Bistro in Calne piloting chatty table for lonely customers

A town centre café has introduced a "chatty table" to help combat loneliness in the community.

Fay's Bistro in Calne, Wiltshire, has started the table to encourage more customers to get to know each other.

Owner Fay Stallen said she wanted to tackle loneliness and social isolation which "can be at its height in the winter months".

The designated space is somewhere customers of all ages can get together, meet new people and talk.

Mrs Stallen, who has owned the café for ten years, came up with the idea after talking to her aunt who is elderly and quite lonely.

"I want to offer somewhere where anyone feeling lonely, particularly in the winter when it's cold, wet and miserable," she said.

"You haven't just got to sit and watch other people having a chat. I want them to feel welcome to come and join in".

Calne's Mayor Robert MacNaughton has been helping to promote the idea in the town.

He praised Fay and said it raised the café from "more than just an establishment and makes it a community service".

Customers Nick and Cath Crofts visit the bistro every day, sometimes twice a day, and Mr Crofts said he thinks the idea "is really cool" and commented "we know all the staff, it's really friendly".

Mrs Stallen explained that people can come in alone and just join the conversation: "You might feel awkward at first but I'm sure once the conversations get flowing you'll be glad you did."

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