Manahatta Spooky Singles Soree!

Manahatta hosts a Halloween-themed speed dating night on Thursday 29 October, run by Original Dating. It's aimed at people who'd rather meet in person than swipe through apps, and the spooky theme gives you two ways to play it: you can turn up in full fancy dress, or just dress up to catch someone's eye. Either way, the fancy dress is optional, not a requirement.

The evening works in four-minute face-to-face rounds, with the women seated and the men moving around the room. There's a drinks break halfway through, so you've got a chance to stretch your legs and gather your thoughts before the second half. Everyone gets a Passion Passport™ to note down who they meet, which is the only bit of admin you'll have to do on the night.

The following day, you log in to the Original Dating website and mark each person you met as Yes, No or Friend. Matches are calculated at 5pm, and from there you can message privately — and nobody ever sees a No. The organiser says they balance gender ratios as evenly as possible, and notes that around 40% of people turn up on their own, so you're in good company if you're coming solo. One guest who attended an earlier Original Dating night described it as very lively, with a welcoming, informative host and a modern, bright venue.

It starts at 19:00 at Manahatta Edinburgh, 28 Rose Street, EH2 2QA, with doors open 30 minutes before. Tickets are £11 early bird, £15-£17 general admission, and £20 on the door, though the on-the-door option is only available if you arrive before 8pm.