Social & Friendship listings
Get Up Get Out Get Social Essex
A sociable Meetup group for the over-35s – relaxed get-togethers and outings to make new friends across Essex.
Visit websiteSouth East Essex Social Group
A Meetup community organising regular socials and activities for adults around south-east Essex.
Visit websiteEssex & Suffolk Friends
A big, inclusive friendship group with thousands of members and regular Southend-based meet-ups and socials.
Find on FacebookMums Together
Sociable meet-ups for mums – think picnics in Priory Park with blankets and games. Bring the family and say hello.
Find on FacebookGals Mingal
A friendly women’s group for making real local friendships – for you, and a social life for the whole family.
Find on FacebookSouthend Techmeet
A friendly community of IT pros, businesses and tech enthusiasts – monthly meetup (3rd Thursday) at The Board Game Hut covering software, AI, Raspberry Pi, robotics and more, plus hackathons and coding workshops. Over 18s.
Visit websiteSouthend 30/40s Women’s Social
A welcoming Meetup group for women in their 30s and 40s – coffees, meals and nights out to build local friendships.
Visit websiteStep Out Essex
A social group for neurodivergent and socially anxious young adults in their 18s to 30s – low-pressure meet-ups to build confidence and make friends.
Visit websiteW4W (Women for Women) Essex
A social group for women who love women across Essex – meals out, pool, beach days, film nights and coffee. Over 18s, whoever you are.
Visit websiteHighlands Methodist Hobbies Group
Drop in for tea, a bring-and-share lunch and whatever the group is making – card making, calligraphy, flower arranging, banners and jigsaws.
Visit websiteMendip Community Group
A Thursday-morning coffee morning and warm space at the Bridgwater Drive church – tea, coffee, hot chocolate and filled rolls. Everyone welcome.
Visit websiteSt Helen’s Friendship Club
Connection and laughter every Tuesday in the parish hall at St Helen’s, Westcliff – one of several friendly groups the parish runs. All welcome.
Visit websiteEarls Hall Fellowship Hall Drop-in
The hall is open for tea, coffee and a chat two days a week – a safe, local space made for anyone who finds busy rooms or social isolation hard.
Find on FacebookThorpe Bay Friendship Coffee Mornings
Relax and chat every Wednesday morning at Thorpe Bay Methodist Church, with a dementia-friendly Memory Worship service and activities on the first Monday of the month.
Visit websiteSt Clement’s Knit & Natter
A weekly group for knitting, crochet, cross-stitch and any other craft – tea, coffee and lots of chat provided. Friday lunches run in the church too.
Visit websiteMilton Community Partnership
Weekly clubs and low-cost family days out from St Mark’s Centre – a toddler group, an after-school family club, stitch and chat, and fitness classes.
Visit websiteLinks Club – Leigh Road Baptist Church
A Monday-morning group in The Stables Lounge where retired people and the over-60s meet for friendship and company – come and share your enthusiasms with others.
Visit websiteSt David’s Lunch Club
A warm, friendly Wednesday lunch club in Eastwood with proper home cooking – two courses and a cuppa for a few pounds. Dial-a-ride transport can be arranged.
Visit websiteAmbleside Social Club
Family-friendly social club on Ambleside Drive with live bands, darts, pool, snooker, a garden and seasonal events for children at Easter, Halloween and Christmas.
Visit websiteNaval and Military Club
A historic social club on Royal Terrace overlooking the estuary – three bars, live music, quiz nights, karaoke and a function room, steeped in character since 1920. Open to all, family friendly.
Visit websiteGrange Celtic Supporters Club
A sociable sports supporters’ club for adults, with children welcome too – a warm spot if you enjoy sport.
Find on FacebookEkco Social & Sports Club
A community sports and social club with jazz nights, live sport and a new outdoor play area for the little ones.
Find on FacebookCentre Café – Belle Vue
A friendly community café at Belle Vue Baptist Church, with picnics and get-togethers in local parks.
Visit websiteSouthend-on-Sea u3a
A lifelong-learning co-operative for older people no longer in full-time work – dozens of interest groups from walking and knit-and-natter to canasta, run by members for members.
Visit websiteWestcliff-on-Sea Women’s Institute
The WI as it actually is – hoteliers, teachers, mums and retirees who meet for talks, outings and a good natter. Now at Pebbles Café in The Haven Community Hub.
Visit websiteSouthend Chess Club
A large, friendly club with players of every standard – Mondays at Ambleside Social Club and Fridays at Thorpe Bay Bridge Club. Turn up and play a game or two.
Visit websiteEssex Society for Family History – SE Essex
A genealogy group for anyone tracing an Essex family tree, with monthly meetings in Southend and a big archive of local records to dig into.
Visit websiteLeigh Caledonian Dancers
Scottish country dancing on Monday evenings at St James Church Hall – no partner needed, no experience needed, and every dance is walked through first. £4 a session, and a break over July and August.
Visit websiteLeigh Floral Arrangement Group
A friendly afternoon of flowers, demonstrations and tea at Highlands Methodist Church on the last Friday of the month. Visitors welcome; doesn’t run in August.
Find on FacebookRoyal Naval Association – Southend Branch
A welcoming club on East Street open every day, with branch meetings on the second Sunday of the month. Serving and former Naval personnel, families and supporters.
Visit websiteShoebury & Thorpe Bay u3a
Over 100 interest groups for people no longer in full-time work – languages, walking, handicrafts, music, exercise and games. Something for everyone.
Visit websiteCivil Service Pensioners’ Alliance – Southend
The local group of the national CSPA – meetings with an interesting talk, a chat with friends and news on pensioner matters. Covers the SS postcodes.
Visit websiteRotary Club of Southend-on-Sea
The first Rotary club in East Anglia, chartered in 1921 – service-minded people who fundraise, run projects and enjoy each other’s company.
Visit websiteRotary Club of Leigh on Sea
A local Rotary club meeting Monday evenings at Boyce Hill Golf Club and Saxon Hall, picking its own projects and charities to support.
Visit websiteSoroptimist International Southend & District
A worldwide women’s service organisation with a local club meeting monthly at Garons – friendship alongside work for women and girls.
Visit websiteSouthend Vox
A fun, sociable community choir run entirely by volunteers, open to all genders 18 and over. Sings an eclectic mix of pop, show songs, spirituals and contemporary pieces.
Visit websiteSouthend Irish Association
Nearly 50 years of Irish community in Southend – Craic agus Ceol music sessions on the last Friday of the month at the back bar of The Plough. All welcome.
Visit websiteInternational German Club
A relaxed club for German speakers of any nationality – monthly club nights with talks, a raffle and a quiz, plus weekly Friday-afternoon chats on Zoom.
Visit websiteSouthend UFO & Paranormal Group
Regular meetings for anyone curious about UFO sightings and the unexplained across south Essex. Sceptics as welcome as believers.
Visit websiteAGES AHA – Archaeology Group
Monthly evening talks on archaeology and local history at Hadleigh United Reformed Church – no background needed, visitors welcome.
Visit websiteBalmoral Community Centre
The true centre of its community – home to dozens of clubs, societies and classes, and a comfortable base for anything from a lunch club to a family celebration.
Visit websiteThe Haven Community Hub
A warm, easy place to spend a morning – Millie’s community café, comfortable seating, free wi-fi, leisure groups and keep-fit upstairs. Run by Age Concern Southend.
Visit websiteClub 50+
Arts, sport and social activities for the over-50s from Age Concern Southend, based at The Haven Community Hub – plus advice, befriending and day care if you need it.
Visit websiteSouthend & District Pensioners Campaign Group
A sociable monthly meeting at the Balmoral Centre with a guest speaker on anything from Citizens Advice to hidden London. Going since 1985.
Visit websiteLions Club of Leigh-on-Sea
“Having fun, serving the local community” – hands-on help for local organisations and people in need, with a sociable club behind it.
Visit websiteEast Beach Residents Association
Set up in 2022 to bring East Beach together – quiz nights, Pimms in the garden, a summer fair in Norfolk Square and an AGM with a talk. Fundraises for local charities.
Visit websiteThe Len Forge Centre
A busy community sports centre on Eastwoodbury Lane – 3G and grass pitches, a function hall with a bar, and regular darts nights and family fun days.
Visit websiteThe IronWorks
Southend’s community arts and culture venue on the High Street – live music, theatre, comedy, spoken word, workshops, pop-up markets and Solly’s coffee shop.
Visit websiteEssex Asian Women’s Association
A long-established association supporting and connecting Asian women in Southend – advice, health information and celebrations of local heritage.
Visit website