When organizers in Redditch set up what was meant to be the UK’s very first “Karen Convention,” they probably imagined a room full of people ready to live up to the internet’s favorite stereotype.
Instead, the grand launch ended in anticlimax—only one person showed up, and her name wasn’t even Karen.
The Meme Behind the Madness
For anyone who hasn’t spent much time online, the term “Karen” has become shorthand for a certain type of person: usually middle-aged, often self-righteous, someone who complains loudly, demands to “speak to the manager,” and tells others how to do their jobs.
The meme spread widely on Reddit before making its way into everyday conversation and even pop culture.
Only Susan Turned Up
The inaugural Karen Convention was held at the Black Tap pub in Redditch, West Midlands, on August 29.
But instead of Karens filling the seats, the only participant was 44-year-old Susan Rooms, the pub’s landlord.
Joking about the irony, Susan quipped, “If I could, I’d ask to talk to the manager—but I can’t, because I am the manager!”
The Man Behind the Idea
The quirky event was the brainchild of Kevin Beresford, a man known for celebrating Britain’s “dullest” aspects of life through his unusual calendars.
Kevin has previously produced calendars dedicated to roundabouts, benches, rubbish tips, and even Manchester City footballer Jack Grealish’s calves.
In fact, his roundabout calendar back in 2003 sold a staggering 100,000 copies worldwide.
A Karen Calendar
Kevin staged the Karen Convention after photographing 12 women named Karen—or who embodied the meme’s spirit—for his 2026 calendar.
He even went so far as to create bar mats and badges for the launch, hoping it would become a fun gathering.
Instead, the event played out like a real-life meme.
As Kevin wryly put it, “It’s actually pretty typical Karen behavior not to turn up to an event held in your honor.”
A Second Karen Who Refused to Join
Adding to the comedy, another Karen from the calendar did arrive later—but she refused to step inside the pub because she was teetotal.
For Kevin, it was the perfect twist: “You actually couldn’t make it up.
I photographed 12 Karens, both in name and personality, and yet only Susan showed.”
Not Giving Up
Despite the flop, Kevin isn’t discouraged. In fact, he’s already thinking about hosting another Karen Convention, joking that next time he might need to bus the attendees in just to guarantee they show up.
From Roundabouts to Scooters
Kevin, who proudly calls himself part of the “Dull Men’s Club,” continues to find inspiration in life’s most mundane details.
His 2025 calendar, for example, focused on mobility scooter riders—a concept he came up with while holidaying in Benidorm.
For him, these niche calendars aren’t about big profits but about capturing slices of ordinary English life.
A Self-Proclaimed Dull Artist
Speaking previously, Kevin compared his quirky artistic approach to more traditional painters, saying that artists have always celebrated the everyday. “Van Gogh painted his pipe on a chair.
I paint roundabouts, scooters, and Karens,” he explained. “I am the dullest man in Britain.”