Where is the new First Dates restaurant? ·

06 Apr 2024, 00:00

HEARTWARMING dating show First Dates has brought couples together for nearly a decade.

Fred, Merlin and the cast are familiar faces but the restaurant itself has changed multiple times so where is the First Dates restaurant now?

Where is the new First Dates restaurant in Manchester?

The hit Channel 4 series will be back once again to match singletons of all ages with their perfect partner over a gourmet meal.

First Dates moved away from it's London home, the Paternoster Chop House in 2020 after filming there for seven years.

The show moved to its new Manchester home ready for the new series and Teen First Dates spin-off to begin.

For series 19, The Anthologist - which is in St. Peter's Square, Manchester - will be the new location for the First Dates crew.

Last year, the show took place in The Refinery, a chic cocktail bar and restaurant, based in Spinningfields, Manchester City Centre.

Sadly The Refinery shut down in 2021 so the cast had to relocate to its sister bar The Anthologist.

Why is First Dates not being filmed in London anymore?

Many attribute the big move up north to the pandemic, but actually the decision to change things up was made in January 2020.

At the time Channel 4 and First Dates production company Twenty Twenty said: "This is part of Twenty Twenty’s commitment to the UK regions, alongside Channel 4’s commitment to their new regional hub in Bristol."

A show spokesman told The Sun in June 2020: “Fred will be joined by some of the existing First Dates team at the new restaurant in Manchester, and there’ll be some new faces from the local area.”

more on first dates

Bartender and mixologist Merlin was a familiar face in Manchester and there are hopes he will return this season, after his bowel cancer battle.

Some new faces in the move up North included bartender Fiona, waitress Daniella and waiter David.

When is First Dates on TV?

First Dates is back for series 19 and packed with existing new couples.

The show kicks off TONIGHT (July 21, 2022) and will be on Channel 4 every Thursday at 10pm.

You can catch up with all the past episodes now on the Channel 4 website, or if you have a BritBox subscription you can watch them ad free.

If watching the show isn't enough you can always apply for the next series.

Where is the new First Dates restaurant?

HEARTWARMING dating show First Dates has brought couples together for nearly a decade. Fred, Merlin and the cast are familiar faces but the restaurant itself has changed multiple times so where is the First Dates restaurant now?