As winter heating bills climb and the cost of everyday treats continue to rise, new data from flexible workspace operator beyond shows that hybrid workers could save over £300 a month simply by going in 3 days a week and making full use of the complimentary perks already included in their workspace membership.
All-day heating, coffees, snacks and comfort purchases quietly stack up, often making WFH more expensive than working from a workspace where these essentials are already included.
There’s also another cost that’s rarely acknowledged: loneliness. According to Bupa’s Wellbeing Index, 24% of employees say they feel lonely or socially isolated due to their work circumstances, rising to 36% among 16-24-year-olds. For hybrid workers, stepping into a vibrant workspace provides not only financial value, but essential social interaction and a daily sense of community.
The ‘Pretflation Problem’: Britain’s small treats are getting expensive
According to recent national averages:
- A cappuccino in Britain now costs £3.48 according to Numbeo
- Pint prices have crossed the £5 mark nationally, and are reaching £6.10 in London
- Brits are paying £48.45 across the country for gym memberships and as high as £76.26 in the capital
- A short massage in London costs £15+
- The average UK household dual-fuel bill is approximately £146 per month according to ofgem
These costs spike further during the winter months, when people naturally rely more on heating, hot drinks and small pick-me-ups throughout the workday.
How hybrid workers are using workspace perks this winter
To understand how hybrid professionals rely on workplace perks, especially during the colder months, beyond analysed member activity across its four London hubs. The data shows that the perks workers lean on most include coffees, snacks, social drinks, and wellness, which directly mirror the categories they typically overspend on when working from home or in the city.
Key trends from the analysis include:
- High average coffee demand with 312 kgs of coffee beans ground and poured both by the self-serve coffee machine and by the onsite baristas a month. That’s roughly over 40,000 cups of coffee.
- Snacks in the morning and afternoons help people get through their day – with 190 kg of fresh fruit and 29 kg of chocolate consumed monthly across their London hubs – with snacking increasing by 63.86% during colder months.
- After-work drinks continue to play an important role in connection, workers drank1,460 litres of beer and cider on tap in the colder months. And over the whole year an average 535 litres every month – the equivalent of roughly 1000 pints monthly.
How these perks translate into savings and better well-being for hybrid workers
Based on average hybrid worker habits, accessing these perks three days a week could translate into around:
- £90 per month on coffees thanks to unlimited free barista or machine coffee
- £158 per month on pints with daily beer-on-tap from 3-6pm
- £13 per month on snacks, with complimentary daily fruit bowls, chocolate jars and weekly community snack drops, perfect for curbing those afternoon slump impulse purchases
- £30 per month on wellness, with free onsite massages offered in select London hubs available each month and discounted partnerships with local gyms
In addition, with the average household energy bill at £146 per month, avoiding heating and powering a home workspace three days a week could save the typical hybrid worker £22–£32 a month, depending on property size.
Altogether, a hybrid worker spending three days per week in a beyond workspace could save up to £324 per month, depending on usage. Just as importantly, this saving comes paired with meaningful social interaction, from shared lunches and coffee chats to after-work pints, helping reduce the isolation that many hybrid workers may feel during the winter months.
A winter-ready strategy for hybrid professionals
Recent data highlights how UK working patterns continue to evolve:
- 28% of workers are now officially hybrid, splitting time between home and another workspace.
- Only 49% say they would comply with a mandatory, full-time return to the office.
- 91% of employers now offer some form of flexible working.
For many London workers, commuting costs typically range from around £10 a day for inner-city Tube travel to more than £20 a day for rail commuters from outside the capital.
But commuting is only half the story. During winter, the hidden costs of homeworking such as all-day heating, extra lighting, frequent kettle boils, comfort purchases, coffees and snacks can quickly add up. Meanwhile, darker and colder days can elevate the feeling of loneliness. For many professionals, a flexible workspace with built-in perks offers both a cost-effective and enjoyable way to work.
Wybo Wijnbergen, Co-founder and CEO of beyond commented on the findings:
“There’s a perception that working from home is cheaper, but when you factor in rising energy bills, pricey coffees, and the ‘little luxuries’ people lean on to get through the workday, it may not the bargain it once was. What we’re seeing this winter is that people don’t just want a desk, they want to feel part of something. Our members come into the workspace for the community as much as the coffee. By offering free barista coffee, beer on tap, snacks, wellness benefits and regular socials, we’re helping people save money while giving them a place where they can meet others, feel energised and avoid the isolation that comes with prolonged home-working.”
The beyond Savings Calculator
| Weekly treat | Average price in London | beyond Perks | Potential monthly savings ( based on 3-days in the office a week) * approximately 4.345 weeks in a month on average. |
| 6 coffees (based on a UK average consumption of 2 coffees per day) | £3.48 per latte | Free | £90.7 |
| 6 pints (based on an estimated average consumption of 2 drinks per person | £6.10 per pint in London where the beyond hubs are based | Free | £159 |
| 3 snacks (fruits and chocolates) | £1 each | Free | £13 |
| 1 x 15min massage | £30 | Free (monthly) | £30 |
| Energy usage | Average household energy bill at £146 per month | Free | £22-32 per month |
Potential monthly saving: £324
Methodology
The data is based on estimated operational data across beyond’s London hubs during 2025. Perk usage was recorded through barista bar output, community event stock levels, gym redemption logs and wellness service bookings. Savings calculations are based on national average prices sourced from Cost of Living Index Numbeo, The Morning Advertiser Pint Price Survey, Leisure DB’s 2025 State of the UK Fitness Industry Report, ofgem, compared against included or discounted member benefits.
