Two strangers, both aged 24, recently stepped into the spotlight of The Guardian's long-running Blind Date column, sharing their experience of a dinner meet-up in the heart of London. Dara, a trainee accountant, was paired with Alexia, who works in healthcare, for the popular weekly feature.
The Date: From Flamingos to Function Rooms
The pair met at The Trafalgar in London SW3, where their conversation flowed from the quirky to the profound. They discussed topics as varied as a fugitive flamingo from a Cornish zoo, dream trips to South America, and their ideal last meals. A shared laugh was had over the frequent use of the word "impeccable" by past blind daters when describing table manners.
An amusing moment arose when the maitre d' mistakenly believed they were restaurant critics, offering them a detailed history of the venue and even a tour of a soundproofed function room downstairs. The only real awkwardness came when an order for a bottle of wine was misheard, resulting in two individual glasses.
First Impressions and Mutual Marks
Both daters entered the evening with simple hopes. Dara wanted "a fancy meal with some good company," while Alexia sought a kind and funny experience. Their first impressions were positive, with Dara noting Alexia was "very smiley and easy to talk to," and Alexia commenting on Dara's friendly nature and "strong" name.
When it came to scoring the night, both independently gave it a solid 8 out of 10. The main thing they would have changed? The weather. Both arrived soaked from a torrential downpour, with Alexia lamenting her resulting frizzy hair.
After Dinner: The Pub and Future Plans
Despite the convenient location of a register office next door to the restaurant, the couple opted for a more casual continuation. They headed to a pub near the station for a couple more drinks, extending their evening in a relaxed setting.
When asked about a potential romantic spark, both confirmed there was no kiss, just a courteous goodbye hug on the Tube later. Looking ahead, both are open to meeting again, but see a future as friends. Alexia even suggested they could pretend to be Michelin reviewers at other establishments.
In their final three-word summaries, Dara described Alexia as warm, funny, energetic, while Alexia found Dara to be warm, polite, attentive. The Guardian's Blind Date column, running since 2009, continues to offer a candid glimpse into the world of modern dating, one matched dinner at a time.
