On a November morning in 2024, Lindsey Hadlow carefully arranged every chair and table in preparation for the first customer at Serenity Social Hub, her newly opened coffee shop. The space was warm and welcoming. Yet behind its calm exterior was a story few would guess: for 40 years, addiction had shaped Hadlow’s life.
“I didn’t think I was an addict,” Hadlow said. “I could always swap one thing for another—drinking to drugs, then different kinds of drugs. I was always switching.”
Her turning point came when she was introduced to the 12-step programme. It was this support system that changed her life.
“I couldn’t have done it without the fellowship and the 12 steps,” she said. “They saved me.”
Even during her struggles, Hadlow had wanted to help others. She volunteered at a drug and alcohol recovery center, driven by her own experiences and the painful memories of losing friends to substance abuse.
“I knew what it was like to feel stuck,” she said. “I wanted to be someone who could offer hope.”
Later, Hadlow worked as a drug and alcohol recovery navigator for three and a half years, guiding others on their paths to sobriety. This role gave her a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those in recovery — and the gaps in support services available to them.
“Helping others gives my life meaning,” Hadlow said. “There’s just not enough support out there for people. I wanted to change that.”
Now, she is on a mission to provide the same kind of support for others. To open the café, she received the backing of family and friends, especially from her partner. “It was just me and him doing all the graft in here—literally everything,” she said. “He’d finish work and come straight here, and we wouldn’t leave until 10 or 11pm. He’s been amazing, absolutely amazing.”
Despite facing financial struggles and occasional criticism from visitors who expected a typical bar, Hadlow refused to give up.
“Some people walk out when they realise we don’t serve alcohol,” she said. “But that’s not what this place is about. There are plenty of pubs out there—this space is for those who need something different.”
Hadlow’s positivity keeps her going. And visitors often return not just for the affordable drinks, but for the sense of peace and acceptance they find inside.
“Seeing people smile, feeling like they belong—that’s what keeps me motivated,” Hadlow said. “If I can help even one person feel like they’re not alone, then it’s all worth it.”
