The Black & White Building is a coworking space based in Shoreditch on super hip Rivington Street…read more Who doesn't want to work a stone's throw from Cargo!? Amiright!? Ok no, but really...here's the scoop. I needed a short-term coworking space very near my flat while I was making the transition back to work from maternity leave. As I was running back and forth several times a day it was necessary that my commute be walkable and also, very short. Also, I wanted it to be inspiring and cool and creative. Not an easy order, actually! B&W is a building run and managed by The Office Group -- and they have many other spaces throughout London and beyond. I only needed the one in Shoreditch for a specific amount of time (3 months or so) -- so I just stuck to that and used it as I needed. The pros: Location. Space. All gorgeous. In the nice months they have outside space, a beautiful roofdeck with picnic tables, etc. The space is well maintained, very stylish and built for working and collaborating. Access - key card access so late or early meetings were not an issue and actually the best time to work here as it wasn't busy! Great area with cool shops, restaurants and bars nearby. Amenities: coffee and tea, flatware and glassware all provided. Also strong wifi. Alll good stuff for a coworking space. Staff -- mostly helpful and friendly, responded to issues quickly. The negs: I was a bit put off by the expectation setting. Early on they told me (before I even began coming) in not so many words, "don't be here too much." I never really understood that. Why not? What's too much? It was always a bit stressful and that was what I was trying to get away from. If I am paying £300/month...if I needed to be here daily, why not? I felt it was a bit strange and got us off on the wrong foot. For what its worth - I spent about 10 hours a week there and definitely figured out there were MANY people using it daily for many hours. This sort of miffed me because we were all paying the same thing. Just a bit strange. Hopefully they've gotten their messaging a bit better on that front! Also, the behavior of other co-workers became an issue a bit. People would "claim" one of the very nice solo desks (about 10 along the wall) -- and then leave for many hours for lunch or meetings or whatever, but leave all their things there. Kind of lame, right? Very. It really turned me off and no one seemed to be enforcing any sort of tact when people clearly had no adherence to social norms or politeness. It was one of the reasons I opted not to renew my contract. Return of deposit - I had to chase my security deposit return (250 quid!) for several weeks. It wasn't a huge deal but an inconvenience I wish I hadn't had to deal with given my responsible use of the space and that I'd turned in my key card 30 days prior. It felt protracted and bureaucratic. Drop-in options -- I had really wanted a drop-in option as I was familiar and liked the space. As a former member there are no drop in capabilities. I of course was willing to pay by the day, etc -- but not an option. Seems very inflexible and unfortunate that they can't accommodate different working styles and needs as changes In the end, I have a very good outlook on the B&W coworking space. I found it very well set up for working and it fit my needs at the time. As my needs changed it didn't really change with me, so unfortunately I can't utilize it anymore. I felt it was a moderate value for the money but was often stressed about what was too much time to be there. If I worked solo or as a freelancer I'd definitely think about signing up for this space (or one nearby your location).

I usually make my way to this gallery every first Thursday of the month to see all the new work…read moresubmitted by up and coming artists. They usually have a great selection of things to see and if you are feeling rich to buy. Great atmosphere with music and interactive drawing boards for everyone to get creative on.

Google's move into the real estate sector, providing flexible office space for tech start ups…read more The real jewel is the cafe located in the basement of the building. Free to use by the public with fast wifi and excellent coffee - simply register on Google Campus website and you'll receive a code for entry. Very very cool, full of techy/hipster types - you're unlikely to ever see as many Apple Macs under one roof as in this building. All in all, excellent.

Google Campus... that hub for the next tech startup king or queen…read more In reality it's a pretty boring place. It has a few event demo rooms and some funky google-esque décor, and a café that serves very good coffee, but you'll pay through the nose for everything at the café. Go there for the free high speed internet. That's the real reason everyone else is there. People rarely talk to eachother. In a way it's a bit unfair of me to give the place 3 stars. Google does it for no monetary return, to help the community, and it does help the community, but it just feels like they could do a little more.

Winchester House is a three-storey building that offers well-appointed office suites. It has a full…read morereception area, fully furnished offices, kitchen areas, meeting rooms, IT and telecoms services, cooling and natural light, an entrance on Crawford Place if you need a W1 postcode, and easy to get to with all modes of transport. Close by is the Edgware Rd Underground, the Paddington National Rail, 8 min walk to Marble Arch Central Line, the M25 and parking on-site. And on your lunch break there's so much choice along Edgware Rd for places to eat and shop. It's a great place to work.

Cool co-working space. Much nicer than others I have seen like Regis. They have good coffee and…read moresnacks, free beer if you are a tenant. We have a decent sized office in here and it's great. They have a open space for working and meetups.

I was faced with discrimination today at this location by a WeWork employee. I had booked a room…read morefor 2 hours; the employee of WeWork barged into the room in the middle of the meeting with 10m left for my meeting to end and asked me to leave while I had a valid booking. Later, I walked upto the lady and mentioned that I did not appreciate the way she conducted the situation. She apologized, saying the next booking too enthusiastic about their booking. I found her apology to be fake. Will never visit this place again.

I've had two company meetings here and both have gone off without a hitch. To start, the venue is…read moreSTUNNING. It was originally built in 1509 and has been home to people such as Sir Francis Bacon! The entire place is very well maintained and somehow manages to provide modern amenities while maintaining it's history and authenticity. The staff at the Canonbury Academy are all incredibly pleasent and very accomodating. The rooms are well planned and perfectly organised. Like I said earlier, they somehow manage to balance new and old. The rooms are gorgeous and elegant, but are also set up with overhead projects and televisions. Perfect! Our lunch and coffee breaks were served in an adjoining room which was also lovely, on both occassions. Last but certainly not least, the price is right. I'm actually suprised at how affordable the Canonbury is for events. They also offer a charity rate which chops off a significant percentage. Be sure to mention if you're a charity though, they don't always ask!

Probably my first review in English! Let's try!…read more Fantastic venue for hosting events, meetings and courses. I went there for a meeting with about 35 colleagues. We booked the Penthouse room (spacious and luminous)! Nice offer in terms of meals (yummy and healthy lunch), coffee breaks and breakfast. I was quite amazed with the level of service (welcome words, general support, IT equipment,...) and overall attention to detail to cater for all our needs. Very friendly staff (funny but professional). I, of course, strongly recommend this venue and the one in Covent Garden (little bit less luminous but well equipped and nice staff members as well!)

Amazing Service - From start to finish, I truly enjoyed working with the Wallacespace. Amie and…read moreIsabel were very responsive and professional with great follow-through. Highly recommended to anyone who wants things done.

I've been to a meetup there. The acoustic is good and the place has a very unique atmosphere. For…read moreme this is a hidden gem, thus is what makes London special. Coup de cœur

We held a private work event at Crypt on the Green in March, and had a fantastic evening. The venue…read moreis located at the bottom of a church and is therefore unassuming from the outside - in fact, it would be easy to miss if you didn't know where to look. However, enter the 'crypt' and you will be blown away. The space has been beautifully refurbished with exposed brickwork, arches and stunning lighting, with beautiful wooden floors. Clive and his team set us up with a 'theatre-style' layout for the business presentation, after which we moved to group tables for dinner. The food was absolutely stunning, and again Clive and his team were extremely accommodating in adapting the menu for us in advance. Service was fantastic and is a rare gem in the centre of London. The exterior of the building and the hallways let the stunning venue room down slightly - it does seem a little shabby at first sight, the toilets certainly need an upgrade, and one bloke turned up looking for a local salsa class! However, this wouldn't put me off re-booking for a future event. It's well worth a visit if you get the opportunity.

As Yelp is all about food, it's time to add another star here. The new bar/cafe is a winner and…read moregood enough for a detour if you don't happen to work at Westbourne Studios. They have a daily menu including a hot main, a soup as well as a tart served with or without salad. You have to be quick for the salads (currently a selection of two, here's hoping they'll add more soon). There's also a good choice of sandwiches, all reasonably priced. There's plenty of seating and free wifi (not the best connection, mind).

Underneath the Westway is literally underneath the westway (the A40). Tucked away inside Westbourne…read moreStudios, on the same road as the old Subterania (yeah!), during the daytime this bar / restaurant serves the creative folks who dwell in Westbourne Studios. The studios operate as as a collective of offices, predominantly filled with fashion designers, film companies and PR types. During the daytime and at breakfast, the restaurant serves quite a simple, but tasty menu of english breakfasts, salads, burgers, accompanied by fries and coleslaw. They also stock a large range of herbal teas, soft drinks, coffees and snacks.