Did emergency ambulance crew Tom, 32, and events officer Lara, 26, hit it off?

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

Tom on Lara

What were you hoping for?

Deep conversation with a romantic spark. Failing that, a drinking buddy.

First impressions?

Pretty, smart, good-natured.

What did you talk about?

The joy of Harry Potter books, family politics, why Americans are crazy, existential angst and could you eat animal testicles?

Any awkward moments?

A few pauses at the start but we soon got warmed up.

Good table manners?

Far better than mine. I tried to coax her into finger food.

Best thing about Lara?

Down-to-earth, and values family and friends dearly.

Would you introduce her to your friends?

Probably not: I don’t think she’d be up for playing spoof for sambuca shots.

Describe Lara in three words

Grounded, organised, (a bit of a) homebody.

What do you think she made of you?

A bit of a drifter, who possibly drinks too much and asks prying questions.

Did you go on somewhere?

No, I just walked her back to the tube as it was late.

And… did you kiss?

No.

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

Should have gone with the finger food – cutlery makes it feel too formal.

Marks out of 10?

6.

Would you meet again?

I think it’s unlikely: we had very little common ground.​

Lara on Tom

What were you hoping for?

A fun evening.

First impressions?

He seemed like a friendly, chatty guy.

What did you talk about?

Past jobs, holidays, family, hobbies, Peaky Blinders.

Any awkward moments?

There was a table mix-up, so we ended up bumping into each other in the foyer.

Good table manners?

Very good – he didn’t get his phone out once.

Best thing about Tom?

He was easy to talk to.

Would you introduce him to your friends?

I don’t see why not.

Describe Tom in three words

Friendly, outdoorsy, genuine.

What do you think he made of you?

I’m not too sure, because we had really different interests.

Did you go on somewhere?

He walked me to my station.

And… did you kiss?

No.

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

Nothing, we just didn’t click.

Marks out of 10?

7.

Would you meet again?

Not romantically.

• Tom and Lara ate at the Trading House, London EC2

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