This help sheet explains how my widowed friends chooses venues for its weekly coffee groups.
Venues are selected by mwf, not by individual members or groups, to ensure fairness, accessibility, and consistency across all locations.
If you have concerns about your current venue, or wish to propose an alternative, we are always happy to hear from you. Any alternative venue must meet the criteria below.
In many towns, no venue meets every requirement, so we choose the best overall fit.
📍 Location: town-centre
Our venues are usually in central town locations. This is a deliberate choice and allows members to:
- combine the coffee meet with shopping or other errands
- feel part of everyday town life
- access better public transport options
Out-of-town venues almost always make attendance harder for members who rely on buses or trains.
🏢 Type of venue: public, open, and visible
We use public venues such as cafés, hotels, pubs, or local clubs. We deliberately do not use private rooms.
mwf is a social and friendship network, not a bereavement support service. Meeting in open, public spaces:
- helps nervous or newly widowed members take their first steps back into everyday life
- reinforces that being widowed is not something that needs to be hidden
- maintains clear, appropriate boundaries for a social group
Where possible, we prioritise independent, locally owned venues, although this is not always achievable.
🚍 Transport: public transport takes priority
We recognise that town-centre venues can make parking more difficult for drivers.
However, mwf gives priority to members travelling by bus or train, as public transport involves fewer options and less flexibility.
Parking can usually be found within walking distance of central venues, even if this involves a short walk or a parking charge.
♿ Accessibility: balancing needs fairly
We aim to choose venues that are as accessible as possible, recognising that many members have mobility limitations. If your venue presents a genuine accessibility issue for you, please contact us. We particularly welcome suggestions for central, accessible alternatives that meet the wider criteria.
Accessibility decisions will balance individual needs with the needs of the group as a whole.
👥 Size and seasonality
Venues must be willing and able to:
- host larger groups (10+ people)
- make space for the group every week, including busy periods
- cope during peak seasons such as summer or holidays
Many otherwise pleasant cafés struggle once groups reach a certain size or when trade increases seasonally.
☕ Welcoming and appropriate atmosphere
Venues must be happy to host the group in a relaxed and welcoming way; understanding that members may stay for an hour or more and being comfortable with members buying just one drink.
🙏 Thank you
If you’ve read this far, you’ll see that choosing venues is rarely simple. We value feedback and local knowledge. If you want to propose an alternative venue, please consider the criteria above and understand that final decisions rest with my widowed friends, so that groups remain welcoming, accessible, and sustainable for everyone.