Lock & Key Format

We now only keep the equivalent of lock & key at our major events where there are too many new members to introduce when they arrive at the same time. We find this to be the case with our moving boat party down The Thames in July and the event on New Year's Eve. We thus will keep the lock & key format on these occasions with the raffle ticket game where members need to find the member of the opposite sex with the matching number.

We have replaced the lock and key format with our much more successful ice-breakers which we started earlier this year which is Mass Speed Dating.

Mass speed dating after meal

This is still a good introduction service before the party commences. Many members who work Saturdays find it difficult to get to the venue by 7/7.30pm but 8.30pm for the speed dating is possible.


This new form of speed dating we introduced only earlier this year is less formal and conducted standing up. We form a big circle around the venue matching up a man with a woman for the first 90 second chat. The whistle is blown and men step to the right to talk to the next lady until 15 moves have been completed. This is an excellent ice-breaker before we slip into party mode at 9.30pm.

We feel it is much more relaxed to start with the introduction service on the meal but we only want members to book if they are confident they can arrive on time at 7pm . We do not want people missing on the tables when we sit at 7.30pm.