A new co-working space for creative business owners and freelancers is set to open on Machen Street in the coming weeks. 

Milkshed, which is owned by John Davies, 33, a graphic designer and magazine publisher, and his partner Will Summers, a musician and tutor, will offer six workspaces across two storeys. 

The three spaces downstairs are self-contained units with their own kitchens and bathrooms. Upstairs, there are two rooms with shared bathrooms and kitchens as well as one room which will have four separate desks. 

Milkshed will offer six workspaces across two storeys at its Machen Street location. (Image credit: John Davies)

Mr Davies tells Penarth Nub News where the name for the co-working space originates. "I've always wanted to pay homage to the history of everything we do," he said. "We looked back at the street directories for Penarth over the decades and, I believe it was 1895 and 1927 that those directories had a milkman living at 1 Machen Street.  

"We're [Milkshed] is in 1a just behind it, which was once the coach house where the milkman would have stored his horses and the odd churn of milk, so that's where the name came from!" 

Opening the co-working space is an opportunity for Mr Davies and Mr Summers to plan for their future, as well as offer home workers a sociable resolution to remote working. "We needed a space to call our own and there's also a gap in the market for this kind of thing," he said. 

"The size of the property lent itself to creating a small business creative hub and, even though we haven't opened yet, it's already generated a lot of interest and comments along the lines of Penarth needs something like this."  

Home workers in Penarth can enjoy a sociable resolution to remote working at Milkshed. (Image credit: John Davies)

Both freelancers and small business owners have expressed significant interest in Milkshed, where they can work in a space close to home and comfortably walk into Penarth town centre on breaks and after work, with good transport links and on-street parking. "Companies are closing city centre offices and encouraging hybrid or working from home models," said Mr Davies.  

"People may work remotely but they don't want to work from home, from their coffee tables with all the disturbances that come with that. It's also better for the planet to work where you live."  

Flexibility is another key factor to what Milkshed can offer, such as 24-hour access for people to work as they need to. Mr Davies added: "We're early in our building project journey, so we can change the specifications of the rooms and make changes such as fitting carpets – we can work that in.  

Milkshed will offer 24-hour access for people to work as they need to. (Image credit: John Davies)

"There's a really creative and fantastic small business community in Penarth and a lot of people would really benefit from this to bring small, creative business owners together." 

Mr Davies and Mr Summers are hoping Milkshed will be ready to open by July 4. 

Mr Davies is also the managing editor of Penarth View, a quarterly magazine which has recently expanded into three other areas: Cowbridge, Roath and Pontcanna.  

Tours of the Milkshed space can be arranged with Mr Davies directly. 

If you are interested in renting a space or finding out more about Milkshed, call Mr Davies on 07775436096 or email [email protected]  

You can also follow Milkshed's progress via Facebook. 

This business is supported by the Vale of Glamorgan Council's Business Start-Up Bursary Grant Fund. 

The scheme works alongside the Waterloo Foundation to provide bursaries of up to £5,000 for groups and individuals starting a business or social enterprise in the county, which can help provide equipment and other resources as well as cover any costs.