Our cafe is getting behind a table-sharing scheme to tackle loneliness

Our Newton Abbot store is getting behind a scheme aiming to tackle loneliness by encouraging lone diners to share a table in our cafe.

Marian and Lynne are two of our customers who've made friends thanks to the Happy to Share My Table scheme.

About three years ago our cafe was so busy that Marian asked Lynne if she would like to join her – and their friendship grew from there. Three years on and these lovely ladies meet every morning at 8am to have a coffee and a chat together.

Lynne said: "We wouldn't go anywhere else. Everyone who works here are so kind to us. We are part of the furniture now."

The store's community champion Jane Entwistle said: "We are hoping the Happy To Share My Table initiative will get used more and more to help tackle loneliness and for our customers to build a friendship like Marian and Lynne have."

The initiative, which now has the backing of the University of Exeter, was the brainchild of Caron Sprake, an award-winning blogger and campaigner, who noticed how many people in cafes were sitting alone, so she created a simple card saying Happy to Share My Table.

Those people could be joined by others who may also be looking for someone to share a table and have a conversation.