MeAttend, a new London‑born app from entrepreneur Tyrone Reid, is pitching live video as a remedy for sagging footfall in the capital’s hospitality sector. According to the original report in South West Londoner, the platform streams real‑time footage from restaurants, bars and clubs so potential customers can judge atmosphere and availability for themselves rather than relying solely on reviews or static listings. Tech titles have framed the product as a novel entrant in events discovery and live‑streaming for hospitality, positioning it as both a consumer discovery tool and a possible new revenue channel for venues. [Reid is 38.]

At its simplest, MeAttend lets users press play and “visit” a venue online. The service is free to download, but the app charges users £3 for each live viewing while venues keep 60% of that fee; businesses are offered an initial four‑month free trial before a minimum service fee — reported to sit between £400 and £1,500 — is levied. TechRound’s profile of the start‑up and other coverage describe the dual proposition: customers avoid disappointing nights out and operators gain a targeted, trackable channel to showcase atmosphere, menus or special events. The company claims the viewing revenue will be ploughed back into premises, bolstering investment on high streets.

Reid has repeatedly framed MeAttend as a response to the practical frustrations of choosing where to go. “The purpose of the app is to create memories for people,” he told South West Londoner, adding that he was “very frustrated using Google and other websites” when trying to find up‑to‑date information on venues. Reid has also described his personal journey from sport into tech on a podcast interview, explaining that years of learning to code and building digital products fed into MeAttend’s multi‑year development. Such first‑person accounts help explain both the product’s shape and the founder’s ambition.

Early adopters named in local coverage include Soho’s Zebrano and Aces Brunch in Croydon, which reflects a common pattern for hospitality tech: small‑scale trials before wider roll‑out. Industry pieces and founder interviews describe the format as more than livestreaming — the app supports interactive content and real‑time updates that MeAttend says can function as an alternative to conventional marketing or third‑party listings. The Daily Brit and other outlets note Reid spent several years developing the platform and that the product is being marketed as a way for venues to monetise live content and attract last‑minute bookings. Editorially, these claims remain those of the company until adoption and independent measurement demonstrate a material uplift in visits or revenues.

The appetite for digital fixes is set against a hard‑edged industry backdrop. The Hospitality Market Monitor, produced by industry consultants and cited in national media, shows the independent hospitality sector remains markedly smaller than before the pandemic — about 15.9% down on March 2020 — with high inflation and rising costs continuing to squeeze margins. Analyst commentary in the Monitor and BBC reporting underline that while openings are occurring in some channels, the overall recovery is fragile and investment decisions are being made cautiously. Any technology that imposes fees or requires staff time to run streams must therefore demonstrate clear and rapid returns for cash‑strapped operators.

MeAttend’s founder is explicit about growth ambitions: beyond London, Reid has talked about expansion to Europe, Dubai and the US. TechRound and other start‑up roundups have welcomed the concept as timely and potentially useful for tourism and nightlife discovery, but observers also flag the practicalities — whether customers will regularly pay per viewing, how venues will resource live coverage, and whether the revenue split and subscription‑style fees are sustainable for small independents. The contrast between enthusiastic early adopters and the sober industry data illustrates both the opportunity and the risk.

MeAttend arrives at a moment when hospitality operators are experimenting with every channel to recover lost trade. The platform’s live‑stream proposition neatly answers a real consumer frustration — unpredictable ambience and availability — and the founder’s backstory and early press attention give the project credibility. That said, the claim that pay‑per‑view receipts will meaningfully restore high‑street investment should be treated cautiously: industry monitors show structural pressures remain. According to coverage in trade and local press, the sensible conclusion for venues is to treat MeAttend as a tool to be trialled alongside other approaches, and to measure whether it drives bookings and spend in practice rather than relying on the promise alone.

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Source: Noah Wire Services