A better Medway

Talking Tables

Talking tables logo

Talking Tables are a community-based project that brings people together in a relaxed and friendly setting to share conversations over drinks. 

The project aims to reduce loneliness and social isolation by providing a welcoming space for individuals to meet informally and share a drink, chat, and build meaningful connections.

Being connected is important for our physical and mental health, and increases feelings of:

  • belonging
  • purpose
  • happiness
  • wellbeing.

People who have visited our Talking Tables locations say they feel:

  • more connected and valued
  • they are contributing to an improved sense of wellbeing. 

Talking Tables are free to attend and take place in:

  • cafés
  • faith and church-based spaces
  • community halls
  • libraries.

Take a seat, stay for 5 minutes or longer if you're enjoying chatting.

Over the last year, 5,532 people attended a Talking Table session, with 55 sessions per week. 

Before joining a talking table I spent most days alone at home.  Now I look forward to every session.  It has given me a reason to get out the house and meet new people.  I don’t feel so lonely anymore” Margaret (MARR Rainham)

The talking tables at Lordswood Library brings people together and I don’t know where I would be without them, sitting at home alone probably!  There is no pressure, and everyone is so supportive.  I have been to talks, song and scones, and lunches with people from the talking tables, and I feel happy to call them my friends,” Ann (Lordswood Library Talking Table)

Talking Table locations

Find locations on a:

Monday

Venue/Organisation

Location

Time

All Saints Community Project Trust Community Café The Magpie Centre, 33 Magpie Hall Rd, Chatham, ME4 5NE

9.30am to 2pm

Brainstormz Neurological Support Rainham Healthy Living Centre, 103 to 107 High Street, Gillingham, ME8 8AA

2pm to 4pm

Gillingham Safe Haven 105 Richmond Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1LX 6pm to 11pm
Lenny’s of Eastgate 137 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1EW 9.30am to 3pm
Lordswood Library Kestrel Road, Lordswood, Chatham ME5 8TH 2pm to 4pm
Mutual Aid Medway (MARR) Coffee Chat & Connect Rainham Healthy Living Centre, 103 to 107 High Street, Gillingham, ME8 8AA 12pm to 2pm
St Mary Magdalene Church Place of Welcome The Parish Church, Gillingham Green, ME7 1SS 9am to 1pm

Sue’s Crafty Café

Prospect Place, Blake Ave, Gillingham, ME7 1FX, UK 9am to 2pm
Sue’s Crafty Café at Bellerophan House Bellerophon House, Doust Way, Rochester, ME1 1FG 10am to 2pm

The Moat House Coffee Shop

The Moat House, 8 Crow Lane, Rochester, ME1 1RF

9.30am to 2.30pm

The NET Community Hub The NET Community Hub, ME5 0QX 10am to 1pm

Tuesday

Venue/Organisation

Location

Time

All Saints Community Project Trust Community Café Talking Table The Magpie Centre, 33 Magpie Hall Rd, Chatham, ME4 5NE 10.30am to 12.30pm
Alzheimer's Society Dementia Café

St Paul's Church, Long Catlis Road, Parkwood, Rainham, ME8 9PN

First and third Tuesday of the month, 1pm to 3pm
Bread of Life Café 17 Darnley Rd, Rochester ME2 2EU 2.30pm to 4pm
Bread of Life Neuro Café 17 Darnley Rd, Rochester ME2 2EU Last Tuesday of the month, 10am to 12pm
Café Plus at Christ Church Luton Luton Road, Chatham, ME4 5BT 10am to 12pm
Gillingham Safe Haven 105 Richmond Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1LX 6pm to 11pm
Lenny’s of Eastgate 137 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1EW 9.30am to 3pm
McLeods Café at Mid Kent College Gillingham Mid Kent College, Medway Rd, Gillingham ME7 1FN 9.30am to 11.30am

Mutual Aid Medway (MARR) Coffee Chat & Connect

Rainham Healthy Living Centre, 103 to 107 High Street, Gillingham, ME8 8AA

12pm to 2pm

St Francis Church Place of Welcome

St Francis Church, Galahad Ave, Strood, ME2 2YS

9am to 11.30am

Sue’s Crafty Café Prospect Place, Blake Ave, Gillingham, ME7 1FX, UK 9am to 2pm
Sue’s Crafty Café at Bellerophan House Bellerophon House, Doust Way, Rochester, ME1 1FG 10am to 2pm
Sunlight Wellbeing Café Sunlight Centre, 105 Richmond Rd, Gillingham ME7 1LX 10am to 2pm
The Moat House Coffee Shop The Moat House, 8 Crow Lane, Rochester, ME1 1RF 9.30am to 2.30pm
The NET Community Hub The NET Community Hub, 70 Silverweed Road, Walderslade, ME5 0QX 10am to 1pm

Wednesday

Venue/Organisation

Location

Time

All Saints Community Project Trust Community Café

The Magpie Centre, 33 Magpie Hall Rd, Chatham, ME4 5NE

9.30am to 2pm

BlueBells Catering & Tea Room 577 to 579 Maidstone Rd, Chatham ME5 9QX 2pm to 4pm
Gillingham Safe Haven 105 Richmond Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1LX 6pm to 11pm
Jaspers Community Café Rochester Library, Eastgate, Rochester, ME1 1EW 1.30pm to 3pm
Lenny’s of Eastgate 137 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1EW 9.30am – 3pm

Mutual Aid Medway (MARR) Coffee Chat & Connect

Balmoral Healthy Living Centre, Balmoral Gardens, Gillingham, ME7 4PN

10am to 12pm

St Augustine’s Place of Welcome Rock Avenue, Gillingham, ME7 5PW 9am to11am

Sue’s Crafty Café

Prospect Place, Blake Ave, Gillingham, ME7 1FX, UK

9am to 2pm

Sue’s Crafty Café at Bellerophan House Bellerophon House, Doust Way, Rochester, ME1 1FG 10am to 2pm
Sunlight Dementia Support Café Sunlight Centre, 105 Richmond Road, Gillingham, ME7 1LX 1pm to 3pm

Thursday

Venue/Organisation

Location

Time

All Saints Community Project Trust Community Café The Magpie Centre, 33 Magpie Hall Rd, Chatham, ME4 5NE 9.30am to 2pm

Gillingham Safe Haven

105 Richmond Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1LX

6pm to 11pm

Lenny’s of Eastgate

137 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1EW

9.30am to 3pm

McLeods Café at Mid Kent College, Gillingham

Mid Kent College, Medway Rd, Gillingham ME7 1FN

9.30am to 11.30am

St Mathews Place of Welcome Drewery Drive, Wigmore, Gillingham, ME8 0NX 10am to 12pm
St Peter and St Paul Place of Welcome The Street, Upper Stoke, Rochester, ME3 9RT 10am to 12pm

Sue’s Crafty Café

Prospect Place, Blake Ave, Gillingham, ME7 1FX, UK

9am to 2pm

Sue’s Crafty Café at Bellerophan House Bellerophon House, Doust Way, Rochester, ME1 1FG 10am to 2pm

The NET Community Hub Pip’N’Jims

The NET Community Hub, 70 Silverweed Road, Walderslade, ME5 0QX

9.30am to 12pm

Friday

Venue/Organisation

Location

Time

All Saints Community Project Trust Community Café The Magpie Centre, 33 Magpie Hall Rd, Chatham, ME4 5NE 9.30am to 2pm
Bread of Life Café 17 Darnley Rd, Rochester, ME2 2EU 1.30pm to 3pm
Gillingham Safe Haven 105 Richmond Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1LX 6pm to 11pm

Lenny’s of Eastgate

137 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1EW

9.30am to 3pm

Lordswood Library Kestrel Road, Lordswood, Chatham ME5 8TH 11am to 1pm
Rochester Dementia Memory Café Parish Centre, St Peter's Church, Delce Road, ME1 2EH Last Friday of the month, except December, 1.30pm to 3.30pm

Sue’s Crafty Café

Prospect Place, Blake Ave, Gillingham, ME7 1FX, UK

9am to 2pm

Sue’s Crafty Café at Bellerophan House

Bellerophon House, Doust Way, Rochester, ME1 1FG

10am to 2pm

Saturday

Venue/Organisation

Location

Time

Gillingham Safe Haven 105 Richmond Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 1LX 6pm to 11pm

Lenny’s of Eastgate

137 High Street, Rochester, ME1 1EW

9.30am to 3pm

Sue’s Crafty Café Prospect Place, Blake Ave, Gillingham, ME7 1FX, UK 9am to 2pm

Sue’s Crafty Café at Bellerophan House

Bellerophon House, Doust Way, Rochester, ME1 1FG

10am to 2pm

The NET Community Hub
Brainstormz Neurological Support Group

The NET Community Hub, 70 Silverweed Road, Walderslade, ME5 0QX

1pm to 4pm (please note this session does not run on the last Saturday in the month)

Sunday

Venue/Organisation

Location

Time

Sue’s Crafty Café at Bellerophan House Bellerophon House, Doust Way, Rochester, ME1 1FG 10am to 2pm