Would You Offer Your Restaurant as an Office Space?

A new scheme to allow hospitality venues to open-up earlier has been put forward to the government and is seeking signatures for a new petition.

Work Anywhere Hub aims to harness all the empty spaces of hospitality and utilise them in a positive way following the relaxation of lockdown.

The idea comes from a similar move during the first lockdown, venues across the country began to offer desks by the day in an effort to fill spaces and revive businesses crippled by COVID restrictions.

Work Anywhere Hub has taken this idea to the next level and is demanding that as part of the roadmap, the government allows venues to reopen as COVID-safe workspaces for remote workers when lockdown begins to lift.

View the petition here

Founder and CEO of Work Anywhere Hub, James Santi, has managed a restaurant in west London for almost 20 years. Being able to reopen as a base for remote workers would inject much-needed revenue into his business.

He says: “We believe hospitality venues should not be forced to suffer any more. Across the country spaces lay empty. If offices are allowed to be open then why can’t we?

“Work Anywhere Hub proposes that all venues be allowed to open as remote, COVID-safe workspaces until we are allowed to reopen to the public. This might not be until May so we need to be making use of our spaces now.

“Pubs, restaurants, cinemas, hotels, we all have space to rent and workers do not want to take public transport to travel to work, so let us open up as remote workspaces thus reviving our businesses, offering a safe environment for employees in which to work, and offering employers pay per day workspace locations to enable them to cut overheads.”

From renting a desk by the hour to a socially distanced interview room by the day, week, month or year, venues the length and breadth of Britain are ready to open up to the workforce.

The campaign has already received backing from the award-winning Marylebone Leisure Group family of boutique bars and restaurants, and generated lively debate on social media.

Venues can create a free listing on the Work Anywhere Hub portal so workers can find a space close to them that offers a safe and comfortable working environment. They then fix the charge per day, and cost of optional extras including food and drink.

Would you be willing to open-up your restaurant or hospitality space? Let us know!