A producer, strategist, art director, designer and teacher walked into a pub on 14 February 2024. Admittedly, that sounds like the beginning of a joke I don’t quite have it in me to finish, but it also happens to be the origin story of Pears, a singles event that has, in the space of just two years, earned a reputation as London’s buzziest. “The conversation turned to dating,” its founders recall, speaking shortly after their latest speed-dating event at the Mildmay Club in the leafy north-east enclave of Newington Green. “How confidence-knocking it can be: bad app experiences, situationships, ghosting. We knew too many incredible people having an absolutely rubbish time, but rather than feeling disheartened, the conversation was invigorating. ‘What if we did something about this?’”
Inspired to create an event that even their “coupled-up mates would be jealous of”, “something we couldn’t believe didn’t already exist”, no fewer than 100 singles turned up to their first gathering in May 2024. Since then, Pears has hosted 14 events, all of which sold out within minutes, including pop-ups at Glastonbury and We Out Here, resulting in thousands of matches and “hundreds of snogs”. Could Pears be the antidote to the malign rule of algorithmically determined meet-cutes? “It always feels warm, sexy, inviting, fun, a little chaotic – everything dating apps have quietly stripped away – and that will never change,” they say. “At the beginning of each event, we always say someone might meet the love of their life tonight. Plus, we’re all busy, and dating can be expensive – why not get 30 dates in a single evening? Even if you don’t find your perfect pear, we guarantee you’ll have had a great night out and have met more people than you would scrolling on your sofa.”
Important to Pears is that its events “feel low pressure, with great music, no cringe and always a dance after”, but also that everyone is welcome. “There are other brands that cater to hetero or queer audiences, but creating an inclusive space, regardless of who people fancy, was non-negotiable,” its founders say. “Wherever there are people, there are crushes.” They should know: despite its success, the project is still run around full-time jobs, with much of the work – from matching crush cards to planning events and editing reels – happening after hours. “We are in a moment where people are rejecting the idea that restrictive, controlling and algorithm-led apps are the only way,” they say. “Pears is leading a new wave of IRL dating events that are transforming being single into something desirable, inviting and fresh.” As for what comes next? “Bigger rooms, more cities, more partnerships, more formats. Bigger fruit bowl, more perfect pears, more jealous couples,” they continue. “We get a lot of DMs from Pears couples, but we’re still waiting on our first wedding invite”.
Scroll on to see what London’s singles are wearing to get a second date. (Jorts, apparently.)
