Where do you like to work remotely? Have you ever tried A Great Little Place inside The Atkinson on Lord Street in Southport?
This month Stand Up For Southport has launched a new Work Remotely campaign, encouraging freelancers, self-employed workers and other remote workers to grab your laptop, leave the house and head into one of the many superb coffee shops, cafés, pubs, attractions, sports clubs, community centres or other venues we have here in Southport.
We want to build a remote working community. Support local businesses during these cold winter months (and save on your heating bills!)
Today we’re trying the award-winning social enterprise A Great Little Place, which operates from The Atkinson.
A Great Little Place is an established local café run by Autism Initiatives that is known for its high quality and value for money. It was based on Hoghton Street before moving.
It’s a lovely venue which is great for working from, as well as for people catching up over coffee and cake, or enjoying pre-show meals at the theatre.
You can tell how good a place is by how busy it is. I arrived early and it was just as well, as the place filled up fast. It’s a busy venue!
It’s perfect for me as I have grown used to working in busy newsrooms at newspapers and websites, so it’s good to be working with such a buzz around me.
There are two parts of the café – a cosy inside area, with comfy leather couches and tables, and windows out onto the Lord Street Gardens. It’s a wonderful place to sit in November and December particularly, when the large, illuminated Christmas tree is mesmerising people with its colour changing displays.
The popularity of A Great Little Place has seen it expand with tables outside the café area.
There is a great choice of hot and cold drinks, and an excellent menu too with hot and cold sandwiches, toasties, paninis and other dishes. Their cakes are legendary!
There are several well-placed plug sockets with free Sefton Council guest Wi-Fi available. Artwork by local artists is on display and on sale on the walls.
In the Library next to the café they have recently installed two pods, complete with connections and with the privacy needed. They are free to book.
It’s right in the heart of Southport town centre, so two minutes’ walk away from Southport Train Station and with bus stops on Lord Street and Eastbank Street close by. Parking is available at the three car parks on Tulketh Street.
It’s a lovely atmosphere to work in, and the staff at A Great Little Place are fantastic. Very friendly, very efficient, they make this venue what it is.
And of course this is a place where you can work hard – and then enjoy all that The Atkinson has to offer.
Upstairs are some superb free exhibitions in the first-floor galleries, while the Museum on the top floor is free too.
There is an extensive programme of shows that people can enjoy this year with live theatre, comedy, children’s shows, music festivals, and much more besides. It really does have something for everyone.
Currently showing is the superb Snow White pantomime by All Souls Dramatic Club.
A Great Little Place has steadily been growing its reputation and customers from its first café in 2010. Moving to such a central and busy location as The Atkinson provides even more opportunities for people with autism that the venue supports in work placements.
A Great Little Place is about working together to improve the lives of people with autism and their families, providing new opportunities for training, work experience and training.
We want to create a real community of co-working in Southport. When you’re out, you have more chances of bumping into that potential client, potential colleague or some friendly faces.
It’s timely too with the new Southport Enterprise Arcade due to open soon on Eastbank Street in Southport. It’s due to become Southport’s hub for the town’s digital, creative and tech sector.
It’s a growing sector already – and there are lots of places locally where we can co-work.
So grab your laptop, plug in and give yourselves and our many local businesses a boost!
- Do you know of a great remote working venue in Southport? Email me at: MediaAndrewBrown@gmail.com or message me via Facebook or message me via Instagram or message me via Linkedin.
Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com
