The Marketing Department 2 years ago

We were headquartered here for four years. A mixed bag - it started really well, good events programme that was excellent for networking before the budget was cut and that all stopped. Multiple centre managers over 4 years (7 at last count), a major flood that rendered the communal area unusable for over a year, and then a smaller flood towards the end of our time. Broadband went down a few times, from a few hours to a few days. Although not technically the fault of Spaces, the building is manned by an extremely unpleasant and unhelpful security team who have been very rude to our team and clients. Not really ideal.

RJLW 5 years ago

Attended a small conference here. The stunning venue was quickly ruined by the experience during the conference itself. The space was small with the bar & food service area a stones through away from the speakers. It's a small, open space and throughout the conference staff talked away (very loudly, at times), carried out their duties (brushing the floor and counting money), staff/other users came and went and as speakers had no microphone it was hard enough to hear them as it was. To top it off, I'm pretty certain I witnessed a staff member drinking behind the bar as I left. Beautiful venue, ruined by its lack of customer service and consideration of event organisers & attendees. I wouldn't reccomend for a conference!

Stephen O'Malley 5 years ago

The reception staff are friendly and try their best to accommodate, but there are a multitude of problems that make this a less than ideal place to work on a full-time basis . The main co-working area is located at the rear of the main office space. It is broken into a reception, a cafe and a co-working area. As a result of it joining on to the cafe it ends up from around 11-2 functioning as a cafeteria sitting area, and can be near impossible to actually work without blasting music into your ears.Speaking of music, it plays non-stop it ranges from indie-rock to terrible Eminem-covers. Fortunately, after nearly everyone in the fixed co-working space complaining/quitting for months they turned the overhead speakers off above the fixed desk and now generally the music is just a background hum. Spaces also contains many private offices who are also allowed to make use of the co-working space and surrounding area. The idea is to create a collaborate environment that everyone withing Spaces can take part in, however, most of the time the members of the private offices use the co-working space for; job interviews, meetings with clients, performance reviews, private meetings and personal phone calls none of which seem to be able to be conducted in low tones. In order for some of the private office clients to leave the building the need to travel through the co-working space, most can do so with relatively little noise, others have a hard time talking in an indoor voice. As a result of the above, it can be really difficult to work and concentrate on tasks. I've even had to move across to the other side of the office to have a team meeting with some colleagues in a different location, due to them being able to hear background meetings happen in booths next to my desk. The idea is collaboration, but what they've designed is a business lounge (not a co-working space), for people to hold meetings. There is very little quite time during the day and I've sometimes had to head home and work or head home and come in on weekends to avoid the constant chatter. The place looks really nice and the toilets are clean and mostly function, don't think there has ever been hot water and the pressure from the taps is non-existent. From about 10 O'clock the kitchen can become a bombsite with coffee/tea stains everywhere and sink full up with dirty dishes, despite notices telling clients to clean or put dishes in the dishwasher. I've had some occasions where the sink has been full of dishes and filled with brown water. The co-working space desks haven't really been designed for people with monitors or desktop computers as there is no space to drop cables down and the desk becomes a cluttered mess of cables. If you are using it as a base to come in every now and again. Using it as a permanent co-working space it will probably frustrate you more than anything. PROS: Friendly staff, organised 5 aside football game, location CONS: Very noisy, no microwave, cold, chairs could be better.