Celebrating five years of 11 Waterloo Place

A stylish Leamington Spa building has become a launchpad for growing SMEs five years after being transformed into flexible office space.

11 Waterloo Place, on Warwick Street in Leamington town centre, has grown into a home for growing professional services, property, creative and entrepreneurial businesses since the Regency building was acquired in 2021.

The Wigley Group converted the historic property into a high-quality, flexible suite of modern offices and meeting rooms.

It has since attracted a wide range of businesses, including law firm JG Poole & Co LLP, which established its Warwickshire office at Waterloo Place as part of the firm’s growth outside its original base in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

JG Poole & Co LLP is a boutique legal practice founded 13 years ago and focuses on delivering high quality, specialist work for clients.

James Polo-Richards joined the business five-and-a-half years ago to set up its real estate offering.

The firm works with clients across the country, including in London, Birmingham and Warwickshire, advising on project finance, commercial real estate, landlord and estate matters, and strategic land.

JG Poole & Co LLP have been a tenant since the building was opened at the beginning of 2022.

James Polo-Richards, Partner at JG Poole & Co LLP, said: “Waterloo Place was the perfect fit for us when setting up the Warwickshire office.

“We have built a strong practice and have advised on some landmark transactions, including deals with values upwards of nine figures.

“Our clients tend to come to us through other clients and word of mouth. They want experienced people who can run matters directly and understand their business properly.

“As a small team, we are nimble. We think of ourselves as a speedboat. We do not carry a lot of baggage and we can move quickly, which is something our clients value.

“Waterloo Place has also given us a good business community to be part of. There is a very collegiate feel here and it is useful to speak to people from different sectors and understand how they work.

“We’ve been incredibly grateful to The Wigley Group for their support as landlords since we moved into the building.”

Waterloo Place is home to a range of businesses including PAWS Therapy, JG Poole and residential property developer William Davis, alongside two long-standing psychotherapist tenants Serendipity Psychology and Cleo Barnes, with the space offering a calm environment for therapy appointments.

Waterloo Place has also served as an incubator for firms, including tech business Endurance Zone and web agency Yellow Panther using the offices as a springboard for growth before moving to larger premises.

11 Waterloo Place is owned and managed by The Wigley Group.

Suzanne D’Arcy, Asset Manager at The Wigley Group, said: “We had a vision for 11 Waterloo Place when we acquired the property five years ago and it has been fantastic to see that become a reality.

“Our aim was to invest in a historic building, retain its unique character and create a business environment which would meet the needs of modern SMEs.

“We have businesses that have set up for the long-term at 11 Waterloo Place, while others are using the space as a springboard for long-term growth before moving to larger premises. That mix contributes to a thriving business community that has developed there.”