Top 9 affordable locations for coworking in Manchester

It’s a good time to be looking for coworking space in Manchester. The city is a hotbed of entrepreneurship and ripe with opportunities for collaboration. Boasting a huge tech startup scene, it has a fair claim to be named the Silicon Valley of the north.

When you’re just starting out, business owners in the North West business owners have plenty to benefit from the below coworking spaces. They all provide top-knotch facilities and on-site support for relatively low-cost – and all within walking distance of Piccadilly train station.

We’ll take you through each of these highest-rated coworking spaces and serviced offices in Manchester, including national heavyweight, Regus. By the end, you’ll be able to the right long-term or flexible packages you need to develop and grow your business.

Best coworking spaces in Manchester for: value for money

Budget is a top priority for small business owners when searching for serviced offices. Most savvy SME owners choose coworking space as a way to cut down on the cost of running a traditional office space.

Helpfully, it’s much easier to make savings in Manchester compared to the impossible task of finding cheap office space in London (or, even worse, free London workspaces).

In fact, affordability is one of the reasons that flexible office usage has surged in the city, with the coworking occupancy rate in Manchester now at 88%.

When seeking out the top coworking spaces in Manchester for value for money, we prioritised pricing transparency and tailorable packages. Every provider listed below comes with an affordably-priced dedicated desk plan and has multiple options available for hybrid or flexible working.

1. Flagship Manchester: best for collaboration and networking

Private office space for a six-person business at Flagship Manchester

• Location – Turner Street
• Cheapest coworking plan – £190+VAT for a monthly dedicated desk

Flagship Space is a true paradox: a modern, sleek looking office set inside a beautiful old Edwardian building right in the heart of Manchester’s creative Northern Quarter.

All-black furniture and glass walls gives it a professional-looking feel, perfect for those who want to welcome nearby customers. Members can attend Flagship’s curated events for business collaboration opportunities, or even host their own professional talks.

Is Flagship Spaces right for my business?

Creative startups are the target audience of Flagship, thanks to the operator’s unique blend of business support and personalisation.

Located just a 12 minute walk away from Manchester Piccadilly train station (and only eight minutes away from the smaller Manchester Victoria station) Flagship is ideal for Manchester-based businesses wanting to make lots of last-minute visits to local clients or partners.

Members are also permitted to bring their own branding to their offices – a bonus you won’t get with big operators like WeWork – and set up their own space to call their own. Through Flagship, you can establish your company while taking advantage of the operator’s name and business influence.

What are the perks?

Flagship has been included in this list as one of the best brands in terms of value for money – but don’t let that fool you. Its affordable payment package doesn’t scrimp on perks.

Alongside office space, all of Flagship’s tenants can use the company’s swimming pool, outdoor terrace, yoga studio and meditation studio. It also has childcare facilities, personal lockers, and a podcasting room, on top of:

• 24/7 access
• Local partnerships, including Kor Gym
• Superfast WiFi
• Private phone booths
• 8-seater meeting rooms with a large screen and video conferencing
• Luxurious furniture
• Kitchen equipped with free tea, coffee and snacks

How much does Flagship Manchester cost?

If you’re after full-time membership, business owners can pay £190 + VAT per month for a dedicated desk. With this package, they’ll get a private desk, lockable storage, and meeting room credits.

Flexible options are available. Prices for the flexi-desk plan start at £15 per day to use the Flagship communal working space. This plan can also be tailored based on your usage – great for hybrid workers.

	Dedicated Desk	Flexi Desk	Private Office
£ per person	£190 + VAT per month	From £15 + VAT per day	Contact sales

2. Innospace: best for affordability

Meeting room space at Innospace in Manchester Science Park

• Location – Turing House, Manchester Science Park
• Cheapest coworking plan – £50+VAT for a monthly hot desk

Based in the famous Turing House, named after Mancunian legend, Alan Turing – Innospace sits within a fast-growing cluster of digital technology and data-centric businesses in the heart of the city centre. Fittingly, its workspaces look like the inside of a spaceship, with all-white furniture creating a light and airy environment for workers.

Is Innospace right for my business?

Manchester is now generally considered to be one of the UK’s dominant tech hubs. There are now over 1,600 startups and scaleups in the city, employing an estimated 60,000 people.

While not quite as central as Flagship (Innospace is a 29 minute walk away from Manchester Piccadilly station) Innospace is the brainchild of Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU). It was created to give tech startups access to resources and contacts that they might not otherwise be able to access under their own finances.

If you’re based in fintech, cyber security, AR, VR, blockchain, sports tech, or edtech, we recommend Innospace. Although, that’s not to say you need to be a high-tech, superfast growth startup to feel at home at Innospace. Sole traders can also choose from a solo working spaces and quiet zones.

What are the perks?

As a member of the Manchester Science Park Campus, you will have access to an onsite gym, cafe, and pub. Plus, you’ll also be able to choose from a pool of talented under- and post-graduates attending MMU for internships, work placements or grad schemes. All memberships at Innospace also provide:

• 24/7 access
• Superfast WiFi
• Storage locker
• Access to printer, scanning, conference call and AV facilities
• Free use of meeting room space (for up to half a day per week)
• Kitchen with tea, coffee and water cooler
• Free car parking for visitors during office hours
• Secure cycle storage and access to showers
• Networking opportunities and access to mentors, events and masterclasses

How much does Innospace cost?

At £150 per month, Innospace is easily the most affordable option on this list for a full-time monthly membership. Impressively, its generous list of amenities rivals some of the more expensive options, making it a great investment for a growing tech startup.

Innospace provides a range of plans so, depending on how quickly your firm scales, your membership can also be adapted to accommodate every new member. Nonetheless, be aware that Innospace requires members to make a £100 deposit and up to £1m public liability insurance to qualify for a hot desk.

3. Use.Space: best for flexible payment plans

Hotdesking arrangement in the Olive Tree Room at Use.Space Manchester

• Location – Paddock Street
• Cheapest coworking plan – £199+VAT for a monthly hot desk

Use.Space is located in a beautiful old industrial warehouse in Ardwick, Manchester. Newly-renovated, there is no end to the kind of work environments that this spacious building provides. Members can choose from 10 rooms including the Green Room (where an indoor greenhouse provides a luscious jungle for private one-to-one meetings) and more traditional deskspace in the Olive Tree Room.

All are decorated with plush carpet and comfy cushions, making this an excellent option for those running a side hustle who are coming to plug away at their business idea outside of their normal working hours.

Is Use.Space right for my business?

Because of its many flexible payment options, Use.Space is a good option for any small business. However, we most recommend it to sole traders who are at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey.

Located 12 minutes away from Picadilly Station, Use.Space is right in the centre of the action. Because members can work there for unlimited hours between 7am and 7pm, freelancers or side hustlers can travel to work at Use.Space around their full-time job.

What are the perks?

All Use.Space Nomad members get:

• 6 bookable boardroom hours per month
• Reduced boardroom booking rates for members
• Comfortable breakout and meeting areas
• Printer access
• On site café
• Dog friendly (if your dog is friendly)
• Use of microwaves and kitchen (with free tea and coffee)
• Superfast WiFi
• Garden space
• Access to events
• FREE car parking available for members

How much does Use.Space cost?

Ideal for those working part-time around another job or even childcare commitments, Use.Space has lots of different packages to choose from. However, these prices have increased since we last reviewed the space in May 2023.

Visitors who want to test out the building must now pay £25 per day for the Visitor plan (previously £20), while the Cameo plan for part-time workers has increased from £79 to £89 (+ VAT).

For those working full-time, the best option is the Nomad plan for £199 + VAT per month (previously £179). You’ll have to shell out £279 +VAT per month for a dedicated desk option with the Residents plan, however.

Use.Space has also introduced a new ‘Branch’ plan for hybrid teams. This flexible solution provides 2, 4, or 6 person teams with a block of hot desks to ensure they can work together in a welcoming and well-equipped space. Businesses should contact Use.Space for pricing information.

Best coworking spaces in Manchester for: location

Having worked with small firms for over twenty years, we know that networking and collaboration are both hugely important to business success. If a company’s office is based miles away from its clients – or it is difficult for its employees to get to – this will limit the talent and resources you can access.

To whittle down our list of the best Manchester coworking spaces for location, we only researched providers that are based within walking distance of Central Manchester and all of its amenities – including travel distance to its largest train station, Manchester Piccadilly.

1. Regus: best for multiple choice

Regus’ reception desk at St James Tower

• Location – 13 sites in Manchester, including on King Street and Fountain Street
• Cheapest coworking plan: £125 for Regus Business Lounge monthly membership

Regus is a leading operator of quality business lounges across the globe, and its serviced office and coworking spaces in Manchester offer peace, quiet and convenience.

The provider boasts 13 top quality sites across the city, all of which you can access using one Regus membership. So, if you’re only working in Manchester for the day, you can purchase a Regus coworking plan to set up shop in the rainy city – and your plan will still be valid in over 300 UK locations once you’re done.

Is Regus right for my business?

If you’re often on-the-go, and want to have a hideaway wherever your business takes you, Regus’ Business Lounges are a great option – they have 2,000 well-connected locations globally including office space in Birmingham.

What your Regus office space will look like depends on which office you’re based in. Its location in Salford, for example, boasts beautiful views across media city. Whereas the centrally-located, Spinningfields outfit is ideal for a lunchtime walk along Manchester’s historic canal.

All the same, every Regus office is kitted out with ergonomic desks and chairs with plenty of daylight. It’s a blank canvas for business users, which makes it a top choice for someone working remotely, who only needs a desk some of the time.

What are the perks?

Regus members can expect superfast WiFi throughout the building, as well as a comfortable space to work. We recommend entrepreneurs use the Regus app to find and book office space with ease (this also ensures a 10% discount when booking the business lounge).

For all members, even those on the cheapest Regus plan, there is also:

• Printer, and photocopier usage
• Kitchen areas (with free tea and coffee)
• Private and team-based office options
• Business support enabled through networking events

How much does Regus cost?

Prices vary for a dedicated desk in a Regus’ Manchester office. Costs can start from as low as £129 per person, per month, for example, depending on location. But in truth, flexibility is Regus’ best offering, and most businesses want to sign with the provider for its agile coworking payment plans.

These tiers allow you to use either the lounge area, a desk in the coworking area, or a private office bookable through the Regus app. The lounge area (essentially a hot desk) is the cheapest plan at £125 per month. Since May 2023, when it cost £99 per month, the lounge plan has increased in cost considerably. Overall it is still a good deal for the number of locations this gives members access to.

Remote users might find it a better deal to purchase Regus’ flexible plans, which offer a considerable discount on the other plans, and are available for either 5 or 10 days’ usage. Most handily, if you work remotely, purchasing any plan means that you can choose from any of Regus’ huge suite of properties across the globe.

	Lounge	Coworking	Office
Price per person	From £125 per month	From £319 per month	From £535 per month
Price per person (10 days per month)	N/A	From £205 per month	From £345 per month
Price per person (5 days per month)	N/A	From £139 per month	From £205 per month

2. Orega: larger firms with 2+ employees

Coworking space in Orega’s Arkwright House building

• Location – Kings Street, Arkwright House, Piccadilly, The Tootal Buildings, Balloon Street
• Cheapest coworking plan – contact sales

With five locations spread across much sought-after areas of Central Manchester, including Piccadilly, Orega is an excellent coworking choice for companies that want to be in amongst the action.

Costing an estimated £360 for a full-time Dedicated Desk, it’s not an affordable option compared to the likes of Regus, but it’s still a strong option for companies with the cash to spare.

Is Orega right for my business?

Orega’s pricing plans are designed for larger teams. It only provides serviced offices, meeting rooms, or virtual offices, which means business owners can’t just visit its locations for coworking.

As a result, it’s the best option for teams with 2+ employees who need a private office space they can work in without the distractions of nearby neighbours, like loud background noise.

What are the perks?

High-quality technologies and top-notch security features – such as impressive sound insulation and CCTV monitoring – make Orega a good choice for tech-based small businesses or software developers that want a workspace where they can feel safe.

Alongside great security options, Orega members will also benefit from:

• 24/7 access
• Air conditioning
• Collaboration spaces
• Superfast WiFi
• Concierge services
• Bespoke design option
• Keyless entry

How much does Orega cost?

Because businesses can only rent private office space, Orega does not share its prices publicly. It asks companies to get in touch directly to discuss a bespoke plan – which could be a benefit if you want to haggle your way to a better deal.

In terms of leasing, Orega does cater for flexible agreements. Members can opt for either a long-term or a short-term commitment.

3. WeWork: best for scale-up

Entrance hall and hotdesking area in WeWork’s St Peter’s Square building

• Location – John Dalton Street, Corporation Street, St. Peter’s Square, Spinningfields
• Cheapest coworking plan – est. £285 for a monthly dedicated desk

To date, WeWork has helped huge numbers of startups and entrepreneurs to connect with peers and grow their businesses. However, it has also attracted sinister associations, thanks to a high-profile harassment case, failed IPO, and dire financials.

In late 2023, the company sounded the alarm, telling investors it may struggle to stay in business. Tenants have been reassured they aren’t at risk, and you can, to this day, continue to book a desk or a long-term contract at UK WeWork locations, including in Manchester.

Our complete guide to WeWork has more information on the situation for SMEs.

Is WeWork right for my business?

Given its ability to tailor-make a space just for you and provide all the support you need there, WeWork is especially ideal for fast-growth startups wanting to craft a space that can be their home for many years.

At WeWork, entrepreneurs can start small with the hot desk plan, before graduating to higher tiers including a private office that can host up to 20 people. Theoretically, a startup could stay use WeWork coworking for three-five years without outgrowing it.

What are the perks?

WeWork boasts one of the biggest coworking populations in the UK. That means members can interact with other, like-minded entrepreneurs everyday to forge profitable business relationships.

Complementing this USP is the WeWork community team, which also regularly hosts networking activities like lunch-and-learns. On top of this, WeWork members will also get:

• Superfast internet
• Front-desk service
• Private phone booths
• Business class printers
• Bike storage
• 24/7 access

How much does WeWork cost?

WeWork’s pricing is only available on request. As a result, we can’t score it as highly as its rival, Regus. The cost of a dedicated desk is not available publicly, but from speaking to current WeWork users we have estimated an average price of £285 per month. This is on the expensive side when it comes to average coworking costs.

At the moment, there is also a special offer for startups who are just moving into a WeWork space. New members can get up to three months free on private offices. This does require a minimum commitment of 12-months, which is not a good idea given the current uncertainty around WeWork’s ability to stay afloat.

We recommend startups signing up for a WeWork contract stick to a short-term lease until the firm’s prospects become clearer. There are certainly good deals to be found at WeWork but, as the negative headlines increase, the company is looking equally unappetising to new member sign ups.

Best coworking spaces in Manchester for: networking

One of the biggest benefits that coworking spaces offers members is the advantage of being able to network. The more like-minded individuals you have around you, the more opportunities there are to find potential partners or investors, share information and advice, and relax with friends after a hard day’s graft.

Manchester saw 36 new businesses created every day in the first half of 2022 – an improvement of 34% compared to the year before. Companies who use coworking space in Manchester can capitalise on this thriving business community by finding an office that facilitates networking. After all, they’ll be situated right on its doorstep.

1. COLONY: best for a busy social calendar

Bank of 10 desks at COLONY Manchester (available with the ‘Branch’ plan)

• Location – Ancoats, Piccadilly, New Islington, and Northern Quarter
• Cheapest coworking plan – £200 for a monthly hot desk (six-month contract)

Still relatively new to the serviced office scene (it was founded in 2017) COLONY is expanding quickly. As the name suggests, COLONY is a group of offices based across six easily-accessible locations – two of which have been added since our last review in May 2023.

Having launched its first co-working space, Jactin House, in the centre of Ancoats, the company has since expanded to include four additional locations, including Piccadilly, One Silk Street, and Colony Flint Glass Works in July.

In October 2023, the company opened its sixth location in New Islington. The space provides nine private suites – the largest with 100 workstations – alongside flexi-desk memberships and four fully-equipped meeting spaces.

Is COLONY right for my business?

COLONY’s USP is its focus on companies in the creative industries, and that’s clearly reflected in its design. One of the downsides of a coworking office is that it can be a bit plain Jane. That critique does not apply to COLONY.

Each of its office spaces goes hard on the aesthetics, with its smart bank of desks sitting in front of painted walls and large, decorative granite pillars. There’s also lots of home comforts with sofas and plush chairs spread about multiple common areas for team catch-ups.

What are the perks?

COLONY might be younger than ten, but it has already pulled together an impressive network of creatives, entrepreneurs, freelancers, startups, and established companies. As such, it has invested heavily in community assets. Community managers host a busy social calendar of weekly events including socials, brunches, and fitness sessions.

And, if you fancy getting out of the office, COLONY has also partnered with some of the best restaurants, bars and shops in the area to organise exclusive discounts for its members.

How much does COLONY cost?

COLONY’s property portfolio might have got bigger, but its prices stay the same. Businesses can spend £200 + VAT for the coworking plan (called ‘Floating Desk’) for access to every COLONY location. However, it costs only £50 more per month for the Dedicated Desk plan, so there is a strong incentive to upgrade.

That said, COLONY’s plans are all based on a six-month long contract. The longer you’ll stay, the cheaper your plan will be, so it’s worth nothing that the month-long plan is very expensive compared to a package lasting six months.

	Dedicated Desk	Floating Desk	Office Space (2-112 people)
£ (6 month contract)	£250 per month	£200 per month	Contact sales
£ (3 month contract)	£275 per month	£220 per month	Contact sales
£ (1 month contract)	£300 per month	£240 per month	Contact sales

	£
Day pass	£20 per month
x10 day passes	£175 per month
x20 day passes	£300 per month

2. Beehive Lofts: best for finding a community

Communal loft area for members at Beehive Lofts

• Location – Jersey Street, Ancoats
• Cheapest coworking plan: £185 for a monthly dedicated desk (2 days in the office per week)

Joining the list of fancy refurbs in Manchester, Beehive Lofts sits in a former Victorian factory, and today is one of the city’s most popular coworking spaces. Its working atmosphere is hard to beat thanks to its swish office desks, back-friendly chairs, and free meeting rooms.

Is Beehive Lofts right for my business?

In terms of networking, Beehive Lofts is best for those who just want to meet other entrepreneurs to build a supportive community of associates and collaborators.

One for the social butterflies, Beehive puts on lots of free events – including wellbeing activities – for you to meet other entpreneurs in a more relaxed setting. The members app is a particularly nice touch. It allows users to find fellow Beehive tenants to chat to.

We’d especially recommend Beehive Lofts to workers in the creative industry. Its desks are 50% bigger, on average, than competitors, which makes it a great option for designers, who often need to work across two monitors.

What are the perks?

Running your own business is hard. That’s why Beehive Lofts will help you kick back after a long day with pool tables, hammocks, sofas, a cinema and even a library. In its single-tiered payment option, you’ll also get:

• Free office supplies
• Free meeting rooms
• Daily cleaning
• 24/1 computer access
• Mail and package handling
• Bottomless drinks
• Bike storage and showers

Perhaps Beehive’s most enticing offer is its free spread of food, made especially for members. Beehive regularly puts on luxury breakfasts of fresh fruit, and hosts shared lunches to ensure members can regularly catch-up.

How much does Beehive Lofts cost?

Previously, Beehive Loft’s USP was that it only offered the one, flat-rate of £295 per tenant, per month. However, in the past four months, the provider has also introduced new, hybrid coworking packages to entice flexible teams.

Companies can pay to work two or three days in the loft, or a full-time seven day membership. It’s options are plenty, but not scalable. For a two-day per week plan, you can expect to pay a massive £185 per month.

Beehive’s simple pricing structure will pay off for those who cannot work from home and need an office full-time. However, those who can might choose a more flexible provider, like Regus, to keep costs down.

Beehive Lofts seven-day plan now costs £295 per month; a slight increase since May 2023, although not as big a jump as rival providers like Flagship Manchester.

	Two days per week	Three days per week	Seven days per week
£	£185 per month	£235 per month	£295 per month

3. Huckletree Ancoats: best for learning and development

Welcome desk overlooking private office space at Huckletree Ancoats

• Location – Ancoats
• Cheapest coworking plan: £175+VAT for monthly hot desk (10 days in the office per month)

Huckletree has lots of different specialisms across its nine sites (based in London, Dublin, and Oslo respectively) and Ancoats’ USP is as a digital and media hub. Located near the home of the BBC in Salford, and a short walk away from Manchester Picadilly station, Huckletree is the ideal home for PR agents and creative agencies.

Is Huckletree right for my business?

Huckletree founder Gaby Hersham started the business in 2014 on the basis that ‘you can’t change the world alone’. Huckletree embodies this ethos with its collaborative mindset and many inspirational training progammes, designed to give members a place to learn, not just to work.

Members can get a hearty discount on Huckletree’s training courses (there are three to choose from, starting with the weekend-long Future Founder Academy). They’ll also get access to peer-groups, and facilitated introductions with useful professional contacts through Huckletree’s Ambassador Network.

As a result, we recommend Huckletree to bold and ambitious founders starting their very first business. The guidance you’ll get is unparalleled, and will ensure you can feel confident in your business knowledge and on the way to success.

What are the perks?

Resident Desk members will get:

• Access to 30 + programmes, workshops, masterclasses, and panels
• Cycling and bike storage
• Printing credits
• Meeting spaces
• Tea, coffee and communal kitchens

How much does Huckletree cost?

Huckletree members can choose between a variety of packages – all of which share the common theme of being very expensive. Private desks will set you back a whopping £325 per month which is more than double Innospace (£150 per month).

Still, the investment is worth it for those who are serious about becoming a successful business owner, thanks to the many learning and development opportunities Huckletree membership brings.

Interestingly, the only price change since May 2023 for Huckletree has been a drop in cost for the provider’s Private Studio plan. This now costs £360 (+VAT) per month, whereas it previously cost £375 per month, and hints towards Huckletree’s growing status as a great option for sole traders just setting out on their business journey.

How much does coworking space in Manchester cost?

According to a survey by Rubberdesk, the median coworking rates across Greater Manchester start from £175 in Bury, while median monthly prices in Manchester City begin at £373 per person. This is decidedly cheaper than London, where coworking spaces cost, on average, £600 per month.

Regus is a good example of the Manchester/London coworking divide. Its cheapest location in Manchester is the centrally located King Street, which costs £135 per month. Meanwhile, the best budget option in London we could find from Regus was in Croydon, costing £185 per month and located an hour away from Euston station.

Historically, coworking providers charge a monthly fee per desk on a pay-as-you-go basis. The amount you pay will depend on the size of the space you are leasing; the services and facilities on offer; and the location of the premises (if you are close to desirable transport links or trendy areas).

That said, whatever the upfront cost, your provider may charge additional fees — such as extra for you to use meeting rooms and printers — although this is typically factored into your membership fee. To avoid surprises, it’s a good idea to ask your provider for a thorough list of all the charges before signing a contract.

How do I find coworking space in Manchester?

The best provider overall for coworking in Manchester is Regus. Whether you’re leasing an entire office floor, or just popping in for the day, you can choose from dozens of prime locations with Regus’ flexible coworking plans.

Coworking spaces are incredibly unique to the provider and offer much more variety than traditional office space. It’s worth taking the time to curate a fun, healthy, inspiring work environment that helps your organisation to thrive. The best providers on the market offer:

• Good value for money
• Collaboration opportunities
• Benefits and perks for employees
• High quality equipment and facilities
• Great city centre locations

Once you’ve decided what you want from your coworking provider — whether networking opportunities, or cheap and cheerful pricing — you should then take time to compare their packages.

For example, do they have hybrid options? Do they have a minimum contract term? Search for the best Regus premises in your area using the below form, and find the best deal for your target criteria: