Let’s Have a Board Night
Cost. Time. Distance. Health. With many barriers in the way of the Big Nights Out of years gone by, Lucy Singer takes us to a uniquely Gen-Z social gathering.
It seems that staying in is back in style. Gen-Z are known for many things: political correctness, being influencers, loving matcha, and loving AI even more. Whilst these traits are often sneered at by our elders, there lies another trend amongst young people that is beginning to attract a different kind of criticism: they are not going out. The Guardian recently published an article detailing how Britain’s nightlife culture is experiencing serious challenges, because young people simply aren’t interested in drinking and clubbing culture as much as they used to be. There are multiple explanations behind this, two frontrunners being that Gen-Z are a pretty health-conscious bunch, meaning excessive drinking is not ideal, and also that the rise in the cost of living makes a Big Night Out a rather stress-inducing indulgence. Either way, it’s clear that many people are no longer so dependent on alcohol and booming music to get their kicks.
Here enters one of the most popular alternatives to the Big Night Out, and a promising poster child of the Big Night In. Board nights. This new form of social gathering first appeared on the scene in 2021, popularised, shockingly enough, by TikTok. Essentially, the idea is that each member of a friendship group must prepare a board of food according to a certain theme, ranging from classics like a cheeseboard or fruit platter to more challenging ideas, such as boards themed by colour, or foods from famous films. Then, all the boards are brought together and enjoyed as a group, usually accompanied by a bit of TV or a board game. The idea is simple enough, and requires just enough effort to feel a nice sense of accomplishment, like the satisfaction of a childhood arts and crafts session, but not enough that it seems like more work than fun (disregarding the subsequent washing up, of course). Personally, the last board night I participated in was to celebrate the final of The Celebrity Traitors, and since my board was the ever-classy frozen food platter, my biggest challenge was to find the right letters in the potato alphabites to spell ‘The Traitors’ (‘Celebrity’ as well would have been pushing it). A board night need not be fancy, but it can be if you want it to be, and it’s a pretty cheap way to spruce up an evening on the sofa with friends. It’s a great alternative for those who aren’t keen on going to the pub, but themed cocktails have also become a very popular board night option, so it’s handy for someone who wants to enjoy their tipple for a lower price tag too. The board night perfectly synthesises just why Gen-Z is staying in more: we’ve come up with such fun and budget-friendly ideas to do at home, going out all the time can feel a little unnecessary.
But is this definitely a good thing? Sure, we’re saving ourselves money and potential liver damage, but is that not part of being young and free?
There is certainly an argument in that direction. As much as there are many people advocating for cosy nights in like the board night, there are equal numbers complaining that Gen-Z is becoming too boring, lamenting that no-one goes out anymore. Whilst most data agrees that this claim does have some truth to it, there is still no shortage of people who prefer a more lively weekend, and the clubs and pubs certainly aren’t going anywhere. If anything, it seems like there are now more options available for people on both ends of the stay-in–go-out spectrum. Before the advent of social media and its ability to give us endless ideas for what to do with our spare time, it could be pretty tricky to think of something interesting to do with a night in. Now, there is an almost overwhelming amount of options out there, meaning that even a quiet night can have some flair to it. And of course, doing a board night or similar event doesn’t mean that you cannot also have a crazy night out whenever you fancy. It just proves that we are getting a bit more creative with our time indoors, and that’s nothing to be sniffed at.
Given that few of us have escaped the effects of the increase in the cost of living, from rises in food products to energy prices, it’s no surprise that many are edging away from excursions that leave a sizable hole in their pockets. Even discounting going to bars and clubs, which can easily cost over a hundred pounds each time, non-drinking activities such as mini-golf or bowling have also upped their rates. Even the most indulgent board night can cost less than a cinema trip for two, and you get the added freedom of choosing exactly what food you eat, and what film you watch. In this sense, rather than simply bemoaning how it’s too expensive to have fun nowadays, clever young minds are finding loopholes, creating their own, new ways to have a good night.
The board night originated from TikTok, and it still thrives there, with many participants filming their boards and posting them online, where viewers often comment on which board they think is the best. Whilst potentially ‘performative’, and a symptom of our attention-seeking culture, it’s okay to admit that making TikToks can be fun too. If it brings people together and encourages them to put effort into their social events, this could even be rare evidence of the wholesome side of social media.
Even if the person is not conscious of it whilst they are preparing their board, in doing so they are demonstrating a willingness to put in work for their friendships. We are not just ordering a takeaway or letting someone else cook for us at a restaurant, we are choosing to take on a task with the sole intention of making an evening with our friends a little bit nicer. This demonstrates a level of commitment and respect for one another, where we are willing to sacrifice our time and energy in order to make something for our collective enjoyment. This, I believe, is at the crux of the success of the board night. It shows that we care. People often talk about putting consistent effort into romantic relationships, arranging date nights and weekends away to make sure that the spark stays alive, yet friendships rarely receive the same attention, despite them being equally important for our mental health and social satisfaction. Just like it is crucial to show your partner that you care, your friends deserve to see that effort as well. And when that effort can potentially be purchased in a 10-for-£10 deal from Iceland, it’s really not a lot to ask.
After a wave of popularity in 2021 and 2022, like most viral trends, the board night has petered out a little over the last couple years. It was probably first bolstered by coronavirus’s restriction on our ability to go out, meaning people were thinking of more creative ways to stay in, and has now been overshadowed by other similar trends, such as the PowerPoint night (each person prepares a PowerPoint of updates on their life). Even still, the board night quietly lives on in many a friendship group, as an admirable example of our ability to find the fun in simplicity. It is also worth noting that the board night is far more popular amongst women than men, which perhaps suggests that women like to be a bit more inventive with their hangouts, or that male friendships are just a more low-effort affair. Or both.
In the end, by virtue of our own ingenuity, or more accurately put, the ingenuity of people we follow on social media, staying in has become its own art form. It is no longer limited to sticking something on TV and calling it a night, but rather offers a long list of options to choose from, with the board night as one of its proudest contenders. Some people may find the board night boring, but I think resourceful is a far better word for it. It’s taking things we have and making them into something better, something we can enjoy as a group. And, importantly, it’s fun. Besides, when you get into bed with a full stomach after a relaxing evening with your friends, ‘boring’ doesn’t sound so bad after all. And of course, you can always deal with that washing up tomorrow. ⚭
Lucy SingerMore 2G4
