A new “third space” for North Dorset offers a sustainable, community-driven solution which is reshaping rural business for local entrepreneurs
Tucked away in the North Dorset village of Hinton St Mary, Hinton Workspace offers a new, practical solution for Dorset’s small business owners who face the challenges of working in rural settings.
Built around 1880, the workspace building was once the old carpenters workshop for the Hinton St Mary estate. In the late 1990s it was let to a global furniture maker, Poisedale, which continued the carpentry tradition, making furniture there until 2015. Since then, the building has remained empty and near derelict.
Led by Alice Fox-Pitt, the innovative co-working space transforms the disused building into more than just a place to work: it’s a community-focused response to the loneliness and limitations of rural homeworking, providing an affordable and practical alternative to traditional office rental.
‘When you’re looking at renovating and trying to do a business plan for a building like this, it feels completely insane,’ Alice says. ‘The biggest hurdle is just starting, actually – it’s so overwhelming. I’m surprised we weren’t locked up just for the sheer craziness of what we proposed.’
That ‘crazy’ plan made a stunning facility, marrying functionality with aesthetics, while maintaining a deep respect for the building’s industrial roots and rural heritage.
‘I really believe that Dorset business and Dorset entrepreneurs deserve to have a space like this,’ says Alice. ‘It’s not obvious – it’s not until you step inside that you realise what it is. It’s actually almost impossible for us to really showcase what we’ve achieved unless you come!’
Despite the challenges, Alice pushed ahead with the aim of creating a space where Dorset entrepreneurs could work and connect.
A better version
Hinton Workspace is part of a growing trend of regeneration of old farm buildings, giving them a new lease of life. At its core is a focus on sustainability. Powered by solar panels and air-source heat pumps, it operates as close to carbon-neutral as possible. ‘Future-proofing was really important to us,’ says Alice, explaining the environmental considerations behind the project.
The workspace started as an idea addressing a key lesson from the pandemic: the need for social connection and accountability. ‘If we learnt anything from COVID, it’s that we’re not our best selves at home,’ Alice says. ‘As humans, we need accountability, social connection and a reason to brush our hair and get out of our pyjamas. When we step out of our houses, we present a better version of ourselves.’
Drawing on the Victorian concept of a “third space” – not home, not office, but something in between, where the Victorian businessman would have had his club – Hinton Workspace offers exactly that: a welcoming, well-designed space that encourages focus and collaboration.
Larger communal hot-desking areas provide an opportunity for company and networking, while soundproof pods and break-out rooms provide privacy and space for meetings. The Long Room on the top floor can seat 30, and has full digital conferencing facilities.
A YES space
Membership is £225 a month, offering 24/7 access to a range of features tailored to improve productivity. ‘Obviously the kitchen is fully equipped, and there are always pastries and fruit available,’ says Alice. ‘We’ve got the practical office stuff like a printer that prints A3. But it’s more than that. We’ve got an associated dog walker (and dogs are always welcome!). We’re putting in padel courts. We’ve got electric car chargers. We’ve got showers, so you can cycle in. We’ll take your laundry … We’re a “yes” space. We’ve tried to counter all the reasons why you wouldn’t come.’
Unlike traditional office rentals, which can feel just as isolating as your kitchen table, Hinton Workspace encourages community and connection. ‘It’s not intimidating or exclusive,’ Alice says. ‘I hope it’s a place where you can come, feel comfortable, and focus.’ For many, leaving the distractions of home behind and working in a thoughtfully designed space has a direct impact on productivity and creativity.
Alice’s long-term vision for Hinton Workspace extends beyond providing desks and meeting rooms. ‘We want to deliver for Dorset business,’ she says. ‘We’re listening and adapting. How can we help you as an individual, you as a business? What can we deliver for Dorset business? The goal is to build a genuine community of rural entrepreneurs, offering not just facilities but a support network.’
Hinton Workspace is an example of how unused spaces can be re-purposed to meet the changing needs of rural workers.
For business owners in North Dorset, it offers a chance to move beyond isolation and find a better balance between work and life.
