What started out as a fun night out turned into something much more for Newcastle couple Adam Hayes and Mia Gilmour.
When the pair decided to go along to a speed dating event with friends at the city's Market Shaker last October, they never expected to find love. But Adam and Mia, both 22, ended up hitting it off during the evening and have now been together for six months.
The event, hosted by NCL Dates, sees participants spend around six minutes chatting with each date before rating them on a score sheet and selecting up to 10 people they would like to see again. If there's a match, the NCL Dates team will share contact details with the pair so they can arrange a second date.
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The dating service, founded by Ben Mellor from Gateshead, aims to help singletons meet people in real life rather than on dating apps like Tinder. And the idea seems to have struck gold for Adam and Mia, who decided to make it official just two months after their speed date.
"My flatmate saw the event on Instagram and decided to sign up but didn't want to do it on her own so asked me to come with her," Mia said.
"I had never done it before and I was quite nervous at the start but I had a couple of drinks and just got into it. It goes really quickly and I had a really fun night.
"I didn't realise there would be that many dates - there was about 16 on the night! Adam seemed really smiley and nice so I ended up messaging him a week or so later. He came up to me after the date and said, 'I remember your name,' but I honestly couldn't remember his!"
Adam, from Leeds, said: "We liked each other quite a lot but didn't let each other know until a couple of weeks later when Mia messaged me. We had a fun first date going for a drink at the Bluebell on a Friday night and ended up getting very drunk together and doing karaoke!"
Their second date was just as memorable when Adam bravely let Mia dye his hair leopard print, with the couple also enjoying surfing dates and even renting a dog to take on a walk. While it still may be early days, the Newcastle University students already have big plans for the future and are looking to go travelling abroad together.
"We became official in December," Mia from Manchester said.
"I was not expecting to get a relationship out of it! I was just expecting a fun couple of dates. It's a bit mad.
"When my friends ask how we met I say, 'you'll never guess but it was a blind date!' It's nicer than Tinder and Hinge, it's more spontaneous.
"I feel like I would never have met him otherwise as I don't think our paths would have crossed."
And whilst their peers may be used to dating apps, Adam believes meeting in person is the best way to know if you have a connection with someone.
The biomedical science student, said: "I never used dating apps as I don't like them.
"I think they are a bit industialised. You never really know someone through a photo or just a few words. Everything can be pre-planned. It's much better to meet in person."
The couple now hopes their story will encourage others to forgo the apps and give speed dating a try, with Adam advising daters "to be confident" and to "make people aware you like them in a respectful way."
"I would definitely recommend it as a dating experience," he said.
"It is not as scary as people imagine it to be especially when doing it in pairs. You get the opportunity to chat and get to know people afterward as everyone sticks around which is nice."
Mia, who studies accounting and finance, added: "You might as well put yourself out there as you never know what could happen. In my case, it has worked!"
Since its launch last year, NCL Dates has hosted speed dating events for more than 1,000 people across Newcastle city centre with venues including Market Shaker and Holy Hobo. It has also launched new age categories for people aged 25-35, 30-49, and a Young Professionals event for 21 to 29. To find out more and book tickets click here.
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