Dating apps have seen a significant decline in recent years, with many Gen Z singles swiping left on online romance altogether.
According to Ofcom, the UK’s top four dating apps have all recorded a drop in users since 2023. Tinder has lost 600,000 users, Bumble is down 368,000, Hinge has fallen by 131,000 and Grindr by 11,000.
And in Belfast, that shift is being reflected in a growing interest for face-to-face dating events.
Charlie’s Pizza in the south of the city is among the latest businesses to test the appetite. The restaurant will host its first ‘Meet Cute’ singles night in February, aiming to “make dating cute again”.
The candlelit evening will ‘bring together straight singles aged between 25 and 35 for a low-pressure night of short, guided chats, followed by time to mingle over pizza, charcuterie and a welcome drink.’
Owner Marty Duggan says the idea came from Charlie’s project manager, Shonee McWilliams, as the team sat down in early January to plan a more community-focused events calendar.
“We knew we wanted to do more community-based projects this year,” he says.
“When we looked at the calendar, Valentine’s felt like a natural fit.”
Rather than competing with traditional Valentine’s plans, the team opted for a relaxed midweek format. Marty says they also carried out informal market research, speaking to single friends and customers in their target age bracket.
“The reason we’ve aimed it at 25 to 35-year-olds is because that’s our key demographic,” he explains.
“When we spoke to people in that age range about the idea of an in-person dating event, there was a clear interest and desire for it.”
The result is a stripped-back take on speed dating, without the pressure or formality often associated with it.
“I’ve thankfully managed to miss the whole dating app scene - they weren’t around when I met my wife,” Marty laughs.
“But working with young people, I can sense the frustration. People want to meet in-person rather than online. They want to have a real conversation instead of endless text messages.
“Hopefully that’s what this event provides.”
For Marty, the night is less about matchmaking and more about building the kind of neighbourhood space Charlie’s set out to be.
“We’re not expecting people to come in and meet their future husband or wife,” he says.
“It’s about getting used to ‘IRL’ instead of ‘URL’ again as Shonee says.
“So if you’re single, come in, have a night’s craic and meet some new people. That’s the most important thing - and if it goes well, we’ll do more like it.”
Charlie’s is not alone in sensing a change in dating habits.
Since May last year, Hannah Chambers (27) has been hosting Thursday Dating events across Belfast, part of a global movement now operating in more than 200 cities.
Thursday’s motto is “just a bar, everyone single” – a deliberately low-pressure way for people to meet in real life.
Hannah, who has a background in PR and marketing, applied to bring the concept to Belfast after spotting it on Instagram. She now runs the city’s events solo, from securing venues to managing social media and ticket sales.
Since launching, 922 people have signed up to attend Thursday events in Belfast, with multiple sell-outs and, she says, several couples meeting through the nights.
“I think people are just sick of swiping,” she says.
“During Covid, apps were so popular because we couldn’t go out and socialise - but life’s busy now. You forget to reply, you accidentally ghost someone.
“It’s hard to sense someone’s personality over messages. In person, you know straight away if there’s chemistry.”
Unlike traditional speed dating, Thursday events are built around themes and activities, from traffic light parties to wine tastings and queer-specific nights, which Hannah says have been particularly popular.
She adds that there are plans for sober and fitness-based events following feedback from attendees.
“It’s very laid-back. Even if you don’t meet your future partner, people make friends, which I think is just as valuable - especially in your mid to late 20s, when it can be hard to meet new people.”
There is also demand beyond the usual 25–35 age bracket. An upcoming over-40s event has seen strong ticket sales after repeated requests.
“We did an over-35s event a while ago and realised there were loads of people in their 40s and 50s who wanted to meet someone - but also wanted the event to be slightly more structured,” Hannah says.
“That’s why we’ve organised a wine-tasting evening at The Watson on February 19. It’s been selling really well, so I’m excited to see how it goes.”
Read more: Sophie Clarke: Why ‘shrekking’ shows just how low our dating standards have fallen
Looking ahead, Hannah is focused on expanding Thursday’s presence in Belfast, working with more venues and introducing greater variety.
“I just want to keep growing Thursday in Belfast,” she says.
“The most important thing for me is that we cater for everybody, because everyone should have the opportunity to meet someone in the real world.”