Valentine’s Day on a Budget

Valentines Day is the most romantic day of the year, dating back to the 3^rd century AD when St Valentine would marry couples in secret after marriage was banned as Emperor Claudius II believed it made men bad soldiers. St Valentine was imprisoned and sentenced to death, where he fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and signed his last letter to her before being put to death, ‘From your Valentine.’

Couples can spend hundreds to make the perfect Valentine’s Day, but we’ve put together Birmingham’s best offers to help you have a killer night without killing your bank account!

By Harriet Johnson, Birmingham

Staying in

If you’ve opted to stay in (which who can blame you, it’s impossible to get reservations anywhere unless you’re incredibly organised and even so, it’ll be overcrowded and overpriced!), nothing beats a Marks and Spencer’s Dine in for 2 meal deal. For just £20 you can feast on a starter, main, side, dessert, box of chocolates and a bottle of drink (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options are available). There’s an option to cater for pretty much every dietary requirement and with savings up to £16.50, it doesn’t get much better so whip out the candles, dress the table in your finest china and enjoy a cosy glass of bubbly with your beloved (or bestie if you’re celebrating galantines instead!)

Dinner out

The hottest Valentines seats this year must be at The Lost and Found. The Lost and Found is a botanical themed restaurant and bar with captivating Victorian themed décor and some of the best artisanal cocktails you’ll ever enjoy.

Their Valentines menu consists of 3 courses and a drink (either The Waterhouse Fizz, a pint of Birra Moretti or a soft drink) for £29.99 which of course isn’t cheap but as the menu consists of options like crispy duck, grilled seabass, sirloin steak and seafood linguini (there are also vegetarian and vegan options too), it is pretty reasonably priced, considering many chains are offering subpar meals at similar price points so I’d make sure to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!

Entertainment

Do you fancy being a chocolate and macaroon taste tester for the afternoon? Well for just £10 you’ll be able to indulge in 4 of Harry Specters finest chocolates and corresponding flavoured macaroons. This is an evening filled with indulgence, luxury and laughs as you attempt to guess the flavours of each of those little delights without the guilt of eating an entire box of chocolates.

Something Special

If the classic dinner and a movie isn’t really your style, don’t worry we have you covered too. How does a masquerade ball for charity with tickets at just £10 sound? A young woman called Susan is currently raising money to aid in her trip to Ecuador to build schools, help communities and replant trees in the Amazon rainforest so not only are you having a fabulous night, but you’re also helping third world countries, what could be better?

The ball is being held at Holyfield Sports and Conference Centre from 7:30 pm and there is also food and a tombola being held at the event too so you don’t have to splash out at a fancy dinner too so you don’t have to worry about bloating before trying to fit into some fabulous gown!

Going solo

If you’re stuck for a date on Valentines but don’t want to show up to the double date your friend invited you to empty-handed, the Coyote Ugly Saloon on Broad Street is having a man auction, Coyote Ugly style! This is guaranteed to be a brilliant night even if none of their offerings takes your fancy, it’ll still be a night full of laughs and any money you pay towards the new beau, goes towards your meal and drinks for the night so it’s a win-win!

Whether you’re celebrating Valentines with your one true love or your bestie, I hope this has inspired you to try something different this Valentines and you have a fabulous night without having to splash the cash. No need to make it rain this year. Save those pennies for another day and enjoy your special day knowing you’ve bagged an absolute bargain!