Blind date: ‘Bouncers swarmed a table of guys near us and escorted one out, like in a gangster movie’

Sophie on Harry

What were you hoping for?
A fun evening with a good soul, lovely food and a story to tell.

First impressions?
Harry was ordering champagne for the table, so that was a good start. I felt at ease almost immediately.

What did you talk about?
He was very open and shared lots of his life – but perhaps we skirted a little too dangerously close to politics.

Most awkward moment?
When he admitted to not actually reading the Guardian.

Good table manners?
I saw nothing to say otherwise.

Best thing about Harry?
Despite probably inhabiting quite different worlds, Harry seemed genuinely interested in my life. He was also kind to the waiter – always a sign of a good person.

Would you introduce Harry to your friends?
There would be no reason not to.

Describe Harry in three words.
A good egg.

Blind date is Saturday’s dating column: every week, two strangers are paired up for dinner and drinks, and then spill the beans to us, answering a set of questions. This runs, with a photograph we take of each dater before the date, in Saturday magazine (in the UK) and online at theguardian.com every Saturday. It’s been running since 2009 – you can read all about how we put it together here.

What questions will I be asked?
We ask about age, location, occupation, hobbies, interests and the type of person you are looking to meet. If you do not think these questions cover everything you would like to know, tell us what’s on your mind.

Can I choose who I match with?
No, it’s a blind date! But we do ask you a bit about your interests, preferences, etc – the more you tell us, the better the match is likely to be.

Can I pick the photograph?
No, but don't worry: we'll choose the nicest ones.

What personal details will appear?
Your first name, job and age.

How should I answer?
Honestly but respectfully. Be mindful of how it will read to your date, and that Blind date reaches a large audience, in print and online.

Will I see the other person’s answers?
No. We may edit yours and theirs for a range of reasons, including length, and we may ask you for more details.

Will you find me The One?
We’ll try! Marriage! Babies!

Can I do it in my home town?
Only if it’s in the UK. Many of our applicants live in London, but we would love to hear from people living elsewhere.

How to apply
Email blind.date@theguardian.com

What do you think Harry made of you?
Perhaps a little indecisive when it comes to making choices from a menu. He described me as “bubbly”, which could mean anything.

Did you go on somewhere?
Downstairs to the casino for a drink. Sadly, we did not win our fortune.

And … did you kiss?
We had a quick kiss on the escalator, which very much took me by surprise.

If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
Despite a lovely evening, I think the chemistry was missing.

Marks out of 10?
10. Harry is a 10/10 type of person and it’s hard to give anyone any less than that when they put themselves out there like this.

Would you meet again?
I am not sure our paths would cross.

Harry on Sophie

What were you hoping for?
A bit of excitement – something unpredictable.

First impressions?
She made her entrance with a warm, inviting vibe – like we’d been friends for years.

What did you talk about?
Work. Cooking. Family. Holidays. Then we got on to gambling, since we were eating at a steakhouse in a casino.

Most awkward moment?
A group of older guys near us were swarmed by these massive bouncers. They cleared away their steak knives then escorted one of them out of the restaurant. It was like a gangster movie.

Good table manners?
Absolutely. No complaints there.

Best thing about Sophie?
Her warmth. She had this genuine, friendly energy that made the whole evening feel really comfortable.

Would you introduce Sophie to your friends?
Definitely.

Describe Sophie in three words.
Lovely, kind, approachable.

What do you think Sophie made of you?
Hopefully, she found me engaging, fun and maybe a bit charming.

Did you go on somewhere?
We grabbed cocktails and wandered around the casino floor for a bit, soaking in the atmosphere. We almost got pulled into a game of roulette.

And … did you kiss?
Just a quick peck on the lips as we were going down the escalator.

If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be?
Honestly, nothing.

Marks out of 10?
8. Great night, good company.

Would you meet again?
We exchanged numbers, so yes, but probably not in a romantic way.

Harry and Sophie ate at Heliot Steak House at the Hippodrome Casino, London WC2. Fancy a blind date? Email blind.date@theguardian.com