Blind date

What happened when Nat Nakkas met Josh Blagden? Photograph: David Newby; Graham Turner, both for the Guardian

What were you hoping for?
Good food, flowing conversation and someone who would not slate me in a national paper.

First impressions?
When I?got to the restaurant, the waiter joked that the guy hadn't turned up, so I was relieved when Josh was at the bar. He seemed really laid-back and friendly.

What did you talk about?
Travel, sport, career aspirations and our aversion to technology.

Any awkward moments?
I?think the waiters may have had a bet on when our date would turn to disaster.

Good table manners?
I'd?say his matched up to mine pretty well.

Best thing about Josh?
He's a funny, genuine guy.

Would you introduce him to your friends?
Yes, if only to prove that someone else in the world doesn't love technology.

Could he meet the parents?
Bit early to start thinking about that.

Did you go on somewhere?
No.

And… did you kiss?
Nope.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
I would not have let so many embarrassing stories slip.

Marks out of 10?
Is this a?school test?

Would you meet again?
Yeah, why not?

What were you hoping for?
Someone I got along with.

First impressions?
Turns out we went to the same university, which was a?good ice-breaker.

What did you talk about?
Anything and everything: love of the outdoors, dogs, our mutual dislike of technology.

Any awkward moments?
No, apart from the fact we probably talked too much, because it took the waiter five attempts before we were ready to order.

Good table manners?
No?one spilled anything, although I came close to knocking over my wine.

Best thing about Nat?
She's very easy-going.

Would you introduce her to your friends?
Definitely.

Could she meet the parents?
I think they'd get on well.

Did you go on somewhere?
It was late, we were the last people in the restaurant, so we went to get the tube.

And… did you kiss?
No.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Nothing.

Marks out of 10?
9.

Would you meet again?
Yes, hopefully for a cycle ride some time.

‧ Josh and Nat ate at Almeida, London N1.

Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com

View the original article here

Blind date

What were you hoping for?
A pleasant evening and some great food.

First impressions?
Pretty, dressed great, confident.

What did you talk about?
All sorts. My car getting impounded that morning, going to South America, doing things out of our comfort zone, work, food.

Any awkward moments?
Not that I noticed.

Good table manners?
Yes. No loud, open-mouthed eating at our table.

Best thing about Lucia?
She was not only lovely but pretty as well.

Would you introduce her to your friends?
Yes, we spoke about maybe going to do something…

Could she meet the parents?
Hold your horses, we've only been for a meal.

Did you go on somewhere?
We were going to until we realised we'd chatted till midnight and missed our trains and tubes.

And… did you kiss?
Hello/goodbye on both cheeks.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
I?wouldn't have had the nightmare of a day that meant turning up in shorts?and sandals!

Marks out of 10?
Giving a?mark would ruin a great night. I enjoyed myself and hope she did, too. There's no number for that.

Would you meet again?
It?would be a shame not to.

What were you hoping for?
A scene from Before Sunrise.

First impressions?
Cheeky smile and great eyes.

What did you talk about?
Which cocktail to get next, his travels in India, north v south London, swimming.

Any awkward moments?
Deciding what to do with the chunk of bone marrow they put on my steak.

Good table manners?
Impeccable.

Best thing about Toby?
He's not afraid to get out there and do new things. Like random blind dates…

Would you introduce him to your friends?
Sure. We're considering a big karaoke session.

Could he meet the parents?
They'd get on, but it's not on the cards.

Did you go on somewhere?
No, but we stayed until midnight, chatting away.

And… did you kiss?
No.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
A dog to give that bone marrow to.

Marks out of 10?
8! I had a?great night.

Would you meet again?
As?friends. But he'd have to venture north of the river.

‧ Toby and Lucia ate at Bumpkin, London SW3.

Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com

Where like-minded people find great dates: soulmates.theguardian.com

View the original article here

Blind date

What were you hoping for?
A pleasant evening and some great food.

First impressions?
Pretty, dressed great, confident.

What did you talk about?
All sorts. My car getting impounded that morning, going to South America, doing things out of our comfort zone, work, food.

Any awkward moments?
Not that I noticed.

Good table manners?
Yes. No loud, open-mouthed eating at our table.

Best thing about Lucia?
She was not only lovely but pretty as well.

Would you introduce her to your friends?
Yes, we spoke about maybe going to do something…

Could she meet the parents?
Hold your horses, we've only been for a meal.

Did you go on somewhere?
We were going to until we realised we'd chatted till midnight and missed our trains and tubes.

And… did you kiss?
Hello/goodbye on both cheeks.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
I?wouldn't have had the nightmare of a day that meant turning up in shorts?and sandals!

Marks out of 10?
Giving a?mark would ruin a great night. I enjoyed myself and hope she did, too. There's no number for that.

Would you meet again?
It?would be a shame not to.

What were you hoping for?
A scene from Before Sunrise.

First impressions?
Cheeky smile and great eyes.

What did you talk about?
Which cocktail to get next, his travels in India, north v south London, swimming.

Any awkward moments?
Deciding what to do with the chunk of bone marrow they put on my steak.

Good table manners?
Impeccable.

Best thing about Toby?
He's not afraid to get out there and do new things. Like random blind dates…

Would you introduce him to your friends?
Sure. We're considering a big karaoke session.

Could he meet the parents?
They'd get on, but it's not on the cards.

Did you go on somewhere?
No, but we stayed until midnight, chatting away.

And… did you kiss?
No.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
A dog to give that bone marrow to.

Marks out of 10?
8! I had a?great night.

Would you meet again?
As?friends. But he'd have to venture north of the river.

‧ Toby and Lucia ate at Bumpkin, London SW3.

Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com

Where like-minded people find great dates: soulmates.theguardian.com

View the original article here

Blind date

What were you hoping for?
A pleasant evening and some great food.

First impressions?
Pretty, dressed great, confident.

What did you talk about?
All sorts. My car getting impounded that morning, going to South America, doing things out of our comfort zone, work, food.

Any awkward moments?
Not that I noticed.

Good table manners?
Yes. No loud, open-mouthed eating at our table.

Best thing about Lucia?
She was not only lovely but pretty as well.

Would you introduce her to your friends?
Yes, we spoke about maybe going to do something…

Could she meet the parents?
Hold your horses, we've only been for a meal.

Did you go on somewhere?
We were going to until we realised we'd chatted till midnight and missed our trains and tubes.

And… did you kiss?
Hello/goodbye on both cheeks.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
I?wouldn't have had the nightmare of a day that meant turning up in shorts?and sandals!

Marks out of 10?
Giving a?mark would ruin a great night. I enjoyed myself and hope she did, too. There's no number for that.

Would you meet again?
It?would be a shame not to.

What were you hoping for?
A scene from Before Sunrise.

First impressions?
Cheeky smile and great eyes.

What did you talk about?
Which cocktail to get next, his travels in India, north v south London, swimming.

Any awkward moments?
Deciding what to do with the chunk of bone marrow they put on my steak.

Good table manners?
Impeccable.

Best thing about Toby?
He's not afraid to get out there and do new things. Like random blind dates…

Would you introduce him to your friends?
Sure. We're considering a big karaoke session.

Could he meet the parents?
They'd get on, but it's not on the cards.

Did you go on somewhere?
No, but we stayed until midnight, chatting away.

And… did you kiss?
No.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
A dog to give that bone marrow to.

Marks out of 10?
8! I had a?great night.

Would you meet again?
As?friends. But he'd have to venture north of the river.

‧ Toby and Lucia ate at Bumpkin, London SW3.

Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com

Where like-minded people find great dates: soulmates.theguardian.com

View the original article here

Blind date

What happened when Michelle Brown dined with Graeme McGowan? Photograph: Martin Hunter for the Guardian

What were you hoping for?
To meet someone I?could have a laugh with. If all else failed, a nice meal. Oh, and not to get a?slagging in the Guardian.

First impressions?
Friendly and smiley. Attractive and well dressed.

What did you talk about?
Blind dates, work, music, among other things.

Any awkward moments?
No, the conversation flowed easily.

Good table manners?
Absolutely.

Best thing about Graeme?
He was great company.

Would you introduce him to your friends?
Yeah, sure.

Could he meet the parents?
Too early to say, but he seems a nice guy.

Did you go on somewhere?
We had a drink in the bar. It was a school night, though, so just the one.

And… did you kiss?
No, just a goodbye hug.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Not sure I'd change anything.

Marks out of 10?
No marking out of 10, but I had a fun night: great company, amazing food, lovely staff.

Would you meet again?
Yes. We spoke about going out for a drink, so we'll see what happens – unless he says I have terrible table manners, in which case I'll?hunt him down.

What were you hoping for?
Good chat, good food, and?for it not to be too nerve-racking.

First impressions?
Really nice and easy to get on with.

What did you talk about?
Nerves on a blind date! Work, music and lots of other stuff. It wasn't hard to find things to talk about.

Any awkward moments?
When she thought she recognised me from a?dating website.

Good table manners?
Top-notch. And that's no mean feat when eating fajitas.

Best thing about Michelle?
Easy to get along with.

Would you introduce her to your friends?
Of course.

Could she meet the parents?
I would have no problem with that. Might be a bit much after only one dinner, though.

Did you go on somewhere?
We just had a drink in the restaurant bar. Sadly, I had to work very early, so no late night.

And… did you kiss?
Just a?wee peck on the cheek.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
The very expensive steak wouldn't have been off the menu.

Marks out of 10?
8.

Would you meet again?
Definitely as friends.

‧ Michelle and Graeme ate at Grill on the Corner, Glasgow, blackhouse.uk.com. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@guardian.co.uk

View the original article here

Blind date

What happened when Michelle Brown dined with Graeme McGowan? Photograph: Martin Hunter for the Guardian

What were you hoping for?
To meet someone I?could have a laugh with. If all else failed, a nice meal. Oh, and not to get a?slagging in the Guardian.

First impressions?
Friendly and smiley. Attractive and well dressed.

What did you talk about?
Blind dates, work, music, among other things.

Any awkward moments?
No, the conversation flowed easily.

Good table manners?
Absolutely.

Best thing about Graeme?
He was great company.

Would you introduce him to your friends?
Yeah, sure.

Could he meet the parents?
Too early to say, but he seems a nice guy.

Did you go on somewhere?
We had a drink in the bar. It was a school night, though, so just the one.

And… did you kiss?
No, just a goodbye hug.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Not sure I'd change anything.

Marks out of 10?
No marking out of 10, but I had a fun night: great company, amazing food, lovely staff.

Would you meet again?
Yes. We spoke about going out for a drink, so we'll see what happens – unless he says I have terrible table manners, in which case I'll?hunt him down.

What were you hoping for?
Good chat, good food, and?for it not to be too nerve-racking.

First impressions?
Really nice and easy to get on with.

What did you talk about?
Nerves on a blind date! Work, music and lots of other stuff. It wasn't hard to find things to talk about.

Any awkward moments?
When she thought she recognised me from a?dating website.

Good table manners?
Top-notch. And that's no mean feat when eating fajitas.

Best thing about Michelle?
Easy to get along with.

Would you introduce her to your friends?
Of course.

Could she meet the parents?
I would have no problem with that. Might be a bit much after only one dinner, though.

Did you go on somewhere?
We just had a drink in the restaurant bar. Sadly, I had to work very early, so no late night.

And… did you kiss?
Just a?wee peck on the cheek.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
The very expensive steak wouldn't have been off the menu.

Marks out of 10?
8.

Would you meet again?
Definitely as friends.

‧ Michelle and Graeme ate at Grill on the Corner, Glasgow, blackhouse.uk.com. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@guardian.co.uk

View the original article here

Blind date

So how did Jamie and Amika's a date in the City of London go? Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

What were you hoping for?
Someone who didn't take himself too seriously. Someone a bit outside the?box.

First impressions?
Very cute and well dressed, with a cracking smile.

What did you talk about?
The usual: travelling, books, family… We also got talking about the other couples like a pair of mean schoolgirls.

Any awkward moments?
I think I was rabbiting on about myself a bit. I had to stop when he had a bit of a staring-into-space look.

Good table manners?
Impeccable. I pray he says the same about me.

Best thing about Jamie?
1,000% his smile.

Would you introduce him to your friends?
I'd worry they would corrupt him. But sure – why not?

Could he meet the parents?
They live in New Zealand. So it's unlikely.

Did you go on somewhere?
No. We both had to be somewhere else later that evening.

And… did you kiss?
A brief goodbye peck.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
We'd have been in a pub – a more relaxed environment.

Marks out of 10?
6.5.

Would you meet again?
No.

What were you hoping for?
Interesting company and a?fun evening.

First impressions?
Very friendly and outgoing.

What did you talk about?
Travel, her short career as a stuntwoman, the best drinking establishments and why The Count Of Monte Cristo is a classic.

Any awkward moments?
None I can think of. Considering we were being filmed for a dating show, that's quite impressive.

Good table manners?
Exceedingly.

Best thing about Amika?
Very free-spirited, funny and easy to chat to.

Would you introduce her to your friends?
Absolutely.

Could she meet the parents?
That's more of a second date question.

Did you go on somewhere?
No. We both had social engagements afterwards.

And… did you kiss?
A?polite peck on the cheek.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
That second bottle of wine was rather ambitious.

Marks out of 10?
8.

Would you meet again?
As?friends, definitely.

‧ Jamie and Amika ate at Paternoster Chop House, London EC4. Their date features on Channel 4's Mating Season, First Dates, which starts on Thursday 20 June at 9pm. To take part in First Dates on Channel 4, go to channel4.com/firstdates

Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@guardian.co.uk

View the original article here

Blind date

Did Louise Vaccarello and David Pringle hit it off? Photograph: Sarah Lee; Graham Turner, both for the Guardian

What were you hoping for?
My Mr Right.

First impressions?
Maybe slightly too casually dressed for a first date.

What did you talk about?
Everything!

Any awkward moments?
Not really. The conversation flowed and we never seemed to be short of things to discuss.

Good table manners?
Yes.

Best thing about David?
Friendly and easy to talk to.

Would you introduce him to your friends?
Yes, I'm sure they would like him.

Could he meet the parents?
The right girl's parents.

Did you go on somewhere?
No. It was late when we left the restaurant and I?had to catch a train home.

And… did you kiss?
No. He's a?very?nice guy, but I?didn't feel any romantic connection with him.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
I really enjoyed the evening – the restaurant was amazing – but unfortunately David is?just not my Mr Right.

Marks out of 10?
7.

Would you meet again?
Yes, but only as friends.

What were you hoping for?
Didn't mind. Hoped she would be interesting.

First impressions?
She was pretty and seemed nice.

What did you talk about?
Work, hobbies, interests and general get-to-know-you stuff.

Any awkward moments?
Not that I can think of.

Good table manners?
Yep,?perfect.

Best thing about Louise?
Great smile, really interesting and easy to get on with.

Would you introduce her to your friends?
Yep, that would be fine.

Could she meet the parents?
Yep, that would be fine again.

Did you go on somewhere?
Nope. She had to catch the train home.

And… did you kiss?
No.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
I had a?great evening, so it would have been nice to go somewhere afterwards.

Marks out of 10?
8.

Would you meet again?
Happily.

‧ Louise and David ate at Gaucho Piccadilly, London W1. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@guardian.co.uk

View the original article here