Date My Mate — Friend-powered dating
Across Australia, ditch the apps for a fun alternative to speed dating and singles nights. A friend takes the mic and pitches their single mate to the room. A comedy roast with green flags. Be the DATE. Pitch a MATE. Or just come along to MINGLE and enjoy the show.
Upcoming events
Be the date. Pitch a mate. Or just mingle.
Date My Mate @
Henry G's Wine Parlour
Pitch spots
- Women:
- Sold out
- Men:
- 7 left
Mingle spots
- Women:
- 1 left
- Men:
- 5 left
- Date
- · 6:00 pm
- Location
- Sydney · Manly
- Age range
- Ages 45–60-ish
Date My Mate @
The Beresford Hotel
Pitch spots
- Women:
- Sold out
- Men:
- 8 left
- Diverse:
- 8 left
Mingle spots
- Women:
- 11 left
- Men:
- 26 left
- Diverse:
- 28 left
- Date
- · 6:00 pm
- Location
- Sydney · Surry Hills
- Age range
- Ages 25–45-ish
Date My Mate @
The Chippo Hotel
Pitch spots
- Women:
- 10 left
- Men:
- 10 left
Mingle spots
- Women:
- 30 left
- Men:
- 30 left
- Date
- · 6:00 pm
- Location
- Sydney · Chippendale
- Age range
- Ages 22–38-ish
Date My Mate @
Dee Why Bowls Club
Pitch spots
- Women:
- 9 left
- Men:
- 10 left
Mingle spots
- Women:
- 26 left
- Men:
- 26 left
- Date
- · 6:00 pm
- Location
- Sydney · Northern Beaches
- Age range
- Ages 30–45-ish
Past events
How does Date My Mate work?
Step 1
A mate builds the pitch
They put together a short slide deck about why their single mate is a catch. Line one up for a friend, or get a mate to do yours.
Step 2
The pitch goes on stage
Mates take the mic at a Date My Mate night and pitch their single to a room full of people.
Step 3
Everyone mingles
No swiping, no algorithms. Meeting IRL. Just go up and say “Hi, I liked your pitch!”
What is Date My Mate?
Date My Mate is a friend-powered dating event — an in-person alternative to speed dating and dating apps, held at pubs across Australia. Your mates pitch you to a room full of singles, then everyone mingles over drinks — no swiping, no apps. Half the night is the pitches; the other half is the whole room getting to know each other. Come for the mingling even if no one's pitching you.
78%
of dating app users say swiping leaves them emotionally exhausted
Forbes Health, 2024
41%
deleted their main dating app at least once in the past year
Elevated Magazines, 2025
42%
of singles say their friends influence their dating choices
Tinder Year in Swipe, 2025
30%
more likely to stay together when you meet through friends
Pew Research, 2025
There's a spot for you
Whether you're pitching, getting pitched, or just here for the show — there's a ticket with your name on it.
You're a MATE
Pitch a mate
- Build a 2-min pitch deck about why your mate is a catch
- Pitch templates so your deck slaps
- Bring your mate — entry for two
- Wingman bragging rights for life
You're a DATE
Get pitched
- Get pitched by a mate who's got your back — grab your own ticket
- Or pair up with a mate and pitch each other — DATE/DATE
- A room full of people, not a feed
- First dibs on tickets when they drop
You're a MINGLER
Watch and mingle
- Come solo, with a mate, or with a crew — no pitching required
- Front-row for the fun
- The full social half — a pub full of people to chat to
- No swiping, just meeting IRL
Want to host Date My Mate events at your pub?
A ready-made event format that brings new faces through the door.
- New midweek foot traffic — events run on quieter nights
- Zero setup cost — hosts bring everything, you provide the space
- Social media exposure from attendees sharing on the night
- A fun reputation as the pub where people actually meet
Frequently asked questions
Can I come even if I'm not pitching or being pitched?
Yes — about half the room every night is people just there to watch, drink, and mingle. No pitch, no pre-arranged mate. Grab a Mingle Ticket and you've got two drinks in, a front-row spot for the pitches, and a room full of people to chat to during the social half. Most connections at our events happen during the mingle, not the pitch.
Where are Date My Mate events held?
Events run at participating pubs around Australia, usually on quieter midweek nights. Cities and venues are announced as we lock them in — join the waitlist to hear first.
When does it launch?
We're validating interest from hosts and venues city by city. The first events go live once we've got both sides locked in for that city. Sign up to the waitlist and we'll let you know as soon as a date drops near you.
How much does it cost to attend?
Three tiers. DATE/DATE ($99) — two single mates pitching each other, two 2-min pitches. MATE/DATE ($89) — one mate pitches their single friend. Mingle ($49) — solo entry to come watch, drink and meet people during the social half. All include your first two drinks.
What ticket types are there?
Three tiers. DATE/DATE — two single mates pitching each other, two 2-min pitches, entry for two. MATE/DATE — one mate pitches their single friend, entry for two. Mingle — solo entry to come watch the pitches, drink and meet people. All include your first two drinks.
What's the age range and vibe?
All ages welcome — 20s through 60s. If you've got a mate you'd love to introduce to a room full of people, you've come to the right place. We'll tailor nights to the crowd that signs up so the room is roughly in the same life stage.
What makes a good pitch?
Short, funny, and honest. The best pitches lean into the quirks that make your mate actually loveable rather than reading like a CV. Slides are built collaboratively between dates and their mates, and Date My Mate reviews and approves the final version before the night.
Is it only for straight guests?
No. Date My Mate nights are open to all orientations. At some events we hold a set number of spots for gender-diverse guests alongside the men's and women's allocations, so nobody has to pick a box that isn't theirs to buy a ticket — you'll see the option at checkout when it's running. It only decides which allocation your ticket comes from; it doesn't change the price or how the night works. Themed events will be held according to demand — if you're interested, get in touch and let's talk.
What if my mate's pitch is embarrassing?
That's kind of the point — but there are guardrails. Slides are built collaboratively, so you get a say in what's pitched about you on stage, and Date My Mate reviews and approves the final version before the night.
How do dating events work at Date My Mate?
Half the night is the pitches — mates take the mic and pitch their single friend to the room with a short slide deck. The other half is the mingle, where the whole room gets to know each other over drinks. Come to pitch a mate, get pitched, or just watch and mingle. No apps, no swiping.
Is this speed dating?
No — it's a friendlier alternative to speed dating. There are no timed rotations and no forced one-on-ones. Your mates do the introductions on stage, then you meet people naturally during the social half of the night.
Where can I meet singles in person in Australia?
At a Date My Mate night. We run friend-powered dating events at pubs across Australia — Sydney is live now, with Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart on the roadmap. Join the waitlist and we'll tell you when a night drops in your city.
Get on the list
Whether you want to pitch a friend, get pitched, or have a venue — we want to hear from you.