Owen Cottan
12 December, 2024
News

Sick of 5-star duds? Sitch app launches in London, helping you find the vibe not just the venue

New app created by two Kings College post-graduates who were frustrated by five star venues that let them down

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Ever shown up to a 5-star rated restaurant only to find the atmosphere flatter than a week-old pint? We’ve all been there. 

Enter Sitch, the new app launching today to ditch generic ratings and put the vibe back into finding the perfect London spot. Imagine Pinterest's visual appeal, the customisability of Spotify playlists, and OpenTable's seamless booking, all rolled into one vibe-centric app.

Created by King’s College London postgrads Andrea De Vries and Owen Cottan, Sitch was born from their own frustrations navigating London’s buzzing hospitality scene. 

Tired of scrolling through outdated reviews that rarely capture the actual atmosphere and jumping between multiple apps to find a true vibe check, they decided to build a solution.

Sitch Founders, Owen Cottan (Left) and Andrea De Vries (Right) graduating from King’s College London where they met and came up with the app idea
Sitch Founders, Owen Cottan (Left) and Andrea De Vries (Right) graduating from King’s College London where they met and came up with the app idea Credit: Owen Cottan

Sitch lets you search for restaurants, bars, and cafes based on the vibe you’re craving. Date night? Artsy coffee shop? Lively pub? Sitch has you covered. Users can even search by occasion – from family lunches to game day – and save their favorite spots into shareable placelists.

But Sitch is more than just a search engine. It’s a community. Users rate venues based on their atmosphere, creating a dynamic, real-time pulse on what’s hot (and what’s not). Forget relying on outdated critic reviews – with Sitch, the people decide.

"Having moved from Oregon to London for my studies, I relied on local recommendations but often struggled to find places that clicked with me," says De Vries. 

"There’s nothing worse than being excited for a night out and being completely let down by the experience. Sitch is here to fix that."

Labelled as ‘Pinterest, Spotify, and Opentable rolled into one’, the app helps people find the trendiest venues around the city
Labelled as ‘Pinterest, Spotify, and Opentable rolled into one’, the app helps people find the trendiest venues around the city Credit: Sitch Ltd

Cottan adds: "The best recommendations always come from people we trust. Consumers are turning to TikTok and Instagram for real-time insights, but there’s no easy way to reserve seats at these venues from there. Sitch makes those recommendations actionable, putting the power back in the hands of the people."

Sitch also recognises the struggles faced by the hospitality industry post-pandemic. By connecting businesses with a community actively seeking new experiences, Sitch aims to boost discoverability and drive foot traffic to deserving venues.

So, what’s the sitch? Download Sitch now on the Apple App Store and discover your city by vibe, not just location.