Meet The Derby Restaurant Playing Cupid This November
Published On Tuesday 11 Nov 2025 by Sticky Beak
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Romance is on the menu at one of Derby’s most stylish restaurants, where a Breeze partnership is transforming weekends into First Dates moments.
Nicco Restaurant & Bar, on Pride Park, has become an official venue for Breeze, a fast-growing dating app that 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, whether that’s a pint, soft drink or glass of house wine, 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 per cent of those daters extending their evening to enjoy dinner or extra drinks together.
Co-owner Bhav Kumar said: “We’ve loved watching the romance unfold! 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.
"We are wondering if a Nicco proposal may be on the cards for the future- who knows!"
Nicco’s friendly 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 added: “We wanted Nicco to be a place where people feel comfortable, whether it’s their first date or their fiftieth. 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!”
Following the early success of the partnership, the team now hopes to work with Breeze on hosting future dating events in Derby, helping even more singles find their perfect match in person.
Breeze says its model is simple – once people match, they skip the endless messaging and the app arranges the first date at a partner venue. Users are screened and committed (both pay in advance), and ghosting is discouraged. The app says 75.4 per cent of participants swap numbers after their date, and they report an average date rating of 4.5 out of 5 – and even ‘five babies (that we know of).’
Located on Pride Park, Nicco Restaurant and Bar serve a modern Indian-fusion menu and vibrant cocktails in a contemporary setting. Since opening in 2021, it’s become one of Derby’s most popular spots for celebrations, date nights and group dining.
For more information or to book a table, visit www.niccorestaurant.com.
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