I spent the afternoon remote working from a Derby care home and it honestly felt like a 5-star London hotel

I love working from home and its many benefits including zero commute, homemade lunches, and relaxed ensembles that banish suits and formal attire to the back of my wardrobe.

I do however like to switch up my WFH routine, as I sometimes like the bustling atmosphere of a busy café, depending on my news list for the day.

I was in conversation with a lovely lady who I was interviewing for a Christmas card feature when I made an epic discovery.

There is a co-working space nearby, in the most unlikely of places… a care home.

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Derby Heights on Rykneld Road, Littleover has a Professionals Hub which welcomes people to work remotely.

I have a list of places where I rock up to work remotely from, including local cafes, but I have never worked remotely from a care home.

It is a unique co-working space and to be honest, I didn’t know what to expect before I walked through the doors.

It was on a blisteringly cold Wednesday that I found myself at Derby Heights Care Home.  Tucked away near Nuffield Health, the care home is a short walk from the main road.

All visitors and remote workers sign in and are escorted to the co-working space by staff, prioritising residents' safety and wellbeing at all times.

After signing in, I - along with another person who is a frequent user of the Professionals Hub who had coincidentally arrived at the same time as me - was escorted upstairs by staff. 

I am very rarely left speechless. The co-working space at Derby Heights felt like a high-end, upmarket hotel in London.

It is replete with floor-to-ceiling windows letting the winter sunshine stream onto your back, expensively upholstered Italian-style chairs, walnut wood tables, luxe lighting and a log fire feature.

The exquisitely decorated Christmas tree adorned with beautiful baubles and fairy lights is just the icing on the Christmas cake. 

I remember hotel bar-hopping in London one time and the interior décor is similar to that of five-star luxury hotel The Langham in London.

Serious thought has gone into making Derby Heights Professionals Hub a welcoming space that you somehow can’t keep away from - I had planned on working for a few hours there but spent over five hours tapping away at my laptop. 

If you get hungry or thirsty, there is a café bar which serves a mean bean-to-cup coffee, a fridge stocked with milk and chilled water, plus a range of muffins in a cloche. 

There is a good selection of power points scattered around the room and the free and fast WiFi means work can be completed efficiently. 

This is easily one of the best co-working spaces I have seen not only in Derby but perhaps the entire country. 

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Speaking about the motivations behind the Professionals Hub, Laura Wood, customer service manager at Derby Heights Care Home - Avery Healthcare, said: "Derby Heights is very keen to support local professionals, so we have created the co-working space that is friendly and inviting. 

“It is a warm, comfortable area for them to work where they can use our facilities free of charge as they deal with paperwork or work from their laptops in space.

“We want to welcome professionals in because it’s good for our residents, who also access the working space and who may want to chat. 

“The more visitors we have, the better, as our Professionals Hub creates a community feel and spirit, which is nice for our residents."

Derby's best kept secret

Throughout my remote working time, I saw two groups use the working space. 

There was also a quiz session where children from a nearby school sat in the lounge area with some residents who wanted to participate in the festivities.

As I heard laughter of residents and children ringing out over the frosted glass panels, I realised the hard work of the staff has come to fruition.

They have created a space that is welcoming and fun, first and foremost for their residents, plus children too.

Their Professionals Hub appears to be Derby’s best-kept secret, but not for long. 

I have added Derby Heights to my list of top places to rock up to, for remote work and I honestly cannot believe how beautiful it is there. 

The facilities are free to use for professionals, however if you like, feel free to make a donation in the money box at reception, because working from ‘the office’ has never been such a glorious treat. 

Address: Derby Heights Care Home, Rykneld Road, Littleover, Derby DE23 4BU

For more information about Derby Heights Care Home visit their website by clicking here.