Pink Links

Speed dating? Mention that's your plan for the evening and reactions seem to suggest that you are insanely brave. It's not that bad, surely?

Initial reservations/terror were quickly placated at the event, Pink Links (speed dating for girls who like girls), downstairs at the Blue Moon. For starters, there was no initial, excruciating descent into a silently staring judgmental room, as I'd anticipated; we sat upstairs and enjoyed a bottle or two of Dutch courage before the lovely organiser beckoned us below come start time.

There, with about ten other giggly women, the details of the night were revealed. Rather than regimentally switching to the next table at the sound of a whistle, we were all scattered about the cosy venue and left to talk for roughly three and a half minutes, after which we all switched tables. Three and a half minutes was ideal for either running out of things to say, or being animatedly in the middle of something very very important - so that you'd simply have to meet up again and finish whatever it was you were saying.

The whole evening was relaxed, friendly and possibly the most pressure-free dating event I've attended. And afterwards, everyone having now been introduced, we all went off to the pub and got hammered. Brilliant start to a night out, something completely different, and a great way to meet new people. Strongly recommended.