Another German here: I think the term has become a bit overloaded and may mean different things.
Generally yes, a Stammtisch is in theory the exact opposite of an open "just drop in and join" culture that might be the idea of a normal pub.
However, the term has also been coopted for low-friction, introductory meetups of larger organizations, fan communities, organized subcultures, etc. (Those can be anything from political parties to hobby groups to the local furry community)
They still have some formalism - you're expected to go there if you 're either already a regular or have a specific interest to meet people from the organization/subculture/etc; many ask you to register in advance - but they do have the explicit purpose of "onboarding" newbies and serving as "entry points" into larger communities.
So I think those kinds of organized "Stammtische" can be effective in combatting loneliness, but more as a tool to bring people into organized communities and less as a thing of its own.
Generally yes, a Stammtisch is in theory the exact opposite of an open "just drop in and join" culture that might be the idea of a normal pub.
However, the term has also been coopted for low-friction, introductory meetups of larger organizations, fan communities, organized subcultures, etc. (Those can be anything from political parties to hobby groups to the local furry community)
They still have some formalism - you're expected to go there if you 're either already a regular or have a specific interest to meet people from the organization/subculture/etc; many ask you to register in advance - but they do have the explicit purpose of "onboarding" newbies and serving as "entry points" into larger communities.
So I think those kinds of organized "Stammtische" can be effective in combatting loneliness, but more as a tool to bring people into organized communities and less as a thing of its own.