Best Places to Work Remotely in South Shields

Working from home suits most days, but sometimes the kitchen table loses its charm. A change of scene, a decent coffee and the low hum of other people can do wonders for concentration. South Shields does not have a big coworking scene, but it does have one genuinely excellent free option in the heart of town, plus a handful of cafes within a few minutes' walk of the Metro. Here is where to set up for a morning or a full day.

The Word

If you only remember one place from this guide, make it The Word at 45 Market Place. The National Centre for the Written Word is a striking circular building that combines the town's main library with exhibitions, a FabLab and a rooftop viewing terrace over the Tyne, and admission is free.

For remote workers it ticks several boxes at once. The library holds more than 70,000 books, and members of South Tyneside Libraries get two hours of free computer access through the People's Network, which is handy if your own laptop lets you down or you need to print something. You don't have to live locally to join; non-members can pay for computer time or take out temporary membership with ID.

The building keeps generous hours: Monday to Thursday 9am to 7pm, Friday 9am to 5pm, and weekends 10am to 4pm, so an after-work session is genuinely possible early in the week. Café @ The Word, open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 6.30pm, serves breakfasts, lunches and snacks with river views from inside and from the terrace, so you can break for lunch without packing up and leaving.

Best for: Free entry, library and computer access, long weekday hours and a cafe on site.

Town-centre chain cafes

Sometimes you just want somewhere predictable, and the two big coffee chains both have branches within a short walk of the transport interchange on Keppel Street.

Costa Coffee, Waterloo Square

Costa Coffee sits among the shops at Waterloo Square in the middle of the town centre. It is a comfortable sit-in branch with the familiar menu of coffees, sandwiches and pastries, and chain branches like this are generally relaxed about people settling in with a laptop outside the lunchtime rush.

Best for: A familiar, central option for an hour or two between errands.

Caffè Nero, King Street

A few minutes away on the pedestrianised King Street, Caffè Nero offers the usual Nero espresso, panini and cakes in a relaxed sit-in setting. It is a sensible fallback if Costa is busy, and handy if you are combining a work session with shopping.

Best for: A reliable second choice on the main shopping street.

Independent cafes

South Shields' independents are smaller and more personal than the chains, so the usual etiquette applies: buy something every hour or two, avoid the lunchtime peak if you need a big table, and don't take a four-seater for one person and a laptop when it's busy.

Cafe 42

Cafe 42 on Chapter Row is a compact independent coffee shop just off the town centre, known for its speciality coffee, sandwiches and afternoon tea boxes. Its size makes it better for a short, focused session with a good cup of coffee than for a full day.

Best for: Good coffee for a short morning session close to the Market Place.

Charleston's Coffee House

Charleston's Coffee House on Mile End Road is an independent cafe close to the town centre, serving brunch and lunch. If you want to start the day with a proper breakfast before opening the laptop, it is a handy spot within easy reach of the Metro.

Best for: Brunch first, then a few hours of work, near the town centre.

Sea Change Cafe

Further along towards the seafront, Sea Change Cafe at 158 Ocean Road is a social enterprise cafe and arts venue that provides supported employment for autistic and disabled adults. The menu is vegetarian and vegan friendly, with homemade cakes and regularly changing exhibitions on the walls. Spending your coffee budget here does some good too, and Ocean Road is a pleasant change of scene from the town centre if you fancy a walk to the beach at lunchtime.

Best for: A feel-good spend with art on the walls, a short walk from the seafront.

The Customs House

Down by the river at Mill Dam, The Customs House is best known as South Tyneside's arts centre, with a theatre, cinema and galleries. It also has a restaurant and bar, which makes it a characterful place to meet a client or colleague for a coffee and a chat with views over the Tyne, rather than a spot for a heads-down day of work. Check what is on before you go, as matinees and events can make it busier.

Best for: A characterful riverside spot for an informal meeting.

Coworking and business space

South Shields does not currently have a dedicated drop-in coworking space with day passes that we can recommend. If you need a regular desk, office or enterprise unit rather than a cafe table, the council's business team and the local enterprise agency TEDCO are the best people to ask; our guide to business support in South Shields has the details. The town is also well connected by Metro and the Shields Ferry if you want to reach the wider Tyneside coworking market.

Looking for somewhere for a coffee rather than a working day? Our round-up of the best coffee shops in South Shields covers the seafront favourites too.

Tips for working remotely in South Shields

• Start at The Word. It is free, central and open into the evening Monday to Thursday, so it makes a natural base with cafes nearby for a change of scene.
• Join the library. South Tyneside Libraries membership unlocks free computer time at The Word, and it costs nothing to sign up.
• Mind the lunch rush. Smaller independents fill up from around midday, so plan calls and big-table work for mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
• Use the Metro. The town-centre venues in this guide are all a short walk from the transport interchange.

Know another laptop-friendly spot in South Shields, or a coworking space we've missed? Let us know via our contact page.