WorkfromHub (office pods at rail stations)

[johntea]

Just seen some posters up at Harrogate Station advertising ‘WorkfromHub’ is coming soon

Looks like a sort of office pod you can rent out at the following rates :-
1-2 Hours £8.99 per hour (usually £13.99)
3-7 Hours £7.99 per hour (usually £12.49)
8+ Hours £5.99 per hour (usually £9.99)

What’s included in a Hub?

You will have all you need to simply plug in and find your flow.

Wi-Fi connection
Second Screen
Comfy Desk Chair
Multiple plug sockets and USB ports
Lamp
Heating
Cleaning Station
Laptop Stand

They already look to be up and running at several South Yorkshire locations :-
The Dearne - Swinton Rail Station
The Sheaf - Sheffield Bus Interchange
The Rother - Halfway Park and Ride

Funnily enough only the other day I came across a YouTube video showing a very similar concept in Tokyo! (Although one difference is across there they're happy enough to stick a posh coffee machine in with pods, those would probably vanish very quickly in the UK )

Not quite sure it'll really catch on (especially at the supposed 'standard' pricing) but stranger things have happened I guess!

 

[Gloster]

Frankly, the one in Harrogate looks like a toilet and will, I fear, probably end up smelling like one. Anyway, what is wrong with a cafe or pub?

 

[Mike395]

Got to say I really don't see the attraction of these (there were a few Regus ones in London a decade or so back, they all seem to have disappeared and I can't see the new ones lasting long either) - if I'm away from home in a town or city and need somewhere to work/meet, a quiet corner of a local cafe/pub is infinitely more appealing personally!

 

[AngusH]

Gallery with more pictures:

https://www.workfromhub.co.uk/gallery

They seem quite nice in the photos and it is a private space, not a shared desk.

I think the door only opens to people who have paid, so it isn't a publicly accessible space
which should hopefully prevent some types of abuse.

A second chair could be useful if the space is big enough.
I'd definitely pay 15 for an hour to hold a private meeting with someone.

 

[ricoblade]

Frankly, the one in Harrogate looks like a toilet and will, I fear, probably end up smelling like one. Anyway, what is wrong with a cafe or pub?

I saw the one at Halfway when getting off the tram as it's in the Park and Ride car park and had the same thought! A weird location and looks very small.

 

[_toommm_]

I saw the one at Halfway when getting off the tram as it's in the Park and Ride car park and had the same thought! A weird location and looks very small.

There used to be a few at Sheffield bus station too, albeit a different company IIRC.

 

[Taunton]

If the list of facilities is complete, the one thing it's missing is a printer (which was often missing from UK CyberCafes of a generation ago, if anyone remembers those, but used to be in ones overseas). It's a reason why I have gone to the office before a meeting.

 

[SargeNpton]

Seen some of these, or similar, in a few motorway services.

 

[ExRes]

Just out of pure interest, let's take Kings Cross Station, how many of these things would there be and what chance that you would ever be able to use one/it? if they were to become popular in any way how many months in advance would you have to book one to be able to hold a meeting etc? seems to me a 'fine on paper' idea but I'm not sure about the real world, reminds me very much of an idea from a University direct entrant

 

[johnnychips]

Just out of pure interest, let's take Kings Cross Station, how many of these things would there be and what chance that you would ever be able to use one/it? if they were to become popular in any way how many months in advance would you have to book one to be able to hold a meeting etc? seems to me a 'fine on paper' idea but I'm not sure about the real world, reminds me very much of an idea from a University direct entrant

I doubt this would be a problem. I have never, ever, seen the ones at Sheffield Interchange in use.

 

[JD2168]

I doubt this would be a problem. I have never, ever, seen the ones at Sheffield Interchange in use.

Same here I too have never seen the one at Sheffield Interchange used (if unsure where it is it is at the Rail Station end of D platform).

 

[kingqueen]

It is now in place.
It is very limited indeed in accessibility. Threshold to get in, non-tactile touchscreen for entry code, no colour contrast walls and ceiling, fixed height work surface, etc etc etc
And as hot as all hell!

 

[Dr Hoo]

Could they advertise it as a sauna, perhaps?