A VICAR has set out to see if true happiness can be found in the pub.

Bream clergyman Rev Chris Maclay has invited people to the village’s Rising Sun pub to explore what makes us truly happy.

The six-week ‘Happiness Lab’ experiment will see people explore psychologists’, doctors’ and faith leaders’ recommendations for contentedness.

Forest dean Chris, the vicar at St James Church, said: “When I Googled ‘Happiness’ I came up with 594 million results. There are also a huge number of books trying to tell us how to become happy, yet many of us would still say that we are not really very happy and most of us are unsure what we can do to make ourselves any happier.

“The Dalai Lama has his theories, and David Cameron set up a group to keep an eye on happiness levels in the UK, but what can we do to be happier?

“Psychologists and other experts have identified a number of key habits that can make an impact on our happiness.

“They include things like learning to be thankful, developing a habit of forgiveness, maintaining healthy relationships with friends and family and acknowledging our spiritual side.”

A number of groups across the Forest are embarking on ‘Happiness Labs’ in May and June, which are a chance to chat together about the things that make people happy and to consider what the experts have to say.

Rev Maclay’s group is currently meeting in the Rising Sun pub on Monday evenings at 7pm. 

There are also six-week courses starting at other venues, with St Andrew’s church in Awre launching one at Highmead House, Blakeney, on Monday, May 22, from 7.30pm; the Church on the Street in Coleford, hosting one from Tuesday, June 6, at 10.30am; and another at the Loft in Brockweir from Wednesday, June 14, at 7.30pm.

To sign up and for more information and other courses happening in the area, visit www.thehappinesslab.org