Speed Dating | 30s-40s

Original Dating are running a speed dating night for 30s and 40s at The Cocktail Club on Thursday 18 March. It's billed as Reading's busiest speed dating night, and it's a professionally hosted evening rather than a loose get-together. The format is straightforward: you'll meet around 15 to 20 other singles through a series of four-minute dates, so you get a good few first impressions in one sitting without having to commit to a whole night with one person.

The matching happens afterwards through a private online system that connects you with the people you showed a mutual interest in, so you don't have to worry about swapping numbers on the fly or wondering if the feeling was mutual. It's run by Original Dating, who handle the hosting and the matching, and the whole thing is geared towards people in their thirties and forties.

The venue is the downstairs bar at The Cocktail Club on 5 Gun St, RG1 2JR. They describe it as a stylish, intimate cocktail venue with warm lighting and a relaxed, social atmosphere, which fits the bill for a night of first dates. Doors open at 7.30 pm, the speed dating itself kicks off at 8 pm and wraps up around 10 pm, and the venue stays open until 12.30 am if you fancy staying on for a drink afterwards.

Tickets are £22, or £11 if you've got a DatePass. Advance booking is essential, as they don't sell tickets on the door, so you'll need to get yours sorted before you turn up. If you're in that 30s-40s bracket and fancy a low-pressure way to meet a fair few new people in one go, this is a solid shout for a Thursday night in town.