The final phase of a £1.35 million refurbishment project to transform Bath Road Studios is now complete, offering prospective tenants more than 2,500 sq ft of brand new, contemporary workspace.
Since refurbishment began in 2010, almost 20,000 sq ft has been upgraded to provide creative office space and a range of modern facilities for its occupiers, including a spacious break-out area, an on-site Friska café and Pilates studio.
The project, commissioned by the building’s owners Cube Real Estate, highlights a continued demand for small-scale, contemporary space in Bristol, in line with a rise in the number of start-ups and SMEs in the city.
Almost 80 per cent of the building has now been let to a variety of businesses, ranging from small start-up companies to big multinationals like PUMA, leaving just 6,300 sq ft of the original 67,000 sq ft available.
Ruari Laidlaw of Cube Real Estate commented: “We are really pleased to have completed this much-needed refurbishment project, which will now allow us to turn our attention to improving sustainability and green initiatives within the building.
“It also gives us an opportunity to work with existing tenants to further improve our offer so it is even more attractive to future occupiers.”
Steve Lane, senior surveyor at property consultants JLL, said: “We are seeing high demand from the media and creative sectors for schemes that offer smaller, quirkier space, rather than the more traditional office suites. Bristol is an obvious choice for start-ups and SMEs looking for creative hubs outside the capital due to its good links to London and its creative community, hence why more and more businesses are choosing to set up here.”
Bath Road Studios provides office space from 300 sq ft to 5,500 sq ft and a remodelled reception that offers an open, contemporary space with high quality finishes.
Current occupiers include PUMA, ITV West Country, Friska, Hurricane Media, Films@59, Wattle and Colour & Thing.
Jon Mowat, managing director at Hurricane Media said: “Being in a building with such good facilities, and a broad range of other creative SMEs, has benefitted Hurricane enormously since we arrived here in February 2012.
“Whilst it’s a highly creative and relaxed environment to work in, there’s an air of professionalism that resonates throughout the building which is perfect for our brand’s image and our ability to collaborate with other business-focussed creative companies.”
The building is also home to The Set, an innovative workspace that operates as a membership club where like-minded businesses can network and share skills and ideas. Its collaborative base removes the isolation of working from home, while offering contemporary facilities.
On the first Wednesday of each month, The Set plays host to an informal networking night where like-minded creatives can meet, think and create over some delicious drinks and nibbles.
The building is readily accessible from the city centre, the M32 motorway and a short walk from Bristol Temple Meads Train Station. Occupiers benefit from an impressive array of amenities in close proximity, including Sainsbury’s and Avon Meads Retail Park.
The offices are being marketed by leasing agents Knight Frank and JLL.
