What started as an initiative to get more people chatting in the UK has made its way to SA.
Strand, South Africa (24 December 2025) – The idea first came to a man named Alex Hoskyn in the UK. He was in a café with his four-month-old son, who wasn’t much for conversation. Alex felt particularly fed up that day, and perhaps slightly ‘stuck in his head’ without any engaging conversation.
But then he realised that he might not be the only one.
“I looked around the café and saw an elderly lady who looked just as down as I and on another table sat a young guy with additional needs and his support worker, both looking like they had run out of conversation,” he shared.
“I started to think about the positive impact we could have had on each other if we had sat together. I know from experience that when you are feeling lonely, a short conversation with another human can really brighten your day and I realised that you can be out of the house all day yet have no interaction with another person.”
There was room for kindness to lead the way through a simple conversation that no one was having. Alex realised that a little encouragement was all it took to get the chat going.
“I started to think about the positive impact we could have had on each other if we had sat together.”
That’s how The Chatty Cafe Scheme began in the UK about eight years ago.
Now, there are over 900 spots in the UK that support the cause, one more in Greece, and now Cape Town too!
These spaces, through joining the cause, designate special ‘chatty’ meet-ups in their establishments, where anyone can sit to share a few minutes of friendly chat or settle in for a longer conversation. All ages and backgrounds are welcome.
It’s just a simple spark that leads to positive interactions with other people. Connection is one of the greatest gifts we can give or receive.
In Cape Town, there’s a new ‘Chatty’ meet-up still finding its feet. It takes place on Wednesday mornings and evenings in Strand. You can find out more about it here.
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