Paying for a seat at the social table

Curated supper clubs, themed gatherings emerge as popular social spaces in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD:

‘Islamabadies may act like they are good on their own, and they may not show it, but I know deep down, they just want to connect and meet people,’ said Laiba Iqbal as she cleared away scones and pastries left over from the grand feast she hosted as part of a Harry Potter-themed tea party.

Set in a manor-style farmhouse in Orchard Scheme, Islamabad, the tea was attended by around 50 people, some of whom had travelled for hours from nearby cities to join the gathering of Potterheads (fans of Harry Potter), while others accompanied their partners and children. However, most attendees showed up on their own, hoping to make friends over a shared interest.

While many guests appreciated the immersive experience of the event’s magical atmosphere crafted from nostalgic references to the popular media franchise, most of them said their main motivation to join the party was to get out and meet like-minded people – one they were willing to pay Rs7,000 per head for.

In recent years, themed events and creative hangouts have risen in popularity as people look for recreational activities beyond going out for a meal. People are willing to spend anywhere from Rs3,000 to Rs10,000 on paint-and-sip activities at a café or a one-time workshop on upscaling discarded furniture for a weekend outing. However, it appears the price point for such events can be raised further if they cater to the rising number of people yearning for real-life socialising in an age of digital fatigue.

‘I like how everyone here is so communicative and willing to participate,’ said Eesha, who had dressed up according to her Hogwarts house colours and brought along merch to show to other fans. ‘I also really like the themed decor,’ she added, pointing to the candles and witch hats hanging from the ceiling. ‘I would definitely come to more events, even though this was kind of expensive, and I would have to save up.’

Another attendee, Yousra, who despite not being a major fan herself, had accompanied her husband and enjoyed the party as a ‘different-than-usual’ outing. ‘I like the community aspect of the event. I especially like how I can socialise here, but selectively,’ she said

Sure enough, the price of an invite to the tea party did not only account for the venue, food, décor, props and staff, but also ensured the gathering remained exclusive and intimate. ‘Guests at our events tell us that they like the prices we have set because they prefer an exclusive experience,’ said host and founder of Courtyard Camp, Laiba, as she shared the feedback she received on the most high-end event she has organised to date: a steak dinner for 25 business executives and creatives on the top floor of a high-rise hotel, where each seat cost them Rs15,000.

‘Our aim is to try and revive the communal spirit and get people to connect,’ said Laiba. She shared that one of her guests found a business partner who invested around Rs30 million in his venture at one of her dinners. ‘Many of our guests have made friends who they continue to hang out with and even come to these dinners with again and again. I know of one guest who especially comes with the hope of finding a partner,’ she explained laughingly.

To aid communication and get people socialising, the dinners are shaped around communal traditions such as sitting at one long table, passing and sharing dishes of food, using prompts provided by the host to keep the conversation flowing, playing truth-or-dare by the pool and more. ‘I have not experienced a community event like this since my first year at university,’ expressed one guest at the tea party.

Laiba, together with her partner Maaz, recognised that people in Islamabad, particularly middle- to high-income earners, are looking for curated experiences and personalised spaces where they can express themselves. So, they came up with the idea of Islamabad’s very own supper club.

They first began hosting themed dinners at Laiba’s own house, shifting to more elaborate settings once interest grew. So far, she has hosted over ten dinners, including pizza and pasta-making parties, a Valentine’s dinner and an all-girl’s Iftar. Each of the dinners has been a full house, with more people expressing interest than the intimate gatherings’ capacity can allow.

Meanwhile, other similar communities and events continue to pop up on social media, their popularity indicating that demand for novel social experiences where people can find opportunities to interact with strangers in the same socio-economic bracket remains high.