Working from… YMCA Norfolk’s Community Hub, Norwich

One of the perks of working for yourself is being able to work from pretty much anywhere. But finding somewhere with good coffee, reliable Wi-Fi and enough space to actually get some work done isn’t always quite so easy.

That’s why we’re exploring some of Norfolk’s best places for freelancers, remote workers and small business owners to escape the home office, open their laptops and enjoy a change of scenery.

First up, we spent the morning working from YMCA Norfolk’s Community Hub on Aylsham Road in Norwich. 

At a glance

Location: YMCA Norfolk, Aylsham Road, Norwich, NR3 2HF

Type of venue: Community hub and café

Best for: Focused working mornings, catching up on emails, informal meetings and a change of scenery

Price point: £ – reasonably priced food and drinks

Opening hours: 

Monday 8.30am – 3.30pm

Tuesday 8.30am – 3.30pm

Wednesday 8.30am – 3.30pm

Thursday 8.30am – 3.30pm

Friday 8.30am – 3.30pm

Saturday 10am – 3.30pm

Sunday 10am – 3.30pm

Website: YMCA Norfolk

What does it offer?

First impressions

The first thing that stands out about YMCA Norfolk’s Community Hub is that it’s much more than somewhere to grab a coffee.

At the heart of the building is Williams’ Kitchen Café, alongside Muddy Puddles Nursery and Explorers Soft Play. The whole space has been designed to bring people together, and you really get that feeling when you walk in.

There are families coming and going, people meeting friends for coffee, children heading into nursery and others simply enjoying the space.

It’s busy in the way a community hub should be, but there’s still plenty of room to find your own little corner and get on with your day.

And from a practical point of view, the on-site car park makes arriving and settling in refreshingly straightforward.

What’s it like to work from?

One of the biggest positives is the choice of seating.

There are traditional café tables and chairs, booths and comfortable sofas, so whether you’re planning a productive morning at your laptop or a more relaxed catch-up with another freelancer, you’ve got options.

The Wi-Fi was fast, reliable and easy to connect to. The password is clearly displayed too, which saves having to track down a member of staff before you can get started.

There are also plug sockets at some of the tables, particularly around the windows. If you’re planning to work for a few hours and need to keep your laptop charged, it’s worth choosing one of these spots when you arrive.

The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, and we felt perfectly comfortable settling in for a morning of work.

It’s not a silent workspace, and that’s part of its charm. There’s a gentle buzz of people going about their day, but we found it a really enjoyable place to get things done.

Food and drink

Good coffee is an important part of any working morning, and Williams’ Kitchen Café has that covered with Costa Coffee available.

There’s also a good selection of food, from breakfast through to lunch, making it easy to grab something to eat without interrupting your working day too much.

We found the food reasonably priced and the service quick, which is always appreciated when you’ve got a to-do list waiting.

Whether you’re stopping by for a coffee and a couple of hours of emails or planning to stay through lunchtime, there are plenty of options to keep you going.

Is it suitable for calls and meetings?

Yes, depending on what you need.

There are quieter areas within the café where you could comfortably take a quick phone call or have an informal conversation with a client.

For a coffee meeting, freelancer catch-up or a bit of collaborative working, the relaxed atmosphere works really well.

If you need more privacy, perhaps for a confidential conversation, a longer online meeting or something more formal, YMCA Norfolk also has private meeting rooms available to hire.

For those occasions, we’d recommend looking into the meeting room options rather than relying on the café itself.

Getting there

YMCA Norfolk’s Community Hub is located on Aylsham Road in Norwich.

One of the biggest advantages, particularly if you’re travelling in from outside the city, is the on-site parking.

There’s a large car park with plenty of spaces and, importantly, no maximum stay. That means you can settle in for a few hours without worrying about having to move your car halfway through your working morning.

The Hub is also accessible via local bus services along Aylsham Road.

What worked well

There were quite a few things we liked about working from YMCA Norfolk, but these were the standouts:

• Plenty of seating options. Tables, booths and sofas make it easy to find a spot that suits how you like to work.
• Reliable Wi-Fi. Fast, straightforward to connect to and no hunting around for the password.
• Easy parking. Plenty of on-site spaces and no maximum stay is a real bonus.
• Good coffee and food. Costa Coffee and a reasonably priced menu covering breakfast and lunch.
• The community atmosphere. A welcoming space with people from all walks of life coming together.

And there’s another reason to feel good about spending your morning here.

YMCA Norfolk is a local charity supporting young people, families and communities across the county. By choosing to use the Hub and its café, you’re also supporting the work they do.

Things to be aware of

Although there’s plenty of space, this is a community hub rather than a dedicated coworking venue. With a nursery, soft play area and café all under one roof, you can expect people coming and going throughout the day. If you need complete silence to concentrate, it might not be the right setting for every task.

Plug sockets are also limited to certain seating areas, so we’d recommend arriving with a charged laptop or choosing a table near a socket.

And while there are quieter corners for short calls, we’d suggest booking a private meeting room if you’re planning anything confidential or need uninterrupted quiet.

The Lane verdict

Best for: Working mornings, catching up on emails, informal meetings and freelancers who enjoy a bit of background activity.

Probably not ideal for: Anyone needing complete silence, regular confidential calls or guaranteed access to a plug socket.

Our overall experience:

Would we work from YMCA Norfolk again? Absolutely.

It’s welcoming, comfortable and practical, with reliable Wi-Fi, good coffee, plenty of seating and easy parking.

But what really makes it stand out is the atmosphere. There’s something really nice about working somewhere that brings together so many different people, all using the space in their own way.

If you’re a Norfolk freelancer looking for somewhere different to spend a working morning, YMCA Norfolk’s Community Hub is definitely worth adding to your list.

The Lane Remote Working Score

Our scores are based on our experience during this visit.

Wi-Fi: 5/5

Comfort: 5/5

Food and drink: 4/5

Noise level: 4/5

Accessibility: Not scored – further information needed

Value for money: 5/5

Overall: 4.5/5 

Know somewhere we should visit next?

Norfolk is full of brilliant places to work, meet and connect, and we’re on a mission to discover more of them.

Whether it’s a cosy independent café, a hotel lounge, a coworking space or somewhere a little unexpected, we’d love to hear your recommendations.

Where’s your favourite place to work from in Norfolk?

Get in touch with The Lane and tell us where we should take our laptops next.

Find your lane. Find your people.