When three minutes feel too long, you know it’s a bad date

The queue is exclusively Asian, and all singletons. That’s typical for an Asian SpeedDater special evening for 60 people.

Eligible males in line include an assortment of investment bankers, cardiac surgeons, businessmen, two policemen, one plumber and one phone-line engineer.

The specialised evenings, this year’s addition to the three-minute rotating mini-date phenomenon that’s now the dating norm in the UK, are increasingly common.

Founders Ben Tisdall and Simon Prockter launched SpeedDater only a couple of years ago, but it’s already Europe’s leading speed-dating firm. Earlier this year, they launched their specialised dating—Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Asian speed-dating nights. The last is for those who are either from or interested in partners from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

My first date (I’m allotted 23 that night) is so nervous his hands are sweaty. Not good when the only introduction is a handshake.

‘‘It’s a measure of its success that this night was almost totally sold out within days even though it was on a Sunday evening,’’ says the company’s spokesperson, Rachel Powell.

The demand reflects another trend among second-generation British Asians. A recent documentary on Channel 4 I Won’t Marry a White indicated that successful professionals who previously dated mainly white partners were now on the lookout for Asian partners instead.

Chap number five, Amit, says he tried a couple of the English speed-dating nights where he was the only Asian.

“All the women were very polite and friendly, but something told me I was an outsider, “ he says. “I figured I’d feel more at home here.”

The bell rings to mark the end of the three-minute date and it’s time to swap seats again. ‘‘It’s just not long enough,’’ says Gulshan but, as his friend Tanu points out: ‘‘You know it’s not the right person when even three minutes feels like a long time.’’

Though the events are billed as attracting a mainly professional crowd, the quality of dates on a particular night varies wildly. “I can imagine that coincidentally, one night will attract a bunch of bankers, laywers and accountant types. But you could end up going to the night where for some reason most of the guys turn out to be builders,” says Maneesha, an advertising executive.

I’m tempted to ask for the number of date 14, Jas, who is a plumber; but that’s more because I’m having problems with my bathroom taps.

Although SpeedDater’s instructions tell you not to draw immediate conclusions, one lawyer doesn’t even wait till she’s out of earshot before she delivers her verdict.

“It’s such a disaster,’’ sighs Daljit. ‘‘The guys are so boring I don’t know how I’m going to get through the next hour.’’

Soon, the final bell rings but some mill around for a brief chat, finishing their drinks and even swapping telephone numbers. The overall verdict is mixed.

‘‘People have said the best thing about speed-dating is the other female friends that they make,’’ says Sharmila. ‘‘I’d say it was the same for me.’’