We have long known that a sugary tea and a slice of cake is an easy way to add cheer, but London's first happy café is taking the idea to new heights.
The Canvas opened in Shoreditch in October 2014 as a café and creative venue that also aims to be a "happy place" for its customers. However, it has now teamed up with Action for Happiness to host events and workshops which are intended to improve body confidence, self-esteem and wellbeing.
The team behind The Canvas also run Body Gossip, an award-winning body image charity.
But self-image isn't the café's only focus - it will also host events on how to alleviate your happiness in general; offer help for those trying to be teetotal; and will show screenings of various free films that concentrate on contentment and celebration. Yoga sessions, choir events and TED talk are also part of its March calendar.
"We welcome people to sit here for as long as they like," says owner Ruth Rogers. "We never say, 'Oh you've been working here for too long'. The café aims to be like an extension of people's living rooms."
Here are our suggestions for Canvas' happy soundtrack:
Wake Me Up Before You Go, Go, Wham
Heroes, David Bowie
Hakuna Matata, The Lion King soundtrack
I Love To Boogie, T. Rex
Happy, Pharrell Williams
Someday, The Strokes
Let's Stick Together, Bryan Ferry
Shake It Off, Taylor Swift
Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher, Jackie Wilson
Hold On, Wilson Phillips
For more information visit at thecanvascafe.org.
