Soho is a Stylish Setting for London Office Space

For many businesses – especially those working in the media and related industries – it pays to be at the centre of new developments and exciting changes. This is true both figuratively and literally, because not only do these businesses have to keep abreast of progress in their industry, but – for many of them, at least – it is important that they are situated (in a plain, physical sense) right where this business magic happens. London office space is all the rage with fast-moving businesses, and expectedly so, as the thriving metropolis has a long-standing reputation for fashion, international industry, and that indefinable ‘Britishness’.

So it’s no wonder that London office space is popular with both big and budding businesses. But the big smoke is a rich and varied place, and there are many differences between offices in different districts of the city – in many cases, there is massive variation even between neighbouring areas. For example, Shoreditch is known for its converted industrial buildings and media businesses, whereas the City of London has a reputation for big companies working in the financial sector.

For hip young businesses, the most popular areas for London office space tend to be the ones which have recently seen a great deal of transformation. Since the early 1980s, Soho has changed from somewhere with a somewhat seedy reputation into a fashionable district with stylish shops, renowned restaurants and plenty of cool, contemporary commercial property. What’s more, Soho is extremely popular with media businesses, so if your business needs to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in this sector, then Soho is just about the best place to be.

Despite its transformation, Soho has retained some of its age-old characteristics. From the middle decades of the 1800s, Soho was known for its vibrant entertainment scene, originally in the form of music halls and theatres. These venues have been replaced with pubs and clubs, but Soho’s tradition of cutting-edge entertainment remains very much upheld. Much of the office space in Soho is within walking distance of top-name eateries, bars and – especially – theatres. Those looking to entertain clients with some of the best food and drink in the capital may want to look into renting office space in Soho.

The area is also well connected – you’d be hard pressed to find a part of the capital that isn’t. Many employees working in London office space choose to use public transport instead of driving their own car to work, and Soho is perfectly situated for this kind of commute. Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, Leicester Square and Tottenham Court Road London Underground stations are all nearby, and those working in offices around this area are also served by several bus routes.

Soho is hip and happening right now, and it looks like it will be that way for a good time to come. New and exciting initiatives are constantly being put in place to ensure that office space in this uniquely cosmopolitan area remains at the top of the London hip list.

London Office Layout Ideas

If you rent – or are interested in renting – London office space, then it’s natural that you’ll want your workspace to reflect the lively and productive atmosphere that London has in spades. Bringing a bit of London je ne sais quoi into your office is easier than it sounds. With a few simple changes in layout – shifting the locations of a few desks and chairs – you can make your daily working space feel more modern, airier and positively Londonesque. Of course, you also need to take health and safety into account – your employees are not likely to be too happy if you’ve turned your London office into an obstacle course. But for a quick, morale-boosting, client-impressing boost to your business, some considered experimentation with the layout of your office comes highly recommended.

A brief diversion before we get started – many of the world’s top businesses choose London office space as their UK headquarters. Many big businesses put a lot of emphasis on the way their employees use and feel about their workplace – the ultimate examples of this are probably the efforts of technology companies who have attracted plaudits (and ridicule) for their open-plan offices, which include such morale-boosting features as slides, climbing walls and aquariums. You don’t necessarily need to go this far when rearranging your London office space, but taking the effort to make your workplace stand out from the claustrophobic-looking cubicle farms that many people associate with certain businesses can help in convincing clients, customers and investors that your business is modern, forward-thinking and friendly.

When designing your office layout, modular furniture is your best friend. This can be moved around to create an almost unlimited number of layouts, with small curved tables creating a sense of regularity between separate desks. Once you’ve got hold of some modular furniture for your office, you can experiment to your heart’s content. If you can, then try to arrange your desks and chairs so that a large open area is left in the centre of the room, thus allowing people to move through the space easily, whilst having easy access to anyone that they need to speak to.

Unfortunately, many of us that rent London office space are unable to give up this much space. Lack of room means that we have to cram all of our employees into a small area. Don’t worry if this sounds like a familiar situation, there are still steps you can take to make your office a better place to work. For a start, depending on the kind of work that your business does, you may want to consider removing dividers between desks. This can drastically reduce the stuffy, claustrophobic feeling associated with some workplaces. Of course, employees need to be able to work in peace, without distraction, but this can be achieved with clear guidelines on office culture, and a little bit of creativity – try ‘Do Not Disturb’ signs, for example.

You can also make the most of limited space in your London office with a few simple decorative additions such as plants and artwork. Sure, it’s no adult-sized slide (if you rent a London office, you’d have to be blessed with a very understanding landlord to be able to start replacing stairs with playground equipment), but just giving your employees something to look at that isn’t a big, bright screen can stop concentration from lagging and make your workplace feel more welcoming.

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Experimenting with the layout of a London office can boost employee morale and productivity, and bring a little of London’s exciting atmosphere into the workplace. To find commercial property in the UK capital, contact commercial estate agents in London.

Key Negotiation Points When Choosing a London Office

Whether you want to move your business to a London office from abroad or from another town or city in the UK – or if you live in the capital and you’re looking to move into your first company headquarters, there are a many negotiation points to consider. Whilst some of these are obvious – rent and service charges, for instance – there are many factors that new and prospective tenants often overlook when choosing a new office for themselves and their colleagues. These points apply to all rented offices, large and small, so before you put your cards on the table, take a look at this guide, which should provide you with a good idea of what to expect when negotiating with commercial estate agents and landlords:

London Office Rent

Rent is the most obvious factor to consider. It is usually quoted in square foot per annum, and is sometimes called ‘passing rent’. London office rental prices tend to be higher than those in other cities in the UK, but it is an investment worth making, thanks to the capital’s excellent transport links, amenities and international prestige.

Rent Free Periods

Often, a landlord will offer a period of time when the tenants don’t have to pay any rent, as an incentive. Similar benefits come in the form of ‘reduced rent provisions’, where you’ll still pay rent, but at a lower rate than the agreed ‘headline rent’. Look around for these deals when renting a London office.

Service Charges

‘Service charges’ is another way of saying ‘running and repair costs’. These are usually reviewed on a year-by-year basis, and although the landlord is not allowed to make profit from service charges, they will generally do everything they can to avoid making a loss. Make sure you read the latest guidelines for service charges, so you can be aware if you are being unfairly charged when you rent a London office.

Lease Length

Negotiations frequently begin with discussions about the length of the lease. There are no strict guidelines that a landlord has to follow, and they are free to specify any time period that they see fit for the lease. If you rent a London office, you’ll be entering into a ‘landlord’s market’, where the landlord typically dictates the terms of lease length and other important factors. For this reason, it’s important to choose a commercial lettings agency that will act on its tenants’ behalf, negotiating with landlords for you on all important points.

IRI or FRI Lease?

An IRI lease stands for ‘internally repairing and insuring lease, whilst an FRI lease means ‘fully repairing and insuring lease’. FRI leases are more common, and allow the landlord to offset building repair charges to tenants, either through the service charge or through the tenants’ repairing obligations at the end of their letting. An IRI lease limits the tenants’ liability for repair charges to the office or offices which they use. If you are looking to rent a London office, you can try to negotiate for an IRI lease, but they are far less common than fully repairing and insuring leases.

There are many more factors to consider, but hopefully these five should give you an idea of the most important discussion points when renting a London office.

Overview

Five negotiation points to consider when looking for a London office. These points will most likely be discussed when you approach commercial estate agents in London.

The Sky’s the Limit - The Tallest Canary Wharf Office Space

Despite only being constructed in the early 1990s, Canary Wharf has already become unshakeably synonymous with global finance, glamorous working environments and London itself. It’s also well-known for its extremely tall buildings – Canary Wharf office space dwarfs much of the rest of the London skyline. With its skyscrapers silhouetted against the sky and the River Thames below, Canary Wharf presents a powerful image of wealth, success and impressive architecture.

Let’s take a look at some of the most striking examples of Canary Wharf office space, in descending order of altitude:

One Canada Square – One of the first buildings to be completed when Canary Wharf was developed, One Canada Square is the tallest completed building in the UK – and the 15^th tallest building in Europe. Its powerfully imposing image has become well known to Londoners, so much so that the building is often incorrectly called Canary Wharf. Though there are retail units on the lower ground floor, most of the building is given up to Canary Wharf office space.

8 Canada Square – The second-tallest building in the ‘Wharf’, 8 Canada Square was constructed in 2002, and its sleek, modern look provides a contrast to One Canada Square’s grander style. 8 Canada Square is currently the third tallest building in the United Kingdom.

25 Canada Square – The last of the buildings on our list located in Canada Square, number 25 and number 33 form a two-building complex of Canary Wharf office space. 25 Canada Square is almost twice the height of its neighbour, standing at an impressive 200 metres. The complex is home to many big businesses.

One Churchill Place - Strikingly modern, One Churchill Place was originally planned to be 50 stories high. These plans were later scaled down to a more humble 32 floors, but the building still makes an impact with its contemporary style. It is the seventh-tallest building in the United Kingdom.

25 Bank Street – This building was built in 2001-2003 and designed by Cesar Pelli & Associates Architects. Originally occupied by a global banking firm, its esteem as an example of Canary Wharf office space was reflected in the fine art and sumptuous furnishings that originally adorned the client reception area.

10 Upper Bank Street – Standing at 151 metres tall, 10 Upper Bank Street would be highly noticeable in any other area of London, but amongst the massive skyscrapers in Canary Wharf it can appear to be quite small! Most of 10 Upper Bank Street is occupied by one of the world’s largest law firms, but other businesses also let space in the building.

This is only a brief tour of impressively elevated Canary Wharf office space – there are also beautiful examples of residential buildings on the Isle of Dogs, including Pan Peninsula. This luxury apartment complex contains a multi-floor gym, a restaurant and even a private cinema – and the roof of the building provides a stunning lightshow for the London skyline. So if you’re a business owner, perhaps it’s time to consider the ‘Wharf’ for your next business move – and maybe as a place to live as well!

Four Delicious Reasons Why You Should Choose Office Space in Mayfair

Office space in Mayfair is highly sought-after, and with good reason. The area positively exudes class, and its famous streets are home to many big-name businesses. If you’re looking for a central location, impressive architecture and a powerful postcode, then look no further than office space in Mayfair to catapult your business into the big league.

But there’s more to booming business than location and reputation – they say that the key to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and I would argue that the key to a successful business deal is through great food, and lots of it. Thankfully, if you choose office space in Mayfair, you’ll be able to take clients to some of the finest restaurants that London has to offer. Here’s just four of the best:

Cecconi’s – Located in Burlington Gardens, Cecconi’s dishes up classic Italian cuisine in a glamorous setting. Its cool green decor simultaneously conjures up images of Venetian elegance and American diner-style casualness. It opened in the late 1970s and soon became a favourite eatery amongst the famous and affluent. However, its set menu is surprisingly affordable – making it popular amongst those who are lucky enough to work in office space in Mayfair.

Kai – If you’d prefer to entertain clients with a taste of the Orient, take them down to the über-stylish Kai, which is the proud holder of a Michelin star. Famous for its rather expensive Buddha jumps over the wall soup, Kai is not a place to go for quick, inexpensive bites. But if you want to truly impress with some of the finest food that London has to offer, set your business up at some office space in Mayfair and benefit from being within walking distance of this extremely fine establishment.

El Pirata – For unpretentious style and a relaxed, informal atmosphere, look no further than El Pirata – one of London’s top tapas restaurants. For more than 15 years, this authentic Spanish eatery has served up quality food at excellent prices. Its set menus are particularly good value for money, so if you want tasty tapas and good conversation without crushing your budget, come to El Pirata. Parts of the restaurant can be hired for private functions, making it ideal for staff functions – but with office space in Mayfair, you could close up shop for the day and immediately head down to El Pirata for informal eating every day of the week.

Princess Garden – Opened in 1983, Princess Garden deals in bona fide Pekinese cuisine. Elegant, crisp decor in the main mezzanine area is complemented by authentic Chinese art, giving the impression of a real Hong Kong dining experience. As for the food, the menu mixes up familiar classics with innovative, modern dishes – ask for the beggar’s chicken, and marvel as you are brought a whole chicken that has been roasted in a clay shell. Princess Garden is particularly noteworthy for its private rooms, which offer complete seclusion from the rest of the restaurant – and because this taste of China is located within walking distance of much of the office space in Mayfair, it is perfect for Christmas parties with an eastern atmosphere.

Mayfair is undoubtedly one of the most popular London areas to rent London office space.

Unique Examples of Commercial Property in London

London is at the centre of world commerce. To own or rent commercial property in London is to be part of the global business elite – some of the most respectable, stylish and successful organisations around.

That doesn’t stop some of these businesses choosing some weird and wonderful buildings as the locations for their commercial property in London. From famous landmarks to fantastically futuristic constructions, these examples of alien architecture are part of what makes London such an exciting and vibrant place to be.

Here’s just a few of the most uniquely unconventional examples of commercial property in London:

30 St Mary Axe – Otherwise known as ‘the Gherkin’, this curiously crafted construction stands proudly in the City of London – the capital’s premier financial district. Construction was completed in 2003, and the building stands at an impressive 180 metres.

The building was erected in place of the planned ‘Millenium Tower’, a massive building that would have dwarfed most commercial property in London – with a planned height of 386 metres. The Millenium Tower was eventually scrapped in favour of ‘the Gerkhin’ when two nearby airports complained that the gigantic building would disrupt flight paths.

Believe it or not, 30 St Mary Axe is not a spaceship. It is in fact one of the most sought after pieces of commercial property in London.

Container City I & II – Located in London’s docklands, the Container City projects are true to their name. They are constructed modularly from shipping containers, giving the whole complex the appearance of children’s building blocks – an eye-catching combination of bold colours and geometric shapes.

Although it looks rather unusual, the Container City developments contain fully-functional office spaces. The use of modular technology enabled Container City I to be completed in just five months during 2001.

The Container City developments are surely one of the weirdest examples of commercial property in London – but they’re also practical, stylish and environmentally friendly.

The Lloyds Building – Another oddity that makes its home in the City of London, the Lloyd’s Building has an intriguingly industrial appearance, lending it the nickname ‘the Inside-Out Building’. The interior is incredibly grand and spacious –because the water pipes and electrical power conduits are located on the outside of the building!

Amongst this futuristic architecture is, bizarrely, a plush, classically-inspired space known as the Adam Room. Designed by Robert Adam, the room was originally situated in Bowood house, in Wiltshire. This room was purchased in its entirety and installed in the building, providing a fantastic contrast to the post-modern peculiarities of the main building.

Home to the eponymous insurance institution, the Lloyd’s building is – despite its peculiarities – one of the most architecturally impressive examples of commercial property in London.

Commercial property in London isn’t all as strikingly unusual as the examples mentioned above, but one thing is for certain – locating your office space in London is a fantastic way to absorb some of London’s diverse atmosphere.

The UK’s capital is a city of many manifestations, and although the examples of commercial property in London mentioned above are definitely not the norm, they do capture some of London’s creative and forward-thinking spirit.

Office Rental London Style - Four Reasons Why London is the Best Place for your Business

The UK's capital has its fair share of landmarks - Big Ben, the London Eye, Buckingham Palace - making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. But what can it offer your business beyond the historic eye candy? Have a butcher's at our top four reasons to locate your business in the capital. This is office rental, London style.

1. Office Rental in London means Accessibility London has an international reputation that is naturally complimented by two of Britain's biggest international airports. Whether you're a UK business with international clients or an overseas company that is looking to expand into the British market, London provides an ease-of-access that is unmatched by any city in the UK. Your clients could land in Heathrow, catch the express train to the city centre and be welcomed into your office in a matter of hours.

On a national level, to subvert the old saying, all routes lead to London. Businesses in the capital are served by the best train and road links in the country. Don't risk leaving your business out of reach, choose office rental in London for maximum accessibility.

2. Office Rental in London means Style From Kings Road to Camden, from Sloane Square to Shoreditch - London has long been at the epicentre of fashion. In today's fast-moving business world, image is important. A London office location sends clear signals to your partners and competitors your business is ready to make itself heard on the world stage.

Even if you choose to locate your business on the outskirts of the city, the fact remains that ‘London' as a word has a huge amount of fashionable currency that other cities simply lack. For many overseas investors, London is the only place to be.

3. Office Rental in London means Entertainment London also has one of the most vibrant and eclectic networks of bars, restaurants and cafés around. You'll be spoilt for choice whether you want to wine and dine with the finest, or relax over lunch in an unspoilt local diner.

If impressing clients is a regular aspect of your business, take them to one of London's celebrated restaurants - The Ivy is a common celebrity haunt, or check out Dinner by Heston Blumenthal for a modern twist on British favourites. Whatever your tastes, office rental in London ensures unforgettable entertainment.

4. Office Rental in London means Value As with any large city, the price of office rental in London varies considerably depending on the area that you choose as a business location. The cheapest rates are to be found on the outskirts of the city, where excellent public transport links allow easy access to the city centre.

If you'd rather relocate to central London, then be prepared to pay more. However, in the current climate even the most sought-after locations for office space, such as Westminster, Shoreditch and Mayfair, offer some surprisingly affordable rates. For a reasonable investment, you can bag your business a fashionable London postcode that puts you in easy reach of all amenities and the incomparable atmosphere of central London.