The Seven Dials Valentines Challenge
Read Ted’s daily blog updates below to find out how he got on with his hectic Valentines dating schedule as well as his feedback on the bars and restaurants he visited with his dates
The Big One - Valentine's Night!
On Saturday I had a Valentine’s date that’s going to take some beating. I took Fiona to the super-stylish Covent Garden Hotel for dinner - a few glasses of bubbles, of course - and a screening of Mamma Mia in the hotel’s swanky private cinema.
10 Monmouth Street
WC2H 9HB
020 7806 1000
Date Six - Souk Medina
And so… the final date. But which girl will I be ordering Cupid to fire his arrows at?
My Friday-night date was with Romany in the Moroccan restaurant Souk Medina, which - owing to its rigorously enforced dim-lighting policy and a large number of dark corners - is a superb place for couples to get cosy.
Romany was a truly impressive girl - sassy, witty, super-confident, very amusing and very sexy. I liked her. And not even the uber-lithe belly dancer that appeared after half an hour distracted me from our energetic chat.
Of course, the very decent red wine we were drinking helped to keep the conversation fizzing - but I get the feeling Romany doesn’t need any liquid assistance to be entertaining. She’s a riot - definitely the life and soul of the party.
I knew that I had a tough decision to make about who to take to my super-posh date at the Covent Garden Hotel.
And really, it came down to two girls: Romany, and Fiona, the Scottish lawyer I’d met the night before.
It was a difficult decision, but I’ve ordered Cupid to unleash his firepower at Fiona.
What a week!
We’ll be having a champagne dinner tonight and watching Mamma Mia in the hotel’s private cinema. I just hope we get seats at the back…
1a Shorts Gardens
WC2H 9AT
0207 240 1796
Date Five - Radisson Edwardian Mountbatten Hotel
The Dial Bar at the Radisson Edwardian Mountbatten Hotel is an ideal location for a romantic rendezvous - it's littered with comfy sofas, the lighting is on the low side and the staff have something of the efficient and discreet air about them.
So as I perched at the bar with a glass of wine, before my penultimate date turned up, I was in the dating mood. And when Fiona arrived, I was even more in the mood. I thought she was lovely from the off!
So quite why I decided to launch into a conversation about a pair of headphones I'd just bought, I'll never know. But by the end of my rambling, she was still there. Phew!
We managed to secure one of the above-mentioned comfy sofas, ordered some expertly mixed drinks and chatted away as the snow fell outside in the chilly night air.
As Fiona told me about her job as a lawyer - my mind was dwelling on courting her again as soon as possible.
So yes, she's definitely in the running for the big Valentine's dinner! However, there is one more date to go... log on tomorrow to see who I've plumbed for!
Radisson Edwardian Mountbatten Hotel
Monmouth Street
WC2H 9HD
020 7836 4300
Date Four - Bunker Bar
I'm not entirely sure how much I managed to impress my fourth date, Sarae. She's a lithe and healthy pilates instructor - and I spent much of the evening delving into a huge plate of ridiculously moreish chicken nachos (warning: it says its a starter, but its enough to feed a small army) and pints of lager. Not exactly the healthy option.
Date Three - Monmouth Coffee Company
My third tête-à-tête took place at the Monmouth Coffee Company - and the default setting of my date - Nia - appeared to be that of someone who’d already had several lattes!
020 7379 3516
Date Two - Food for Thought
Date One - Canela
And we're off! My week of Seven Dials dating has begun. I set off to meet the first (obviously incredibly lucky!) woman, Ferrelyn, feeling upbeat and confident, partly because I'd armed myself with some tricks and tactics for impressing women from top seduction artist Adam Lyons (www.attractionexplained.com).
