New Belfast social club aims to bring men out of their comfort zones

A new group is launching in Belfast with the aim of becoming a social club for men that helps to take them out of their comfort zones.

The Belfast Round Table was launched earlier this year and hopes to bring together men aged 18 to 45 for social activities so that they can build bonds and friendships that can last a lifetime.

It is part of Round Table International that has over 3,000 members across the UK and Ireland and 35,000 across the globe, and hopes to be officially ratified by the organisation next year.

In Belfast, the group meets every two weeks or so for a range of different activities from comedy nights to paintballing and once you become a member of Round Table International you are a member of their groups all over the world.

There used to be a Round Table in Belfast in the 1930s, however disappeared in the following decades as the organisation struggled with membership. Although in recent years it has started to make a resurgence with groups reforming across the UK and Ireland.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Richard Clarke, who is organisation the creation of the Belfast group, said: "Earlier this year I helped to start the Belfast Round Table in an effort to restart the group that used to be based in the city decades ago.

"Round Table is a non-discriminatory group for those who identify as men aged 18 to 45 that aims to bring people together to build bonds and friendships that can last a lifetime.

"The group meets every two weeks or so to take part in a different activity, which could be anything from meeting for a few drinks or going to a night of comedy to paintballing or go-karting and we try to find things that will take people out of their comfort zones and try something new.

"The great thing about Round Table is that when you become a member somewhere, you are a member of groups across the world so any city that you visit with a Round Table you will be part of it.

"At the moment in Belfast we have had a great response to the group but we are struggling with committment and we hope that we continue to grow and become a safe and welcoming space for men of all-backgrounds to come together.

"Male loneliness and isolation is a big topic at the moment and at the Round Table is a great way of addressing this and building a strong support network around you."

The Belfast Round Table are holding an event in partnership with Queens University Belfast at Lavery's Bar on Tuesday, November 19.