Love / Dating
New dating experiences coming to Bristol
My Friend Charlie is an antidote to the world of dating apps. A company hosting regular, curated events for people to meet, the organisation started in London and are approaching its second birthday.
To celebrate, it is expanding its reach and coming to Bristol. Founder Charlie Spokes started the company in 2017 following a conversation with her mum.
“We were saying how no one meets in real life,” says Charlie. “No one has enough space for parties, let alone enough time to host them, and when I’m looking at dating it ends up being a ‘job’, like admin.”
is needed now More than ever
My Friend Charlie aims to put the fun back into dating. People sign up online and pick an event, which range from wine tasting to paddle boarding: “You pick an event, not a profile,” Charlie explains. “You come to an event and inevitably meet like-minded people. There’s an opportunity to be social and make friends, but also to meet someone. It takes the pressure off.”
A cheese and wine night in London, hosted by My Friend Charlie
Each event has a 50/50 split of men and women, and often have a specified age range. Once the evening is under way, guests will be split into groups, so there’s no pressure to talk one-on-one and conversation flows naturally.
Charlie highlights that they want to bring My Friend Charlie to the LGBTQ+ community, but they are a small team and were cautious not to open the events to a community they couldn’t safely and expertly offer events for.
“It’s the guest experience that counts. People have got to be comfortable.”
One of My Friend Charlie’s most popular events in axe throwing
Charlie says that some of the most popular events the company have hosted have been axe throwing and sky dining. The first event in Bristol will be somewhat tamer.
Working with local events manager Katy Willings, My Friend Charlie will host a local craft beer and cheese tasting night at Two Belly on July 18. “It’s really important to support small, local businesses and to have someone local running the event,” says Charlie.
“Having Bristol as our next location was an easy choice. We’re really excited to be coming to the city.”
My Friend Charlie’s first event in Bristol will be at Two Belly on Thursday, July 18. Find out more at www.myfriendcharlie.co.uk
Photos from My Friend Charlie’s website.
Read more: Six summer date ideas
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