Blind date

I’m sceptical as to whether Mr Right really exists Was there a spark? Oh goodness, yes!

Every week, we send a couple out on a blind date. This time, George Bannister, 36, had dinner at Pied a Terre in Fitzrovia, London, with Siobhan Smith, 30.

George runs Blackoak, a property company, and lives in Taunton, Somerset. Siobhan, a project manager, lives in epsom, Surrey. Neither has ever been married.

SIOBHAN, 30, SAYS:

I AM tentatively looking to get back into the dating game. I’ve just come out of a four-year relationship and have moved out of the home we bought together.

I was expecting marriage and children together in the future. Unfortunately, he got cold feet and called it off.

It was horrible having to phone the wedding venue and explain that we weren’t going ahead. I’ve moved back home for now and am re-evaluating my future.

So when a friend put me forward for a blind date, I thought: ‘Why not?’

My mum says I need to find someone who is ‘marriage material’, but I’m sceptical as to whether Mr right really exists.

While George isn’t my normal type of guy, there was a little bit of chemistry between us. He’s fun and we got along really well.

He was waiting at our table when I walked in. I could see straight away that he is an attractive guy — even if he was wearing a polo shirt at a Michelin-starred restaurant!

As it turns out, that’s a good reflection of who George is, since he’s a very relaxed and outdoorsy type.

despite the shirt, my first impression was a positive one and I immediately felt relaxed in his company.

I had a glass of fizz to start with, while George is on a health kick and ordered a mocktail. We both had a starter and main course — George had quail, followed by roast pig, and I had an asparagus salad to start, then an artichoke dish.

George is chatty and funny and we soon discovered we have a lot in common. We both enjoy travelling and there isn’t much of the world we haven’t covered between us.

I spent a ski season in Canada, before travelling down the West Coast of America. And George took six months out to travel after establishing his company.

The evening passed by very quickly, which is always a good sign. It was strange to meet someone on a blind date and find that you have a similar outlook on life!

I’m quite spiritual and genuinely believe that everything happens to us for a reason. Sometimes, people roll their eyes at me when I explain that this is the way I choose to live. But George didn’t. I really liked him for that.

He was nice and attentive to me throughout the meal and I couldn’t find a fault in him or how the evening went.

And it goes without saying that he’s very easy on the eye.

Although George and I don’t live close to one another, we certainly haven’t ruled out meeting up again. At the end of the evening we walked to the Tube together and swapped numbers.

And, yes, we have been in touch since. George has offered to visit me in Surrey — watch this space!

LIKED? We shared a really great evening together. REGRETS? None.

COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee. Verdict: 9/10

GEORGE, 36, SAYS:

I doN’T normally get nervous. I’m at that point in my life where I’ve been on enough dates to know how to remain calm, so I prefer to use my energy to ensure the other person is at ease.

I’ve jumped out of an aeroplane 165 times — I’m an adrenaline junkie and love skydiving — so it takes a lot to faze me.

And yet, when Siobhan walked towards me, I lost it and became as nervous as a schoolboy on his first day! I just thought: ‘ Wow! She is smoking!’ Then, when she sat down and we began talking, I realised just how lovely she is.

We’re very similar in lots of ways. We’re both ambitious in our careers and have both travelled extensively.

She’s got a great outlook on life, too. She is the type of person I look for — someone who is content in herself.

The restaurant wasn’t the sort of place I’d usually go, as it’s very formal, but it was a positive experience. The waiter even explained every dish.

Between that and our chatter, there wasn’t a moment’s silence throughout the evening.

Was there a spark? oh goodness, yes. My benchmark is pretty high, and it’s true that, physically, she is stunning, but Siobhan is also a strong character. She definitely doesn’t just tell you what you want to hear, either.

But, at the same time, she is relentlessly positive and outgoing and these are attractive traits regardless of your looks.

only a couple of months ago, I had made the decision to give up on dating and relationships. I’d really had it with the dating apps. I’d been messed about and let down so often that I told myself to be content on my own.

Then Siobhan turned up to ruin my plans!

I’ve had only a handful of two-year relationships. I’m not someone who settles for secondbest and I don’t stay in a situation if it isn’t working. I’d rather be content on my own than stay unhappily with someone.

It’s not that I’m after perfection, either — just chemistry and a connection. As an only child, I used to be scared of everything. That’s why I’ve pushed myself so much as an adult. I launched two businesses and I surf, kickbox and have my skydiving licence.

Where I live in Somerset is a rural idyll but, unfortunately, a lot of women I’ve dated in the area don’t appreciate that running a business is a lifestyle choice, too.

I suspect I am a better match with someone who has the London career mentality.

A lot of men are threatened by a strong woman — I’m not. That is exactly the kind of person I need in my life. While this experience has pushed me out of my comfort zone, it has also opened my eyes to the fact that women like Siobhan do exist.

I messaged Siobhan afterwards. As crazy as it sounds, I’ve got a feeling about us. I know there is a geographical distance between us, but I want to take the opportunity to meet up again and spend the day together.

LIKED? It was really good to meet someone who’s on the same page.

REGRETS? None. I’d repeat the evening again in a flash!

COFFEE OR CAB? Coffee. Verdict: 9/10