Blog Preston were invited to spend the day working at Society 1 ahead of their opening on Wednesday (March 29). We did our usual thing but we did it in their co-working space instead. Here’s what we found.

What is a co-working space?

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Co-working is a style of working that involves sharing the work environment with other companies. This usually involves meeting rooms, tea and coffee facilities and general office necessities such as Wi-Fi and power points.

What does the office feel like?

Probably better than the office you’re used to. It’s stylish, spacious, well-lit and there’s free tea and coffee for those that are members.

There’s even a pool table to chill out because we all know just staring at a screen for hours on end gets you nowhere.

It’s close to Winckley Square and Avenham Park too so if the weather is nice you can always have half an hour in the sun.

This was before the official opening so it’s hard to judge the atmosphere but the team involved were helpful throughout the day and answered any questions we had. It was our first time in a co-working space like this so we did have a few.

How much does it cost?

Well, they’re giving away 100 free day passes if you fancy trying it out.

Beyond that point, it’s £20 per day or £220 per month for a permanent desk. You can also join the community membership scheme for discounted day rates. That’s £10 per month.

More: Co-working space to open in former restaurant

The tea and coffee is free though so you won’t be forking out £3 a day for a Starbucks (if that’s what you do). There’s a small contribution expected for soft drinks.

Who is behind it?

There are three members to the team at Society 1. Catarina has worked for BAE Systems and her background is in catering and hospitality. She was co-owner of Alpenhof restaurant, which was in this site before Dukpond. She described herself as the one who will be presenting the idea to people who might be interested.

Husband Brendan has a background in travel agency, logistics and hospitality. He has strong IT skills which is important if your aim is to have a room full of people trying to get work done on their laptops.

Lastly, Chris has a successful co-working space in Chamonix, a resort area of France where all the team have spent time. We’re told that it’s his background in this area that will provide a foundation for the business.

So do you like it?

We do. It has a better feel than pretty much every office I’ve ever worked in. Students should think of UCLan library in terms of modernity but much smaller and without people treating it like a social location.

For others it’ll feel like the working spaces your used to but more homely. It feels like the right environment to get your head down in but also quite far away from being overly formal.

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If it’s viable for your business to spend the money we’ve mentioned then we’d recommend it. In theory, it should be great for anyone self-employed or running a small business. Working around other people might be problematic for some at first but, if that’s not the case, then it’s a genuinely pleasant working environment and other people around you will probably make it a happier place to be.