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Inner Circle Launches ‘Good Date Guide’

Inner Circle has launched its 2022 ‘Good Date Guide’ – helping singles find the right places to meet and date.

Singles looking for the best places to meet their matches don’t have to look any further as the guide reveals the top ten date spots in London, uncovered by independent research and rated by an expert panel. The date locations range from high-end restaurants to hidden-gem pubs; secret rooftops with 360-views across the city, to venues with a competitive edge. 

With the pandemic behind us, the dating app commissioned research into singles’ favourite types of date, and what they value most in a date spot – as well as their favourite locations to impress across the City. It turns out that having to mix it up over the last couple of years has had a lasting impact on the sort of dates we enjoy, with activities coming out on top. When it comes to what people value most in a date location, atmosphere and vibes were ranked most highly, followed by food choices, location and comfort (the latter two perhaps the legacy of 18-months in sweatpants on the sofa). 

To check out the venues that came out as favourites, Inner Circle brought together a panel of experts, including dating expert Charly Lester, journalist Izzie Price – whose work on dating has featured across national and lifestyle titles, and Inner Circle member and part-time dating coach, Steve Hopper. The panel visited the 10 locations and gave each a Chemistry Calculation Score. The score is made up of how much each venue stimulated the senses – touch, taste, sound, smell and sight – and therefore how much potential there is at each to build great chemistry. 

  1. Dans Le Noir – Clerkenwell
  2. The Italian Gardens – Hyde Park
  3. Crown and Shuttle – Shoreditch
  4. Four Thieves – Battersea
  5. Cicchetti – Piccadilly
  6. Little Orange Door -Clapham Common
  7. Draughts – Waterloo
  8. The Nest – Fitzrovia
  9. Feya Cafe – Bond Street
  10. The Courthouse Hotel – Soho

David Vermeulen, Founder of Inner Circle, said: “The pandemic has thrown dating as we knew it up in the air. Before COVID, singles enjoyed the classic dinner and drinks. Chuck in 18 months of lockdown, park walks, and even worse – Zoom dating, people have reevaluated what they look for in a date. And it’s made us more creative. Our research shows that for date locations, a good vibe is key, meaning it doesn’t necessarily matter if there’s food or fancy cocktails. With the Good Date Guide, we’ve brought together the city’s favourite spots, and a top-of-their-game panel of experts and daters to rate them – all to get singles back out there IRL building great connections.”

Download the full 2022 guide here.

Luke Smith

Luke is the Editor for Global Dating Insights. Originally from London, he achieved a BA in Journalism from De Montfort University, Leicester. An experienced content writer, he enjoys a variety of sports, with a keen passion for his football team, Fulham FC.

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