Blind date: The restaurant staff reacted with glee when told them we were going on somewhere'

"I'd clocked him as I walked up to the restaurant. Well dressed, not Irish. Nice tattoos. What did you talk about? Having quickly established that we are both from the same part of London, we ascertained that we'd had the same driving instructor as teenagers (shoutout to Ollie). We also talked about recent plays we've seen, our tattoos and their meanings, trainspotting (the actual activity) and the fact I've been reading this column religiously since I was seven."

"Most awkward moment? The restaurant staff reacting with glee when (spoiler) we told them we were going on somewhere, swiftly followed by me attempting to make a hasty escape through some curtains that were sewn together. Good table manners? He did a very good job of tackling the sharing plates. Best thing about Harry? His openness, and his ability to ask questions."

The participant hoped for a pub-quiz partner who was witty, well dressed, and preferably Irish because family roots are in Ireland and her mother hoped she would settle there. First impressions were immediate: a well-dressed man with tattoos. Conversation established shared roots in the same part of London and the same teenage driving instructor, Ollie. They discussed recent plays, tattoos and their meanings, and trainspotting as an activity. An awkward moment involved restaurant staff reacting to their after-dinner plans and a hasty escape through sewn-together curtains. He handled sharing plates well and impressed with openness and thoughtful questions.

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