Press cuttings

If you think the dating game's about flashing the cash on posh nosh, taking in a West End show or even embarking on a moonlit cruise down the Thames... think again.

Three minutes is all it takes to discover if you've found true love or somebody truly awful.

At least that's the theory behind speed dating, a craze which took the USA by storm and arrived at a Blackheath bar for the first time last night.

New firm Speed Dater chose the Cave Austin bar in Montpelier Vale for its first speed dating event. Ben Tisdall, director of the company, explained how the speedy method of finding Mr or Mrs Right works. He said "We arrange for a minimum of 15 men and 15 women to meet in a bar. Everyone is assigned an intial partner and the dating starts. After three minutes a bell rings and all the men rotate clockwise"

After the dates, participants will indicate on a scorecard those they would like to spend more than three minutes with and Speed Dater will do the matchmaking..........

... Harvey Chauhan, manager of Cave Austin said: "We think it's a good fun way to meet people." He's so confident speed dating will prove a hit with the punters that similar events are to be held at the club every other Wednesday night starting on November 13th.

By MANDY LITTLE