Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Work space idea for the Queen's head
How many freelancers are there that work on or around the ladder who might sometimes want an office space at very reasonable rate on a completely 'ad hoc' basis?
This is the idea behind The Melting Pot (TMP) in Edinburgh - and apparently lots of places in London though I don't know any.
I realise a social enterprise of that type is unlikely to pay the bills entirely on a building as huge as the Queen's Head. However, located near the park, 2 mins from tube, centre of a thriving and diverse community. It would depend on a large number or 'critical mass' thinking it was a good idea and a few people with the savvy to make some moves on it - I can't find my way through all the threads about ownership to work out if we know yet what the legal status/ or ownership status is on the place. But if, say, the first floor were kitted out as office space, area for tea/coffee, small meeting spaces, I dunno, it sounds like a creative idea that could catch on.
"The Queen's Head - giving freelance professionals in Harringay the space they need"
Grabbed you yet?
I urge you to open the documents attached and get the 'concept' of the Melting Pot - it's not one I'd come across.
Tags for Forum Posts: freelancers, queen's head, space, work
- Attachments:
-
-
tmp.pdf, 3.4 MB
-
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Julie - WPRNW on
-
something like this?
http://www.third-door.com/
-
Permalink Reply by MrsBaldwin on
-
This looks very good PinkHeart. (Actually I recall someone on Mumsnet a while back suggesting a concept like this, asking for views - perhaps it was the owner)
I wouldn't use an onsite nursery myself, but clearly (it's hoped) others will.
Actually Oxford House in Bethnal Green is a bit similar, now I come to think about it - although it's some sort of charitable trust set up aeons ago to help the working poor of the East End (or somesuch) so they had the key asset, the building already.
http://www.oxfordhouse.org.uk/
-
Permalink Reply by Mark Thorpe on
-
There has been a veritable old discussion here which I welcome - a few thoughts:
Preferences and circumstances - people have commented on preferred use, and on circumstances (creche, needing or not needing actual office space) and i think it's great to discuss what we'd 'like to happen' with the pub. the next stage is to get some wider opinion as to what may be viable - so keep the postings and advice coming. Ian and John started us off with reminder of economic viability - agreed there would be no point in even starting to think about a 'freelancers hub' unless there is some way for it to work economically - yes probably a property developer/business person would be best to answer that... I take the point about spaces like that only working in soho etc and it wouldn't work as a sole use of the property - but it was nice to see some others responding the 'aspirational' nature of my posting! (ie yes it may not be viable but what a nice dream!)
but what's interesting is the huge number of other related 'examples' of community hub/cafe/creche/wifi etc type places, which, resoundingly, we really DON'T HAVE in Harringay - Harringay is great for lots of things and we really like, but a 'cultural hub' like those described in Hackney etc, I think it would be a great addition.
Maybe at some point those that feel positive about the 'idea' of some community hub/cafe/ informal workspace idea - Mrs Baldwin, Alice and Justin (agree it'll need to be more than a few people wanting wifi on the corner!) and any others that maybe join this (rather nascent) discussion - could meet up (at the Salisbury ;-) to chat . Thanks to all the hard headed economic warnings - it may be a crazy pipedream.
Final thought to our first commentator - I too would be quite happy for to be re-opened as a good old pub - but that hasn't happened in a few years. And I lived at the start of Falkland Road during its 'worst' years before closure, and I wouldn't want the same again. The thing about this friends of pub - was it was people united in collective dissatisfaction that it lies endlessesly as a boarded up eye-sore
Some mentioned coffee. Ooh yes. Would be great if it could be known as the zone of the best freelancers coffee in Harringay. That might bring the punters in...
Any funding to help this kind of 'community based' enterprise....? matt?
-
Permalink Reply by Alice Mezzo on
-
Hi Mark,
I'd be happy to meet and discuss some ideas. I'm working on quite a busy arts project at the moment and performing and teaching but could make time for half a Guiness in the Salisbury. The main issue regarding the use of the pub is obviously the financial one so I'll try and think of some ideas regarding that. It must be possible to pursuade the owners that rather than: paying for security to guard the place against squatters; allowing their property to fall into serious disrepair; making a continuous financial loss on the property; a community project of some sort could provide a considerably preferable (if temporary) alternative.
All the best,
Alice
-
Permalink Reply by the_anke on
-
I did a tour of spaces like that around London when I prepared for opening the Unlibrary in Hornsey Library. We have the Hub Kings Cross and Islington, Techhub at Old Street Roundabout, the Cube, etc. I know some people who are involved with all of them, could take you on a tour if you like?
-
Permalink Reply by matt on
-
Mark, Just to fill you in on some back ground info. I rang the agents Christo & Co a while back with a line that I knew someone who might be interested in the QH. They asked 'what for?' I said 'as a pub'. They weren't interested.
I think an attempt needs to be made to sound out the owners via their other intermediary, their accountants, who have said they'll pass on any correspondence. Christo & Co are a waste of time. Of course the owners may not respond either. Cold hard cash is probably all they're interested in. But one doesn't know until one tries. Of course before one does send off a letter there has to be a serious proposal, and that would take time to put together. And after all that effort (which could take months), as I say, the owners may not even acknowledge the letter.
What I don't understand is why there hasn't been a business let found by Christo & Co for the owners. Maybe they're just not trying. The owners must be fairly well off to sit around earning nothing off the QH for a year. Maybe they have big plans.
That's the scenario I see in the cold light of day!
-
-
The Anke (and others) - thanks for all the links. HubKX looks brilliant (and easy to get to from WG/TL/MH tubes). Whilst I am waiting for HuBHarringay to get itself off the ground :) I may well go down and have a look.
-
Permalink Reply by Tammy Palmer on
-
Hi All
I am REALLY keen to support this - so many places in London our being used for similar ventures, and this could also work as a space for small craft traders or artists to have a little pop up space and great space for freelancers to use as flexible offices
If you decide to go with a cafe space so let me know - I just set a great community cafe at my office using the Peoples Supernarket so would be happy to share ideas - I also know the chaps over in Bounds Green have set up their own community cafe.
I am busy working on the change wood green stuff at the moment if Ican help in anyway or get involved do let me know
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Hugh.
Powered by
