Todmorden News

Charity Valentine’s Speed-Dating At The Olive Branch

www.secondchancecupid.com is a local dating site with a twist, and has now branched out into speed-dating event hosting- just in time for Valentine’s Day! Allowing for administrative costs, money raised through ticket sales will go directly to the Gaza appeal. Our first event will take place at the Olive Branch restaurant, Hebden, on Monday 9th February at 8.00pm.

It will be a laid-back, fun night for men and women aged 23-30 (flexible) and a chance to meet other singles, have a bite to eat and a few drinks while having fun and a good old chinwag.

Tickets cost £12.50 and will include a free drink of your choice (excluding doubles) or a free sex on the beach cocktail upon arrival. The bar will be open all night and drink orders can be brought to your table. In with your ticket price, there will also be delicious meze (Turkish nibbles) provided by the Olive Branch restaurant and a fantastic special offer: if you get lucky and meet someone you’d like to see again, you will get 20% off your meal price if you spend your first date at the Olive Branch on a Friday or Saturday. And since Valentine’s Day falls on a weekend this year, you’d be crazy not to come and try your luck!

How does the event work?

PLEASE NOTE WE WILL NEED TO KNOW YOU ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND IN ADVANCE. It is very important that we have an idea of the numbers of each sex attending.

Before the event:
First you will need to log on to www.secondchancecupid.com and create a profile which will appear in the website’s ‘flirtroom’. You don’t need to write much about yourself, just a sentence or two, and rather than uploading photos we give you the opportunity to create ‘mini-mes’- a fun little cartoon of yourself. The whole process only takes a couple of minutes.

To let us know you are definitely planning on attending the speed-dating night, please confirm your attendance by emailingsophie.mcadam@secondchancecupid.com, or call into the Olive Branch to pay and give your details. We need to know your name, website username, age, a contact phone number, and please also tell us whether you’d like a free cocktail or a free drink of your choice on the night.

We will NOT be giving out tickets, we will simply check you off on the door as you arrive. Your registration and payment is enough to guarantee you a place on the night-however, please register and pay at the Olive Branch in good time. If we reach

On the night:
You turn up and get your free drink and a badge with the username you created on our website. Your host will be Sophie, who will put everyone at ease and explain how the event works. Depending on ticket sales, you are guaranteed between 10 and 20 dates in one night. A bell will ring when the time is up and your next mini-date begins! The ladies will stay seated while men move around the room.

We aim to keep the atmosphere very relaxed, and as part of this aim, we will not be giving out so-called ‘scorecards’ like many other events. Our research shows that scoring and ticking members of the opposite sex can be an intimidating experience, and puts far too much pressure on people instead of just being themselves and enjoying the night. We want you to have as much fun as possible! You will have a pen and paper to write down the usernames of anyone who takes your fancy (and any notes to jog your memory later), but ticks, scores and entering ‘results’ online tends to make these events rather sterile.

We will have a short break half way through the night or at the end, where people can sample some delicious Olive Branch Turkish meze.

The Olive Branch is situated at 21 West End, Hebden Bridge (directly on the main road on the right, as you come over the bridge from Todmorden). It is open Tuesdays 5pm-11pm and Wednesdays to Sundays 11am-11pm.

What kind of people go speed-dating?
Most speed daters are normal, outgoing, attractive people who just aren’t meeting people through their work or immediate circle of friends and are open to new ideas. Contrary to what you might imagine, it’s unlikely you’ll meet anyone with two heads! Speed-dating is a fun night out where you can be yourself and have a laugh with like-minded, normal singles.

Can I bring a friend?
You are very welcome to come speed dating with friends and many people do. You can bring friends who do not wish to take part to the start of the evening, but due to lack of space, it is not possible for them to stay after the dating starts. The Olive Branch has a lovely, relaxed and friendly atmosphere and we are certain that speed-daters will have an enjoyable, fun-filled night whether they attend alone or with friends.

If you have any questions that are not covered here, please email Sophie at sophie.mcadam@secondchancecupid.com, who will be happy to help.

Visit The Second Chance Cupid Website