A pioneering startup called Patch will be opening a new neighborhood destination in Twickenham next week on September 21st. The aim of this endeavor is to ignite the high street and provide locals with a place to work near home, thus reinvesting their time, money, and talent into their community. This new location will be Patch’s largest yet, housed in one of Twickenham’s historic Art Deco buildings. Additionally, it will bring 250 new jobs to the area, fostering a sense of entrepreneurship and community.
Twickenham was chosen as the ideal location for Patch due to its array of independent businesses and its creative spirit. Patch has plans for UK-wide expansion and aims to have a presence on every high street in every major town. These neighborhood ventures offer design-led spaces for various work uses, as well as community and cultural events.
The new destination in Twickenham features a 3,500 sq ft ground floor public access space. Within this space, there will be Café Arora, run by local resident Sheetal Arora, serving Indian street-food. Additionally, there will be a multi-purpose events studio, a local makers market, and a podcast studio. This venue will host a wide range of community and cultural events, including inspiring talks, supper clubs, sports clubs, business workshops, networking events, and crafts classes.
The extensive redevelopment of this space was made possible through support from Richmond Council and the South London Partnership, who secured funding via the BIG South London program. A central aspect of Patch’s vision for working near home is providing access to excellent workspaces and job opportunities close to people’s homes. To accommodate different working schedules, Patch offers flexible memberships, making them suitable for hybrid workers, working parents, growing SMEs, and those entering the workforce for the first time.
Freddie Fforde, the founder and CEO of Patch, stated, “Where, when, and how we work has changed. We call it the ‘Work Near Home’ era, and it’s based on our belief that spending more time in our local community is key to creating happier societies, healthier high streets, and greater opportunities for all.” He emphasized the importance of having a space to work, interact with others, and feel productive, all while being close enough to engage in local activities.
Patch’s new neighborhood destination in Twickenham aims to ignite the high street, promote community and culture, and provide accessible workspaces and job opportunities near people’s homes. By reinvesting time, money, and talent into their local community, individuals can contribute to the growth and prosperity of their surroundings. With plans for UK-wide expansion, Patch envisions a future with a Patch location on every high street in every major town.
