Restaurant converted into co-working hub

A co-working hub with 35 desks, meeting room, Zoom booths and ‘chill-out’ space has opened in the centre of Shrewsbury in a former restaurant.

Maddox & Co, in Butcher Row, has been set up by Anthony Walters and James Lloyd, who both run businesses based in Shrewsbury and spotted a need for more flexible coworking offices in the town centre.

Walters said: “There is huge demand for flexible office space in Shrewsbury, with people looking for desks or rooms which they can use occasionally, or on a more regular basis.

“A lot of people who work at home want the opportunity to base themselves somewhere different from time to time, and Maddox & Co enables them to book a space quickly and easily.

“We opened in August, converting a former restaurant over three storeys in Butcher Row. The aim was to create a functional yet funky atmosphere.

“We didn’t want the space to feel like a traditional office – it’s a really interesting building with great views looking out over Pride Hill, and it’s an inspiring place to work.

“We have already had a lot of interest and have a good number of regular clients, mostly freelancers and small businesses, but it is suitable for anyone who just needs a fresh place to work.”

He added: “As well as offering people interesting and inspiring places to work, co-working can be beneficial to Shrewsbury as a whole because it brings more people into the town centre.

“In that respect it was great to receive an element of funding from Shropshire Council through the Economic Recovery Grant scheme which helped get the project off the ground.”