Sixteen of us, a Friday night and the best of West Bridgford: our September Night Out

There is something about a Friday in West Bridgford. The working week is done, Central Avenue is buzzing, and everybody seems to be in a good mood before they have even sat down. Sixteen Affinity members made the most of it for our West Bridgford Night Out, starting the evening at The Botanist.

The Botanist is a lovely place to open a night. Lanterns strung along the balcony, that little bit of foliage everywhere you look, a cocktail list worth taking your time over and live music going on a Friday. We had the group together early, drinks in hand and conversation flowing within minutes, which is exactly how these evenings should start.

Sixteen is a brilliant number for a night like this. Big enough that there is always a new conversation to step into, small enough that nobody gets lost in the crowd. A few people came along on their own, some for the first time, and by the second round you genuinely could not tell who had been coming for months and who had walked in not knowing a soul. That is the bit we are proudest of.

Claire ND Justin were hosting, moving around the group, making introductions and keeping an eye out for anyone standing on the edge of things. It makes all the difference on a night out, and it is why so many people tell us they felt comfortable far quicker than they expected to.

When The Botanist had done its job we headed on to The Parlour to carry the night on. Low lighting, proper music and a crowd well and truly in the swing of a Friday. There was dancing, there was a fair amount of laughing, and the photos tell the story better than we can.

A big thank you to everyone who came along and threw themselves into it, and to Claire and Justin for hosting so warmly all evening. West Bridgford did the rest.

Meeting new people, sharing great moments and creating memories is what these evenings are all about, and Friday had all three from the first drink to the last song.

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