Locations to meet men (like cricket matches, but for winter time)

[FlappertyFlippers]

One of the ladies at a mother and toddler group looks after her grandson. I think she's probably late 50s, or early 60s. She divorced a couple of years ago and is now on the hunt for a new man, however she really doesn't want to do Internet dating. She's fun, sociable and lovely but admitted to me she doesn't know where to go to meet her future man.

I suggested going to a cricket match as most of the spectators are male, it lasts all day and is really boring so the men would be quite happy to be distracted by her, and they have a beer tent where they sell pimms so even if she doesn't meet anyone she can still have a fabulous afternoon.

She loved this idea but it turns out that cricket matches have finished till next springtime. So now she wants me to come up with a new location where there will be similar numbers of men whom she can chat with. I'm stumped, so help me!

I don't think cricket fans find cricket boring .

No other ideas though.

What kinds of things is she interested in? Music? Motorsport? Travel? Theatre?

sports club (squash/ cycling/ hill walking or similar)
concert series
local politics
local charity
writers' group
ummmm ... farmers market?

Only thing is, most of these are a bit more, well, participative than spectator sport. Oh wait a minute - football?

Local walking groups and singles holidays. Any hobby-based activity is a good start.

What about dance classes, or local tea dances?

She could also try enrolling with the U3A. If there is a particular subject she enjoys it's a great place to meet others with a similar interest.

She needs to find someone with whom she shares a hobby or interest.
Walking is a good activity for meeting older singles. Local Ramblers Association groups are a good starting point. Or Ramblers holidays.

Depends what her interests are.

I've met lots of men at book groups and when hiking. My no. 1 tip is to join a cycling group - they're usually full of men! I've been to salsa classes which are pretty evenly attended by men and women.

She could have a look at meetup.com, loads of different interest groups and it'a focused on the activity and friendships, not dating so is quite relaxed.

Some other ideas - I've been chatted to (not chatted up, but friendly conversation) by men at art exhibitions and in bookshops. If she's friendly and outgoing it wouldn't do any harm to exchange a short chat with any men wandering about and galleries and bookshops are quite normal places to attend on your own.

Does she actually have an interest in sport?
As well as cricket, the local rugby club usually likes female hands on deck.

Narrow it down to the things she's actually interested in herself. Sports, outdoors, book club etc.

Internet dating is the way forward afraid. My mum has just met a lovely fella on it. She's 66, he's 78. it's not just for young uns.

I second singles walking groups for the over 50- I know someone who met their new partner there, but also lots of friends and they have social events etc.

alchemist oops, didn't mean to offend any cricket fans! It's just that its a sport that lasts for days where nothing much happens very often, hence men may be more willing to be distracted in a lull period rather than a fast burst of a football/rugby match where they focus on the game for 90 minutes and then head home or to the pub.

frankelandfilly love love love the u3a website, they seem to have lots on in our local town, will suggest that to her.

hellonheels genius idea to join a cycling group as there are lots of men. I will see if she owns a bike!

is really boring so the men would be quite happy to be distracted by her

LOL! Cricket is great and if men are there watching it, they won't find it boring.

To be honest, I'm not sure that it's a good place to meet men. Sure there are a lot of them there, but I don't think it's that easy to get talking. I have a season ticket for a football club. Before I got married, I went really regularly and never got hit on at all - as compared to say being in a bar or a club etc.

If she's prepared to do something she's not particularly interested in, there are lots of classes to take that tend to attract men or be male dominated.

Avoid wine tasting as this is very female dominated. It's something that all women think men do and sign up to go to meet a man. It's hilarious. The classes are all full of women desperate to meet a man and its wall to wall women, maybe one token guy.

If she can afford it, group travel holidays (like art tours etc) could be a good option as you get to know people a bit.

Yes, not wine tasting - try whisky tasting, that's more manly

Further comment: I've thought about this a bit more and think football games are not good places to meet men.

I think part of the reason that football games aren't good places to meet men is that (1) it is quite tribal/male bonding and (2) natural meeting opportunities are few.

Men tend to go with other men - their mates - in groups. So they will chat to their mates about the game. Breaking away to flirt with/chat up a woman is kind of breaking the natural group and its rhythm. I'm not saying it never happens but it's pretty rare. If you compare it to pubs, usually a couple of men may start talking to a couple of women - groups talking to groups; couples to couples etc. A single person infiltrating a group is rarer.

The natural meeting opportunities are few. Arriving and leaving a major sporting venue is fraught with travel problems and anxiety - so people aren't disposed to chat. Half time is all about getting a beer in quickly or going to the loo.

Which really just leaves you with the people you are sitting next to/in front of./behind. On a season ticket, these are usually the same people -so a pool of 4 or 5 men is not good odds to meet someone.

I still say holiday or evening classes are the best plan if OLD is totally off the menu.

Cricket is better as there is more wandering around and its a longer day. but the same things kind of apply - she'd be better going with a few women as they'd be more likely to get into conversation with groups of men.

The U3A is great isn't it! MIL is a retired English teacher and she teaches a Shakespeare class at her local U3A as well as attending a history class.

There are lots of woman who go to my local rugby club's matches, the fans aren't as yobbish as the football guys and at our age (45+) they tend to have got out of the drinking all day stage.

Please, whoever it was who suggested tea dances for a woman in her late fifties, think again! That woman probably grew up listening to Sid Vicious. Get your generations right!

www.ceroc.com

I'm a similar age to your friend and have met lots of new friends dancing - ceroc/modern jive/salsa - couldn't dance a step when I joined. Learning the moves is all part of the evening. There's a surprisingly even balance of men and women

How about the pub? Or Bridge Club? Or Salsa Club? Alternatively, she could just make it a habit to get into conversation with as many strangers that she bumps into during her routine. Perhaps she'll spark up a nice conversation after a few weeks and from there...who knows.

I meet a lot of men in that age range in the library. Not that I'm looking for one, I do a bit of volunteering there. It seems to be a place where they pop in and out, use the computers, some of them join the book clubs etc. Generally a relaxed and friendly environment where people chat.

Age doesn't matter with Tea Dances, I've been to several and I'm in my early 30s! They tend to be in the day so are usually attended by retired people but there's no age limit.

Beer festival?
Regular music night at a local pub? (Bands, like a folk night for eg)
My nearest Costa does poetry nights that are quite popular.