Blind date: ‘I was hoping to meet the love of my life – or to get a good story out of it'

The Guardian

17-05-2025

What were you hoping for?
An evening with someone fun, full of character and full of conversations.
First impressions?
Really beautiful eyes. She was very bubbly and also funny. She made me laugh on a number of occasions – proper belly laughter too!
What did you talk about?
Microwave chips. Japan, India and Korea. Charli xcx. Jewellery (she is gold, I'm more silver). How excited the staff at the restaurant were to be having us (they said it was their first blind date so we felt honoured).
Most awkward moment?
Eating olives with massive stones is not a good way to start a first date.
Good table manners?
Exceptional. We shared starters – it seemed to flow.
Best thing about Lucy?
Her enthusiasm and her natural way of making me feel at ease. She had these really cool red shoes on, too.
Would you introduce Lucy to your friends?
Yes.
Describe Lucy in three words
Ambitious, jovial and impressive.
Blind date is Saturday's dating column: every week, two
strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans
to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we
take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the
UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It's been running since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here.What questions will I be asked?We
ask about age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of
person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions
cover everything you would like to know, tell us what's on your mind.
Can I choose who I match with?No,
it's a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests,
preferences, etc – the more you tell us, the better the match is likely
to be.
Can I pick the photograph?No, but don't worry: we'll choose the nicest ones.
What personal details will appear?Your first name, job and age.
How should I answer?Honestly
but respectfully. Be mindful of how it will read to your date, and that
Blind date reaches a large audience, in print and online.
Will I see the other person's answers?No. We may edit yours and theirs for a range of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more details.
Will you find me The One?We'll try! Marriage! Babies!
Can I do it in my home town?Only if it's in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we would love to hear from people living elsewhere.
How to applyEmail [e-mail]
What do you think Lucy made of you?
I'd say kind and considerate. We both said how nervous we were, but as the night went on it eased.
Did you go on somewhere?
To another bar for one more drink before calling it a night.
And … did you kiss?
No.
If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
A bit more flirting.
Marks out of 10?
8.
Would you meet again?
Yes. It would be nice to go for a walk and a coffee.
What were you hoping for?
I was hoping to meet the love of my life – or, failing that, to get a good story out of it.
First impressions?
Cool, friendly, good fashion sense, warm.
What did you talk about?
Travelling. Japan. St Albans and Chester. His Korean trainers. The waiters in the restaurant. The plural for Guinness (Guinni?).
Most awkward moment?
The five minutes it took to cut the sourdough.
Good table manners?
No qualms.
Best thing about William?
He sees the best in everyone – a nice person.
Would you introduce him to your friends?
As a friend.
Describe William in three words
Kind, nice and pleasant.
What do you think William made of you?
Probably that I talked too much.
Did you go on anywhere?
A pub on the way to my night out with the girls.
And … did you kiss?
No.
If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
To use and abuse the entire menu rather than just starters.
Marks out of 10?
6.
Would you meet again?
He's lovely but I didn't feel a spark, so no.
Lucy and William ate at Sam's Waterside in Brentford, London. Fancy a blind date? Email [e-mail]