This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1lv22q94qgo
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Shropshire speed-dating: 'Rural people are craving coming offline' | Shropshire speed-dating: 'Rural people are craving coming offline' |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Pixie Greatorex set up Shropshire Speed Dating to help people in rural areas find love | Pixie Greatorex set up Shropshire Speed Dating to help people in rural areas find love |
| A woman has set up a speed-dating service to help people in rural areas find love. | A woman has set up a speed-dating service to help people in rural areas find love. |
| Pixie Greatorex, 40, took matters into her own hands after hunting for speed-dating events in Shropshire. | Pixie Greatorex, 40, took matters into her own hands after hunting for speed-dating events in Shropshire. |
| In December 2024, she founded Speed Dating Shropshire, and has said she was "surprised" by how quickly her first event sold out. | |
| Ms Greatorex said running the business makes her feel "like Cilla Black or Cupid" and is hopeful she can help people of all ages meet someone special. | Ms Greatorex said running the business makes her feel "like Cilla Black or Cupid" and is hopeful she can help people of all ages meet someone special. |
| Ms Greatorex said the dating scene in Shropshire was "not the best" and drove her to start the business. | Ms Greatorex said the dating scene in Shropshire was "not the best" and drove her to start the business. |
| Dating is "a bit of a minefield," she said, adding "there's no way of meeting people, and when you do go out you don't know if they're single." | Dating is "a bit of a minefield," she said, adding "there's no way of meeting people, and when you do go out you don't know if they're single." |
| Ms Greatorex is hoping Speed Dating Shropshire will appeal to people in more rural areas, with her events held in country hotels as opposed to city-centre bars. | |
| She believes people are turning to speed dating because online dating often has its pitfalls. | She believes people are turning to speed dating because online dating often has its pitfalls. |
| "I think that people behave quite badly online," she said. | "I think that people behave quite badly online," she said. |
| "Ghosting, vanishing, or just blocking people - the communication is just gone, and people are craving coming offline and being here in person. | "Ghosting, vanishing, or just blocking people - the communication is just gone, and people are craving coming offline and being here in person. |
| "That's why the tickets sell so fast for the events we've had so far." | "That's why the tickets sell so fast for the events we've had so far." |
| Clare said dating in a rural area like Shropshire can be "absolutely shocking" | Clare said dating in a rural area like Shropshire can be "absolutely shocking" |
| Clare, who is 50, went to the event last month - she described dating in a rural area as "absolutely shocking". | Clare, who is 50, went to the event last month - she described dating in a rural area as "absolutely shocking". |
| "Living in such a rural location, it's hard to match with somebody of my age [who will] match my energy - I've been single on-and-off for eight years, that's how difficult it is." | "Living in such a rural location, it's hard to match with somebody of my age [who will] match my energy - I've been single on-and-off for eight years, that's how difficult it is." |
| Clare admitted that there is a stigma around speed-dating, and said she was teased by work colleagues because it was "portrayed as being a bit seedy". | Clare admitted that there is a stigma around speed-dating, and said she was teased by work colleagues because it was "portrayed as being a bit seedy". |
| She said Ms Greatorex's business was "very classy" and "a bit more upmarket". | She said Ms Greatorex's business was "very classy" and "a bit more upmarket". |
| Stefan said he was "nervous" before the event, but left feeling much happier | Stefan said he was "nervous" before the event, but left feeling much happier |
| Stefan, 46, from Telford, said he "won't do [internet dating] any more" after attending one of the speed-dating events. | Stefan, 46, from Telford, said he "won't do [internet dating] any more" after attending one of the speed-dating events. |
| He admitted he was nervous about going to begin with, but found that he really enjoyed it in the end. | He admitted he was nervous about going to begin with, but found that he really enjoyed it in the end. |
| "When I left, I actually felt really at ease and happy, and I knew that I'd made friends as well as meeting somebody." | "When I left, I actually felt really at ease and happy, and I knew that I'd made friends as well as meeting somebody." |
| Ms Greatorex has big ambitions for her business, aiming to run two events a month for people of all ages - from as young as 25, to people aged 65 and older. | Ms Greatorex has big ambitions for her business, aiming to run two events a month for people of all ages - from as young as 25, to people aged 65 and older. |
| She added that she was planning a neuro-diverse and autism-friendly event, as well as singles discos and karaoke nights. | She added that she was planning a neuro-diverse and autism-friendly event, as well as singles discos and karaoke nights. |
| "I want to serve the community of single people in Shropshire so they have some options again!" | "I want to serve the community of single people in Shropshire so they have some options again!" |
| Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. | Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. |