Here in Chipping Barnet we have good form for imaginative use of empty space on the High Street. You might remember the stylish pop-up shop 89 show-casing local creative talent that evolved into Room 89 around the corner in Union Street. We now have Chipping Work Shop in the old Foxtons premises.

The same local forces are behind Chipping Work Shop – the Chipping Barnet Town including Gail Laser of Love Barnet. This community co-working space is available to small local businesses at affordable rates until next spring.

The eye-catching bar area at the front has been featuring the delicious range of brews from New Barnet based micro-brewery, Urban Alchemy (Thursday and Friday 6pm to midnight and Saturday and Sunday 2pm to midnight), as well as goodies and hot drinks from Donna at Blonde Bakes (day-time Monday to Friday). At the back there is desk space and, at the rear, the outdoor Food Yard with a tasty selection of street food from regular pop-ups Valerie’s West Indian and Wee Creperie.

Traders currently include clothes from Portobello Road Princess (with Louise Franco who you might recognise from The Present gift shop that used to be near Hadley Green) and handmade chainmail jewellery from Emma Hawkins’ Trinket Fairy Designs. It’s a great place for a browse and it’s also a great place for relaxing over a very decent pint (or two).

The Chipping Work Shop is a well located, versatile space and to find out how it could be suitable for you and your business, please check the Town Team website or email Helen.harte@communitybarnet.org.uk.