How does speed dating work and where are singles events held in the UK?

SPEED dating may sound a little daunting, but it can actually be loads of fun.

If you're not exactly sure what it's all about, we've got the lowdown on how it works, where you can take part and the quirky themed nights on offer.

What is speed dating?

Speed dating involves a group of singles going on quickfire dates with each other.

One set of daters - usually women - stay seated at the same table, while the men move from table to table.

Dates usually last around 3-5 minutes, but some can be up to 10 minutes.

There's around one minute between them, so daters can fill out a scorecard.

The number of dates held in an evening varies from event to event, but it's usually 10 or less.

Afterwards, the daters turn in their scorecards to the organisers, and are either contacted the next day or log onto a website to enter the names of those they'd like to see again.

If two people register a mutual interest in a second date, they receive each other's contact information.

From there, they can get in touch to arrange another meeting.

Are there different types of speed dating?

There are several different types of speed dating.

Some events cater for specific ages, with over 40s and over 50s events becoming increasingly popular.

You'll also find plenty of gay and bisexual speed dating nights around the country.

As well as typical speed dating, there are themed events you can take part in.

These range from naked speed dating to "Romancing The Armpit" speed dating (and yes, it's as weird as it sounds).

Where are singles events held in the UK?

There are plenty of speed dating options in bigger towns and cities, with holding events in areas including Brighton, London, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Sheffield and Norwich.