The Challenge
Timberplay installs specialist play equipment across the UK, often for complex, high-profile projects. While short stays are usually handled by individual team members booking their own accommodation online, this project was different.
The business needed long-term accommodation in central London for multiple installation teams working on a refurbishment project in Kensington.
This created several problems at once:
- London pricing pressure — staying on budget in an affluent area was extremely difficult
- Parking requirements — vans needed safe, nearby parking
- Comfort for a long stay — accommodation had to work for a multi-month project, not a few nights
- Practicality — enough bathrooms and suitable living space for multiple workers
- Proximity to site — close enough to minimise travel time each day
Despite searching online, nothing met all of these needs at once.
“We just couldn’t find anything that ticked all the boxes — budget, parking, location, and comfort — especially in London.”
Why the Old Approach Wasn’t Working
Normally, Timberplay’s site teams book their own accommodation. For short stays, this works well enough.
But for a longer-term, multi-team project, it became clear this approach wasn’t fit for purpose:
- Too much time spent searching
- No consistency in quality
- No easy way to extend or shorten stays as project timelines shifted
- Complaints when accommodation wasn’t right — which then landed back on the office team
The business needed something more reliable and scalable.
Accommodation That Actually Worked
Comfy Workers found accommodation that actually worked for our teams — even in central London. Parking, bathrooms, budget and flexibility were all covered, which isn’t easy. Most importantly, we’ve had no issues or complaints from the lads.
Nicola Shortland, Installation Support, Timberplay
The Solution
Timberplay turned to Comfy Workers after searching for alternatives that were better suited to construction teams.
Instead of scrolling through listings, Nicola worked directly with the Comfy Workers team to explain exactly what was needed:
- Central London location
- Parking suitable for work vans
- Multiple bathrooms
- Comfortable for a long stay
- Strict budget constraints
Comfy Workers sourced and shortlisted suitable options that met all criteria — something that hadn’t been possible through general booking sites.
Crucially, the booking also came with flexibility.
“Being able to easily extend or shorten the stay made a big difference.”
The Results
The accommodation worked — and that’s exactly the point.
- The teams were housed close to site
- Parking and facilities met their needs
- The budget stayed under control
- No ongoing issues or complaints
From Nicola’s point of view, silence was success.
“We’ve not heard anything — and that’s a good thing.
When they book elsewhere, they usually moan if there’s a problem.”
With Comfy Workers, there were no escalations, no fire-fighting, and no wasted time.
The Experience of Working with Comfy Workers
Nicola highlighted the value of having a team that understands construction-specific requirements — especially in London, where options are limited and expensive. Instead of managing problems, Timberplay could focus on delivering the project.
“Comfy Workers quickly found places that suited us - bathrooms, parking in London, close to site, and most importantly the budget. That’s not an easy ask. Mike and Marta have made it so easy for us.”
How Centralised Bookings Work with Comfy Workers
See how easy it is to manage and streamline all your site bookings in one place.
Step 1: One portal, total visibility
Sign in and see all bookings at every site. Filter by date, location or team to check in seconds.
Step 2: Flexible changes
Clear notice periods (from as little as next day) with no hefty fees or hidden fees.
Step 3: Worker-ready homes
Each property arrives stocked with essentials guided by minimum standards. Plus, fast check-ins mean no delays on day one.
Step 4: Single invoice & credit terms
One monthly bill per site with net 30 terms - or a trade account with monthly statements, all PO ready. Your finance team gets simplified management, freeing them from chasing multiple statements.
Step 5: Real-time reporting
Live spend dashboards and downloadable reports keep every stay transparent and auditable.
Comfy Workers vs Booking.com vs Airbnb: Admin Features
We know things happen last minute, criteria changes and project details change, which is ease of use and speed of resolution are so important; here’s comfy Workers compares to other providers.
| Feature | Comfy Workers | Booking.com for Business | Airbnb |
| Brief by email or phone | ✅ Yes — just share team size, dates, location | ❌ Platform login required | ❌ Platform login required |
| One contact for multiple requests | ✅ Single point of contact for all your teams | ⚠️ No centralised account manager | ⚠️ No centralised account manager |
| Amendments without rebooking | ✅ Seamless changes via your account team | ⚠️ Often requires cancellation & new booking | ⚠️ Often requires cancellation & new booking |
| No credit card needed | ✅ Invoice + PO options | ⚠️ Card required for each booking | ⚠️ Card required for each booking |
Admins save hours per month and avoid chasing confirmations - and sometimes, you just need to speak to someone on your side.
