For many young people, the dating game has been nothing but a thankless task of endless swiping and ghosting, with little hope of finding love.

But as dating apps fall out of favour, and a relationship recession looms, young singles have discovered a new way to revive the dating scene: talking up their pals to strangers.

“Date My Mate” events involve pitching a friend to a room of singles, and are gaining momentum across England and Wales.

The night unfolds like a reality TV dating show. Participants are welcomed with a free drink token and a sticker which brands them as a “date” or “mate”. The “mates” have a loosely enforced three-minute time slot to hype their single friend using a presentation projected on a screen.

From left: participants Louis Collin and Amy Cheyne with organisers James Tyler and Emily Churchill. Photograph: Christian Sinibaldi/The Guardian

“We’ve hit a cultural nerve,” said Emily Churchill, who hosts the event in London.…