What we’re about
If you're aged between 25 and 50 and looking to meet more people / make new friends, then why not take a bold (but easy) step towards doing something about it, and attend one of the many social events with members of the super-sociable group, the Friendly Faces of Warwickshire.
We enjoy a variety of scheduled events in Leamington, Warwick, Stratford and the surrounding area, where new and regular members meet as a group to network as part of sociable / enjoyable activities. The events to choose from usually take place at the weekend, and can include countryside walks and hikes, gathering in bars, coffee shops or restaurants, going to indoor / outdoor cinemas, pool halls, festivals, tribute bands, stage shows… the list goes on.
To get involved simply browse the events page and then click the 'Attend' button on the events you like the look of.
At each of these events, you’ll meet the members - potential new friends from all walks of life and just like you in wanting to improve their social lives. They will make you feel very welcome as another valued contributor to what makes our events into special occasions to remember for all involved. It's normal to feel a little bit of apprehension about your first meeting, which is something we all have to go through. After you've broken the ice for the first time, you’ll wonder what all the fuss was about and be eager to put your name down to attend another!
If you keep attending, you'll recognise people you met at past events and start to grow commonalities and friendships with the people you connect well with.
Attending a FFW event by yourself is perfectly fine and it's what many people do. The attendees at each event are never the same.. each one consists of a combination of first-timers, seasoned members and everything in between, so there will be other new like-minded attendees just like you, whatever your situation.
The reality is, we're all like you and looking for opportunities to be sociable. We genuinely hope that you decide to get involved. When you do, we will look forward to meeting you.
Months from now you’ll look back on this moment that you took action with a smile, and be really glad you did!
You are always free to leave an event early should you decide at any stage that you want to / need to leave for whatever reason. You will not be judged.
Whatever you do, don't assume that you know how an event will be - just rock up for one and see what you think. Many members have done so and since said they were glad they did.
So ask yourself out loud: "What have I got to lose?"
And then hit that join button. 😊
Here's a sneak preview of the current events schedule that's waiting for you to choose from when you join:
- Friday Aug 1st : Leamington Monthly Social night out🍹
- Sunday Aug 3rd : Chesterton / Harbury Loop (7-mile hike) 🚶♀️
- Friday Aug 15th : Warwick Monthly Social night out🍹
- Sunday Aug 17th : Kenilworth Castle/Greenway (7-mile hike) 🚶♀️
- Saturday Aug 23rd : Leamington Soul House DJ night 🎵
- Monday Aug 25th : Bank Hol special : Edgehill in reverse! (7-mile hike) 🚶♀️
- Friday Aug 29th : Stratford upon Avon - Social night out 🍹
- Sunday Aug 31st : Sutton Park loop (7-mile hike) 🚶♀️
- Friday Sept 5th : Leamington Monthly Social night out🍹
- Sunday Sept 7th : Leamington FREE Food & Drink Festival 🍔🍷
- Friday Sept 12th: Ibiza Orchestra Experience - Warwick 🎵
- Sunday Sep 14th : Edstone Aqueduct / Wootton Wawen (7-mile hike) 🚶♀️
- Friday Sept 19th : Warwick Monthly Social night out🍹
- Saturday Sept 20th : Stratford FREE Food & Drink Festival 🍔🍷
- Sunday Sep 28th : Kineton Circular & Optional Curry (7-mile hike) 🚶♀️
- Friday Oct 3rd : Leamington Monthly Social night out🍹
- Sunday Oct 12th : Classic Local Hike - Location TBA (7-mile hike) 🚶♀️
- Friday Oct 17th : Warwick Monthly Social night out🍹
- Saturday Oct 25th : Daytime Drum&Bass DJ Event - Digbeth 🎵
- Friday Oct 31st : Leamington Halloween Fancy-Dress / Social
- Saturday Nov 29th : Soul House DJ-night at the Micro Pug 🎵
More events are being scheduled all the time, so join now to be kept informed.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Warwick Monthly SocialThe Rose and Crown, Warwick CV34 4SH
What better way to get out and meet more people... whether you're a first-timer or a regular, get your name down to join this mixed casual group-tour around downtown Warwick on a relaxed Friday evening, and we'll descend together upon its most popular bars one at a time, staying long enough for a drink or two before we all move on to the next one.
What is a Friendly Faces Monthly Social?...
Either read on for a written explanation of the format of this event, or watch this YouTube video that I put together in 2023 when we first started doing them...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st6irM814UMTo the untrained eye this event looks like a pub-crawl, but rather than being about getting drunk (as pub-crawls are) this monthly meetup event instead focuses on the social aspects : getting out there and meeting new people, mingling, and expanding your social circle. Don't waste your energy trying to find someone you know to come with you - coming alone is perfectly normal and is what 99.9% of attendees do.
The changing of venues helps encourage the mingling upon us, and typically by the end of the evening - each attendee will...
(1) have met most (if not all) of the other attendees present,
(2) feel pretty chuffed about having chatted with a group of nice friendly people and made some cool new connections,
(3) feel like they fit right in,
(4) be checking the diary to see if they can make another event!If you're driving, or (like me) alcohol isn't your thing, then do as I and any other non-drinkers do, and instead sip on a glass of cordial, coke, or zero beer. There is no pressure to buy drinks. If you decide to skip the bar and just enjoy the social occasion, its fine.
Big Win #1...
Unlike the usual sit-down or stand-still-all-night meetups, this style of event will keep mixing us up as a group every time we change venue, and the mingling will happen automatically as we go with the flow.Big Win #2...
As a big group of people it will be great fun and a guaranteed laugh watching the bewildered faces of the non-meetup people in the bars as we all walk in the door together and fill the place, and then after an hour or so of meetup chatter - all leave together and empty it again!Venues...
As you may know there are several cool bars in central Warwick so we wont have to walk far between venues. We'll keep it to between 3 and 4 venues throughout the evening, and stay close to the Market Square in the town centre.I'll keep our location-changes communicated as the evening progresses so you can join at any point along the route, but lateness is not recommended. Obviously if you're on time at the start you'll be present for introductions, and you'll get much more out of the evening.
So to start we'll meet in the very stylish Rose & Crown at 7:30pm and let the socialising commence.
Meet-point here... https://maps.app.goo.gl/72L4Pb1ibR3KqZkj7Free parking in the Cape Road car park which is free from 6pm on Friday.
Car park here... https://maps.app.goo.gl/4JSpR2ZoavrPPNP8AClick the 'Attend' button now so you don't forget.
If you hadn't guessed by now this is a monthly event, and as always, I'm looking forward to it!
Important Note #1...
A polite reminder that Friendly Faces events are for meeting new people, networking and expanding social circles. This means positive energy only.
The following 4 rules apply, as a way of safeguarding members from a few things...- Friendly Faces events are not dating events. Anyone engaging in persistent / unwelcomed attention towards others (either at an event or afterwards) may be removed from the group.
- Anyone disregarding others' comfort and experience may be removed from the group.
- We are all Friendly Faces group ambassadors at the places we visit. Anyone misusing/abusing a venue/location (or the property within it) may be removed from the group.
- Anyone pitching or promoting products, events, or social groups may be removed from the group.
I feel very privileged that members of the Friendly Faces group are known for being so warm and welcoming to each other (and the expectations of first-timers are often exceeded) so good times and happy vibes naturally flow at our events.
With these rules in place and acknowledged we shouldn't need to refer back to them, but we have them and can use them if needed.
With that out of the way - lets do what we do so well, and enjoy these super social group experiences and meeting new people.
If we haven't met you before we are all looking forward to meeting you, and if we have met you before - we're looking forward to seeing you again!Important Note #2...
Finally, attendees new to the group are always welcome to check out an event as a 'first-timer' to see how we do things, but to find out how to become a full Friendly Faces group member, read here...
https://www.meetup.com/friendlyfaces/events/305407432/ - Kineton Circular (7-mile hike) + optional Curry at ShukursKineton, Warwick
Amazing 7-mile hike, then pub, then optional curry... A very popular combination that we have repeated many times.
One of the very first Friendly Faces routes which received rave reviews from all who attended, the Kineton / Little Kineton / Butlers Marston route has been repeated so many times now (for first-timers and those who have done it before) that we must be into into double-figures!
When we reach the end we'll have a well-earned sit down in the pub for a post-hike drink and then an optional extra (for those who cant be bothered to cook when they get home) we'll take 2-minute stroll round the corner from the pub to the highly acclaimed 'Shukurs' restaurant and tuck into a feast of delicious Indian food as our reward for the day's efforts.So I'm very happy to repeat this awesome 'double-meetup' format, and it should be noted that the restaurant part is entirely optional, so its perfectly ok to attend the walk only and then go home. You wont be judged!
Of course we will need to book a table in advance to cater for the large number who want to eat, so let me know quickly whether you want a seat at the table or not.
Walkers can expect a 4-5pm finish, while those wanting to walk AND dine can expect a 6-7pm-ish finish.Here is the old briefing video that I put together to describe what you can expect, or read below for the original description.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyrAysdFokwFollowing the popular Friendly Faces group walks so far in the last few months, get your name down and don't miss this next one. It's an absolute belter, and has everything you could ever wish for in a countryside walk.
Heading out into the country this time, we'll start in the centre of Kineton and take a 7-mile circular route which will include scenic views along the river Dene, the remains of St John's castle, the wildlife conservation area, and an old historical battlefield site.
EVENT SUMMARY / IMPORTANT POINTS
- To find out how to become a full Friendly Faces group member, read here... https://www.meetup.com/friendlyfaces/events/305407432/
- This event starts at 13:00. Do not be late. Make sure you arrive early enough to get parked, and be ready at the start point for this time or we may leave without you.
- To attend this hiking event you must be physically active, hike-fit, and free from injury. If you are not all of these things - please remove yourself from the attendees list.
- Dogs are NOT allowed 🐶❌ to attend this event. This is due to close proximity with farm animals and pathways through farmers land.
- Due to the uneven terrain, you are advised to wear (or if you don't already own - invest in) some good quality ankle-protecting waterproof footwear for this and the varied subsequent Friendly Faces hikes. Trainers may not protect you from injury - which would bring an unpopular end to the event for everyone, so please be sensible and considerate to others with your choice of footwear.
- Leamington Monthly SocialThe White Horse, Leamington Spa
What better way to get out and meet more people... whether you're a first-timer or a regular, get your name down to join this mixed casual group-tour around downtown Leamington on a relaxed Friday evening. We'll descend together upon its most popular bars one at a time, staying long enough for a drink or two before we all move on to the next one.
What is a Friendly Faces Monthly Social?...
Either read on for a written explanation of the format of this event, or watch this YouTube video that I put together in 2023 when we first started doing them... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st6irM814UMTo the untrained eye this event looks like a pub-crawl, but rather than being about getting drunk (as pub-crawls are) this monthly meetup event instead focuses on the social aspects : getting out and meeting new people, mingling, and expanding your social circle. Don't waste your energy trying to find someone you know to come with you - coming alone is perfectly normal and is what 99.9% of attendees do.
The changing of venues helps encourage the mingling upon us, and typically by the end of the evening - each attendee will...
(1) have met most (if not all) of the other attendees present,
(2) feel pretty chuffed about having chatted with a group of nice friendly people and made some cool new connections,
(3) feel like they fit right in,
(4) be checking the diary to see if they can make another event!If you're driving, or alcohol isn't your thing, then do as I (and other non-drinkers) do, and instead sip on a glass of cordial, coke, or zero beer. There is no pressure to buy drinks. If you decide to skip the bar and just enjoy the social occasion, its perfectly fine.
Big Win #1
Unlike the usual sit-down or stand-still-all-night meetups, this style of event will keep mixing us up as a group every time we change venue, and the mingling will happen automatically as we go with the flow.Big Win #2
As a big group of people it will be great fun and a guaranteed laugh watching the bewildered faces of the non-meetup people in the bars as we all walk in the door together and fill the place, and then after an hour or so of meetup chatter - all leave together and empty it again!Venues...
As you may know there are several cool bars in central Leamington so we wont have to walk far between venues. We'll keep it to between 3 and 4 venues throughout the evening, and stay quite close to the Parade in the town centre.I'll keep our location-changes communicated as the evening progresses so you can join at any point along the route, but lateness is not recommended. Obviously if you're on time at the start you wont miss the introductions, and you'll get much more from the evening.
So to start we'll gather at the White Horse at 7:30pm and let the socialising commence.Click the attend button now so you don't forget.
If you hadn't guessed by now this is a monthly event, and as always, I'm looking forward to it!
Important Note #1...
A polite reminder that Friendly Faces events are for meeting new people, networking and expanding social circles. This means positive energy only.
The following 4 rules apply, as a way of safeguarding members from a few things...- Friendly Faces events are not dating events. Anyone engaging in persistent / unwelcomed attention towards others (either at an event or afterwards) may be removed from the group.
- Anyone disregarding others' comfort and experience may be removed from the group.
- We are all Friendly Faces group ambassadors at the places we visit. Anyone misusing/abusing a venue/location (or the property within it) may be removed from the group.
- Anyone pitching or promoting products, events, or social groups may be removed from the group.
I feel very privileged that members of the Friendly Faces group are known for being so warm and welcoming to each other (and the expectations of first-timers are often exceeded) so good times and happy vibes naturally flow at our events.
With these rules in place and acknowledged we shouldn't need to refer back to them, but we have them and can use them if needed.
With that out of the way - lets do what we do so well, and enjoy these super social group experiences and meeting new people.
If we haven't met you before we are all looking forward to meeting you, and if we have met you before - we're looking forward to seeing you again!Important Note #2...
Finally, attendees new to the group are always welcome to check out an event as a 'first-timer' to see how we do things, but to find out how to become a full Friendly Faces group member, read here...
https://www.meetup.com/friendlyfaces/events/305407432/
