‘What a relief’: East London’s first ever menopause café to open in Hoxton

WaterHouse Restaurant will host the café. Image: Google

East London’s first ever menopause café is set to open in Hoxton next month – thanks to local residents.

The café is a discussion group where people can gather to talk about the menopause and perimenopause and their effects.

The meet-ups will be held at canalside restaurant WaterHouse from 5.30-7.30pm on the first Wednesday of every month.

Menopause cafés began in Scotland in 2017 and have since spread, with volunteers hosting pop-up events in the UK and around the world.

The Hoxton one is the brainchild of a group of residents who met through Homerton Healthcare’s menopause programme.

One of the co-founders, Ade Aboaba, said: “What a relief to know there’s a welcoming space in which we can come together to share our experiences, questions and learning about the menopause transition, on a regular basis.

“It’s a brilliant initiative to be part of and we look forward to getting started.”

The café is for anyone experiencing the menopause or perimenopause, or those affected by it as a partner, family member, friend or carer.

It is free to attend and open to all ages and genders, and participants will decide which topics to discuss.

According to the NHS, it is estimated that there are 13 million perimenopausal or menopausal women in the UK – roughly a third of the entire female population.

Menopause is when someone’s periods have stopped for 12 months or more due to lower hormone levels. It usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier.

It can happen naturally, or for reasons such as surgery, cancer treatments, or genetics.

Perimenopause is when someone has symptoms of menopause but their periods have not stopped.

Menopause and perimenopause can cause anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods.

If you would like to register your attendance at the menopause café in advance, visit hackneymenopausecafe.eventbrite.co.uk.

For more information, email hackneymenopausecafe@gmail.com or visit menopausecafe.net.