Are you irritating your date?

We've all got our own people pet peeves, but according to a recent survey of over 8000 men and women there are a certain few that are particularly niggling on a first date. And interestingly, men and women ranked their annoyances differently.... 

Women were particularly anti their dates being over-confident, while they were more likely to be lenient if their date were late. The pie chart below breaks it down even more... 

Men, on the other hand, were most opposed to women being on their phones during a date, because they thought she would either be gossiping with her friends about him or talking to other men! 

If you know you're prone to a sneaky insta scroll/BBC news check up (each to their own) in someone else's company, make sure you keep the habit in check at least on a first date! However, 68% of women and nearly half of the men in the survey actually said they would prefer a night in + takeaway than going on a first date at all.... = 

Writing Your First Message

Writing the first message to an online match is not quite as simple as just saying hello… But it’s not rocket science either! 

To make a good first impression, think about some of the following when you’re writing your opening message to a HelloYou match:

o Keep it snappy. If you write too much straight away your match will only get bored/scared.

o Don’t use ‘text’ speak. It won’t make u sound lyk the intelligent individual that u r. 

o ‘Hi’ and ‘hey’ are likely to be yawned over. Get creative, get specific.

o Don’t copy and paste the same message! It might seem like a convenient cheat sheet to online dating, but generic messages are easy to spot. Putting in the time to write something that’s tailored to each person you speak to will pay off!

o Comment on something in their profile; this proves you’ve read it and it will make your match feel that you’re interested in them so they’ll be more interested to reply.

o If you read something in their profile that you have in common it’s a good thing to mention in your message.

o Don’t go on about yourself. 

o Ask a question; it makes it easier for them to reply!

o Don’t exaggerate or invent shared interests. 

So with all that in mind, here’s an example of a first message that would encourage a reply:

Hi Anna, 

Your interest in film really caught my eye when I read your profile; although I generally prefer comedy to drama, I definitely count the Godfather Trilogy among my favourite films too. I’ve never read The Great Gatsby though; why do you love it so much? 

Or something even shorter… 

New Zealand is my dream destination, but I’ve never been! What made you decide to leave? 

Give it a try yourself! Head back to www.helloyoudating.com to start looking for your next date. 

Making The Most Of Summer

In anticipation of the sunnier months to come, we’ve compiled a list of ideas for summertime activities that you could share with a date. Make sure you’re really making the most of the good weather while it lasts.

1. Day Trip

If you fancy a change of scene when the weather starts warming up, you don’t need to go far. As well as its beautiful seaside location, Brighton Pier offers carnival rides and fish and chips for your inner child, making for a picturesque and thoroughly enjoyable day out. Blackpool is a similarly charming alternative if you’re based a little further north.

2. Stargazing

On a clear night with a warm blanket and hot drink, stargazing is the perfect date night activity. Several meteor showers are forecast for July and August 2015, so if you time it right you could be lucky enough to see some truly magnificent shooting stars. For the tech savvy among you, there are even downloadable apps, such as Distant Suns that identify the constellations in the sky overhead.  

3. Open-air Cinema

Open-air cinemas are becoming more and more popular, turning this typical rainy day activity into something perfect for summer. Temporary screenings are popping up everywhere; choose The Luna Cinema for light-hearted classics, Backyard Cinema for a more intense and personal viewing experience, or just drop by the The Scoop at London Bridge for Thames-side, free films as summer stretches into September.

4. Theatre

If you’re a bigger fan of theatre than film, there’s no reason to overlook it as a potential summer outing. London’s West End has an endless supply of dramas, comedies and musicals to suit your taste so an early alfresco dinner followed by an evening’s theatrical entertainment is hard to beat. Whether it’s the ABBA soundtrack of Mamma Mia! or modern classic War Horse that takes your fancy, theatre definitely offers something for everyone.

5. Ice cream

This might seem simple, but grabbing an ice cream after dinner could act as the perfect icebreaker for your date. Making you nostalgic about summers past it will make you feel more relaxed and get conversation flowing as you start reminiscing. Be sure to try the ‘breakfast in Turin’ – a milky coffee flavour with fine fragments of dark chocolate - at Covent Garden's Gelatorino, or take your date to Sicily on a budget in the form of Soho's Gelupo.  Gelato Mio is another safe bet for tasty flavours whether you're in Notting Hill, Fulham, St John's Wood or Muswell Hill. 

6. Picnics

Summer picnicking is idyllic regardless of who you’re with, but it’s a particularly good way to spend a date. Complete with lemonade and sausage rolls to make it a truly British affair it’s the perfect way to relax while making the most of a summer’s day. If you’re feeling indulgent you could even buy a hamper instead of making up your own; The Bull and Last in Hampstead does one at £40 for two people, and the Heath is certainly a good location to set up your alfresco dining. 

7. Rooftop bars/Restaurants

There are countless rooftop dining options across London, offering romance with a view. Our top picks are the Millbank Tower’s Sky Bar or the Rooftop Bar at the Trafalgar Hotel, that almost puts you eye to eye with Nelson’s Column (although this one’s very pricey – so make it a real treat!).

15 Signs You've Been Single Too Long

1.You only have baked beans or Pot Noodles in your cupboard: 

You’re now actually considering those cans that have an entire English breakfast inside them (yes, these exist). The idea of cooking for more than one is baffling.

2. Besides, you rarely even eat at the table anymore:

Sofa, bed, bathtub… Crumbs, crumbs everywhere.

3. You start Facebook stalking your exes:

And comparing yourself to their new partner… CHECK YOURSELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YOURSELF. This is going nowhere positive.

4. Your ex no longer refers to you as his ex:

He’s had about four girlfriends since you were together; you’re lucky if he even remembers your surname.

5. Nobody dares ask about your dating life anymore: 

This includes extended family members who you haven’t seen in God knows how long. You were single at Aunt Joan’s 87th, so they all know to keep quiet about it now that she must be pushing 90.

6. You ‘starfish’ across the entire bed: 

You can barely even remember which is ‘your side’ anymore. Either you’re spooning one of your pillows to replace a significant other, or you’ve totally given in and now sleep centre stage with limbs stretched out to the maximum.





7. When you tell people how long you’ve been single, they gasp:

They don’t even pretend to hide their shock; they know that YOU know how bad it is too.

 8. No one bothers to offer you a plus one anymore:

And to be honest, you’re slightly relieved. It let’s you off having to take the snob from work as your date, who goes on about wanting to ‘do Africa properly one day’ as he brushes back his receding hairline and comments in French on the depth of the wine.




9. You start missing your ex: 

So he’s in prison now, is that really so bad? Surely you can let the little things slide…

10. You’ve begun to hate people in relationships with an alarming intensity:

You also detest anything to do with love. This means you’re in forced hibernation for the two months either side of Valentine’s Day for risk of destroying shop displays in a blind rage.




11. ‘2 for £10’ meal deals are go-to dinners for you alone



12. You've gone off Sundays: 

They were only invented for smug couples who want to laze in bed with the paper and go for cosy pub lunches, anyway. Who knew you’d ever get sick of twelve-hour stints in front of Netflix in your pyjamas?

13. Your dating standards drastically drop:

The guy with a parole tag on his ankle was sweet in his own way.

 14. Your Internet search history becomes something to be deeply ashamed of: 

May even include egg/sperm-freezing research.

15. Your call history paints a tragic picture: 

Mum, dad, mum, dad… Peppered with the occasional check in from a friend.




GET BACK OUT THERE, all you have to do is say Hello…