Did it work out in the end for Joe, 27, marketing manager, and Jess, 25, postgraduate law student?

Blind date: ‘I was early, but to the wrong restaurant, on the wrong side of town’

Joe on Jess

What were you hoping for?

To meet someone I could talk to without having to force any conversation.

First impressions?

Confident, relaxed, pretty; the opposite of me.

What did you talk about?

Endless apologies (see below), weird seafood, family, reading.

Any awkward moments?

I was early, but in the wrong restaurant, on the wrong side of London… so I was 45 minutes late and dishevelled.

Good table manners?

Yep. We skipped dessert for some liqueurs instead, which I have a lot of time for.

Best thing about Jess?

Her disarming conversation.

Would you introduce her to your friends?

For sure. I think she’d get along with them.

Describe Jess in three words?

Glad she waited.

What do you think she made of you?

A sweaty, manic and apologetic mess. Hopefully worth the wait.

Did you go on somewhere?

For a drink around the corner.

And... did you kiss?

Just one on the cheek before going home.

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?

That it wasn’t a cold Monday night.

Marks out of 10?

8.

Would you meet again?

If Jess would like to.

Jess on Joe

What were you hoping for?

A fun evening with good conversation.

First impressions?

Relieved that he had arrived. And easy to talk to.

What did you talk about?

Family, friends, living in London, books and anchovies.

Any awkward moments?

The 45 minutes I spent with a glass of wine, waiting.

Good table manners?

Very good: he was a sharer – the only way to eat Chinese.

Blind date: ‘He didn’t get his phone out once’ Read more

Best thing about Joe?

Really easy to get along with.

Would you introduce him to your friends?

Yes.

Describe Joe in three words?

Interesting, easy-going and outgoing.

What do you think he made of you?

Probably that I talk quite a lot.

Did you go on somewhere?

For a gin and tonic at a pub.

And… did you kiss?

We had a peck, half cheek, half lip – does that count?

If you could change one thing about the evening, what would it be?

Probably the 45-minute wait.

Marks out of 10?

7.5.

Would you meet again?

Sure, he has my number.

​• Joe and Jess ate at Shikumen, Londo, EC3,​shikumen.co.uk

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