.png)
Unplugged Cafe
Unplugged Cafe is a monthly gathering for people who want to slow down, be present, and actually connect — with others and with themselves.
Bring a craft, a book, some knitting, a sketchpad, or simply yourself. Leave the phone in your bag, settle in, and spend two genuinely restorative hours in the company of people who are doing the same thing.
Two hours. No screens. Just good company.
What actually happens at Unplugged Cafe?
Unplugged Cafe is two hours of intentional, screen-free time in a warm and welcoming space. People arrive, find a seat, get a drink, and settle into whatever they've brought along. Some chat. Some work on their craft in comfortable quiet. Some do both. There's no agenda, no programme, no pressure to perform or network or be anything other than exactly who you are. What tends to happen — almost every time — is that real conversations start. The kind that don't happen on your phone or in a work meeting. The kind where you find out that the person next to you is navigating something surprisingly similar to you, or has a completely different life that turns out to be fascinating. The kind that remind you why human connection matters. It's simple. It's lovely. And people keep coming back.
01
Where do we meet?
☕ Autumn & Winter (September — March)
During the cooler months we gather indoors at Marmalade Bar in Wantage — a warm, welcoming space that's perfect for settling in with a hot drink and your craft of choice. It's cosy, unhurried, and exactly the kind of place you want to be on a grey afternoon.
🌿 Spring & Summer (April — August)
When the weather allows, we take Unplugged Cafe outside — to parks, gardens, and beautiful outdoor spots across Oxfordshire. There's something particularly special about sitting in nature, away from screens and noise, with a group of people who've all chosen to be present. Locations are announced each month so keep an eye on the Life in Colour Instagram and mailing list for updates.
02
Who comes to Unplugged Cafe
Everyone and anyone — that's genuinely what makes it so lovely.
We've had people come along with knitting, embroidery, watercolours, crochet, journalling, adult colouring books, macramé, and things we'd never seen before. We've had people come along with nothing at all and just sat and chatted. First-timers who were nervous about not knowing anyone, and regulars who've become genuine friends through the event.
What everyone has in common is a desire to slow down, be present, and spend time with real people in the real world. If that sounds like you, you'll fit right in.
03
Why does this exist?
I created Unplugged Cafe because I noticed something: we're more connected than ever online, and lonelier than ever in person. We spend hours scrolling through other people's lives and not nearly enough time actually living our own.
Burnout, isolation, and the constant pressure to be 'on' are all connected. And one of the most powerful antidotes to all of them is something beautifully simple — being in a room with other humans, doing something you enjoy, without a screen between you.
Unplugged Cafe is my small contribution to a slightly more connected, slightly more present world. I hope you'll join us.
04
Everything you need to know
📅 Monthly — dates announced on Instagram and the mailing list
📍 September–March: Marmalade Bar, Wantage | April–August: outdoor locations across Oxfordshire
⏰ Two hours (specific times vary by event — check booking page for details)
🎟 £12 per person
✦ Bring whatever craft or hobby you'd like — or nothing at all
✦ Screens away for the duration — this is a phone-free zone
✦ All welcome — come alone, come with a friend, come as you are
Come and find your people. Spots are limited to keep the gathering feeling intimate and special. If you've been curious about Unplugged Cafe, don't wait — book your place for the next session and come and see what it's all about. We'd love to have you.