Talk of the town: Mayor launches Solihull’s Chatty Café scheme

We all know it’s good to talk and Solihull town centre coffee shops are encouraging this by bringing people together through the national Chatty Café scheme.

The Chatty Café scheme has a simple idea: venues pay a one-off £10 sign-up fee and designate a ‘Chatter and Natter’ table where people can sit if they’re happy to talk to each other.

The goal is for every café, coffee shop and community venue in the region to have a ‘Chatter & Natter’ table, and for local neighbourhoods to be at the heart of creating a less lonely, chattier region.

Solihull BID, the Business Improvement District for town centre retailers, restaurants, cafés and office-based companies, is backing the Chatty Café scheme in partnership with the office of the Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street.

The BID and Mr Street launched the scheme at Paramo Lounge on Solihull High Street, where customers introduced themselves to each other and businesses pledged to take part.

Andy Street said: “I’m backing the Chatty Café scheme as I think it’s a fantastic way to help people connect with each other in the places that matter to them.

“Our local high street businesses have a really important role to play in helping to create friendly, chatty places, and I am sure the scheme will be a huge success in Solihull.”

Melanie Palmer, CEO, Solihull BID, added: “We’re proud to be part of the Mayor of the West Midlands’ Chatty Café Campaign. Whether you’re on your own or with others, a friendly chat with someone new could make all the difference.”

Solihull Cafés taking part in the scheme include: Encore Café, Paramo Lounge, A Place to Eat in John Lewis & Partners, Boston Tea Party, The Beech House, Tap & Tandoor and Crowne Plaza Solihull, with many more looking to sign up to the scheme.

For more information about the campaign, to find your nearest Chatty Café, or to sign your business up, please go to: https://www.wmca.org.uk/chattycafe