The height of romance? Singletons scale the O2 for date night with a difference

 
Anna Dubuis26 September 2013

People will go to extreme lengths in the pursuit of love. Now London’s more daring singletons can take their search for that perfect someone all the way to the top of the O2.

The dome was taken over by 120 single visitors this week in the latest in a series of unusual dating events.

Having climbed 53 metres up the arena’s roof on a route open to regular visitors, the daters were treated to a rather surprising reward — an Eighties-themed party on top of the building.

Climbers arrived to find ping pong tables, deck chairs, hula hoops, space hoppers and performers, all against a backdrop of the city skyline at night.

Niall Ingham, 26, a surveyor from Battersea, said that the adventure was worth it.

“The activity makes it less awkward. It’s easier to interact with people and you get to see amazing views of London,” he said.

Abigail, 37, from Camden, who did not give her surname, said: “It’s definitely more fun, a different venue and easy to chat to people. You don’t lose out if you don’t meet people.”

The event is being repeated five times over the next five months at the O2, with different, secret themes.

It was organised by dating website doingsomething.co.uk, which gets members to make date suggestions.

Their last event, The Wheel of Date, saw the London Eye taken over by 500 single people, who took the half-hour ride in pods given themes that ranged from petting zoo to rave.

Doing Something’s co-founder Matt Janes said: “We try and do the most unachievable, outlandish things and the idea is that doing something like this will give you something to talk about.

“Climbing the roof of the O2 would be a great date on its own and playing ping pong is a great date idea — put the two together and chuck in a few flamingos and space hoppers and it hopefully gives people a better way to get to know each other.”

Cupid may have been absent but it was entertaining, says Standard reporter

One-size-fits-all overalls and a harness would not be my first choice of outfit for a date.

But at least no one can judge anyone else’s sartorial choices when you’re all forced to wear the O2’s “climbsuit”.

My O2 climbing experience was certainly the first date I had been on that required me to sign a waiver and receive a briefing in advance. As we lined up to ascend the dome I didn’t think there was much chance of love blossoming on the canopy.

As our group of 30 set off on the mini-hike, though, we bonded over helping each other with our safety cords. You could maybe, possibly, call it flirting, but I wouldn’t.

The mood did lighten further as we arrived at our ping pong tables. People got chatting, abysmal games of table tennis were played and the starry view of London was taken in.

After half an hour at the top we descended, got rid of the suit and headed to the bar.

On this occasion Cupid wasn’t shooting his arrows, but the ping pong party was an entertaining addition to the O2 experience.

Anna Dubuis

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