The 'good date ideas' thread

Shame, the one is Wimbledon is where I learnt to drink...

I don't know why but I just suddenly remembered it and wrote it down.

Glad you did. Enjoyed it

^ Me too. Is there a thread for date experiences like this?

Good day date: http://www.vam.ac.uk/whatson/event/2915/chinese-festival-paper-painting-and-performance-4286/

I'll be there teaching origami, come say hey.

Thought these looked nice.

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/healthy_date_recipes

I want to take the Mrs out for something a bit different this Sat night or Sun daytime. Anyone know of anything interesting that's occurring this weekend? I'm pretty open to ideas, whether it's food, culture, music, dancing or a combination. Just something that's a bit different...

This looks ace, might be a fun exhibition to see before going for a meal: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/martin-creed-79080?gclid=COP5vODBo70CFZHJtAodGT0A3g

I am going tomorrow. I will report back.

Thread dredge! Right you lot, please help me out. First date this Friday evening with a lovely person.

Plan A (good weather): Chill by the canal near Victoria Park and have a drink and a chat. We were looking forward to this, but the forecast predicts light rain showers.

Plan B (bad weather): ???

We need a good plan B for foul weather, some place near Victoria Park / Bethnal Green / Cambridge Heath to simply chill and chat. Ideally with our own drinks, but that's not a must. Could always go to a pub or bar but I'm worried most will be super busy and loud on Friday.

There are a few bars/cafés in the Here East complex (former Olympic media centre), right down by the canal (Mother Works, Hackney Wick Breakfast Club, etc.). Some of them close in the afternoon, but some are open later. I don't know how busy it gets on a Friday, but I'd guess it's probably less busy than the places down in Hackney Wick (Crate, Grow, etc.), being further away from a train station. If you're both on bikes, that shouldn't be an issue.

In Bethnal Green, I like the Camel pub, which is popular, but I've never seen it hugely busy, quite possibly owing to its backstreet location. I also like the Gallery Café, but I suspect that probably closes too early for you.

Rock climbing.

Is there still a place in Mile End?

Thanks @Oliver Schick and @hugo7 - Excellent suggestions and I'll be keen to investigate them.

She's since suggested the East London Liquor Company as it apparently doesn't get too busy on Fridays (Google agrees), and it's next to the canal anyway. So we have a plan!

Just wanted to report back that East London Liquor Company (on the south side of the canal near Victoria Park) doesn't get too busy between 7:00-8:30pm on a Friday, is nice for a chat and makes a mean grapefruit gin & tonic. Would recommend. Though most tables were reserved so maybe we got lucky...

Nice walk along the canal afterwards, turned into a mini bar crawl to Crate and Grow and another place I forget. Good times.

Meeting someone in Southbank tomorrow eve.. Any recommends for the area?

Not looking to impress (aka I'm not looking to spend hard),

The bar at the back of the BFI is ok - and if their 'secret drawing room' is open inside that's quite nice. Or if the weather is ok the Queen Elizabeth Hall roof garden?

If you want a pub then the White Hart near Roupell Street is decent.

Then 100 yards further 'inland' the Cut and Lower Marsh have some useful bars and places to eat.

Nice weather tomorrow. There’s flat iron square where you can get a drink and then easy food if it’s going well. The oyster place in borough market… if you like oysters. Young vic bar on the cut has a terrace and I recall not being too busy. People love Mc & Sons I think it’s a bit loud.

BFI bar is a good shout, national theatre bar too. There’s a free a sculpture show at the south bank centre. One of my first dates with my wife was the world press photography awards exhibition there.

Is that more London Bridge than Southbank? Good recommends though. Flat iron square is nice.

All from Waterloo bridge to London Bridge feels like the south bank to me from working there but that might be a bit liberal.

Probably true, haha! Padella is good but cheap if London Bridge is in the mix. Gordon’s wine bar is just over Charing x bridge for after drinks drinks

Great place, candle lit and unique. Brilliant if the other person has never been there.

We’ve taken lots of friends visiting from the states there, they’ve all loved it. It’s a vibe

Love that place, if weather’s good, outside space is nice too, job done!

It is great. Yeah there is a vibe. Feels great to introduce people to it.

Strong work, peeps!

There’s flat iron square where you can get a drink and then easy food if it’s going well.

What's the deal with the fire escape if it ain't going so well?