Margaret Mitchell

Is Scottish reeling the route to romance?

Imagine it as the Radio H-P of speed dating

  • From Spectator Life
An 1876 illustration of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, dancing the reel at the United Service Ball Malta, from the Graphic magazine [Getty Images]

‘Remember to flirt outrageously.’ This essential piece of advice is imparted courtesy of Country and Town House magazine for its readers curious about Scottish reeling. The reel, a social folk dance, dates back to 16th-century Scotland and has remained popular for all this time, notwithstanding a brief hiatus in the 17th century when the Scots Covenanters assumed the stance (rightfully, some might say) that such amusement leads to mischief leads to sin.

Less curious about the dancing than the flirtation, I joined some friends for the final, sweaty session of the season at London Reels. The group meets in St Columba’s church in Knightsbridge on the second Tuesday of each month – which I know, even as an outsider, because I look forward to their ensuing gossip on the second Wednesday of each month.

In normal bars, pubs or clubs, you might save yourself time and disappointment by looking for a wedding band before laying the flirtation on in full.

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