Peninsula entrepreneurs tap into dating scene
Northern beaches entrepreneurs are helping other singletons find each other the old-fashioned way — in real time instead of online.
Living on the northern beaches might be paradise, but if you’re single and looking for love, it can be a lonely place.
However, plucky unattached locals are doing something about it.
From speed dating to roaming dinners, singletons are taking matters into their own hands and creating events to expand not only their own chances of finding lasting romance, but others’, too.
Wine and Dine Sydney has been set up by a trio of single guys from Manly.
It sees the concept of roaming dinner parties arrive on the peninsular. Same-sex groups move around for each course at a different dinner party held by the opposite sex, before everybody meets at a bar afterwards.
While the idea is nothing new, the friends were frustrated similar events were only held in the city.
Engineer Shaun Daly, 27, who created the company with pals Matt Manton, 25, and financial adviser Luke Mollkin, 30, said they’re proving popular ahead of the first event on February 27.
They will act as matchmakers, pairing up groups to create a chance of romance.
“We do get people’s contact details and you can match a bit. For example, we have 30-35 aged groups and groups aged 19-22, Mr Daly said.
“People say it’s a bit like speed dating — and this is a lot more relaxed.”
Mr Daley said while northern beaches singles hot spots include Manly favourites, The Steyne and The Wharf bar, internet dating has taken over.
But he hopes his event will get people meeting people the old-fashioned way — by talking in person.
Kath Coulton from Manly also wants to get away from the internet.
And while the single mum’s plans to hold speed dating at the Ivanhoe late last year stalled as she didn’t get enough interest, she has arranged other events through her Facebook page, Northern Beaches Singles.
And she has even created three couples.
Mrs Coulton ditched the phone apps and tries to meet people for real — but work and children means it can be hard.
“I was sick of meeting losers on the internet,” Mrs Coulton said.
“I had a guy who had posted a photo which was 20 years old — he was 60.
“Lots of men don’t want somebody’ else’s children. One man told me he didn’t want somebody else’s mistakes.
Mrs Coulton follows in the hopeful footsteps of Christiane Wolf, 34.
Tagged as “meet me for real” dating, Miss Wolf’s method involved blindfolding a group of men and women, pairing them up for five minutes and allowing them to chat.
And while the event was a one-off, she’s open to bringing it back.
“I do online dating but it really doesn’t do it for me,” Miss Wolf said. “There’s no chemistry until you meet in person.”
And even then, internet dates were generally hopeless, she said.
“You meet up, you think you get on well and then you never hear. It’s so rude.”
Dating in Australia is very different from meeting men in her native Germany.
She reckons Australians aren’t gentlemanly — and care too much about what their mates think.
“In Europe a man would be willing to go an extra mile to conquer a girl’s heart,” she said.
But she remains positive, saying, “I would rather be single than in a relationship with someone I‘m not committed to”.
Another woman who is happily single, but keen to meet a man is Annie Sophia,
The Manly TV producer-turned stylist has set up an event with a difference with life coach and friend, Vicky Jones from Fairlight. Rather than helping singles pair up, it helps women work on themselves — both inside and out.
Events are held at new Manly bar Little Love Inn, with the held on Valentine’s Day, and another planned for Thursday 18 February.
“We wanted to have an event that gives women permission on Valentine’s Day to concentrate on themselves,” Ms Sophia, 36, said. “We give them strategies for the inside and out.”
Concentrating on herself is something Ms Sophia has decided to do, after trying online dating, as well as meeting men in other ways, without success.
“At my age, many guys have just got out of a long-term relationship and maybe just want to have a bit of fun,” she said.
“I thought ‘I’m going to concentrate on myself and my business’, and I’m of the belief it will all come and I will attract the man of my dreams.
“Amazing things will happen when you let your inhibitions down.”
While she loves living on the beaches, she reckons it’s important to cross the water, too.
“I think being single in Manly, you can get a bit ‘insular peninsular’, she said.
“It’s great going out here but it’s important to make the effort to go to other places in Sydney.”
Ms Sophia, who also hopes to put on more singles events plus workshops for men, has a good line for all the people who ask why a woman like her is on her own.
“I say: ‘I guess I’m just lucky.’”
Details: wine-dine.com.au
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