Looking to make new friends in Ely? From the Cathedral and Riverside to nearby villages, this page helps you meet local people for simple, friendly meet‑ups that fit everyday life.
Established in 2005, Drinking Partners is one of the UK’s longest‑running platforms for meeting new people and building genuine friendships.
Ely is small enough to feel familiar quickly, which is lovely — but it can also mean you’re not naturally meeting new people once routines settle. If you’ve moved here, work remotely, or your friends are in different life stages, you may need a gentle way to expand your circle.
Drinking Partners makes that easy: message locals nearby, get a feel for someone, then meet for a straightforward plan in a public setting. It’s designed to be low‑pressure and realistic — the kind of socialising you can actually keep up.
Create a free profile, browse nearby people and say hello when someone sounds like your kind of person.
Meet people for coffee, walks, cinema, lunch, gigs or relaxed everyday plans around Ely.
Chat privately first, keep things relaxed, and only arrange a meet-up or group-style plan when you feel ready.
Making friends across Ely often starts with calm, familiar plans. A coffee by the Riverside, a gentle walk near the Cathedral, or a simple catch‑up in the centre keeps things comfortable. Because Ely is compact, meeting locally is easy — and meeting again is what builds real friendship. Keep the first meet short and public, then suggest another easy plan if you click. Those repeat meet‑ups are where introductions turn into proper friendships.
Making friends as an adult can feel awkward — especially when everyday routines in Ely are already set. Drinking Partners keeps things simple, relaxed and pressure-free, without the need for large groups or organised events.
Take things at your own pace and connect in a way that feels comfortable for you.
Whether you have just moved to Ely, work from home, or simply want to widen your social circle, Drinking Partners helps you find people nearby and start relaxed local conversations.
Follow these steps to connect over shared interests, message freely and plan meet-ups that feel comfortable, public and pressure-free.
It only takes a few minutes to get started:
To get the most out of Drinking Partners and begin to meet new people in Ely, follow these simple steps:
Share a short intro about yourself, where you are based in or around Ely, and the kinds of relaxed plans you enjoy — coffee, walks, cinema, fitness, lunch or weekend catch-ups.
Add a recent photo to help people recognise you. Profiles with clear photos feel more trustworthy, get more replies and appear higher in local results.
Use GPS search or filter by nearby areas to find people close to you. Save your favourite profiles and searches so it is easy to return to promising local matches.
Messaging is free, so say hello to people with similar interests. Mention a simple local plan you would enjoy and swap a few messages before arranging anything in person.
Set alerts for new people near you, message reads and profile views. Pause notifications or hide your profile whenever you need a break.
When you are ready, suggest a simple public meet-up such as coffee, a daytime walk, a casual lunch, cinema trip or another relaxed plan somewhere you both feel comfortable.
A quick call or video chat first can help break the ice and make meeting up feel natural. You’re always in control — choose who you talk to, take things at your own pace, and only meet when you’re comfortable.
Short, practical guides to help you meet people and make new friends without the pressure.
These are people in and around Ely who are looking to make new friends. Join free to say hello, browse more members and start chatting at your own pace.
There’s no single way to make friends — people connect in all sorts of everyday ways.
Pick an idea and start a conversation that suits you.
Ely’s Riverside is ideal for a first meet: open, public and naturally relaxed. Walking side‑by‑side keeps conversation easy and takes pressure off. You can keep it short, add a coffee stop, and leave it feeling friendly rather than formal.
Explore →A short meet in Ely’s centre is simple to arrange and easy to time‑box around your day. Keeping the first plan compact makes it feel manageable — and it’s straightforward to repeat if you both enjoy it.
Explore →Try a daytime plan that suits Ely — a wander around the Cathedral area, a gentle browse in town, or a riverside stop before a chat. Having something to see or do gives you natural talking points and keeps the meet flowing easily.
Explore →If evenings suit you, keep it calm in a comfortable local spot where you can actually hear each other. A quieter setting helps you talk properly and build connection without the pressure of making it a ‘big night out’.
Explore →Answers to common questions about making friends and meeting people in Ely.
Yes. Ely’s size makes local meet‑ups easy, and the key is choosing plans you can repeat. Walks, short catch‑ups and calm evenings make it easier to meet again and build familiarity.
Popular first meets include the Riverside, central cafés, and gentle walking routes around the Cathedral area. Public, familiar places keep first meets comfortable and low pressure.
Message a few locals with shared interests, then suggest a short, public first meet in the centre or by the Riverside. Keeping it light and time‑boxed makes it easier to meet again.
It’s designed for meeting people and making friends. Many members simply want local company and realistic plans that build into genuine friendship.
Yes. Drinking Partners is for friendship and socialising, not dating. In Ely, you can use it to chat with local people first, then suggest something simple and public such as coffee around City Centre, Cathedral area, Riverside and Stuntney, a walk, lunch or a relaxed daytime catch-up.
Working from home can make it harder to meet people naturally in Ely, especially if your week is built around the same few routines. Start with a short message, look for people near City Centre, Cathedral area, Riverside and Stuntney, and suggest an easy plan that fits your day, such as a lunchtime coffee, after-work walk or weekend catch-up.
Want more tips? Read How to make friends after moving to a new city.
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