What we’re about
Are you aged between 25 and 50 and any of the following?..
- Looking to meet more people / make new friends;
- New to the area;
- Recently become single;
- Wanting more fun activities in your diary to look forward to;
- Haven't got your social life back to how it was before lockdown;
- Noticing your existing friends all settling down;
....or are you just plain bored / looking for sociable activities to get involved in...
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 and the surrounding area, where new and regular members meet as a group to network and partake in 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, but 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 for another event!
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. 😊
Current Events Schedule:
- Sunday January 12th : Stratford to Wootton Wawen (7.5-mile hike) 🚶
- Sunday January 19th : Kineton / Butlers Marston Loop (7-mile hike) 🚶
- Friday January 24th : January "Flash Mob" Social around Warwick 🍹
- Friday February 7th : February "Flash Mob" Social around Leamington 🍹
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Kineton / Butlers Marston Loop (7-mile hike)Kineton, Warwick
Whether you're new to Friendly Faces or you're a seasoned regular, click the Attend button now and take full advantage of this tried and tested hike which will get you (1) out of the house, (2) meeting new people, (3) exercising, and (4) starting 2025 determined to be successful.
At this event you'll have a fantastic afternoon out, you'll meet an outdoorsy group of super-social Friendly Faces (including first-timers as always) and you'll be amazed at how easy it is to make new acquaintances / connections along the way.
This is one of several upcoming hiking events that you are welcomed and encouraged to join as we all start working off the Christmas flab and launching 2025 with health and inspiration!
For more details on how you can take even more advantage of the new-year positivity, check out the Friendly Faces New Year Challenge event on the events list.What are the details for this hike?
One of the very first Friendly Faces walking routes ever that went down a storm with all who attended, and has been repeated several times since.
Heading out into the charming countryside, we'll start in the centre of Kineton village and take a 7-mile circular route which will include scenic views along the river Dene. We'll also pass the remains of St John's castle, a wildlife conservation area, and an old historical battlefield site.
The route is a charming remote countryside experience, with natural scenes that make you feel like you are discovering them for the first time. Hard to believe that human civilisation has ever encountered them before!
Just before one of those visits to Kineton last year I created the following video to talk a bit more about this event, so before reading on why not have a watch now... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyrAysdFokw/As is customary when we reach the end of a Friendly Faces hike, we'll call in at a nearby pub for a well-earned drink and a sit down / final chin-wag, before heading home. The White Swan on Warwick Road (across the road from the churchyard meeting-point) is perfect for this.
See the map on the event page if you need sat-nav assistance to help you find the meet-point.
When you arrive, grab yourself a parking spot along the road and we'll meet by the bench in the church yard.Getting there...
If you are a driver, the meet-point is x miles away from...
Warwick 10; Leamington 12; Kenilworth 17; Coventry 22; Rugby 22; Central Birmingham 41.Need a lift?...
If you aren't a driver and would like a lift to and from the starting point, leave a message here on the event page (as soon as you sign up) asking if anyone is kind enough to offer. Do that now, because leaving that question until the last few days before the event is too late.
Don't forget to offer a few pounds to your driver towards petrol money.Other things to note...
- Dogs ARE NOT allowed 🐶❌ to attend this walk. We pass through a number of areas with farm-yard animals and cattle and therefore ask that you leave pooch at home for this one.
- Compared to other hiking routes in the huge Friendly Faces library of routes, the terrain for this one is flat and very easy-going, however there might be the odd spot that will be muddy at this time of year where rain has lingered, so ditch the trainers and don your waterproof walking boots. Ankle-protecting boots are always recommended for hiking anyway. If you intend to join more Friendly Faces hikes and don't own proper walking boots then it will be a great investment for the months ahead.Oh and parking...
Very straight-forward in central Kineton. Warwick Road (outside the churchyard meet-point) runs off into the distance with free roadside parking all along it and always has plenty of space. Park on Warwick Road as close as you can to the White Swan.Feel free to drop me a message if you have any questions.
If not - click the big red "Attend" button now to be kept in the loop, and so you dont forget.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 12:00. 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, in good health, 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.
- Due to recent seasonal weather this route may be wet / muddy / slippy in places, so bring (or invest in) some good quality ankle-protecting / water-proof footwear.
- January Social "Flash Mob" in Warwick Town CentreThe Rose & Crown, Warwick
What better way to tick off that new years resolution 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 Flash-Mob?...
To 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 focusses on the social aspects : getting out and meeting new people, mingling, and expanding your social circle. Bring friends if you want to, but coming alone is what most 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 like they fit right in, (3) feel pretty chuffed about having chatted with some friendly like-minded people, and (4) be checking the diary to see if they can make the next one!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 have more flash-mob fun.
So to start we'll gather at the Rose & Crown (CV34 4SH) at 7:30pm and let the socialising commence.Click the attend button now so you dont forget.
If you hadn't guessed by now this is a monthly event, and as always, I'm looking forward to it!
Here is the link to a YouTube video I put together back in 2023 (to explain the event format) when we first started doing them...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st6irM814UMIMPORTANT NOTE...
To find out how to become a full Friendly Faces group member, read here... https://www.meetup.com/friendlyfaces/events/305407432/ - 2025 New Year ChallengeNeeds location
Looking for an achievable New Years Resolution to start 2025 with?
Then step up to the plate with this one. It'll tick those common new-year boxes... to get out more... to meet more people... and to get more exercise!
Smash into 2025 with the Friendly Faces New Year Challenge, and if you succeed - you'll proudly walk away with a shiny medal of achievement!The Friendly Faces New Year Challenge is an optional extra alongside our normal hiking events as we start the year.
How do I get involved?...
Simply sign up to and complete any four of the Sunday Friendly Faces hikes scheduled throughout January and February, and on completion of your fourth, you will be presented with a shiny Friendly Faces medal of achievement as a symbol of your success.
More walks will be scheduled in the coming weeks to choose from, so keep an eye on the events list and decide which ones you'd like to attend.Of course the challenge is purely optional, and you will be warmly welcomed at all of the scheduled hikes - whether you wish to join in on the challenge aspect of it or not.
But just imagine the feeling of succeeding... those big new-year tick-boxes ticked... that medal round your neck!Click through to the events list now and click the 'Attend' button on your first hike for the challenge...
https://www.meetup.com/friendlyfaces/events/ - February Social "Flash Mob" in Leamington Town CentreThe Old Library, Leamington Spa
What better way to tick off that new years resolution 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, 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 Flash-Mob?...
To 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 focusses on the social aspects : getting out and meeting new people, mingling, and expanding your social circle. Bring a friend if you want to, but coming alone is what most 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 like they fit right in, (3) feel pretty chuffed about having chatted with some friendly like-minded people, and (4) be checking the diary to see if they can make next months 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 can take advantage of the introductions, and you'll have more flash-mob fun.
So to start we'll gather at the Old Library 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!
Here is the link to a YouTube video I put together last year (to explain the event format) when we first started doing them...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st6irM814UM
