A dating venture run by an ex-copper who quit his policing job to play Cupid to capital singletons is unleashing an unusual night of spooky speed dating to mark Halloween.

DateinaDash presents its 'Halloween Singles Party' at The Rubicon, Surbiton on Wednesday 31 October, 2012 from 7pm to midnight. Attractions at this themed evening will include dating in the dark – well, pitch black – and a range of spooky extras throughout the night.

With an equal spread of men and women, 120 singles will be attending the event. Friendly hosts will be on hand to welcome guests, break the ice and make introductions.

Then, throughout the night in a blacked-out basement, 10 guys and 10 girls at a time will meet for a series of four-minute speed dates, with the added complication of seeing, or even locating, their would-be micro-dates. When a whistle blows, each guy moves on to the next female, guided through the dark by one of the hosts. A smoke machine will add to the atmosphere, as well as spooky music, cobwebs hanging from the ceiling and actors dressed up to play various roles.

And it's not just the actors who will look a fright on the night: unlike other dating events, the DateinaDash 'Halloween Singles Party' has a themed dress code, meaning that guests will appear in all manner of scary outfits including devils, witches, skeletons and characters from horror movies.

And, as well as the spooky speed dating in the basement, the event will also feature the traditional Halloween pursuit of apple bobbing, where guests who successfully extract the fruit from a bowl of water with their teeth will win cash prizes.

For those who want to meet their spooky belle or beau with the lights on, the upstairs bar will feature one of DateinaDash's award-winning 'lock and key' parties. The format is simple: guys are given keys and girls padlocks when they arrive at the bar. The girls must circulate the room and try to fit their key into a matching lock. If they succeed, the pair receives a raffle ticket to win prizes at the end of the night. Previous prizes have included cash, tea at the Ritz, theatre tickets, bottles of champagne and chocolates.

Rob Ryall, founder of DateinaDash, says: "We haven't just gone bats! Too often these days, singles tend to focus just on looks more than traditional values such as intelligence, personality and charm. Our spooky speed dating in the dark attempts to redress the balance, giving potential dates the opportunity to make an impression using just their wit and sparkling repartee."

He adds: "As well as being a lot of fun, the spooky speed dating offers an unusual experience for meeting a potential partner that we don't think exists anywhere else in the capital at Halloween!"

Tickets to the 'Halloween Singles Party' at The Rubicon, Surbiton on Wednesday 31 October cost £20 each and can be booked online at http://dateinadash.com or by phoning 07702 822390. The Rubicon is renowned for its cocktails and more information about the venue can be found at www.rubiconbar.com.