Update: I just wanted to thank everyone who chipped in to provide recommendations, words of comfort, and sheer distractions, in the comments or via DMs. I am genuinely moved by how caring and solicitous this community has been. Thank you everyone, you have brought me some much-needed lightheartedness and support.

Hi everyone!

I (40M) moved to Plymouth a couple of months ago to start an assistant professor role at the uni. It's been a distressingly lonesome experience thus far, socially and intellectually. I didn't know anyone prior to coming here and things haven't improved since. This hermit lifestyle, which I've already had to put up with through many years of expat work across Europe, is now taking a serious toll on my psyche, and therapy or the occasional WhatsApp catch-up with my few far-flung friends aren't cutting it.

I've always used the band-aid of dating apps in the past to assuage this gnawing sense of isolation, but this is currently not an option, since I am in a (struggling) long-distance relationship. Hence the question: how does one make friends around here? Is there any good friend-making app that people use or something to the same effect? I tried to log in the Discord server, but I'm completely naive about the platform and don't seem able to see any relevant posts about it.

Any tips and pointers are much appreciated!

Edit: following a user's sensible advice of adding a few more info about myself. See below.

• I'm a cognitive scientist interested in social cognition (worked with preverbal infants, adults, primates). Currently AP in Psychology at the University of Plymouth.
• Originally from Italy, but I've lived in several places (Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna) before coming here.
• I speak English and Italian but vastly prefer the former.
• Into nonfiction books (anything in evolutionary sciences is my jam), songwriting (played guitar and sang in a few avantdeath metal bands back in the days; ideally, would love to meet musicians looking for a singer), disquieting movies (A24 style), and gaming (big action-RPG and metroidvania fanboy).
• Besides the occasional gym, reading, and gaming, I don't have any hobbies. Love nature, but I never marshalled enough resolve to plan trips on my own.
• I have the alcohol tolerance of a small Asian boy, so not much a drinker. Hardly ever been in a pub. Non-smoker.