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Cat Johnson – Coworking Marketing Maven
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Jonathan Price – CRE & Flex Expert
Jeremy Fennema – Tech Innovation Alchemist
Another London location has been slashed as part of WeWork’s ongoing efforts to reduce costs and recover from its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the U.S.
According to the Evening Standard, the commercial site known as “The Cursitor” in Holborn, London, is currently in exit negotiations; customers have been informed of its impending closure. The decision reportedly follows the closure of three other WeWork sites in Shoreditch, London.
In total, WeWork’s London presence is reported to have shrunk from a peak of 50 sites to 35, despite a growing demand for coworking spaces in the U.K., overall. The shrinking amount of office square footage from WeWork reflects the dramatic transformation and downsizing efforts of the company.
WeWork’s financial challenges reached a tipping point when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. — weighed down by nearly $3 billion in long-term debt, organizational issues, and leadership switch-ups.
Since bankruptcy proceedings have begun, the company has initiated massive lease negotiations as it works to improve its balance sheet as part of its global restructuring efforts.
WeWork’s recent struggles have made major headlines related to one of the leases the company plans on exiting from in London. However, the company’s chief revenue officer, Ben Samuels, reassures members that the experience within their spaces remains vibrant, according to The Evening Standard.
As interest in flexible workspaces increases, organizations in the U.K. are now more than ever evaluating the necessity and scale of their physical office spaces, and this can be seen in market movement in London. According to data published by The Instant Group, the top market for flexible desk demand in 2023 was London.
WeWork growth patterns don’t reflect the many growth trends experienced by other leaders in the industry. Instead, WeWork’s move to severe ties with many of its London locations shows that the company is moving forward with plans to downsize in certain markets this year.
