The Dull Men’s Club. You might have already heard of it—or perhaps you’ve caught James May’s TV special, James May and the Dull Men’s Club. But if this is your first encounter with the wonderfully uneventful world of the Dull Men, don’t worry—we’ll break it down for you. Whether you’re considering membership or just a little curious, you’re in for a surprisingly charming ride.
The Dull Men’s Club is a quirky, light-hearted organisation celebrating the ordinary, the everyday, and the delightfully mundane. It originally started in the UK and has since gained international attention. Their motto is something along the lines of “celebrating the ordinary” or “boring is best.”
The club is known for its appreciation of things like:
- Watching paint dry (literally—there was once a “watching paint dry” champion)
- Collecting traffic cones, milk bottles, or barcodes
- Enjoying slow-paced hobbies like trainspotting or photographing post boxes
Have a look at the clip of James May explaining what it is;
They publish an annual Dull Men’s Club Calendar, which highlights men (and sometimes women) from around the world who are passionate about niche, and often overlooked, interests. It’s all done with a wink and a sense of gentle humour—never mocking, but genuinely appreciating the joy people find in the simple things.
Finding joy in the ordinary
So why does this club strike such a chord?
For many of us—especially as we get older—there’s something appealing about slowing down and enjoying the small pleasures. The Dull Men’s Club doesn’t chase thrills or glamour. Instead, it celebrates people who are content, curious, and wonderfully eccentric in their own quiet way.
It’s a kind of gentle rebellion. In a world obsessed with bucket lists and viral videos, there’s something rather comforting about someone who finds deep satisfaction in photographing roundabouts or compiling a personal catalogue of milk bottle tops.
The humour is part of the charm, of course. The club doesn’t take itself too seriously. Its members revel in their so-called “boring” hobbies—not because they want attention, but because they genuinely enjoy them. They’re doing what makes them happy, even if others don’t quite understand it.
In fact, the Dull Men’s Club gently flips the idea of what makes something interesting. If someone can talk passionately for half an hour about screw threads or escalator handrails, doesn’t that make them… fascinating?
A celebration of contentment
The club’s ethos resonates in a deeper way, too. It reminds us happiness doesn’t always come from big adventures or grand achievements. Sometimes it’s found in the rhythm of a familiar train route, the shine of a well-polished letterbox, or the perfect alphabetical arrangement of your spice rack.
There’s also a lovely message here about identity. The Dull Men’s Club shows us you don’t need to reinvent yourself to stay interesting. You can just keep doing the things you’ve always loved—no matter how niche or unusual they may seem to others.
A natural fit for Kiwis?
We reckon the Dull Men’s Club feels right at home in New Zealand. After all, we’ve got plenty of quietly quirky folk—garden gnome collectors, fence decorators, amateur meteorologists, and people who know every twist and turn on State Highway 1.
There’s something very Kiwi about being humble, un-flashy, and deeply committed to the things you care about. You don’t need to be flashy to be interesting. In fact, being a bit “dull” might just be the new cool.
Are you delightfully dull?
Do you—or someone you know—have a wonderfully ordinary hobby? Do you find peace in alphabetising your pantry or documenting streetlamps? If so, you might just be a perfect candidate for the Dull Men’s Club.
We’d love to hear about your delightfully dull passion. Share your quiet obsession in the comments—bonus points if it involves stationery, maps, or a fondness for filing systems. Alternatively, we have started a new forum if you would like to discuss your endearingly boring interest with like-minded GrownUps members!