Page 85 - Cosmopolitan - UK (April 2020)

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The way Molloy talks about love is practical and mature and pretty much everyone who is actively dating has a
– she won’t promise the world, and will put you in your horror story to tell. In real life, “chatting someone up”
place if you demand it. Love, she says, isn’t about finding has become almost non-existent, seen as a throwback
.
,
“the one” but instead someone who “feels like home” And to a pre-app time. With an agency like Berkeley, sure,
she doesn’t believe in fate. Even though she once, without you might go on a few dud dates, but to the degree
knowing their relationship to each other, matched a of stilted conversation, not “they brought along their
divorced couple together… and they remarried. Or the ex/tarantula/mate for a threesome” Not only does
.
time she set up a client with a woman he’d spotted on her team have a strong gut instinct for liars, they also

the street months before and fallen in love with. “If your ensure – via things like background checks, asking to
wishlist isn’t too long, you’re a relatively normal human see divorce papers, and house visits – that people are
being and accept that everyone has flaws, then you will exactly who they say they are. The follow-ups after every
meet someone,” she says. But Molloy wouldn’t dream of date mean that no one gets ghosted – if they don’t want
attending any of her clients’ weddings. “You don’t invite to see you again, you’ll know (and be told exactly why).
your plumber to enjoy your bath, do you?” she cackles. Matchmakers are nothing new – they’ve been around
for centuries within most cultures. In Ancient Greece,
LIGHTNING STRIKES some women would act as go-betweens, delivering
I didn’t fully understand what Molloy meant by telegrams between couples who wanted to marry (and
“networking” until we headed to London’s Boisdales offering their verdict on the prospective partners), while
Of Belgravia, a Scottish restaurant filled with men with “miai” – a form of matchmaking created as part of
booming voices and – judging by the menu – bursting 16th-century samurai classes – still exists in Japan today.
wallets. Molloy hosts an annual Valentine’s party here But a new yearning for face-to-face contact, brought on by
and it’s where many of her clients hold their first dates. our ever-increasing reliance on technology, coupled with
The tartan everywhere reminds me of us having an expert for all areas of
the dive bars I’d drink in as a teen in our lives (PTs, life coaches, therapists)
Scotland, but the clientele is entirely MAKE ME A means it makes sense that they’re
different. Instead of pallid stoners who MATCH... now back in a big way. It’s paying a
HAIR AND MAKE-UP CAMILLA AKEHURST AT LHA REPRESENTS, USING PAUL MITCHELL HAIR AND GLOSSIER. PROP STYLING ELENA HORN.
need (at least) five black sambucas Amy fills us in on her date professional to get the job done right.
ALL CLOTHES, MODELS’ OWN. *ACCORDING TO THEGUARDIAN.COM. †ACCORDING TO EVENTBRITE. ‡ NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED
before they’ll come over and chat to “After an intensive interview with That’s what Berkeley International
you, here, making conversation with the Berkeley International team, offers – Molloy cultivates “grown-up
strangers is the norm. Within 30 I waited eagerly for an email to dating” where people treat each other
minutes of arrival, we’ve already spoken tell me they’d found me a match. as adults, and with respect. Somewhere
Photos are not exchanged, just
to a record producer weighed down by biographies (written for you by a along the way we’ve lost that. But

gold chains, and a white-haired movie professional), and the man is given have we really reached the stage
the woman’s phone number. My
producer. Both leave with Molloy’s card match is Thomas, a 43-year-old where we have to pay the equivalent
‡
clutched in their grip. I keep my eye tech genius who’s into art, speaks a of a house deposit to get it? ◆
out for matches for Amy but can’t spot few languages and loves food and The Matchmaker by Catriona Innes
any – which doesn’t matter, as Molloy drink as much as I do. He suggests is out now
meeting in the bar of a five-star
has already decided what she needs. hotel I’ve wanted to try for ages.
“Someone who will take the reigns – It’s actually really nice not knowing
she’s the editor of a very prominent what someone looks like and being
magazine… she’ll want someone alpha,” pleasantly surprised. Conversation
she explains. I keep pressing for more flows easily, especially considering
there’s been almost no build-up.
on this; hoping that Molloy will present He’s fascinating. Educated, highly BE HI ND T H E S C E N ES
me with the perfect formula for love. cultured, well-travelled. Despite
But she doesn’t have it. No one does. coming from different parts of the Catriona Innes
What organisations like Berkeley country, our values – friends, family,
travel, work ethic, ambition – are
International can provide is a buffer – aligned. He pokes fun at my overly “When I asked Molloy who she’d match me with,
a shiny one that protects you from all specific drinks order, I poke fun she paused and said, ‘Someone who, when you
the crap that comes from dating. And at him continually bringing up leave them, you say, “He’s a really nice man.” No
politics on a first date. OK, so the
lately that crap seems to be amplified. chemistry isn’t quite there on either one from London. Perhaps a farmer…’ My husband
New terms for dating trends are side, but it’s still one of the most is a Geordie who charms the majority of people he
comes into contact with. He’s not a farmer, though.
defined every week (“to ghost” has enjoyable dates I’ve been on.” Maybe I should persuade him to retrain?”

even been added to the dictionary),

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