Can anyone suggest recommend a couple of places to register .uk domains where you get the option of whois opt-out during registrations (as opposed to registering it first then option out afterwards).

With 123-reg, the opt-out is a normal part of the buying process, so long as you are not registered as a company - with the profile you're buying with.

I nearly added "anyone but 123-reg"! - Just mixing things up a bit.

I think I'll avoid this lot: http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en-GB/business/domain.html

Easily.co.uk do this.