Haystack Dating Avaliações 

I enjoy going to these events (have only been to the London ones though).

I attended the London Bridge Vinegar Yard event last week, and there were roughly 300 people there. Personally, I prefer the larger venues because you get the chance to meet lots of people and often run into familiar faces. That said, it depends on what you're looking for. The smaller venues tend to be better for games and structured activities, while the larger ones are better for socialising and often have live music.

The gender ratio generally seems fairly balanced, with perhaps a slight majority of women. It's more balanced now than before since they've started capping tickets.

As feedback, it would be helpful if pens were handed out alongside the Haystack cards, since many people don't carry one. It might also be useful if Haystack staff wore something distinctive so attendees could identify them more easily.

All in all, the events are great. Some of the negative reviews I've seen seem to be related to venue-specific issues or expectations that don't match the format of the event itself. At every event I've attended, I see plenty of people having fun, making connections, and in some cases even leaving together.

I had a nice afternoon at the Bristol pub quiz, positive that it was reasonably balanced between genders and everyone was friendly and chatty. Good idea to rotate the teams between rounds.

The hosts were welcoming and proactive is supporting introductions and matches. They used the space as well as they could.

Unsure if £30 was worth the pub quiz plus a free drink..I was expecting less dating questions and more like a proper pub quiz with different rounds. I would likely do another event.

A nice bank holiday event at Steam in Bristol with a decent ratio of men to women - better than other dating meet ups I’ve been to. No match for me this time but the two hosts were absolutely lovely and friendly and brought energy to the quiz. A big group stayed on and I know one of my friends that went has a follow up date that she’s excited about!

Not quite 5* for me only because I would probably steer away from a quiz on the pitfalls of dating and possibly look to lower the £30 ticket price if Haystack can afford to.

Would go to another event and recommend it to friends! Thanks Haystack :)

£30 for a ticket when all they did was print a list of "fun facts" via word on an A4 for 1 round and called it a day.
The venue was nice but as we got to the area we weren't even allowed to order any drink (mind you this is not an open bar, nor do you get a free drink - just for the event they offered limitations on what you did with your own money).
The event then started, most ladies were moved around in the same group so you're not even getting a different table ambiance. Their "fancy algorithm based grouping" seemed just based on age. Ratio was off too with max 3 men per table.
Essentially a lot of money for an event that put zero effort in.

Oh sorry I forgot to mention, there was a cornhole game + a big connect 4 near the bar... In the busiest bit of the area... For approx 240 people to enjoy together...

@Haystacks your sad excuse of a reply would make me lower my score if I could. You have a great concept, you had a great venue, but the execution was lazy and you know it.
Also the bar problem wasn't due to a long queue. It was upon arrival, before the tables even started that we were told we couldn't order everything on the menu because we had a haystacks wristband. This was said at both bars within the assigned area.

Not the best ‘event’. Involved a quiz but organisers didn’t have a mic so smashed a metal saucepan to gather attention after every question which made it hard to have a conversation and didn’t create the best atmosphere.

Quiz topics involved questions about dating and red flags. Honestly the last thing I want to do at a dating event is discuss all the negative parts of the dating process and do a quiz on it.

£30 for a boring quiz really is a rip off. There are so many ways to get people talking and make it fun but you’ve missed the mark. After the quiz there was nothing planned.

In summary, you offer a poorly executed pub quiz for singles.

Charging £30 for events like these is a bit ridiculous given how little organisation seemingly goes into the event; it felt like we were just left with printed out pieces of paper with our names on and then left to fend for ourselves. There was a huge gender imbalance and some of the men there were clearly way beyond the suggested 20-40 age range, a bit depressing to get sat at a table with men who are clearly over 20 years older than you. Overall would not really recommend, save your money and go to the local instead!

They clearly try to maximise tickets sales at the expense of the actual experience, selling as many as they can rather than a gender balanced number. The ratio was so bad (even accounting for no-shows) that it actually created an uncomfortable situation for the few women there too.

I basically just played crazy golf with a bunch of other guys, who generally seemed pretty nice at least, but it wasn't what I'd paid for. There were groups with zero women while in most it was around 4:1.

They also charged us double the regular price for a game there while not seeming to do anything beyond advertising, booking the place, and putting us into those prearranged groups at the start.

I went on the ski trip with haystack and it was hands down one of the best trips I’ve ever been on.

Would throughly recommend their trips to anyone!

Best Lucy, Emily and the rest of the team were genuinely just brilliant as well.

I went on the Haystack Dating ski trip and I’m still not over how fun it was.

From the second we got there, the welcome drinks kind of set the tone. The team were just so friendly and welcoming, constantly making cocktails, topping up prosecco, chatting to everyone. It didn’t feel awkward at all, which I think everyone secretly worries about on something like this. Within like 10 minutes I already felt like I’d met loads of people and settled in.

Then they told us they had a “surprise” and took us downstairs… and honestly my jaw actually dropped. The whole room was full of ski suits. Every single one had a personalised name tag and a little note written for that person, which was such a cute touch. And the suits themselves were unreal - retro style with “are you single?” on the back 😭 so funny. Apparently the team stayed up all night matching sizes and vibes and somehow they absolutely nailed it.

Skiing-wise, I loved it. Being able to ski across the whole Portes du Soleil area was amazing and there’s such a good mix of runs for different levels, plus loads of fun places to stop for drinks/food. We also got ridiculously lucky with the weather. Only tiny thing for me was I ended up in a slightly lower level group on the first day as I wasn't sure who the best skiiers would be to go with at my level, but I mentioned it in the feedback form and they said they’re sorting ski group matching for everyone next time.

And then… Snowboxx. This was hands down the highlight. They offered an optional "friday funday" upgrade before the trip for those wanting to head over to Avoriaz, and I’m SO glad I did it. For what we paid extra, it was actually mad what we got - VIP area at Folie Douce (just us, which was insane), unlimited Jubels, a gorg hotel in Avoriaz, entry to the bingo party, and unlimited cocktail cans (we barely made a dent lol). It honestly felt a bit surreal. All of us in matching ski suits in the VIP at Folie Douce singing Wonderwall… core memory for sure. You could tell how much it meant to Lucy and the team as well, which made it even nicer.

The team in general just worked so hard the whole time. They were there in the mornings with coffee and croissants, and then in the evenings cooking, making drinks, hanging out with everyone. It never felt forced, they were just genuinely nice people who made the whole thing feel really easy.

The chalet itself was great, comfy beds, good space, lockers, and just a really nice vibe. By the end of the weekend it actually felt like a little family. I also liked how they grouped rooms based on people’s vibes (like partying vs early skiing etc), it actually made a difference.

I did say after that while I love Portes du Soleil, Les Crosets itself is a bit on the quieter side and I’d maybe prefer somewhere slightly more central next time, and I spoke to the team about this to improve the area.

Overall I had such a good time. Didn’t exactly find the love of my life, but met some really great people and made some unreal memories.

Would 100% go again 😊

I went on the Haystack Dating ski trip in March 2026 and, despite the strong concept, the reality was chaotic, under-delivered and at times genuinely stressful. This was not a well-run holiday, it felt like paying to be part of a disorganised group trip.

1) MISLEADING PRICING & LAST-MINUTE CHANGES:

The trip was advertised at £700, but we were later asked to pay an additional £70 for a last-minute itinerary change (an overnight stay in Avoriaz for Snowboxx events).

This was sprung on us with no real alternative. If I’d known in advance, I wouldn’t have booked - it required packing an overnight bag mid-trip and disrupted what should have been a straightforward ski holiday.

2) FOOD - UNDER-DELIVERED & POORLY PLANNED:

Several key inclusions were either missing or inadequate…

• No “welcome drinks, cheese and charcuterie” as advertised
• Repeated small portions of underwhelming pizza (not enough for everyone)
• Final night: basic tomato pasta (no protein)
• Breakfast: mini plain croissants, completely insufficient for a full ski day
• There was also no proper food planning at key moments, including the Avoriaz overnight, where dinner wasn’t arranged at all. We had to leave group activities just to eat.

3) DISORGANISATION THROUGHOUT:

The logistics were consistently poor…

• Transfer times weren’t shared before flights were booked, forcing some of us to arrange our own travel
• The Avoriaz overnight was badly handled, we were expected to transport multiple bags ourselves onto a minibus and across town, with no support from the organisers
• No clear plans for meals or breaks during travel, we had to ask to stop
• Some people even lost luggage during the chaos
• At multiple points, it felt like guests were expected to adapt to disorganisation rather than being looked after.

4) AVORIAZ EXPERINCE - BADLY EXECUTED

The Avoriaz event itself highlighted the poor planning. Non-confident skiers were rightly accommodated via minibus, however, this meant…

• We had to handle all luggage logistics ourselves
• We arrived late so missed the start of the event
• By the time we got there, others were already having fun and drinking
• On top of that, the “free drink” wristbands didn’t work, so we ended up paying for drinks anyway.

5) ACCOMMODATION NOT AS ADVERTISED:

• The “slope-side chalet” was in reality a very basic hostel.
• The bar (open to the public) played loud music until around 4am every night, making proper rest nearly impossible.

6) POOR COMMUNICATION & UNPROFESSIONAL HOSTING:

• Communication was handled via WhatsApp, which felt completely inadequate for a paid experience.
• The organiser’s tone in the lead-up, and throughout the trip, was often passive aggressive and defensive when guests asked reasonable questions. This created an uncomfortable atmosphere where people felt hesitant to speak up.
• With 80 guests and only a couple of staff, support was clearly overstretched.
• At times, it felt like guests were expected to manage situations themselves, and even manage the organiser’s reactions, rather than being able to relax and enjoy the trip.

7) OTHER ISSUES:

• Ski pass issues left some beginners stuck without proper access
• The town itself was extremely limited, no supermarket, making it difficult to even buy food when needed
• The male/female ratio was heavily imbalanced for a “singles” trip

8) OVERALL

This trip had a great idea behind it, but the execution was far below what you would expect for the price. Instead of a well-run, social ski experience, it felt like a disorganised holiday where guests had to fill in the gaps.

I would not recommend this trip, and I would not book with Haystack again. Based on my experience, it felt less like a professionally run holiday and more like a scam marketed to single people.

I had such a fun time at the Haystack bouldering night at Substation. I had never tried bouldering before, but the Haystack team could not have been more welcoming, and it was just a super fun night, making new connections, trying something different, and hanging out with some lovely people. Highly recommend!!

I left a 1-star review due to the terrible nature of the event. My comments were completely honest, as I wanted to make sure others didn’t waste their money like I did.

After posting my review, I was contacted by the owner, Lucy Rout, who asked for more details. I took the time to respond fully and explain the situation. However, once it became clear that my concerns were valid and that I was likely entitled to a refund due to how poorly the event was run, I was simply ignored no follow-up, no resolution.

It’s very disappointing that a company owner would reach out, only to avoid responding when accountability is required. It gives the impression that the intention was never to resolve the issue, but to manage criticism instead.

I would strongly advise others to avoid these events at all costs.

I asked the Haystack team where I could leave a review but haven’t heard back yet, so I’m sharing my feedback here.

I attended the first event last Friday. I was really keen to go as it looked great online and seemed like a fun concept with the different activities and venues. When I arrived, a lovely man greeted me at the door, briefly explained the event, and pointed me to a table where there was a list of names arranged into groups.

The invite said to arrive from 6pm, with group activities starting at 7:30pm. I arrived at 7:20pm, expecting to meet my group for the drink mentioned in the invite at 7:30pm. However, that didn’t happen. It turned out my group wasn’t scheduled to play the cricket until 8:30pm, and in the meantime we weren’t really placed into any group or guided on what to do.

I ended up spending about an hour making small talk with people, which was fine but nothing particularly engaging or structured. When it was time for the cricket, none of the hosts seemed to be around to organise things. We were left trying to figure out where to stand, who was in which group, and what we were supposed to be doing. It felt quite messy and unorganised.

I also spoke to a woman who was really excited to meet the host. She went over to introduce herself but came back saying the host was busy and would speak to her later. Throughout the evening, I noticed the host spent a lot of time on her laptop, which made the event feel less engaged and less professional, especially considering this was her own event.

I understand that the concept is to allow people to mingle and socialise naturally, which I can appreciate to a degree. However, there still needs to be more guidance and structure from the hosts, particularly when there are organised activities involved and when attendees are paying over £30 for a ticket.

Unfortunately, I was quite unimpressed with the overall experience and ended up leaving at 9pm. I won’t be attending any more Haystack dating events in the future.

Having done two haystack events I have absolutely loved them! Lucy and the team are amazing at making everyone feel welcome and comfortable. Always a great group of people and I have met some wonderful men and women through it! Cannot wait for the next one

Not sure why there are so many poor reviews on here? I have attended 5 events or so, and yes, that does point to 2 things-

1. I am bad at singles events

2. Haystack is worth coming back to

It is always hard walking into a venue filled with strangers and attempting to flirt, but I think that both the clientele and method behind a Haystack event make this experience as palatable as possible.

It is filled with all kinds of people and I have yet to meet a person at one of the events who isn't a bit nervous, a bit excited and overly lovely. I would recommend this to first-timers and seasoned daters alike

I attended the event in London (Boulesbar) and had a brilliant time! Staff were kind, organised and could not have tried harder to give everyone a great experience. I was matched with two different groups - for one round we played Boules and for another we had a drink together at a table. In my first group there was 6 men and 5 women, in my second group there were 6 men 6 women. I went on two dates afterwards and also made some lovely female friends. Thank you.

Singles events depend a lot on the people, and the attendees are generally nice people, the problem is that the organisers don't uphold their end of the bargain.

Having been to the Six Nations event. There was a free-for-all on where you sat, no "algorithm" matching whatsoever, the advertised icebreakers did not happen, the promoted half-time event did not happen.

Basically you paid to sit in a bar with a bunch of strangers. I thought you were paying for at least a minimal amount of matching or introductions?

I gave advance notice (4 days) that I couldn’t attend due to illness, specifically because the event advertised a matching process. I received no personal response, only an auto reply. I replied asking for specific acknowledgment and received no reply. Ignoring paying customers who act in good faith is poor customer service. Despite not going to the event, I would not consider trying this company again.

It's incredibly hard to run a good dating event and Haystack Dating is really great at:

1. Bringing people together who are likely to have something in common
2. Working with great venues where you can have fun
3. Make sure that everyone has a great experience

Haystack Dating cannot solve dating but they do an amazing job at making dating more enjoyable!

I’ve been to two Haystack events in Cardiff, which have both been really fun! It’s exactly as advertised - you get matched into a group of people with similar interests and age group, there’s some time to mingle at the bar and then you take on an activity in your group. Both events I went to were mini golf, which was amazing at Golf Fang, such a laugh. I met loads of really interesting people (there were about 60 people at the first event and 100 at the second) who I enjoyed chatting to - you do have to be confident and put yourself out there as in any other scenario, but it’s great that you’re grouped with likeminded people as that gets conversations going. There were some fun facts on the tables, which people were trying to match with the person who submitted it, as well as the opportunity to mingle before and after the golf. I’ve gone on to date someone I was group matched with, which is so exciting. It’s exactly what it says on the tin - and if you’re someone who prefers in-person meeting and is open to lots of different kinds of people in one night, Haystack events are for you.