Hot Desking now available at the Observer Building!
The landmark Observer Building will be offering hot desking on the first floor at the beginning of February, as the latest phase of work on the building is now complete. In August, the newly refurbished first floor opened to commercial tenants, offering several modern self-contained office spaces for local creatives and other professionals. Tenants were chosen on a basis of need, local connection, enthusiasm for the ethos and contribution to the neighbourhood. This criteria has been identified to enable sustainable community self-management, the ethos that underpins the Hastings Commons – the organisation behind the redevelopment of the Observer and several other properties around the White Rock area.
Hot desking at the Observer Building includes access to a communal kitchen with free tea, coffee and fresh fruit, a private 2 person ‘Pod’ and a bookable large meeting room, alongside secure and accessible facilities, including a newly installed lift. Flexible payment options are available for the hot desking, ranging from half/full day flexi rates as well as rolling monthly membership prices for anywhere between one to five days a week.
John Brunton, General Manager of Hastings Commons, says, “We’re really excited about being able to welcome more people to this building and see this historical landmark become alive again after so many years of dereliction. The plan for the building was always one of phased development and those that join now will be able to have a say in the building as it develops”.

As well as the 1st floor, the ground floor of the Observer Building is now open for event bookings as a multi-use space from small gatherings to large business events, with a 499-person capacity. Long term creative technology project, OBX, is also now operating out of the Mezzanine floor of the building. The OBX project is exploring the opportunities presented by creative technology in building stronger communities through a programme of projects, workshops, and events.
The next phase for this important building will be beginning work to restore and clean the original 1924 Henry Ward designed façade, which has suffered extreme neglect over the last forty years. Look out for a shining new façade in the months to come!
To find out more about hot desking, please email space@hastingscommons.com or call 01424 230222 and ask for Lottie. To find out more about event space, please email events@hastingscommons.com.
Photos by Jonny Thompson Photography.
