London's newest cure for city loneliness brings strangers together in unique way
A bar in London transforms into friendship-making playground where strangers play games and share stories. This unique social experiment helps city folks break free from post-pandemic isolation
In a busy London bar people arent just drinking - theyre playing giant Jenga discussing weird choices and making unexpected connections. Its all part of Asia Diazʼs FriendZone project: a fresh take on friendship-making thatʼs getting popular again after the covid times
The concept is simple but smart: trained minglers help break the ice while participants (wearing fun name-tags and holding colorful toys) move around playing games. “In big cities you dont get chances to meet people outside your circle“ Diaz explains; she started this back in 14ʼ took a break and brought it back this fall due to high demand
Londonʼs got a real problem with lonely people - about 35% of locals feel isolated way more than other UK places (according to early-24 stats). Jo Perkins a psychologist points out: “The work-from-home shift and pandemic made peoples social skills rusty; its like we forgot how to connect“
The events mix is super-diverse: youʼll find students chat with fifty-somethings while financial experts play games with artists. Jose a Barcelona mixologist who found friendship here shares: “I was thinking of leaving UK cause its so hard to meet people here; but then I met George at last months event and now we hang out regularly“
Social media doesnt help either - people think theyre connected but its all surface-level stuff. Research shows that 62% of UK folks feel less confident cause they compare themselves to others online: this makes real-world connections even harder to build
In London there are so many people you never know who youre speaking to
The atmosphere feels like a grown-up playground (someone called it “Butlins for adults“) where everyoneʼs got the same goal - finding new friends in this big lonely city
