Down by the sea: six coastal co-working spaces

Fancy swapping the kitchen table for a sea view? These coastal workspaces offer flexible desks, meeting rooms and a bracing change of scene.

By Ali Catterall

Working remotely sounds idyllic: no commute, no office politics and the freedom to work wherever you like. Until you realise your most stimulating conversation of the day has been with the kettle.

A coastal co-working space for sole practitioners or small agencies can provide the conversations and connections that often lead to better ideas. And, as anyone who has tried to write a press release after lunch will know, a brisk walk by the sea can also be the cheapest productivity hack going.

Here are six UK seaside workspaces for those who prefer their deadlines with a side of salt air.

No Place Like Home, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex

A flexible, calm workspace overlooking the estuary and just a minute’s walk from Leigh‑on‑Sea station, No Place Like Home (NPLH) is set among a cluster of customised shipping containers that host independents, arty types, creative makers, barbers, and even a sauna and an ice plunge pool.

NPLH includes both a coworking area and a blissfully laptop‑free lounge with barista service and food on offer, plus there’s a regular schedule of screenings, evening events and a weekend market.

Find out more about NPLH.

CoWork, Whitby, North Yorkshire

A flexible, fully equipped workspace in the centre of one of Yorkshire’s most famous coastal towns – not to mention the very place Dracula first arrived in England.

Inside, there are hot desks, dedicated desks, meeting rooms and high‑speed wifi. Outside, Whitby’s harbour, beaches and independent shops and museums are all within easy reach, including one dedicated to a certain vampire.

It makes a practical base for freelancers and small businesses wanting to combine the working day with everything the Yorkshire coast has to offer.

Find out more about CoWork Whitby.

Start Yard, Birkenhead, Wirral

Birkenhead’s creative waterfront hideout, Start Yard is part coworking space, part industrial‑chic playground (minus the shipping containers). And perched right by the water, it’s a characterful alternative to commuting into Liverpool city centre.

Inside, members have access to bike parking, showers, a podcast and content studio, flexible offices, bright modern meeting rooms and an on‑site café bar. For PR and communications professionals, the content facilities could prove particularly useful for recording, filming and creating digital content alongside the working day.

Find out more about Start Yard.

The Lighthouse, North Berwick, East Lothian

North Berwick’s first dedicated coworking and flexible office space, The Lighthouse is a purpose‑built business centre offering coworking, fixed desks and private offices for everyone from start‑ups to established businesses.

There are desks, meeting and event spaces at flexible rates, alongside a mix of members from different industries. And when it’s time to step away from the screen, North Berwick’s beaches, harbour and postcard‑perfect views towards the Firth of Forth are just a short wander away. It’s not actually a lighthouse.

Find out more about The Lighthouse.

Faith in Strangers Workclub, Margate

Drenched in natural light thanks to its 12-metre windows, this design-led workspace in Tracey Emin’s home town offers sea views alongside easy access to the beach and Old Town and Margate’s thriving art scene.

Members have access to speedy wifi, meeting rooms, a terrace, circadian lighting, air‑conditioning and a bespoke sound system. There are also weekly shared‑table lunches by head chef Jackson Berg, as well as discounts at the restaurant and bar. For anyone looking for an alternative to working from home, or trying to turn a café into an office, it offers a more permanent base within easy reach of the coast.

Find out more about Faith in Strangers Workclub.

Harbour Studios, Torquay, Devon

A “hop, skip, and a jump” from Torquay Harbour, Harbour Studios brings together private offices, coworking desks and meeting rooms for entrepreneurs, freelancers and small businesses.

The bright, calm workspace provides a professional base while keeping the waterfront and South Devon’s landscape close at hand. Outside the door are the marina and seafront – and for fans of Fawlty Towers, there is the opportunity to imagine Basil Fawlty having one of his more memorable meltdowns nearby. He just needed a place like this.

Find out more about Harbour Studios.