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      Cold Banana Studio

      Engaged employer

      Cold Banana Studio Reviews

      2.6

      26% would recommend to a friend

      (8 total reviews)

      Luke Fribbens

      40% approve of CEO

      26% positive business outlook

      Reviews by job title

      8 reviews
      1.0
      18 June 2026

      Send 2-3 years cold banana and forget

      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business outlook

      Pros

      You will become a skilled developer. Sink or swim environment that forces you to level up quickly out of necessity, and without proper training. Day to day coworkers are fantastic and supportive. ​Perks: Friday breakfast, soft drinks, and working A/C. It's a stepping stone. A solid place to start your career.

      Cons

      Financial/Legal red flags: Multiple Companies House gazette notices and consistent late pension contributions. ​Management and HR: Zero independence. HR is handled by the CEO’s family, creating a major conflict of interest and lack of accountability. ​Disconnected leadership: High-stress environment while owners are away in Dubai or Ibiza "networking." Consistent lack of care. Management asks for feedback but ignores it (e.g., waiting months for blinds, forcing staff to use cardboard and blankets to create makeshift blinds). ​Culture of burnout: Consistent high-stress environment, consistent lack of appreciation, and consistent looming deadlines driven by "selling mode" rather than reality. ​High turnover: Consistent loss of staff. very few senior developers or long-term employees.

      avatar
      Cold Banana Studio Response
      1w
      Thank you for taking the time to leave a detailed review. We're pleased to hear that you valued the support of your colleagues and that your time with us helped you develop your technical skills. Our team is one of our greatest strengths, and we're proud that many employees build strong technical foundations and lasting professional relationships here. We're glad you enjoyed the unlimited free drinks along with the free breakfast on Fridays. We're also happy to hear that our efforts to have the new office fully air-conditioned was a pro during your time with us. We also appreciate the constructive feedback. We recognise that a fast-paced environment can be challenging, particularly during periods of growth, and we're always looking for ways to improve the employee experience. We would like to provide some additional context on a few points raised. Our current office has been occupied for less than a year after being fully renovated, and while there were some facilities issues during the transition, these have since been addressed, including the installation of blinds. While we accept that some improvements took longer than anyone would have liked, we continue to invest in creating a better working environment for our team. We also want to address the suggestion that being a family-owned business creates a conflict of interest. Many successful businesses are family-founded and family-run, and we do not believe ownership structure alone determines how employees are treated or how decisions are made. We are committed to operating professionally, fairly, and in the best interests of both our employees and our customers. Employee feedback remains important to us. While we won't always get everything right, we do listen, and many improvements across the business have come directly from suggestions made by employees. The past few years have presented challenges for many businesses across the UK, and we are not immune to those wider economic pressures. That said, we remain committed to supporting our employees, improving where we can, and ensuring that feedback continues to inform how we operate as a business. Thank you again for your feedback, and we wish you every success in the future.
      2.0
      9 June 2026

      Only consider as a last resort

      Anonymous employee
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business outlook

      Pros

      Free breakfast on Fridays Good location Close to public transport Voucher for employee of the month Friendly employees Hybrid work

      Cons

      Low pay (less than average company wide) Multiple previous employees have received less to no pay for their final month (many there was no reason) Little to no training Quantity over quality with everything Poor processes Forced to stay late without pay if something goes wrong Unrealistic expectations Management has zero accountability HR is incompetent at best or malicious at worst No safe space to discuss issues due to HR being the CEO's wife Late pay which is sometimes too much or too little Consistent late pension contributions Working harder just increases your workload without benefit Lack of opportunities Currently in a big decline No real benefits Next to no culture No gym (advertised but not functioning currently) No parking Office refurb is incomplete after a year with several months of no progress

      avatar
      Cold Banana Studio Response
      1w
      Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We're pleased that you recognised the positive aspects of working with us, including our location, hybrid working arrangements, team environment, and employee recognition initiatives. We are disappointed to read some of the concerns raised and do not recognise several of the characterisations made. We take our responsibilities as an employer seriously and work hard to ensure that our employees are treated fairly and professionally. Matters relating to payroll, pensions, and employment arrangements are handled in accordance with our policies and legal obligations. We would also like to clarify that employees have multiple avenues available to raise concerns. In addition to the directors, employees have direct access to their line manager and an office manager who can be approached independently. We encourage open communication throughout the business and take employee feedback seriously. Whilst we recognise that not every employee's experience will be the same, we are proud that many members of our team choose to build long-term careers with us. We believe this reflects the positive working relationships, opportunities, and supportive environment that many employees experience during their time with the company. That said, we recognise that there is always room for improvement. We continue to invest in our processes, training, employee development, and workplace facilities, and we welcome constructive feedback that helps us improve. We encourage employees to raise concerns through the various channels available to them and remain committed to maintaining open lines of communication. Should you wish to discuss any of the points raised in your review, we would be happy to arrange a conversation and listen to your feedback directly. Constructive dialogue is an important part of helping us improve and develop as a business. We thank you for your contribution and wish you continued success in your role.
      1.0
      14 Dec 2025

      Unsupportive and intense

      Project manager
      Recommend
      CEO approval
      Business outlook

      Pros

      Free breakfast on Fridays Office on a bus route Voucher when employee of the month

      Cons

      Low pay Minimal if any training Rely on placements to complete time pressured project work without support. Bad HR (not sure anyone is actually qualified and they really don't care about you) Long hours Quantity over quality always 'Get over it' culture No support or communication from upper management and directors Owners are mean and on a power trip No processes in place so you just have to guess and get berated afterwards Unrealistic deadlines teamed with unrealistic expectations on performance No compassion for employees skill level or capacity Late pay and late pension payments Not supportive of employee wellbeing No appreciation for Employees dedication Consistent burnout across the team

      avatar
      Cold Banana Studio Response
      1w
      Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback about your experience at Cold Banana. We're sorry to hear that your time with us did not meet your expectations. We take comments regarding training, communication, workload management, employee wellbeing, and payroll processes seriously, and we appreciate hearing perspectives from both current and former team members. While experiences can vary across roles, teams, and time periods, we recognise the importance of providing clear support, effective communication, and opportunities for development. We are pleased that you see our staff recognition incentives such as Employee of the Month recognition, team breakfasts as a positive, we appreciate that recognition is about more than individual programmes and that not every employee will feel equally valued by these efforts. Feedback such as yours helps us better understand where improvements may be needed and informs ongoing discussions about how we support our employees. We remain committed to continually reviewing our processes and workplace practices to create a positive, supportive, and productive environment for everyone. We appreciate your contributions during your time with the business and wish you all the best in your future career.
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      Glassdoor has 8 Cold Banana Studio reviews submitted anonymously by Cold Banana Studio employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Cold Banana Studio is right for you.