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First
rate first dates
Eve Streeter's guide to the best places
for that first time
| Thinking
up the perfect first date isn't as easy as it seems.
Getting it right can be the difference between beginning
something gorgeous, or whipping up its premature demise. |
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A
few cans of lager round his mate's and a kebab on the
way home; dinner at her mum's - it's all got the whiff
of first date hell that's guaranteed to deal that promising
spark a knock-out death blow. An American dating website
had this suggestion: "Invite your date over to make
cookies'. While you're wincing, these few alternatives
won't seem half as bad. Well, that's the idea.
Le
old romantic
Charter a yacht from Templecraft Yacht Charters Ltd, 33
Grand Parade, Brighton 01273 812333. Let's go straight
in at the top with the daddy of all first dates, destined
to impress. A day on the ocean waves - what could be more
romantic?
Bubbly
at the Grand
Champagne at The Grand, Kings Road, Brighton 01273 224300.
For the five-star date, drink those nerves and inhibitions
away in the salubrious surroundings of The Grand's public
bar. (If it all goes well, sea-facing rooms start at £275...)
Pier
pressure
It's been romancing couples for years with its affectionate
kitsch. Have your palms read for a laugh, buy a big bag
of doughnuts to share and curl up on a bench looking out
to sea. Finish off with a bottle of wine on the beach
watching the sunset and marvel at how this classy date
cost you less than a tenner.
The entertainer
Comedy at the Komedia, Gardner Street, Brighton 01273
647100.
If
it's good, you'll spend the evening laughing; if it's
not so good, it'll be just as much fun slagging off the
line-up in the breaks. Downstairs at the cabaret bar has
to be one of the best venues for first dates in Brighton.
Low-lighting, intimate tables and bubbly atmosphere, plus
food and Dutch courage on tap, it's pretty darn near perfect.
If
music be the food of love...
Open House, Springfield Road, Brighton, 01273 880102
Easy, easy atmosphere. Soak it up on one of the squidgy
sofas, then catch some music upstairs to make sure you've
got something to talk about.
Le
action date: Racey!
Bypass any lulls in conversation and do something that
will keep you both busy and with plenty to natter about:
A day at the races, Brighton Racecourse, Freshfield Road,
Brighton 01273 603580 (Apr-Oct) Get your date to place
a bet for you - if the horse goes lame and trails in last,
take it as an inauspicious sign.
Bowl
her/him over
Ten-pin bowling, Bowlplex, Brighton Marina, 01273 818180
If you can embrace the tack, this one's bound to be a
great ice-breaker. A few drinks at the bar and a sense
of humour will guarantee you a giggle if you're not terminally
po-faced. If the hideous bowling shoes don't put you off
you could be on to something.
Bar-belles
If you just fancy an evening of long conversation, here's
few that are up to the job:
Blanch
House, 17 Atlingworth Street, Brighton, 01273 603504.
Before the barriers come down and both have to face the
fact that your new love swears and sweats, maintain that
air of cool sophistication with a few cocktails at the
so-chic-it-hurts bar.
The
Curve, Gardner Street, Brighton 01273 603031. Avoid
big meals on first dates and all the incumbent ugliness
of trying to hold down a conversation with a mouth full
of food while trying not to dribble or choke. Head for
somewhere like the Curve, suitably swish but laid-back,
and with a decent menu of bite-sized snacks - especially
sexy to share.
Brighton
Rock, 6 Rock Place, Brighton 01273 625629. Skip the
stuffy and formal and head instead to the womb of shabby
chic. Big on the cosy factor and with all the slouchy
comfort of home, a bottle of red wine shared on one of
the sofas is bound to put you both at your ease.
The
Dorset, North Road, Brighton 01273 605423. There's
nothing more toe-curling than having the couple on the
next table listening to every word you and your date say
as you get to know each other. Not too quiet, and not
too loud either, this place brims with warm charm and
chill - and any corner will provide you with the invisibility
necessary for a successful date.
If
all else fails, remember, you could also take them back
to yours and make cookies!
copyright The Insight 2002
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