Emma and James both arrived at the Single Mingle 30s & 40s event on 23rd March 2024 for very different reasons — but neither of them expected to leave having met someone special.
Emma, 38, had been persuaded to come along by a friend after growing tired of dating apps that never quite went anywhere. James, 41, had recently moved back to the area and was keen to meet new people without the pressure of swiping and small talk online. Both were a little nervous walking through the door, but that quickly disappeared once the evening got going.
They met in a relaxed corner of the venue while waiting for drinks and quickly realised they had plenty in common — a shared love of travel, a mutual dislike of awkward first dates, and a similar sense of humour. With no set format and no pressure, they were able to chat naturally, mingle with others, and reconnect later in the evening when the music picked up.
As the night went on, they found themselves spending more time together, laughing, dancing, and enjoying the atmosphere. By the end of the night, numbers were exchanged and plans were already being made for a proper first date.
That first date turned into many more. A few weeks later, Emma and James were officially a couple, and nearly a year on, they’re still going strong — travelling together, meeting each other’s friends, and often laughing about how close they were to not buying tickets that night.
Looking back, both agree that what made the difference was the Single Mingle format — no forced conversations, no awkward rotations, just the chance to meet like-minded single people in a relaxed, social setting.
Their advice? “Don’t overthink it. Turn up, be yourself, and enjoy the night — you never know who you might meet.”
