If large summer parties are Ibiza on steroids, then summer speed dating in London is the Italian hill top private bar over-looking the Mediterranean. Or so says John Davis as he explains why the summer is the best time for speed dating.
June is a strange month in the dating industry in London. Traditional forms of dating become less popular as group gatherings abound.
Let’s be honest, us Londoners go a bit crazy as soon as the smallest hint of sunshine appears and it’s all BBQ’s, beers and out-door antiques with – for some reason – as many people as possible.
So where does this leave the single Londoner? Invariably sunburnt, hungover and riddled with mosquito bites, unsure if waking up in the park was really a good thing and did I actually get that girls/guys number and what did they look like anyway?
Or it’s all of the above at a festival.
For most dating events companies it's all about the big nights. Big singles parties are great for dating companies as they almost always sell out. But such events can be a bit full on. They’re not everyone’s cup of tea. And if it’s your first time at a dating event you have no idea what to expect and they can appear overwhelming.
Which is why, contrary to popular belief, the summer is an exceptional time to try speed dating. Less events are held so the size and quality generally improves. Everyone is still in the summer mood but without the air of desperation that grips large groups who seem to realise, en masse, just how fleeting the sun is, and then panic accordingly in a ‘party like it’s 1999’ kind of way.
Don’t get me wrong. We want you to come to the big summer events. To prove this, here’s a link to our imminent Summer in the City Lock & Key Party. It's going to be incredible. But don’t rule out the humble speed date.
If large summer parties are Ibiza on steroids, then summer speed dating in London is the Italian hill top private bar over-looking the Mediterranean surrounded by sophisticated, like minded professionals sipping smooth cocktails and flirting easily as a soft breeze washes over the hillside.
Well okay, we’re still in London. But you get the idea. Up to 20 dates that last for four minutes yet safe in the knowledge that while the rest of the city loses its collective mind in the heat, your evening progresses smoothly along a well-worn trajectory but with the surprise element of a more sophisticated group of strangers to flirt with. I can’t lie. It’s kinda sexy.
So if you haven’t tried it before, this summer is the ideal time to give speed dating a go. And if you have, give yourself a break from the ‘phew what a scorcher 20 degrees!’ craziness and take a more relaxed approach to meeting like-minded singles.
Step this way to check out our latest speed dating events.
WORDS BY JOHN DAVIS