Speed dating

By Sanchia Saunders

The Race for Love in the UK

People are always racing against time, whether that’s to get married, or to have kids, or to even get that promotion they’ve been working towards for the past 10 years. However, one thing in particular that people are racing towards is love, in all of its forms. Whether that’s platonic, romantic, friendship you name it. Just know that love is what the people, especially in the UK, are racing towards these days, and maybe a splash of financial stability, but that’s a story for another day.

The Rise of Speed Dating in the UK

With Glasgow being labeled the UK’s most Tinder-addicted city, followed by Birmingham, Liverpool, London, and Leicester, it is very apparent that the race is on. This is why with all this need for speed when it comes to searching for love, it is not a surprise that #speeddating is on the rise here in the UK. Even though it could be argued that speed dating was once an outdated concept, new reports have found that there has been a dramatic increase and demand for this form of dating in recent years.

Spotlight on London: The Hub of Speed Dating

With events app Shoobs stating, “Expect to meet around 20 people at the most popular speed dating event in London on Friday night”. It highlights how speed dating is making love more accessible for singles here in the UK. The Evening Standard reinforced this newfound appeal that speed dating is having, due to an article they released titled, “The rise of speed dating - and how to do it right”. This is because within this article they mention popular speed dating site, ‘True Dating’, where its founder Lucy states, “When I first started we were getting 30 people if we were lucky. Now we’re having to do two a week because we have so many people interested. We’ve even had a marriage and a baby in the space of just two years!”

Understanding Speed Dating: A Quick Guide

The definition of speed dating is very much all in its name, you’re dating but at a high speed and also with multiple people.  It’s dating, but accelerated, allowing you to meet multiple potential partners face-to-face in a short period. This format is gaining preference over online dating in the UK due to its directness and lower risk of deceit.This may appear daunting and arguably unsafe. However, here in the UK, this form of dating is very much preferred, as it is face to face without the element of potentially being catfished. You can suss out all the potential green, red, and beige flags all within the space of 5 minutes, and just have an old school stripped back date with no interference from the digital world.

Why Speed Dating Over Dating Apps?

Speed dating has popularised in recent years as singles are becoming bored of traditional dating methods. According to reports, 28-year-old executive assistant Kelly Carlson downloaded a popular dating app to put herself out there again. However, unfortunately, she found the experience disappointing, as she felt a lack of romance with the app. This could explain why singles are turning to speed dating to find love, as they are looking for that excitement and thrill again when it comes to searching for love. I personally feel like the pandemic has also played a large part in this surge of speed daters as we were locked down, unable to be outside and socialize in person with friends, family, and romantic partners. This is why I feel like singles are grabbing the reins and heading outside when it comes to looking for love.

Combating Loneliness with Speed Dating

However, it looks like there is a new epidemic on the rise, as according to Dr. Jeremy Nobel, “The world is becoming lonelier and there’s some very, very worrisome consequences,” and this is why speed dating is helping to combat loneliness especially among Gen Z and Millennials. As it's an experience which can be carried out alone or with friends and can be made into a fun experience and a way of getting yourself out there with other like-minded people who are in the same boat.

The Future of Dating: Speed Dating vs. Online Apps

With the rise of dating fatigue, is online dating becoming obsolete, or will the trend of swiping continue? Speed dating offers a compelling alternative, merging the thrill of real-life interactions with the efficiency of modern dating practices. Therefore with the rise of dating fatigue, does this mean that online dating is a thing of the past, or will you be sticking to swiping for love?

Credits:

• CyberCrew. (n.d.). *Dating statistics UK*. 
• Evening Standard. (n.d.). *Speed dating in London: Where to go*. 
• True Dating. (n.d.). 
• Shoobs. (n.d.). *Friday night speed dating in London ages 30-45*. 
• USA Today. (2024, April 3). *Speed dating is making a comeback: Is Gen Z done with dating apps?*. 
• USA Today. (2023, December 24). *Loneliness epidemic: U.S. Surgeon General’s solution*.