Blind Date: Ollie and Sonia

Ollie and Sonia went on our blind date to MEATLiquor in Stokes Croft. Afterwards, they let us in on all the juicy details:

Name and occupations
Ollie, communications
Sonia, filmmaker

Have you ever been on a blind date before?
Ollie: Nope.
Sonia: I used to work in speed dating, but blind dates are a new thing to me! 

What made you want to go on this blind date?
Ollie: A fondness for Cilla Black, and Bristol24/7 were quicker at getting back to me than Take Me Out!
Sonia: I read the Blind Date section in Bristol24/7 regularly – and I think Ollie and I should both thank Conal and Olivia at this point as we were both intrigued by how unhappy both of them seemed on their date a couple of weeks ago!

What were your first thoughts when you saw your date?
Ollie: Wow, she’s on time and pretty.
Sonia: My first impression was this is a very friendly, smiling person that seems like a good one to have a conversation with. 

What did you talk about?
Ollie: Everything, ranging from holidays abroad through to her documentary on an underdog Quidditch team. Sonia was a really interesting person to talk to, having already done so much in her life.
Sonia: Our date lasted three and a half hours! And we spoke and spoke and spoke. It turned out we have a lot in common in terms of travelling, hobbies and approach to life.

What was the atmosphere like?
Ollie: Really good. We talked for ages. The restaurant was busy and had that alternative Stokes Croft vibe. Definitely no awkward moments.
Sonia: Very relaxed and fun. 

Any moments when you wished you were somewhere else? 
Ollie: Not at all. I really enjoyed myself.  
Sonia: No, I genuinely had a nice evening!

What would you say is the best characteristic of your date?
Ollie: Friendly, chatty and great at telling her life story. I admired the way she spoke about the things she’s done and her adventurous attitude towards life.
Sonia: Ollie is a person one feels very comfortable with – easy-going, non-judgmental, open-minded and smiling. 

What do you think your date made of you? 
Ollie: Hopefully, someone she’s glad to have met on her life’s journey.
Sonia: Haha, I hope only good things! Hopefully that I’m also really good to speak with? 

Is there anything you would change about the evening? 
Ollie: Nope, the company was great, food was fantastic – there’s nothing more you can ask for.
Sonia: I love sitting with a good meal and drink and just talking about the world and stuff, so no – I think we had a much better blind date than I expected. 

Did you go somewhere else after your meal?
Ollie: We were among the last few customers in the restaurant and it was getting a little late, so we walked back towards the city centre, said goodbye and went our separate ways.
Sonia: MEATLiquor is an amazing place and we stayed there for over three hours just getting to know each other. When the time came, we walked together for a bit, swapped phone numbers and then went our own ways.

Were there any sparks of potential?
Ollie: Maybe, we’ll just see what happens.
Sonia: Maybe? I really enjoyed spending time with Ollie and I believe we both had fun. 

Will you meet again?
Ollie:Definitely. Sonia is such an interesting person and great to talk to and I want to see how her documentary pans out.
Sonia: Probably! Even if it doesn’t work out on the dating side, I’d still be happy to go to the cinema or some Bristol events together.

If you would like to take part in a one of our blind dates, please email alison.maney@bristol247.com. You will have your food and drinks taken care of, leaving you to concentrate on the chemistry of love.