Richard, 63, a communications consultant, and Katrina, 60, a GP, were paired for a blind date at Marmo in Bristol. Both have shared their honest verdicts.
Richard on Katrina
Richard hoped for “Easy conversation with someone interesting, smart and relaxed.” His trepidation vanished on arrival: “Katrina arrived and my blind date trepidation vanished. She looked good, was warm, and the conversation flowed straight away.”
They talked about “Our grownup kids. Running. Travel. Our devotion to our coffee machines.” The most awkward moment came when Richard thought Katrina was still drinking her mint tea: “I thought Katrina was still working her way through her post-meal mint tea, so was taken aback when she said, ‘Shall we call it a night?’” He praised her table manners as “Impeccable.” The best thing about Katrina, he said, is that “She is great company.”
Richard described Katrina as “Calm, warm, open.” He believed she found him easy company: “She laughed at a few things I said, and we had quite a few things in common, so I think she felt I was easy company.”
On going elsewhere, Richard joked: “As we left the restaurant and saw a queue of young people outside a bar, I joked that we should join them for a club night. We didn’t.” There was no kiss. He said he would not change a thing: “Nothing. I had a fun evening with a lovely woman and don’t think it could have been improved.”
He gave the date “A strong 8” and would meet again: “I really enjoyed Katrina’s company, we talked and laughed a lot. So of course.”
Katrina on Richard
Katrina was hoping “To finally meet “the one”.” Her first impression of Richard was “Polite, relaxed and quietly handsome.” Their conversation covered “Coffee snobbery – our coffee machines (identical), the best beans, our children aspiring to own the same machine.” Her only awkward moment was arriving late.
She found his table manners “Impeccable. Attentive without ever being overbearing.” The best thing about him was that he’s “a great conversationalist.” She would introduce him to her friends and described him as “Warm, genuine, polite.”
She hoped Richard saw her as “warm, approachable and engaging.” They didn’t go on anywhere: “We looked at the club opposite, but agreed that wasn’t going to happen.” The goodbye was “a polite and rather formal goodbye” – no kiss.
Katrina said she would change little: “Honestly, not much. I really enjoyed the evening, and for a blind date it exceeded my expectations.” She scored the date “9/10.” Would she meet again? “Possibly, as friends – I’m not sure there was a romantic spark, but I really enjoyed his company. I’d happily introduce him to the joys of the hill at Ashton Court parkrun.”
Overall verdict
Richard and Katrina ate at Marmo in Bristol. Both enjoyed the evening, scoring it 8/10 and 9/10 respectively, though neither felt a romantic spark and there was no kiss.
