Community-led campaign Empty Chairs came after co-founder Dean Perryman lost his best friend Rob last year. It made him realise how isolating grief can be and he wanted to turn a difficult time into something positive, honouring Rob’s memory and create somewhere people could talk openly while feeling less alone.
He decided to visit his local pub with a goal of meeting people and chatting. Within the first week, people were turning up to speak with him.
He told The Morning Advertiser: “The glory of the pub, especially in local communities, is you might know someone to talk to.
“One thing I’ve realised is so many people love to go to the pub on their own but don’t talk to strangers.”
Creating connection
While news quickly spread of Dean’s mission, he learned he had to make himself stand out more in the pub.
“The biggest thing I learned early on was I was going dressed in my normal clothes and had a few messages from people saying they couldn’t see me,” he said.
“I started wearing the brightest item I own - an orange hoodie and this has become the icon.”
Empty Chairs was born and has proved more popular than originally expected.
This community-led campaign now has more than 35,000 followers on Instagram, over 12,000 on TikTok and has over 250 hosts across many countries including Australia, Canada, the US, Switzerland and Norway as well as the UK.
Turning grief into something positive
Hosts reserve a table or area in venues including pubs, wear bright orange and leave seats open for anyone to join, without pressure or agenda.
Dean said: “I didn’t start this with a plan and I still don’t have a plan. I started it as a way of trying to put my own grief into something positive.
“I’d love to start a legacy for Rob. I didn’t start this with any intention but it became obvious to me we can build something Rob would have engaged with.
“It’s incredible it has taken off the way it has but quite sad that it has resonated with loneliness.”
Pubs can partner with Empty Chairs as a venue if they wish. More information is available on the organisation’s website.
