Remote and hybrid working are now the norm. With greater flexibility, demand has grown for alternative workspaces away from the office.
Chester has a variety of options for workers wishing to knuckle down and tackle their to-do lists. We’ve taken an open-minded approach to summarising the options and have included more than just coworking spaces in this guide to remote-working spots in the city.
Storyhouse
Storyhouse on Hunter Street combines a theatre, cinema, restaurant and the city’s main library under one roof. The building opens at 8 am from Monday to Saturday and at 9.30 am on Sundays, closing at 11 pm.
The library has individual study tables with free Wi-Fi and charging points, and offers computers, printing, scanning and copying. It is staffed from 8.30 am to 7 pm from Monday to Saturday and from 9.30 am to 6 pm on Sundays, but remains open without staff until late evening. The building’s café and restaurant serve food and drink throughout the day.
This is a public space, so bear in mind that Storyhouse may be busy during school holidays and before evening performances.
Brown Sugar internet café
Brown Sugar internet café is in Handbridge, just south of the River Dee. It offers free Wi-Fi to customers using their own laptops or tablets, as well as four computer stations available from £1. Printing and scanning are also available. The menu includes breakfasts, sandwiches, paninis, jacket potatoes, salads, soup and homemade cakes.
The café opens from 10 am to 4 pm from Wednesday to Saturday and from 10 am to 2 pm on Sundays. The drawback is that it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, so consider it an option for the second half of the week.
Co-Hoole
Co-Hoole is a coworking space in The Old Coach House at The Grange, 1 Hoole Road, a short walk from Chester railway station.
While you’ll pay a fee, this type of facility is geared towards productivity. You can take full advantage of high-speed internet, complimentary coffee, a fully equipped kitchen, an eight-person meeting room, lockable storage, printing and scanning, secure cycle parking and a courtyard garden. Members also receive discounts at several local businesses.
There are two main membership options. Flexy gives you 10 days’ access for £165 a month, while Fixed membership offers 20 days’ access for £250 a month.
ShiftWorks Chester
ShiftWorks is another coworking space, located at Royal House, 14 Upper Northgate Street, on the northern edge of the city centre. The bus interchange is around a five-minute walk away. There is no on-site parking, although several city-centre car parks are nearby.
Day passes are available and, if you are going to be around for longer, there are three types of membership to choose from. The Flex Desk plan costs £140 a month and gives you unlimited weekday access between 8 am and 6 pm. The Resident Desk gives you a dedicated desk for £200 a month.
Facilities include a kitchen, breakout areas, superfast internet and biometric entry. Meeting rooms and a boardroom can be booked by the hour.
Taking your pick – advantages and trade-offs
If you are weighing up whether to use a public space or a coworking hub, there are a range of both pros and cons to consider.
Free spaces such as libraries and cafés suit occasional use, but seating, plug sockets and quiet areas are not guaranteed. Coworking spaces cost more but generally offer reliable internet, meeting rooms and a more consistent working environment.
Opening hours and prices can change, so it is worth checking directly before visiting. Several coworking spaces also offer trial days, which can help you decide whether a space is a good fit. The best solution is often to work in a location for a day or half-day before assessing how much work you completed, the overall atmosphere and whether you had all the facilities you needed.