Choosing a First Date Venue

For that first date, you need a place where you can chat easily, where there is enough distraction to fill potential awkward silences, and that is neutral ground. Pick one of the three C’s (coffee, cocktails or cinema) and you can’t go far wrong!

Coffee

The perfect day date; choose a coffee bar that is cute and quirky. There will be plenty to talk about, 'Are you a cappuccino or flat white sort of girl?', 'Why don't Coffee Shops in the UK look like Central Perk?' etc etc. Also, going for coffee is fairly non-committal, which means that if the date’s not going well it wouldn’t seem out of place to have one coffee and leave after an hour, but if it's going wonderfully, the relaxed atmosphere means you can stay for as long as you like. Order another coffee, eat cake, try their Panini’s and so on..

We’ve put together a handy Pinterest board of some of the Best Coffee Shops in the UK (perfect for first dates), featuring these little treasures amongst others:

Shoreditch Grind, London

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Batch Coffee, Brighton

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tamper Coffee, Sheffield

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cocktails

A note to all the male readership out there, most girls will want to dress to impress on the first date. So if arrangements have been left in your capable hands, choose a cocktail bar where smart attire is a must. First impressions count, and if you're meeting for the first time, well, it's nice to look nice!

Also, cocktail bars make easy conversation, from ‘What’s your favourite cocktail,’ to funny anecdotes about your vodka induced antics. But remember, mixing spirits will catch up on you so go easy on those martinis. Falling over, throwing up, getting lary – is not good form for a first date.

Cinema

A lot of people think that the cinema is a terrible first date idea because you can’t really talk. But that’s why it’s perfect for anyone that gets a little nervous about meeting new people. You can have a pre-cinema drink to talk about the film you’re about to see, romantically share popcorn and a diet coke, and follow on with a post-cinema drink and a discussion about what you thought.

Sometimes, actually doing something can feel a lot more natural and a lot more comfortable than a more formal meet ‘n’ greet.

For something a bit different, head to an independent cinema. They tend to play a great variety of old and new films, and the atmosphere is much more special than your average Odeon. Scouting across the UK, we’ve found a few suitable places for such dates, check out our favourite independent cinemas here >>

A Final Thought

Online dating has some advantages over the more ‘traditional’ means of meeting. You get to chat to your date for as long as you like before you meet; discuss interests, talk about your hobbies and discover things you might have in common. And so really your first date could be a little more adventurous than the above.

If you both like sport, why not meet for a friendly game of Tennis? Or if you love rock music, head to a gig. You can be quite sure about what the other will enjoy and not enjoy before you meet, so explore a variety of different options before settling for a more classic choice.

Ready?? Go and get your date on over at Flirtify >>