X+why, a flexible workspace provider, has announced they will occupy the third floor of Arding & Hobbs building from Spring 2025.

Temperatures are definitely indicating that winter is coming (to paraphrase a famous series). The cold breeze brings sunshine, providing pleasant energy for the day. But the good vibes stem not only from the weather but also from the new occupant of the Arding and Hobbs office facilities.

Phil Nevin, the Chief Creative Officer and co-founder of x+why welcomes us at the reception of the Edwardian construction. His enthusiasm is palpable as he discusses the workspace provider’s plans. Phil is full of praise for W.RE‘s restoration of the building’s grand features and eagerly explains his vision to transform the empty open floors into a modern, dynamic workspace.

It was announced at the beginning of November that x+why, a company specialising in flexible office, is going to take over the third floor and operate part of the 27,500 square feet at W.RE-owned landmark. The commercial amenity and workspace provider is finalising the signing of the building contract, and will soon be refurbishing the space they will occupy. Currently the office part of the building is comprising a reception, an atrium and a roof terrace along with minimal fittings such as electricity and lighting.

Substantial work remains to create a suitable office environment. Their award-winning in-house design team, whydesign, will arrange the space with Arts and Crafts touches, including vintage furniture, features highlighting the building’s heritage, environmentally friendly materials, and sustainability-led interiors.

The office space available in Arding & Hobbs is suitable for about 1000 workers according to the building’s owners. Each floor plan is huge and therefore findings appropriates tenants has not been the easiest task as the space needs to be divided to meet the needs of local businesses.

X+why will be one of the office tenants; but they will also operate the building amenities including the new roof terrace and front-of-house services. While the second floor has still to find a leaseholder, x+with have already a very clear view of what the third floor will look like. It will “include flexible working space, private offices and dedicated desks, meeting rooms, event space, food and beverage, a clubspace and a terrace,” to quote their press release.

On the left-hand side, visitors will find a secondary reception situated in a spacious open area featuring prominently visible brick walls that preserve the building’s historical character.

When you move further left, you reach the future Clubspace. They are signature areas, where to relax, socialise and enjoy premium hospitality. Clubspaces offer meeting rooms and event space, plus a food & beverage menu. You can already see examples with The Orchard in Marble Arch and Eighteen in Birmingham. Membership at the Orchard starts at £49/month.

As expected, it will be located right beneath the stained-glass cupola. There should be a large tree in the middle with seats around, and a bar on one side of the room.

Beside, an event space capable of hosting 150 people will be available. Phil emphasized x+why’s commitment to community engagement, expressing enthusiasm for developing partnerships with local businesses and groups.

They are still looking for a tenant for the fourth floor (and fifth floor, which includes a mezzanine on the rooftop addition) and attracting the right company able to take other a large open space for 150 people or more is a task in progress.

X+with will manage the roof terrace, which features a large cinema-style screen for presentations and special events, and are in discussions with the Wandsworth council about potential use of the rotunda as a refreshment facility.

The flex-office company will provide a range of memberships (starting at about £400/month) to service and host the community. It will include the possibility to rent spaces for special events and the possibility to book the space even when not working regularly on the third floor.

They told us that they have received an exceptional level of public interest even before any press release, with people popping at the reception for information.

x+why is currently managing over 430,000 sq ft of flexible office, meeting and events spaces, receptions and clubspaces buildings across 10 sites in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Milton Keynes. They already provide a variety of flexible workspace solutions which is very similar to what they will be offering in Clapham Junction:

• Private offices
• Coworking spaces
• Breakout areas
• Meeting rooms
• Private clubspaces
• Event spaces, including rooftop venues in London and Birmingham

The name of the company comes from the book “Do Purpose: why brands with a purpose do better and matter more” . In his 2014 book, David  Hieatt defines Brand X vs Brand Why: Brand X have customers, but they have an old business model and they are the status quo; on the contrary, Brand Why are the future. They are special and can charge a premium. Their fans love them and stick with them.

The company was founded by Rupert Dean, Phil Nevin, and Tanya Donald, each bringing unique expertise in business, design, and finance to the organization. Phil, Chief Creative Officer, told us that x+why is a B Corp Certified organization. A B Corp, or Benefit Corporation, is a for-profit company that has been certified by B Lab, a non-profit organization, for meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. B Corps are using business as a force for good in the world, conducting business with people environment in mind and committed to not do harm. In a nutshell, they pursue both purpose and profit.

In Clapham Junction, they want to provide an experience where people not only work but also meet and socialise.

Rupert Dean, CEO and co-founder of x+why, said:

“At x+why we are always looking to be in the best buildings and locations, and so are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with W.RE in the special Arding & Hobbs and bring our forward thinking workspace offering south of the river to Clapham Junction in this historic building.

Modern work is not about going into the office to sit at a desk and this offer will not only service the tenants of the building but also the local community who can now access this incredible space as part of hybrid working or as a space to have fun. x+why’s space will perfectly complement the neighbouring tenants, Botanica Hall and Third Space, providing a destination hub to work, exercise and socialise for both the local community and those further afield due to its proximity to London’s busiest train station.”

The new hospitality company will join Third Space, Prezzemolo&Vitale and Botanica Hall by Albion & East Limited that are already sharing the ground floor of the Edwardian building.

Botanica Hall was the first tenant to open in the refurbished Arding & Hobbs. The restaurant / café / cocktail bar also encourage patrons to “just turn up, take a seat, and work away“, offering a fast Wifi the the promise to not bother you when you work. Operated by Albion & East Limited, Botanica Hall is part of a chain of individual neighbourhood bars that cater to diverse needs throughout the day and night, from morning coffee and brunch to hot-desking during the day, and cocktails, wood-fired pizza, and DJs at night. Each restaurant is uniquely tailored to suit its local clientele and area.

Prezzemolo & Vitale was the second business to open last May on the ground floor. The shop brings a proper emporium of all things Italian – including a wide selection of cheese, meat and charcuterie, drinks, fruit and veg, and bakery produce. There’s also a cafe selling Morettino’s coffee and equipped with a generous supply of Sicilian specialties including Cassata, Cannoli and organic cakes, as well as a food-to-go offer including sandwiches, salads, cold cuts and cheeses, to eat in at the cafe or take away.

Although announced before the Sicilian deli, the luxury Third Space gym opened later on the remaining retail section. The gym occupies 27,500 sq ft on the basement and first floor of the building, and a small reception with entrance at the corner of Lavender Hill and Ilminster Gardens. It offers high-spec workout and recovery space offering cycle classes, Hot Yoga, sauna and ambient studios. Membership starts at £240/month for using the club facility in Clapham junction, up to £305/month for access to all Third Space gyms in London.

Slowly but steadily, the refurbished Edwardian icon of Clapham Junction is welcoming its new occupants. The final piece of the puzzle was securing tenants for the office space above the first floor, which is largely occupied by the gym. The new lease with x+with marks a significant milestone, bringing this ambitious restoration project closer to full completion.

With this new addition, W.RE is pursuing with consistency their main goal, as they told us from the beginning: Their vision has always been to have retail that is upmarket and that shows the building in a good light.

In all cases, it’s fair to say that W.RE’s efforts to redevelop the premises properly, and work with the building’s remaining features and architecture to restore its original elegance and scale, have done the building justice and helped land good quality tenants that will support the continued success of the town centre.

Update 22/11/2024: Additional photos from x+with 365 tour.

Update 23/11/2024: Several small corrections: Phil Nevin is Chief Creative Officer of x+why not Operating Officer, removed the mention of second floor use, credited Stiff and Trevellian for the sketch/ painting, the third founder of x+why is called Tanya Donald