Hybrid office location - city centre, or out of town?

[blutterfly]

You work in consulting. Most of your job is on email/teams calls but your company want you in the office 1-2 days a week to build team relationships and to host client meetings, do interviews, collaborate etc. Rest of the week you can work anywhere.

Would you rather

A - an office that had parking, easy road/bus access, but not good rail connections and no local shops/cafes/sandwiches (BYO lunch)

B - an office in busy city centre and all its amenities, good rail and bus connections but limited parking and hideous traffic

C - a rural out of town office with no rail connections but ample parking, outdoor space, away from hustle of city but no shops/cafes within 2 miles (BYO lunch)

Am about to launch a new office and struggling with where to locate it. I figure if we are hoping to encourage people in 2 days they might want a ‘destination’ eg shops and cafes nearby, but does that outweigh transport ease?

I work in consulting too - most of the team are younger, they also need to be a bit more willing to travel than someone who insists they don't want to come into the office because everything can be done from home, they need to be enthusiastic collaborators and understand the value of spending time together with the client and their colleagues (especially for the benefit of the younger team members). We recently considered moving offices - things that are most important - lunch options, public transport and very high on the list was bike storage and showers, good coffee and a pleasant environment. Good wifi. Secure access. Bookable meeting rooms and plenty of telephone booths for private conversations - they very much liked outdoor space too.

Again thanks for more useful comments and insights! Am drawn more and more to B.

Alas no P&R in B’s location, but possibly could try to negotiate a discount at the NCP nearby to avoid staff having to drive about looking for a space. Didn’t even know that was an option so thanks to the poster who mentioned it.

Image/prestige is indeed a factor, not only for clients but also to give good impressions to other consulting peers we will be collaborating with and also to try to recruit or attract staff who will be deciding between us and 2-3 other similar firms.

I'd say B but only if there was a cheap/frequent/reliable park n ride system in place or a "parkway" railway station with direct trains to the city centre station.

Drivers need somewhere to park their cars on the outskirts and then have a quick and simple public transport option to the city centre.

B for prestige.

Out of town developments are going to look very pedestrian and dated soon.

If you want to look young and dynamic, be in a city centre. Present your green credentials etc

Agree prestige is important - our clients are often wooed by our offices - very cool and trendy - although I also think there's a balance - you are earning fees by charging them - you don't want to look like you are earning excessively.

B.
I like the buzz of the city centre and the convenience of a post office, shop or pharmacy to run errands at lunchtime. I’m too old for drinks after work but like the idea of that being an option! Plus being close to train stations for meetings in other towns. I’d be likely to cycle between the school run and the office so cycle parking/showers at the new office are ideal. Beats being stuck in rush hour traffic.