Why offices with cocktail bars, yoga studios and golf simulators are becoming the norm for Yorkshire businesses

According to Amanda Cook, founder of Leeds-based commercial interior design firm, Design Tonic, there has been a shift away from cramming as many people into the office as possible.

"Pre-covid it was about getting as many bums on seats as you could. The majority of the office would be desk space, with a bit of break-out space and meeting rooms thrown in,” she told The Yorkshire Post.

"Now desk space has become less important. Offices used to be 60-70 per cent desk space. Now modern offices are made up of 30 per cent desks and the rest is meeting rooms and break-out areas. A kitchen with a couple of seats isn’t good enough any more,” she said.

In recent months, Design Tonic has designed offices with yoga studios, cocktail bars, poker rooms, a bowling alley and even a golf simulator.

“It’s very common for people to request games areas at the moment,” Ms Cook said.

When Leeds-based recruitment firm Mackenzie Stuart moved into 6 Wellington Place in February 2023, it focused on creating a balance between work and social space.

The firm’s 7,500 sq ft of office space includes meeting rooms, quiet pods, video conferencing spaces, co-working space and private offices, while a further 4,500 sq ft is social space providing a yoga studio, pool tables, casual dining areas, chill-out areas and a golf simulator.

"Recruitment is about attracting the best talent and it’s very competitive,” Ms Cook said.

"The golf simulator was complicated,” she added. “Not only did we have to take the ceiling out, we had to lower the floor because it needed a certain depth and height.”

Another tech client in Leeds fell in love with a building but wanted one open plan floor. When they had to take two floors, Design Tonic cut a giant hole between the floors and connected them with an ampitheatre.

"People are willing to embrace extreme design ideas to make things work,” said Ms Cook.

"There’s an element of gimmick when it comes to some of these things but with the golf simulator it’s used every single day.”

Even traditional sectors like law firms are recognising the need to change.

Last year Wrigleys Solicitors decided to modernise the offices it has occupied at Wellington Place in Leeds for the last 20 years – replacing individual offices with a big open plan space and a large kitchen that is the heart of the business.

Ms Cook said: "For legal and accountancy businesses it’s a massive change but they know they’ve got to offer great facilities to attract the best staff. It’s not just about salary any more. People want a great place to work as well.”

She added: "I don’t see that changing in the foreseeable future. People don’t just come to the office to work. They come to see people.”

Many clients are also moving towards environmentally-friendly office fit-outs, requesting recycled carpets and eco-friendly flooring, fabric and wall coverings.

"I do think design will become more green focused,” said Ms Cook.