A STALYBRIDGE café has joined a growing nationwide movement to help tackle loneliness by bringing people together for a brew and a chat.
Nonna’s, on Armentières Square, has launched a monthly Chatty Café session, inviting anyone who fancies a natter to pull up a chair at its Chatter & Natter table.
The event runs on the second Tuesday of every month at 2pm, with the café’s full drinks and sweet treat menu on offer.
The idea is simple: create a welcoming space where strangers can strike up conversations, friendships can grow, and no one has to sit alone unless they choose to.
A Simple Concept With Big Impact
The Chatty Café Scheme was founded in 2017 by Alexandra Louise Hoskyn, who noticed how a brief chat in a café could brighten someone’s day. What started with a single table has since grown into a social enterprise with hundreds of venues across the UK and even more abroad.
Big names like Costa Coffee quickly got on board, but smaller, independent cafés like Nonna’s are at the heart of its success. The scheme has proved especially valuable in combating the growing crisis of loneliness, which affects people of all ages.
During the pandemic, it even went online and over the phone, helping to keep conversations going when people couldn’t meet face-to-face.
Now, with a regular slot at Nonna’s, Stalybridge locals have a chance to be part of that story. The aim is not to force anyone into conversation but to make sure that those who want company have somewhere they can find it.
Staff at Nonna’s are encouraging people to spread the word, particularly to those who might not use social media. The hope is that this regular meet-up will become a friendly fixture in the town calendar, helping people build new connections or simply enjoy a light-hearted chat.
Loneliness has been called a “silent epidemic”, with health experts warning it can be as harmful as smoking or obesity. Schemes like this show that sometimes the simplest solutions, a cuppa, a smile, a listening ear, can make the biggest difference.