WINCHESTER Business Improvement District is revamping its base to encourage more city traders to use it.

The BID’s office in Parchment Street is being refurbished over the next three weeks to create a more inviting area for people to work out of.

Anyone from a Winchester business, even from outside the BID area, will be able to hire out a meeting room or just sit down and work on a laptop.

Lotti Eagles, marketing and communications officer, said: “They key thing for us is this is not just a refurbishment. We are doing it because we feel it’s something that is lacking in the city. We wanted to make it a much friendlier environment. There will be wi-fi, coffee machines, meeting rooms and an open desk format.

“It will always be open during the day and it’s managed by us, although any Winchester business can use it, not just the ones in our area. We are also running a virtual office space so people can use our Parchment Street office as their business address.”

Winchester MP Steve Brine will open the new-look office on July 19.

The BID is still drawing up charges for hiring rooms but Miss Eagles said there would be introductory offers for discounts and free use.

She added BID staff would still be working as normal during the refurbishment.