In my previous articles, I have shared insights and strategies on how to expand your social circle. The feedback I received from dozens of people showed me how important and common this challenge is. I am truly happy to contribute to solving this issue. One of my most popular articles, “How to Make Friends in London: A Beginner’s Guide” received incredible responses. I plan to keep updating it with new methods and ideas over time.
Today, however, I want to share a personal experience: Blendy!
For a long time, I have tried different dating and meetup apps. While they helped me have fun and meet new people, I found a recurring issue—most of these apps lack context in how they facilitate interactions.
With dating apps, I spent hours swiping left and right, often getting stuck in conversations that led nowhere. Meetup apps, on the other hand, typically focus on large gatherings. While they help people meet new people in London, they do not always cater to those seeking more personal and meaningful interactions. My experience so far has been quantity over quality in most cases.
Last month, the Blendy team reached out to me and explained their concept. To be honest, I was skeptical at first. Their main philosophy is to encourage real, in-person socialization rather than digital interactions. They organize small-group events every week, ensuring that attendees share common interests. They invited me to one of their events, claiming it to be the best way to meet new people in London.
Blendy’s Mobile App Experience
First, they have a dedicated mobile app where you manage everything. I downloaded Blendy from the App Store and signed up for free. The registration process was quick and straightforward.
To better match participants with the right groups, the app asks ten simple questions. These are easy-to-answer, general preference questions, without requiring personal details. Once completed, you are directed to the event selection screen.
Currently, Blendy offers four types of events:
- Dinner Meetups: This is their most popular event type. You meet with five other participants at a selected restaurant from Blendy’s curated list of over 50 venues. These events take place on Thursday evenings and tend to fill up fast.
- Women-Only Dinner Meetups: This concept intrigued me! Some women prefer a female-only environment, and this offers a comfortable way to socialize. This event also happens on Thursdays with a group of five participants.
- Drinks & Brunch: These are coming soon, and I am excited to try both. Pre-registration is already open!
The Registration Process
Signing up for an event is effortless. You pick a suitable date and answer two additional questions about your event preferences. Then, you proceed to the payment screen.
Blendy’s launch prices are surprisingly affordable. A monthly membership costs around £8, while a single event booking is about £5. However, this fee only covers the event reservation—participants pay for their meals and drinks separately.
For payments, monthly memberships are processed via Apple subscriptions, while one-time payments accept Apple Pay and credit cards.
I registered for an event on Sunday, and by Tuesday, I had yet to receive an update. Surprisingly, I found this a positive experience—I didn’t have to spend hours chatting online to prepare for the event. Blendy handles everything.
By Wednesday, I received details about the venue. It was a new place for me, but the reviews on Google were excellent. The next day, I was able to see my group members’ general profiles—their occupations and what they prioritized in a social setting, without exposing personal details. This was a great feature.
The Meetup Experience
I arrived at the venue at 7:10 PM, slightly late. Two people had already arrived, and two more joined later. There were five participants instead of six, which was still a great turnout.
The conversation started immediately, much smoother than I expected. Newcomers integrated into the discussion effortlessly, without awkward silences. By 7:30 PM, we ordered our meals, and the conversations became more engaging. While waiting for our food, the discussion deepened, and the group felt well-balanced and compatible.
The experience exceeded my expectations. The dinner lasted around two hours, during which I met new people, shared great conversations, and had fun. While I didn’t get to connect deeply with everyone, I found two people who live nearby, and we planned to meet again.
The bill was reasonable, and the venue was excellent. Even just this single experience made me consider Blendy a success. After all, I spent two enjoyable hours dining with new people and even made follow-up plans with two of them.
Blendy’s Downsides
While my experience was mostly positive, there are a few areas for improvement:
- Participant Updates: The biggest issue was not knowing who had arrived until we were already seated. Since attendees don’t check in upon arrival, we had to wait longer than expected. This didn’t ruin the experience, but it could be improved.
- Location Restrictions: Blendy mostly selects central London venues. If you live outside the city center, commuting might be inconvenient. I traveled from Dulwich, which was manageable, but having more location variety would be helpful.
- Limited Events per Week: Right now, Blendy only offers dinner meetups once a week. They are launching Drinks & Brunch soon, which could be great for weekend socializing. Expanding event options would provide more flexibility for users.
Final Thoughts on Blendy
As I’ve always said, meeting new people in London can be both easy and challenging. Casual encounters happen frequently, but integrating new friends into your social circle is much harder.
Blendy provided one of the most efficient and outcome-driven social experiences I’ve had. The app is user-friendly, event organization is smooth, and my group was well-matched.
In my opinion, 5-6 people is the ideal group size for making new friends. Larger groups can feel overwhelming, while smaller groups may put more pressure on individuals. Blendy finds the right balance.
Among the socializing methods I’ve used, Blendy has been the most practical and effective so far.
If you’re curious, give it a try! And let me know if you’d like me to review other meetup apps—I’d love to explore more and share my experiences! Until then, I’ll be sticking with Blendy. 😊
