Spike Island is celebrating the ending of England’s lockdown restrictions with a brand refresh and a relaunch of its creative co-working space – which it hopes can play a role in supporting Bristol’s small businesses out of the pandemic.

While Spike Island’s public gallery spaces were forced to close for the majority of the last year during the three lockdowns, in addition to rescheduling its exhibitions programme for when the restrictions lifted, the team has also been busy refurbishing and redesigning its co-working space, Spike Design.

Director Robert Leckie says: “Although Spike Island is best known for its galleries and artists’ studios, the building has also been providing affordable workspace for small creative businesses since 2007 in our co-working space, Spike Design. We have a long history and experience of supporting Bristol’s cultural and creative industries.

“As we navigate out of the pandemic, we recognise that people may feel differently about how they want to run their business. We have used the last few months to refurbish the workspace and we are relaunching it with a new name to reflect the fact that it’s not just for designers – we get a broad range of creative industry businesses in here. It will now be called Spike Island Workspace.

“We believe that we offer the most flexible and affordable creative workspace in Bristol, and we look forward to seeing familiar faces and new ones joining us to grow their business and be part of our dynamic community. We’re excited to support Bristol’s creative businesses and play an important role in the recovery of the city’s vibrant arts and creative sector.”

The newly named workspace relaunches with a new brand identity, including a new logo designed from gestural letterforms – almost pencil sketches – to honour the history of the workspace, along with a playful and warm colour scheme to compliment the architecture and atmosphere of this unique workspace within a former tea packing factory. This rebrand coincides with a wider project aiming to bring clarity to the many different aspects of Spike Island’s offer to the creative sector.

Spike Island Workspace memberships are only £165 per month (ex. VAT) with just a two-month minimum term. The price includes 24/7 access, business rates, internet and utilities, kitchen facilities, and there is the option of additional storage. The workspace aims to be accessible for all, with level access from the main entrance, disabled street parking, disabled access toilets and showers.