Our co-working space opens for London agencies, film production and post production.

The Nest, respectfully open to creatives only.

We ARE a creative business, we DID purchase commercial property in E1 London, we DID fit it out, we HAVE moved in, and we want to SHARE this neutral, beautifully designed production equipped co-working space with other likeminded individuals and businesses in the film production and photography industry.

All our creative industry backgrounds along with my 18 years’ experience as an editorial photographer offered us little knowledge in commercial real estate acquisition and fit out. However, the steep learning curve did not put off the team here at Cherryduck and with the help of Facebook HQ architects Gensler, our dream has been realised.

Cherryduck film studios, and now production, post production and co-working office spaces near Tower Bridge are constantly under the gaze of the developers who circle overhead waiting for a gathering of creative businesses, artists and photographers to make an area ‘cool’ by just being here. It’s a well-trodden path, given the chance they look to pounce on the area for redevelopment and profit, and indeed existing landlords demand 400% rent increases as the old short leases expire.

To head them off at the pass we have secured 125 year leases on our property with the help of a standard mortgage from the Royal Bank Of Scotland.

Tear it back, a successful creative team starts with culture. Developing a culture in a business with the huge financial pressures of being based in central London is not easy, especially when you are proud to say that you are a ‘one stop shop’ for TV and online video content.

Cherryduck has been successful due to our culture, and now operating from an uber inspiring workspace that we own, can only add to our creative impact in the advertising and film industry sector.

Our co-working creative business neighbours also work alongside us, growing organically, and at their own pace with their own realistic targets. They do not have to worry about a business crippling price hike after a lease expires or at worse, moving out and all the set-up costs and overheads that come with relocation.

Having industry specific onsite agencies, producers, directors, editors, VFX artists, photographers etc. with their own businesses, leverages our trading and vice-versa, this synergy coupled with a standard property mortgage negates the need to charge unreasonable desk space hire rates.

Having specialists in many fields of creative production offers a virtual superstar company based in an eyebrow raising environment that will underwrite any client concerns about supplier scope and delivery.

It’s true, the 14,000 square feet of space that we own the 125 year leases on, would work well for the commercial rental market with tenants such as a supermarket, a high-end gym or city financial business. It’s also true that a developer described our decision to change the property from residential use to commercial use as "developer suicide!" It was in fact, difficult to ignore the fast profit being offered by the various developers and London estate agents that came to see us after we surfaced with the purchased property.

In the end, the decision was clear, selling the property may make a quick and healthy profit, but where does that leave our co-workers and the team at Cherryduck? We all love what we do here, we would still need a home for our business.

All those people that rattle on about the ‘end game’ are missing the point. It’s not about paying off ones mortgage quickly, buying a Rolex and getting bored in retirement. It’s about the ride, life is not a rehearsal, right? Most of us agree that the opportunity to make a living doing what we love is a very privileged and sought after place to be.

I look out of The Nest window here and see The Gherkin and various other hyper-intense London City financial organisations and think how lucky we are enjoying every minute of what we do, and without feeling the need to look for a fast buck and quick escape route to early retirement.

It’s not to say that our property will never get snapped up, it surely will happen in the end. Right now, and for the long term, Cherryduck, The Nest and its co-working business residents are safe and secure from the square footage crazed London property speculators. We will continue to do what we love here in our part of London and promote our creative culture unhindered in our competitive, yet wholly fulfilling industry.

We have just opened The Nest, and have room to spare, please get in touch if you are interested in joining us.

hello@thenest.space