Historic Department Store Transformed into Modern Workspace

Freedom Works has invested more than £390,000 into creating flexible modern workspaces for businesses and freelancers to work from in the heart of Hastings Town Centre. The match-funding was part of the government’s criteria to receive a grant from the Towns Fund totalling £116,732 that together has brought just over £500,000 of investment into the town centre.

The Palace Workspace is 15,000sq ft of co-working and office space run by Freedom Works in the iconic former Debenhams Building. With Owens Entertainment occupying the lower floors, The Palace Workspace now fills the entire 3rd, 4th and 5th floors of the much-loved building that was left empty for over a year before Freedom Works opened in September 2022.

Now, with an occupancy rate of 80%, there are plans to transform the 5th floor. They can currently house and support in total over 100 businesses and freelancers in 24 affordable private offices as well as hot-desking zones for people needing a more flexible or part-time desk. The workspace also hosts an event space, along with three meeting rooms that anyone can book to host a meeting in a convenient location in the town centre. Current tenants range from marketing agencies, freelance designers, finance companies, digital specialists, accountants and publishers.

Once described as ‘Hastings Palace’, the former Debenhams building has a long history as a department store dating back to 1871, when draper William Plummer opened his store at 3 Robertson Street. The store was rebranded as Debenhams in the early 1970s.

Staying true to the site’s historic roots, Freedom Works has kept the name The Palace Workspace, and breathed a new lease of life into the building by providing the business and freelance community with much-needed private office, studio spaces, hot desks and meeting rooms for hire, right in the town centre, with easy access to public transport.

Having opened their first office in Worthing in 2016, Freedom Works’ track record of running successful co-working spaces along the South Coast, with Hastings being its ninth space, meant they were able to meet the strict criteria for Town Deal grant funding set by the government. Hastings has been reported to be one of their fastest-growing venues.

Jon Trigg, Freedom Works founder and managing director, said:

“Demand for high-quality, flexible, collaborative workspaces has risen since the pandemic. With more people wanting to get back in the office, there is a huge demand for hybrid-style working locally. Flexible workspaces help to retain talent locally and create decent employment, which enhances growth and brings value to the local area.” 

The refurbishment of Debenhams has been a labour of love for Freedom Works and renovations weren’t easy. When the Towns Fund was announced by the government in 2019, costs for construction materials were much lower. Post-pandemic, prices rocketed and the development has required significant financial investment from Freedom Works. However, the team worked to tight deadlines and within four months completed renovations including a green retrofit with LED lighting and electric heat pumps that has annually saved around 30 tonnes of CO2e emissions.      

The Freedom Works Team has been delighted with the support they have received from businesses, the community and Hastings Borough Council.

With superfast broadband and WIFI, The Palace Workspace provides 24-hour access, seven days a week for members. Flexible membership packages include dedicated desks for permanent members or hot desks for those who need a desk for an hour or two, plus enhanced security with CCTV and a full-time Community Manager running the space.  Free tea, coffee and fresh fruit and access to workshops and networking events are just some other benefits alongside “free beer Fridays”.

“The best Coworking community hub in Hastings. I use it regularly and they have very flexible terms, buy tokens and come when you like, book a desk, or rent private offices as your own space. A very impressive full board room, available per hour, and big communal area with comfy sofas and chairs. Very clean modern with kitchen area and with everything you need. The team there is superb Tora has been absolutely amazing in helping out and supporting me in getting settled in. I would not hesitate in recommending and say hi if you see me there, I’m often here!”

Julian Asher, Founder of https://web3inspire.io

To enquire about workspace, visit The Palace Hastings Website