Valentine’s Day has arrived and the season of commercialised romance is looming with every window in Market Square being slowly filled with roses and chocolates and bears, but where are the best places to go? February 14th can be a tricky day to get right; but these 10 ideas catering to a long-term committed relationship, a romantic date or an amazing GALentines, will be sure to have you all sorted for the day and night!
Dating
Bistrot Pierre
Hidden away behind the Victoria Centre, this cosy yet sophisticated French restaurant is the go-to romantic destination for the couples of Nottingham, so be prepared to get booking straight away! Perfect for students as well with offers on the big day it’s a great evening if you want to splash out a little and treat your significant other without breaking the bank. Fancy attire is a must though.
Go Ape at Sherwood Forest
For the more adventurous couples out there looking for a bit of variation from the usual Netflix and chill, Sherwood Forest is not only amazing for romantic walks but is also the location of a Go Ape high ropes course. Bit on the pricey side but well worth it for a memorable Valentine’s Day.
Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem
Supposedly the oldest inn in England dated back to 1189AD, it’s almost always crammed either because it’s busy or because the small, wonky, stone interior doesn’t leave much room, but it is one to visit for sure. Perfect for a few drinks and food (if you manage to get a table), the interior is very intimate and bound to make an impression on your date.
Turtle Bay
You aren’t official, it’s just a date… still you want to do things right. Turtle Bay, the notoriously ideal first date location which gives off the chilled atmosphere you are looking for whilst still keeping a buzz, and a bar on site for if things don’t end up going to plan, win-win!
Boilermaker
If neither of you get freaked out by the dodgy looking faux-laundry exterior and, are brave enough to go through the mirror and sink door into the well-loved secret that is Boilermaker; you’ll be treated to a pricey but quirky array of cocktails and spirits in cosy booths and dimly lit tables. Plus, because it’s not an obvious choice, it’ll look well thought out and might possibly be a little less busy for those less prepared!
A cute and cosy cinema with fantastic student prices, yes a movie on Valentine’s may seem cliché but it’s a popular choice for a reason! Everyone loves a good film night, and the extra bonus on having Sainsbury’s next door to allow you to bulk buy the snacks is just an added bonus. Just maybe keep away from Fifty Shades… don’t want to give them the wrong impression…
Das Kino
Ping Pong tables and cocktails e.g. the date to surpass all dates! A bit of friendly competition if you manage to book yourself a table and a great selection of cocktails. It can’t fail!
GALentines
Some say Valentine’s Day is about you and your soulmate, but what about your mates? The girlfriends who’ve held your hair back over a toilet countless times, listened to you crying down the phone and helped you choose the outfit for every night out last semester? Time to treat the ones who really matter too!
Thea Caffea
If you are prepared to queue and wait out the masses, then the tea and cakes (mainly the cakes) here are to die for! Afternoon tea will never be the same again once you’ve found this cute and hidden away gem in Nottingham town centre, next to Carluccio’s, and it’s perfect for any number of your girlfriends to escape to. Plus, what is Valentine’s Day about if not treating yourself? Right?
The Fat Cat
Cocktails 2-4-1 and 50% off food for students, you literally cannot go wrong here. Upstairs and outside there are the streaming fairy lights that allow for those aesthetic Instagram and Snapchat photos. Inside, quite possibly the best value food and drinks a group of girls on a night out could wish for.
Wollaton ParkPack up a picnic (if the weather looks good enough) and head out with those special ladies in your life to Wollaton park and hopefully find the deer. Strawberries dipped in chocolate – check, bottle of Prosecco and some paper cups – check, some doughnuts and cookies picked up last minute from Sainsbury’s on Derby Road? Double check.
Whether it’s a romantic day with your significant other or a day spent with your best friends, there’s plenty here to take your pick from when it comes to spending February 14th. Not sad and alone in bed watching Netflix, but out loving yourself and those around you.
Edited by Susan Akyeampong
Sources:
https://insidebars.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/historic-bars-ye-olde-trip-to-jerusalem/
http://www.primeanddine.co.uk/2016/07/boilermaker-nottingham-cocktail-bar.html
http://www.das-kino.co.uk/contact
https://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/news/article/volunteering/Friends-of-Wollaton-Park/