MeetUpMondays™ was started by Mick Dore of The Alexandra pub in Wimbledon in January 2018. Mick was fed up with reading about loneliness and decided to ‘do something’. His pub has consistently won awards for its commitment to the community – notably its free Christmas dinner for anyone who would usually be alone on Christmas Day.

So what did he do? Well, he began offering a couple of hours of free tea, coffee and sandwiches on a Monday lunchtime encouraging those in the local area who ‘are fed up with their own company’. This may be because they are a new mum, a home worker, out of work (for whatever reason) or an elderly person or couple who have started to feel isolated. Since the launch, The Alexandra’s #MeetUpMondays and all its off shoots have simply changed lives.

Simon Leifer dropped into The Albert in Esher High Street KT10 9QS which is part of this growing scheme and he will definitely be returning!  It is very welcoming and inclusive, the teas and coffees are fresh and the pastries are incredibly yummy. If you want to make a voluntary donation it goes to the MeetUpMondays charity but there is no pressure to donate. Do look on their website http://MeetUpMondays.org.uk and pop in to The Albert between 11am and 1pm on a Monday (of course) to meet some of our lovely Esher people.