The Third Chair started as a feeling — and a bit of a personal obsession. I spent years travelling solo, meeting people in hostel kitchens, by campfires, and around shared tables. Connection felt easy on the road. No name tags. No networking energy. Just a shared meal, a weird story, and suddenly you're laughing with someone you'd never have met otherwise.

When I settled back into everyday life, that ease disappeared. Group chats went quiet. People were busy. Making new friends felt strangely high effort — and I knew I wasn’t the only one feeling it.

So I started hosting little dinners. Nothing fancy — a few mates, a plus-one or two, some conversation cards, dodgy candles, and a good playlist. The magic came back. The same spontaneity and softness and “you had to be there” energy I’d felt while travelling. The kind that leaves you feeling more human.

The Third Chair is my way of capturing that energy and sharing it — for anyone craving deeper connection in a world that makes it harder than it should be. It’s small gatherings with big heart. The kind where someone pulls up a chair and everything shifts just a little.

And the name? It’s about that extra seat. The one you leave open for whoever might come. Because honestly, you never know who’s going to show up or what kind of magic they’ll bring