I’m here with some exciting news: our next singles night is here!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/red-lips-singles-night-tickets-1997333373888

Join us at Farr’s in Dalston on Tuesday 8 September for a night of flirting, dancing, and speed dating. This in-person dating event comes with a difference: tickets are sold in pairs to single women who bring a single man with them. That way, it ensures there is an equal split of men and women in attendance, and all of the men have been vetted.

Each ticket includes one free drink on arrival.

This event will also feature a DJ set from Vanessa MLC.

So find your friend, and we’ll see you there! Given that this event includes speed dating, showing up with your plus-one is essential to ensure a smooth and fair experience for other guests.

If you’re struggling to find someone, I’d encourage you to try reaching out to your extended network: the partners of friends, the siblings of colleagues, the friends of university pals… everyone knows a single person somewhere! The hunt can be part of the fun, and it almost always works, trust me.

While there’s no specific age range, please bear in mind that these events are currently aimed at men and women in their 30s.

Can’t wait to see you there. Sign up here now.

Lots of love,

Olivia xxx

NB: Tickets for RED LIPS are sold in pairs. Each £40 ticket you purchase through Eventbrite grants you one male and one female ticket, priced at £20 each. This will be a 120-person event.

I hope you’re having lovely summers so far. I’m writing to let you know that our next singles night will be happening on Tuesday 4 August at Ellie’s in Dalston. You know the drill: tickets are sold in pairs to single women who can bring a single man with them. Everyone gets a free drink on arrival.

You can expect a night of flirting, fun, and hopefully also some dancing, as we gather a group of London’s coolest, kindest, and hottest singles in the same room. It’s going to be a rager. So, tell your friends and meet us at the bar. Details below:

Tuesday 4th August | Ellie’s

7pm — 11pm

428 Kingsland Road, Dalston, London E8 4AA

You can buy tickets online now here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/red-lips-singles-night-tickets-1992989330738

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Lots of love,

Olivia xoxo

I hope you’re having a lovely Wednesday evening, ideally in the sunshine somewhere.

I have some very exciting news: Red Lips Dating is teaming up again with Bumble, the women-first dating app, on Wednesday, 24th June, for a singles night at MU LDN.

An opportunity to meet a match IRL, the night will have the same Red Lips Dating energy as before – single women invite a guy friend – but exclusively available to those on Bumble.

After the success of a traditional pub quiz with a twist for May’s event, Bumble and Red Lips are bringing it back once again - with prizes! Hosted by me (Olivia, hi!) and Joshua Boniface, the night is designed to support singles to move from online to offline, break the ice, and make meeting new people feel fun, flirty, and effortless.

The last event was SO much fun, and it was really inspiring to see how many people coupled up following the quiz.

Through paired bookings, Red Lips Dating and Bumble will ensure an equal split of men and women, helping conversations flow naturally and for genuine connections to start. Your entry is free, including one complimentary drink and light bites on arrival.

Food will be served from 7.15pm. The quiz will begin at 9pm. Please arrive by 8:15pm to receive your complimentary drink and food (note that food will stop serving at 8.30pm).

So find your friend, and we’ll see you there!

Spots for RED LIPS are offered in pairs and grant you one male and one female entry. You must include your email address for both parties (to check your Bumble status) and will receive a confirmation email securing your spot. Please arrive with your plus one to guarantee entry. This is a free event.

The age range for this specific event is 25-34.

CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!

Lots of love,

Olivia x

Hope you’re having lovely weeks so far, and the rain isn’t dampening your summer spirits.

I have some very exciting news: we will be hosting a late-night singles event on Thursday, 18 June, that you can buy tickets for separately from the Barry’s class we announced recently (in case you just fancy a good old-fashioned flirt!).

This will be held at Pizza East in Shoreditch and, as usual, tickets are sold to men and women in pairs and include a free drink on arrival.

You can buy tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/red-lips-singles-night-tickets-1991684921214

There are still a few tickets left for the Barry’s class if you do fancy joining us for a pre-party workout to get the endorphins flowing beforehand.

Tickets are available for Barry’s here (please note these tickets will include entry to Pizza East): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/red-lips-singles-night-x-barrys-tickets-1990589882925

Hope you see you there,

Olivia xoxo

Getting in touch with some very exciting news about our next singles night. On Thursday, 18 June, Red Lips will be partnering with Barry’s for a very exciting event combining flirting and fitness.

In classic Red Lips style, tickets will be sold in pairs (including one female and one male entry), and we’ll all be taking part in a very special Barry’s class held at Barry’s East at 7.50pm.

Each ticket includes a free HERMOSA shake to enjoy after the class, and guests will then be guided towards Pizza East nearby for post-class drinks.

If you haven’t tried it before, Barry’s is probably my favourite workout class in London. It combines running with weights, making it the ultimate session for those who enjoy the gym but also love to combine it with cardio. Expect to get sweaty for a unique twist on the classic singles night, where you can’t help but show up as your authentic self.

It’s set to be a magical evening, with proceedings kicking off by way of some ice-breaker warm-up exercises at 7.30pm and I can’t wait to see you there.

You can sign up and find out more here.

Love,

Olivia

I hope you’re having lovely Sundays. I’m fresh off the back of having done two very successful singles nights, and frankly, I’m feeling the love. I spotted lots of couplings, and I’ve heard rumours of dates and even blossoming relationships that have developed from previous events.

There’s nothing like being in a room full of people who’ve shown up to take a risk, put themselves out there, and try something new. I know that coming to a singles night is daunting (I’m single too!), but what always blows me away at these events is how quickly those anxieties dissipate once everyone realises we’re all in the same boat. The atmosphere it creates is really rather special, not least because the people who come along to Red Lips tend to be the coolest, funnest, and kindest people I’ve ever met.

One of the highlights from my night with Bumble this week was walking into the women’s bathroom to find a group of girls who’d just met, sharing stories about their dating lives and exchanging numbers. There are so many meaningful connections we can make with one another if we give it a chance. And we really must.

We’re starved of IRL human connection these days; I’m always amazed at our capacity to ignore one another on the street, in pubs, and on public transport. We feel safer in our social and digital siloes, so we stay within them. But there’s so much magic to be found when we take a little step into the unknown and see what’s out there. Yes, that is a quote from Frozen 2. It’s a very good film.

So, this is my long way of saying that I’ve decided to host another singles night at the end of the month. We’ll be returning to Farr’s in Dalston for some flirting, speed dating, and dancing, with a DJ set provided by Vanessa MLC.

Tickets are available here.

Remember, tickets are sold in pairs. Each £40 ticket includes one female and one male entry.

I can’t wait to see you there. Do come up and say hello. It’s always such a treat to meet you.

Lots of love,

Olivia xoxo

Getting in touch with some very exciting news: on Thursday 7 May, we’re teaming up with Bumble once again for a night of IRL flirting and mingling at Mu London.

Expect the signature Red Lips Dating format — single women bring a male friend — but this time we’re introducing a flirty twist on the pub quiz designed to break the ice and make meeting new people feel effortless.

There will be two rounds of quizzes, table swaps to switch things up, and fun prizes. We can’t wait to see you there; grab your tickets through the link in bio.

Through paired bookings, Red Lips Dating and Bumble will ensure an equal split of men and women, helping conversations flow naturally and for genuine connections to start. Your entry is free, including one complimentary drink and light bites on arrival.

Food will be served from 7.15pm. The quiz will begin at 9pm.

Thursday 7 May | mu London | 432-434 Kingsland Road London E8 4AA

So find your friend, and we’ll see you there!

Spots for RED LIPS are offered in pairs and grant you one male and one female entry. You must include your email address for both parties (to check your Bumble status) and will receive a confirmation email securing your spot. Please arrive with your plus one to guarantee entry. This is a free event. The age range for this event is 25-35.

Register for tickets now here

I hope you’re all doing really well. I’m fresh off the back of yet another very fun singles night (this one was at Ellie’s in Dalston) and my body is fizzing with excitement.

Can I just say a HUGE thank you to all of you, because the people who come along to these events are genuinely so lovely, kind, and fun. Walking around the room last night, I felt such a warm energy from everyone and had such interesting conversations with all of the men and women I met.

It’s so galvanising to see so many people showing up, being vulnerable, taking risks in a room full of strangers, and forming IRL connections. Dating gets such bad press these days (I know this because I am sometimes the person writing that press), and so it’s really wonderful to bring some positivity back to the dating experience.

This brings me to some exciting news: I’m hosting my biggest singles night yet on Thursday, 30 April at Damsel Collective in Dalston. This Red Lips night will be slightly different: there will be no speed dating. Instead, it will just be mingling, drinks, and dancing all night in a room full of hot, cool, single people looking for love.

I know that for some people this will be a good thing (a lot of people say they find speed dating awkward), and for others it might be less so. But I’m hoping that by hosting some events with speed dating and some without, there will be something for everyone.

As ever, all tickets are bought in pairs and include one male and one female entry, with a free drink on arrival for everyone included in the price. I’ll be there, working the room and facilitating any introductions. So please do come and say hello when you arrive.

You can buy tickets now via Cliq — I can’t wait to see you there.

All my love,

Olivia xoxo

Some exciting news: our next event is happening on Tuesday 24 March at the Dalston bar where Red Lips all began: Ellie’s.

I’m thrilled to be bringing Red Lips back to one of my favourite spots – did you know they do £8 martinis? – for a night of flirting, dancing, and speed dating. Maybe even some snogging, who knows?!

Buy tickets here

As usual, the night will kick off at 7pm. From there, it’s time to head to the bar to pick up your free drink, and then the mingling begins. At 8.30pm, we’ll do a bit of speed dating, after which we’ll have time for a bit of a boogie – and maybe some phone numbers will be exchanged.

I’ll be around all night to help facilitate any introductions and answer any questions. I’ll also be ringing a very loud bell during speed dating to let everyone know when it’s time to move on — this has become a bit of a signature move of mine on these nights. It’s one I look forward to very much.

Tickets are sold in pairs to women who have to bring a single man with them to secure entry. If you can’t think of anyone off the top of your head, my advice is to ask around far and wide if anyone in your extended network knows someone who might be free. Colleagues. Family members. Friends with boyfriends with single friends. And so on.

These nights haven’t been going on for that long, and I’ve already received so much positive feedback; I’ve also heard of a few couplings that have happened, which is very exciting. So I hope to see you there. And a huge thank you to everyone who has supported me with this so far. I really never meant to launch this as a business, but I’ve been so blown away by the popularity of these nights (and how much fun I have hosting them), so I’m incredibly grateful to all of you who help make it happen by showing up, taking a risk, and putting yourselves out there. It’s easier said than done.

Just remember, be kind, be open, and most of all, be yourself.

Lots of love,

Olivia xoxo

Last year, I accidentally started a singles night, and it changed my life. Yes, I realise that sounds melodramatic. But bear with me.

Red Lips Dating was the result of an article I wrote for The Sunday Times Style as a way of reinvigorating my own love life, as well as those of the litany of brilliant, smart, and funny single women I knew. All of us were struggling on the dating scene, having acquired a set of stories and experiences that were straight out of a Sex and the City episode. Of course, Carrie Bradshaw and co didn’t have dating apps, which have made finding online connections quick and easy, while rendering real-life romance a little more challenging. I wanted to do something about it, so I did.

For that initial article, the plan was to invite 30 single people to a bar in Dalston for a night of flirting and speed dating. After promoting the event on Instagram to gauge interest, I was surprised that the only people signing up were women. All of us wanted to meet men – this wasn’t going to work. And so the Red Lips Dating concept was born: women, come along to a singles night and bring a single man with you to gain entry. That way, there’ll be equal numbers of men and women, and — here’s the best part — all of the men in attendance will have been vetted by another woman. I’ve been blown away by the success of Red Lips Dating so far, with every night selling out, often within hours.

This brings me to some exciting news: Red Lips Dating is partnering with Bumble, the women-first dating app that revolutionised modern love for women. Founded by Whitney Wolfe Herd in 2014, Bumble has always been an outlier in an industry where women’s needs are often sidelined, if considered at all. Its mission feels deeply aligned with everything I’ve been doing with my singles nights so far.

Together, Bumble and Red Lips Dating are creating a women-led singles night designed to help people move from app to IRL dating with confidence and ease. Combining a mixer and speed-dating format, the event sees, in Red Lips style, women invite a male friend to introduce to other women, creating a space for genuine face-to-face connection and bringing some much-needed positivity back into dating. Because there are reasons to be hopeful, trust me!

According to research conducted by Bumble, single people are making conscientious efforts to better themselves in the dating world, with more than half (59 per cent) of daters having paused to reassess their habits from 2025, highlighting a growing sense of self-awareness as they step into the new year. The app’s findings also suggest that singles are being deliberate about what they are taking into 2026, prioritising communicating clearly (33 per cent), being respectful and reliable (31 per cent), and actually texting back when they say they will (27 per cent), all of which signals a positive shift in the way we’re behaving in romantic contexts.

I’ve seen this shift firsthand at the Red Lips events I’ve hosted so far. The people who come to these events are kind, cool, interesting, and clever. Like my friends and I, they’ve been through their fair share of dating highs and lows - almost everyone is nervous at the beginning – but they are also hopeful about the dating scene, refusing to buy into scaremongering myths and scarcity mindsets.

On top of this, they tend to have feminist-leaning ideologies, with both men and women feeling drawn to the idea of coming to a singles night that prioritises female safety and comfort. Plus, I always think it’s a green flag when a man has female friends.

“At first, I was worried it would be cringe,” one female friend told me via voicenote the day after an event. “But I met this guy during the speed dating, and we felt an instant connection; he was obviously nervous too and hadn’t been to anything like this before.” They went on to a few bars after the event ended; this week will mark their fifth date.

Another friend reconnected with a guy she’d gone to university with but hadn’t seen in years. “I really liked the woman who brought him, too, which I think was a good sign and made me like him more,” she told me via text the day after my most recent event.

I’ve heard plenty of stories like this, illustrating just how positive the dating landscape can be and debunking the litany of damaging narratives we’re told about modern love. One male friend is now seeing someone he met at my Christmas Red Lips event. Another went home with a list of new phone numbers, as well as some potential work connections. Elsewhere, there have been snogs and sleepovers, and a female friend is now going on a second date with a guy she’d previously matched with on Bumble; they reconnected after meeting in person at one of my events.

This brings me back to the exciting partnership with Bumble. On 24 February, Bumble and Red Lips Dating will be coming together to support women to make the dating journey, whatever they’re looking for, feel easier and more enjoyable through 2026.

We’ll be hosting a special singles night at Corner Shop, London. The concept is simple: tickets are only available to women on Bumble who have to bring a single man along with them (he must also be registered on Bumble). Some more information below:

Tuesday 24 February | 7pm – 11pm | Corner Shop, 7 Arundel St, London WC2R 3DA

As I write this, the night has actually already sold out (all of the tickets went in four hours!), but there is a waitlist you can join in case of any cancellations. So please do sign up for that!

Some small print:

• Each spot includes one free drink on arrival

• Light bites and snacks will be served from 7.15pm

• Speed dating will begin at 8.30pm

• The age range for this event is 25-35

• Each spot you sign up for through Eventbrite grants you one male and one female entry. You must include your email address for both parties (to check your Bumble status!)

• Please arrive with your plus one to guarantee entry

• This is a free event

Sign up here

I am, pardon the pun, buzzing for this event and cannot wait to see the space filled by a group of cool, fun, and kind single people looking for love. It’s going to be a really special night. And if you’re feeling a little nervous about attending an IRL dating event, fear not – we’ve collated some expert tips for you from Bumble’s in-house relationshipdating expert, Shan Boodram.

How to navigate an IRL singles night, with help from Bumble’s Relationship Expert, Chantelle Otten

1. How can you enter a singles night with confidence if you’re feeling nervous?

Take the evening step by step and lower the stakes. Your goal doesn’t need to be “meeting the one”; instead, it can be something far more achievable, like having two good conversations where you learn someone’s name, a couple of their interests, or what they do for work. Setting small, realistic goals gives you something solid to aim for the moment you walk into the room.

If you’re attending a singles night with a friend, particularly a male friend, it can help to use them as a grounding presence you can return to and check in with when needed. And remember: everyone in the room has chosen to be there. You’re not intruding by starting a conversation; that’s the point. It’s just a singles night. Let it flow and let the story write itself throughout the evening! A positive outlook is everything.

2. Any tips on how to approach someone you fancy IRL?

Keep it simple, specific, and situational. Something like, “Hi - I realised I’d regret it if I didn’t come say hello.” Stay relaxed and leave them a space to opt in or out. If they engage back, let the conversation flow and have that conversation.

3. What are some common pitfalls to avoid?

The most common - which don’t typically end well in the early stages - are overselling yourself, allowing no space for a two-way conversation, playing it too cool, which doesn’t make sense since you’re at a singles night and clinging to one person all night, meaning pressure builds fast. Aim for warmth, curiosity, and presence, which includes actively listening to the other person.

4. Any suggestions on how to progress from flirting to getting someone’s number and securing a date?

This is where people overthink, and we’re often unclear of the natural cues to make that next move. Ideally, if the conversation has flowed, you’ve had a bit of laughter, and you’ve both been engaged for around 20 minutes, you can transition naturally from the initial flirt to getting somebody’s number.

5. How soon after meeting someone at a singles night should you get in touch?

The biggest mistake: leaving it too long. Within 24 hours is ideal, but really, within 48 hours is the maximum. If you leave it beyond that time, you’re already overthinking it, and it subsides any momentum. Find that confidence, and reach out with a short message, referring back to something you talked about and mutual interests for familiarity. Something like, “Hey, it was great meeting you last night. Still laughing about XYZ. Fancy that drink this week?”

Sign up here

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Lots of love as always,

OP xoxo

Come and join us to celebrate the end of this miserable month at Farr’s in Dalston, where 120 cool, fun, and kind single people will gather to flirt, dance, and maybe even fall in love.

Our last event was an enormous hit (did you hear about the post-party karaoke rave?), and we are SO excited to host you again.

If you came along, thank you for making it such a brilliant night. And if you missed out, well, get your tickets to join us on 27th January at Farr’s in Dalston. Info below:

Red Lips x Farr’s: A New Year Singles Party

Fancy starting the year off with a meet-cute?

Join us at Farr’s for a night of festive flirting, dancing, and speed dating. This in-person dating event comes with a difference: tickets are only sold to single women who have to bring a single man along with them. That way, it ensures that all of the men have been vetted and there is an equal split of men and women in attendance. So find your friend, and we’ll see you there. Dress to impress!

NB: Tickets for RED LIPS are sold in pairs. Each £40 ticket you purchase grants you one male and one female ticket, priced at £20 each. It includes one drink on arrival.

Tuesday 17th January | 7pm - 11pm | Farr’s 17-19 Dalston Ln, London E8 3DF

You can buy tickets via Eventbrite here

Can’t wait to see you there!

Love,

Olivia xxxx

It wasn’t just that people were tired of dating apps, nor was it that Instagram had reduced romance to a DM slide. It was that looking for love became an entirely futile exercise. One that would, at best, offer an opportunity to go viral (see the litany of screenshots, threads, and TikTok clips about bad dates that have turned people into mini internet celebrities), and at worst, elicit an existential crisis so severe that you may never recover, particularly if you have the misfortune of being straight.

It was the year of heterofatalism. The year that boyfriends became embarrassing. The year that engaging in casual misandry became a bonding exercise among straight single women.

These are all links to pieces I’ve written, by the way, so I’m not saying I’ve been immune from this way of thinking. I haven’t. But I’ve also decided that negativity breeds negativity, and none of us is ever going to actually get anywhere good in dating if we keep feeding off of one another’s apocalyptic thinking.

I started Red Lips by accident. But what began as yet another thing I was doing for an article quickly turned into something bigger. Something people actually wanted and needed. I’ve hosted three events so far: mixers for single straight people where tickets are sold in pairs to women who have to bring a single straight man with them. That way, there are even numbers of men and women in attendance, and all of the men have been vetted by a woman.

This inherently feminist concept attracts a cool crowd. At my most recent event, which I hosted at Damsel Collective in Dalston, I met a whopping 120 single people, all of whom seemed fun, kind, attractive, warm, open-hearted, and down to meet someone great. I know of several people who’ve gone on dates after my events, including a few who actually went home together. After the most recent event, I was sent a video recording of two men who had met that night singing “Mr Brightside” together at a nearby karaoke bar that a group had gone to once the bar closed. Romance comes in many forms.

Meeting so many great single people has completely changed the way I think about dating. There’s no need for a scarcity mindset — there really are so many wonderful people out there looking for something meaningful. But we have to be open to it.

So far, the target market for Red Lips has been people in their 30s. But I plan to expand this in the new year, when I’ll also be hosting some events for queer women, so stay tuned for those announcements, too.

The way we date is changing. And in 2026, I think it’s going to change for the better. Finally. I hope that Red Lips can be a small part of that.

Watch this space for future event announcements.

Until then, happy new year!

Lots of love,

Olivia xoxo

Well, our first official event was a hit. It was such a treat to see so many kind, cool, single people in the same room. Several phone numbers were exchanged, while a few couples paired off and went on to drink elsewhere once the doors had closed at Ellie’s.

Guests sipped on martinis, pints of Guinness, and bottles of red while flirting their socks off. There was even a little dancing! We ended up keeping the night going a little later than planned because of how busy it was post-11pm.

If you came along, thank you for making it such a lovely night. And if you missed out, well, here’s the exciting news: we have another event lined up on 18th December at Damsel Collective in Dalston. Info below:

Red Lips x Damsel Collective: A Festive Singles Party

Fancy meeting the love of your life in time for Christmas?

Join us at Damsel Collective for a night of festive flirting, dancing, and speed dating. This in-person dating event comes with a difference: tickets are only sold to single women who have to bring a single man along with them. That way, it ensures that all of the men have been vetted and there is an equal split of men and women in attendance. So find your friend and we’ll see you there. Dress to impress!

NB: Tickets for RED LIPS are sold in pairs. Each £40 ticket you purchase grants you one male and one female ticket, priced at £20 each. It includes one drink on arrival — and a goodie bag on departure.

Thursday 18th December | 7pm - 11pm | Damsel Collective, 70-72 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8DP

You can buy tickets via Cliq here

Can’t wait to see you there!

Love,

Olivia xxxx

Our first event is taking place in London on 11th November. You can buy tickets here.

Subscribe below to stay up to date with all future events.

See you soon,

Olivia x

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