Bristol is officially one of the world's top ten cities to visit according to DK Eyewitness Travel Guides. The gateway to South West England it has it all: dynamic, cosmopolitan shopping and entertainment and a bustling bar and restaurant scene that now rivals London. So why in a city of just over a million and so many places to visit and things to do can it seem impossible to find the right place for a date?

Well, the good news is that there are plenty of singles out there looking to start dating. Hundreds of interesting, attractive and sociable singles are registered in West Country Singles and we have a brilliant track record of making perfect matches.

Single guy Rob met Louisa through West Country Singles in September 2009 and after their first date at trendy Goldbrick House in Clifton, Bristol the two of them have never looked back. "I'd been on lots of single sites but had found I often had to go to Swindon or Bath or even further to meet someone that ticked all the dating boxes.

West Country Singles is brilliant because it finds real singles looking for dates in your local area. Louisa lives just 15 minutes from me across town and we had often been to the same bars and clubs. It's really good to be dating someone that is local and knows Bristol as well as I do. We have a real connection."

Best places in Bristol for dating

There's an absolute wealth of pubs, bars and clubs in Bristol - in fact, when it comes to picking one place for someone who might well be The One, it can be quite overwhelming. Here's our tried and tested mini guide to the perfect places for singles to start dating in Bristol.

If you are looking for a laid back night with a real buzzy atmosphere the Pitcher & Piano in the V Shed bar is a great place for a first date. The original gastro pub-style venue has everything from posh burgers to tapas and a great choice of beers and wines. The waterfront setting makes it perfect for dating in the summertime as you can enjoy a drink on the terrace overlooking the water. Fridays and Saturdays can get very busy with a DJ playing so it's good to meet early and get some dating talk in before things get loud! If you are looking for somewhere classy and a little quieter try Attix Lounge Bar, Bristol's first champagne and cocktail bar that boasts a funky decor and no disco lights or loud music.

For those who like a more traditional venue West Country Singles' favourite The Golden Guinea calls itself 'Bristol's best backstreet boozer.' But this is no spit and sawdust joint. For those singles looking for a pubby dating venue with a twist, the Guinea serves up real ales, wheat beers and their signature Blackbeard Cider in a modern, relaxed atmosphere. There's also live music so check out their website for special events to take your date.

More good options for taking your date out for dinner include Browns on Queens Road in Clifton. With its large al fresco dining space and reasonably priced bistro menu this is proof that chain restaurants can make an evening very special indeed. Some of our former 'happy customers' at West Country Singles have told us that the unique and always-entertaining Byzantium never fails to impress for a first dinner date. The exotic and stunning atrium restaurant serves up Mediterranean food in beautiful surroundings with super attentive staff and romance always on the menu. For a relaxed wood fired pizza with a micro brewed beer singles looking for a trendy but reasonable first date venue should head to Zero Degrees. They also serve fantastic kilo pots of mussels and lighter bites if first date nerves should get the better of your appetite.