’s super-fast WiFi and ergonomic furniture, high-spec meeting rooms, and other bespoke business services. You can also order freshly prepared restaurant food through the club’s dedicated app and have it delivered straight to your desk. Hot desking membership rates start at £90 per month for 30 hours access and rise to £275 per month for unlimited use between 9am and 6pm daily.
LOCATION 17-18, Berkeley Square WEBSITE www.squareworksbristol.com
(Photo: Square Works)
Raw Space
Billed as a home away from home for all members, Raw Space has designed a coworking venue that helps make work flexible, social and productive. Combining the productivity of being in the office, the comfort of being at home and the social & wellbeing benefits of being surrounded by a network of like-minded folk, the space is open 24/7 and offers Silver, Bronze and Gold packages on rolling contracts, starting at £59 per month for Bronze membership which allows 30 hours hot desking access per month, plus 1 hour meeting room use. For more frequent use, Silver membership allows 60 hours access for £99 per month, or you can gain unlimited access with Gold membership for £199 per month. All members are designated a community manager, and can enjoy unlimited tea/coffee, free car park use, and access to a roof garden.
LOCATION 111 Gloucester Road, Bishopston WEBSITE www.raw-space.co.uk
(Photo: Raw Space)
77 Stokes Croft
Nestled in Bristol’s culturally vibrant Southville district, 77 Stokes Craft offers affordable desk space and friendly, laid-back vibes that encourage productive working in a welcoming and sociable atmosphere. The space hosts a broad mix of creative residents from film makers and graphic artists to game developers and festival planners, as well as several organisers of major social enterprise projects. In the venue’s open-plan coworking space there’s a choice of two desk sizes, both offered on a six month lease with a two month notice period, including tea and coffee, cleaning, utilities, use of meeting rooms, and high speed internet. Membership pricing starts at £160 per month.
LOCATION 77 Stokes Croft WEBSITE www.77stokescroft.com
(Photo: 77 Stokes Croft)
Bristol Tour Depot
Perched right next to Netham Lock and Netham Park, making it ideal for a peaceful lunchtime stroll, Bristol Tour Depot offers a friendly, secure and productive working environment where creative types come to work alongside other innovative minds who may be open to collaborations. Membership packages provide maximum flexibility and access to business class facilities including personal lockers, meeting rooms, printing equipment, storage units and parking. Open plan desks can be rented full or part-time, with adaptable office hours available upon request. Standard desk spaces can be rented for £125 per month, £34 per week, or £7 per day. There’s also super-fast WiFi, an on-site kitchen and regular networking opportunities.
LOCATION Unit 7, Netham Industrial Estate WEBSITE www.bristoltourdepot.co.uk
(Photo: The Bakery)