'I jump in the sea to refresh my brain': How remote workers are boosting coastal towns

## Summary
'I jump in the sea to refresh my brain': How remote workers are boosting coastal towns 11 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on Google Bea Swallow West of England Jack Johnstone As more people can now work from anywhere, many are choosing to settle in places that have historically struggled to retain talent, investment and year‑round visitors Alex Hill can finish a morning of work in a shared office overlooking St Ives harbour, then head straight into the sea to clear his head before his next meeting. Distil Coworking Somerset Coworking spaces are enabling towns once defined by seasonality to build more resilient, year-round communities Distil Coworking offers a fully equipped office environment for freelancers, remote workers and small businesses, with members subscribing monthly for access to hot desks, a café and 3.5 acres of gardens. I can just jump in the sea to refresh my brain. "Being so close to the outdoors is really inspiring, and that can't help but creep into the way I work, and the way the business works, because you're happier." 'Important shift' Prof Dimitrios Buhalis, from Bournemouth University, says remote working is "reshaping" rural and coastal economies in ways that "go far beyond where people choose to live". "We are seeing a gradual but important shift from places being understood mainly as seasonal visitor destinations, to places that can support year-round economic activity, social participation and knowledge exchange," he said. "It brings spending into local cafés, shops, accommodation, co-working spaces, and community services - while also helping to retain or attract younger professionals who might otherwise move away." However, Buhalis warned this transformation "needs to be managed carefully"; first addressing local housing affordability, digital infrastructure, transport links, and community integration. More on this story Home workers help business boom in small towns 'I became a digital nomad after losing my home' 'Low pay and boredom led me to get a secret second job' Police officer sacked for faking remote working Related internet links Distil Coworking Bayspace St Ives Bournemouth University Flexible working St Ives Travel Cornwall Small businesses Bristol Filton Shepton Mallet

## Article Content
'I jump in the sea to refresh my brain': How remote workers are boosting coastal towns
11 hours ago
Share
Save
Add as preferred on Google
Bea Swallow
West of England
Jack Johnstone
As more people can now work from anywhere, many are choosing to settle in places that have historically struggled to retain talent, investment and year‑round visitors
Alex Hill can finish a morning of work in a shared office overlooking St Ives harbour, then head straight into the sea to clear his head before his next meeting.
The producer, who works remotely from Cornwall, is part of a growing number of professionals choosing to settle long-term in coastal and rural towns once seen mainly as seasonal destinations.
Enabled by remote working, they are spending locally, joining communities and helping sustain places that have historically struggled to retain talent and year-round visitor numbers.
Across the West Country and beyond, this shift is reshaping local economies.
Creating the infrastructure to stay
Rather than commuting to city offices, remote workers are putting down roots, renting homes, enrolling children in local schools, joining clubs and co-working spaces, and contributing skills that once flowed almost exclusively to major cities.
For some towns, the impact is already visible, with steadier trade for local businesses and high streets that no longer rely solely on seasonal tourism.
A spokesperson from the Langport Area Business Group in Somerset said the move makes the area feel "more active and lived in".
"Compared with a few years ago, weekday trade is stronger, which really matters for small businesses," they said.
"Cafés, shops and local services are seeing familiar faces more often, which builds both community and a more reliable income."
In nearby Shepton Mallet, Sam Cunningham founded Distil Coworking to give remote workers a professional base without leaving the countryside.
"During and after Covid, there was a big swell of people moving to the countryside as they discovered different priorities and the opportunity to work remotely," he said.
Distil Coworking Somerset
Coworking spaces are enabling towns once defined by seasonality to build more resilient, year-round communities
Distil Coworking offers a fully equipped office environment for freelancers, remote workers and small businesses, with members subscribing monthly for access to hot desks, a café and 3.5 acres of gardens.
Cunningham, who launched the space last year, said it enabled people to "still be employed in roles that in the past might have required presence in a city office".
He added that the rise in flexible working was attracting "a wide range of skills and professions" to areas that had previously struggled to hold on to professionals.
Although internet connectivity remains inconsistent in many remote areas, ongoing
government initiatives
to expand full-fibre broadband aim to improve access.
This provides new opportunities for remote workers seeking a lower cost of living and more space outside major cities, while removing geographical limits on hiring.
Coastal towns beyond tourism
Coastal areas across the UK will also see a major investment boost this year through the government's
Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund
.
The £360m programme is designed to support fishing and seafood businesses and help revitalise coastal communities by improving skills and workforce retention.
Bayspace St Ives, which opened in Cornwall in 2023, is also helping to keep entrepreneurs local by supporting year‑round jobs to diversify the economy beyond tourism.
Created by St Ives Workstation CIC, the venue is based in a restored Grade II listed building overlooking St Ives Harbour, which had previously sat derelict for years.
More from Bristol
New youth clubs for anti-social behaviour hotspots
Tributes paid to 'trailblazing' former chairwoman
Man charged after woman raped in Bristol
Bayspace St Ives
The coworking space, which opened in 2023, is based in a restored Grade II‑listed building
Hill regularly uses the space for "super fast internet, soundproof phone booths, and bouncing ideas over coffee" between members.
"Cornwall was always going to be the place where I'd end up, but you need to have the infrastructure around you," he said.
"Having these kinds of workspaces in places like this gives you a whole new perspective on work. I can just jump in the sea to refresh my brain.
"Being so close to the outdoors is really inspiring, and that can't help but creep into the way I work, and the way the business works, because you're happier."
'Important shift'
Prof Dimitrios Buhalis, from Bournemouth University, says remote working is "reshaping" rural and coastal economies in ways that "go far beyond where people choose to live".
"We are seeing a gradual but important shift from places being understood mainly as seasonal visitor destinations, to places that can support year-round economic activity, social participation and knowledge exchange," he said.
"It brings spending

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- I can just jump in the sea to refresh my brain. "Being so close to the outdoors is really inspiring, and that can't help but creep into the way I work, and the way the business works, because you're happier." 'Important shift' Prof Dimitrios Buhalis, from Bournemouth University, says remote working is "reshaping" rural and coastal economies in ways that "go far beyond where people choose to live". "We are seeing a gradual but important shift from places being understood mainly as seasonal visitor destinations, to places that can support year-round economic activity, social participation and knowledge exchange," he said. "It brings spending into local cafés, shops, accommodation, co-working spaces, and community services - while also helping to retain or attract younger professionals who might otherwise move away." However, Buhalis warned this transformation "needs to be managed carefully"; first addressing local housing affordability, digital infrastructure, transport links, and community integration.

### Areas for Consideration
N/A

### Implications
- For some towns, the impact is already visible, with steadier trade for local businesses and high streets that no longer rely solely on seasonal tourism.
- Cunningham, who launched the space last year, said it enabled people to "still be employed in roles that in the past might have required presence in a city office".
- Coastal towns beyond tourism Coastal areas across the UK will also see a major investment boost this year through the government's Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund .
- I can just jump in the sea to refresh my brain. "Being so close to the outdoors is really inspiring, and that can't help but creep into the way I work, and the way the business works, because you're happier." 'Important shift' Prof Dimitrios Buhalis, from Bournemouth University, says remote working is "reshaping" rural and coastal economies in ways that "go far beyond where people choose to live". "We are seeing a gradual but important shift from places being understood mainly as seasonal visitor destinations, to places that can support year-round economic activity, social participation and knowledge exchange," he said. "It brings spending into local cafés, shops, accommodation, co-working spaces, and community services - while also helping to retain or attract younger professionals who might otherwise move away." However, Buhalis warned this transformation "needs to be managed carefully"; first addressing local housing affordability, digital infrastructure, transport links, and community integration.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers remote, working, local topics. Notable strengths include discussion of remote. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1330.