Dating app partnership sees restaurant play Cupid

Romance is on the menu at Nicco Restaurant & Bar after becoming an official venue of a fast-growing dating app.

The Pride Park restaurant has recently partnered with Breeze, an app which pairs people for real-life meetups instead of endless chatting online.

Instead of chatting online for weeks, users are matched and encouraged to go on a real first date – with Nicco among the handful of approved venues in Derby offering a safe, stylish setting for that all-important first impression.

When couples meet through the Breeze app, Nicco could now be selected as their location.

Those attending the venue on their first date are treated to a free drink to help break the ice and skip the awkward “who’s paying?” conversation.

Since launching the partnership, more than 20 first dates have taken place at Nicco in just the first week, with around 70% of those daters extending their evening to enjoy dinner or extra drinks together.

Co-owner Bhav Kumar said: “The Breeze partnership has created such a positive buzz here.

“Some daters hit it off instantly, and our team has even reserved tables so they could stay on for dinner.

“It’s been lovely to see some genuine connections happening right here in the restaurant.”

Nicco’s bar team, led by barman Joe Stephens, affectionately nicknamed ‘Fred’ after the First Dates TV show’s maître d’, has been helping to calm first-date nerves and make sure guests feel relaxed from the moment they arrive.

Bhav said: “We wanted Nicco to be a place where people feel comfortable, whether it’s their first date or their 50th.

“Partnering with Breeze has been a fun way to encourage real-world dating again – no filters, no endless messaging, just good food, great drinks and hopefully a spark or two.”