Advertisement

Blind date: ‘He was fully on board when I suggested we order champagne’

<span>Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian</span>
Photograph: Linda Nylind/The Guardian

Alizée, 25, advertising account manager, meets Rhys, 34, chef


Alizée on Rhys

Blind dates Alizée
Blind dates Alizée

What were you hoping for?
Good food, meeting someone interesting and that my date would be as tall as me (six-foot gal over here!)

First impressions?
Very smiley, smartly dressed and easygoing.

What did you talk about?
Our shared love of food, adventure and live music. We’ve done ski seasons in the same place, so we shared the juicy stories of what happened there. And my work in the advertising world.

Blind date is Saturday’s dating column: every week, two strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been running since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here.

What questions will I be asked?
We ask about age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions cover everything you would like to know, tell us what’s on your mind.

Can I choose who I match with?
No, it’s a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests, preferences, etc – the more you tell us, the better the match is likely to be.

Can I pick the photograph?
No, but don't worry: we'll choose the nicest ones.

What personal details will appear?
Your first name, job and age.

How should I answer?
Honestly but respectfully. Be mindful of how it will read to your date, and that Blind date reaches a large audience, in print and online.

Will I see the other person’s answers?
No. We may edit yours and theirs for a range of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more details.

Will you find me The One?
We’ll try! Marriage! Babies!

Can I do it in my home town?
Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we would love to hear from people living elsewhere.

How to apply
Email blind.date@theguardian.com

Any awkward moments?
We both had a laugh when the restaurant misunderstood that we were on a blind date – they thought we were reviewing the restaurant.

Good table manners?
Faultless. We ate loads of small plates and he remembered what everything was, and always asked if I wanted to go first before trying the food.

Best thing about Rhys?
Being fully on board when I suggested we order a bottle of champagne.

Would you introduce him to your friends?
Yes, as a friend – he has lots of cool stories to share.

Describe Rhys in three words
Positive, attentive and well travelled.

What do you think he made of you?
Tall, outgoing, and he could see how much I love food and adventure.

Did you go on somewhere?
No.

If it weren’t for physical distancing, would you have kissed?
No, there wasn’t a spark unfortunately.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
The food was impeccable, and he was easy to chat to, but I’m sure he’ll agree there wasn’t any sexual chemistry. He was also a lot shorter than me.

Marks out of 10?
8.

Would you meet again?
Unlikely.

Rhys on Alyzée

Blind date, Rhys
Blind date, Rhys

What were you hoping for?
After everything that has happened in the last year, I was just very excited for the opportunity to go out, meet someone I’d never spoken to before and enjoy a fun evening.

First impressions?
Beautiful: wonderful eyes, great smile. Taller than me (and I was wearing my “Make me taller shoes”).

What did you talk about?
Winter, travelling, what we do for work, friends … A lot.

Any awkward moments?
Probably when I said cheers in Spanish and not French (Alizée speaks fluent French). Super smooth.

Good table manners?
Excellent. She was eating edamame beans with chopsticks. That takes some skill.

Best thing about Alizée?
Very easy to talk to, wonderfully personable, made me feel at ease.

Would you introduce her to your friends?
Absolutely.

Describe Alizée in three words
Ebullient, vivacious, well travelled.

Related: Blind date: ‘The screaming babies on the next table weren’t exactly mood-matching’

What do you think she made of you?
I’ll let her answer that!

Did you go on somewhere?
No, we said goodnight and went our separate ways.

If it weren’t for physical distancing, would you have kissed?
No.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?
Nothing.

Marks out of 10?
10.

Would you meet again?
Not knowingly, but if we ran into each other I know it would be a pleasure.

• Alizée and Rhys ate at Wild Heart Bar & Shokudo, London W1B. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com