Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting The Fisheries in Hackney, where I was given a private tour by its founder, Hugo Warner. Just seven minutes from Liverpool Street Station by train, 13 minutes by bicycle, or just over half an hour on foot—a scenic walk through some of the most vibrant parts of East London—The Fisheries epitomises what the modern built environment should offer businesses today: purpose, passion, and productivity.
A Vision Rooted in Hospitality and Innovation
Hugo Warner is no stranger to creating spaces that bring people together. As co-founder of Benugo, the acclaimed café, restaurant, and catering brand, he played a pivotal role in reshaping workplace and public-space dining across the UK. From 1997 to 2010, Hugo helped grow Benugo into a widely respected hospitality business, establishing vibrant cafés in cultural institutions like the V&A, the British Museum, and the Natural History Museum. His vision has always been about more than just serving food—it’s about creating experiences, fostering community, and designing environments where people feel comfortable, engaged, and inspired.
That same ethos is at the heart of The Fisheries. This isn’t just a co-working space—it’s a carefully curated environment where businesses, freelancers, and creatives can thrive. Hugo has taken his deep-rooted hospitality expertise and applied it to the built environment, crafting a workspace that encourages interaction, collaboration, and genuine connection.
Beyond Office Space: A Community-Led Approach
From ambitious startups to established organisations, The Fisheries provides more than just office space—it cultivates a genuine community, fostering innovation, collaboration, and meaningful interactions. As Hugo explained, “People want to engage with each other. For example, if you’re a small startup business with perhaps four people, there’s going to be a moment when you crave the opportunity to step out of your small group and interact with others not in your bubble.”
At The Fisheries, that opportunity is built into the very fabric of the space. Whether through its varied workspaces—hot desking, dedicated desks, or private offices—or the regular community initiatives, such as workers’ lunches, networking events, and fitness sessions, there’s a natural flow that encourages connection.
A Built Environment with Long-Term Viability
Something I have endorsed for many years is the belief that “the workplace environment is essentially a hotel without bedrooms.” I’ve said this on numerous occasions—on podcasts, in interviews, and in conversations with industry leaders. It’s a philosophy that recognises that a workplace should offer more than just a desk and a chair; it should welcome, engage, and support the people who use it every day.
The Fisheries approach absolutely brings this to life. It’s a workspace designed around hospitality principles—where comfort, experience, and human interaction are just as important as functionality. It’s not just about providing a desk; it’s about creating an environment that inspires productivity, fosters relationships, and makes people want to come to work.
This aligns closely with the insights of Debra Ward, a highly respected workplace strategist, who has highlighted in previous articles and posts that employees make an investment to come to their place of work—whether through travel costs, childcare, or time spent commuting. In return, it is imperative that their workplace recognises that investment and provides an environment that is effective, engaging, and productive—all of which The Fisheries delivers with ease. A workplace should not just accommodate employees but reward their decision to be there, ensuring they feel valued, motivated, and empowered to do their best work.
Scaling a Model That Works
Beyond its welcoming atmosphere, The Fisheries represents something even more significant—the potential for a built environment model that delivers long-term value, both for its members and for property owners. The team at Uncommon Sense Ltd. (finduncommonsense.com) can clearly envisage how the unique approach adopted by Hugo and his team could be scaled beyond Hackney.
A well-designed, community-led workspace isn’t just a trend—it’s a sustainable and commercially sound property model. By prioritising human experience and engagement, this approach transforms a building into more than just a place of work; it becomes a viable, stable asset that continues to attract tenants, retain businesses, and drive long-term success. It’s this blend of purpose, passion, and commercial viability that makes The Fisheries an exceptional example of how the built environment should evolve.
At Uncommon Sense, we believe in fostering these types of connections—helping visionary operators, landlords, and businesses collaborate to create workspaces that are not only fit for today but built for the future. If this kind of approach resonates with you, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d welcome the opportunity to explore how this model could be expanded and how we can help forge the right connections to turn great spaces into thriving business ecosystems.
Let’s Talk
📩 Email: simon@finduncommonsense.com
📞 Call: +44 7967 664497
🌐 Website: finduncommonsense.com
For more about The Fisheries, visit: thefisheries.london.
