Spas, Festivals and Silicon Gorge: Mix Business with Leisure in England’s South West

Spas, Festivals and Silicon Gorge: Mix Business with Leisure in England’s South West

March welcomes the official start of Spring (despite a rather wintery start to the month), and there are certainly no shortage of events to celebrate this special seasonal occasion.

One of them is the Cheltenham Festival, a world-famous event in the horseracing calendar.

This year, the ‘greatest show on turf’ takes place across four days from 14th to 17th March 2023, culminating with the Gold Cup on Friday, St Patrick’s Day.

With the eyes of the world tuned in to England’s South West this week, what better time to take a closer look at our flexible workspaces in the region?

While we can’t promise racecourse views and thundering hooves, we can offer a professional environment with friendly onsite staff, comfortable workstations, and everything you need to work productively.

Cheltenham

Famous for its beautiful Regency buildings, the historic spa town of Cheltenham earned its place on the map following the discovery of mineral springs in 1716.

Since then, it has become a cultural hub with numerous festivals throughout the year celebrating literature, jazz, science, film, food and drink, and of course horseracing.

With a vibrant cultural scene and impressive educational offering – 19 universities within a 75-minute drive – it’s no surprise that Cheltenham is regularly voted one of the best places to live in the UK.

What’s more, it’s an excellent place for business – especially for tech sectors.

Dubbed the cyber capital of the UK, Cheltenham is home to GCHQ and the NCSC, and has the UK’s largest concentration of cyber sector businesses outside London. Investment is pouring in, with the Golden Valley Development – a £400 million world-leading cyber-tech campus – currently in the works.

So where can you park your laptop in Cheltenham? 

Inigo’s Harley House is a flexible office space located in the heart of Cheltenham at Cambray Place. It’s a beautiful Grade II listed Regency building with period features, such as original sash windows and cornicing, and high-specification workspace with modern technology solutions.

Harley House is located close to the High Street and within a 5-minute walk of Sandford Park and the classic Montpellier area.

Find out more about Harley House office space here.

Harley House Cheltenham

Bath

As its name suggests, the historic city of Bath became famous centuries ago for its baths and wellbeing spas. You can visit the ancient Roman baths, now a museum, where people once gathered to bathe in the natural thermal spring water and worship the goddess Sulis Minerva.

Fancy a dip yourself? Head to the modern Thermae Bath Spa, which houses the only natural thermal hot springs in Britain you can bathe in.

Away from the water, Bath is packed with places to eat and drink, museums, galleries, shops, and boutiques. It also has a healthy year-round calendar of cultural festivals and sporting events.

As for business, Bath has just been named the best location in the UK for micro-businesses.

“Whether you’re a start-up or a large enterprise, the city is an inspiring place to do business with its highly-skilled talent pool, excellent links to London and Bristol, and a thriving economy. There’s also plenty of support available from our Invest in B&NES team to help you grow your business.” - Councillor Richard Samuel, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources at Bath & North East Somerset Council.

The city and its local area are active in the creative, digital, and ICT-related sectors – particularly across the arts, publishing, and software development.

It also has “huge potential” for growth in knowledge-based occupations, thanks to the co-location of creative industries with technologists, engineers, professional and financial services, and leading research centres at the University of Bath and Bath Spa University.

It’s in one of Bath’s characteristic honey-coloured buildings that you’ll find Inigo’s office space.

Located on Queen Street in the finance and business district, this charming building occupies a prime location just around the corner from Queen Square, well-known and loved for its fine Georgian architecture. Inside Inigo's offices, period history gives way to modern business, with beautifully furnished workspaces and business-grade technology.

Find out more about our Queen Street offices here.

Cirencester

For business owners who value work/life balance, the Cotswold town of Cirencester is a firm favourite.

Often referred to as the Capital of the Cotswolds, Cirencester is a centuries-old Roman town with a pretty market square lined by pastel-coloured buildings.

It was mentioned in the Doomsday Book of 1086 and was once the second largest town in Britain during Roman times. Its history is evident and there is plenty to visit, including the Corinium Museum, the Roman Amphitheatre, and the vast Cirencester Park – a great place for a stroll or to watch some polo.

Cirencester is a sought-after location for businesses, in large part due to its proximity to the ‘Silicon Gorge’ – a region in the South West that’s home to a growing band of high-tech and research companies.

UBC's award-winning Cirencester offices are based within walking distance of the town and provide a supportive community for a wide range of businesses and independent professionals.

Find out more about our Cirencester office space here.

UBC Cirencester

Now you’ve had a brief introduction to some of the South West’s best sights and business destinations, why not take a closer look?

Pop in for a coffee and a tour with us to view flexible office space in Cheltenham, Bath, or Cirencester. Even better, book a meeting room (save 10% when you book online) or a coworking day pass to really get a feel for the environment.

Image: Viktor Hanacek