Because online dating is smoking hot. What once was a slightly shameful affair that allowed C++ programmers to find a Thai bride without ever leaving their terminal is resolutely mainstream. And it’s even a social event. As anyone who lives with a single female under 30 will know, there’s very little a group of hungover women like doing more on a Sunday than bitching through the profiles on  Mysinglefriend.com, Match.com and Guardian Soulmates while Hollyoaks plays in the background.

But what if you have more…specialised interests in the love department? Mainstream dating sites are great if your tastes in relaxation extend to a hot bath with aromatherapy oils, but this puts you in a difficult position if you’d rather fill the bath with wallpaper paste. And as an opening gambit on Match.com, there’s probably no better way of getting yourself blocked than being too specialist too early. For example: -

Hey,

How r u? Ur pretty and like Snow Patrol – the perfect combination! Fancy coming round to mine sometime and playing in a paddling pool full of custard?

Gary x

It’s therefore no surprise that along the more ‘vanilla’ dating sites has grown a more shadowy (and infinitely more interesting!) ecosystem of what we might term ‘niche interest dating platforms’. And here are some of our favourites.

The Speed Top Five sites for Specialist Dating

1. Paganpartners.co.uk

Ever wanted to date a Druid? Think Love is…sharing a cauldron? Well, look no further. The chances of getting a church wedding out of this site are nil, but white robes are a lot cheaper than a wedding dress.

2. Platonicpartners.co.uk

True love waits – forever according to this site. Ideal if you’re looking for spiritual repose with a soulmate: useless for a quickie, which brings us on to…

3. Illicit Encounters

Nothing can be said on this site that its ruthlessly opportunistic PR team hasn’t already press released and sold in to the Daily Telegraph. The sidecar for the bike (fnar!) that is married love, Illicit Encounters is ideal for those of you who always cheat at Patience and want to extend that idea into your marriage.

4. Latter Day Saints Mingle

Are you a Mormon whose too tired after a day of relentless good-natured smiling through people shutting doors in your face to meet your future spouse at a teetotal barndance?  In that case Latter Day Saints Mingle is for you. Disappointingly this site is not sponsored by an Osmond, nor does it have a ‘looking for more than one wife’ polygamy option.

5. Dwarf Date

It’s official: good things do come in small packages.

Thank you and goodnight.