One night, one pub, real connections.
After our first Ember Night in Clapham, we are doing it again. On Thursday 27 August 2026, Ember by PubCrush is coming to Royal Star near Old Street for a free evening built around meeting the people who are actually in the room.
There are no rotations, name badges or forced conversations. You arrive, join the venue's Ember room and choose what you are open to that night. That might be a date, new friends, a relaxed chat or simply seeing where the evening goes.
If somebody catches your attention, send a private wave. They only find out if they wave back. When the interest is mutual, you both see the match and can say hello in person.
Reserve your free place on Eventbrite.
Ember Night Round Two at a glance
- Date: Thursday 27 August 2026
- Time: 5pm to midnight
- Venue: Royal Star, 220 City Road, London EC1V 2PN
- Nearest area: Old Street
- Entry: Free
- Age: 18+
- What to do first: Download Ember before you arrive for the easiest start
The PubCrush team will also be there during the evening to help anyone who needs a hand getting set up.
Why are we doing another Ember Night?
Because the first room gave us a useful answer to a simple question: will people use a small digital signal to make a real introduction easier?
At The Beehive Clapham on 15 August, 16 adults joined the Ember room and sent 50 private waves. Nine mutual matches formed, involving 11 different guests. Ten of the 16 people chose an intention other than flirting, including making friends, hanging out and being up for a chat.
Those numbers came from one small pilot, so we are not treating them as a promise for every event. They did show us that people were willing to take part, that the room could support more than dating, and that a private wave could help somebody make the first move without putting them on the spot.
You can read the full results and what we learned in our Beehive pilot report.
Round Two is the next practical test. It is a new venue, a different part of London and another chance to see what happens when the people on your screen are only a few tables away.
Why Royal Star?
Royal Star describes itself as a friendly local near Old Street, with the kind of warm, easy atmosphere that suits Ember. It is a real pub rather than a formal event space, which matters because this is meant to feel like a good Thursday night out, not an organised sequence of mini-dates.
For one evening, Royal Star becomes the setting for one shared Ember room. Everyone you see in that room has checked in from the venue. There is no distance slider and no uncertainty about whether somebody is on the other side of London. They are there that night, just like you.
The address is 220 City Road, London EC1V 2PN. The event runs from 5pm until midnight, so you can come after work, arrive later in the evening or stay for as much of the night as suits you.
How Ember works on the night
Ember is designed to support the room, not replace it. The whole experience is deliberately short:
- Download or open Ember before you arrive.
- Check in when you are physically inside Royal Star.
- Join the venue room and choose your intention for the night.
- See who else has joined and send a private wave if somebody catches your attention.
- If they wave back, you both see the match.
- Meet in person and claim your match reward together at the bar.
A wave remains private unless it becomes mutual. If the other person does not wave back, they are not told that you sent one. You can also withdraw a wave if you change your mind.
Your first mutual match can unlock a match reward for the two of you to claim together. It is a simple reason to walk over, meet and let the app step out of the way.
If this is your first Ember Night, our quick guide to using Ember explains the full flow before you arrive.
This is not speed dating
There is no host pairing people up, no bell telling you to move seats and no requirement to speak to anybody you do not want to meet.
Ember Night is still your night out. You choose when to arrive, who to wave at and whether a match becomes a conversation. You can spend the evening with the friends you came with, move around the room at your own pace or take a quiet moment before saying hello.
The difference is that the first signal does not have to happen publicly. A private wave can answer one question before you cross the room: is the interest mutual?
That can lead to a date, but it does not have to. When you join, you can make it clear whether you are open to flirting, making friends, hanging out or having a chat. A good connection does not need a label before it begins.
Coming alone is completely normal
London offers endless places to go, yet arriving somewhere alone can still feel like the hardest part. Ember Night is designed to make that first ten minutes easier.
Once you join the room, you can see who else is open to meeting somebody. You do not need to scan the venue wondering who is part of the event, and you do not need to make a cold approach just to find out whether somebody wants to talk.
You can also come with friends. Have your usual night, check in when you arrive and use Ember only when it helps. The best outcome is not more time on your phone. It is putting the phone away because you now know who to say hello to.
Before you leave home
Reserve your free ticket through the official Eventbrite listing, then download Ember before travelling to Royal Star. Setting it up in advance means you can join the room quickly, even if the venue is busy or your signal is patchy.
Remember that Ember Night is for adults aged 18 and over, and you must be physically at the venue to enter its room. Waves, matches and other room activity are cleared within 24 hours, so the night does not turn into a permanent feed.
Ember Night Round Two FAQ
Is Ember Night Round Two free?
Yes. Entry is free, and Ember is free for guests. Reserve your place through Eventbrite.
Do I need to be looking for a date?
No. You can choose an intention such as flirting, making friends, hanging out or being up for a chat.
Will people know if I wave at them?
Only if they wave back. An individual wave is private, and both people are notified only when the interest is mutual.
Can I join the Royal Star room from home?
No. You need to be physically at Royal Star to check in and see the people who have joined that night's room.
Is this speed dating?
No. There are no rotations, assigned partners or forced conversations. You move at your own pace throughout the evening.
Meet us at Royal Star
Ember Night Round Two takes place at Royal Star on Thursday 27 August 2026, from 5pm until midnight. Come alone, bring friends or drop in after work. Join the room, send a wave and see who is already there.
Reserve your free ticket on Eventbrite, explore upcoming Ember nights, or read how Ember works.
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