“It’s good to talk”* …….. today at the Tea Hive

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that we all like to chat whether it’s over the phone, across a pub table or on a park bench with a friend.**

The 18th century had its coffee shops, the 19th its chop houses and the last century its Milk Bars.

Go back far enough into the past and I bet you could find a couple of Romans discussing gladiator fights and the best fish sauce to take home to mother, or the children of Noah on the different sorts of rain.

All of which is an introduction to a new project today at the Tea Hive on Manchester Road.  It is centred on that simple idea that we all like to chat.

It is part of a nationwide scheme called Chatty Café, which Jessica Mayne says offers “a friendly safe space for anyone who wants to leave their troubles at the door and have a natter with approachable people. Even if it’s just to drop by with a quick hello!

Order a drink, scan Teahive and you will see me, Jess, the host - bright yellow cards laden our table. Anyone at a bit of a loss, wanting a chin wag or even just a little listen to others or a board game. Stay as little or long as you like. It’s good to talk. pop on by!”

And sometimes the fun is in just taking time out to meet up face to face with someone, who isn’t on a social media platform, doesn’t have to rush off, or wants to sell something.

So that is it ….. today at the Tea Hive on Manchester Road between 1 and 3.

Painting: The Tea Hive © 2019. Peter Topping, Paintings from Pictures, https://paintingsfrompictures.co.uk/

*BT advertising campaign, 1994

** with apologies to Jane Austen