In short
The best social clubs in Exeter right now are Exeter Socials and Socials in Exeter on Meetup for all-round variety, ESCA for 20s to 40s adventures, Zest Singles and Exeter IVC for the over-50s, and Devon Bootlegs, Exeter Rambling Club and Exeter and District Ramblers for walking. Every club listed here had dated events on its own page when we checked in September 2026.
Contents12 sections
Where can you meet people in Exeter?
Looking for social clubs near you in Exeter? The quickest way to meet people here is to join a group that meets regularly. One-off events are fine, but it's showing up to the same thing week after week that builds friendships. In practice, that means one of four routes: a Meetup social group, a walking club, a hosted dinner, or a regular night like a pub quiz or writing group.
If you only try one thing this month, make it a Meetup social. Exeter Socials and Socials in Exeter both run several events a month, you can go on your own, and nobody expects you to know anyone. If you'd rather talk while doing something, walking clubs are the next best bet. Exeter sits between Dartmoor and the coast, and most Sundays at least one club is heading out, often finishing at a pub.
Moving to a new city is one thing. Building a social life there is another. And even if you've lived in Exeter for years, it's easy to end up seeing the same handful of people in the same pub. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. Making friends after 30 is harder than anyone admits, and it's something a lot of us are working through.
How we checked: for this September 2026 update we opened every group's own website or Meetup page and only kept groups with events dated in the last six months or coming up soon. We looked up the physical venues on the Food Standards Agency register. Two groups from the earlier version of this guide are gone because we couldn't find any recent dated activity, not because we know they've closed.
Exeter social clubs by age and interest
Use this index to go straight to the groups that suit you.
By age
- 20s to 40s: ESCA – Exeter and South Coast Adventures, Devon Bootlegs (they describe themselves as a 20s to 50s walking group)
- All ages: Exeter Socials, Socials in Exeter, Exeter Rambling Club, Exeter Raw Writing
- Over 30s: Dinners With Friends
- Over 50s: Zest Singles, Exeter IVC, Exeter and District Ramblers (daytime walks tend to suit people with free weekdays). There's more in our guide to over-50s social groups in Exeter.
By interest
- Food and dining: Dinners With Friends, Zest Singles suppers, Exeter Socials meals out
- Walking and outdoors: Devon Bootlegs, Exeter Rambling Club, Exeter and District Ramblers, ESCA
- Singles: Zest Singles (50-65 speed dating and socials). See our singles events guide for more
- Writing and books: Exeter Raw Writing Meetup, Silent Writing Club. Our book clubs guide covers reading groups
- Running and fitness: see our running clubs and parkrun guide
- Giving something back: volunteering is one of the most reliable ways to meet people. Start with our guide to volunteering in Exeter
- Low-key nights out: pub quizzes and board game cafés
Which social clubs in Exeter are best for variety?
Exeter Socials
Exeter Socials is our first pick if you want one group that covers a bit of everything. When we checked, it had events booked into December 2026, ranging from dance and movement sessions to a pub meetup for "boatless sailors". Events are held at venues around the city, including Exeter Phoenix and the Mill on the Exe, with the odd trip further out, such as Kennaway House in Sidmouth. If you're not sure what you're after yet, this is the group where you'll find out.
Socials in Exeter
Socials in Exeter – Meet New People is built around a simple, dependable format: a monthly social, plus extras like picnic-and-games afternoons in the park over the summer. The September 2026 monthly social is on its calendar. This is the one we'd suggest if walking into a room of strangers makes you nervous. A fixed monthly date means you'll see the same faces again, and that's how acquaintances turn into friends.
Where can younger adults meet people in Exeter?
ESCA – Exeter and South Coast Adventures (20-40s)
This group was previously listed as ESCSA and now calls itself ESCA – Exeter and South Coast Adventures. It's for people in their 20s to 40s and covers Exeter and the south coast. It's now a private group, so you'll need to request to join before you can see the details. Its recent calendar includes ultimate frisbee, a glamping weekend and what it billed as the final rounders match of 2026. For under-40s who'd rather do something active than stand around in a bar, it's the best option we found.
Which walking groups in Exeter are most sociable?
Walking might be the most underrated way to make friends. You're side by side rather than face to face, the conversation has room to breathe, and there's usually a pub at the end.
Devon Bootlegs
The Devon Bootlegs are a large walking group whose own site describes them as 20s to 50s. Their walks page lists walks into the autumn, including an Okehampton loop and a Chagford, Kestor Rock and Meldon Hill route. Walks are led by registered walk leaders, and you don't need to pre-register. You can just turn up. One thing to know: not every Sunday has a walk, so check the page first. For under-50s who want long, proper walks with other people, they're our pick.
Exeter Rambling Club
Founded in 1938, the Exeter Rambling Club calls itself Exeter's longest-established walking group, open to all ages and abilities. Its events calendar has walks booked through the autumn, from the Teign Valley to the Dawlish coast. You're welcome to try two or three walks before deciding whether to join. We think that no-commitment start makes it one of the easiest groups to try.
Exeter and District Ramblers
The Exeter and District Ramblers run a full programme of Sunday and midweek walks. Their Ramblers page lists routes through the autumn and into December 2026, from Bench Tor to a festive walk at Burrator. The group runs a taster policy of three walks before it asks you to join the Ramblers. There's a real mix of routes on the list, from gentle ambles to strenuous moorland days, so you can find walks that match your fitness.
Where do over-50s meet people in Exeter?
Zest Singles
Zest Singles is a social club for singles over 50 in Exeter and Devon, run by its founder Sarah. The autumn 2026 programme includes 50-65 speed dating and a monthly social at Browns in Exeter, a walk from Darts Farm to the Lighter Inn, suppers at Harry's and The Botanist, and a Christmas party. You can join as a monthly member or pay per event. It's the most active over-50s programme we found in the city, and the mix of suppers, walks and coffees means you don't have to treat every event like a date.
Exeter IVC
Exeter IVC is a small, non-profit, member-run branch of the Association of Inter-Varsity Clubs. It has a new web address, so update any old bookmarks. The club says it particularly suits the over-50s, although younger members are welcome, and it's open to singles and couples. Its recent events page shows it's still active. Entries include a members' pizza night and the 20th annual Exeter v Plymouth skittles match in June 2026. It's smaller and more personal than the Meetup groups. We'd suggest ringing the membership line on 07544 888162 to find out what's coming up before you go.
Where can you meet people through writing, arts and culture?
Exeter Raw Writing Meetup
The Exeter Raw Writing Meetup meets on a Friday evening towards the end of each month from 5pm at the City Gate on Iron Bridge. It's for writers, readers and anyone who loves words. It isn't a critique group, and we'd say that's why it works: the emphasis is on people as much as pages. The group also puts on occasional live poetry evenings.
Silent Writing Club at Exeter Phoenix
The same organisers run a Silent Writing Club, mostly at Exeter Phoenix. You write quietly alongside other people for an hour, then stay for a coffee. Sessions are usually at lunchtime, but the day moves around, so check the Meetup page rather than assuming it's the same day every week. If open-ended social events drain you, this is the gentlest way into Exeter's social life we know of.
Exeter Phoenix
Exeter Phoenix on Gandy Street is the city's independent arts centre. It hosts film, comedy, live music and exhibitions, and its café bar is a comfortable place for a drink on your own. It isn't a club, but lots of Exeter's groups meet here, so it's worth getting to know.
Social dining
Dinners With Friends
This is us, so read it as one option rather than a recommendation. Dinners With Friends runs hosted dinners at Exeter restaurants for small groups of people who haven't met before, and most guests are over 30. You can see the venue before you book, a host handles the introductions, and you pay the restaurant for your own food and drink. It suits people who find conversation easier across a table than across a crowded room. See how it works or browse the upcoming events.
Pub quizzes and games nights
If you want the lowest-pressure option, a weekly pub quiz is hard to beat. You get the regular, low-stakes contact that friendships need. The Old Firehouse on New North Road runs a regular weekly quiz, and The Imperial nearby has hosted quiz nights too, but nights change, so check before you go. Our pub quiz guide lists quizzes by night. At board game cafés like Board on South Street, the game gives you something to talk about. There's more in our board game cafés guide.
No quiz team? Ask the quizmaster if a team needs an extra player. Plenty of pubs are happy to pair up solo players, and it's one of the fastest ways to become a regular somewhere.
What to expect at your first meetup
Most groups here have an organiser or walk leader who looks out for new faces, so tell them it's your first time. Meetup socials usually happen in the corner of a pub or café, and people drift between conversations. Walks start at a set meeting point and leave on time. Expect the first one to feel a bit awkward, and plan to go back at least twice before you decide. Our guide to making friends at events where you don't know anyone has practical openers.
Meetup groups can change their names, go private or move their event pages without notice. That happened with at least one group in this guide this year. Always check the group's own page for the next date before you set off.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
- Where can I meet people in Exeter?
- The most reliable places are regular social groups: Exeter Socials and Socials in Exeter on Meetup, walking clubs such as Devon Bootlegs, Exeter Rambling Club and Exeter and District Ramblers, and recurring nights like the Exeter Raw Writing Meetup or a weekly pub quiz. Choose one that meets at least monthly and go back more than once.
- How do adults make friends in Exeter?
- Mostly by turning up to the same thing repeatedly. Choose a group with a fixed rhythm, such as a monthly social, a Sunday walk or a weekly quiz, and commit to three visits. Groups with a shared activity, like walking, writing or dining, take the pressure off the conversation.
- Are there social clubs in Exeter for over-40s?
- Yes. Exeter Socials, Socials in Exeter and the Exeter Rambling Club are open to all ages, and Devon Bootlegs describes itself as a 20s to 50s walking group. For over-50s, Zest Singles runs suppers, walks and 50-65 speed dating, and Exeter IVC is a member-run club that says it particularly suits the over-50s.
- What should I expect at my first meetup?
- Usually a small, informal group in a pub, café or at a walk meeting point, with an organiser who will introduce you if you say it is your first time. It is normal to go alone. Expect the first visit to feel slightly awkward and plan to return at least twice before judging the group.
- What are the best social clubs in Exeter for people in their 20s and 30s?
- ESCA – Exeter and South Coast Adventures (20-40s) is the strongest option, with active sports, outdoor days and weekends away. It is a private Meetup group, so you need to request to join. Devon Bootlegs also welcomes walkers from their 20s upwards.
- How do I find social clubs near me in Exeter?
- Start with the index in this guide, which sorts Exeter social clubs by age and interest. Pick one that meets at least monthly, check its own website or Meetup page for the next date, and go along on your own. Most organisers look out for newcomers.
The hardest part is showing up
Every group on this list welcomes newcomers, and every one of them has had someone walk in alone, a bit nervous, and leave wondering why they didn't come sooner. If time is what's holding you back, here are ways to make friends when your diary is rammed. Choose one group, put the next date in your calendar and go.
No date that suits?
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