Blind Date: Sam and Ellie

If you ever find yourself stuck for date ideas then you’re in luck: we’ve partnered with DateMakers to share Bristol’s best date ideas and experiences.

This month, teacher Ellie, 25, went on a date with business analyst Sam, 28, to see South Western by The Wardrobe Ensemble at Tobacco Factory Theatres.

Ellie:

Have you ever been on a blind date before?
Never! It was so blind, it was hard to find him. I was waiting downstairs, he was upstairs.

What did you think of this experience as a first date?
Brilliantly bizarre. I absolutely loved the play, though next time I’d make it a weekend matinee date and eat something delicious at the Sunday Market beforehand.

What were your first thoughts when you saw your date?
Tall, polite, shy. Reminded me of my younger brother.

What did you talk about?
Bristol and why it’s great, Scandinavia, our summer plans, his TEFL course and love for climbing. We discovered we both have a pasta maker and incidentally have both only ever used it once.

What was the atmosphere of the date like?
It started off a little stilted, perhaps because it was only us in the bar when we arrived. There was a quick fire of questions to find out about each other before the play started. After the play, conversation eased up.

Any moments when you wished you were elsewhere?
Perhaps during the interval when I was waiting for him outside the bathrooms but he’d gone to the bar.

What would you say is the best characteristic of your date?
A genuinely kind-hearted person.

What do you think your date made of you?
He didn’t give much away but I think he thought I was talkative.

Is there anything you would change about the evening?
If we hadn’t had a miscommunication about where to be during the interval.

Were there any sparks of potential?
He reminded me of my brother. So no.

Have you arranged to meet again, or will you in the future?
No. But we both enjoy sunny evenings by the harbour so it’s possible we’ll bump into each other.

Sam:

Have you ever been on a blind date before?
No, I was badgered into it by my housemate. I think mainly so she could get some good gossip!

What did you think of this experience as a first date?
It was good! I live round the corner from the Tobacco Factory and have been meaning to see something for a while. The play was really funny.

What were your first thoughts when you saw your date?
I was just glad she hadn’t stood me up!

What did you talk about?
Jobs, cooking pasta from scratch, climbing, travelling on your own, bikes and spin classes, the fact that my hobbies and interests pretty much align with being a basic Bristol bitch although having only lived here 18 months.

What was the atmosphere of the date like?
Understandably with the wait at the start, and it being a blind date, it was a little bit rigid. But that quickly loosened up with a drink and our shared interests.

Any moments when you wished you were elsewhere?
Nope. Although due to our mutual dislike of selfies we had to ask a few people to take our photo for this article, which was a bit awkward.

What would you say is the best characteristic of your date?
She seemed pretty genuine. After flicking through some food photos she accidently scrolled onto one where she was making a face, and was able to laugh that off.

What do you think your date made of you?
Easy going and affable.

Is there anything you would change about the evening?
I would have won a packet of pickled onion Monster Munch. The play had a pub quiz section that they got the audience involved with, but sadly my knowledge of 90s goalkeepers from the South West was lacking on this occasion and I was left with food envy when the man sat next to me won it.

Were there any sparks of potential?
We had pretty similar interests and went down for a drink downstairs after the show.

Have you arranged to meet again, or will you in the future?
We exchanged numbers so we’ll see!

Many thanks to DateMakers, who offer 55+ handpicked date ideas in Bristol. To book your own or browse their selection, visit www.datemakers.co.uk. If you fancy going on a Bristol24/7 blind date in a future issue of the magazine, email [email protected].