Dash off a date

DATING, like fashion, is prone to fads that seem a good idea at the time but are soon consigned to the back of the wardrobe. Those luminous pink leg warmers that York girls seem so keen on wearing during a night on the tiles are sure to go the same way as supermarket singles nights - filed under "cringingly embarrassing experiences".

But the latest craze in the search for romance is set to become as common a part of the language as "alco-pops" and "texting".

While singles in London and Leeds have been experiencing the thrills of speed-dating for months, this dating agency-cum-singles bar rolled into three minutes has only just arrived York.

And as a single young woman finding it nigh on impossible to meet new people, I was keen to give speed-dating a try. After all, if it was good enough for Carrie and the girls in Sex And The City as they scoured New York for true love and a man with a massive wallet, surely even I could be satisfied?

Gathering together a band of willing recruits - Helen Grieves, Jess Fisher and Adam Green - we set off to Kites in Grape Lane, where Sophie Hainsworth, York's own version of Cilla Black, was hosting her second speed-dating event.

Although Sophie had assured me beforehand that the evening would be relaxed, we couldn't help feeling a little nervous as we walked towards Kites. What if we had nothing to say to these people or if there was some cruel scoring system in operation that threatened to shatter our illusions that we were reasonably attractive, intelligent and eligible young people? And what if we had spinach stuck in our teeth? It could all go so horribly wrong.

The nerves continued when we arrived at our destination and were ushered upstairs to the private bar and lounge, where our mission would take place.

Having signed up with our names and contact details, collected our number badge and sipped on our complimentary glasses of wine, we couldn't help noticing that the girls severely outnumbered the boys; not that Adam was complaining.

An hour and a half - and a couple of G and Ts - later, there were 13 women and 11 men, ready and raring to go.

Sophie led us to a room which was set out into individual tables or sofas, complete with numbers and candles.

The girls were told to sit at the spot which corresponded to their number and the men with the same number would join them when the gong sounded. After three minutes, the gong would sound again and the man would move to the next table. To aid conversation, Sophie would give us an optional topic to discuss each time. We were also armed with paper and pens - pink for the girls, blue for the boys - to allow us to make notes.

At the end of the session, we would have time to leave notes for people on a pinboard of envelopes - again pink and blue - each with the numbers of the daters on them. It was as simple as that.

The dating started in earnest. We discovered that three minutes goes quickly when you are trying to find out if someone is suitable for a quiet drink, never mind just possibly sharing your life with. Quite often you would still be talking as they shook your hand and moved on to the next person.

During the course of the evening, I met a variety of men, all friendly and with something interesting to say. Everyone was taking the event as a bit of a laugh.

I met a financial clerk, a psychiatric nurse, a factory worker from Selby, a property developer who refused to tell me his age, a bloke who said he dealt in art from Nepal, an 18-year-old who had just finished at college, a graduate interested in journalism, a music student and an optician whose first rock gig was AC-DC in 1982 - the year after I was born.

But although the men weren't unattractive, I just didn't fancy any of them. In fact, being a rather picky person, I knew as soon as each one sat down that I probably wasn't going to be won over in three minutes.

Then again, if I had gone through a dating agency, I could have spent 11 evenings meeting these people. With one evening a week free to go on dates, that's almost three months of failing to find love.

My companions also failed to find anyone who made sparks fly, but we all agreed that it was an entertaining night out.

Adam's verdict on the experience was: "I thought it was really good fun. I think it would good to come again but it might be a bit sad!"

While Helen observed: "It is really interesting to talk to people who you would not normally approach in a bar." Jess felt the atmosphere was like being at a private party and said: "I wish I'd more of a chance to chat to some of the girls too because it was an interesting group of people."

Speed-dating is the perfect way to meet new people and have a bit of a giggle. There is no pressure, no obligation and no need to be stuck talking to someone all evening who makes you want to pull your eyes out with pins. Perfect when your life is as hectic as mine!

While I didn't leave with a new man in tow, a very nice man called Carl did leave me his number. I don't think I'm going to call him but its definitely nice to have the option.

Speed-dating at Kites, Grape Lane. Tickets are £10. Email Sophie on sophiehainsworth@hotmail.com for more information

Updated: 08:58 Tuesday, June 24, 2003