Somewhere South

Somewhere South, a women's social club in the Cotswolds and the South West

Somewhere South is a social club aimed at women living in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire area. It was founded by Cat and Emily, two Cotswolds mums who met on a PA WhatsApp group and got talking about how hard it actually is to make friends as an adult. From that conversation they created the club they wished existed: a social space for women with activities designed to make it easier to meet like-minded people.

The offering is built around open, no-pressure events with no cliques, where attendees can show up as they are. The club presents itself as a place to find friends and connections in a safe space.

Activities and event format

The programme combines walks, workshops, speed chatting sessions, days out and nights out for drinks. Examples in the catalogue include a speed chatting session in Cirencester, a Sunday stroll with a pub lunch in Burford and a walk along the Tetbury Trail. The line-up is presented as a varied selection ranging from walks to pottery or drinks.

Events are published by month and can be viewed in the website calendar. Some are free and others have a ticket price; in the catalogue reviewed, for example, tickets were £25.00 for speed chatting and £37.50 for the stroll with lunch, while the Tetbury walk was listed at no cost. For free events, a no-cost ticket must also be booked, in order to keep an eye on numbers and ensure everyone has arrived before starting.

Access without membership and optional group

You don't need to be a member to take part: each event can be booked on its own. The club also runs The SoSo Social Club, an optional WhatsApp group with a £2.50 per month fee that lets members chat between events and get early booking access.

Welcoming attendees

To ease the awkwardness of turning up to a venue alone, one of the founders, Emily or Cat, waits at the entrance to guide attendees in. They are usually in their SoSo sweaters so they're easy to spot. Testimonials on the website highlight that the organisers make sure everyone feels included.

Audience profile and coverage area

The club is aimed at women looking for a safe space to meet new people and enjoy different activities. Its stated coverage area includes the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, with events held in places such as Cirencester, Burford and Tetbury.