How it works

How to join

1. Find a venue and Shared Table drop-in time.

2. Arrive at any time during the drop-in.

3. Look for the table with the Shared Table marker and take a seat.

4. Say hello if there's someone already there. If you're the first to arrive, that's ok, take a seat and make yourself comfortable, someone else may be on their way.

It's completely free to join a table, but please buy at least a drink or something to eat from the venue.

What to expect

Tables are usually small, with two to four people
There is no formal host
You may be the first person to arrive
You can come alone or with someone you know
Join the conversation as much or as little as you like
It's up to you how long you stay, from a few minutes to the whole drop in time

Everyone is welcome

You might come specifically so that you can meet new people, or just choose to sit at a Shared Table when you're stopping for a coffee anyway.

You might be new to the area or visiting, or you might have lived nearby for forty years. You might have lots of connections in the local area already, or you might be looking to get to know people locally for the first time.

Whatever your situation, if you're open to friendly chats with new people, then Shared Tables is for you.

Why Shared Tables exists

Shared Tables exists to help people connect with each other face to face. We have two missions:

Help to build local community connections and support (and reduce loneliness)
Support hospitality businesses that keep our high streets vibrant

We think that there are plenty of people out there who are happy to chat, but it can be hard to find them or to know who's open and who isn't. We're hoping to solve that by creating tables across the country where you can go and have a conversation.