Our story
About Encounters.uk: UK Dating Since 2014
Four sections, one simple idea: dating is easier when the people around you want the same thing you do.
Online since September 2014 · Four sections · 18+
From three sections to four, since 2014
Encounters.uk went online in September 2014 with three sections, each with its own members and its own sign-up: Single Encounters for people who wanted a relationship, Casual Encounters for adults who wanted fun without strings, and Mature Encounters for singles over 40.
The thinking was simple then, and it still is. When everyone in a section is after the same kind of dating, you spend less time explaining yourself and more time talking to people who get it. You can say what you want on your profile without worrying how it will land.
Today there are four sections. Milf Encounters is the newest, for confident older women and the younger men drawn to them. Each section still keeps its own members and its own sign-up, so you join the ones that suit you, and only those.
There is no one-size-fits-all relationship
“Here at Encounters we understand there is no such thing as a ‘one size fits all’ relationship.”
That line comes from our old home page, and it still sums us up. Some people want to settle down. Some want good company after 40. Some want something casual, and some want to flirt across the age gap. None of those is better than the others, and each deserves a place where it makes sense.
Singles across all four UK nations
Our members, over 1,200 of them, live across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Greater London leads the way, then the West Midlands, Hampshire and West Yorkshire, with Essex, Lancashire, Devon and Nottinghamshire after them. Roughly three quarters of our members are between 25 and 54.
Casual Encounters is our biggest section, home to about three in four of our members. Single and Mature Encounters are smaller, friendly sections where most members are women. Want to see who is near you? Our city pages show the age mix area by area.
Four sections, four kinds of dating
Pick the one that fits what you want right now, or compare all four on our home page. Each has its own sign-up.
- Casual Encounters
Adults only. Frank, flirty fun with no strings attached.
- Single Encounters
For singles who want something real: proper dates and a relationship worth building.
- Mature Encounters
For singles over 40 who know what they want, in a smaller, friendly section.
- Milf Encounters
Adults only, and our newest section: older women who know their own minds, and younger men who appreciate them.
Five house rules that keep things friendly
Every section has its own feel, but the same five rules apply in all of them.
- You must be 18 or over
- Encounters.uk is for adults only, in every section.
- Be honest
- Use recent photos of yourself and say what you are really looking for. It saves everyone time, you included.
- Be respectful
- Keep messages, chat rooms and comments friendly. Flirting is welcome; rudeness is not.
- Take no for an answer
- If someone says no, or stops replying, leave it there. No reply is a reply.
- Report anything that feels wrong
- If a profile or a message worries you, report it from inside the site, and block the person if you want to. Our safety advice explains what to look out for.
The same easy tools in every section
Encounters.uk runs on HubPeople, a dating platform, which is why every section shares the same tools: a profile with photos, daily match suggestions, swiping, messages, chat rooms, status updates, polls and quizzes. It all works in your browser on a phone, tablet or computer, and you can add it to your home screen. Our features page covers every tool, and our pricing page shows what VIP costs in each section.
Want to know more before you join? Our dating guides cover everything from profiles to first dates, and our comparisons set Encounters.uk beside the dating sites you already know.
About us: your questions
Is Encounters.uk the same as Encounters Dating?
No. Encounters Dating is a separate company, linked with The Times and The Sunday Times, and Encounters.uk has no connection with it. Our Encounters.uk vs Encounters Dating page sets out the differences.
How long has Encounters.uk been running?
Since September 2014. We launched with Single, Casual and Mature Encounters, and Milf Encounters has since joined as our fourth section.
Who is Encounters.uk for?
Anyone aged 18 or over who wants to meet someone in the UK, whatever kind of dating they have in mind. Pick the section that fits: Single for relationships, Mature for over 40s, Casual for no-strings fun, and Milf for older women and younger men.
Get to know Encounters.uk
Find your section and say hello
Join the section that suits you, and meet someone new this week.