‘We’re all about dating wisely’

Tola-Doll Fisher (TDF): Why and how did you start your business? 

Hattie Webb (HW): I started it to help single Christians meet each other in a fun and informal way. It is still a side hustle alongside my full-time consultant job. I started it in February 2024, when I ran my first Christian singles night in London. I sold 45 tickets, and it was a huge success. That’s when I realised God was really doing something! That first singles night was called ‘Christian Singles Night’ because I couldn’t think of anything else. When I promoted the event on WhatsApp I said (without much thought): “Don’t miss out, it’ll be a hoot!” And it stuck! Owls are known for being wise and we’re all about dating wisely so I guess that’s a happy link. And I like that it’s fun. Dating should be fun and enjoyable.

TDF: Tell us about the industry you’re working in and why you felt your business could add to that. 

HW: It’s interesting because Hoot Singles is completely different to my full-time role in sustainability consulting. (I have a degree in global sustainable development and theatre and performance studies.) But I love the variety that having a side hustle brings (despite the constant juggling). I noticed a gap at church and more widely in the Christian world for singles nights as well as sound dating advice and community. Hoot Singles started off as events, but I’ve had a vision from the start that it will be something much bigger. 

TDF: What skillsets prepared you to do well? 

HW: My strength is communication, which is key when trying to sell tickets and persuade people that coming to your events or reading your dating guide is a good idea. I didn’t have any experience in this industry prior to starting (apart from running events for friends), so I had to be clear and engaging to encourage people to get involved. My consultancy role is all about communication so that has prepared me very well!

TDF: Did you have any experience in business previously – or any close examples from family/friends who own businesses? 

HW: My dad has always had his own business so you might say I have entrepreneurial DNA. I’ve always known that I will have my own business one day. Throughout my life I’ve always had a project on the go – whether it’s a sustainability Instagram account or running events for friends/family. I’m not naturally very arty or crafty, so I guess this is my creative outlet.

TDF: What lessons have you been learning along the way?

HW: The mistakes and lessons are endless! In February 2025 I tried to put on my fifth London event (after selling out of the previous ones), but I had to cancel it because I didn’t sell enough tickets. Finance isn’t my strong point, and I had to increase the ticket prices each time to ensure I wasn’t running at a loss. This made it harder for people to buy tickets. It’s always easy to look back and think how you could have planned it better. 

TDF: How is this industry changing and how does Hoot fit into that?  

HW: The dating world is constantly changing. Whether it’s a new app, a new way of meeting people or new therapy language! But the direction of travel is towards in-person dating. There’s definitely a resistance to apps and online dating. I think people are getting exhausted by the ghosting and awkward messaging. People want to be able to connect with each other in person, just like our parents and grandparents did. 

TDF: What role does your faith play in your decision-making?  

HW: Hoot Singles is my main ministry, so my faith plays the biggest role in my decision-making. If God isn’t at the centre of it, then I might as well not be doing it. I’m going on a silent retreat weekend in a couple of weeks, and I think that will help me more than anything to prepare for what God’s got planned. It’s so easy to do things my way rather than God’s way, so I’m excited to have uninterrupted quiet time.

I think women are more up for meeting new people and being intentional about dating than men

TDF: Who inspires you? Do you have any business mentors?

HW: I wish I had a business mentor! I’ve never met her but Hannah Miller from ‘The Purpose Pursuit’ podcast inspires me so much. She shows such a rare combination of confidence and humility.

TDF: What advice would you give to anyone else wanting to start their own ‘thing’? 

HW: Probably an obvious thing to say, but just go for it! There’s always a reason not to do something, and often we end up waiting for a sign when God has already given us the free will to do incredible things for the kingdom. It’s also worth me saying that I started Hoot Singles with incredible friends – two amazing friends who helped me run the first event, and since then a host of incredible people from photographers to graphic designers. Make sure you have your support system! And don’t think too much about the ‘what ifs’. I was worried at the beginning that if I got into a relationship myself, I’d have to stop Hoot Singles. I’m now engaged (praise the Lord!) and still running Hoot Singles in a way that works for me in my current stage of life. 

TDF: Congratulations on your engagement! How did you meet your own fiancé? Was it through one of your events?!

HW: Yes, we met at my May 2024 singles night. We already knew of each other through Instagram and mutual friends but had never met in person before. It wasn’t my intention to meet my future husband at one of my events. Anyone who runs events knows there isn’t time to mingle or flirt when you’re ensuring everyone is OK and the event is running smoothly! But God made it happen.

TDF: Could you describe one of your proudest Hoot Singles moments? 

HW: Not only selling out my London singles night in May 2024 but having more men than women there! The biggest challenge by far with the singles nights is having an even split of men and women, as women outweigh men considerably in the Church. I put a lot of effort into marketing my events to appeal to men, so it felt like a big win. I asked my guy friends what they thought and would want in a singles night. Shout out to one of my amazing guy friends who put up with me sending different branding options! I made sure the branding wasn’t too feminine. I also structured the evening in a way my guy friends said they’d prefer. I originally wanted to do more of a sit-down/table-plan event, but interestingly most guys said they’d prefer a more laidback evening where they could talk to whoever they wanted. I then highlighted this in the event promotions. I also sold the tickets in a staggered way, so I only released more female tickets once I had even numbers. I guess all these things combined worked! The reality is this hasn’t always worked though; it’s constant learning. 

TDF: It’s an achievement to get more men than women at your events! Why do you think dating events seem to generally appeal more to women than men (and is this just a church ‘issue’)? 

HW: It’s definitely not just a church issue. If you look at any singles nights/events the female tickets always sell out long before the male. I think women are more up for meeting new people and being intentional about dating than men. Women are more open to being social and putting themselves out there. And maybe women are keener because they feel there’s more of a time pressure on finding their husband and starting a family. But I’ve been so encouraged by the incredible, courageous men who have come to my events – they’re out there, I promise!