Working from home can mean the freedom to work your own hours and a creative thinking space to grow and evolve, but sometimes the call of procrastination hits you. If you’re like me, then working from home can mean the long list of housework has to get done before you can even think about starting that important task. 

Sometimes the best option is to pack up your laptop and head out of the house, away from distraction and to a space which will provide you with all the coffee you could ever want, food and a motivating environment. 

But where should you go? 

We’ve put together the top five spaces to work as a freelancer in the city centre, as suggested by Manchester Girls. 

Foundation Coffee House 

Need a venue which is light, airy, has comfy seating and amazing coffee and fresh food? Tick all of your boxes at Foundation Coffee House. Head there for an early start, doors open at 7am during the week for a healthy breakfast (or choose the ham and cheese croissant, we aren’t judging you!) and have a productive day!

Take advantage of their movie and yoga nights to destress, unwind and have fun after a long day behind your laptop too. There are even two venues to choose from- Whitworth Street or Lever Street in the Northern Quarter. 

Chapter One Books

An independent bookstore with a fountain in the entrance and plugs everywhere-- this is the perfect venue to plug your laptop in and spend a few hours absorbed in your work. The freshly made coffee, loose leaf tea and gorgeous looking (and tasting!) cake is the perfect pick me up.

Sweet treats are available every day on the cake menu, and the different decor in seating areas around the bookshop means you can come here every day for a week and sit somewhere different! Whether it’s a window seat by the fountain, on one of the sofas next to the bookshelves, in an armchair cozy in the corner or up in the moroccan vibe tree house behind the serving counter!

Zifferblat 

The co-working space with a difference: 8p per minute, £4.80 an hour or £19.20 for the day. You can’t go wrong with this working space in the Northern Quarter. You pay for your time there, and in return get the pick of working from a desk, large tables, comfy armchairs and sofas while having free reign over the kitchen. 

Need a new coffee every 15 minutes? Sure! Want to munch on cake to make yourself feel better about an impending deadline? Help yourself! Make yourself a sandwich or toastie, or enjoy soup, quiche and other savory treats over lunch. With dairy alternatives in the fridge for drinks and healthy selections (or not, if you prefer!) of food and snacks you can’t go wrong. 

3 Squared Cafe

If you need a free from coffee to go with a morning deadline or a gluten free lunch to tide you through an afternoon of work emails then you will love this place. They are completely gluten, dairy, wheat and refined sugar free! 3 Squared is the perfect place to settle in for an hour or two to get out of the house and focus on your work. 

Find this hidden gem in the Royal Exchange Arcade. 

33 Oldham Street

You might know this venue in the Northern Quarter as the place to go for amazing burgers and live music. But did you know that during the day it is the perfect meeting venue and work space? With three floors to choose from you can pick your spot and settle in for a day of work. The name says it all- you can find them at 33 Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter.

Written by Rachael Mole