Working remotely does not always mean working from home.
Sales representatives, consultants, entrepreneurs and other professionals often spend a large part of the day travelling between clients. In those situations, the most useful workspace may be somewhere that offers coffee, food, Wi-Fi, a charging point and an easy return to the road.
De Werf, situated at the intersection of the N7 and R304, brings those essentials together in one convenient stop.
Pause between appointments
Trying to answer emails from a parked car is rarely comfortable or productive.
A proper table provides a better place to review notes, prepare for the next appointment, return calls or finish a proposal. De Werf’s restaurant advertises reliable Wi-Fi and plug points for charging phones and laptops.
Wi-Fi speeds and plug-point availability may vary depending on seating and visitor numbers, so professionals with critical online meetings should carry mobile data as a backup.
Start early at Café 365
Café 365 at the Engen forecourt opens from 05:00 daily.
For early travellers, this provides an opportunity to stop for coffee, a toasted sandwich, a pie or another takeaway option before the restaurant opens.
It can be particularly useful for representatives heading north from Cape Town or returning from an early appointment.
Settle in at the restaurant
The De Werf restaurant opens daily from 08:00 to 16:00 and serves breakfast and lunch.
A remote worker could begin with coffee and breakfast, complete a focused block of work and then have lunch before continuing to the next destination.
The venue is still a restaurant rather than a dedicated coworking office, so considerate use is important. Order during your visit, keep calls at a respectful volume and avoid occupying a large table unnecessarily.
Recharge more than your laptop
Productive travel depends on more than internet access.
At De Werf, visitors can:
- Refuel at the 24-hour Engen station
- Charge a phone or laptop at available restaurant plug points
- Eat breakfast or lunch
- Collect takeaway food
- Browse the farmstall
- Buy snacks and provisions for the road
- Take a proper break before continuing a long drive
Combining these tasks into one stop can reduce the number of interruptions during a busy day.
Use the farmstall for the journey ahead
The farmstall is open daily and offers deli products, fresh bread, baked goods, seasonal produce, juices, frozen family pies, jams, condiments and other local goods.
A travelling professional can collect refreshments for later, buy a small client gift or take something home after a long day on the road.
Choose your timing
Weekdays may be better suited to focused work, as the weekend market and live entertainment attract more visitors on Saturdays and Sundays.
The atmosphere during weekends is ideal for a relaxed outing, but it may not suit someone who needs to make several confidential calls or concentrate for an extended period.
Turn travel time into useful time
A stop does not need to become lost time.
With some planning, an hour at De Werf can be used to refuel, eat, charge devices, answer messages and prepare for the next part of the day.
De Werf is located at the intersection of the N7 and R304. Contact the team on 064 867 8578 for current operating information.