Swindon & Wiltshire News
Waterworks HQ to reopen as co-working space
A workspace operator backed by the team behind Innocent Drinks is set to open its most ambitious location yet at Armada House in Bristol’s Old City this November.
Certified B Corp Patch will open 13,000 sq ft of space at Armada House, just off Baldwin Street, promising “beautifully designed co-working studios, private offices and meeting rooms with large-scale event spaces and a rooftop lounge and terrace.”
Built in 1903 as the headquarters of the Bristol Water Works Company, Grade II-listed Armada House is being reimagined by Patch with bold colour, contemporary design and beautifully crafted interiors.
Original features will be retained and celebrated, creating a distinctive new setting for work, meetings and events in the heart of Bristol.
The firm says Bristol was a natural choice for Patch, with “an extraordinary concentration of creative talent, tech businesses, B Corps and climate innovators, alongside world-class universities and a thriving film and media sector with a global reputation.”
Patch’s backers include JamJar, the venture fund created by the team behind Innocent Drinks, alongside Active Partners and Matt Clifford CBE, co-founder of Entrepreneur First.
Freddie Fforde, founder and CEO of Patch, said: “Bristol has an incredible combination of entrepreneurial ambition, creativity and civic purpose.
“As our plans have developed, we’ve loved getting to know more of the founders, businesses and organisations shaping the city.
“We want Patch to become a home for that energy: somewhere people can build businesses, exchange ideas and start new collaborations.”
Patch will be led in Bristol by a local director and team, providing dedicated leadership on the ground and building long-term relationships with businesses, organisations and communities across the city.
Events will be a significant part of Patch’s role in Bristol, with Patch’s city-centre spaces hosting talks, workshops, industry gatherings, founder events, product launches and celebrations.
As a Certified B Corp, Patch will also join Bristol’s thriving community of purpose-led businesses and organisations.
The building will be home to The B-Hive, Patch’s flagship boardroom celebrating B Corp values and creating a meeting place for businesses working to make a positive impact.
Paloma Strelitz, creative director and head of product at Patch, who previously co-founded Turner Prize-winning architecture and design studio Assemble, said: “Bristol has an extraordinary crossover between entrepreneurship, creativity and culture.
“Some of the most interesting ideas emerge when people from different worlds connect.
“Patch can help join some of those dots, creating more opportunities for people and ideas to come together in the centre of Bristol.”
Patch at Armada House opens in November.
