Woman went on a solo art and wine date. The unexpected turn it took is straight out of a romcom.

Life has a way of surprising those who put themselves out there—especially when it comes to finding love. For London-based content creator Jess Hackett (@jhhackett on TikTok), an ordinary solo date turned into an unexpected lesson in romance. The 31-year-old art lover never anticipated meeting someone at a bar, but a chance encounter with a “tall and handsome man” made her rethink the spontaneity of connection.

In a TikTok slideshow, Hackett shared how her solo trip to a gallery turned into an unforgettable experience. “I was taking myself out for a solo date to the National Gallery because it’s free (in this economy), and money always makes me feel romantic,” she humorously shared through the overlaid text. One of the pictures showed the content creator, originally from Australia, holding the camera to record herself while on an escalator. An ordinary happy moment turned special when her casual solo outing led to an unexpected encounter with her potential date—something she claimed was not on her “bingo card.”

“How my solo date led to me giving my number to a very tall, very handsome French guy!” Hackett added in the text overlay. Furthermore, the woman, who took herself out for an afternoon of art and wine, connected with the stranger in West London’s busy Soho area. Following a visit to the gallery, the art lover spotted a roadside bar and decided to go inside. Emphasizing how the bar looked “perfect for a glass of vino and some reading,” she recalled, “So, I sit down, order a wine, and start my book. When the guys next to me go to leave, I lock eyes with 'Mr. Very Tall and Handsome.'”

Encouraged by a waitress’s subtle nod, Hackett took a bold step. “So, I stroll outside, approach casually, his smile makes me weak at the knees, we introduce ourselves, and I offer him my number, as he’s on his way to the gallery himself. He kisses me on each cheek and wanders off into the evening!” Hackett elaborated further. The woman’s bold move won her applause from those inside the bar. Describing it as a “gorgeous moment” of connection, she later told Newsweek, “Making friends in your 30s is truly a hurdle. I freelance for work, so it can be lonely already, and it means I need to seek out connection.”

Hackett never heard from her mystery man, but she still viewed the encounter as a win. “It was a beautiful reminder that life is so fun and spontaneous! Sure, if he had said no, the rejection would sting a bit, but it's really empowering to approach regardless! And even if we don’t get to connect, we'll blame it on the fact that I didn't put the UK international phone code in front of my number,” she jokingly concluded via the text overlay on the slideshow, which amassed over 165,000 views. Among the countless reactions, @chrisjames98 lauded, “You’re bringing back real-world connections.” “Hoping the algorithm brings me back to a love story,” @hollyemma22 wrote.

You can view the slideshow here. 

You can follow Jess Hackett (@jhhackett) on TikTok for more dating-related and lifestyle content.