Sick of working from home? You could try the pub instead!

Two county pubs are offering a work space in their local
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For some people going to the pub during work hours could be a dream come true - and now that dream is a reality as two Northamptonshire pubs are hiring out work spaces so that those working from home during the coronavirus pandemic can have a change of scenery.

The Woolpack Inn in Islip, and the Beeswing pub in Kettering, are even throwing in unlimited tea and coffee and free superfast Wifi for eight hours, to anyone who wants to book a table.

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Since the initiative was announced, calls have been flooding in to the Woolpack pub which also offers bed and breakfast, so that workers can stay the whole week if they want to.

The Woolpack’s restaurant manager Dan Guest, 24, said: “We wanted something positive rather than negative to come out of coronavirus and we have been astonished by the response.

"People have said they want to come and work from the pub to get away from their homes and others have said they want to come to the pub to get away from the partners and kids, as well as for the free tea and coffee.

“It's going very well. People like to have their lunch here too. We have already had two men book tables once a week for every week until next March.

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“As well as the pub having had to close during lockdown, we have had some quieter periods, so we are hoping this will also increase our business as well as offering people a change of scenery.”

The Woolpack at IslipThe Woolpack at Islip
The Woolpack at Islip

Amie Craddock, from Irchester, is a regular at The Woolpack and is hoping to run her Slimming World business from there.

Amie, 39, said: “It is a brilliant idea. This is my dream location. I have been working from home during lockdown with my three young sons, aged two, six and nine, and I need to get out.

"I feel as though it will be a safe place away from home with some peace and quiet but also it will be nice to see some other humans. I also like tea so I am very excited and can’t wait to book in.”

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Tables can be booked for £10 per day on weekdays from 9am to 5pm.

Dan Guest working from the pubDan Guest working from the pub
Dan Guest working from the pub

Student nurse Gemma Farr, 30, from Ringstead, said: “I have been studying from home for the last five months and I’ve just been told that’s likely to continue for some time so I am ready for a change of scenery.

"I have three noisy dogs and a partner who likes to watch football 24/7 so it’s difficult for me to concentrate on work at home. Having free fast WiFi in the pub will also be a bonus. I am definitely going to try it out.”

Director of the Woolpack and Beeswing pubs, Darren Harding, said: “It's going quite well. We are lucky because both pubs have a lot of space and we are extremely Covid secure, with solid wooden screens that match the decor. Everyone who come in feels really happy

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"We have a wood burner at the Woolpack and two fires at the Beeswing. We want to give people somewhere else to go other than the same four walls they have been looking at since lockdown and £10 a day for a table in our pubs including free tea and coffee and WiFi is a big attraction.”

Slimming World consultant Amie CraddockSlimming World consultant Amie Craddock
Slimming World consultant Amie Craddock

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