Yahoo News Where are the First Dates restaurants?
With a new series about to be served up, here’s where you can find their filming spots
Better do a quick breath check and prep your best banter because a new series of First Dates is heading to Channel 4 in 2024 as the show celebrates its tenth anniversary.
The popular reality dating show that gives audiences a table-eye-view at the sometimes-charming, sometimes-awkward first dinner dates of a variety of hopeful singletons has swiftly become one of Channel 4’s most popular shows since it originally launched in 2013.
Its popularity has helped make its in-house maître d' Fred Sirieix a recognised name, leading him to a memorable appearance on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in late 2023.
When can you get your First Dates fix and where are the First Dates restaurants based? We’ll ditch the polite small talk and cut right to the chase.
When is the new series of First Dates out?
First Dates will return to Channel 4 in January 2024, with its brand new 21st series launching on Tuesday, 2 January.
With this new batch of episodes comes a brand new location, with Sirieix relocating his team to a romantic restaurant situated in the heart of Bath.
Will this be the setting for love or a venue packed with evenings we’d all rather forget? We’ll find out when the show returns.
Is Fred Sirieix on the new series of First Dates?
First Dates iconic maître d’ may have been enjoying a successful career outside of his date-host duties on shows like I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and 2019’s Gordon, Gino and Fred: Road Trip but rest assured, he hasn’t forgotten his roots. Sirieix will return on the new series of First Dates to welcome a new collection of single folks looking for love.
He’ll be joined by some familiar First Dates faces, including bartender Merlin Griffiths, waitress Cici Coleman and hotel manager Francesca Martu from First Dates Hotel.
The show will also be throwing a few newcomers into the mix, including waiters Kofi Yeboah-Mensah and Aoife Smyth and bartender Jamie McCleave.
Where are the First Dates restaurants?
Fancy visiting the First Dates restaurants yourself? If so, you’ll need to know where to find them and we have all the information you need.
When the show started in 2013, it set up shop in the Paternoster Chop House in Central London. Staying closed to the public while it filmed, the show’s production team kitted out the space with over 40 cameras to discreetly capture the action, with diners given £25 towards the price of their meal.
By the time series 16 rolled around in 2020, the production fancied a change, moving First Dates to Manchester City Centre. Here, it took over The Refinery in the city’s swanky Spinningfields district.
For the show’s latest outing, First Dates will move restaurants again, this time to the City of Bath. Celebrating their tenth anniversary, Siriex and his team will welcome would-be couples to The Botanist bar and restaurant.
First Dates season 21 starts on Tuesday 2 January 2024 on Channel 4.
