Looking to make new friends in Southampton? From Ocean Village and the waterfront to Portswood, Shirley and the Common, this page helps you meet locals for relaxed plans that don’t rely on big nights out. Think walks, coffee, casual food and easy midweek catch-ups that fit around work or study. It’s built for adults who want straightforward local company and repeat plans.
Established in 2005, Drinking Partners is one of the UK’s longest-running platforms for meeting new people and making friends.
Drinking Partners is built for socialising, not drinking or dating. Share a short intro, browse people nearby in Southampton and start conversations that fit around your life.
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 Southampton.
Chat privately first, keep things relaxed, and only arrange a meet-up or group-style plan when you feel ready.
Making friends across Southampton is easiest when plans are close to where you already spend time. A walk around the Common, a coffee in Portswood, or a short meet near Ocean Village feels natural and easy to repeat. If you’re juggling shifts, study or a commute, time‑boxed plans are more likely to happen — and repeat meet-ups are what create real connection. Start with something simple and public, then follow up quickly if you get on. Try the same route again, a different café, or a casual early evening catch‑up. Keeping it easy and repeatable helps friendships grow in Southampton without needing big nights or organised socials. Southampton works well for ‘in-between’ plans: a coffee before errands, a short walk by the water, or an early dinner that doesn’t run late. If you’re new to the city, choosing obvious landmarks makes meeting easier. The aim is to make the second meet effortless — that’s when connection usually deepens.
Making friends as an adult can feel awkward — especially when everyday routines in Southampton 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 Southampton, 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 Southampton, follow these simple steps:
Share a short intro about yourself, where you are based in or around Southampton, 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 Southampton who are looking to make new friends. Join free to say hello, browse more members and start chatting at your own pace.
57 years old
Southampton, Hampshire
“Fun, chatty, and effortlessly outgoing, I’m the kind…”
57 years old
Eastleigh, Hampshire
“I enjoy going out socialising also enjoy dancing…”
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.
Ocean Village and the waterfront are ideal for a first meet because it’s easy, public and relaxed. Start with a short stroll or a quick drink, then decide if you want to extend it. It suits Southampton’s pace and works well for both day and early-evening plans.
Explore →Southampton Common is a simple, low-pressure option for meeting someone new. Walking gives you natural conversation flow and you can keep it as short as you like. It’s a good choice if you’d rather avoid loud venues and prefer something calm and straightforward. It’s an easy plan to repeat if you get on.
Explore →Portswood is a convenient spot for coffee meets, especially if you’re near the university areas. Pick somewhere relaxed, chat properly, and keep it time‑boxed. If it goes well, it’s easy to suggest a follow-up plan without it feeling like a big commitment. It’s an easy plan to repeat if you get on.
Explore →If weekends are busy, midweek plans work well here — a quick dinner, a short drink, or even a walk before heading home. Keeping it simple makes it easier to meet again, and that repeat rhythm is where friendships usually start to feel real. It’s an easy plan to repeat if you get on.
Explore →Answers to common questions about making friends and meeting people in Southampton.
Yes — there’s a mix of students, professionals and people who’ve recently moved here, so plenty of locals are open to meeting new people. The easiest approach is simple plans that you can repeat: walks on the Common, coffee, or short waterfront meet-ups. The waterfront and the Common are popular for a reason — they’re easy. Low-key plans fit around work and study.
Common choices include Ocean Village, the city centre, Portswood cafés and Southampton Common. These spots are public and easy to reach, which helps first meets feel comfortable and makes it more likely you’ll meet again. Low-key plans fit around work and study. The waterfront and the Common are popular for a reason — they’re easy. Low-key plans fit around work and study.
A walk on the Common or a coffee in Portswood works well. If you prefer evenings, a quick drink near the waterfront is easy and relaxed. Keep it time‑boxed so it stays low-pressure and feels simple to repeat. The waterfront and the Common are popular for a reason — they’re easy. Low-key plans fit around work and study. The waterfront and the Common are popular for a reason — they’re easy.
It’s for meeting people and making friends. Many members are looking for local company and genuine social connection, and prefer starting with conversation and relaxed meet-ups rather than formal dating. Low-key plans fit around work and study. The waterfront and the Common are popular for a reason — they’re easy. Low-key plans fit around work and study. The waterfront and the Common are popular for a reason — they’re easy.
Yes. Drinking Partners is for friendship and socialising, not dating. In Southampton, you can use it to chat with local people first, then suggest something simple and public such as coffee around City Centre, Ocean Village, Portswood and Shirley, a walk, lunch or a relaxed daytime catch-up.
Working from home can make it harder to meet people naturally in Southampton, especially if your week is built around the same few routines. Start with a short message, look for people near City Centre, Ocean Village, Portswood and Shirley, 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.
Log in. Go out. The fun way to meet new people — helping people connect since 2005.
Join free
