Looking to make new friends in Exeter? From Heavitree and St Leonard’s to Topsham and the City Centre, this page helps you meet local people for relaxed, everyday plans — no pressure, no awkward introductions.
Established in 2005, Drinking Partners is one of the UK’s longest‑running platforms for meeting new people and making friends.
Exeter has a steady pace and a mix of students, professionals and locals. That’s great for variety, but it can still be hard to meet someone new once routines settle. If you’re mostly moving between Heavitree, St Thomas and the centre for work and errands, your social circle can stay fixed unless you actively widen it.
Drinking Partners helps you connect locally, chat first, and arrange a simple meet‑up when you’re ready — whether that’s a coffee, a walk or a low‑key evening.
Create a free profile, browse nearby people and say hello when someone sounds like your kind of person.
Meet people for coffee, walks, cinema, lunch, gigs or relaxed everyday plans around Exeter.
Chat privately first, keep things relaxed, and only arrange a meet-up or group-style plan when you feel ready.
Making friends across Exeter often works best when it fits into what you already do. A coffee in the City Centre, a relaxed walk, or a casual catch‑up near Heavitree or St Thomas keeps things easy. If you’re based around Topsham or St Leonard’s, meeting nearby makes repeat plans feel natural — and repeat plans are what build familiarity. Start with a short first meet in a public place, then follow up with something equally simple. Drinking Partners makes those first introductions straightforward so you can focus on conversation and shared interests.
Making friends as an adult can feel awkward — especially when everyday routines in Exeter are already set. Drinking Partners keeps things simple, relaxed and pressure-free, without the need for large groups or organised events.
Take things at your own pace and connect in a way that feels comfortable for you.
Whether you have just moved to Exeter, work from home, or simply want to widen your social circle, Drinking Partners helps you find people nearby and start relaxed local conversations.
Follow these steps to connect over shared interests, message freely and plan meet-ups that feel comfortable, public and pressure-free.
It only takes a few minutes to get started:
To get the most out of Drinking Partners and begin to meet new people in Exeter, follow these simple steps:
Share a short intro about yourself, where you are based in or around Exeter, and the kinds of relaxed plans you enjoy — coffee, walks, cinema, fitness, lunch or weekend catch-ups.
Add a recent photo to help people recognise you. Profiles with clear photos feel more trustworthy, get more replies and appear higher in local results.
Use GPS search or filter by nearby areas to find people close to you. Save your favourite profiles and searches so it is easy to return to promising local matches.
Messaging is free, so say hello to people with similar interests. Mention a simple local plan you would enjoy and swap a few messages before arranging anything in person.
Set alerts for new people near you, message reads and profile views. Pause notifications or hide your profile whenever you need a break.
When you are ready, suggest a simple public meet-up such as coffee, a daytime walk, a casual lunch, cinema trip or another relaxed plan somewhere you both feel comfortable.
A quick call or video chat first can help break the ice and make meeting up feel natural. You’re always in control — choose who you talk to, take things at your own pace, and only meet when you’re comfortable.
Short, practical guides to help you meet people and make new friends without the pressure.
These are people in and around Exeter who are looking to make new friends. Join free to say hello, browse more members and start chatting at your own pace.
43 years old
Exeter, Devon
“Good evening. Are you sitting comfortably? Good, then…”
There’s no single way to make friends — people connect in all sorts of everyday ways.
Pick an idea and start a conversation that suits you.
A short café meet is ideal for a first chat. It’s public, relaxed and flexible — perfect if you want to keep things simple and see if you click. Meet in the City Centre, keep it time‑boxed, and you can finish with a brief walk if it feels natural.
Explore →Exeter suits walking meet‑ups. A gentle walk keeps the pace comfortable and gives you space to talk naturally without pressure. It’s a good option if you prefer daytime plans or want something easy to repeat. Walking also makes first meets feel less formal.
Explore →If you’d rather sit and chat, choose a simple meal or casual bite. Familiar settings help first meets feel natural and easy to repeat, especially around the centre or near Heavitree. Shared interests make it even easier — pick somewhere you’d happily go anyway.
Explore →For evenings, keep it understated: a quiet drink or relaxed dinner rather than a big night. Comfortable settings help genuine connection grow, and they’re easier to plan around busy weeks. Low‑key evenings often work best as a second meet after a coffee.
Explore →Answers to common questions about making friends and meeting people in Exeter.
Yes. Exeter’s pace and size make it realistic to meet locally and see people again. Simple, repeatable plans like coffee, walks and relaxed evenings tend to work best.
Common options include central cafés, neighbourhood spots in Heavitree and St Thomas, and relaxed places around Topsham. Choose public, familiar locations for first meets.
Absolutely. Short plans are common — a quick coffee or a weekend walk. Keeping it manageable makes it much easier to meet again and build a friendship.
It’s designed for meeting people and making friends. Many members simply want local company and realistic social plans that lead to steady connections.
Yes. Drinking Partners is for friendship and socialising, not dating. In Exeter, you can use it to chat with local people first, then suggest something simple and public such as coffee around City Centre, St Thomas, Heavitree and Topsham, a walk, lunch or a relaxed daytime catch-up.
Working from home can make it harder to meet people naturally in Exeter, especially if your week is built around the same few routines. Start with a short message, look for people near City Centre, St Thomas, Heavitree and Topsham, and suggest an easy plan that fits your day, such as a lunchtime coffee, after-work walk or weekend catch-up.
Want more tips? Read How to make friends after moving to a new city.
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