About us
If you're aged (strictly) between 25 and 55 and looking to meet more people / make new friends, 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, Stratford and the surrounding area, where new and regular members meet as a group to network as part of sociable / enjoyable activities. The events to choose from usually take place at the weekend, and include nights out in bars, countryside walks and hikes, coffee shops or restaurants, going to indoor / outdoor cinemas, pool halls, festivals, tribute bands, stage showsโฆ the list goes on.
After you click the 'Join' button you can get involved simply by browsing our list of scheduled events and then clicking the 'Attend' button on the events you like the look of.
At each of these events, youโll meet the other group 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, and of course every single member had to brave that first ever event.
Although after you've taken your turn as a 'first-timer' and broken the ice, youโll wonder what all the fuss was about and be eager to put your name down to attend another!
Some people you will relate to and connect well with - some you might not, but each time you attend an event you'll recognise people you met at past events and start to grow commonalities and friendships.
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 youโll 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. ๐
Here's a sneak preview of the current events schedule that's waiting for you to choose from when you join:
- Friday May 1st : Leamington Monthly Social night out๐น
- Sunday May 3rd : Bank Holiday House DJ in Leamington ๐ต๐๐บ
- Monday May 4th : Bank Holiday Monday : Burton Dassett (8-mile hike) ๐ถโโ๏ธ
- Friday May 8th : Warwick Castle Dining Club ๐ฝ๏ธ๐๐
- Friday May 15th : Warwick Monthly Social night out๐น
- Sunday May 17th : Newbold Comyn / Offchurch Loop (8-mile hike) ๐ถโโ๏ธ
- Sunday May 24th : Warwick Food Festival ๐ฝ๏ธ๐๐
- Monday May 25th : Bank Holiday Monday : Kineton Circular (8-mile hike) ๐ถโโ๏ธ
- Saturday June 6th : Leamington Saturday night out๐น
- Friday June 19th : Warwick Monthly Social night out๐น
- Saturday June 27th : Food followed by England vs Panama๐ฝ๏ธโฝ
- Saturday July 4th : Hatton Tribute Festival ๐ต๐๐บ
- Friday July 10th : Friendly Faces Fourth Birthday night out ๐น
- Saturday Aug 1st : Soul House DJ in Leamington ๐ต๐๐บ
- Friday Sept 11th : Ibiza Orchestra in Warwick ๐ต๐๐บ
- Sunday Nov 22nd : Carmina Burana - Royal Albert Hall ๐ต
More events are being scheduled all the time, so join now to be kept informed.
As of March 3rd 2026, Friendly Faces of Warwickshire trades as Friendly Faces Events Ltd.
Upcoming events
12
FFW: Cotswolds / Broadway Tower Loop (VERY hilly 7-mile hike)
Broadway War Memorial, High Street, Broadway, GBA super-last-minute hike for this coming Sunday...
One of the all-time favourite routes of the Friendly Faces, however, be warned that there is good news and bad news about this event.
The bad news first : This route is in the top three most challenging hiking routes undertaken by the Friendly Faces.
As usual this route has been tested beforehand, and we have completed it many times. However, throughout the route there are three VERY tough ascents - the first of which climbs gradually for about half a mile and just when you think its over a few flights of steps need to be conquered too to reach the top. This first incline alone is sure to beat anyone who is not a fit and able regular hill-walker, and as mentioned - another two challenging 'lung-buster' hills await you further on in the route.
Please consider this before clicking the attend button. Running out of energy and giving up half way through this route is not an option, and having to keep stopping for long breaks because your stamina is low will not make you popular with the other attendees.
As a point of reference - if you have conquered our other very challenging / undulating 7/8-mile hikes with the Friendly Faces (such as the Malvern Hills or Burton Dassett routes) without any problems - then you should be ok with this one as well, but please be warned that this hike is definitely not for casual strollers.
If anyone would like to know more on the difficulty level of this hike, please drop me a message and I'll be happy to describe.The good news : This route is in the top 3 most scenic hiking routes undertaken by the Friendly Faces..
Make no mistake, the reward for battling up those tough hills is an abundance of quite incredible scenery. Anyone who has visited the Cotswolds before will tell you that it is a special place, this superb route is a perfect introduction to this area of natural beauty, and it has to be seen to be believed.
If you are a regular walker, you can be sure of a stunning day out exploring some of the finest countryside that this country has to offer.. Amazing scenery, picturesque views, fresh air in your lungs, the sound of birds singing and cattle in the distance... nature at its finest.
An incredible outdoorsy place that will leave you in need of a good sit down and rest at the end, and you'll feel a warm satisfied glow at having seen it and conquered it.The town of Broadway directly south of Birmingham is beautiful, and there are several car-parks scattered around the town, however each one is small and therefore often busy. It is recommended that you look for street parking where possible (making sure to check the signs).
Failing that, look for a space in the car-parks in the order of priority listed below.
Also worthy of note - the meet point is a 20-minute walk away from all of the car parks, so you are strongly advised to plan to arrive in town at least half an hour early so that you've got time to find a parking space and walk to the meet point. Its not nice to make the group wait because you didn't plan your journey. If you don't make it to the starting point for midday we will start without you.When we are done we will have our traditional well-earned sit down and refreshing drink, this time in the awesome outdoor garden of the wetherspoons-style bar on the high street in the town before heading home.
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.Drivers...
If you are a driver, the town of Broadway is x minutes drive away...
Stratford 30; Warwick 42; Leamington 49; Coventry 51; Central Birmingham 60; Rugby 65.
Don't forget to factor in any pickups on the way, and also add half an hour extra upon arrival.
ALWAYS plan your journey and check for traffic on the day!Other things to note...
- Dogs are not allowed ๐ถโ to attend this event due to there being lots of wild animals and livestock all along the route.
- At this event you'll have a fantastic outdoorsy afternoon out, you'll meet a like-minded 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.
- Trainers will not suffice for this route. I insist in all hiking event descriptions that you invest in good, purpose-made, ankle-protecting footwear, and there are always a few who either ignore it or don't read it and arrive in trainers. If you do not wish to be permanently removed from the group for defying this rule then be sure to invest in some boots before attending.
- This is one of several hiking events that you are welcomed and encouraged to join as we all keep fit and active, and soak up the amazing English countryside.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 don't forget.
If you're a fan of good quality challenging hikes, then trust me when I say that this will be a truly amazing day out that you will not forget.Meet-point (Broadway Memorial) :
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ehon62iLAc2aAeQ981st-choice Parking (Milestone Carpark) :
https://maps.app.goo.gl/b4kwBC2NMUr9b8Qf92nd-choice Parking (Leamington Road Carpark) :
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7WycLM9GM65uBfYX9Parking Note: Due to the limited parking in Broadway, if you are aware of other parking options that you consider reliable enough, then you are encouraged to research and plan for those as you prefer.
EVENT SUMMARY / IMPORTANT POINTS
1. 'First-timer' attendees are always welcome to come along and check out who we are and how we do things. After that if you wish to return for another one, becoming an official subscribing group-member is necessary, so provided you're (strictly) within the permitted group age range of 25 to 55 qualifying you to join, read the details here...
https://www.meetup.com/friendlyfaces/events/305407432/
2. Be respectfully on time, not disrespectfully late. Make sure you arrive early enough to get parked, and be ready at the start point for this time or we will leave without you. In the past, several people have discovered how unpleasant it is to arrive at a meet-point and find it deserted, only to have to turn around and drive home again. Plan your journey beforehand and check for traffic/roadworks.
3. To attend this hiking event you must be physically active, hike-fit, free from injury, and have experience of covering this distance in one go. If you are not all of these things - please remove yourself from the attendees list.
4. Dogs are NOT allowed ๐ถโ to attend this event. This is due to close proximity with farm animals and public pathways taking us through farmers land.
5. This is a hiking event, and all attendees are expected to wear proper hiking footwear. No matter how confident/familiar you feel about walking in the countryside - due to the uneven terrain on this route, ankle-protecting waterproof footwear is compulsory.
If you do not currently own any - please invest in a pair in advance. The many Mountain Warehouse stores offer an excellent competitively-priced selection for men and women, so there is no excuse to not be equipped for this event.
Trainers may not protect you from a nasty injury - which could bring an unpopular end to the event for everyone.
(* 2026 UPDATE *) To ensure that all attendees sensibly follow this request respectfully of everyone else : Anyone who injures themselves and is not wearing ankle-protecting hiking footwear will be immediately and permanently removed from the group.12 attendees
FFW: Summer Soul House DJ night at the Micro Pug
The Old Library, 11-13 Bath St, Leamington Spa, GBThis will be the fourth time the Friendly Faces group has gathered to descend upon the Micro Pug on Clemens street in Leamington to soak up an evening of amazing music from DJ Cedric and his hypehouse DJ's.
Click the attend button now to stay informed.Last year's summer event was an absolute blast, and this year looks to be a carbon copy.
Just take a moment to imagine it...
A choice of two floors of superb dance music to nod your head and shake your hips to, each with its own bar.
Upstairs, soulful funky house, and downstairs, harder more traditional house.
As if that wasn't enough, to take a break from the music - just saunter out onto the spacious balcony and outside areas to sit at the tables and soak up the glorious summer weather and sip on a refreshing drink.In summary - a really great venue and all-round party experience to welcome in the 2026 summer social season, and with tickets at just ยฃ14, this is not to be missed.
Previous events have seen last-minute panic from Friendly Faces members when tickets have sold out before they acted, so don't risk being one of those losing out... get yours now.
Here is the official event page which has all the details.
Don't delay!...
https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Coventry/The-Micro-Pug/Soul-House-Summer-Sessions/42405637/Make sure you're at the Old Library at 7pm on the night where we will say our hellos, and then at 7.30pm we'll take a walk up the street and into the Micro Pug together.
Finally..
Your first Friendly Faces event is free.
'First-timer' attendees are always welcome to come along and check out who we are and how we do things. After that if you wish to return for another one, becoming an official subscribing group-member is necessary, so provided you're (strictly) within the permitted group age range of 25 to 55, read the details here...
https://www.meetup.com/friendlyfaces/events/305407432/15 attendees
FFW: Leamington Friday-Night Social
The White Horse, Clarendon Avenue, Leamington Spa, GBWhat better way to get out of the house 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 Monthly Social?...
Either read on for a written explanation of the format of this event, or watch this YouTube video that I put together in 2023 when we first started doing them...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=st6irM814UMTo 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 focuses on the social aspects : getting out and meeting new people, mingling, and expanding your social circle.
Don't waste your energy trying to find someone you know to come with you - coming alone is perfectly normal and is what 99.9% of attendees do, and by sticking with a friend - you wont meet anyone new.
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 pretty chuffed about having chatted with a group of nice friendly people and made some cool new connections,
(3) feel like they fit right in,
(4) be checking the diary to see if they can make another event!If you're driving, or (like me) 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, you certainly wont be judged.
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 visit around 3 or 4 venues throughout the evening, and stay 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'll be present for introductions, and you'll get much more out of the evening.
So to start we'll gather at the very laid back "White Horse" pub at 7:30pm and let the socialising commence.
The White Horse : https://maps.app.goo.gl/yL1THf5cbDr6pk3M7Click the 'Attend' button now so you don't forget.
There are plenty of parking options around the town including roadside parking along Beauchamp Avenue near the top of the Parade, and St Peter's Multi-Storey carpark at the bottom.
Beauchamp Avenue : https://maps.app.goo.gl/6jEPLhwP5DPtqkXy8
St Peters Multistorey : https://maps.app.goo.gl/7XuxdrbcwRodCGya8Very Important Note...
A polite reminder that Friendly Faces events are for meeting new people, networking and expanding social circles. This means positive energy only.
The following 5 rules apply, as a way of safeguarding members from a few things. By attending this and any subsequent events, you agree to abide by them.1. Friendly Faces events are not dating / singles events. Anyone engaging in persistent or unwelcomed attention towards others (either at an event or afterwards) may be removed from the group.
2. Having respect for others is non-negotiable. Anyone who is disrespectful to others (whether this is directed at members of the group or outsiders) may be removed from the group.
3. Drinking alcohol is normal (and optional) at these events, however our primary focus is on socialising, not on drinking to excess. Anyone being or becoming excessively drunk (or exhibiting drunken behaviour) may be removed from the group.
4. We are all Friendly Faces group ambassadors at the places we visit. Anyone misusing/abusing a venue/location (or the staff or property within it) may be removed from the group.
5. Our encouragement of others to attend more Friendly Faces events benefits us all. However anyone harvesting/sharing phone numbers to promote products, events, or other social groups may be removed from the group.
I feel very privileged that members of the Friendly Faces group are known for being so warm and welcoming to each other (and the expectations of first-timers are often exceeded) so good times and happy vibes naturally flow at our events.
With these rules in place and acknowledged we shouldn't need to refer back to them, but we have them and can use them if needed.
With that out of the way - lets do what we do so well, and enjoy these super-sociable group experiences and meeting new people.
If we haven't met you before we are all looking forward to meeting you, and if we have met you before - we're looking forward to seeing you again!Finally...
Your first Friendly Faces event is free.
'First-timer' attendees are always welcome to come along and check out who we are and how we do things. After that if you wish to return for another one, becoming an official subscribing group-member is necessary, so provided you're (strictly) within the permitted group age range of 25 to 55, read the details here...
https://www.meetup.com/friendlyfaces/events/305407432/12 attendees
Past events
250
Group links
Members
2,255
