Essex


<p>Social clubs are having a moment. We don&#8217;t mean the traditional, exclusive kind –&nbsp;these clubs are community-driven and inclusive. We&#8217;re talking girls only social clubs that involve crafting and brunching, women&#8217;s walking groups, community hubs that offer support and casual pub meets with no catch. There&#8217;s quite the variety, but there&#8217;s one thing they all offer and that&#8217;s connection and hopefully a remedy to loneliness. Here&#8217;s just a few Essex social clubs that have popped up near you.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-girlies-social-club-southend-on-sea"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thegirliessocialclub/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Girlies Social Club</a>, Southend-on-Sea</h2>



<p>Offering creativity and connection to women around Southend-on-Sea, The Girlie Social Club makes making new friends pretty easy. Fairly new to the social scene, founders Freya and Paula host a series of meets that are gaining in popularity. The include Sip &amp; Paint and Brunch &amp; Bloom events and Sip &amp; Stroll socials along Shoebury East Beach, where you can grab and coffee before heading off.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/dari-lli-uUHSJoBY06E-unsplash.jpg" alt="Tulips being arranged in a bouquet" class="wp-image-28152" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/dari-lli-uUHSJoBY06E-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/dari-lli-uUHSJoBY06E-unsplash-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/dari-lli-uUHSJoBY06E-unsplash-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/dari-lli-uUHSJoBY06E-unsplash-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/dari-lli-uUHSJoBY06E-unsplash-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-social-sleepover-club-various-locations"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/thesocialsleepoverclub/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Social Sleepover Club</a>, various locations</h2>



<p>Whether you fancy a bit of pottery painting, wine tasting or filling up on tapas and pizza, the Social Sleepover Club encourages you to come solo, and leave with with a whole friend group. Founders Callie and Maddie have women only staycations and wellness retreats on the cards too. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-walkntalk-cic-colchester"><a href="https://www.walkntalkcolchester.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">WalkNTalk CIC</a>, Colchester</h2>



<p>A safe and supportive space for women to walk, talk and connect, with each other and with nature. The group&#8217;s focus is on creating a positive and uplifting community and has organised walks on an almost daily basis. As well as CreateNChat sessions; a space to work on a creation of your choice, be it a poem you&#8217;re writing or that scarf you&#8217;ve been crocheting since last year. Plus, a Books N Banter book club on the first Monday of every month.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/vitaly-gariev-a8PLy4NWLfM-unsplash.jpg" alt="Group of people walking in woods" class="wp-image-28153" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/vitaly-gariev-a8PLy4NWLfM-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/vitaly-gariev-a8PLy4NWLfM-unsplash-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/vitaly-gariev-a8PLy4NWLfM-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-umbrella-hub-colchester"><a href="https://www.theumbrellahub.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Umbrella Hub</a>, Colchester</h2>



<p>At The Umbrella Hub it&#8217;s all about making women feel seen, a space where women can explore their neurodiversity through creativity. It&#8217;s inclusive, empowering and allows neurodiverse women to drop the mask and just be themselves. As well as two peer support meet-ups each month at Love Local in Colchester, there are Creative Connections events, held in the Little Merchant café, Dedham. Take your own craft, or purchase a one-off project on the day, and above all else, have a chat and enjoy a friendly catch up. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-empty-chairs-various-locations"><a href="https://emptychairs.org.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Empty Chairs</a>, various locations</h2>



<p>The Empty Chair campaign is now nationwide, but it started here in Essex thanks to Hockley&#8217;s Dean Perryman. Aimed at tackling loneliness, the concept is pretty simple, inviting people to sit together at the pub. The organiser books a table at a pub and leaves a few chairs empty, ready for anyone to join. No pressure, no agenda and no expectation. Just a friendly face and human connection. Check out the upcoming venue in Epping on <strong>Sat 18 Apr</strong>, or host a table yourself.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/kelsey-chance-tAH2cA_BL5g-unsplash.jpg" alt="Group of people clinking wine glasses" class="wp-image-28154" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/kelsey-chance-tAH2cA_BL5g-unsplash.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/kelsey-chance-tAH2cA_BL5g-unsplash-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/essex/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2026/03/kelsey-chance-tAH2cA_BL5g-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-human-kind-cafe-billericay"><a href="https://www.humankindcafe.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Human Kind Café</a>, Billericay</h2>



<p>Every town could do with a place like Human Kind, a café that supports its local community. Serving nutritious food, holding inclusive events (many for children) and embracing a pay-it-forward model where people are invited to pay what they can afford (rather than a set price). It means those that are isolated or need a friendly ear get that chance to connect without the worry. The <a href="https://www.humankindcafe.co.uk/events/a38je5xhgwdt7g6-hycj6-hy24b-4tz83-xwzat-z3nra-pt7jp-amxhm-klwb9-7phey-ezenm-jcfkj-73elp-sg79z-a7ywg-7r8pr-hxkax-mh78r-dy5ez-27t8z-gx53t-flmex-5helt-23wex-2znej-amjpy-dwyl4-krtna" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Human Kind Social Group</a> is at the heart of the café&#8217;s connection and the <a href="https://www.humankindcafe.co.uk/events/kids-supper-club-w7d5d-lk6xx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kids Supper Club</a> during school holidays is a lifeline to parents in need of support.</p>



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Get connected! The rise of social clubs in Essex

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