By Matt Welch

Imagine a cafe where, as well as tea and coffee, music and singing are also on the menu.

Welcome to the Singing Cafe at Heswall Hall.

The idea was the brainchild of local woman Christine Youngman. After losing her husband Peter in 2010, Christine, from Heswall, was determined to help others in the town and district living on their own. 

The plan was to find a way to bring people together for a fun time where they could make new friends. 

Christine got her inspiration from a cafe service in St Peter's Church in Lower Heswall. She saw at first hand the value to people of simply being able to sit, chat and mingle.

And so the idea of a singing cafe was formed - a place where people could listen to a concert with music from their youth and join in with singing as well as enjoying a conversation over tea and cake.

In 2013 the Singing Cafe started, quickly attracting up to 100 people each week. "After years of working on radio stations I was used to making playlists of songs," explained Christine. "I planned the whole thing as if the sessions were shows on the radio, like they would all have listened to years ago at home."

The cafe moved to its present temporary location in Heswall Hall when work started on the demolition of the cafe's original home, The Church of the Good Shepherd. 

"Some of the singers, musicians and people serving the coffee and cakes have been coming every week for over 10 years," said Jean Silcock, one of the musicians who regularly perform songs from the 1950s to the 1980s.  

"The cafe is open to all ages and is a fantastic opportunity for people to make new friends.  

 "People are made to feel welcome. Even if they don't know anyone, they will by the end of their time here!"

Milly is a visitor who comes with her daughter. Her other daughter, Christine used to come but she sadly passed away.

Said Milly: "They used to call us the Glitter Girls. Christine used to bring me, and we used to dance - she would say, 'Get your earrings on.'

"I love the atmosphere. It's homely and you just click with everyone."

The Singing Cafe takes place at Heswall Hall on Thursday mornings from 10:30am to 12:00 noon. You do not need to make a booking - just walk in and join in.