A new London-based community is bringing dentists together for good food, meaningful conversation, professional networking and CPD.
The aim is to create a welcoming and informal environment where titles matter less and people have the opportunity to talk honestly with colleagues who understand the same professional challenges, successes and pressures. There is no black tie, head table or formal ceremony. Instead, the focus is on bringing people together around the dinner table.
Some of the best conversations in dentistry often happen after the formal programme has finished. Away from the lecture theatre, slides and schedules, there is time to talk openly about the pressures, opportunities and realities of professional life.
That is the thinking behind the launch of the Dental Dining Club, a new professional community founded by Specialist Orthodontist, Claire Nightingale.
The format is deliberately different from a traditional conference or formal professional event. Members arrive for a drink before sharing a three-course dinner, hearing from a guest speaker and continuing the conversation around the table.
A carefully considered seating plan will encourage guests to meet people beyond their usual professional circle, creating opportunities for new friendships, networking, collaboration, referrals and the exchange of ideas.
Founder Claire Nightingale said:
“Dentistry can be a lonely, intense business. We work for hours within four surgery walls with a tiny team, experiencing intense highs and lows throughout the day. I have a great sense of wanting to belong to a community and the pandemic taught us that in-person social contact is really important for our mental wellbeing.
I’ve created the Dental Dining Club so that dentists can meet fellow professionals who experience the same daily challenges, to enjoy a relaxed evening with a good meal, culminating in an hour of CPD. I hope that friendships will grow and participants will benefit from networking within a wider community.”
The Dental Dining Club will host seven evenings throughout its autumn, winter and spring programme, followed by a summer party. There is a 50% discount on membership until the end of September.
The inaugural event will take place on Thursday 8 October 2026 at The Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington, London, with Chris Barrow presenting a session entitled “Making Independent Practice Win: How to Beat the Corporates and the Competition in Your Postcode.”
To find out more about the Dental Dining Club, view the forthcoming programme and to become a member, visit https://dentaldiningclub.co.uk/
