About us
Debating is decision making. Or rather, debate is the rational process with which to make a decision. Whether in a business, organisation or in your personal life, weighing up the pros and cons, then laying out why certain values need to be prioritised, are the elements that make up a reasoned decision-making process, and that is indeed what debate is all about.
Being part of a debate club or debate society like 104 London Debaters enables you to learn the skills to thrive in a debate or discussion, whether it is for a project or idea at work or making important life decisions. Debating also teaches you to identify fallacies, both in others' thinking as well as your own, and to root it out.
104 London Debaters is part of Toastmasters International, an international network of public speaking clubs, so at our debate club, not only will you increase your debating skills, you will also learn how to improve as a public speaker.
You will improve your ability to get your message across clearly and confidently in all situations like a job interview, a presentation or a board meeting, and you will meet lots of interesting and friendly people and have fun debating both serious and frivolous topics.
You don't need to be a Toastmaster already to join 104 London Debaters of course, but many who have done the basic courses that Toastmasters offer, come to us for a new or additional challenge.
The first part of the debate meeting usually consist of improvised mini-debates, or Table Topic debates, as we call them, where you get a couple of minutes to defend or oppose a given motion. Table Topics are followed by a prepared debate, where two teams debate on the main motion of the evening, one team being the Proposition and the other the Opposition. The audience get to vote before and after the debate.
Interested? Join this group to stay informed about our meetings. Attending as a guest is totally free, but by joining you get full access to participate in debates, as well as access to mentoring, coaching, feedback, support, free workshops and social events with the club, it it's only £5 per meeting! Apply HERE for membership.
Take a look at the website for more information and for the club blog and podcast.
Upcoming events
2
Debate: THW Defund the BBC
The Windsor Castle, 23 Francis Street, Victoria, London, GBShould we ban commercial horse racing?
Supporters of a ban argue that commercial horse racing harms animal welfare, as horses are pushed to physical limits for profit and entertainment. They believe that, regardless of regulation, the risks of injury and exploitation remain too high for a modern, ethical society.Opponents argue that the sport supports jobs, tradition, and the economy, and that many horses receive high-quality care. They suggest stricter regulations, rather than a ban, would better protect welfare while preserving the industry.
Where do you stand on this debate?
YOU decide!
Join us on 14 April 2026 at the Windsor Castle pub for drinks and discussion as we debate the motion: This House Would Ban Commercial Horse Racing
First half: Improvised mini-debates – all are welcome to speak.
Second half: Prepared speeches, followed by floor contributions – an opportunity to share your views.During the first half of the meeting, there will be an improvised mini-debate session, where anyone may get called to defend or oppose a motion in 2 minutes (voluntarily, of course).
During the main debate, 3 debaters will propose the motion, 3 debaters will oppose it, and YOU may give your opinion during Floor Contributions.
The meeting will be held on the first floor of the Windsor Castle pub in Victoria, a beautiful Victorian pub with great food, drinks prices. Make sure to give the code word: Debate Club!
2 attendees
Debate: THW Defund the BBC
The Windsor Castle, 23 Francis Street, Victoria, London, GBShould we halt AI development?
As written by AI
Supporters of halting AI development argue that we are recklessly building systems we barely understand, let alone control. They claim Big Tech is effectively running a live experiment on society, gambling with jobs, truth, and even human autonomy, so hitting pause is not caution, but common sense.Opponents fire back that calls to halt AI are alarmist and short-sighted, risking economic stagnation and surrendering global leadership to less cautious nations. They argue that stopping progress won’t stop the technology; it will simply drive it underground or abroad, making the risks even harder to control.
Where do you stand on this debate?
YOU decide!
Join us on 28 April 2026 at the Windsor Castle pub for drinks and discussion as we debate the motion: This House Would Halt AI DevelopmentFirst half: Improvised mini-debates – all are welcome to speak.
Second half: Prepared speeches, followed by floor contributions – an opportunity to share your views.During the first half of the meeting, there will be an improvised mini-debate session, where anyone may get called to defend or oppose a motion in 2 minutes (voluntarily, of course).
During the main debate, 3 debaters will propose the motion, 3 debaters will oppose it, and YOU may give your opinion during Floor Contributions.
The meeting will be held on the first floor of the Windsor Castle pub in Victoria, a beautiful Victorian pub with great food, drinks prices. Make sure to give the code word: Debate Club!
2 attendees
Past events
164
