Allow me to explain. Im a heterosexual male, nearly 60 . ( I only mention.this to point out it is non sexual ) , and a new bloke started at work recently.he’d He seems to want to be “mates” .
He’s a nice enough bloke , but im not particularly sociable, and more often than not prefer my own company. He quite often joins me at lunch ( when id prefer to sit and read the paper) . He’s now found out that there is an outdoor event, that I go to 2 or 3 times a year ( ooops , originally put "week " ), and has said he wouldn’t mind popping along too , but this is an event I attend on my own , and really dont want the company .
I didn’t have many friends at school, I was always the quiet loner, and Ive become quite happy the way I am . Ive got a few friends, and thats enough.
I don’t know what to do about this
Just be honest with him we always recon honesty is the best policy no matter what the situation!
Whenever I am in that situation, I always joke and say- My wife has always said I am not a social person, and how you prefer your own company.
Doing that a couple of times, people understand and tend not to take over my lunch break
I am very similar in nature to yourself and the friends I have are all I want.
When it is someone from work who is wanting a new “Mate” I normally say work is work and outside work is a totally separate entity. Normally followed by I may be friendly at work but I have friends outside of work!
This is mainly due to the fact that if you befriend people at work and if the friendship breaks down it then affects your job not only your personal life.
I like to read my phone on my break and let my mind rest, but there are particular people i avoid having my break with, cos they never shut up. They have even said to me “I can see you like to sit in silence and read” yet still they continue, even more annoying if the subject is work related!
But yes i enjoy my small trusted circle of friends and don’t need any more, and if i meet someone who i actually do want to be friends with i will let them know. At work i keep it fun and friendly but don’t socialise outside work if i can help it. Just be honest and say you like your own company.
Aww he wants to be your friend and perhaps sees something in you that he relates to and thought you would be nicer to try be friendly with in a new work environment 
I’d also try be honest with him and say this out of work activity is like your personal alone time escape that you enjoy doing by yourself as a therapeutic thing so wouldn’t seem the same if had him join too.
Just give him a stare with eyes that say go away right now 
obviously I’m only joking.
Maybe he’s very similar to yourself in he’s very quiet and doesn’t have many friends himself and isn’t sure how to really approach the issue and not very good at interacting with others. Especially if he’s the new guy maybe he’s just wanting to fit in. Personally though I think finding out about you’re personal activities out of work and saying he wants to tag along would be a bit pushy for me. But I suppose he has only expressed an interest in it and I’d maybe just be upfront with him and tell him you’d rather he didn’t come along and it’s nothing personal just something you enjoy doing on your own. I’m sure he’ll understand and appreciate your honesty.
If he still persists then just tell him straight he’s not wanting joking again by the way 
I know how you feel about having your lunch alone though, I enjoy my lunch to myself, especially if I’m having a particularly shit day.
Hope you manage to get your message across while also being polite and not hurting his feelings 
I would just be upfront and honest with him. Not everyone is a social butterfly and it’s fine not to be. I’m not one either. None of my friends have even been in my house as I don’t like it. I like my home to be mine and my families. I don’t do parties or late night clubbing and all my friends know exactly what I’m like. I would just explain this to him and not that you need to explain yourself but it stops him taking it personally.
I’m not super chatty at work and much prefer to sit on my own. I used to sit with a bloke that I knew never talked to anyone as I knew we’d be able to just eat our food and get on with our own lunchtime (must’ve looked weird us sitting there at a table for 6 effectively just ignoring each other!! 
).
My social anxiety/phobia limits my interest and/or ability to participate in small talk at work (as well as any other social situation). I’m saying this because it is easier sometimes to say “yes, that event [insert your said bi/tri-annual event here] sounds great, I’d like to go sometime” without the intention of me actually going with that person as I would just attend on my own or with my partner anyway. Does that make sense?
As others have said, if it gets to that point just let him know you’re not interested in anything social. I have known to be quite blunt at my work - sometimes there is no need to sugar coat the fact you just need to be on your own. As @Deanna32 said, it doesn’t need to be personal.
Thanks for all the replies . I feel bad , because he is , basically a nice enough fella . I think he has a fairly reasonable social life , so , thankfully, isn’t "lonely " .
I’m probably totally over reacting ,like I usually do 
Hey @Weeradge , there is no need to feel bad or have guilt just because someone is a nice enough. If something is not for you, then it is not for you.
Enjoy your lunchtime newspaper and your quiet time. 
Oh god 
hopefully once he has been there a bit longer and finds his feet so to speak he will get closer to others and give you some breathing space….I do feel for you ….I am not a people person at all …but thankfully I have a real bad case of resting Btch face so that usually helps me out
(Mrs)
Hi just read your post , I like my own company and often at my best in that company I feel as others have said to the point and tell them you prefer to be independent nothing wrong with telling him 
good luck keep us posted @Weeradge
On my break at work i just want to switch off and eat and drink in peace, quietly reading. I actively avoid the “chatty” people who can’t take a hint and babble on constantly, usually about work!
I’d be honest with him and say what happens at work stays there and you go to this place to get a break from work totally and not be reminded of it.
He still might turn up and there’s nothing you can really do about that but you might find he’s a totally different person away from work and you could unexpectedly become mates.