A west Suffolk pub has joined the “Meet Up Mondays” (MUM) network and will now host regular events for people struggling with isolation.

East Anglian Daily Times: Landlords Hannah and Garry Clark are starting Meet up Mondays at the Bear Inn in Beyton. Picture: GREGG BROWNLandlords Hannah and Garry Clark are starting Meet up Mondays at the Bear Inn in Beyton. Picture: GREGG BROWN

The Bear Inn in Beyton, near Bury St Edmunds, heard about the campaign after reading this newspaper’s article on MUM last week.

The pub will begin hosting MUM events on April 23 from 2.30pm to 4.30pm and owners Hannah and Garry Clark are hoping word will spread around the village and surrounding areas about the initiative.

The idea behind MUM is to give people who may struggle to meet people at least one day each week to get out and socialise.

The Bear Inn enjoyed an extensive refurbishment last year and Mrs Clark said the pub was keen to help people in the community.

East Anglian Daily Times: Landlords Hannah and Garry Clark are starting Meet up Mondays at the Bear Inn in Beyton. Picture: GREGG BROWNLandlords Hannah and Garry Clark are starting Meet up Mondays at the Bear Inn in Beyton. Picture: GREGG BROWN

“I saw the article online about MUM and we thought it would be a really good thing to do,” she said.

“We are based in a village which has two pubs and not a lot else. There are a number of smaller villages around and we’re open all day on Monday so it is something we could easily facilitate.

“We are aware of a few people in the village who are on their own and we’re keen to get the word out there to people in the village or surrounding areas who might know someone who would benefit from this.

“It will hopefully encourage people, who might not have come in, to enjoy a nice social time at the pub.

“We would have started sooner but I’m away for the next few Mondays, but that will give us a little bit of time to get it advertised and raise awareness of what we’re doing.”

Suffolk pubs, tearooms and coffee shops are being invited to host MUM for people struggling with isolation to join together in a welcoming environment for tea, toast and social interaction.

Studies have shown chronic loneliness is as bad for health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day - and is a growing problem, particularly for older people or those in rural areas.

But as more than half of adults say they would struggle to admit to being lonely, it can be difficult to combat.

For more information on MUM in Suffolk, email sally.connick@communityactionsuffolk.org.uk or ann@ruralcoffeecaravan.org.uk or visit @MeetUpMondays on Facebook.