Connect. Collaborate. Create.

Join Edinburgh's growing community of independent professionals for regular café meetups, peer support, and collaborative opportunities. Break isolation and thrive together.

Learn More Join Us

Why Join Our Community?

Experience the benefits of our supportive freelancer network

Peer Support

Connect with like-minded professionals who understand the unique challenges of freelancing. Share experiences, advice, and solutions in a supportive environment.

Productive Environment

Break the isolation of home working with our carefully selected café environments that boost productivity and creativity while offering networking opportunities.

Collaboration Opportunities

Discover potential partners, clients, and collaborators within our diverse community of professionals from various fields and industries.

Skill Sharing

Learn from your peers through informal skill-sharing sessions, workshops, and mentoring opportunities that help expand your professional toolkit.

Regular Meetups

Establish a productive routine with our consistent schedule of meetups across various Edinburgh locations, making it easy to find sessions that suit your availability.

Work-Life Balance

Maintain a healthy boundary between work and personal life by creating structured social-professional opportunities that prevent burnout and isolation.

Croftella community members meeting in a café

About Our Community

Croftella was born in 2020 when a small group of independent professionals found themselves increasingly isolated during remote work. What began as casual coffee meetings has grown into a structured support network with over 150 members across the city.

Our community brings together freelancers, remote workers, entrepreneurs, and independent consultants from diverse industries including technology, creative arts, marketing, finance, education, and more.

We believe that while independence is valuable, community is essential. By creating regular opportunities for connection in Edinburgh's vibrant café scene, we help members maintain productivity, foster collaboration, and build meaningful professional relationships.

Discover Our Values

Upcoming Meetups

Monday, 27 January 2026
9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Morning productivity session focused on deep work in a quiet environment. Perfect for focused tasks and deadline work.

Brew Lab, South College Street
Wednesday, 29 January 2026
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Midweek collaborative session. Bring your projects and challenges for peer feedback and problem-solving.

Soderberg, Broughton Street
Thursday, 30 January 2026
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Evening networking event with a short presentation on "Freelance Finance Fundamentals" followed by casual discussions.

The Milkman, Cockburn Street
Friday, 31 January 2026
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Full-day co-working session. Drop in anytime for a productive end to your week with fellow freelancers.

Lowdown Coffee, George Street
Request Full Calendar

Our Meeting Locations

We carefully select our meeting locations based on wifi quality, ambient noise levels, table space, and of course, excellent coffee. Here's where you'll find us across Edinburgh:

North Edinburgh

  • The Shore Coffee House - 2 Anderson Place, EH6 5NP
  • Williams & Johnson Coffee Co. - Custom Lane, Leith
  • Café Truva - Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre

Central Edinburgh

  • Wellington Coffee - George Street
  • Brew Lab Coffee - South College Street
  • The Milkman - Cockburn Street
  • Soderberg Pavillion - Lister Square

What Our Members Say

Joining Croftella transformed my remote working experience. After feeling isolated for months, I now have a community of like-minded professionals who understand the challenges of independent work. The regular meetups provide structure to my week and the connections have led to several collaborative projects.

James portrait
James M.
Web Developer

As a freelance content writer new to Edinburgh, finding this group was a game-changer. Beyond just the professional networking, I've made genuine friends who understand the unique lifestyle of freelancing. The skill-sharing sessions have helped me expand my service offerings and increase my client base substantially.

Sarah portrait
Sarah L.
Content Strategist

After 15 years in corporate marketing, transitioning to freelance work was daunting. The Freelance Hub provided not just emotional support but practical guidance on pricing, contracts, and client relationships. The diverse backgrounds of members mean there's always someone who can offer relevant advice on whatever challenge I'm facing.

Mei portrait
Mei Z.
Marketing Consultant

Join Our Community Today

Ready to connect with Edinburgh's freelance community? Register your interest and we'll be in touch with upcoming events and opportunities.