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Home Blog Speed Dating Returns to Clapham Junction and More Speed Dating History

Speed Dating Returns to Clapham Junction and More Speed Dating History

Wednesday November 14, 2012

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Believe it or not Original Dating started running speed dating events almost 10 years ago in April 2003. We've run literally thousands of events across London since then and some might say we've got really quite good at it over the years.

Our first ever event was at once very popular bar called Boom in Clapham Junction's St John's Hill enclave. Back in 2003 this was the epicentre of CJ nightlife scene and the St Johns Hill strip was populated with half a dozen bars so coveted, that Thursday to Saturday, people would queue for hours just so they could to pay to get in.

As a speed dating start-up us securing of Boom bar was something of a coup. It meant we were assured of instant kudos as these guys didn't do anything that wasn't cool. It worked like a charm and our first events at this venue were packed to the rafters. It wasn't uncommon in those days for us to have 60 speed daters at any given event. In our naivety we thought this was great (and it was, for cash flow) but in reality this was a pretty exhausting experience for those taking part and we later limited our events to 20 dates.

I digress, but Clapham was where it all started for Original Dating. After a couple of years Boom closed and we moved the regular event to a place called Hydro which once had it's own jaqcuzzi. Venues closed down, changed hands after a while we ran out of suitable venue options so reluctantly we left Clapham Junction and based our SW London speed dating operations in Balham at the excellent Exhibit (we're still there every Thursday). That was until today because today we secured a new Venue in Clapham Junction, Sugar Cane.

Sugarcane is a great place just off Lavender Hill and a few minutes' walk from the station. It's Polynesian themed with lots of Tiki décor, basically it's lots of fun. We're going to run our first event there on Tuesday December 4, 2012 and it's going to be great.  Because it's Tuesday there's loads of offers on cocktails we've got the whole of the downstairs bar just for us.

If you're interested in speed dating at Sugar Cane click here to book now.

Speed Dating at Sugarcane, Clapham

DATE: Tuesday December 4, 2012
VENUE: Sugar Cane
PLACE: Clapham Junction
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AND BOOKINGS

 

ANDREW SUMMERSGILL
FOUNDER
ORIGINAL DATING

ORIGINAL DATING IN THE PRESS
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HOW IT WORKS

The beauty of Speed Dating London lies in its no-nonsense approach. You take an equal number of single girls and guys, put them in a room and give them a few minutes to chat with every other member of the opposite sex.

When you get there

Original speed dating events in London normally begin at 7.30pm. You will need to register with our hosts and to begin with they will issue you with a score sheet. This will help you to keep track of the singles that you would like to meet again and perhaps go on a date with. After a short period of mingling, your host for the evening who will run through detailed instructions and give you your starting position if you are a guy or table for the event if you are a girl.

Meet & Mingle

A London speed dating event is split into two halves, each lasting around an hour, there will be an interval at half time of about 15 minutes for speed dating London. You will have between 4 and 5 minutes with each person, after which you need to tick a box on your score sheet - "yes, I would like to meet this person again" or "no. Thanks but no thanks". Or "friend" if you'd like to get to know them platonically. Make sure that you do this after each date to keep track. Afterwards there is an opportunity for everyone to meet and mingle informally - this is often where the real action begins, so make sure you don't disappear too quickly!

Complete your score sheet

After the event you simply tick who you liked on the Original Dating website and the site works about your matches automatically. If the dates you have ticked as a "yes" have reciprocated you have a match. You will be able to view the first names and message them via our site online without revealing your email address until you are ready to. You'll be having proper first dates in no time.