Veterans' Pub & Social Clubs This Summer: RBL Branches, Regimental Associations & Informal Socials

veterans enjoying social time in pub

With International Day of Friendship falling on 30 July, this is a good moment to point out that some of the most valuable support in the Armed Forces community doesn't come from a service or a helpline, it comes from a table in the corner of your local Legion, a WhatsApp group that's been quietly running for years, or the mates you haven't seen since the last reunion.

Prefer to be outside this summer? Read our guide to veteran sports and outdoor activities running across the UK.

Why a Pub, a Branch or a WhatsApp Group Still Matters

Structured wellbeing programmes have their place, but a lot of veterans say the thing that actually keeps them going is simpler than that: somewhere to turn up regularly, around people who don't need the backstory explained.

No referral, form or waiting list — you just turn up
Shared service background means less explaining, more just talking
Regular contact matters more for loneliness than the occasional big event
Low or no cost, at a time when a lot of household budgets are tight

That is the gap RBL branches, regimental associations and informal social groups have been filling for decades, long before "social wellbeing" was a phrase anyone used.

Royal British Legion Branches and Legion Clubs

RBL Branches are part of the charity itself. They exist specifically to act as focal points for social activity and support the Armed Forces community, playing a vital role in tackling loneliness and isolation in local areas. Branches are grouped by county across the UK, with further branches overseas as far afield as Chile, Thailand and Japan, plus national branches open to members with shared interests regardless of where they live.

Legion Clubs are a separate thing, and worth knowing the difference: Legion Clubs are independent businesses licensed to use the Royal British Legion name, and you need to be a branch member first before you can join one. In practice, the two often consist of largely the same people, so joining your local branch is usually the door in. There are around 400 registered RBL clubs across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, so most areas have one within reach.

If getting out to a branch or club is the harder part, RBL's Branch Community Support scheme brings the social contact to you instead — camaraderie and support for those dealing with social isolation, delivered as a brew and a chat at home, in hospital or over the phone.

Find your nearest RBL branch or club

Regimental and Corps Associations

Regimental and corps associations run on a different logic to RBL branches — membership is built around cap badge rather than postcode, and that shared history tends to make the room feel instantly familiar, even for veterans who left decades ago.

What they typically offer over summer:

Reunion weekends and annual dinners, often timed around a regimental anniversary or battle honour
Regional branch meetings, frequently held in a pub or club rather than a formal venue
Standard bearer and Remembrance duties that double as a reason to catch up outside of November
Welfare contacts within the association who can point members toward RBL, SSAFA or other support if a catch-up turns into something more

If you're not sure your regiment or corps still has an active association, its official museum or headquarters is usually the fastest way to check — most keep contact details for their association secretary, even for units that have since amalgamated or disbanded.

Informal Socials: WhatsApp Groups, Coffee Mornings and Pub Meets

Not every group has a constitution or a committee, and that's fine — some of the steadiest support networks in the veteran community are entirely informal:

WhatsApp and Facebook groups run by unit, base, trade or local area, often started by one person after a reunion and still going years later
Coffee mornings that turn into pub lunches, especially in the summer when there's less pressure to be somewhere by a set time
Walking football, darts or quiz nights hosted by a local pub that's built up a regular veteran crowd without ever calling itself a "veterans' group"
Drop-in sessions at Armed Forces charities and hubs, where the actual activity on the noticeboard matters less than who else turns up

If you're newly out of service, or you've moved area and lost touch with your old network, these groups can be harder to find precisely because they're informal. Asking at your nearest RBL branch, a local Armed Forces charity, or searching your old unit's name on Facebook is usually enough to turn one up.

What to Expect if You Have Never Been to One of These

Walking into a room full of strangers is the actual barrier, not the pub itself.

You do not need to have served in the same unit, or at the same time, to be made welcome at an RBL branch or club
Most branches and associations are used to newcomers turning up alone and will make a point of introducing you around
There is no obligation to talk about service, or anything else, if you'd rather just sit and listen for your first visit
Family members and partners are welcome at most branch and association social events, not just the veteran themselves

Find Community and Social Groups Near You

Troopr brings together community groups, RBL branches and social networks for the Armed Forces community in one place.

Find community groups near you.

FAQs: Veterans' Pub & Social Clubs

What's the difference between an RBL branch and a Legion Club?

Branches are part of the Royal British Legion charity and focus on Remembrance, welfare and social activity. Legion Clubs are separate, independent businesses that pay to use the RBL name — you usually need to be a branch member before you can join one, though in practice the same people tend to belong to both.

Do I have to be a Royal British Legion member to attend a branch social event?

Some events are member-only, particularly formal ones, but many branches run open social evenings, coffee mornings or Branch Community Support visits that don't require membership. It's worth contacting your local branch directly to check.

How do I find my old regiment or corps association?

Start with the regiment or corps's official museum or headquarters website — most list an association secretary or welfare contact, even where the unit has since amalgamated or disbanded.

Are informal veteran WhatsApp or Facebook groups safe to join?

Most are set up and moderated by veterans themselves, but as with any online group, it's sensible to check who's running it before sharing personal details. Local RBL branches or Armed Forces charities can often point you to an established, well-run group in your area.

Can family members come along to these events?

Yes, in most cases. RBL branch socials, regimental association events and informal pub meet-ups typically welcome partners and family members, not just the veteran.

Find Your People This Summer

You don't need a reason beyond International Day of Friendship to reach out to an old mucker or turn up to a branch you've been meaning to try. Whether it's a Legion club two streets away, a regimental reunion you nearly didn't book, or a WhatsApp group you've been lurking in for a year — this is as good a summer as any to actually go.

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