Table for Two | ‘His best quality? The fact he lives in Zone 1’

Tom (left) 
Age: 32
Occupation: Theatrical agent

Mark (right)
Age: 28
Occupation: Training manager

What were you hoping to get out of the date?

TOM: Just the opportunity to meet someone new, and taste some good food. I’d heard about the restaurant and have been wanting to try it.

MARK: A free slap-up meal with great company.

What were your first impressions?

T: Mark was dressed well and had a big smile on his face — immediately a winner. He politely shook my hand and the conversation started pretty much straightaway.

M: He was as awkward as me when having his photo taken. That broke the ice.

Would you have swiped left or right?

T: Right — he’s good looking.

M: It would depend on whether he uses filters as liberally as me!

How was the conversation and what did you talk about?

T: It hardly stopped flowing and covered a whole plethora of topics, from The Crown TV series to our favourite gins.

M: We had a right laugh. We talked about musicals, my new puppy, Dame Edna, Drag Race, the Royal Family and how ‘In the Zone’ is Britney’s best.

What was his best quality?

T: He was confident and so easy to talk to.

M: The fact that he lives in Zone 1. Beyond jealous.

Photography: Markus Bidaux

Were there any deal-breakers?

T: Nothing that made me stop and immediately put me off. It’s just that I don’t think we fancied each other.

M: Not really. Genuinely lovely guy.

What do you think he thought of you?

T: I would like to think he thought I was a nice guy: we got on really well, but we could both tell there was no real spark there.

M: I hope he was as chuffed as me with how much we had in common although he probably resented me for eating half his fried chicken.

What were you most worried he would notice about you?

T: I ramble about the most trivial and random things when I’m nervous.

M: Probably my initial nerves. However, they were quickly overcome with gin and wine.

How was the food?

T: Divine: my steak was cooked to perfection and I’ll definitely be returning.

M: The Snickers dessert was better than sex.

Tom and Mark dined at M Restaurant, Victoria Street, London

Any awkward moments?

T: The conversation steered on to exes at one point, which I hate at the best of times, let alone on a first date.

M: We both revealed we’d actually done similar columns for other magazines in the past. Not awkward as such, but probably spoke volumes about us.

How did the night end?

T: We caught a taxi and had a drink at another bar before we parted ways.

M: We jumped in a cab to Ku Bar and had a few drinks.

Snog, marry, avoid?

T: Do I have to pick one? Probably snog, although he will make a great husband for someone.

M: None of the above. I think we’d have a hoot in Heaven though.

Will you meet again?

T: Maybe as friends. It was a lovely night but there was no romantic spark.

M: Maybe our paths will cross on a crowded XXL dancefloor, but I can’t see myself dating him.

RATE THE DATE!

T: 6/10

M: 8/10

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