In this article you will find some easy suggestions for how to meet people in Bristol or saying that any other city that has a bustling social life. Approaching strangers is always difficult, so the suggestions for how to meet people start with the easiest methods first. Once you meet people, it is then up to you to capitalize on this and build a friendship through further meetings and other activities, but here we give you some good ideas for those initial ice-breakers.

Remember that Bristol is a large place. If you don’t meet people you feel are potential friends right away, don’t be disheartened. Some tips here may not work for you, but there are plenty of others to try in a place like Bristol, with diverse social opportunities. Not everyone will like you, but then you won’t like everyone you meet, either. That just shows you are discerning and have standards. If one way doesn’t work for you, move on to the next.

1. Meet people through your existing friends

This way to meet people is so obvious that it is often overlooked, but thinks about it; your friends know what you’re like, so if they think you will like another person it is quite likely that you will. The ice will already be broken because you will have your friend to introduce you and get the conversation going. You may set out to meet people who know your friends quite actively by throwing a party and inviting your friends to bring a guest. Also, having your friends around you will give you added confidence to approach the people you don’t know at the party.

2. Meet people through work

If you are in a job where you don’t really meet people, you may want to consider changing jobs to something more sociable. Talking with the people with whom you work gives you a head start on friendships because you will at least have worked in common to talk about. You may also do voluntary work, allowing you to meet people who have come together for a common purpose.

3. Meet people for sport

Playing sports are a great way to meet people. That is especially true if you are playing a team sport where you get a chance to develop camaraderie. Socializing after games will also probably be a natural part of being in the club. Bristol has many sports clubs and teams that you could join. They also need not be expensive and many clubs will welcome beginners.

4. Meet people for a hobby or interest

If sport isn’t your thing, perhaps politics or some other cause is. Bristol has numerous clubs dedicated to political parties, social causes or other socializing opportunities and hobbies. Join some clubs that interest you and you will have lots of opportunities to meet people who like the same things that you do. You may also take classes in something that interests you and that will live you lots to talk about when you meet people. Bristol offers lots of opportunities to go to evening or weekend classes.

These are just five simple ways to meet people in Bristol but they may kick start friendships that will last a lifetime because they focus on your common interests and bonds.

BeautifulPeople.com gets existing users to vote on whether or not someone’s attractive enough to join.

The boss of this dating site says it was hit by a virus which let tens of thousands of ‘ugly’ people join without passing that test.

Most of them have now been sent an email apologising and saying they were “wrongly admitted”.

In total 5.5 million people have been rejected by the site which claims to have 700,000 members around the world.

Greg Hodge, the site’s managing director, said: “We got suspicious when tens of thousands of new members were accepted, many of whom were no oil painting.

“We responded immediately, repairing the damage from the Shrek virus and putting every new member [to the vote]” said Greg Hodge, of BeautifulPeople.com.

“We have sincere regret for the unfortunate people who were wrongly admitted to the site and who believed, albeit for a short while, that they were beautiful,” he added.

There’s no evidence yet about who might have been behind the hack although it’s thought an ex-employee could be involved.

Critics though say it could be nothing more than an elaborate PR stunt.

According to reports the site certainly has a history of excellent self promotion.

After Christmas it asked users to re-apply “if they had let themselves go” during the holiday season.

Around one in seven applicants is accepted with the majority of successful new members coming from the USA, Denmark and France according to figures from the site.

The UK is among the countries with the highest rate of rejection alongside Russia and Poland.

What do you make of this? Our opinion is that this is nothing more than an elaborate PR move, echoing the comments of the critics.

A ‘beauty’ to one, may well be ‘ugly’ to another.

Lots of love,

WeLoveBristol.com

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Go tourist…

Tourists can be annoying when they barge around your home town with loud voices and invasive cameras. But a lot of the things that have brought them there are well worth seeing. Locals actually tend to deliberately avoid these places, which is a bit of a shame. So, why not take your date somewhere interesting and historical – an integral piece of Bristol that you’ve been discouraged from by the abundance of tourists.

The City Museum and Art Gallery offers free entry for those of you on a budget. This can make a very educational day, with an accompanying café to have a bite to eat in afterwards.  The glass-blowing factory in Brislington is another touristy place that’s definitely worth a visit. Here you can watch one of the oldest Bristolian arts for a very reasonable price and even take part yourself. Excursions like this make inexpensive and unusual dates. The advantage is there are so many things to see and discuss, which can be important for breaking the ice, especially in early dating. Plus, you get to find out facts about your city together that you might not have known before.

Go traditional…

Traditional dates such as going out for dinner and going to the cinema are obviously easy options in every city. They may be simple, but that’s not to say they aren’t effective. The good thing about one of these dates in Bristol is that, thanks to the vast amounts of independent businesses here, a traditional date can become extraordinary by choosing those tucked-away, personable places. For example, ‘Spyglass Restaurant’ splits itself between a converted barge and the port-side next to it – what a remarkable spot for a dinner date. Also, ‘The Cube’ is one of several independent cinemas that can turn an average movie night into a night to remember. Showing films from over the years and hosting many special events, these are always worth a look.

Go adventure…

Who’s to say Bristol dating has to mean staying inside the city? There are many stunning areas of countryside to explore outside the centre, and this more adventurous approach could make a very picturesque and romantic day out. The 450-foot cliffs of Cheddar Gorge stand just 20 miles from the city. Tours of this breath-taking landscape as well as the caves that populate the area operate daily and could make a very exciting excursion. If you want a more active adventure, why not go on a cycling trip and end with a picnic in a sun-lit field? There are many cycling tracks and footpaths around the area and acres of gorgeous countryside.

Wherever you choose for your Bristolian date, make sure you are both enjoying yourselves! If sitting in a café is what you want to do, don’t try anything more extravagant for the sake of being extravagant.

Dreaming of romance and finding the perfect partner in Bristol is not beyond your reach, what with the wealth of culture, food and arts available to do in the city and its surrounding areas. Recognised as the main city of the West Country, it’s not hard to find fun things to do in great places when you are out and about on dates.

Bristol dating can take you as far off the beaten track of conventional dating UK singles usually take part in; for example, the cheddar gorge is an area of outstanding natural beauty very easily accessible from Bristol. Lead your date through the mysterious and labyrinthine limestone caves past Britain’s oldest human skeleton, the 9000 year old cheddar man, found in 1903. Or if you prefer to stay above ground, at the lower end of the gorge next to the village are stunning riverside walks and tea rooms for that all important recharge.  You can even watch traditional cheddar cheese being made at the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company.

Meeting new people and dating UK singles in general works best when we are feeling confident and good about ourselves. Why not bite the bullet and take your Bristol dating to the next level of confidence and visit Bristol’s Victorian Lido, dating back to 1849. After escaping the rigours of day-to-day life take a dip in the recently refurbished outdoor pool, enjoy sunning yourself (weather permitting!) with a drink by the poolside or grab a bite at the great restaurant with its eclectic menus taking inspiration from Southern Europe and the Middle East, sourcing the finest ingredients whether they are from Europe or locally grown in the Lido Kitchen Garden.

If you want to stick to more conventional dinner dating climes, try the vast array of eateries on offer to impress your date, as they do say that the way to the heart is through the stomach! Why not stroll through the Clifton area of Bristol and make a stop at the one stop thali café. This lovely little vegetarian restaurant is one of Bristol’s best boasts. Treat your Bristol dating partner to take in the flavours of infamous roadside Indian cuisine served on a circular metal dish (or thali) and enjoy a great atmosphere and food without breaking the bank, as it’s very reasonably priced too.

The St Nicholas market is a little gem waiting to be discovered. Compulsive buyers beware! From trash to treasure, there are things you could never have dreamed you needed so much before. Be amazed for hours on end and then have a few drinks on Corn Street after if it takes your fancy. Don’t miss Wednesday’s farmers market or the open-air markets on Friday and Saturday for that extra special Bristol dating dance. Even if you haven’t yet found your Mr or Miss right, at least you will have tried some fun things in a fabulous city for singles.

It goes without saying that some of England’s greatest gifts are its well-kept, historic buildings. A quick glance across the Atlantic makes this all too clear, as places like the United States can only boast buildings with an age of 250 years.

Bristol is no stranger to beautiful, historic buildings, having around 100 Grade I listed buildings, including churches, homes, old markets and schools.

A World without Historical Architecture

It seems hard to imagine an England without these buildings and consequently, they tend to fall under our radar when we are searching for the perfect place to take a date. It is a shame that we do forget because these buildings and monuments are not only beautiful, but often have free or cheap entrance fees, and offer special events (It must be said that these events are most definitely more intellectually stimulating than the latest romantic comedy starring whatever new leggy blonde is popular in Hollywood).

Some personal favourites in Bristol include the Red Lodge Museum, St. Mary Redcliffe and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Taking Part in History

These buildings have housed some of Britain’s most famous individuals, the movers and shakers who shaped this country into what it is today. Thus, it is a wonderful opportunity to show your date how special it is to live in Bristol and to take part in the continued making of that history.

If it is a sunny day, why not take that special someone out to one of the historic squares or have a picnic on one of the estates that surround the city. On a rainy day, visit some of the churches and see the architecture of the 12^th century.

Bristol Dating

Bristol dating needn’t be mundane or bound to the traditional dinner and a movie schism. Whether you met on a dating site, in a café, or through friends it can be exciting to explore the past. Visiting a place that means something will show your date that you can do more than choose a good bottle of red wine and laugh at slapstick humour in the cinema.