‘I came to make new friends’: the hangout event where phones are locked away

Offline Club brings digital detox concept to London for those wanting real-life connections and relaxation

For some of us, being without our smartphones for a few hours prompts panic: think of all the messages we would miss. For others, however, going off-grid sounds like bliss. Now, those looking to escape the doomscrolling can go cold turkey – for a few hours, at least.

The Offline Club, which has made a name for itself by hosting phone-free hangouts in the Netherlands, has brought its concept to London. On Wednesday, the Guardian visited one of the company’s no-phone zones, hosted in a church in West Hampstead.

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‘I came to make new friends’: the hangout event where phones are locked away

Topics

Related

I find it hard to make friends – now my daughter does, too

Grief and shock at Buenos Aires hotel where Liam Payne died: ‘I came to say goodbye’

Dining across the divide: ‘I think his opposition to child benefit came partly from a place where he doesn’t have any kids’

I am the infamous non-responder in our group chat. Does that make me a bad friend? | Louis Hanson

Bad behaviour locks Paddington away from children

AT&T and T-Mobile Claim Locked Phones Are Good, Actually

Live commerce is the new sports bar: Loupe is the preferred late-night hangout for sports fans and collectors

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