I'm old and I just work at home - happily. But I think the "welcome" approach is bleeding obviously the way forward for any hospitality biz - with reciprocal freelance awareness that they have to make a living too a necessary part of the virtuous circle. Great if local places get it and promote it. But you set me wondering about chains – eg the Starbucks up on our High Road welcomes laptoppers, lots of electric points too and it's cos they have unusually large floor space and saw an opportunity. I wonder if most of the chain does? Pubs – how about Wetherspoons, anyone work in them, they seem sort of eccentrically go-ahead (aside from Brexit!). Maybe local approaches are best or maybe we could ask our organisations to approach chain HQs talking biz + PR? NUJ, Soc of Authors, Assoc Of Photogs, others? A joint approach for more oomph? Fraternals, Phil
Yep, great ideas Phil. It's the way forward - we have 6K+ people in the Hastings & St Leonards FBK group - DFLs, OFBs which means more remote workers needing to get out. Looks like Wetherspoons are taking over Azur on the seafront so I'll talk to them if so. Starbucks & co are happy for you to work there as long as you buy something. I use my local Costa all the time as it has a massive upstairs space with plugs and sofas etc.
I prefer supporting the indies as they're more soulful, better music, art and small businesses etc but space is tight and they need the turnaround. I also work in my local Kino / Russian art gallery as it's a warehouse-y, inspiring space. I like being surrounded by art and nice lighting - the problem with most offices lol.
Great idea re the joint approach - can ask NUJ HQ. Come winter, I'll definitely want to be working down the pub as it's just too expensive to have the heating on in the day! Some kind of WFP package - to help them out too - makes sense. I don't want to see our fabulous pubs disappear - lifeblood of the community etc especially in the countryside when the shops shut at 5pm and there's nowhere to go.
I'm old and I just work at home - happily. But I think the "welcome" approach is bleeding obviously the way forward for any hospitality biz - with reciprocal freelance awareness that they have to make a living too a necessary part of the virtuous circle. Great if local places get it and promote it. But you set me wondering about chains – eg the Starbucks up on our High Road welcomes laptoppers, lots of electric points too and it's cos they have unusually large floor space and saw an opportunity. I wonder if most of the chain does? Pubs – how about Wetherspoons, anyone work in them, they seem sort of eccentrically go-ahead (aside from Brexit!). Maybe local approaches are best or maybe we could ask our organisations to approach chain HQs talking biz + PR? NUJ, Soc of Authors, Assoc Of Photogs, others? A joint approach for more oomph? Fraternals, Phil
Yep, great ideas Phil. It's the way forward - we have 6K+ people in the Hastings & St Leonards FBK group - DFLs, OFBs which means more remote workers needing to get out. Looks like Wetherspoons are taking over Azur on the seafront so I'll talk to them if so. Starbucks & co are happy for you to work there as long as you buy something. I use my local Costa all the time as it has a massive upstairs space with plugs and sofas etc.
I prefer supporting the indies as they're more soulful, better music, art and small businesses etc but space is tight and they need the turnaround. I also work in my local Kino / Russian art gallery as it's a warehouse-y, inspiring space. I like being surrounded by art and nice lighting - the problem with most offices lol.
Great idea re the joint approach - can ask NUJ HQ. Come winter, I'll definitely want to be working down the pub as it's just too expensive to have the heating on in the day! Some kind of WFP package - to help them out too - makes sense. I don't want to see our fabulous pubs disappear - lifeblood of the community etc especially in the countryside when the shops shut at 5pm and there's nowhere to go.