When Zoe Turner attended a speed-dating event it was as part of her university study into sex and relationships in modern Britain. But her research in Kent led to her finding a new boyfriend. Now, 13 months on, she and Barry Jones , 29, are still an item.

Zoe, 26, booked her place online at www.Xfactordates.com which operates in 18 cities in the UK. She paid £25 and went along with a friend.

"I thought it might be a good way to meet someone and do some research at the same time." recalls Zoe.

"The £25 fee was reasonable, it included a glass of champagne on arrival - everyone was nervous so it was a good idea.

There's still a bit of a stigma about paying to find someone but London's a tough place for romance.

You go to the pubs or clubs and meet people but they are not always the ones you would want a relationship with.

The £25 I paid was the best £25 I have ever spent. I really think it was an investment worth making."

xfactordates.com was launched in 2003 and has had an amazing response. So much so, we’re considered to be the UK’s leading speed dating and singles event company, hosting events all over the UK – from Bexleyheath and Gravesend to Newcastle and Glasgow – so that singles from every corner of Britain can have the chance to have a great evening out and meet new people.

Most people would agree that meeting other like-minded individuals is a pretty difficult task in today’s culture of long working hours and crowded bars and clubs. So what better way than to relax with a glass of champers and ‘date’ up to 25 people in one evening? There’s no pressure and the venues are stylish and upmarket without being pretentious.

And it’s not just for city-slicking, bright young things – xfactordates.com is unique in that we hold events for all age groups for all religions. Not only that, we are now branching into themed events for gay men and women, Christian and also Jewish people – and even for elite professionals. Plus, with our new Lock and Key parties, there really is something for everyone.

When you arrive at an event, you are given a pre-prepared name badge, scorecard and pen – important items when you meet such a wide variety of people! Our attention to customer service means we also have ‘ice-breakers’ whose job it is to meet and greet you, and help you mingle with the other guests before and in between dating sessions.

The heart of the xfactordates.com is the website. It is completely secure, and allows potential daters to find out all about us, check out photographs of the venues in advance and book online for the event of their choice. It automatically maintains a 50/50 ratio of male/female guests – and this is where you enter your results after each event.

Each guest can then tick ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘friend’ for each person they’ve dated. When these results are entered onto the site, any ‘yes’ match or ‘friend’ match means you’ll be emailed to let you know and your profiles will be exchanged – so you can decide if 3 minutes was enough, or if you’d like to go back for more…

Still unconvinced? Well, quite by chance Tracy Knight and her friend went along to a ukXfactor event in January in Chislehurst, Kent – and that night she met her partner, Bob Rye. They both went along for a bit of a laugh and are still together today, amazed that yes – it actually works. Speed dating with style? Absolutely.

For more information, call xfactordates.com on 0870 871 7777 or visit the website at www.xfactordates.com