CNN – Dating apps are turning to IRL events to bring users together. Surf, a dating app focused on shared interests and fitness, runs blind dates through its partnership with Hyrox. Breeze, a Dutch dating app with no in-app chat, arranges dates at partner bars and group dates for six to ten people. Feeld, a dating app for non-monogamy, polyamory and kink, also organises in-person activities for its members.
LINKEDIN – Breeze has launched Group Dates after piloting 500 events involving 3,500 singles in London. Users choose an available date, and Breeze matches them with a group of six to 10 compatible singles at a partner venue. Some groups are based on a shared theme, while others use general compatibility. Participants can exchange phone numbers through the app afterward. Breeze said the format offers a more relaxed way to meet several potential matches in one evening.
INDEPENDENT.CO.UK – Breeze is gaining traction by reducing swiping and moving matches directly into real-world dates. Instead of long chat conversations, the app schedules dates at partner venues, limits daily matches, and restricts cancellations. It is currently the third most popular dating app in the Netherlands, behind Tinder and Bumble. Several users interviewed said the format helped them avoid ghosting, endless messaging, and missed opportunities. One couple who met through Breeze have since bought a home together, while others said the app encouraged them to go on dates they might otherwise have cancelled.
LINKEDIN – Breeze has launched Group Dates in London, marking the first time the platform has expanded beyond one-to-one dating. The format brings together up to eight singles at curated venues, with no in-app chatting before the event. The concept is built around a simple idea: people often show their real personalities more naturally in group settings.
CNN – CNN’s Anna Cooban speaks to Breeze co-founder Marco van der Woude about why his app doesn’t let users speak before they meet. Woude says his business model is designed to encourage people to meet in person rather than talking endlessly online.
LINKEDIN – Dating app Breeze has partnered with Bolt to improve safety around first dates. The collaboration integrates Bolt ride booking directly into Breeze’s date confirmations, enabling users to arrange transport to and from dates more easily. According to Breeze survey, 34% of users worry about safety on first dates. Alongside transport integration, Bolt and Breeze released a free dating safety guide with practical advice before, during, and after a date, including boundary-setting and reporting concerns.
PULSE2 – Breeze is a dating app designed to move people offline quickly by eliminating endless swiping and chatting and instead scheduling an in-person first date immediately after a match, including booking a venue. Founded by Marco van der Woude and his co-founders after identifying widespread dating-app fatigue, Breeze operates on a pay-per-date model with no subscriptions or ads, aligning revenue with successful real-world meetings. Since launching in 2020, the app has expanded internationally, now organizing ~25K dates per month and ~400K dates in total, with the UK as its fastest-growing market.
THE DRUM – Breeze, a dating app designed to move matches quickly from the screen to an in-person date, is launching in the UK. The launch is promoted with a national campaign created by Cloudfactory that focuses on the moment of agreeing to meet rather than prolonged messaging.
BBC – Dating apps are evolving to meet changing user habits. Breeze skips pre-date chat, auto-books dates at partner venues, and uses upfront payments to reduce no-shows. A brief chat window before and after the date allows for coordination and closure. Tinder recently launched a double-date feature, letting friends create joint profiles. Hinge introduced Hinge X, a £24.99/week premium tier offering features like priority likes and access to preferred match types. Meanwhile, niche apps like Feeld, Fourplay, Lex, and Raya continue to expand. These changes reflect a clear shift toward simpler, faster, and more structured dating experiences.
Curated by the Courtland Brooks team
ECHO – Breeze, a dating app focused on real-life connections, has launched in Southend and 12 other UK cities after success in London and Manchester. Unlike traditional apps, Breeze removes chat features, instead arranging in-person dates at partner bars for £9.50 each, which includes a drink. Users get a limited number of verified matches daily, and accounts are frozen after repeated ghosting. Since launching in 2020, Breeze has organized ~400K dates across Europe and New York and is also popular with the LGBTQ+ community.