Do Something this Spring!

All this sunshine is making us giddy with excitement over at GDG towers. It may only be 10 degrees, merely flirting with the teens, but it feels like summer to us!

So, with this new found energy and zest for life we thought we better do something about it. And what better than teaming up with our pals at DoingSomething.co.uk to help them compile their brilliant list of 50 Must Do Spring Dates?

There are loads of inspired suggestions, from some of London's top movers and shakers, but if you want to cut to the chase and read our pearls of wisdom (who'd blame you?) then here's a bit of a taster. Click on the pictures below to get the full story...

Surrey Docks Farm

A little slice of the country in the City...

Shepherd's Return at the Hollow

The perfect Spring Break in West Sussex...

The Paradise

Spring in a glass? Sounds like a plan... 

So go on, do something different this Spring - you never know - London might surprise just you!

Miss Mary x

Top 10 London Date Venues

Thanks to a well timed tweet we discovered this fab list of great date venues from Looking for Love in London and had to share it with you! 

"Despite having had more than my fair share of shoddy date venues over the years (Cattle Grid was just one of many!), I have also been taken to some lovely places too. My most recent fave was Four O Nine which I’ve already talked about on the blog, so here are 10 other places which I recommend (in no particular order)…" 

1. The Breakfast Club, Spitalfields

This may not look a very exciting choice at first glance, but this has to be one of the most memorable date venues I’ve been taken to – there are a few Breakfast Club’s around London, but I’m specifically talking about the one at Spitalfields. I went here on a first date about a year ago and was slightly confused when the guy picked a place more suited to a breakfast/brunch date as his venue of choice for after work drinks. Once we got there and he went up to a waitress and told her “We’re here to see The Mayor” I thought he was definitely off his rocker!! But this was, in fact, the code that meant she then opened up a ‘Smeg fridge’ in the café and lead us through it(!) and downstairs to a funky hidden away cocktail bar called The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town. (They ask you to leave through a different door so as to not spoil the Smeg fridge secret.) I think it’s a really fun gimmick for a first date and definitely helps break the ice…and now you know the code, go and try it out!

2. Callooh Callay

Talking of gimmicks, the entrance to the lounge bar at Callooh Callay is in a similar vein to the Smeg fridge door. This is a fun, quirky bar in Shoreditch which I went to a couple of years ago now (on another first date!). To get from the main bar to the lounge bar you go through a huge old-school Narnia-esque wardrobe. All the furniture/décor is retro too so again it makes for a first date venue which is a bit different to the norm.

3. Aqua

From one extreme to another, Aqua is just off Regent Street and is much sleeker and more modern. It has two restaurants – a Japanese one (Aqua Kyoto) and a Spanish/tapas one (Aqua Nueva) but I’ve only ever been there for drinks at Aqua Spirit. There is an ok indoor bar area (nothing too special), but what I liked about it was the outside rooftop terrace, which is perfect as we’re heading towards Summer and (hopefully) some sunshine! The drinks are pretty pricey but it’s nice for a pre-dinner drink/yummy cocktail. My first experience of it was slightly tainted by the fact I was with Mr Baileys (and yes, he drank Baileys on a sunny rooftop!), but the fact that I still loved it means it must have been good!

4. Gordon’s Wine Bar

I’ve been taken to Gordon’s Wine Bar by FOUR different guys, meaning it’s clearly not the most original recommendation to make. It's just by Embankment, and with a cosy atmosphere and copious amounts of wine, I see it as a pretty fail-safe date venue (as clearly so do a lot of guys!) It's also the oldest wine bar in London, don't you know! Although there is a small outdoor area, I think it’s much more of a Winter place, especially as it has an ‘underground’ feel to it and lots of candles, which makes it feel uber snug when it’s freezing/raining outside.

5. Vertigo 42

As Vertigo 42 is a champagne bar at the top of Tower 42 in the City, the main draw to this place is the view! I got taken here by a bit of a knob if I’m honest (a guy with a serious case of short man syndrome – maybe that’s why he picked a venue at such a great height!!) but I can’t deny that the views were pretty awesome. If you’re feeling extra flashy there is also Gary Rhodes’ restaurant, Rhodes 24, in the same building which you could then go on to for some food…I’ve been there for dinner with a friend though and we weren’t massively impressed!

6. Bluebird

I’ll admit I didn’t really know much about Bluebird until it appeared in pretty much every other episode of Made in Chelsea. When I then started dating a guy who lived just off the King’s Road, he said he would take me there as he was also a big fan of the show (a bit weird, I know)! We went for dinner and it was actually really lovely and much less pretentious than I imagined – the food and cocktails were both yummy, and I’ve been back again since just for drinks. There is a bar, restaurant AND café, so whatever time of day your date is, this is the perfect venue…and there’s also the added bonus that Hugo and Spencer might be sat at the table next to you (although other people might not be as excited by this prospect as me!)

7. Nopi

This was another place chosen by Mr Baileys – what he lacked in choice of drinks, he made up for in choice of date venue! Nopi is tucked away off Regent Street so I would never have known about this place. The food was ‘tapas style’ in that you order a bunch of small dishes to share, which did traumatise me slightly as he insisted on ordering (and forcing me to try) rabbit – I had a pet rabbit when I was a kid, so it just felt wrong!! However, I see from the website that rabbit now appears to be off the menu :) The food and ambience was really nice but as we’ve now discovered, I like a gimmick and this has a fab one…just look at the toilets!! Best not to tell your date and then leave it as a surprise for them to discover (and try to find their way back out of)!

8. The OXO Tower

This one is a bit of a cheat as I’ve actually only been to the OXO Tower for lunch with my parents, but I remember thinking that it would be a fab date place. We went in the Summer and were sat on the outside terrace with great views along the river of all the London landmarks that the Southbank has to offer. It is split into the more pricey ‘Restaurant’ and the more reasonable ‘Brasserie’ – we went to the Brasserie and the food was gorgeous and beautifully presented so I would say save your pennies and go there!

9. All Star Lanes

Some people might scoff at the idea of going bowling on a date when you are approaching the age of 30 but I think it can be great fun, especially if you get to the point where you think there may be issues of awkward conversation pauses if you go for dinner again on the next date. Also, I must point out that I’m not suggesting you go and hang out with the teenagers at Hollywood Bowl but instead that you do ‘grown-up bowling’ (as I call it!) at All Star Lanes. There are a few around London and they’re cute and retro themed…and have proper bars (alcohol is always a plus)!

10. The Avalon/The Windmill

I think a great fourth/fifth date idea is a good old Sunday pub lunch – I say fourth/fifth date as you have to be at the point where you feel comfortable enough with the guy to (a) not need vast quantities of alcohol to be involved, and (b) be able to scoff a full-on Sunday roast in front of him! Obviously there are tons of good places around London for this but a couple which I love in my neck of the woods are The Avalon and The Windmill on the Common. 

Sorry, that turned into a bit of an essay…but do go and try them out if you’ve not already been! :) 

Thanks so much Looking for Love in London, keep up the good work!

DoingSomething Fun?

We're really chuffed to bring you a guest post from our pals at the truly exciting internet dating site, 'DoingSomething', where picking a great date is about more than just choosing the right person. It's sort of what you'd get if you stir-fried a standard internet dating site with, let's say, The Great Date Guide. Come to think of it, why on earth didn't we think of that?!!! Well, we think they're just fab, and with the runaway success they're having, they're here to stay. Time then to get in on the action…

London’s latest addition to the dating scene is turning internet
 dating on its head - and giving it it a good old shake until fun falls out of its pockets. 

If you haven’t heard of DoingSomething yet, you soon will. It's the
‘new dating site everyone’s talking about’, so says Grazia.
 It's a really simple idea and it's growing fast.
 

The premise: Dating’s more FUN when you’re DoingSomething.

 

So out goes the long profile description with what you and your best
friend got up to aged 5, and in comes meeting someone and DoingSomething 
fun. Hence the name. It could mean anything from catching the latest
 Pop Up Screening, going for a game of free ping pong in one of 
London’s parks, or doing something super zany like walking across the 
roof of the 02. Yes, you can do that.



DoingSomething takes away the inherent awkwardness on a first date, and what's more, what people say they want to do gives a really neat snapshot of who they 
are. Someone who suggests Roller Disco as a date idea is most likely a
 different sort of person to someone who suggests a medieval tapestry weaving
 weekend retreat. You can add as many different dates as you want to 
your profile - so there’s no need to feel ‘boxed’ in. But you catch
 our drift. 

All in all it takes dating and lightens it up a bit.  

Paul, a
 DoingSomething member, says; ‘It's much more fun than other dating sites. It 
doesn’t feel like people are on there desperately searching for the 
love of their life. It’s more about Londoners with a sense of humour, 
out to have a good time.’

 Sounds good to us. 



It’s free to make a profile on DoingSomething, so come on, get going today!


https://www.doingsomething.co.uk/

New Look Bar at Sam's Brasserie!

As of yesterday, Sam's Brasserie in Chiswick has a new bar - take a look at the pictures below to see what they've been up to over the past week...

... and don't forget, if you want to see the bar for yourself then you should enter our competition to win a meal for two (including a free bottle of wine) at Sam's Brasserie.  For full details of the competition click here.

But remember, you don't have to win our competition to go to Sam's Brasserie. Why not head down to the bar for a cocktail (or three) this weekend? Or maybe some brunch to soak up the excesses of the night before...

GDG July Newsletter

In case you missed it here's a snippet of our fab July newsletter packed full of information on great things to do in London...

"Over the last couple of months London has seen new restaurants popping up with a frequency surpassed only by the NOTW's phone hacking allegations. We've forced ourselves to pick just three of our current favourites… Newish Pizza East on Portobello Road is perfect for a relaxed brunch date - it's a cliché but it's got a cool New York vibe going on and we love it! Pub wise The Devonshire Arms in Chiswick has just opened. Formerly under the care (!) of Gordon Ramsay it is now in the experienced hands of Nick Gibson of The Drapers Arms, Islington. It's an informal pub/restaurant with tasty British food curtesy of it's head chef hailing from The Deanstreet Townhouse in Soho. Finally, we're still loving the current trend for Spanish restaurants and the latest addition is José Pizzaro's eponymous tapas and sherry bar in Bermondsey - cosy and intimate, tapas is made for romance!"

We've got tips on what's hot in London this month, and suggestions on where to order delicious  hampers to give your picnic date the best chance of success!

Click here to read the newsletter in full...

Not on our mailing list? Then sign up here...

Miss Mary xxx

A Quirky New Find...

On Wednesday night I discovered a hidden gem of a pub in Fulham. I was on my way to see the Fleet Foxes at Hammersmith Apollo (in case you were wondering yes, they were amazing!) and my boyfriend suggested we pop in to The Pear Tree first for a bite to eat...

Now, I haven't actually written the blog post yet... but I couldn't resist posting a couple of pictures of this fabulous new find! It's tucked away down a very random residential street, but don't be put off, it's worth the walk!

If you haven't got plans for this sunny weekend I would seriously recommend heading over to The Pear Tree and relaxing in their stylishly scruffy garden. The food is delicious, the decor is quirky and the staff are charming. I can't think of a better place to spend a sunny afternoon, and maybe evening...?

THE PEAR TREE

14 Margravine Road

London W6 8HJ 

Tel: 0207 381 1787

The Great Date Guide needs you!

Here at The Great Date Guide we want to make the website everything that YOU'D like it to be. We want it to be fun to look at, easy to use and of course most importantly, we want to make sure you're getting what you want from it.

To help us in our quest, we'd be eternally grateful if you could complete this VERY quick survey to let us know your thoughts.

Click HERE to answer the survey.

There are only 10 short questions, so we reckon it will take you approx 2 minutes*
(*slightly longer if you're using a dial up connection from Antarctica, if you only type with one finger or if you get distracted mid task by some hot totty strolling past…)

As a thank you, you'll be automatically entered into our fantastic Taste of London competition to win a pair of free tickets to the Friday night session. Take a look at the competition page on the website for more info, but if you answer our survey and send us an email with your contact details, you'll be entered automatically.

THANK YOU YOU LOVELY PEOPLE!!!

A date at Aubin Cinema

Miss Mary went on a truly great date last week and loved every minute of it. Partly because the thrill of going to Shoreditch, for a girl from Battersea, still feels like one big adventure...

If I'm honest, I think this is a pretty perfect date! I met my date at Liverpool Street Station and ambled up to Shoreditch via the cobbled streets of Spitalfields, past the quirky Dennis Severs House (for our next date perhaps?) and on up to Redchurch Street. We timed it just right (i.e. half an hour before they close the kitchens) and so were able to grab a drink on the fab roof terrace at the Boundary. If you're not allowed up, or you're out of season then head to Albion, the ground floor cafe at the Boundary, for a quick drink and a bite to eat.

Aubin Cinema is then a short stumble (depending on how much wine you've had!) from the Boundary. We picked up our tickets and headed down to the basement where we found a cute retro bar and and a couple of very trendy, very helpful members of staff! We were just in time to grab another dink which we took into the cinema itself - yes, this is one of those proper cinemas where the wine goes with you! Once inside we were struck by how cosy and intimate the cinema was and by the overwhelming comfort and romance of the velvet seats! We've got to recommend the two seater sofas which, complete with tartan blanket, provide the perfect place to snuggle up with your date. 

Even the loos at Aubin are stylish, stocked with delicious Cowshed products from the Soho House group (of which Aubin is a part)...

As the films usually start quite late (around 9.15pm) I'm guessing (like me!) you're going to have the munchies when you resurface up on the pavement. So, I have the perfect solution: head to The Beigel Bake on Brick Lane, a legendary 24 hour bakery which serves the finest salt beef bagels in all of London!

Oh and if you too live in Battersea, then let me tell you that the marvelous 344 bus goes all the way there and back - easy!

Take a look at the website for the full review and details of how to book etc.

Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Wishing all our wonderful Great Daters a very happy Valentine's Day!

Whatever your plans are today, whether you're on your own, thinking of someone, or with someone, have a fantastic day…

… and remember our motto, dating is for life, not just for Valentine's Day!

GDG xxx

New Year, Old Flame....

Those of you who follow my blog will know I wasn’t exactly blessed with good dating karma last year.

Blind dates, internet dates, they all seemed to go awry in their own special way. But not to be deterred I decided to throw myself into 2011 with a new and improved dating outlook – no more disasters, no more debacles, just good old-fashioned boy meets girl.

I was therefore thrilled when the first dating possibility of the year came from an old flame at university. We’d been on a couple of dates and although it had fizzled out I remembered him being fun, chatty and definitely a bit of a catch. He’d stayed up north after graduation rather than joining the mass exodus to London and I hadn’t heard much from him since. We sent the occasional text but this was the first time he’d wanted to meet up. He was heading to London for work and wanted to take me out to dinner – brilliant, the perfect start to my new year, new love life.

All the pre-date banter was spot-on; he was a man with a plan and had the bar, the restaurant, the timings all sorted.  I’m normally not one to commit to dinner on a first date as you never know how things are going to go and if you’ll end up stuck in a restaurant with your worst nightmare. But this was an old friend, no danger here I thought and happily agreed to his dinner date.

I nervously waited at the bar for the man I hadn’t seen for a few years and hoped he was just as I remembered him. And suddenly there he was – looking exactly as I remembered him… even down to the uni rugby top and slightly battered jeans that he always used to wear.

We ordered drinks and started reminiscing about our uni days – the people, the bars, the clubs, the Union… but we just didn’t seem to have anything else to talk about. We’d covered everything we had in common by the end of drink two and it was clear to me that whatever chemistry we had a few years ago was sadly long gone. I was sure he felt exactly the same and was about to suggest we leave it at just drinks when he brought up the restaurant.

‘I’ve made a reservation for 8.30 so we should get going – I can’t wait to take you to this place, it’s meant to be amazing!’ he said.

“Oh right…great then!’ I replied, not wanting to be rude when he seemed so keen to try this place.

10 minutes later and we were seated at the restaurant trying to drag out yet more uni conversation over two long and awkward courses. We were obviously both working hard to keep the chat going but the date was quickly falling flat. At long last it was time for the bill and we could both make our escape, and even though he’d made it clear he’d wanted to take me out for dinner it just didn’t seem fair to let him pay when it was so obvious there was no attraction from either side. 

When the bill was put on the table I reached into my handbag for my wallet and waited for him to do the same. I waited, and then I waited a bit more… click here to find out what happened in the end!

Written by our lovely, anonymous, bad date blogger!

New Site Live!

So here it is... (trumpet fanfare please) your brand spangly new Great Date Guide has landed, and we're thrilled with it. We'll leave you to get accustomed to it in your own time, but here are a few bits and bobs that we thought you should know about.

1) Basic functions

We've not really changed much when it comes to the basics of how it works. You can still search for a date by keyword (location, dating stage, activity etc) or by browsing the different categories. We've put a changing selection of our favourites on the home page too, to try and tempt you into trying something new!

2) Booking 

In an attempt to make your date organising experience as painless as possible, you can now book online (where possible) through the site… for free! We've enlisted the help of trusted partners, such as Toptable and Ticketmaster, so that you can be confident that your booking is in safe hands. 

3) Concierge 

Another new addition, you can now get us to organise your date for you. Whether that's because you're too busy, a touch workshy (!) or because you could just do with a little help in deciding what to do, we'll gladly help you out, free of charge. Just give us a call or fill in the online form and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Remember, we're always keen to hear your feedback, and better still we'd love to share some of your own favourite date ideas. So keep in touch, keep submitting dates and reviews, and help make The Great Date Guide even better still!

HAPPY DATING!

What to wear on New Year's Eve

Finding the perfect New Year's date is hard enough so the elves at Fin's for Him thought they would make your life a little easier by giving you the perfect attire for any NYE activity... and of course, the elves here at The Great Date Guide can show you all the perfect places to go!

Naturally, the look was inspired by a pair of the ever-popular George Suede Loafer in chic Hamptons Black.

 Team them with skinny(ish) jeans from Levi's and a Fin's Bertie Belt in steel grey.

    

Wear with this fabulous D&G blazer and Hentschman shirt. In our opinion, it usually works best to go with a classic white shirt rather than anything too jazzy.

    

Now if that doesn't get you a kiss at midnight, we're not sure what will!

Miss Mary says... "A big thank you to the super stylish elves at Fin's for Him for their tips on what to wear for a New Year's date. If you like what you see then you should head over to the Fin's for Him website and take a look at more of their stylish offerings... From shoes to belts to socks they've got men's accessories covered, and they'll make sure any man looks tip top for a first date!"

*Images curtesy of: finsforhim.com, levi.com, hentschman.com and dolcegabbana.com

The Dreaded Awkward Silence...

Good chat can make or break a date so the art of conversation is crucial if you’re going to click with someone. There’s no hiding in a one-on-one situation but remember, a date is a marathon not a sprint, so be prepared because you never know when one of those awkward silences is about to descend.

BAD DATE BLOG PART 5: AWKWARD SILENCES

It may seem a bit calculating but having a couple of prepared questions up your sleeve is no bad thing. My uni housemate, for example, always favoured ‘Do you play a musical instrument?’ as her back-up question….but then she is still single so maybe try and be a bit more creative! I certainly wish I’d had an emergency subject to fall back on recently when an absolute shocker of a conversation pause led to pretty disastrous consequences.

Let me set the scene – I’d met Rugby Boy in a bar the weekend before and we agreed to go for drinks. He was sweet, funny, and pretty easy to talk to so drinks seemed a safe bet. We met for a shandy or two in Clapham and we were getting on really well….the only problem was I just wasn’t sure if I was attracted to him. There wasn’t any real chemistry and I was definitely thinking more friend than fancy-man.

Still, we were having a great time chatting away and despite a few suggestive comments coming across the table from the rugger bugger, I was doing my best to keep things more friendly than flirty.

It was nearly closing time and I was feeling pretty pleased to have met such a great new mate when I could suddenly feel it coming – the awkward silence. He’d just returned from the bar with drinks and the conversation stalled – we had run out of things to say. He stared; I stared; he awkwardly played with a beer mat; I nonchalantly fiddled with my hair.

‘So…’ I began, racking my brains for a new topic of conversation. ‘How far is it to your place from here?’

Rugby boy slowly put the beer mat down, coyly smiled at me and slid his hand over the table to stroke mine in what I think was supposed to be an alluring way.

‘I thought you’d never ask, we can be back at mine in 5 - I’ll get us a cab.’

Oh no, awkward silence panic had led to a slightly provocative but totally accidental agreement to a first date sleepover! I racked my brains to think of a way to back track but I couldn’t work out what to say so another sizable silence descended on our table.

He dropped my hand abruptly as I stammered and explained I just had an interest in London geography and didn’t actually intend on joining him on the five minute journey back to his bachelor pad.

A cab was then indeed hailed but it was for a solo passenger as Rugby Boy made a speedy enough exit to keep any winger on their toes. An awkward goodbye, an even more awkward peck on the cheek and I was left standing outside the bar watching as his taxi disappeared into the distance.

That was the end of what could have been a beautiful friendship.

Written by our lovely, anonymous, bad date blogger!

Richmond Park

If you're familiar with The Great Date Guide you'll probably already know that we LOVE Richmond Park. You'll also know that we like to practice what we preach so, on a hungover, misty Sunday morning Miss Mary headed off to the park for a romantic stroll with her other half….

Waking up on Sunday morning after the fantastic wedding of one of my best friends (wondering why the clocks going back doesn't seem to have made any difference) my thoughts went something like this:

1) Why did I buy those cheep shoes? My feet are KILLING me! I did look good though ;)
2) Boy the wine was good. And the staff were excellent at refilling, and refilling, and refilling….
3) Our taxi driver should have his licence removed. I blame him for early on-set hangover.
4) Whose idea was it to get up (out of this warm, cosy bed) and drive out to Richmond and go for a walk in the rain? Mine? Well, it was a good one at the time…

Remembering it was my own plan, and never one to back down, I grabbed my boots, grabbed my other half, and headed off to the park.

After a quick cup of coffee in one of the park's many cafes we set off into the wild. OK not quite wild, but the nearest thing you'll get in London. It took about two seconds to realise that this was the perfect remedy for a hangover. Richmond Park is beautiful. At any time of year it always seams to revitalise, but on a misty autumn morning the colours are especially enchanting. It might have been the hangover talking but looking around it felt like watching on old TV with the volume turned down - all faded colours and muted sounds - breathtaking.

We headed up through ancient woodland to the White Lodge (home of the Royal Ballet Lower School and a memorable scene from Billy Elliot!) and then down again to the two huge lakes in the middle of the park.

At the first lake we witnessed an amazing show of machismo from a couple of feisty swans. Each determined to show the other who was boss, no doubt to win the affection of the lady next door. Then, at the second lake we saw part two of the story: swans in love! Watching their elaborate courtship ritual we felt like extras in a David Attenborough programme, finding ourselves whispering in classic documentary style… Leaving the lovers behind for a bit of privacy we tramped on through the park, hands held, feeling strangely euphoric and in love with the world!

Two hours, and a lot of fresh air, later we headed back towards the car park passing some seriously impressive stags on our way. Those guys definitely know a thing or two about dating techniques...

So, Richmond Park in the Autumn - a good place for a date? YES! If you're anything like us you'll leave all your worries at the car park and enjoy a couple of hours of fresh air and getting back to nature. We'd both had pretty hectic weeks so it was a great place to catch up, reconnect and just spend some time together, without distractions. 

It's London, but not as you know it.

the early days date

You've made it through the first date, you liked what you saw, and now you're full of eager anticipation for dates 2, 3 and 4! 'Early days' dating can be the most exciting and exhilarating of the lot, so it's important to make the most of it. Apart from anything else, this is the time for getting to know each other and for this reason your choice of dating activity and venue is key - make no mistake about it, you WILL be being judged! To help you on your way, here's what we hope is a fail safe guide to getting the best out of the early days date.

Mix it up

All going to plan, you'll go on a few of these fantastic early dates, which gives you the opportunity to try out a variety of different dating options. Just make sure you remember that word 'variety'. Three dinner dates in a row is an uninspiring choice and you'll risk the 'fizzle out'. Equally, three action packed adrenaline filled dates one after the other could just as easily send your date running for cover. Mix fun and interesting dates with relaxed and comfortable ones for the perfect combination.

It's not all about you

Opera may not be your idea of a great night out, but your date might simply adore it. Try and find out a little about his/her interests, and use the information to plan future dates. Not only will your questioning show that you are interested in them as a person, but if you can manage to remember some of it and incorporate it into the next date, you're guaranteed to please! (...showing that very thoughtful side of your personality whilst you're at it…)

Be honest… within reason!

There's not much point in not being yourself when you're building a new relationship, but clearly there will be some aspects of your personality that you might want to expose less than others! If you're renowned for your swagger, try and tone it down a little for the first few dates, whilst if you're not known for your adventurous spirit, make an effort to stretch your boundaries. A little self-improvement never goes amiss, and this is a good time to try it!

Who pays?

Here it is again, modern dating's enduring conundrum. You'll have got some clue from date number one as to what your date feels about this potentially sensitive issue, but as the dates go on the majority of people would expect some contribution from both parties. As well as being more fair, it also means that one party isn't left feeling indebted to the other. Whatever you do, just don't make a big fuss about it as you don't want your romantic date to end in financial bickering.

Don't expect too much

It's hard not to get excited when you've found someone you like, but do remember that it's pretty hard to tell where things are going to go this early on. You can ruin it for yourself by setting your expectations too high and not giving things a chance to develop.

The Bad Date Blog

Some more words of wisdom from our unlucky in love Bad Date Blogger, who has a cautionary tale to tell about friends bearing photographs…

A great way to get out there on a few dates is to call on your friends for a set-up or two. Most people I know always love a bit of matchmaking and are more than willing to help you find a date for Friday night - usually some amazing catch that they’ve been hiding away from you for years. But beware, while I’m sure much happiness has been found using this technique, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into, and more importantly that you tell your friends exactly what you’re looking for.

BAD DATE BLOG PART 3: THE SET-UP

My tale starts with a suggestion of a set-up from my housemate with his friend from work. I happily agreed to a photo exchange, which now seems to be standard practice for set-ups of any kind. I quickly sent off the most recent photo of myself I could find on facebook where I wasn’t drunk/hungover/embarrassing myself. This was easier said than done but thankfully the fancy dress outfit didn’t scare off my potential date and an email with his chosen piccies soon arrived in my inbox. First impressions were not bad – nice smile, tall, full head of hair – pretty much all I’m looking for in a man…. Ok, so maybe not 100% my type but definitely worth a drink.

So a week and a bit later and I was heading off to meet my set-up for a drink in South Ken. I was feeling pretty optimistic, he’d chosen a great bar to meet in, seemed lovely on pre-date texts, and of course, I’d already seen the photos….

I wandered into the pub and started scanning the crowd, but no one was looking familiar apart from the spitting image of my dad’s best friend propping up the bar in the corner. I did a double-take but ignored him as there was no way the 65 year grandfather of three from Oxford would have been downing a pint in London on a Tuesday night.

Thinking I must have arrived a bit early, I grabbed a table and planned to wait for my date to come to me. But 5 or 10 minutes passed and still nothing… until I catch the eye of Gramps at the bar. He stares back. He smiles. He heads over to my table…

copyright Xavier  Bertels 

Unsure what to do I smiled nervously back as he approached wondering what this old man might want. I started to feel uneasy as he pulled out a chair at my table, sat down, and started to speak:

‘Hi ****, I didn’t see you come in – what would you like to drink?’

Damn, he knows my name, definitely my “blind” date then, as I realise the photo evidence I had seen must have been taken more than a few years (and dress sizes) ago. Not exactly what had been advertised by my housemate. Right, only one thing for it -

‘Mine’s a gin and tonic. Large’

Several drinks later I was actually having a good time. My OAP escort was pretty funny and easy to talk to… it was just a crying shame that he looked 30 years older than every other bloke in the pub! Did I have a good evening? Yes. Did sparks eventually fly? Ummm, no.  As lovely as he was I just didn’t fancy him. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a firm believer that personality is much more important than looks but I don’t think love was going to flourish when my first impression was disappointment. I was promised a tasty-looking young chap but ended up with a slightly more ‘distinguished’ gentleman.

It certainly hasn’t put me off set-ups as it was a perfectly pleasant evening but I’ll be wary of friends bearing photos in future. Needless to say I had words with my housemate - false advertising just isn’t cool people.

Written by our lovely, anonymous, bad date blogger!