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Zoo Trip
Venue: Bristol Zoo
About: A trip to the zoo is a fun and unique way to take advantage of a sunny day!
If possible, avoid school holidays, and research a few facts about your favourite animals in advance.
The Date: Don’t feel like you have to see everything! Work out which animals you really want see and find out when their feeding times are. This way you won't leave feeling exhausted and you can come back on a future date to see the bits you missed.
Address: Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3HA
Telephone: 0117 974 7300
Theatre
Venue: Bristol Hippodrome
About: No, not the cinema. The theatre! This is the perfect oppurtunity for the two of you to get dressed up and enjoy yourselves in style!
The Date: The idea of sitting in a silent auditorium for three hours, with someone you barely know may seem like a daunting experience but there's really no need to panic! The show will fly by and give you tons to talk about during the interval and after the performance.
This is better than any Hollywood blockbuster and a lot more original too.
Address: Saint Augustine's Parade, Bristol, BS1 4UZ
Telephone: 0844 871 3012
Bowling
Venue: The Lanes
About: This old-school hangout combines the fun of bowling with a stylish pizzeria - serving up the best Pizzas this side of Italy. If you fancied some refreshments while you flirt The Lanes bar also offers an unrivalled range of top quality keg and cask beers, cocktails and tasty Hard Shakes.
The Date: If you're looking for a low pressure date with a casual vibe; bowling is the activity for you. The two of you can enjoy a shake or share a pizza while engaging in a friendly competition.
Remember - the more fun you have, the better chance you'll stand of getting a second date.
Address: 22 Nelson Street, Bristol, BS1 2LE
Telephone: 0117 325 1979
Aquarium
Venue: Bristol Aquarium
About: Located in the famous Bristol harbour, the new Bristol Aquarium is a quirky alternative to an uneventful trip to the cinema. Stroll hand in hand admiring the tropical sharks, the beautiful seahorses and sit down and be amazed in the undersea tunnel.
The Date: Aquariums aren't just for school trips; they're also great places for first dates too. Your new fishy friends will provide you with plenty to talk about and also act as a distraction in between conversations - no awkward silences here.
Brush up on your underwater knowledge and settle in for an enormously fun and thoughtful first date.
Address: Anchor Road, Bristol BS1 5TT
Telephone: 0117 929 8929
Mini Golf
Venue: Jungle Rumble
About: Jungle Rumble is one of the best and most exciting indoor adventure golf courses in the South West. Reminiscent of an Indiana Jones film set, the course features a diverse array of adventurous holes including a live volcano cave, temple ruins and a secret swamp.
The Date: If your date isn't a dab hand with a putter, helping them with their swing is a great opportunity to get up close and personal.
On the flip side, if your date's a little more at home on the green, it’s the perfect chance for some playful competition.
Address: Cabot Circus, 76 Glass Walk, Bristol, BS1 3BQ
Telephone: 0117 929 7771
Museums
Venue: Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
About: Bristol Museum & Art Gallery is home to over 19 galleries of world-class art, archaeology, geology and natural history. The Museum boasts a range of dynamic exhibitions and a diverse events programme throughout the year.
The Date: Walking through exhibitions together and learning about new and interesting things is a great bonding experience and will give you plenty to talk about.
Make sure to take a break from browsing to eat a quick lunch and pop to the gift shop to pick out souvenirs for each other.
Address: Queens Road, Bristol, BS8 1RL
Telephone: 0117 922 3571
Sightseeing
Venue: City Sightseeing Bristol
About: Sit back and relax on one of City Sightseeing's distinctive red open top buses, and enjoy the city from a whole new perspective. The tour stops at some of the city’s best attractions including Brunel's SS Great Britain, Bristol Zoo Gardens, @Bristol and The Bristol Aquarium.
The Date: Living and working in Bristol we can sometimes take our hometown for granted, so why not try to see the city from a tourist’s perspective?
The Hop-on/Hop-off tickets allow you to get off and explore, so make sure that your date is up for an adventure.
Address: Broad Quay, Bristol, BS1 4QF
Telephone: 0870 444 0654
Wine Pairings
Impress your date with these brilliant wine pairings
Choosing a good wine for your date can be a little daunting, so we've teamed up with the experts at Novel Wines to pick some crowd-pleasers that impress.
The safe bet for white wines is usually a Sauvignon Blanc and the Marlborough region in New Zealand offers consistently good quality. However, if you want to offer something a little more interesting, why not try the Casa Valduga Raizes Sauvignon from Brazil? It's fruitier and zippier than its New Zealand friends but still guaranteed to put a smile on a Sauvignon fan's face. If you want something a little more versatile than Sauvignon, for example if you don't know what's for dinner or what their tastes are, go eccentric with the Kayra Narince from Turkey. This juicy, floral white wine is a great food partner and good value too.
The red wines can also be challenging. Merlot can be hit and miss and a lot of supermarket Bordeaux is usually unimpressive. Spanish Rioja is usually an easy option, or you are generally safe going for the juicy Nero d'Avola reds from Sicily. In fact, this Colomba Bianca 'Vitese' Nero d'Avola is both organic and vegan friendly, as well as superb value. If you're going for pizza or pasta, try a medium bodied Uruguayan Tannat like the Bodega Stagnari Del Pedregal, full of plum and blackberry notes.
If you don't know whether to go with red or white and your date says "just bring the wine", then we've got you covered. Chateau Ksara Sunset Rose from Lebanon is spicy, fruity and creamy. It's bound to please!
Dinner Date
Venue: Glassboat Restaurant
About: Arguably one of the most charming restaurants in the city; Glassboat offers waterside dining at its very best.
Located on the floating harbour in the heart of Bristol, Glassboat provides spectacular views of the waterfront, bridges, churches and of course the swans on the water itself. A romantic harbourside walk is the perfect way to end your dinner date.
The Date: Location, style and ambience are everything so make sure that you pick the perfect venue. Choosing the right shirt and minding your Ps and Qs will go a long way too!
Sampling exciting exotic dishes and sharing new experiences on your date is a great way to build a connection with someone.
Address: Welshback, Bristol, BS1 4SB
Telephone: 0117 929 0704
Cocktail Making
Venue: Revolution
About: Whatever your favourite tipples are, Revolution can teach you and your date just how to make them.
During your session you'll learn the art of cocktail making and find out how to mix, mash and muddle some of your favourite drinks. As well as learning about cocktail making you'll also get to sample as you go!
The Date: Both like a drink or two? Well instead of heading down to your local, why not try out a cocktail making masterclass instead? This type of date is great fun and will allow you to find out how creative your date really is.
Address: 19-21 St Nicholas Street, Bristol, BS1 1UA
Telephone: 0117 930 4335