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Nottingham has a healthier choice of bookable singles events than many UK cities, but the formats vary considerably. Some are classic speed dating; others are social mixers where you move around at your own pace.
The main options differ quite a bit, so it helps to know whether you are booking timed one-to-one dates or a looser social mixer before you pay.
Listings checked: 28 September 2026. Events, venues, age ranges and availability can change, so check the organiser’s page before booking.
Singles events in Nottingham
Fastlove: frequent classic speed dating in Market Square
Fastlove Nottingham lists events at Slug and Lettuce, Market Square, with selected dates aimed at age groups including 21–35, 30–45, 40–55 and 50–65.
Its format is classic speed dating: short conversations, private selections and later match results. The official page shows current dates and ticket availability, so check it before booking.
Original Dating: hosted events at Pitcher & Piano
Original Dating Nottingham lists events at Pitcher & Piano. Its event pages describe around 15–20 short dates, an interval and private online matching afterwards.
Original Dating publishes a guide age for each event and says it is not necessarily a hard cut-off. Check the exact event page because the age range changes between sessions.
DEIGHT: a social mixer for 30s and 40s
DEIGHT’s events calendar lists a Nottingham Singles Social Mixer for guests in their 30s and 40s. This is not speed dating: the event is designed for mingling at your own pace, with hosts available to help with introductions.
DEIGHT says guests complete identity verification before attending their first event. If you dislike timed rotations, the mixer format may feel more natural. If you prefer a guaranteed sequence of one-to-one conversations, speed dating is probably a better fit.
How the Nottingham options differ
- Fastlove: repeated classic speed-dating dates across several age bands; city-centre venue; live ticket availability on its site.
- Original Dating: professionally hosted speed dating with post-event online matching; changing age guides by session.
- DEIGHT: hosted social mixer rather than rotations; its Nottingham event is aimed at people in their 30s and 40s.
What to check before booking
Read the individual event page, not just the company’s Nottingham landing page. Confirm the date, venue, age guide, start time, refund policy and whether you need to arrive before a cut-off time.
If you are travelling into the city, also check how late the event is expected to finish. A format that ends at 10pm may be fine if you are staying centrally but less convenient if your last train is earlier.
Going alone is normal
You do not need to bring a friend to justify being there. Speed-dating organisers expect individual attendees, and a hosted mixer should be designed to help people enter conversations rather than leaving established groups to themselves.
If you know you take a while to settle, arrive with enough time to find the host and get a drink before the formal start. Turning up at the last minute adds avoidable stress.
What if none of these formats appeal?
That is useful information too. You may prefer classes, volunteering, clubs or other repeated activities where the same people meet over time. Our guide to meeting someone without online dating covers those slower routes.
Once you meet someone you would like to see again, our Nottingham date ideas guide focuses on public, conversation-friendly places for the first proper date.