Pubs and wellbeing

Making friends at your local

Loneliness can affect anyone at anytime in their life, and many of us experienced loneliness for the first time during lockdowns and the pandemic. These experiences have opened up the national conversation around loneliness like never before.

Pubs have always been places of refuge, from chatty table schemes to free Christmas dinners, comedy evenings, quiz nights and more, there are fantastic stories around from the country. Day to day, licensees and their staff provide stability and regular conversation for many who experience loneliness and social isolation. The ‘Friends on Tap’ report commissioned by CAMRA even found that people feel generally more comfortable about strangers after a pint in their local

We’ve all had a day brightened up by a spontaneous chat with a stranger, and whether you plan to catch up with an old friend or get to know someone new, there’s no better venue than your local pub or social club.

That’s why CAMRA has created a new scheme targeted at combating loneliness, one that encourages people to socialise in new interactions at the pub! Publicans are invited to transform a vacant pub table into a ‘talking table’ by holding one table aside, displaying one of our table talkers that feature conversation ice breakers so attendees can begin the steady flow of getting to know each other.

Publicans who are operating the ‘talking table’ scheme can list their venue, along with the date and time of operation, on our website so as many people as possible can get themselves involved. Pub going has so many social and wellbeing benefits; lets get people talking all while supporting and celebrating their community local pub.

If you need support, please check out resources provided by the Campaign to End Loneliness or contact your GP for information on what’s available in your local area