UK & Europe Cultural Commentators & Strategists - Niche Hobby Revival

I’m currently working on a case study about Pieces Chess Club, a Lisbon-born social chess club that has expanded across European cities including London, Berlin, Vienna and Oslo, combining casual chess with DJs, dancing and fundraising. I’d love to speak to cultural commentators, analysts, journalists and strategists who can help me explore some of the wider shifts it taps into. I’m particularly interested in the revival of niche hobbies as social experiences; the desire for offline, screen-free connection; the appeal of activities that remove some of the pressure of socialising; the move away from optimisation and constant self-improvement; and the way games, crafts and other shared activities can act as social glue between strangers. The conversation doesn’t need to be specifically about chess. I’m interested in what these new social formats tell us about how people, particularly younger adults in the UK and Europe, want to spend time together. I’m hoping to speak to people as soon as possible, ideally this week or at the beginning of next week. If this is something you research, write about or have thoughts on, please get in touch. #CulturalTrends #YouthCulture #SocialConnection #DigitalDetox #OfflineCulture #ThirdSpaces #ExperienceEconomy #Chess #Community