Channel 4's First Dates heads to Bath

Channel 4 and Twenty Twenty Productions have revealed the city of Bath will be the new filming location for the First Dates restaurant.

Returning for a new series after 10 years of matchmaking on screen, maître d’ Fred Sirieix and his team will be hosting the couples this summer at The Botanist bar & restaurant in Bath.

Along with the new location, the tenth anniversary season will launch new cast members and a format refresh.

A number of the Twenty Twenty production team will be based out of the company’s new regional hub in Bristol. The Bristol offices will be the base for the First Dates casting team alongside members of the story and editing teams, as well as two locally based trainees on different training schemes. For Channel 4, it is part of their commitment to expanding out of London and also supporting their growing number of productions out of Bristol.

Fred Sirieix said: “Making this new series feels special, celebrating a decade of bringing people together on the show, but there’s always more love to be found. They say Bath is the most romantic City in the UK and its true, so what better place to set the scene for romance to blossom than there!”

James O’Reilly, Creative Director at Twenty Twenty, said: “We can’t wait for the new First Dates restaurant to open its doors to singletons looking for love in beautiful Bath. It’s Britain’s most romantic city and promises to be the perfect backdrop to our 10^th Anniversary season – which will also have a new look and some exciting twists to go with our brand-new location. As well as being the ideal place for our couples to fall for one another, Bath is right on the doorstep of our home in Bristol, and reflects Twenty Twenty’s commitment to producing programming here in the south-west; we want to do all we can to nurture talent in the region and help the industry grow on our home turf.”

Rita Daniels, Channel 4 Commissioning Editor, said: “After 10 years of love stories, I’m thrilled that First Dates has the stunning and romantic city of Bath as its brand new location. I’m in no doubt that this special place will mesmerize and enthral all our daters which in turn will ensure they have special evening full of romance.”