Autumn Date Ideas

As September rolls in and we wave goodbye to summer and its rooftop bar, picnic in the park dates, we've got a whole new selection of autumn appropriate dates planned out for you. Whatever romance vibes take your fancy, here are a variety of suggestions for the next couple of months: 

Free Films at the Scoop

Whoever said open-air cinema was contingent on a balmy evening? Chillier weather is all the better for snuggling closer to your date anyway. Already underway over by London Bridge, there are three films a week playing at 19.30 until September 24th - and it's FREE to attend. Cheap daters rejoice! Features that will be playing include The Theory Of Everything, Still Alice and Zoolander (aka catering to all tastes); food and comfy cushions are  available to buy there. For full details, click here.

V&A

The beautiful building that houses the vast collection of the V&A is enough to qualify for a brilliant date destination in itself. Whether you and your date share an interest in the artistic histories of the museum's autumn exhibitions on Indian Storytelling or the History of Shoes (not just for ladies; this is a collection that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!) or you just want to check out one of London's most famous institutions, the V&A is a brilliant place to spend a date. Follow up your culture with a slice of cake in its incredibly ornate cafe downstairs. 

Deer-Spotting in Richmond Park

While Richmond Park can feel a little too off the beaten track for those of us who aren't Sheen locals, it's certainly worth travelling out to for a crispy leafed, snugly jacketed stroll one weekend.

If that's not a tempting view I don't know what is. Whether it's sunny and cold or plain old cloudy and cold, the huge expanses of space in Richmond are so unique in London that they inevitably make for a backdrop to truly lovely days out, especially when they feature the herds of deer that roam within the park. Treat your date to coffee and cake at nearby Petersham Nurseries afterwards.  

Merge Festival

This is another option for those of you looking to get out and about and make the most of London. Merge is an annual festival running from 18th September-18th October, that involves performances, installations and general happenings in the Bankside that draw their inspiration from the rich heritage and contemporary culture of the area. Details of individual events can be found on the festival website. And if the idea of a funky filled month of art and creativity doesn't draw you in, could I tempt you by the fact that most of the events are free? 

Inhale your drink at Alcoholic Architecture

Step back in time/ into a literal cloud of alcohol at notoriously wacky bar Bombas and Parr's latest installation; a walk-in cloud of breathable cocktail. As the bar itself is located on the site of an ancient monastery, the drinks list is comprised entirely of spirits and beers created by monks; Chartreuse, Benedictine and Buckfast - a fortified wine against which Scotland's parliament is allegedly passing laws to stop it entering their country - to name a few. Don't worry about becoming too intoxicated - you're only allowed to be inside for 50 minutes, and breathing in the cloud is only equivalent to one drink. I might not recommend this one for a first date (unless you're feeling particularly adventurous) but it's a very unique and fun place to try at some point.

The Thames Festival

Totally Thames brings the river to life with a month-long season of river-related events: art, music, open days, talks, walks and boats galore. Browse the events on their website - there are literally too many great ones on offer to know what to recommend, although TimeOut has given it a go! There are discounts and deals for riverside dining and 2 for 1 tickets on river transport - i.e. a romantic river cruise followed by dinner overlooking the twinkling city lights... Is there anything more romantic? 

Open House London

London's annual nosy-parker dream weekend is happening on September 19th and 20th: the chance to go into some of the city's most intriguing and iconic buildings that are usually closed to the public. Most destinations are free; all you need to do is show up. Browse their website to choose which buildings you'd most love to go into and plan your day by location or type of building. This is a fun and unique way to spend a date, and offers loads of conversation topics between you and your date. 

Pop Art at the Tate Modern

Last art feature I promise, but the highly anticipated World Goes Pop exhibition is another one not to be missed. Won't your date be impressed by your vast artistic intrigue and knowledge?! Celebrating Western consumer culture with its bright, bold displays, the exhibition also highlights the role that this art movement played in political dissent across the world in the 1960s and 70s. Plus, after a whizz round the exhibition you'll find yourselves wonderfully close to the buzzing Southbank and its endless riverside happenings. The perfect chance for you to get involved in the Thames festival! 

Alice in Wonderland Inspired Drinks

QUICKLY - the quirkiest of summer pop-ups comes in the form of Chambord Chapter Eight Games, which will be in full swing from 10th-13th September in Dalston. Find the special door and emerge into a world of curious delights, highlights of which include delicious cocktails, scrumptious French-American burgers from Le Bun and, naturally, flamingo croquet. A game that few can play well but most of us can take an optimistic crack at, an evening of croquet is surprisingly enjoyable when spend sipping on a raspberry liqueur cocktail. 

So with that diverse selection of date ideas to keep you busy for the next few months, make sure you've signed up to HelloYou to find yourself a special someone to enjoy them with!

9 Facts Of Flirting

Flirting can be a hideous chore if you don’t know what you’re doing, but it quickly becomes fun and light hearted once you’re a little more clued in! 

Here are some tips for what to do…

1. Practice makes perfect – if striking up a conversation is daunting, you’re going to need to feel the fear and do it anyway! Chat to everyone; barrista, postman, people in the lift at work, and you’ll feel far more ready to talk to Mr/Miss Right when they come round the corner.

2. And don’t get too worked up about how to start that conversation; say hello, smile, and see where it goes from there.

3.     Use their name regularly (but obviously within reason)! People love this; it makes them feel instantly close to you, and that you’re really engaged and interested in what they’re saying.

4.     Use body language appropriately. Subtly mirroring their actions when they speak to you will make a person feel more at ease, although if they’re hunched or closed up it’s better to maintain an open, welcoming stance to encourage them to relax too. Even touching their arm or shoulder lightly when they make a joke can be a great way of making your companion feel closer with you as well.

5.     Be sincere with your compliments and don’t overdo them!

6.     Be confident – if you believe you’re great, others will too.

7.     Be a good listener. It’s often said that people love to talk about themselves, so by asking questions and being attentive to the answers you’re giving your companion what they want, which is likely to make them enjoy spending time with you.

8.     If you’ve got a funny bone, use it! Laughter is attractive and always a great icebreaker.

9.     Being playful is another light-hearted way to encourage sparks between you and your love interest. Teasing and joking will ease a situation and by creating funny jokes and secrets just between the two of you it will make you feel like you’ve known each other for longer. That ‘partner in crime’ vibe is a lovely way to get closer to someone.

The only thing left to do is start! Head back to HelloYou to sign up and get flirting.

Open-air Date Ideas

Despite the apparent rarity of warm weather in the British Summer, it's better to have a portfolio of outdoorsy date options up your sleeve for when the sun does come out, than be left feeling mopey as everyone else enjoys the good weather. Here are a selection of open-air date suggestions so that whether you're spending them with a partner, friend or first date, your summer evenings can be spent more memorably than just outside the pub (although it's fair to say you'll be doing a bit of that, too):

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

A night at the Regent's Park Theatre is as much the experience as it is the theatre itself - and both are wonderfully unique. Whether you attend a matinee or evening performance, the options for dining are vast. Either bring-your-own or pre-order a reserved seating picnic, grab lunch or dinner from the light menu at their Summer Cafe, have a burger from the BBQ that's set up specifically for performances or even treat yourself to fine dining in the fairy lit, covered restaurant that overlooks the theatre bar. Be sure to bring blankets for the show itself and you won't be disappointed as your entertainment unfolds to a backdrop of fading light and bird calls; a truly brilliant way to spend a summer's day. 

Luna Cinema

Although one of many open air cinemas around this summer, Luna Cinema is made special by its locations and facilities at each screening. They offer blankets, and comfy, sofa-replacement wedges for your back so you literally don't need to haul any kit there with you. Films range from Some Like It Hot to The Theory of Everything, in some of the UK's most beautiful castles and parks catered with wood-fired pizzas, street style BBQ food and cheesy, movie-classic nachos to enjoy during the screenings. 

Festival Of Love

The Southbank Centre is celebrating humankind's most overwhelming (and our personal favourite) emotion in the form of two months' worth of installations, activities, pop-ups and performances this summer. It features food pop-ups such as Bleecker St Burger's shack, which will sell American craft beer and their fantastic NY-style burgers, and Snog frozen yoghurt being sold from a pink routemaster bus. You can even dine on cocktails and oysters from atop a double decker if you're feeling fancy. Some weekends are theme-specific, including Big Wedding Weekend, which involves mass ceremonies in which couples may actually wed, renew their vows or convert their civil partnership into marriage; reckon this is something worth seeing! Even if you just go for the afternoon to look around, there's no doubt your date will appreciate the chance to build a sandcastle Thames-side at the festival's urban beach.

The Nomad

While slightly smaller scale than Luna, The Nomad is another open air cinema destination that is popping up in squares and parks around London this summer. Locations include Brompton Cemetery, Middle Temple Gardens and Hyde Park Lido, where you could be watching classics like West Side Story or The Breakfast Club, or newer hits such as Whiplash. Being a slightly more make-do affair, we'd recommend bringing all your own food, drink and comforts - definitely including blankets to sit on and jumpers to wrap up in. This is England, after all.

Drinks With A View

'Want to grab a drink?' This age old date invite either foreshadows a painfully tedious evening with Mr/Mrs Extremely Wrong, OR signals an opportunity to get to know someone who you could actually really like! Improve the likelihood of making a good impression on that potential love interest by getting high with them. And no, that isn't an endorsement of illegal substances. Get above the masses and the smokey city streets to one of London's rooftop bars. Top recommendations are Queen Elizabeth Roof Garden & Cafe, Queen Of Hoxton, or Dalston Roof Park if you fancy a casual vibe. Head for Kensington Roof Gardens or Radio Roof Bar on the Strand for something a little swankier. Go for Sky Garden for the full panoramic London view experience. You could even book a table for dinner too if you're feeling confident... 

Backyard Cinema

Screening a mixture of blockbusters and lesser-known talent on two screens in Camden Market throughout the summer, Backyard Cinema offers cinema comfort in an unusual setting. It's straightforward; three ticket options give you the choice to include a drink and a burger from renowned pop up turned pro, Honest Burger, with your movie, with a movie ticket alone costing £16.50. Perhaps a little pricey, but considering the cost of Vue these days... For a fun and personal feeling movie-experience, this is certainly worth it. 

Active Date Ideas

Table Tennis

If you’re wondering whether table tennis can be counted as ‘active’, you’re in need of a trip to one of London’s dedicated ping-pong bars. Although it will reveal your carefully masked competitive side that should arguably remain hidden until marriage, it’s worth the risk for the pizza-fuelled fun you can find at locations like Bounce or The Game. Besides, if you make it to the next date after mercilessly defeating your partner in a tournament you’ll know that they must be a keeper.

Pedalo

Pedalo-ing is the perfect activity, placing you side by side with your date as you work together to power your boat up and down the Serpentine. Combining many opportunities for people watching on the riverbanks with the entertaining challenge of syncing your pedalling speed with that of your date’s, it’s an entertaining and romantic way to spend a summer afternoon – especially if your boat has one of those flat bathing platforms (although this is better suited for a picnic than taking a dip). Regent’s Park is another lovely location to rent boats, where you can also choose to do rowing if you reckon your coordination and biceps are up to it!

Punting in Oxbridge

For those of you who want to get out on the water in even more of a rural oasis, take the one hour train ride out to Oxford or Cambridge to go punting. Tours are available to join, such as Cambridge’s 45 minute College Backs Tour, that guides you along a one mile stretch of the Cam past some of the university’s palatial colleges, but you can also take a punt at renting your own punt. Beginners will probably bounce from ‘bank to bank’ through Oxford’s Botanic Gardens, but these gondola-length boats provide an idyllic day out regardless of your captain’s skill. Nab a cheap picnic from a local Sainsbury’s and even take a dip in the water if you’re feeling brave.

Bikram Yoga

Bear with me! This isn’t completely insane. To those in the know, Bikram Yoga is a yoga class in forty-five degree heat that leaves you unimaginably sweaty but (hopefully) feeling pretty amazing. Sharing that experience and the natural high that follows it with your date is a great way to connect and build a positive energy between you. If you’re worried about the red-faced, drenched-in-sweat aspect of it, just think of it as pre-empting the inevitable. Every couple eventually has to reach that ‘this is what I really look like’ milestone; why not get it over with early on? Fierce Grace has studios across London, there’s Hot Bikram Yoga at London Bridge and Sohot Bikram in Victoria.

Bowling

Bowling is another active date idea that’s well worth the risk of revealing your competitive streak. At All Star Lanes, which is in four locations across London, you can settle yourself down on diner booth sofas with chips and a beer between strikes as you smugly watch your date bowl straight down the gutter. Alternatively, hold out for a well-earned meal of BBQ ribs/pizza/burgers after your game. Bloomsbury Bowling even has karaoke rooms… Bowling is fun and (mostly) everyone can do it – what’s not to love?

Mini-golf

Another one with that sweet element of competition… Mini golf can be a hole load of fun, and there are plenty of opportunities for it in the capital. Test your skills at Plonk! In Dalston, where you can drown your sorrows in cocktails if your date wins, or hold out for Swingers London in Shoreditch that’s opening in December. Housed in a two storey clubhouse from December 2015, it will feature two 9-hole crazy golf courses alongside street food outlets, MULTIPLE cocktail bars, a terrace overlooking the golfing mayhem and other games to keep you busy while you’re off the course. Complete your date by taking advantage of the various golfing euphemism opportunities and you’ll be in for a real treat.

Cycling

Cycling in London is a revelation. Especially when you’re central, biking rarely takes longer than the tube and even if you’re a true London local it will reveal secrets of the city that you were previously blind to. Tally Ho! Cycle tours are a lovely way to see the sights, but opt for their Gin & Food Tour to avoid the crowds and get a snack/G&T in during your ride. If you’re looking for a more romantic experience they also offer private tours, but if it’s quality time with you’re date that you’re after just grab a couple of Boris Bikes (although we’re calling them Santander Bikes now…) and seek out a cosy coffee shop or pub at the end of your journey. The Attendant in Fitzrovia, located in a former Victorian toilet (funky not gross), is an interesting choice for coffee, and Hampstead’s Spaniard’s Inn or Brixton’s Grand Union feature just two of London’s many beer gardens for romantic sundown drinks.

Brunch Date Ideas

More than just instagram fodder for rich and famous twenty-somethings, brunch is a meal that manages to be settling, savoury and cheekily sweet all in one go. It’s so wonderful that not even first date nerves can taint it. In fact, it’s the ideal date situation; none of the formality of dinner nor the platonic vibe of lunch, and even if you overdo it on bloody marys you’re unlikely to be at risk of drinking yourself under the table. Even if the date itself is a disaster, it won’t have been a total waste because you will still have eaten brunch! Brunch is never a waste. Here’s where we recommend for a getting-to-know-you over a plateful of that sacred breakfast lunch combo:

Regency Café

                                                    

Tucked away in the backstreets between Westminster and Pimlico since 1946, Regency’s art-deco exterior and Formica-topped tables are true greasy spoon originals. You order at the counter before getting your table, and although there’s a permanent queue it’s fast moving and gives you time to decide what you want to order. This isn’t much of a dilemma though - arrive hungry and go for the set breakfast of egg, bacon, sausages, beans, toast and tea or coffee for £5.50. Slick service, huge portions, and your order is announced loudly from the counter when it’s ready. This is a charming piece of old London and definitely worth a visit.

The Wolsely

Going to the Wolsely comes with a luxury sense of occasion; book a table in advance and impress your date with a morning of refined grandeur that’s somehow cosy at the same time. The Full English is well worth the food coma that comes after it, the scrambled eggs and smoked salmon offers a lighter, similarly tasty alternative, and the huge choice of pain au delicious pastries shouldn’t be ruled out either. Its lesser known sibling, The Delauney, is another special spot worth visiting.

Granger & Co

Go early to avoid queues (before 10am), and order a takeaway coffee for while you’re waiting if you do get there a little later. The Australian themed menu puts a light, healthier slant on your traditional brunch choices and is particularly known for its magically fluffy scrambled eggs and ricotta hot cakes. The bright, relaxed atmosphere of Granger & Co is ideal for easy conversation with your date while you eat.

No 67

Situated within Peckham Road’s South London Gallery, No. 67 boasts a soaring space, huge windows and bright natural light. Whether you’re seated inside or out in one of the winding gardens, it’s a brilliant place for brunch followed by a browse through the gallery’s exhibitions. The ‘Full Spanglish’ is a particularly popular Spanish-fusion option that we would recommend.

Kopapa

Kopapa offers creative, innovative fusion meals throughout the day, but their weekend brunch between 9am and 4pm is particularly unique and not to be missed. Try not to arrive before your sweet tooth kicks in for the day, because the salted caramel shake is to die for. Whether you go for lighter options like their fruit salad and granola mix or something a little heartier, such as their renowned ‘Turkish Eggs’, the unusual blend of tastes won’t disappoint.

Greenberry Café

Greenberry is more than just another of Primrose Hill’s pop-up cafes; it has a comfortable, fresh atmosphere and menu to match, both of which are worth going there for. The later it gets the more it fills up with families and dogwalkers on a weekend, but if you’re there early-ish or on a weekday you can get breakfast with an inoffensive twist and enjoy it in the café’s lovely interior. Hickory smoked baked beans and chorizo on toast are amazing if you fancy something warming, and ordering their quinoa porridge is a quicker and probably more delicious alternative to making that health-craze porridge variation yourself. 

Duck and Waffle

40 floors up, Duck and Waffle at the Heron Tower isn’t a bad place to have brunch. Many of the window tables (these have the best views) are for two diners only, making this an ideal restaurant for a date. Prices are also sky high, but with the glass lift and panoramic vistas of London, you’re paying for more than your food. Opt for the signature dish of duck and waffle; it might seem like an unusual combination but let the success of the place speak for itself and trust that it’s a tasty dish!

How To Fill Out Your Online Dating Profile

Don’t worry if you draw a blank when asked to introduce yourself in three words or with an interesting fact; most of our members say that the self-description aspect is the toughest part about the entire online dating process. To make it simpler we’ve put together some tips and examples on how to turn your clichés into quirks and help your personality come through as much as it can in those few short sentences.

1.     Straight to the point

Of course you want your description to say as much about you as possible, but that doesn’t mean you need to write an essay. If you focus on just a few interesting things about yourself it will make you stand out in the crowd more than someone who tells their whole life story.

2. Honesty is the best policy

Lying on your profile is not going to get you anywhere! Whether you lie in your description or elsewhere on your profile (e.g. about your height or age), it won’t help you past the first date. As soon as you meet them the truth will come out, and besides, why base your relationship on dishonesty?

3.     Be specific

Lists of adjectives don’t make an impact. Saying you’re ‘loyal, funny and down to earth’ is meaningless when there are thousands of other profiles that promise the same. Saying you’re ‘a fan of comedy films and pop music’ is also pretty unremarkable. Instead, focus on what makes you unique. If you do love comedies, what’s your favourite? If you’re a traveller, where is the best place you’ve been? Where do you dream of going one day? Music, sport, theatre, art, TV, literature… Tell us why you love it; tell us specifics that you love! Detail makes you more personable, makes you stand out, and makes it easier for someone to start a conversation; all of which will help you with getting a date.

4.     Modesty

While it’s great to be confident, boasting is unattractive. There’s a clear line between the two – we recommend that you don’t cross it! If you’re unsure about your profile in this respect, why not ask a friend or family member to read over it? They’ll be able to tell you if you’re blowing your own trumpet too much.

Things you could include in your personal description –

·      Hobbies and pastimes

·      Who you like spending time with

·      When you’re happiest

·      What qualities are most important to you in a partner

·      Your best quality

·      Something you’re proud of

·      Achievements

·      Favourite memories

·      Favourite food

·      Favourite film

·      Favourite band (…you get the idea!)

And don’t forget – whatever you choose, make it unique to you! Now head back to HelloYou to give it a go.

Good Luck!