Frequently Asked Questions

The basics

What is Hugo Date?

Hugo Date is live video speed dating for London singles. Every Sunday evening, you join from your phone and go on five one-on-one video dates with other singles. A live host runs the night, and mutual matches get each other's phone numbers at the end.

Is this an in-person event?

No. Hugo is not a bar, a venue, or a physical meetup. You join from your phone, wherever you are — your sofa, your kitchen, your bedroom. The entire event happens on video through your phone's browser.

Is Hugo Date an app?

No. There's nothing to download. Hugo runs in your phone's browser — you tap a link and you're in. No app store, no updates, no storage space needed.

Is Hugo Date free?

Yes. All events are currently free to join.

How do I sign up?

Go to hugodate.co. Sign up takes about two minutes. You'll be asked for your name, date of birth, phone number, and email. Once you're signed up, you can confirm your spot for the next event.

The format

How does a Hugo dating night work?

You confirm your spot the day before. On Sunday, you get a link. You tap it, join the main room, and the host welcomes everyone. Then you're paired off into private one-on-one video rooms for your first date. After each date, you come back to the main room, rate the connection, and head into the next round. After five rounds, the event wraps and mutual matches are revealed.

How long does each date last?

Each date lasts a couple of minutes — long enough to feel the chemistry, short enough that nobody's stuck.

How many dates do I go on?

Five per event. This may increase over time.

What are the icebreaker questions?

During each date, a few simple this-or-that prompts pop up on screen. You tap your answer, you see your date's answer side by side. They're not mandatory — they're there to break the ice and reveal a little about each other without the pressure of carrying the whole conversation.

What happens if I match with someone?

If you both say yes, you each get the other person's phone number at the end of the night. What happens next is up to you — Hugo gets you the introduction, the rest is real life.

What if I don't match with anyone?

Nothing happens. Nobody is told who said yes or no. There are no awkward rejections and no one-sided reveals. You can come back the following week and try again.

Trust and safety

Who hosts the events?

Harry, Hugo's founder, hosts every event personally. It's not automated — there's a real person welcoming you, running each round, and keeping the energy right.

Is video speed dating safe?

Yes. You're on video from home — no sharing your location, no meeting a stranger in person, no travelling to a venue. Matches are mutual only, so nobody gets your number unless you both said yes. If someone is making you uncomfortable during a date, there's a red button in the top left corner that lets you leave the date immediately and return to the host.

Can anyone see my phone number?

Only your mutual matches. Your number is never shown to anyone who you haven't both matched with. There's no unsolicited contact and no one-sided reveals.

What if someone is inappropriate?

Tap the red exit button during the date. You'll be taken straight back to the main room and the person will be flagged. Hugo has a zero tolerance policy for creepy or inappropriate behaviour.

Who it's for

What ages are Hugo Date events for?

Original events are for London singles aged 20 to 45. Just Men events are for gay men in their 20s and up.

What are Original events?

Original is Hugo's flagship event — mixed-gender speed dating for men and women aged 20 to 45. Every Sunday at 7pm.

What are Just Men events?

Just Men is Hugo's event for gay men, 20s and up. Same format, same host, same five dates. Every Sunday at 6pm.

Can I come to more than one event?

Yes. Many people come back week after week. You can attend as many events as you like.

Do I need to be in London?

Hugo is built for London singles. You don't need to live in central London, but you should be based in or around London so that if you match, a real date is practical.