WORDS RACHEL EDWARDS
Whether you're celebrating with a partner, your friends or yourself, Valentine's Day is a great excuse to indulge! We've created the ultimate gift guide filled with food, drinks, gifts and activities to ensure there's something for everyone:
Colonel Saab
London might have a lot of romantic restaurants but Colonel Saab is extra special. The restaurant, owned by Roop Partap Choudhary, is dedicated to his parents very own love story. With two large pictures of his mother and father looking over the dining room and love letters from each of them secreted in corners of the restaurant, it doesn't get much more lovey dovey than this.
Colonel Saab also has the most chandeliers we have ever seen in one room, and let's face it - chandeliers are pretty darn romantic. The menu is incredible, with each dish bursting with rich flavour. We especially recommend one of their signature Daal's or the butter chicken, along with the garlic naan. Chef's kiss!
BOOKSY
Nailing it this Valentine's is Booksy with their customers falling head over heals for Valentine's nail art, where salons like Booksy Ambassadors Alice McNails and Gels by Bry have been inundated with Valentine’s themed requests. With bold 3D hearts, high-shine chrome, classic pink and red, these only scratch the surface of what can be achieved.
So, whether you’ve got a romantic date in the works, a Galentine’s night out, or just fancy indulging in a bit of self-love – Valentine's is the perfect excuse to pimp up those fingertips.
Image Credit: Gels by Bry
ELIZA WAS HERE
Want to treat your loved one to a trip with a difference? Check out Eliza Was Here - a package holiday company with a difference. The holiday provider curate luxurious package holidays that are off the beaten track and free from gimmicky tourist-traps.
They also make it super easy - offering flights, accommodation and car hire in their packages! This February they are offering packages in Spain, Portugal and Cyprus - beat the Winter blues and book a romantic trip for two.
For more information, visit https://www.elizawashere.co.uk/ .
Jabra
This Valentine's Day why not connect in a different kind of way with Jabra earbuds. Thoughtful, practical, sleek and stylish, we are sure this gift will be music to your love ones ear - why not pair with a playlist for some added romance.
The Jabra comes in three different models; Elite 5, Elite 7 Pro and Elite 3, and with 7 hours of battery life, they will have you going all night. So go on, make your partners heat skip a *beat* with the the gift of sound.
Available at selected retailers. For more information visit www.jabra.com/elite
We all know a cookie-lover, and if we don't then we are most likely the cookie-lover ourselves! Treat a loved one (or yourself) to a box of plant-based cookies this month with stuffed cookie company Floozie. Based in Covent Garden, Floozie have just launched their nationwide delivery service. Their bright pink packaging is also super cute and perfect for V-day!
With flavours including cinnamon crunch, pecan pie and peanut butter and jam, and with each cookie being 100% vegan, there really is something to get everyone's heart racing.
To order your box, visit https://flooziecookies.com
BOCO
Know someone who likes fizz? Or perhaps you want to celebrate Valentine's Day by switching off and having a glass yourself. Sparkling wine connoisseurs House Coren are switching things up. Their Boco Sparkling Wine uses a special Charmat method which preserves the English grapes it uses and gives it a fresh finish.
For more information: https://www.housecoren.co.uk/
And what goes hand in hand with sparkling wine? Drinking games of course! If you're celebrating with a partner, why not pair your wine with a Drunk Desires game. There are two drinking games for you to choose from to create intimacy and turn up the heat! You can choose from Standard or X-Rated... or both!
For more information: https://drunk-desires.com/
Why not treat yourself to the ultimate night of self care this Valentine's and join well-renowned sound healer and meditation practitioner Harriet Emily for an evening of sound healing. Harriet has a spot in Harrods where she holds both group and one-on-one healing sessions, however her Valentine's special will take place in the bigger space of St John's Church.
Expect flutes, chimes and crystal singing bowls to gently guide you into a space of peace and tranquility. With cacao or tea available to drink as you enter, you're guaranteed to leave feeling warm and radiating love.
To secure your spot, book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/candlelit-sound-bath-journey-with-harriet-emily-tickets-510167884877
Rum and music have a long standing love affair. And the latest drinks company here to give the others a 'rum' for their money is 8Track. 8Track have a special gift this Valentine's - a rum package intended to look like a speaker, set with a 70cl bottle of their signature spiced rum, a highball glass, a pin badge and music inspired cocktail ideas.
Perfect for the music lover in your life, 8Track is committed to supporting new, independent artists and has partnered with underground link-up TULU, along with their series of 8Track presents events in pubs and bars across England. Spice it up this Valentines!
For more information and to order: https://8trackrum.com/ .