Richard, a 63-year-old communications consultant, and Katrina, a 60-year-old GP, met for a blind date at Marmo restaurant in Bristol. The evening was a resounding success on many fronts: both gave high marks—Richard an 8/10 and Katrina a 9/10—and praised each other's conversational skills and impeccable manners. However, the date ended without a kiss, and while Richard expressed a clear desire to meet again, Katrina remained open but leaning towards friendship.
First Impressions and Conversation
Richard admitted his initial trepidation vanished upon meeting Katrina. "She looked good, was warm, and the conversation flowed straight away," he said. Katrina, who arrived late, found Richard "polite, relaxed, and quietly handsome." Their conversation covered grown-up children, running, travel, and a shared devotion to their coffee machines—which turned out to be identical models. They delved into coffee snobbery, discussing the best beans and their children's aspirations to own the same machine.
Awkward Moments and Table Manners
The only awkward moment for Richard came when he thought Katrina was still sipping her post-meal mint tea, but she unexpectedly suggested calling it a night. For Katrina, the awkwardness was purely about her late arrival. Both praised each other's table manners: Richard called Katrina's "impeccable," and Katrina said Richard was "attentive without ever being overbearing."
Post-Date Reflections
After leaving the restaurant, they noticed a queue of young people outside a bar. Richard joked they should join them for a club night, but they didn't. When asked about a kiss, both confirmed there was none—just a polite and formal goodbye. Richard said he wouldn't change anything about the evening, describing it as "a fun evening with a lovely woman." Katrina echoed that sentiment, saying, "I really enjoyed the evening, and for a blind date it exceeded my expectations."
Future Plans and Ratings
Richard gave the date a strong 8 out of 10 and said he would definitely meet again, as he enjoyed Katrina's company and they laughed a lot. Katrina rated it 9 out of 10 but leaned towards friendship: "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."
About the Blind Date Column
This blind date is part of The Guardian's Saturday dating column, which pairs two strangers for dinner and drinks, then publishes their answers to a set of questions. The column has been running since 2009 and features a photograph of each dater taken before the date. Participants are asked about age, location, occupation, hobbies, and interests, and are encouraged to answer honestly but respectfully. The column is open to UK residents, with many applicants from London, but The Guardian welcomes applications from elsewhere. To apply, email blind.date@theguardian.com.
