There’s nothing quite like the thrill of entering a room full of strangers – bodies packed into warm rooms, fizzing with nervous excitement.
Whether you’re single and – as the old adage goes – ready to mingle or you’re nursing a freshly broken heart, we’ve put together a lineup of events where you could meet your next best friend, partner or long-term lover. You might have the best sex of your life, laugh until you cry or have your cold, cold heart thawed by someone who sets your soul on fire.
Obviously, none of these scenarios are guaranteed – and we wouldn’t want to make false promises. But all of these events promise one thing: the potential and the opportunity to make connections.
Show up. Put your beautiful self into the world. Scan the rooms, dancefloors, smoking areas. And ask yourself: “What am I looking for?”
Looking for: Somebody to match my freak
Where to find them: HOWL’s XXL Love Ball
Award-winning lube creator and host of many sweaty raves, HOWL’s whole philosophy revolves around pleasure. So, if you’re more creature-of-the-night than you are lovergirl/boy, then this might be HOWL’s XXL Love Ball is the place for you.
At their upcoming XXL Love Ball, they will have a speed-dating moment in which they will pair you up, ask the questions and ‘let love spring’ forth. And if at first you don’t succeed, you could always get lucky in their XXX darkroom… Tickets here to go get your freak on.
Samuel Douek, founder, told Cold: “The infamous HOWL Love Ball returns on Friday 13th for a night of sweat, music and passion. Kicking off with a XXL special edition of Speed Dating for Friends, Lovers & Others. Plus the HOWL CUBE stage returns… this is going to go down in history.”
Date: Friday 13th February
Location: Egg London
Price: from £12.50
Looking for: Somebody to love
Where to find them: Queer Love Fest
Queer Love Fest is putting on a packed itinerary of events – all of which could be opportunities for you to meet and connect with fellow members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Throughout the day, guests can attend workshops on the intimacy of hand-holding, how to woo with your words, as well as the romance of revolution. Non-binary, neurodivergent and polyam mixers will also be hosted throughout the day – so you can meet and swap numbers with your siblings-in-arms.
This one’s definitely for the romantics.
“Most people prefer to connect over shared values, hobbies or interests,” says Kim Fionn, founder of QLF. “That’s why I wanted to have workshops as well, there will be a Tarot, Poetry and a workshop called The Romance of Revolution – run by Tribe – combining creativity and discussions on the Politics of Care.” Tickets here.
Date: 14th February
Location: Music Room London, New Cross
Price: £2 entry
Looking for: A new best friend
Where to find them: Valentine’s Speed Friending with Tummy Ache
“Designed for the emotional”, indie mag Tummy Ache’s speed friending event will bring together the lovergirls, the yearners, and the hapless romantics. But instead of promising guests high romance, they provide the greatest antidote to love sickness there is: friendship.
Tummy Ache will supply you with thoughtful ice breaker questions, and guests will get 5-6 minutes with each new friend to chat, bond, and then move on to the next. Go, celebrate the beauty of platonic love. Book your spot to make some friends.
(This could be the perfect opportunity to fulfill your promise to yourself to “decentre men”, or romance, in your life – we’re just saying).
Date: 10th February
Location: Ellie’s Bar
Price: £10
Looking for: Hot lesbians in chaps
Where to find them: Bonanza: Cowbabes in Love
For any WLW or FLINTA folx, this “same sexy rodeo” will be hustling and bustling with sexy cowbabes.
“Bonanza is a safe saloon for the LGBTQ+ community to go full cxnty cowboy,” says Sophie Ward. “Think sequinned stetsons, neckerchiefs, boots, chaps – or whatever the f*ck makes you feel hot.”
Throughout the night, they will run dating games to break the ice. A “crush box” will be installed: a low-pressure way to leave an anonymous note for someone who’s caught your eye, with matches revealed later in the evening/the following day.
Grab your line-dancing boots and go find your next crush on the ranch. Grab your lasso and get tickets here. Save a horse, ride a cowbabe.
Date: 19th February
Location: The Cock Tavern
Price: £7-12
Looking for: No one in particular, actually
Where to find them: Falling Moon’s Single Awareness Day
Maybe you’re actually just fine with being single – and you resent the pitying looks from your coupled-up friends and the prying questions from older relatives. This is not, strictly speaking, a “singles event,” but it does happen to fall on Singles Awareness Day – and The Falling Moon does urge attendees to “bring their single friends.”
As an antidote to the usual Valentine’s Day mush, go see some indie bands, sink some pints, and bop about at the George Tavern. Book here.
Date: 15th February
Location: The George Tavern, Aldgate
Price: £7
Looking for: A South London baddie
Where to find them: Special Guest (Peckham)
Maybe you don’t want the pressure of speed-dating, but you wouldn’t cave under the pressure of getting up on stage and speaking to a room full of strangers for 60 seconds? Hey, you could even use those 60 seconds as an opportunity to pitch yourself (honestly) – or to tell the room what you’re looking for.
You never know, someone in that audience might tick every single box. It’s rumoured that quite a few successfully in-love couples have met through these events… Bag your ticket here.
Date: 5th February
Location: Peckham Levels
Price: £8-10
Looking for: Girls who like girls
Where to find them? La Camionera Cupid’s Ball
La Camionera – a lesbian bar in Hackney – opened its doors in 2024 and has fast become a staple on the sapphic scene. They exist to celebrate (and facilitate) WLW love, so naturally they’re going big for Valentine’s Day.
Don your finest frocks, suits, or gowns to waltz through La Camionera’s 90s prom-inspired ball. They ask that you add a 1980s or 1880s flare to your costume – and a prize will be awarded to their most sartorially decadent guest.
If you can’t make this event, not to worry, as La Camionera creates ample opportunities for you to meet The One throughout the year. Their line-up of singles events includes T4T, Black and POC events, as well as age-specific mixers (for Gen Z, millennials, and Gen X alike).
Tickets available here. Waltz the night away!
Date: Saturday 7th February
Location: La Camionera (duh)
Price: £10-15
Looking for: A date for a mate
Where to find them? Nice & Local’s “Date My Mate” (25+)
Maybe you’re happily coupled up, but you have this mate who’s an absolute catch – and you’re so sure of it that you are willing to dedicate precious time to creating a pitch deck about their suitability as a partner.
Nice & Local’s “Date My Mate” will – at the very least – be an evening of entertainment as people take to the stage to present their friends to a captive audience. Each presenter has just two minutes, so you had better polish your public speaking skills and make those minutes count.
Comedian Elliot Powell will be there to host and keep things light. Get your pal hitched with a ticket here.
Date: 11th February
Location: The Square Pig, Holborn
Price: £5