The Wharf magazine... Haute couture service

The Cilla Black for the loaded but loveless, Ms Molloy has more than 2,000 members on her books, including leading figures from the world of film, television, finance and law.

Berkeley International, with offices in Mayfair, Cannes, Monaco and New York, offers an exclusive, discreet introduction service to find perfect partners and soul mates for cash rich but time poor individuals.

Joining fees start at £7,000 and range up to £40,000 a year for the agency's ultimate bespoke service.

Lawyers, surgeons, entrepreneurs, TV presenters, actors, financiers, writers and artists of all nationalities are among those who are members and around a third can be found in Canary Wharf.

Ms Molloy said: "I would say around 35 per cent of my clients live or work in Canary Wharf. We deal with the big names in banking, lawyers and accountants - professionals who work hard and have no time to meet people."

She matches people based not only on their criteria but also her own impressions. She calls both sides, and if the way is clear, the man calls the woman. If the date fails, she then informs the spurned party.

"I will always act on the feedback after the date," says Ms Molloy, "I provide advice where needed, or if there was no chemistry, will work on choosing someone else."

In the world of dating agencies Berkeley International is the haute couture label.

Ms Molloy added: "We deal with high calibre clients who are well educated and affluent. They come to us because they want to meet someone of the same or similar standings."

The company has grown from strength to strength since Molloy took over in 2005, as elite dating agencies have become an increasingly popular lifestyle service for high earning professionals.

Thanks to the growth of internet matching sites, much of the stigma has been removed from dating agencies and the wealthy, with their insular lifestyles, long working hours are not immune from their lure of third party help.

Irish-born Ms Molloy knows the unique problems of the wealthy. She made her fortune in the hotel industry and acquired along the way a contacts book full of wealthy but lonely men.

She said: "These men not only don't have time to meet women, they've had enough of dating model types who are just after their money."

She said they often lead drab lives - "home-office-gym" - but she claims a success rate of about 75 per cent, or 90 per cent for under 35s. The wealthier they are, the fussier they are - but they also have the money to pay.

"We don't expect miracles and clients don't expect miracles from us - but we hope to help them find someone."

Go to berkeley-international.com.