StoriBoard Club delivers small group shared experiences across the UK to satisfy the growing demand for in-person connection.
It grew out of peer support app StoriBoard, launched two-and-a-half years ago to connect with people going through similar life experiences.
Founder Karen Harris recalled they were seeing lots of requests for in-person meet-ups on the app and the team quickly realised this was the direction they needed to take.
She said: “We’ve seen this counterculture happening against technology and people craving human interaction.”
While there has been an increase in desire for more human interaction, the easy access to convenient living has people mentally stuck in what is termed the anti-social century.
Harris said: “I think I am that person who, when somebody cancels on me, is like great, takeaway and Netflix.
“But I don’t want to be that person because when I push myself to meet other human beings, I’m so happy, and I want to help other people get to that point too.”
StoriBoard Club uses an algorithm to match small groups of like-minded individuals based on answers to a quiz that covers hobbies and interests, values and sense of humour.
They have seen a 70% month-on-month growth since the first official StoriBoard Club dinner in November, with thousands of bookings now coming through every week.
There are currently two StoriBoard Club nights available in London, at Flight Club on Mondays in Islington and Dinner Club on Tuesdays in multiple London locations.
The ultimate goal is to have a StoriBoard Club every night of the week.
Harris said: “There’s a sweet spot for people to form lasting bonds, and that sweet spot is about six people.
“When you’re doing something active, it brings out a different thing in that person that you wouldn’t see otherwise. It takes away a lot of the barriers, and you become you.”
Conversations are underway regarding future StoriBoard Club collaborations with Electric Shuffle, Europe’s biggest karaoke organisation and a premium cinema chain.
Harris explained StoriBoard Club also benefits the venues, which rely on group bookings to bring in revenue.
She said: “What we offer for the venues is the ability to bring small groups, often during off-peak times.
“I can come on my own to any experience, and it’s not because I’m sad or don’t have any friends. It’s because my friends don’t particularly want to have this experience, and I want to try out new things and meet new people.”
In 2023/24, 56% of adults in England reported low levels of indirect loneliness, according to the Community Life Survey.
Karen said: “I think the way we’re going in the world is we’re making it worse for ourselves.
“We need to get on this counterculture wave and prioritise being together as human beings, it’s critical for our survival.”
A doctor, an actor, a creature artist, two managers, an architect and a journalist walked into a bar. The punchline? The bar was Flight Club, and they were there for StoriBoard Club.
Vimal, a 37-year-old lead facial and creature artist, had been to StoriBoard Club before and said he particularly enjoyed this Monday’s Flight Club because of the chitchatting after the game.
Vimal, who is a hobbyist magician and entertained the other attendees with tricks, said: “I loved it, actually. I didn’t come here just to play; I came here to talk to people and get to know them as that’s what I’m more interested in.”
Ed, a 42-year-old solution consultant who also performed some magic tricks, said: “Last time I went to the Dinner Club.
“Obviously, that was very different because you’re chatting with people, and that’s really the only activity apart from stuffing your face.
“So I thought the darts would be less pressure because there’s an activity. But, weirdly, during the darts, I was thinking, I actually want to talk to people.
“I’m glad we ended up sitting and having drinks because otherwise, I would have felt like something was missing – and I can’t do magic if everyone’s standing up.”
Doctor Isaac, 26, said: “There was a wide mix of people, and I really got on with everyone. I think I could have been better at the darts, but I had a good time.”
Actor Lynn, 25, added: “I would have had a better time if I had won, but it was lovely.”
Feature image credit: Lucy Dunnet
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