Review: Inside ClubCo Co-Working Space, Where Working and Eating Intersects

PUBLISHED October 3rd, 2017 06:00 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:57 pm

Looking to turn the concept of co-working on its head is ClubCo, the almost one-year-old spot near China Square Central in Telok Ayer, Singapore’s CBD. Is it worth trying out? What are they offering? This is our take on the co-working outfit.

The Space

As far as shared worked spaces in Singapore go, ClubCo is on the smaller end, occupying one floor within the building’s corner wing. We enter through sister concept Club Meatballs, which opened in 2015, to find a spacious hall that serves as a collaborative area filled with hot desks.

There is an assortment of tables and chairs in various shapes, sizes, and styles on synthetic grass. Some of them hang from the walls and ceilings, which we later discover is part of an art installation by LASALLE, and a series of flower paintings adorn the wall. Three tall trees, along with potted plants, line the space, which rises up 20 metres and features a large skylight. An eclectic workspace that feels like a garden, if any.

The Touchdown section, behind another set of doors, takes a sharp turn in design with geometric carpeted flooring, exposed ceiling pipes, Scandinavian lamps, wide shared tables and ergonomic office chairs. A raised platform brings you up to the dedicated workstations with your own desk space. It’s a fairly tight space that looks more like a traditional office than we’d enjoy, but it is effective.

Office solutions

Not looking for a fixed desk? Go for the aforementioned open Collaborative package (don’t worry, it’s completely sheltered and air-conditioned), which offers flexibility to work anywhere within for $500/month. If you want to try it out first, $50 lets you work anywhere in the collaborative areas for a day.

With the $1000/month Touchdown plan, you’ll have the freedom to work from anywhere in the Touchdown or collaborative space. You’ll also have up to 2 hours meeting space usages. The most premium of the bunch, Dedicated workstations are priced at $1500/month – great if a fixed desk is an essential component of your work.

Each of these packages entitles you to a certain amount of meeting pod and boardroom usage hours, and plus, discounts are available for mid- to long-term commitments.

Food and Drinks

Being the sister concept of Club Meatballs, which opened in 2015, the co-working space is inextricably linked to the bistro. Perhaps the biggest draw of a ClubCo membership is that you can redeem 100% of your fee on food and beverages here. Paying $1000 a month? You’ll also get $1000 in F&B credit every month.

There are meatballs (available in beef, pork, chicken, fish, or falafel) of course, and classic Western fare such as burgers, pastas, salads, and soups. The Pimm’s Cup cocktail we ordered is sweet at best. Was that a one-off bad experience? Perhaps, but for an easy meal right off the bat, it will suffice.

An in-house café at the collaborative area serves coffee with beans from Common Man Coffee Roasters, and an array of toasted sandwiches, salads, fruits, and desserts that can be paid for with your membership. There is also a grab and go chiller that lets you buy home cuts of premium quality Australian beef and lamb, courtesy of The Meat Club – which is a fabulous idea for those too occupied to head to the butchers.

Facilities

ClubCo has two meeting areas that are totally soundproof for your private meetings with an important client. The futuristic-looking Meeting Pod is ideal for smaller meetings while the Boardroom fits up to 12 on its ergonomic seats and includes a Smart TV for web conferences or presentation. If you’re a company with physical products to sell, rent your own display box for $250 a month and showcase your offerings in the dedicated retail room attached to Club Meatballs. And yes, it comes with $250 credit too.

With a system that combines working, eating, and networking, ClubCo has a novel concept for sure, though it is not for everyone. The whole food thing at Club Meatballs (and the inability to bring your own food) will probably not work for us foodies, but there are its perks, including its decent coffee, variety of spaces, and F&B credit programme. But don’t take only our word for it, you’ll want to check this space out yourself.

ClubCo is located at #01-05/06 China Court Singapore 048422 (enter via Club Meatballs on China Street). For enquiries, please call +65 6221 8076 or email to [email protected].