What to Expect

Thinking about coming to an Empty Chairs event for the first time?

There’s very little you need to know beforehand. You don’t need to book, prepare anything or have a reason ready for why you’re coming.

Just find an event near you, turn up and look for the host wearing orange.

An Empty Chairs event is simply a table in a public place with a volunteer host and some empty chairs.

You turn up, find the host, take a seat and stay for as long as you feel comfortable.

There’s no agenda or expectation that you talk about anything in particular. It’s just an opportunity to spend some time around other people.

Every event is slightly different because every group of people is different. Sometimes there might be several people around the table. Sometimes it might just be you and the host. Both are completely normal.

The event listing will tell you the venue, time and name of the host.

When you get there, look for someone wearing orange. That’s your Empty Chairs host.

You can simply walk over and say hello.

The host will help you feel welcome at the table.

If other people are already there, don’t worry about interrupting. The whole point of the empty chairs is that people can join.

You absolutely do not need to bring somebody with you.

Empty Chairs is designed so that you can arrive on your own, even if you don’t know anybody there.

You can bring a friend, family member or someone else if that makes attending easier, but you don’t need to.

And if the people already sitting at the table appear to know each other, that doesn’t mean you’re joining a private group. You are still welcome to take an empty chair.

You can talk as much or as little as you like.

You might introduce yourself and immediately join the conversation. You might spend a little while listening first. You might mostly sit quietly.

All of those are fine.

Nobody should expect you to explain why you came to Empty Chairs, and you don’t need to share anything personal that you don’t want to.

There are no compulsory introductions, activities or group exercises.

It’s just a table and a conversation.

Anything, really.

Empty Chairs conversations don’t have to be about loneliness, mental health or anything particularly serious.

People might talk about:

• football
• work
• films or TV
• music
• what they’ve been doing that week
• the local area
• hobbies
• holidays
• whatever happens to come up

Sometimes conversations are light-hearted. Sometimes people talk about things that matter to them.

There isn’t a right subject.

You can simply join in where you feel comfortable.

There is no minimum amount of time you need to stay.

You might stay for five minutes, half an hour, the whole event or somewhere in between.

You can leave whenever you want, and you don’t need to make a big thing of leaving.

Our hosts commit to being at the advertised table for at least one hour, even if nobody has arrived yet. Some events may run for longer, depending on the event listing and the people there.

So if you arrive a little after the advertised start time, that’s okay too.

You do not need to:

• sign up before attending
• pay to attend
• explain why you’ve come
• talk about your personal life
• speak if you don’t feel like speaking
• take part in an activity
• stay for a set amount of time
• know anybody beforehand
• give us your contact details
• tell us that you attended

There is also no expectation that you buy food or drink at Empty Chairs.

Under 18?

Anyone under the age of 18 needs to attend with an adult aged 18 or over. Many of our events are held in pubs which may have their own rules in regards to under 18s entering their premises.

The venue may be busy

Empty Chairs events take place in ordinary public venues, so the surroundings will vary.

Some tables will be in busy pubs. Others might be in quieter cafés or community spaces.

Check the event listing before attending if the venue itself is important to you.

What if nobody else turns up?

Sometimes an event is busy. Sometimes only one person comes along.

If you are the only attendee, the host will still be there and you can simply sit and chat with them.

Hosts remain at the table for at least one hour even if nobody has arrived.

Empty Chairs is not therapy, counselling or a mental health treatment service.

Our hosts are volunteers. They are there to welcome people, help conversation flow and make the table feel approachable.

They are not therapists, counsellors or mental health professionals, and Empty Chairs is not a crisis service.

You never need to be experiencing a particular problem to attend either.

You might be having a difficult week. You might simply fancy some company. You might be new to the area. Or you might just like the idea of sitting down and meeting some people.

You don’t need to justify being there.

Find an Empty Chairs event near you, turn up, look for the person in orange and take an empty chair.

Stay for five minutes or stay for longer.

Talk a lot or simply listen.

However you arrive, you’re welcome to join the table.

Find an Empty Chairs event