From red flags and beige flags, to green flags, it’s hard to know how to go about dating without potentially slipping up and becoming somebody’s ‘ick’. So, to help rule out what the no-go’s are for a first date activity in 2023, greetings card marketplace Thortful has polled 2,000 Brits on their idea of the ‘ickiest’ first date activity.
Coming in first with 25 per cent of the vote, was doing an escape room. It’s just a bit too intimate, apparently.
Unfortunately, if you love a puzzle, you might want to save the escape room for date number two or three. A quarter of respondents said this would be their worst idea of a first date, possibly due to the thought of being inescapably stuck with a terrible first date.
Taking the second spot is being invited to watch someone do something – like going to a sport match. Of all the Gen Z respondents in the survey, this was actually classed as the worst activity, with 27 per cent voting it to the top spot.
It would seem watching someone show off their skills on the first date is just too much of an ‘ick’ to most youngsters. Coming up in the third, fourth and fifth spot were climbing, hiking, and karaoke. Check out the complete list below.
1 |
Escape room (with just the two of you in it) |
25% |
2 |
Being invited to watch the other person do something (for example, compete in a sport) |
24% |
3 |
Climbing/bouldering |
23% |
4 |
A long hike |
22% |
5 |
Karaoke/open mic night |
20% |
While taking a long hike together made it into the top five worst, the second best date idea overall was going for a casual walk, as 40 per cent of those surveyed said that this would be an ideal first date.
The number one best date idea overall was meeting at a café for a coffee, and some light food. Meanwhile, bagging 20 per cent of the vote was taking part in karaoke. However, if you really want to break the ice, this could be an ideal choice.
Aside from the top five ranking, avid gym-rats may want to go back to the drawing board, as going to the gym together was also an unfavourable first date idea. Up to 17 per cent said this would be terrible. This was also the least voted-for option when it came to the best first date ideas.
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The survey also found that men think that going for a pint is the best first date idea – but going climbing is the worst. Over a third (39 per cent) of men said that going for a casual drink at the pub was their top idea of a first date.
On the other hand, up to 31 per cent of women voted going for coffee as their ideal option. And 27 per cent overall said that going for a meal at a restaurant was their top choice.
Overall, climbing or bouldering made it to the number three spot, but 27 per cent of the men surveyed want their feet planted firmly on the ground, as they voted it as their worst idea of a first date. Just making it into the top 10 worst first date ideas was a trip to the cinema, with 13 per cent of the vote, was going to the cinema.
Up to 18 per cent of Gen Z respondents said this would be an ick. But only five per cent of those aged 55-64 said this would be a bad idea.
Based on the activities that were chosen as ideal first dates, such as going for coffee and casual drinks, it seems that the best way to go is to take things steady. To clear things up, Thortful asked Relationship Psychologist, Mairead Molloy, on her thoughts.
She said: “Notice how the top date ideas are all based around sharing food and drink – this is the easiest way for us to relax and feel comfortable having conversations while sussing out your date. Nobody wants to be stuck in an escape room for two hours with someone they don’t fancy!
“First dates are important to us because humans are hardwired to want a relationship, so we put a lot of pressure on them. The most effective way to reduce the pressure is to remember that a first date is not a do or die situation, but it is an opportunity to have fun and meet someone that can make your life and theirs better.”