A Dutch dating app, Breeze, which launched in London in 2025, is seeking to transform the UK's dating landscape by eliminating endless swiping and the dreaded 'talking stage'. The app, founded by university students in the Netherlands, matches users and automatically books them a table at a partner bar, with each person paying £9.50 for a 'date token' covering their first drink. Cancelling results in a one-week ban from the app.
Breeze has already seen success in the Netherlands, where it is the fastest-growing and third most popular dating app behind Bumble and Tinder. The app limits the number of potential matches sent daily at 7pm, and only opens a chat window two hours before the scheduled date, aiming to reduce ghosting and endless messaging.
One success story is Ruben and Liv from the Netherlands, who met on Breeze and are now buying a home together. Ruben had previously matched with Liv on Tinder but never connected. In the UK, Laura from Buckinghamshire, 39, has been on three Breeze dates and is now seeing Ross, 41, describing their first date as 'like a film'. Mark, 29, from London, goes on two to six dates a week and praises the app for getting people out the door.
Mark notes that London's dating scene suffers from cancellations due to busy schedules or lack of motivation, but Breeze's rules encourage commitment. Laura admitted she almost cancelled her date with Ross due to fatigue, but went ahead and met someone she cares about. The app's fundamental selling point is that it forces users to meet in person, bypassing the pitfalls of online dating.
