In today's society, lots of interesting, pleasant and sociable people are commonly labelled as loners or even worse, 'eccentric' or 'difficult' only for being single. When you have been single for quite a while, chances are you won't get much understanding from your friends, family and not mention strangers. Contrary to such unfounded beliefs and misjudged opinions, most single people actually long for the opportunity to be recognized by the opposite sex and find their soul mate. However, they are confronted by a series of obstacles. (I hope you will find this introduction appropriate)

Some people simply lack the time to frequent bars, clubs and various other venues in search for a suitable date, while others actually dislike the entire process of looking randomly in such places. Due to busy schedules and demanding lifestyles, very few people can afford the luxury of going out more often in order to meet people of the opposite sex. In addition, when you live in a big, crowded and overwhelming city, you may find regular dating even more problematic. Fortunately, there are quite a few ways to overcome such obstacles and effortlessly interact with people of the opposite sex in an exciting, stylish and relaxed environment. Online dating is often considered a good option. But if you want to meet people face-to-face, speed dating combines the best of both worlds.

In essence, speed dating works like this: once you enrol for a speed dating event, you receive an identification tag (number tag or name tag), a 'scorecard' (helps you keep track of the people you are interested in) and detailed information about the 'basic rules' of speed dating events. After gathering a large number of guests (typically fifteen to twenty), speed dating organizers book a venue and plan the evening. Shortly after everyone has gathered, you will be introduced to your host for the night. They are there to make you feel at home and ensure that everyone has a good time during the event.

Once the event begins, you and the other participants will have between 3 to 10 minutes dating time with each person. You can then tick a box on your scorecard to remind you later whether you are interested in the person. If you are interested in the person only as a friend, you also have the option of ticking a 'friendship match' so that you can stay in contact in future. It's as simple as that! Speed dating events usually last for about an hour or two and when both people tick 'yes' they are notified after the event by email so that they can exchange contact details.

Speed dating is a relatively new concept, recently gaining a lot of exposure and positive feedback among people of all ages and social groups. Speed dating originated in the US and has been successfully introduced in many different European countries, including the UK. Surprising everyone with its simplicity and efficiency, and being regarded as a very fun, exciting and casual way of finding a suitable date, speed dating has rapidly become popular nationwide. As many people describe speed dating to be the quickest, simplest and most effective means of interacting with similar people of the opposite sex, the practice has been quickly adopted and promoted not only in London, but also in cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds.

Although at present the practice is popular everywhere in the UK, speed dating enjoys the best success in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds. If you wish to enrol for an efficient and well organized speed dating event in the UK, it is advisable to choose one of the locations mentioned above. In London, speed dating sites are carefully picked among the most fashionable venues in the city, and speed dating events are planned, organized and managed in great detail, so that everyone who participates in the program enjoys and benefits from the experience. Similarly, speed dating in Manchester is encouraged and supported by many different high-quality dating companies that strive to accommodate speed dating enthusiasts as well as possible.

When you sign up for a speed dating event, opt for a reliable and popular dating company that organizes these events and your chances of finding the perfect match will definitely improve. With a little luck, you will be able to find up to five matches during a single event. If not, at least you will have some fun and enjoy the night out. No matter how things turn out, you have nothing to lose from such an experience. In fact, many guests continue talking for hours afterwards with their friends about the evening.