Inspired by Japanese capsule hotels, Pop & Rest in London’s
trendy Shoreditch area boasts four "sleep pods" – rooms with
dark walls and a lavender aroma to aid relaxation, each supplied
with ear plugs and an eye mask.
Mauricio Villamizar, 28, said he and his Pop & Rest co-founder
Yoann Demont came up with the idea for their venture after
observing Londoners’ hectic lifestyle and long working hours.
"You could see they were tired all the time and just with coffee
and tea wasn’t enough, so we thought we should set up something
like a private space where they can relax in peace," he said.
According to Villamizar, Pop & Rest currently averages between
30-35 customers a week, among them many freelancers and people
working in the gig economy.
Graeme Daniel is a director of a fashion company and has visited
Pop & Rest several times since it opened in June this year.
The 58-year-old says that the pods are helpful to catch up on
sleep after a late night followed by a busy working day.
"If I go out late in the evening and I’ve got maybe meetings
spread throughout the day, it's just nice to have one hour catch
up on the sleep that I've probably missed the night before,” he
said.
"What can you get for 15 pounds in Central London, you know, you
have a lunch… So 15 pounds to have a decent rest and clear mind
for the afternoon or for a meeting late on in the day is perfect
as far as I’m concerned," he added.
Designer Dan Andrews, 30, works near Pop & Rest and says the
pods offer him a chance to meditate.
"Even if you try and take that time to meditate or be mindful on
a park bench or in the corner of the office or anywhere it's
just really hard to get that disconnection," he said.
Andrews has visited the pods up to four times since June, and
believes the cost to nap is "fair".
"It’s good, if you think about the cost of your mental health
and your sanity," he said.
Villamizar says he aims to ‘flood’ the city with sleep pods,
eventually expanding to other UK cities and across Europe.
(This version of the story was refiled to remove an extraneous
word in paragraph 10)
(Reporting by Helena Williams; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
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