How the Baltic will get back to its best.

The Dock Forecast: The Tide’s Turning in The Baltic

When Dock (then IGOO) dropped anchor in the Baltic Triangle in 2016, it was a beacon for Liverpool's creative scene, attracting like-minded businesses to build something special.

The area felt fresh and full of ambition, with a sense of community that set it apart from the city centre. 

But since Covid, things have changed. 

Despite Time Out ranking The Baltic Triangle as the UK's coolest neighbourhood (and 11th coolest in the world) as recently as 2023, the area isn't the same as it was seven years ago. 

Has the rise of hybrid working led to the decline of the once-thriving community? Are international investors driving out local independents? Was it just never as cool as we thought it was? 

In this edition of The Dock Forecast, we look at what the future holds for the place that shaped us, as we ask:

Is the Baltic sinking without a trace? Or can it bounce back? 

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What brought us to the Baltic? 

After working from rabbit warren-esque converted office spaces in Allerton, moving into our New Bird Street studio felt like proper progress. We were no longer a scrappy start-up - we were a fully-fledged digital agency. Professional and grown-up enough to make our parents proud. 

"Look, Mum! We're in The Baltic!"

Our bright new space would help us grow, attract talent, and build an environment that reflected our ambition. Better still, our L1 postcode sent the right signal to clients - without us paying city centre premiums. 

The social side was pretty good, too - regular events, shared office spaces, and a steady stream of beer and barbecues. Unit 51 café was alive with brainstorms, lunch breaks, and client meetings. You'd see people from different agencies chatting over coffee, sharing successes and pain points, and supporting each other. 

It was community over competition - the sense that there was enough work for everyone. We'd finally found a place where we could take things seriously, and, crucially, be taken seriously. 

That place was right here, in The Baltic Triangle.

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The Lowest Ebb

Then came Covid. Like everywhere else, the Baltic Triangle got bruised and battered by the pandemic. Businesses shut their doors. The café culture vanished. Workforces went hybrid or fully remote. Footfall disappeared almost overnight, and the Baltic became the Bermuda Triangle. Something went missing, and it hasn't quite come back. 

When the lockdowns finally lifted, quiet had replaced the usual hustle and bustle. Not exactly a ghost town, but you'd frequently see shutters down and fewer people around. 

But it wasn't necessarily Covid that claimed the Baltic's community feel. Instead, it was the era of remote working that it ushered in. Staff went from being office-based five days a week to two or three. The socials dwindled as a result of people being less likely to attend in-person events.

We're as guilty as anyone. The latest Summer Social fell on a day we weren't in the studio. So we didn't go. We wouldn't have staff work remotely and then ask them to head into town for a drink and a bit of networking. 

Combined with rising business rates and costs increasing at a rate of knots, it's hard for businesses to justify paying for office space. 

The team that runs the Baltic, Baltic Creative CIC are doing their best and listening to the tenants. They put on additional courses and programmes, and organise activities such as yoga and wellbeing events. 

But it can feel like a fight against the tide.

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Solid as a Dock 

Despite the challenges, we're not going anywhere. We've invested in our space, and love having a place our staff can call home. We're in the studio two or three days a week, which is important for catch-ups, collaboration, and client workshops. Some things you just can't do from behind a screen. 

And, as keen as we are for our staff to have a good work-life balance, we feel there are both personal and business benefits to being around other people.

Plus, the Baltic's central location and reputation continue to impress visiting clients and new talent. 
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What Does The Baltic Need? 

Although we've been here 9 years, we don't pretend to have all the answers. 

But would we be true Scousers if we didn't have an opinion? Here are a few thoughts on how The Baltic can get back to its best. 

First of all, affordability matters. Business rates and rent relief, hybrid leases, or flexible terms could help smaller businesses take the plunge on an office without committing to a five-day model that no longer works for them.

Incentives would help, too, especially for independent businesses that bring footfall and atmosphere, like cafés, studios, and galleries. 

Our client, Utility, is a case in point. They invested in an old, rundown warehouse and turned it into a state-of-the-art showroom and office facility with co-working space. We need more of that independent thinking, not another block of soulless residential towers.

Next, let's bring people back together with better events. Not just business owners at coffee mornings. Make it worthwhile for full teams to come out in force for experiences that are fun and functional.

We know we’ve missed the boat on previous get-togethers, but we’re willing to shift our studio days and get on board for the right occasion. 

And finally, let's think differently about who belongs here. We've recently seen a tattoo parlour, Swallow The Anchor, open on Jordan Street. That's a creative business with a studio that's open at least five days a week. Maybe that's what the area needs - more artists, craftspeople, and creatives who need to be on site.

Hopefully, the long-awaited renovation of the train station will attract more visitors. 

Let's give them reasons to keep coming back. 
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Forecast: Cloudy, With A Chance of Comeback

All that being said, we're not naïve. Things won't go back to how they were in the early days. Nor are we suggesting they should. 

The Baltic might be in transition, but it's far from finished.

With a bit of collective effort, we can make the place special again. 

Somewhere creativity, community and collaboration thrive has to be worth fighting for.