Volunteer-led meet-ups for new and expectant parents to connect, chat and share experiences in local cafés and community spaces.

TIME CHANGED TO 2.30PM AFTERNOON OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2026 (time changed due to volunteer availability)

Bumps & Babies Chat groups offer a chance to meet other local parents in a public space like a cafe.

Each Thursday parents of babies (whether first or second+ time around) can come and meet up over a cuppa at this cafe in the town centre. The Riverbank Kitchen at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre is a spacious cafe with a lovely view to the riverside.

Suitable for parents of babies up to about 1 year old. The meet up is open to all parents of babies and takes place most Thursday mornings, in term time and school holidays. No need to be an NCT member.

You are welcome to buy food and drink from the cafe. (NCT is not providing refreshments.)

An NCT volunteer will be waiting to greet you at the cafe by 10.15am with an NCT sign on their table. The cafe is located on the ground floor of the theatre building. Enter through the main doors, past the box office desks, and carry on through until you see the serving counter for the cafe.

There is plenty of space in the cafe to bring in buggies/prams.

Description supplied by the event organiser.