Hello Spring (The 50s & 60s edition)

Rendezvous has a bit of a reputation for being a +40s sort of affair, which is fair enough, as it happens, but it’s no longer the whole story. These days, we’re very much in the business of 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, neatly gathered into their own charming tribes, because life stages matter and so does meeting people who simply get it. Eleven years in, our original 50s crowd have glided, stylishly, obviously, into their 60s and feel less like guests, more like old friends. And with our partnership with Maclynn, we’ve been able to widen the circle still further, creating more room, more parties, more possibilities. Which is how we found ourselves hosting our very first evening just for the 50s and 60s, a sold-out, fizzing, rather fabulous night full of people all after the same elusive thing, and very much enjoying finding it.

And then there were the Dark ’n’ Stormy’s, long, gleaming glasses of deep, golden rum and ginger beer that were consumed with reassuring pleasure, exactly as a long drink should be. Made with Tidal Rum, this was no ordinary mix: a Caribbean blend finished in Jersey with wild coastal botanicals, which sounds faintly eccentric but tastes rather wonderful, smoky, saline, just a little bit intriguing. Guests kept coming back for more (always a good sign), drawn in by something that felt both comforting and quietly adventurous. Not your usual sugary rum situation, but something far more grown-up, the sort of drink you linger over, ideally with excellent company, which, as it happened, we had in abundance.
And then, of course, there was the setting, because a night like this rather depends on it. 12 Hay Hill, quietly doing its thing since 2015, is the very definition of quiet luxury: elegant without fanfare, softly lit, and effortlessly conducive to conversation. The room has that rare ability to put people at ease almost instantly, which, for a room full of people often meeting for the first time, is no small feat.
We were looked after brilliantly by the team throughout, orchestrated with elegant precision by Greta, and anchored at the bar by Botond, together with Taylor, Abi and Esme. Everything ran so smoothly, even the welcome at the door set the tone: warm, relaxed, and just the right side of friendly. Our own team, Anna, Hannah and Liv, were, as ever, a dream to have on the ground, making sure everything flowed exactly as it should, alongside a welcome appearance from Maclynn’s A-team, Sarah-Helen and Frankie, who spent the evening chatting with guests and adding an extra layer of sparkle.

The food, too, struck that perfect balance between elegant and reassuringly generous: truffle and Parmesan arancini that disappeared almost instantly, duck bonbons that were widely admired, and croques that felt satisfyingly indulgent in the best possible way.
And perhaps the most telling thing was the feeling in the room. Guests described it as “spot on”, “lovely”, “nicely relaxed” = that elusive combination of ease and energy that’s so hard to manufacture and so obvious when it’s there. There was a genuine warmth to the evening, a sense of people being open, engaged, and pleased to be exactly where they were. As one of the venue team observed, this is a group that shows up, thoughtful, well-dressed, and fully present, and it would be very hard to disagree. All in all, while Rendezvous has long brought every age group together, this was our first evening created entirely for the 50s and 60s – and we suspect, very much the first of many.

A Night for Curious Hearts

February in London is a threshold month. The cold hasn’t quite packed up, but the light shifts. Daffodils appear. Coats feel lighter. The city begins, quietly, to wake.

We leaned into that in-between moment with an intimate evening at The Italian Greyhound, and what unfolded was, frankly, rather lovely.

By early evening, the private room was humming. A welcome glass in hand, soulful music drifting but never dominating, and a steadily filling room of warm, intelligent, refreshingly open guests. An unseasonably glorious 18-degree day helped. People arrived smiling, slightly sun-flushed, shrugging off coats and any lingering February reluctance.

Within the hour, the room was buzzing. Seventy-five guests, new faces, easy laughter, and that rare, delicious feeling when a space simply works. No awkward clustering. No one glued to their phone. Just great conversations.

The food did exactly what it needed to do. The Italian Greyhound’s signature thin, crisp rectangular pizzas, light and unfussy, cut into perfect sharing slices, circulated efficiently and disappeared almost as quickly as they arrived. Wine flowed. Hunger of all kinds was satisfied.

Service was seamless. Hanna and her team, Helen, Auri and Kavita, handled the evening with calm charm and enviable efficiency. Meanwhile, Team Rendezvous x Maclynn, myself, Hannah, Anna and Liv, kept the door flowing and introductions natural, ensuring no one hovered awkwardly for more than a heartbeat.

Our collaboration with Maclynn continues to feel like a natural evolution. Their bespoke, psychology-led matchmaking paired with our curated in-person events creates something balanced, structured for those who like it, spontaneity for those who do not. Together, we support people at different life stages, from ambitious professionals to those re-entering the dating world, without it ever feeling forced.

The result? A room that felt considered, open and gently electric.

By the end of the night, there were countless number exchanges, new friendships forming, and a few couples slipping off into the Marylebone evening for dinner elsewhere.

Some nights feel like a turning point. This was one of them.

Glisten, glamour, and great conversation: our January evening at The Other House had it all.

A rainy January night. A gloriously indulgent room. Excellent company.
While the city glistened with dark-at-four o’clock January rain, a determined group of beautiful people ignored the weather, stepped into elegant shoes, and came out anyway. Which, frankly, is always a promising sign. Despite the rain (and one guest who charmingly arrived on entirely the wrong date), the room filled, conversations sparked, and the evening unfolded exactly as these things should: easily, warmly, and with a sense that something rather nice might happen.

We gathered at The Other House, tucked away behind eleven Victorian townhouses that have been transformed into something deliciously over the top. Our private space – The Keeping Room- was repeatedly described as “dreamy”, which feels accurate. Sumptuous interiors and intimate nooks meant the room buzzed with energy, laughter, and conversation –  the kind of chaos that only a good date night can bring.

The atmosphere was buoyed by impeccable hosting from the wonderful team – Jessica, Fran, Jeanette and Aidan – who made everything feel seamless. Drinks flowed easily: glasses of winter-appropriate red wine for some, and a gratifying number of Dry January devotees happily sipping Seedlip and tonics. Special mention must go to the clever people at award-winning Nirvana Brewery, whose 0% beers disappeared so fast I didn’t even manage to photograph them in their brightly coloured glory.

Canapés were the sort you actually want to eat rather than politely nibble: Scottish smoked salmon blinis with dill cream and cress, beef short-rib croquettes with horseradish and watercress mayo, and caramelised red onion tartlets – all perfect fuel for flirting, chatting, and lingering a little longer than planned.

And linger, people did. One of the great pleasures of these evenings is watching guests arrive, thinking they’ll “just pop in for one” and then stay for dinner, settling into conversation as if they’ve known each other for ages.

The feedback afterwards said it all. Guests spoke of great conversations, delightful company, and the care and thought behind the evening. Several asked when they could come again – always the nicest possible review.

January has a reputation for being bleak. We respectfully disagree. Give it a beautiful room, good drinks, and interesting people, and it turns out to be rather excellent after all.

The Arding Affair: Where Edwardian Glamour Met Modern Magic

Tuesday 16^th December | 6.30 – 8.30

The Arding Rooms | 7 St John’s Rd, | London | SW11 1QN

Forget ordinary Tuesdays. At The Arding Rooms, sparkling prosecco flowed as guests arrived beneath chandeliers that have witnessed a century of stories, seasonal cocktails disappeared throughout the evening, roasted beef crostini circulated through rooms where South Londoners once shopped for drapery and delight, and the intimate spaces buzzed with laughter, curiosity, and the particular electricity of genuine connection. By the end of the night, it was clear: Clapham Junction (or as we prefer, seven minutes from Victoria) had just hosted the most elegant toast to 2025 – and the perfect welcome to everything 2026 might bring.

The Atmosphere

It was one of those rare evenings where everything just works. Our usual brilliant humans mixed seamlessly with Single members from The Arding Rooms itself, proof that good people recognise each other regardless of which membership they’re paying for. Guests arrived with that particular December energy (equal parts festive and exhausted) and left with phone numbers, genuine plans for January, and the satisfied glow of people who’ve had proper conversations with interesting strangers. The building did most of the heavy lifting, of course, guests kept disappearing mid-chat to explore its Edwardian splendour, leaving the room wonderfully empty at times as they discovered architectural treasures that absolutely no one expected to find in Clapham Junction. Meanwhile, Chloe orchestrated the entire evening with invisible precision, while Poppy, Amelia, Adam, Aman, Chris, Micah and the team proved that exceptional hospitality isn’t dead- it’s just been hiding south of the river, waiting for the right crowd.

Guest Testimonials

The feedback rolled in before breakfast. One couple reported: “Thank you for an excellent event at the Arding last night, we enjoyed it tremendously. I was particularly taken with [another guest] and would be interested to see her again.” (Reader, we’re making the introduction.) Another guest captured it perfectly: “I was so lucky to have met you last night, and so many wonderful people who I will connect with. You have this positive energy about you which is infectious and you created such an incredible event which I’ll tell my other single friends about.”

Several people admitted they’d never have discovered this gem on their own, which is rather the point. By the end, new friendships had been forged, December diaries had been compared, and more than a few guests looked ready to settle in for a third cocktail.

The Arding Rooms proved what we’ve always suspected: the right setting, the right people, and the right team can turn a random Tuesday into the kind of evening you’ll still be talking about in January.

Here’s to properly toasting what 2025 taught us, and to everything brilliant waiting in 2026.