Meeting Someone off a Dating Site for the First Time - Where to go?

giantmutantbroccoli

Hi guys! Hope you all had a great Bank Holiday!
I'm curious what those of you who have tried online dating do in this situation.
Basically, the first time you meet someone from a dating site in person, where do you go?
I've met a few guys from the site I'm on (OKCupid if you're curious) and so far I've tried coffee shops, a cafe, and a few pubs. Obviously it has to be somewhere public, with other people around, during the day, and accessible to both of us. The idea is it's just a meeting to check we're neither of us obviously creepy weirdos and get to know each other a little bit, not a "proper" date. So it would have to be somewhere you can talk, and somewhere/something you can make an early exit from without causing any upset. That last one is important, I don't want to ruin someone's evening just because I can't stand their company

Anyone got any ideas? Otherwise I'm going to be visiting the local coffee shop a heck of a lot As it turns out, meeting in the pub is not such a great idea, it's too easy to drink too much when I'm nervous!

schwam66

yeah coffee shop is prolly the best place really, like you say dont want to go to the pub and get carried away...only other place is maybe the park feed the ducks kick a ball about whatever takes your fancy....all the best and hope it works out...

hgotsparkle

I met OH online and we had our first meet up at a pub - but we both drove so we couldn't drink! All in all, it was a good date until the live music started and we couldn't hear each other so we had to sit outside in the freezing cold so we could carry on talking!

LilElvis

Why not ask our resident online dating guru Kingslayer?

Unless it's him you're going on date with and want it to be a surprise

giantmutantbroccoli

Huh, it actually didn't occur to me that I could go to a pub and not drink Driving is an excellent excuse for doing that too, I might give it a try!

LilElvis, I was a bit concerned when i read his latest thread, I think that may have already happened :O

lexington013

Met for lunch in a mutually agreed bistro, 6 years ago, clicked, and we have never stopped talking since........
Online dating worked for us, key is to get to know each other yo a degree online before you meet in person.:)

[Deleted User]

Well, about this time 9 years ago, I started contacting a girl, and we organised our first date for Pizza Express. This year we've been married 6 years.

Treat it like a proper date, not a 'check out if the person is a mentalist' date, because you never know where it will lead

giantmutantbroccoli

It is nice to hear from so many people who have met their long-term partners online!

Treat it like a proper date, not a 'check out if the person is a mentalist' date, because you never know where it will lead

Personally, I'd prefer to meet someone without the pressure of it being a "date" first off. Plus there is the risk that they are as you say a mentallist. I can't tell if there's a high proportion of creepy weirdos in my area, or if I'm actively attracting them, but it's good to have the first meeting as not being a date - that way nobody "owes" anybody anything

The hope of course is that it will lead to a proper date, maybe several, maybe a relationship

katiegizmo

Our first date was to a bar, then on to a pub. We were drinking (though I agree not always a good idea!! What I did do was tell 3 friends exactly where I was and have 1 of them call me a couple of prearranged times, and he was ready to come and get me at a moments notice!) and by the end of the evening both of us found everything hysterical

worked for us - been together 8.5 years, married for 6 and second bubba is on the way.... :heart2:

I do agree that you should treat it as a proper date - try not to stress about the weirdos, just have your get out clause ready. To be honest on my first date I had two random weirdos try to join me on OH's toilet/bar trips so I've come to the conclusion that they are everywhere at all times! On one of the occassions OH came back from the bar to see a strange man in his seat serenading me with Jingle Bells (it was Christmas but not really an excuse!) :rotfl:

Person_one

I usually went with the boring coffee shop option, for all the reasons you do. Its safe, its simple, and it offers both an early exit if you need it and the option to stick around a bit longer if you want to.

2nd date is the one where you can get a bit more creative.

[Deleted User]

We went to Whipsnade zoo for our second date, lol