Speed Dating | Ages 40-55

The Cocktail Club is hosting a speed dating night for singles aged 40 to 55 on Thursday 12 November, from 19:00 to 21:30. It's run by Original Dating, who trade as The Business Refinery Limited. They describe themselves as having been around since speed dating first started, and they still run events across the UK, including their lock & key parties.

The format is face-to-face dating for men and women in their early forties to mid-fifties, with no swiping involved. You'll go through a series of four-minute dates, with a drinks break halfway through. The women stay at the same table while the men move around, so you'll meet everyone in the room over the course of the evening. Each person gets a 'Passion Passport' to note down who they've met, and the next day you mark each person as Yes, No or Friend on the Original Dating website. Matches are calculated by 5pm the following day.

The Cocktail Club is a two-floor eclectic space on Gun Street in the centre of Reading. The ground floor is a post-modern punk lounge, and the basement has leather banquette VIP booths, which make it a popular spot for parties, networking and corporate dos. This particular session takes place in the downstairs bar, so you'll be in the basement rather than the main room.

Doors open 30 minutes before the 19:00 start, and the night runs until 21:30. Tickets are £22.00.