Episode Summary
What makes someone ditch their successful hospitality career in London for island life and coworking in the Philippines?
Stephen Phillips built a thriving career running casual dining brands across the UK—then traded it all for the laid-back shores of El Nido, Palawan.
In this episode, Bernie and Stephen discuss launching Neighbours & Nomads, a unique coworking-meets-social space in a town where power cuts and spotty internet were the norm—until Starlink showed up.
From translating hospitality magic into coworking to building spaces people genuinely love (and adding a shot of Mezcal), it’s a conversation about risk, reinvention, and creating something people never knew they needed.
Why Listen if You Run a Coworking Space in a City?
If you run your coworking space in a fast-paced city like London, it can be challenging to stand out and genuinely connect with locals.
Stephen shares practical insights from hospitality that translate directly into coworking: how to turn casual visitors into regulars, create a space that feels essential, and build rituals that become part of people’s daily lives.
No fluff—just ideas you can use to make your space stick.
Timeline Highlights
[0:54] – Meet Stephen Phillips: from UK hospitality exec to island coworking entrepreneur.
[4:07] – Why Stephen traded London life for Palawan in the Philippines.
[6:43] – What exactly is "Neighbours & Nomads"? The vision behind the hybrid coworking-social club.
[8:03] – How Starlink revolutionised the coworking potential in El Nido.
[11:20] – The surprising local demand for coworking outside traditional tourist markets.
[12:06] – Connecting with hidden local freelancers and remote workers.
[15:05] – Understanding the local community: "Everybody knows everybody."
[16:30] – A space tour: coworking benches, meeting rooms, rooftop amphitheatre, and why details matter.
[18:59] – What hospitality teaches you about coworking: creating environments where people want to return daily.
[22:03] – Mezcal as a community-building ingredient (really).
[24:20] – How hospitality professionals can naturally excel in coworking spaces.
[27:37] – Stephen’s simple hospitality philosophy: "how you make people feel."
Hospitality Secrets for Coworking Spaces
Stephen distils hospitality down to one key idea: creating spaces that become essential rituals in people's daily lives.
He breaks down exactly how attention to detail—knowing someone’s favorite seat, drink, or working preferences—can transform occasional visitors into loyal regulars.
Why Mezcal Matters
Stephen reveals how Mezcal became their space's unique selling point and community-building asset.
Learn how tapping into niche interests can help your coworking space attract and retain a dedicated, passionate community.
Coworking Community Building in a New Country
Moving countries and building a business from scratch isn’t easy, especially with unreliable infrastructure. Stephen shares how he turned these challenges into strengths, creating a genuinely inviting space that locals and digital nomads actively seek out.
Hospitality Lessons for City Coworking Operators
Stephen offers actionable insights for coworking spaces in urban areas like London, explaining how hospitality details can profoundly improve member experience, retention, and community loyalty.
Links & Resources
Watch Stephen’s LinkedIn video updates of the building process.
Connect with Bernie on LinkedIn
Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn
One more thing
Coworking brings communities together, helping people find and share their voices.
Each episode of the Coworking Values Podcast explores the core values driving coworking: Accessibility, Community, Openness, Collaboration, and Sustainability.
These values aren’t just ideas—they shape the spaces where we gather, work, and grow.
We hope this resonates with you.
If it does, please rate, follow, and share the podcast.
Your support amplifies our reach, helping others discover how coworking can enrich lives, build careers, and strengthen communities.
Community is the key 🔑
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