Attraction, Intimacy & Cuffing Season

Cuffing season is upon us. So naturally, everyone's looking for someone to cozy up with. But what's actually happening when we feel that pull toward someone? What makes attraction tick? And why do we get lost in those eyes?

Let’s talk about it! Three experts. Real science. Real interesting.

Welcome to Drinks + Thinks! Join us for an evening where we explore the biology of attraction and the science of pleasure over drinks and good company.

Whether you're actively cuffing, happily uncuffed, or just curious about what makes humans tick, this one's for you. Bring your questions, your curiosity, and your sense of humor.

Come for the science. Stay for the vibes. Leave with some answers and a friend or two (and maybe some alt perspective on your dating life).

Experts and topics we'll cover: 

Cuffing Season: Biology, Culture, or Are We All Just Cold?
Cuffing season: that autumnal urge to pair up. Is it just a modern dating trend, or something deeper? We'll explore whether this seasonal shift toward commitment is driven by evolutionary biology (shorter days, conserving warmth), cultural conditioning (holiday expectations, New Year's fresh starts), or the way loneliness and connection show up differently when the world goes dark and cold.

Dr Amani Zarroug is one of the few UK practitioners qualified as both a clinical psychologist and relationship and psychosexual therapist, with over 20 years of experience. She specializes in mental health and couples work, integrating evidence-based approaches including CBT, psychodynamic therapy, and sensate focus therapy. Committed to inclusion and equality, Dr. Zarroug creates a warm, collaborative space where clients feel safe to work toward meaningful change in their lives and relationships.

Fun fact:
Amani has an American accent but has never lived in America

What’s So Attractive About Eyes?
The eyes have it all. Across cultures and centuries, they remain the most magnetic feature of the human face. But why? 

We'll explore why eyes are so visually compelling (they're emotionally expressive and signal physical health and youth), and what specific features drive attraction: size, color, brightness, pupils, irises, limbal rings, and sclerae. Here's the twist: many popular beliefs about eyes are scientifically false (brightness, NOT color, is most attractive), while proven facts remain surprisingly unknown (smaller pupils are more attractive than larger pupils). Prepare to see attraction through a whole new lens.

Zachary Estes is Professor of Marketing, Director of Research for the Faculty of Management, and Co-Director of the Behavioural Research Lab at Bayes Business School, City University of London. He has a PhD in Psychology from Princeton University, and was a Psychology professor for 10 years before switching over to the dark side (i.e., Marketing). His research is at the interface of cognition, emotion, and consumer behavior, investigating how consumers’ thoughts and feelings affect their decisions and experiences.

Fun fact: I once ran a marathon just to show that running a marathon isn’t a big deal.

Common Sex and Relationship Struggles
We will venture into Lucy Franks' Therapy Room (figuratively) to understand the five most common sex and relationship struggles that show up - and what to do about them. These range from Mismatched Desire to Emotional Avoidance & Communication Breakdown. We will learn what is the psychology behind them and what techniques can be used to work on these areas. Some of these may touch on your current relationship or be a trend you are seeing in your dating life, so come find out how best to address them!

Lucy Frank is a COSRT-registered psychosexual and relationship therapist with a Level 7 Postgraduate in Psychosexual and Relationship Therapy, as well as a background in Psychology. Lucy has extensive experience supporting individuals and couples through intimacy, sexual wellbeing, and relational challenges in London. She has also been the expert for many publications including Stylist, The Times, The Standard, Dazed, Men’s Health etc. She combines clinical expertise with a warm, approachable style, helping people explore connection, communication, and authentic sexual expression. She is passionate about normalising all things sex and relationships and has just started a podcast called ‘Sex Tells’.

Fun fact: Lucy cycled the entire coastline of Britain (for fun)!

Sex and Gender: What’s the Difference?
This informal talk, Sex and Gender: What’s the Difference?, explores the biological foundations of sex and gender development and how these contribute to the diversity of human identity and experience. Dr Vickie Pasterski will outline how biological factors such as genetics, hormones, and brain development interact with social and psychological influences to shape gendered identity. Emphasizing the complexity and multidimensional nature of gender, the talk will invite reflection on how individuals understand themselves as gendered beings and how this understanding influences intimate relationships and social interactions.

Dr Vickie Pasterski is a Gender Specialist with over 25 years of clinical and research experience. She earned her PhD in Behavioural Neuroendocrinology from City, University of London in 2002 and completed a further postdoctoral certificate in Gender Identity Assessment at the Psychoendocrine Clinic, Columbia University Medical Center. She has published widely in highly regarded scientific journals, including the Lancet and Nature Reviews Endocrinology. Vickie has been an active member of multidisciplinary gender networks across Europe and within the NHS, has served as an Affiliated Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Cambridge for more than 10 years, and currently sits as a Specialist for the Gender Recognition Panel, UK Ministry of Justice. Vickie is Clinical Director of the Harley Street Gender Clinic, where she sees approximately 800 patients per year.

Fun fact: Vickie once spent the best part of a year living completely alone in a 1000-year-old stone cottage in the Italian Alps.

🎟️ Respectfully, tickets are non-refundable and go towards organisational and facilitation costs. Please bear this in mind before purchasing. Thanks for understanding and for supporting our ability to provide cool gatherings.

​​🌟 If you need any special assistance to access the event please contact us and let us know.

🍻 Pub venue is mostly standing room. 

​​​📸 Please note we'll be capturing photos and videos throughout the event. These will become part of our digital collection and might be used in promo materials for future gatherings.