Tea and Newspapers

Tea and Newspapers is a drop-in session at Whiterock Library in Belfast, running every Monday to Thursday from 9:30am to 1:00pm. It's exactly what it sounds like: a space to sit with the morning papers, have a brew, and chat with whoever else has turned up. There's complimentary tea, coffee, and biscuits on the table, so you can just settle in and take your time with the news.

The whole point is the social side of it. It's a chance to meet new people and talk through local and national affairs as they come across the pages, rather than reading them on your own. If you're into keeping up with what's happening in the city and beyond, it's a good way to do it with company. And because it's a drop-in, there's no booking required — you just call into the library during the session hours whenever suits you.

The group runs as part of Positive Ageing Month, a programme of free events and activities staged by Belfast City Council across October and aimed at older adults. The council runs the month with Age-Friendly partners, and it's part of a wider push to make Belfast an age-friendly city. The month brings together a broad range of activities — wellness and fitness, arts and crafts, talks and tours, music and dance, social get-togethers, film screenings, and digital and tech support. Most of them are free unless stated otherwise.

Tea and Newspapers is one of those sessions that keeps going well beyond October, too. It's been running since 30 April 2026 and is scheduled to continue until 30 June 2027, so if you find it's your kind of thing, you can keep coming back. It's on every Monday to Thursday, 9:30am to 1:00pm, at Whiterock Library.