Channel 4’s restaurant-romance show, First Dates, is moving to Bath from its most recent location in Manchester. 
 

Twenty Twenty Television will film the next series in The Botanist bar and restaurant in the city; the venue is housed inside the Grade II-listed Octagon Chapel. 
 

The move is part of Twenty Twenty’s ongoing commitment to the UK regions, with a number of the production team being based out of the company’s new regional hub in Bristol. 

The Bristol offices will be the base for the First Dates casting team alongside members of the story and editing teams, as well as two locally based trainees on different training schemes. For Channel 4, it is part of their commitment to expanding out of London and also supporting their growing number of productions coming out of Bristol.
 

First Dates originally filmed in the Paternoster Chop House in the City when it began production in 2013; the show has also spawned spin-offs First Dates Hotel for C4 and Teen First Dates on E4, featuring 16-19-year-olds. First Dates has launched in more than 20 territories. 
 

The show’s maître d’hôtel Fred Sirieix said: “Making this new series feels special, celebrating a decade of bringing people together on the show, but there’s always more love to be found. They say Bath is the most romantic city in the UK and its true, so what better place to set the scene for romance to blossom than there!” 
 

James O’Reilly, creative director at Twenty Twenty, said: “We can’t wait for the new First Dates restaurant to open its doors to singletons looking for love in beautiful Bath. It’s Britain’s most romantic city and promises to be the perfect backdrop to our 10th Anniversary season – which will also have a new look and some exciting twists to go with our brand-new location. 

“As well as being the ideal place for our couples to fall for one another, Bath is right on the doorstep of our home in Bristol, and reflects Twenty Twenty’s commitment to producing programming here in the south-west; we want to do all we can to nurture talent in the region and help the industry grow on our home turf.”