Brits are ditching first date dinners in their droves for comedy club swooning – but they risk one thing.
Apparently gone are the days of booking a fancy restaurant to try to impress your potential flame over candlelight and a prawn cocktail.
As attitudes change across generations and the culture of dating continues to evolve thanks to cost-of-living restraints and the saturated app market, people are looking elsewhere to schmooze on the first date.
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And where is that you ask? Well, it turns out that more people are having their first (hopefully) romantic meets at comedy clubs. According to new research by Ticketmaster, one in five Brits are choosing to take their date to a live comedy show.
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In their ‘Comedy State of Play’ report, they surveyed over 2,000 UK adults and discovered that Gen Z are choosing live comedy shows over the more traditional dating experience of dinner.
Ticketmaster also found that comedy events as a whole have shot up by 34% over the last decade, meaning there is more on offer for ‘shared experience’ dates – rather than just sharing a dessert.
They also found that Scots love dirty jokes the most, and Londoners the least.. And for those in the Northwest, they rank the highest for heckling the comedian.
However, this could backfire. That’s because you could risk the comedian turning it around on you and becoming the butt of the joke – which could kill off any possible romantic feelings.
(Image: Getty Images)
Commenting on the trend, Michael Mouch, comedian, podcast producer, and the owner of Big Belly Comedy Club, exclusively told us: “I’ve spent years watching comedy audiences, I’ve noticed a definite trend – more couples, especially those on first dates, are turning up for a night of laughs.
“Ticketmaster data reckons 1 in 5 people are now picking comedy for date night, and honestly that tracks with what we are seeing.
“Sharing a sense of humour is vital to any relationship. Just ask any ugly but funny guy punching above their weight. If you’re both laughing, you’re already halfway there.
“So, get that Hinge match, and head down to a comedy club, and let laughter do its thing.”