Whether you're on a first date, or a fifty-first date, we all need inspiration sometimes … which is where 30 Dates comes in! Every week we showcase some of the best date venues in the City, to help you think out of the box. Afternoon Tea – The Lancaster Hotel A few months ago I had a really lovely dinner at the Island Grill at the Lancaster Hotel, so when I was invited back for afternoon tea, I jumped at the chance. I've always been a big fan of afternoon tea. It's one of those things I very rarely Read More

As daters, we're often told we're looking at the wrong things when it comes to finding a match. But a recent survey conducted by Pizza Express seems to suggest a rather unlikely source of new insight! Pizza toppings! International smell and taste expert Dr Alan Hirsh teamed up with the high street pizza chain to work out what your favourite toppings say about you … and which choices are most compatible in a partner. So is this a completely new idea? Dr Hirsh explains that the ideas behind ‘pizza personality' go back a long way.“It's long been known, thanks Read More

When you tell people you write a dating blog, one of the first things they will do is tell you dating stories. Romantic dating stories. Funny dating stories. Awful dating stories. Like most people, it's the bad dates which I tend to find most interesting. Mainly because I very rarely have bad dates. Over the two years I've been single, I've worked out ways to ensure I always have fun on a date … but not everyone is so lucky. This week I heard probably the funniest first date story I've ever heard. A friend of a colleague Read More

You know you've had one. So what did he teach you? Read More

2014 marks the start of celebrations, where online dating is concerned. This summer Guardian Soulmates celebrated its 10 year online anniversary, with a party at Guardian HQ, and My Single Friend has also now seen a decade of online dating. A number of the most well-known British dating sites began in the late naughties, so it looks like we've got lots of parties ahead of us! To celebrate MSF's achievement, the company through a special party for some of its many success stories, at The Fable, last week. Cutting the cake was none other than Sarah Beeny, who Read More