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Dating apps may promise endless choice, but new research suggests the best chance of finding real love could be much closer to home. It could be that you find love in your local pub, during the weekly supermarket shop, at a friend’s wedding or even in the workplace. A nationwide study has found that meeting someone in real life (IRL) is far more likely to lead to a happier, more trusting and longer-lasting relationship than swiping online. Often, by meeting someone in real life, you’ll find that you have friends or experiences in common, which help build a relationship in the early days.
A nationwide study has revealed that meeting someone IRL, will more likely lead to a happy relationship, with more trust and a deeper friendship.
In fact, as many as 44% of the couples surveyed, who met in person, away from the dating apps, consider themselves in a long-term, committed relationship, compared to just 7% of those who met online.
While as many as 62% of couples who met IRL would describe themselves as “extremely happy”, compared with just 51% of those who met on a dating site.
Meeting your other half in person is also more likely to lead to a trusting relationship, with 71% saying they “trust their partner 100%”, compared to 63% of those who met via a dating app, according to the research by Asda.
And those who met through friends, work, at the pub or supermarket, are also more likely to describe their relationship as a “deep friendship” (66% compared to 59% of online meet up couples).
So, it’s no wonder as many as 87% of all those surveyed agree it’s better to meet IRL.
81% of singles say they’re open to meeting someone while walking the dog, grabbing a coffee or doing the weekly shop.
In fact, 64% admit there’s someone at their local supermarket they quite fancy.
Yet, while the opportunity is there, making the first move isn’t always easy. More than eight in ten singles (82%) admit they feel shy about asking for someone’s number.
To help turn those everyday moments into real-life connections, Asda is introducing special red baskets in select stores this Valentine’s Day, giving singles a simple way to signal they’re open to a chat while picking up bread, browsing the bakery, or grabbing a few treats. The baskets will appear in Leicester, Liverpool, and Glasgow, where the research revealed people are most actively looking for love.
A spokesperson for Asda said: “We know people are craving real-life connections, but we also know our customers are busy and don’t always have the time to put themselves out there. That’s why we’re turning the weekly shop into the ultimate meet-cute. These red baskets are a fun, light-hearted way to help people connect while they’re already doing their everyday shop – a simple, playful nudge to start a chat and maybe even spark a little romance.”
Many say it’s easier to get a genuine first impression without filters, with 68% highlighting this as a benefit, while over half (56%) say meeting face to face helps spark that all-important first bit of chemistry.
Being able to make proper eye contact also matters, with 51% saying it helps them feel more connected from the start.
There’s also comfort in familiarity. Meeting through friends can give people common ground, with 30% saying it helped break the ice, while a third (33%) feel in-person connections are simply more meaningful.
And for the sensory romantics, it’s the real-life details that count, from catching a hint of perfume or aftershave (19%) to hearing someone’s voice as it really sounds (37%).
And sometimes, love really does start at work. In fact, 21% of people say the best place to meet a partner is through their job – something Asda Dewsbury colleagues Ryan and Kelly know all too well. The couple first met when Kelly was making Ryan breakfast in the staff canteen. Kelly said: “He liked his fried eggs cooked both sides, so his yolk was fully cooked. He always had the same breakfast, bacon, eggs, beans and two slices of bread! I still cook him the same breakfast at home from time to time.” They are getting married this summer, with their nine-year-old twin daughters Charley and Olivia acting as bridesmaids.
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