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Home Blog SpeedDater.co.uk Has Closed – What This Means for UK Speed Dating & Where Singles Can Go Now

SpeedDater.co.uk Has Closed – What This Means for UK Speed Dating & Where Singles Can Go Now

Thursday December 4, 2025

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If you’ve recently searched for SpeedDater, SpeedDater events, or SpeedDater near me, you may have noticed that SpeedDater.co.uk has now closed down. After many years in the UK singles scene, the company has officially ceased operating, leaving thousands of daters wondering where to go for fun, well-organised speed dating events across the UK.

As one of the UK’s longest-running and most trusted dating event companies, Original Dating is here to support anyone affected by the closure — whether you previously attended SpeedDater events or were hoping to book one soon.

Below, we explain what has happened, what it means for singles around the country, and which events and locations are now available through Original Dating.

What Happened to SpeedDater.co.uk?

SpeedDater, once known as one of the UK’s largest speed dating brands, has shut down all operations. Their website is no longer active, events are no longer being run, and ticket holders are now looking for an alternative.

This sudden closure means that many towns and cities once served by SpeedDater — including London, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Oxford, Cambridge, Reading, Brighton, Leeds, Nottingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and more — no longer have the events they relied on.

Looking for a SpeedDater Alternative? Original Dating Is Expanding Nationwide

The good news is that Original Dating has stepped in to fill the gap. With more than 20 years of experience and events across the UK, we’re now expanding our speed dating programme to locations previously covered by SpeedDater.

Original Dating now runs or is launching events in:

  • London – The UK’s biggest and busiest programme of speed dating events

  • Manchester – New weekly events replacing former SpeedDater nights

  • Birmingham

  • Bath
  • Bristol

  • Brighton

  • Exeter
  • Oxford

  • Cambridge

  • Reading

  • Leeds

  • Nottingham

  • Sheffield

  • Glasgow

  • Edinburgh

  • Chelmsford

  • And more being added every month

Whether you were searching for SpeedDater London, SpeedDater Manchester, or SpeedDater Bristol, you’ll now find that Original Dating offers the most comprehensive and reliable programme in each of these areas.

Why Singles Are Moving Across to Original Dating

With SpeedDater closing down, many singles are discovering why Original Dating has been the UK’s favourite for over two decades:

Professionally hosted events

Every event includes a trained host to ensure things run smoothly — something SpeedDater regulars will appreciate.

Better venues

We partner with stylish bars and premium venues to create the perfect environment for meeting new people.

A wider choice of age ranges and themes

From classic speed dating to Lock & Key Parties, immersive events, and special themed nights, our programme is far more varied than standard speed dating.

Smart matching system

Our unique online matching platform makes it easy to connect with your mutual matches after the event.

More locations

With SpeedDater gone, Original Dating now offers the UK’s largest number of speed dating nights across the country.

What To Do If You Previously Attended SpeedDater Events

If you were a SpeedDater customer looking for a trusted replacement, you’re in the right place.

Here’s what to do next:

  1. Browse events in your city – We’ve already launched or expanded in most SpeedDater areas.

  2. Join our mailing list – Get notified when new dates launch in your region.

  3. Try one of our signature events – Many former SpeedDater attendees say they prefer our format within their first visit.

Original Dating: The New Home for Speed Dating in the UK

SpeedDater.co.uk closing marks the end of an era — but also the start of a new one. Original Dating is proud to continue the tradition of bringing people together, offering a modern experience backed by reliability, warmth and great hosting.

If you’ve been searching for:

  • SpeedDater alternative

  • SpeedDater closed

  • speed dating near me

  • speed dating London / Manchester / Bristol / Oxford / Glasgow / etc.

— then look no further.

👉 Explore upcoming events in your city at OriginalDating.com

We look forward to welcoming both new and former SpeedDater guests to the UK’s best-loved speed dating events.

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.