It’s about to get a lot less lonely in rural Britain as venerable Country Living magazine looks to do a bit of matchmaking with new dating website Country Loving.
The magazine’s publisher says that the new site aims to appeal to men and women aged “45-plus” who have a “passion for the countryside”.
Country Living intends to heavily promote the dating site including featuring “successful” dating stories in issues of the monthly magazine.
The 31-year-old magazine has form matchmaking rural dwellers and lovers of all things pastoral having launched a “Farmer Wants a Wife” campaign back in 1999.
The magazine claims the campaign led to 18 marriages and 20 babies – and a spin-off Bafta nominated documentary series broadcast on ITV in 2001.
“Country Living has a loyal, upmarket audience who are united by a love of rural living and a strong desire for a better quality of life,” says Susy Smith, editor-in-chief of the title, which sells almost 170,000 copies each month. “A dating site focusing on finding a partner with a love of the countryside seemed like the perfect brand extension and a great opportunity to grow our community.”
The new site is being operated as a revenue share agreement with The Dating Lab, which builds and manages branded dating services for media companies.
