A 30-year-old man from East London has turned the tragic loss of his best friend to suicide into a growing movement that invites lonely strangers to share a table and a conversation in pubs across the United Kingdom and beyond. Dean Perryman launched what he calls the «Empty Chairs» campaign in December of last year, just one month after his best friend, Rob Clancy, died by suicide at age 29. The initiative is designed to ensure that no one has to feel alone, even if they are meeting people they have never met before.
Perryman, who works for a team-building game company called Chicken Rush, began attending pubs and restaurants wearing a bright orange hoodie to make himself easily identifiable to anyone who might want to sit and talk. The idea quickly gained traction through social media, and just a few weeks ago, he held the 1,000th meet-up in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, with about 12 attendees. «It has been such an incredible experience. I am loving every second of it still,» Perryman told SWNS news agency. «When I started, it came from such a place of sadness — and to see how this simple idea has been able to help so many people has been really nice.»
The events began in London and Essex before Perryman started recruiting volunteers to host them across the U.K. and eventually in other countries. Events have since been planned in Manchester, Bedford, Cambridge, Skegness, Gloucester, Leeds, York, Wrexham, and more. The campaign has also expanded internationally, with meet-ups organized in Colombia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. Perryman noted that many attendees return, especially in smaller rural towns, where people create and build friendships that last long after the initial meeting.
Perryman, who has personally attended 61 events, said his favorite part is seeing men open up about their troubles. He believes men often need a safe space to share their feelings. «Some people come because they really want someone to listen to what they have to say,» he said. «Others come because they have the capacity to be there for someone else. Everyone shares their own story, but it stays at the table.» He added that the groups have discussed everything from the difficulty of living in a big city and feeling isolated to lighter topics. «Nothing is off the table — we've spoken about everything and anything. To give people a place that they can go when they need to talk is incredible,» he said.
Perryman said he has about 200 more events already lined up and has no plans to stop scheduling them. He emphasized that there is no typical attendee; the groups are diverse. «Every Empty Chairs event you go to, you are going to meet people of different walks of life,» he said. «It is so powerful to show that, no matter who you are, there is a place for you. We have everyone — men, women, young, old. There really isn't a barrier to entry for this. Whoever needs the space is welcome to come.» He also noted that many people come because they are feeling lonely in a new area or want to make new friends.
Perryman hopes that the Empty Chairs campaign can serve as a lasting legacy for his best friend, Rob, whom he believes needed a similar space. «He was the kindest, sweetest guy you could ever hope to meet,» Perryman said. «Like a lot of men, he wasn't the biggest sharer. He was very much the life and soul of anywhere you went, but he wasn't someone who would be the first to open up about it if he was feeling some type of way.» He added, «To now be in a position where Empty Chairs looks like it could be a legacy for Rob is amazing.»
The campaign comes at a time when loneliness and mental health issues are increasingly recognized as public health concerns. According to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which can be reached at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255), suicide prevention efforts often emphasize the importance of social connection and open conversation. Perryman's initiative directly addresses these needs by creating a low-pressure environment where people can talk or simply sit in company. The simplicity of the concept — an empty chair at a table — has resonated with many, turning a personal tragedy into a community resource that continues to grow.
