What is it?

The coolest new dating site on the block. A dating website come dating portal. So there's an online dating bit and then links to companies who provide dating nights and tv companies who want people for dating shows.

UrbanSocial has grown enormously since we first reviewed it last year. Membership is constantly increasing and they've come up with some great dating events for members, including 'I'm A Singleton Get Me Out Of Here' which is an outward bound weekend in Wales.

How does it work?

The online part is quite straight forward and pretty easy to navigate. Layout is if as expected and you can add guys to your favourites, see who has put you in theirs and block users (very useful!). The nights out are all provided by partner companies, so you click through to a description which then gives you booking information and a link to the party organiser.

Who does it attract?

It's aimed at young urban professionals and seems to be attracting just this type. Noticeably absent from the site were the usual collection of geeky overweight guys with pasty complexions.

What's different about it?

Urban Social are the only online dating company I have found that specifically targets young professional urbanites. The website design echoes this, coming as close as a website can to looking like a leather sofaed London wine bar.

What does it cost?

At the moment membership is free, when the site is fully established it will cost £49.99 for the year. So cool and cheap... go on try it!

What makes it special?

I really like the feel of the site, although the teeny writing and little page buttons on the search facility make it a bit tricky to navigate. So many dating websites seem to be stuck in the dark ages with horrendous library photos of cheesy couples on their front pages, it was a relief to see a site that actually looks cool.

Every now and again you come across an idea on a site that makes you wonder why no one else has done it. In Urban Social's case it's the simple yet clever idea of having a box to list three likes and three dislikes, as most people's profiles on dating sites comprise of these anyway its really neat to have them so visible and a handy way of summing up personalities in a few short phrases.

Membership to urbansocial entitles you to discounted ticket prices to some of the biggest dating events, so probably worth signing up while it's free to get that later on!

What's the down side?

You'd think from the name it would be all about being a city dweller, but it's not anyone can join. I thought this was a real shame as it diluted the whole concept of the site

I think Urban Social have got a nice niche and I'd really like to see them succeed, but at the moment their membership isn't quite at the numbers of Dating Dierct...but it is growing every day!

We rate it :

Want to try it? Click on the banner below, it will take you straight to the UrbanSocial website