Dominic (left)
Age: 25
Occupation: Support worker
Padraig (right)
Age: 27
Occupation: Journalist
What were your first impressions?
Dominic: Thank goodness he’s not the size of a house and is dressed for the occasion.
Padraig: Great smile, eyes, teeth and hair, the first things I notice about a guy. He said he was glad I wasn’t like Peter from Family Guy — we laughed because I thought the same thing!
Would you have swiped left or right?
D: Truthfully, before our date based purely on looks I’d have swiped left as he seemed a little young looking and I usually swipe older guys.
P: Definitely right.
How was the conversation and what did you talk about?
D: I had a cocktail or two to calm my nerves first so the conversation flowed well. We discussed a lot: from work and TV, to social anxiety. And the thing you never should on a date — ex boyfriends.
P: We chinwagged about Beyoncé (the twins news came an hour before) and he didn’t know Jay-Z was the father, the differences when living alone — he has his own place and I’m in a house share — and why gay men are mummy’s boys.
Were there any dealbreakers?
D: Not at my end. I was really pleased with the whole experience.
P: He lives in Bournemouth and I live in London. But I’ve done long distance before. 
What do you think he thought of you?
D: Maybe that I was a little tipsy, possibly a bit of a chav next to him! But going on what he told me, I’d say he enjoyed my company and thought I was a fun, genuine person.
P: He texted me the next morning saying he thought I was handsome. I returned the compliment. I hope I didn’t ask too many questions though — there’s a fine line between being interested and interrogation.
How was the food?
D: Beautiful.
P: Divine. We got the steak, medium rare for me, well done for him. He doesn’t like it mooing like I do.
Any awkward moments?
D: I went the whole date not knowing his name and didn’t want to ask again!
P: The light falling over on the table which caused everyone’s eyes to be on us when the photographer came. Dominic also mentioned his mum saying she wanted him to have a nice date and not be set up with an idiot, to which I said, “you’re not an idiot” and he said “she was talking about you, not me.” We howled. 
Dominic and Padraig dined at M Restaurant, Victoria Street, London.
How did the night end?
D: With a drink in a different venue, a nice walk and a little kiss.
P: We shared dessert and went to another bar where he bought us tequila shots chased by pineapple juice. For tequila haters like me, it actually works. We may have exchanged a kiss. Or eight.
Snog, marry, avoid?
D: We’ve spoken since so not avoid. Snog? Had a little one already. Marry? He’s certainly somebody you could introduce to your mum.
P: Snog, but who knows where the gay gods may take us?
Will you meet again?
D: Yes.
P: We’re already texting to meet again. He’s even offered to let me stay over at his place if I visit him in Bournemouth.
