Brightening Lives Through Conversation – now more than 900 Cafes and more

Knowing that a simple chat can make a huge difference to someone’s day, the Chatty Café scheme was set up to encourage conversation amongst people who may have never met before on tables set aside in cafes and other venues taking part in the scheme.

The scheme aims to bring people together by creating spaces where people are happy to interact with others, helping to tackle loneliness by taking the pressure out of day-to-day communications.

Founded by Alex Hoskyn, the scheme was created on a wet and windy day when she was in a supermarket café with her four month old son. He wasn’t great company and she was feeling fed up. She looked round the café and saw an elderly lady who looked just as down as her and on another table sat a young guy with additional needs and his support worker both looking like they had run out of conversation

Chatty Cafe What's it all about

The encounter sparked a brilliant idea – creating a space for people to talk and help to overcome loneliness together. Thus the Chatter & Natter tables designed to encourage short conversation between strangers, providing an opportunity for individuals to brighten each other’s day was born. Whether it’s a friendly chat about the weather, a shared interest, or simply a listening ear, a place to meet and chat that has the power to make a real difference to peoples lives.
Whether you’re looking to get out, socialise and chat during the long winter months, a student feeling a bit homesick at university, a new parent seeking some company, retired, or simply finding yourself on your own for any reason, the Chatty Café scheme is open to absolutely everyone!
Now in its ninth full year, the Chatty Café network has now grown to include more than 900 participating cafes and venues right across the country with plans to grow to 1000 places to chat by the end of 2026 

And there’s more Chatty Cafe Services – here’s what they do

The Chatty Café scheme offer THREE DIFFERENT WAYS to join the conversation, helping to overcome loneliness.

  • Face to face meet ups where venues offer ‘Chatter & Natter’ tables, where customers can get together and chat in a safe and welcoming environment. They have hundreds of venues around the UK with new venues joining all the time, many hosted by Chatty Table Volunteers. From the Hebrides to Plymouth,  – and as far afield as Kevin’s House in Rethymnon Crete run by Jim, a long standing Chatty Café supporter, (FIND YOUR NEAREST CAFE HERE) 

  • If you can’t meet in person Online Chatty Cafe Sessions held on Tuesdays from 1pm – 1:30pm. Anyone over 18 can join in and simply to chat to others.

  • Chatter & Natter Telephone Friendship Service for anyone over 18 who may be feeling alone or isolated and would welcome a weekly one-to-one chat on the phone.

Feedback from those involved in any of these services has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing how the chance for a simple chat has brought them comfort, connection, and a renewed sense of belonging. It’s heartwarming to see the impact that a simple conversation can have on someone’s well-being. 

PS Do you enjoy talking to people? Can you spare 1-2 hours a week? Chatty Cafe are also on the look out for volunteers up and down the country to get even more ‘chatter & natter’ tables up and running. They’re also looking for more cafes and venues to join their scheme. FIND OUT MORE HERE