Businesses in Copthall Bridge House were told they needed to get out 4 November 2018, following a communication sent to them on the 24 October 2018 from Regus.
Copthall Bridge House is owned by CEG and was, in-part, sub-let to Regus for flexible office space.
A spokesperson for CEG said that Regus took a lease for two storeys of the three-storey Copthall Bridge House in 2013 and sub-let this space. The lease was due to expire in mid-November.
They say they had been liaising with CEG for 6 months and had verbally agreed new terms. They haven’t given CEG a reason for leaving.
Antonia Martin-Wright from CEG said:
We were surprised to hear that Regus wishes to vacate the building. We were of the impression Regus were expanding at Copthall Bridge House as we were in advanced discussions to renew the lease and for them to potentially take further space, so this news comes as a shock to us to.
CEG is committed to offices in Harrogate and are deeply concerned about the effect on local businesses.
Richard Morris, CEO at Regus, said:
We are very disappointed to confirm the closure of our Regus business centre in Harrogate, having tried so hard in recent months to secure a new lease from the property owner.
Our primary concern at this time is to minimise the disruption to our valued customers, who will be most impacted.
We are working hard to explore various alternative Regus locations as a solution and will keep an open line of communication with them. Customers with any queries should contact the on-site centre team, who will be able to provide further support.
In the communication to tenants, Regus cited a doubling of the rent from CEG and the operation had become non-profit making and that tenants would be offered offices at alternative Regus sites in Leeds and York.
Local Harrogate digital marketing agency, Zelst Limited, has offered to help in the best way they can.
Peter Van Zelst, Managing Director of Zelst Limited:
We are currently only a team of eight people, with lovely modern spacious offices here in Harrogate, which give us the flexibility to grow, however after hearing the awful news about Regus evicting many small businesses, we all felt compelled to help in any way we could, and would like to offer space to any Digital Creatives that have been forced out of their office space.
Having recently expanded to their office space on East Parade at the end of 2017, the agency has created a sociable, creative, flexible working space with various breakout areas – they can be contacted at the Zelst Limited offices on 52 East Parade Harrogate, 01423 701711 or send an email to info@zelst.co.uk
