A local community group is hosting a dedicated meetup for fathers in Tunbridge Wells on Thursday 7 May 2026 to help combat loneliness and encourage social connections among men.
The event, titled The Dad La Soul Sessions: Dads Only Night Out, will take place at Charlie’s Angels Kitchens on Camden Road. Organised by the social enterprise Dad La Soul, the evening offers fathers a space to socialise through activities including stand-up comedy, DJ lessons, virtual reality gaming, board games, and shared meals.
The group was launched locally in October 2025 by founder Dan Flanagan, who grew up in the town. He teamed up with childhood friend Charlie Moore, who founded the kitchen as a community interest company that uses supermarket food surplus to provide meals. The partnership aims to offer fathers a supportive environment, drawing on research indicating that 73 per cent of dads in the UK have experienced social isolation. Nationally, the group highlights that more than 84 men take their own lives every week, with loneliness being a significant risk factor.
In addition to these evening meetups, the organisation hosts monthly Saturday playdates for fathers and their children at The Amelia Scott cultural hub. Dad La Soul has received national recognition for its work, including the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award, and has presented its findings to Parliament’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fatherhood.
Those interested in attending the upcoming session can find ticket information on the group’s website.
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