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I've used lots of the London WeWork sites since 2015, and carried on all through the depths of the pandemic and since. For the last few years, I've been scratc

I've used lots of the London WeWork sites since 2015, and carried on all through the depths of the pandemic and since. For the last few years, I've been scratching my head how they are even staying open. Almost all of the centrally located ones around the City have been like ghost towns. Sometimes it seems there are only 2-3 people in the whole building, especially Monday and Friday. In the last 3-4 months they are finally getting back to how they were. Struggling to get rooms, phone booths, hot desks etc and a bit of buzz is returning. I really think return to office is finally a thing after the summer. My experience with their sales teams has been abysmal. I must have contacted them 5 times asking about upgrades, and I've never once had anybody follow up properly - e.g. email trails go dead, no availability for viewings etc.

the_mitsuhiko 3y ago
> Almost all of the centrally located ones around the City have been like ghost towns. They also seem to have quite restrictive opening times at this point.
- oldtownroad 3y ago
  Are you sure? They’ve always been 24 hours 365 days a year for building members, and typical office hours for day pass visitors (9-6 Monday to Friday) — that hasn’t changed (here in London at least). Edit: https://help.wework.com/s/article/en-us-articles-115003881666-What-are-your-building-hours-When-are-you-open https://help.wework.com/s/article/en-us-articles-11500388166...
  - the_mitsuhiko 3y ago
    I'm going by the all-access pass which is the main form of wework I'm familiar with. It used to be 24/7 and it no longer is.
    - nhourcard 3y ago
      our wework in waterloo is quite full, especially on tuesday/thursday. Astonishingly, there are still two baristas serving coffees from state of the art La Marzocco coffee machines. All this while the share price collapsed and the market cap is $150M.
    - oldtownroad 3y ago
      All access was never 24/7 access to all buildings as far as I’m aware specifically because the building membership benefit is 24/7 access to your primary building. Which buildings were you able to access 24/7? Just one or many?
      - the_mitsuhiko 3y ago
        I’m not trying to access anything. It was advertised as 24/7 and no longer is. I’m aware of this change via Twitter and people who used to use that.
philipwhiuk 3y ago
> I really think return to office is finally a thing after the summer. Ancedatally, companies are gradually increasing the number of days people need to be in the office.
- benterix 3y ago
  My colleague told me their CEO was very frank about their frogboiling strategy - they will not do it abruptly (otherwise many people would quit) so they will gradually increase the number of days required in the office. A difference of one day doesn't seem a big deal and it's easier to innerly convince the ones hesitating that it's not worth the effort of looking for another job, the stress of job interviews etc. I'm happy I'm permanently WFH and don't have to deal with all this crap.
basisword 3y ago
I know of a few companies in London who’ve rented large private spaces in WeWork’s after closing private offices during the pandemic. The WeWork’s were barely used so they’ve forced people back over the last few months. Noise and lack of meeting rooms are big issues. As is sound proofing of meeting rooms, WiFi speed, and general office etiquette (not WeWork’s fault). At times the person in the next room drowns out the person you’re actually video conferencing with. After working in a wide variety of coworking spaces in London over the years I avoid them like the plague. A private office, even if it’s open plan, is 100x better.
- nytesky 3y ago
  One thing I always wondered, speaking of etiquette was how security was handled. You get up to go bathroom, get coffee, even leave for lunch. Do you have to secure valuables? Do each desk have a locker?
  - basisword 3y ago
    If I remember correctly we had monitors secured to our desks (we had permanent desks in the open space). Laptops we took home. During lunch etc. they were left on the desk. Generally there are lots of people around you who see you everyday and would recognise someone they haven't seen approaching your space. I believe there are lockers available too but I've never used those.
  - benjaminwootton 3y ago
    I have worked in their offices all over the world for years. I generally leave my laptop and bag through the day and when I go for lunch. I've never had an issue or even heard of any criminal incidents in a WeWork. They have reasonable security, everyone should be a known member, and there are lots of cameras everywhere. Many people who work there will also have their own lockable offices.
- johnloeber 3y ago
  Accurate. I had a similar reaction and ended up writing a detailed blog post about it: https://loeber.substack.com/p/12-what-i-wanted-from-wework https://loeber.substack.com/p/12-what-i-wanted-from-wework WeWork was executing a strange vision of how "creative" work should be done while ignoring the ordinary needs of office workers. Open-plan couches instead of soundproofed phone booths.
belter 3y ago
> Almost all of the centrally located ones around the City have been like ghost towns. Sometimes it seems there are only 2-3 people in the whole building, especially Monday and Friday. Awesome. They just gained a customer. It's probably the best time to work there.
- yaseer 3y ago
  Yep, we only go in on these days.
break_the_bank 3y ago
I am in London as well; I think it depends on where you are going. Also they are being clever with closing meeting rooms, so that people are incentivized to make bookings (use & buy credits) instead of walking into one of the many unlocked meeting rooms. Still don't know how they can go on though.
gumballindie 3y ago
> finally a thing after the summer. Imagine paying to be in an office crowded with people. The stockholm syndrome is strong.
paulcole 3y ago
> In the last 3-4 months they are finally getting back to how they were. Struggling to get rooms, phone booths, hot desks etc and a bit of buzz is returning. I really think return to office is finally a thing after the summer. For a lot of buildings they cut the monthly membership price in half about 6 months ago. It’s led to the WeWork I go to being absolutely PACKED most days now.
pc_edwin 3y ago
This is has been me exact experience with WeWork in London, honestly its the only thing that kept me sane during the lockdowns. Me and like 2 other people would have an entire floor to us. Then some time around early last year it went from empty to nearly impossible to find a free spot. My go to place was Merchant Square, Paddington. I had to stop going there because I couldn't find a single spot (not hyperbole). Then Hammersmith, which got filled up too and the last one was Holborn, which was relatively free until I left London.
ckdarby 3y ago
Agree. Four months ago I scheduled a showing for an office and when I got to the location they didn't know of anything booked for a showing that day. They were able to show me the available offices, and then I never heard anything else afterwards. No follow up. The company is nearing bankruptcy, but nobody is closing when deals are right in front of them.

the_mitsuhiko 3y ago

> Almost all of the centrally located ones around the City have been like ghost towns. They also seem to have quite restrictive opening times at this point.

oldtownroad 3y ago
Are you sure? They’ve always been 24 hours 365 days a year for building members, and typical office hours for day pass visitors (9-6 Monday to Friday) — that hasn’t changed (here in London at least). Edit: https://help.wework.com/s/article/en-us-articles-115003881666-What-are-your-building-hours-When-are-you-open https://help.wework.com/s/article/en-us-articles-11500388166...
- the_mitsuhiko 3y ago
  I'm going by the all-access pass which is the main form of wework I'm familiar with. It used to be 24/7 and it no longer is.
  - nhourcard 3y ago
    our wework in waterloo is quite full, especially on tuesday/thursday. Astonishingly, there are still two baristas serving coffees from state of the art La Marzocco coffee machines. All this while the share price collapsed and the market cap is $150M.
  - oldtownroad 3y ago
    All access was never 24/7 access to all buildings as far as I’m aware specifically because the building membership benefit is 24/7 access to your primary building. Which buildings were you able to access 24/7? Just one or many?
    - the_mitsuhiko 3y ago
      I’m not trying to access anything. It was advertised as 24/7 and no longer is. I’m aware of this change via Twitter and people who used to use that.

philipwhiuk 3y ago

> I really think return to office is finally a thing after the summer. Ancedatally, companies are gradually increasing the number of days people need to be in the office.

benterix 3y ago
My colleague told me their CEO was very frank about their frogboiling strategy - they will not do it abruptly (otherwise many people would quit) so they will gradually increase the number of days required in the office. A difference of one day doesn't seem a big deal and it's easier to innerly convince the ones hesitating that it's not worth the effort of looking for another job, the stress of job interviews etc. I'm happy I'm permanently WFH and don't have to deal with all this crap.

basisword 3y ago

I know of a few companies in London who’ve rented large private spaces in WeWork’s after closing private offices during the pandemic. The WeWork’s were barely used so they’ve forced people back over the last few months. Noise and lack of meeting rooms are big issues. As is sound proofing of meeting rooms, WiFi speed, and general office etiquette (not WeWork’s fault). At times the person in the next room drowns out the person you’re actually video conferencing with. After working in a wide variety of coworking spaces in London over the years I avoid them like the plague. A private office, even if it’s open plan, is 100x better.

nytesky 3y ago
One thing I always wondered, speaking of etiquette was how security was handled. You get up to go bathroom, get coffee, even leave for lunch. Do you have to secure valuables? Do each desk have a locker?
- basisword 3y ago
  If I remember correctly we had monitors secured to our desks (we had permanent desks in the open space). Laptops we took home. During lunch etc. they were left on the desk. Generally there are lots of people around you who see you everyday and would recognise someone they haven't seen approaching your space. I believe there are lockers available too but I've never used those.
- benjaminwootton 3y ago
  I have worked in their offices all over the world for years. I generally leave my laptop and bag through the day and when I go for lunch. I've never had an issue or even heard of any criminal incidents in a WeWork. They have reasonable security, everyone should be a known member, and there are lots of cameras everywhere. Many people who work there will also have their own lockable offices.
johnloeber 3y ago
Accurate. I had a similar reaction and ended up writing a detailed blog post about it: https://loeber.substack.com/p/12-what-i-wanted-from-wework https://loeber.substack.com/p/12-what-i-wanted-from-wework WeWork was executing a strange vision of how "creative" work should be done while ignoring the ordinary needs of office workers. Open-plan couches instead of soundproofed phone booths.

belter 3y ago

> Almost all of the centrally located ones around the City have been like ghost towns. Sometimes it seems there are only 2-3 people in the whole building, especially Monday and Friday. Awesome. They just gained a customer. It's probably the best time to work there.

yaseer 3y ago
Yep, we only go in on these days.

break_the_bank 3y ago

I am in London as well; I think it depends on where you are going. Also they are being clever with closing meeting rooms, so that people are incentivized to make bookings (use & buy credits) instead of walking into one of the many unlocked meeting rooms. Still don't know how they can go on though.

gumballindie 3y ago

> finally a thing after the summer. Imagine paying to be in an office crowded with people. The stockholm syndrome is strong.

paulcole 3y ago

> In the last 3-4 months they are finally getting back to how they were. Struggling to get rooms, phone booths, hot desks etc and a bit of buzz is returning. I really think return to office is finally a thing after the summer. For a lot of buildings they cut the monthly membership price in half about 6 months ago. It’s led to the WeWork I go to being absolutely PACKED most days now.

pc_edwin 3y ago

This is has been me exact experience with WeWork in London, honestly its the only thing that kept me sane during the lockdowns. Me and like 2 other people would have an entire floor to us. Then some time around early last year it went from empty to nearly impossible to find a free spot. My go to place was Merchant Square, Paddington. I had to stop going there because I couldn't find a single spot (not hyperbole). Then Hammersmith, which got filled up too and the last one was Holborn, which was relatively free until I left London.

ckdarby 3y ago

Agree. Four months ago I scheduled a showing for an office and when I got to the location they didn't know of anything booked for a showing that day. They were able to show me the available offices, and then I never heard anything else afterwards. No follow up. The company is nearing bankruptcy, but nobody is closing when deals are right in front of them.