About us
If you're aged in your 30's or 40's (min 25, max 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 shows… 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, you’ll 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, you’ll 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 Friendly Faces 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 you’ll 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. 😊
Here's a sneak preview of the events scheduled, waiting for you to choose from when you join:
- 🙂 Saturday Sep 5th : Leamington Saturday-Night Social
- 🕺 Friday Sep 11th : Ibiza Orchestra Experience, Warwick
- 🍔 Sunday Sep 13th : Leamington Food Festival 2026
- 🙂 Friday Sep 18th : Warwick Monthly Social
- 🚶♀️ Sunday Sep 20th : Bradgate Park (7/8-mile hike)
- 🚶♀️ Saturday Sep 26th : Newbold Comyn / Offchurch Loop (5-mile hike)
- ⚽ Saturday Sep 26th : England vs Spain - Nations League
- 🙂 Saturday Oct 3rd : Leamington Saturday-Night Social
- 🚶♀️ Sunday Oct 4th : Edgehill (7-mile hike)
- 🚶♀️ Sunday Oct 11th : Stratford Greenway (7-mile hike)
- 🙂 Friday Oct 16th : Warwick Monthly Social
- 🚶♀️ Sunday Oct 18th : Compton Verney & Surrounding (7/8-mile hike)
- 💀 Saturday Oct 31st : Halloween Fancy Dress Party / Social in Leamington
- 🚶♀️ Sunday Nov 8th : Stratford to Wootton Wawen (7/8-mile hike)
- 🎂 Saturday Nov 14th : Dean's Birthday-Week Night Out.
- 🙂 Friday Dec 4th : Leamington Friday-Night Social
- 🎅 Friday Dec 18th : Leamington Christmas Jumpers, Drinks & Social
- 🎄 Thursday Dec 24th : Christmas Eve drinks in Leamington
- 🚶♀️ Saturday Dec 26th : Boxing Day Walk in the Leamington Parks (3 miles)
- 🚶♀️ Monday Dec 28th : Christmas Bank Holiday hike in Kenilworth (7 miles)
- 🥂 Thursday Dec 31st (2026-2027!) : New Years Eve Social in Leamington
- 🚶♀️ Sunday Jan 3rd : The New Year "Get Active" Hiking Challenge Starts!
- 🚶♀️ Sunday Jan 3rd : New Year Hike : Burton Dasset Loop (8 miles)
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
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FF: Halloween Fancy-Dress / Social in Leamington
The Old Library, 11-13 Bath St, Royal Leamington Spa, Leamington Spa CV31 3AF, UK, Royal Leamington Spa, GBFor the last four years running, the Friendly Faces Halloween Fancy Dress night out has been one of the events of the year, and you simply cannot afford to miss it.
The perfect excuse to dress up in our best spooky costumes, accessories and scary makeup (Important: No masks!) and get out there and frighten the living daylights out of the Leamington revellers who will all be doing the same.
For those looking to expand their social circle and meet new people, there is no better conversation starter than a fancy-dress costume!
Just imagine a hoard of friendly people all dressed up, making a ridiculous amount of noise in conversation, and loving the effort that you have gone to to get involved.First thing to do... have a watch of my 3-minute briefing video for this event. I recorded it for our Halloween night out in 2023 and used it again in 2024 and 2025.
Everything is the same for this years event apart from the starting venue.
Challenge: Can you spot the monster in the video?
(Clue: He appears twice)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pttG2wt6e1cBeing a fancy-dress event its assumed you will get involved in the costume/makeup side of things. If you come along in normal attire others will wonder if you didn't get the memo! We've seen some amazing costumes from you in previous years. Lets see what your imagination can create this time.
I hear some of you have already decided on outfits/accessories, so I cant wait to see! The fun had by all is unrivalled.Halloween is a rare opportunity in the year to shamelessly dress up and pretend to be a monster / zombie / witch / blood-stained axe-murderer / skeleton / ghost / etc... and to enjoy getting into the character. You can let your hair down and your creativity run free - all in the name of fun.
It's going to be a super social event with even the non-meetup revellers getting into the spirit of things, providing lots to see and to chat / have a laugh about.
So this event combines that with the safe familiarity of a meetup, where we know we can all take advantage of plenty of opportunities to socialise and meet like-minded new people.
To miss this unique fancy-dress / social occasion combo would be a travesty.We'll start in the Old Library and as usual on Friendly Faces nights out - move to a few other venues as the evening progresses.
Looking forward to seeing all you ghouls, monsters and the undead at 7.30pm!UPDATE : Here are the big three fancy-dress venues to head for locally, and all are packed with big selections of amazing Halloween outfits and accessories to choose from, and ideas to inspire you...
- Leamington
Planet Bong
(On the Parade across from the Town Hall)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qSVJNJTdmURjgsuG6 - Warwick
Party Creations
(Market Place in the town centre)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/uNbwvhjA78TTCSgz7 - Stratford Upon Avon
Stratford Fancy Dress Balloon & Party Shop
(Can be found out the back of the Stratford Garden Centre)
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZWbJFFKSpz2wVJe6A
Important Note: Don't wear a mask that completely hides your face. Scary makeup, fake blood, fake nose, etc are all fine, but many bars now don't allow face-covering masks. Some bar managers told me that this is for two reasons : firstly to prevent under-age drinkers sneaking in, and secondly its a health and safety risk with people tripping (down stairs, etc) who cant see where they are going. Security staff will ask you to remove them.
Last year, some people built their entire outfit around a mask and were deeply disappointed to be ordered to take them off.45 attendees- Leamington
FF: Stratford to Wootton Wawen via Edstone Aqueduct (7.5-mile hike)
Stratford-Upon-Avon train station, Station Road, CV37 6PL, Stratford Upon Avon, GBWhether you're new to Friendly Faces or you're a seasoned regular, click the Attend button now and take full advantage of this tried and tested hike which will get you (1) out of the house, (2) meeting new people, (3) exercising, and (4) starting 2026 determined to be successful.
At this event you'll have a fantastic afternoon out, you'll meet an outdoorsy 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.
What are the details for this hike?
Anyone disappointed at having to miss out on some of our walks this year due to the many challenging hills we take on - you'll be pleased to know that this one is flat from start to finish. However, unlike all of our previous walks, this one has a twist.. it finishes 7.5 miles away from the starting point!
Starting and ending at the Stratford Train Station Car Park we'll trek out of town and along the canal, and along the outstanding feat of engineering the Edstone Aqueduct.
If you didnt know - its the longest cast-iron aqueduct in England, allowing the canal to continue flowing (and boats to travel along it) high above a road, and two railway lines.
We'll then veer away from the canal for a spell before eventually reaching the quiet village of Wootton Wawen.As is customary when we reach the end of a hike, we'll then call in at a pub there for a well-earned drink and a sit down / final chin-wag, before jumping on the train to take us back to our cars at the start-point.
See the map on the event page if you need sat-nav assistance to help you find the train station.
When you arrive grab yourself a parking spot and we'll meet by the paying machines.Getting there...
If you are a driver, you will certainly attain hero/heroine status if you write a message here on the event page offering your services - stating your location and specific locations that you can collect passengers from.
If you are not a driver and would like a lift, leave a message here on the event page (as soon as you sign up) asking if anyone is kind enough to offer. Leaving that question until the day before the event is probably too late. Don't forget to offer a few pounds to your driver as petrol prices are high at the moment.
If you need a lift (or are a driver offering lifts) : consider how appealing your meetup profile photo is. It may seem harsh, but the reality is that if you do not have a warm friendly smile or part/all of your face is hidden, then it is less likely that someone is going to want to either give you a lift or accept a lift from you.
Travel planning info for drivers :
The meet-point (Stratford Upon Avon train station) is x miles away from...
Warwick 10; Leamington 13; Kenilworth 15; Coventry 20; Rugby 29; Central Birmingham 34.Other things to note...
- Well-behaved dogs ARE allowed 🐶✔️ to attend this walk, but must be kept on a short lead. Remember also that some people can be fearful of dogs and hide it well, so please be respectful of that and keep your dog under control at all times. Remember also (very important!) that your dog must be comfortable with travelling on the train to get back to the carpark.
- Bring a homemade sandwich and a drink / snacks and we'll pick a suitable spot along the route to post up for a quick break and a munch.
- Compared to other hiking routes in the huge Friendly Faces library of routes, the terrain for this one is flat and very easy-going, however there might be the odd spot that will be muddy at this time of year where rain has lingered, so ditch the trainers and don your waterproof walking boots. Ankle-protecting boots are always recommended for hiking anyway. If you intend to join more Friendly Faces hikes and dont own proper walking boots then it will be a great investment for the months ahead.Oh and parking...
Parking is super convenient for this hike. The Stratford upon Avon train station carpark is cheap and big, and always has plenty of spaces on a Sunday afternoon.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 dont forget.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. Do not be late for the advertised start-time of this event. 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 on the day.
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.
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 first thing in the morning on the day.4. Well-behaved dogs are allowed 🐶✔️ to attend this event - provided they bring well-behaved owners, in keeping dogs on a lead at all times.
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 selection, 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 removed from the group.17 attendees
Past events
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