Valentine’s Day is coming up, and if you’re undecided or have not yet made plans; we’ve got a guide to ten places you could visit to celebrate your love for your partner. Naturally, we’ve included some Black-owned endeavours, for those who want some Valentine Noire.
Valentine’s will fall on a Friday this year, providing the opportunity for a late-night out or even a staycation. We know the classic ‘meals for two’ aren’t for everyone nor are shoobs, so we’ve included those and more in our list of the ten best places to go for Valentine’s Day.
Love shack, baby love shack
Black-owned, The Prince of Peckham Pub is a beautiful looking venue, with dark and sexy vibes. If candle-lit dinner dates aren’t your thing, they’ve got lit two events lined up for Valentine’s Day: stop by the main bar for Brickabrac Loveshack: Part 2 (9pm-2.30am) for romantic music; and then head upstairs for British Airwaves: Valentine’s Day Special for all the R&B and Hip Hop lovers.
You can even pop into Peckham’s Palms for a new hair-do before your night out!
How much: Free and £3-£5 pp | Where: 1 Clayton Rd, Peckham, London SE15 5JA
Take them higher with a Lastminute.com X London Eye experience
Nothing says iconic like the London Eye which begins a new sponsorship with lastminute.com on 19 February. Celebrating its milestone 20th birthday, where better to take your loved on than the place where so many have shared amazing memories and moments; from first dates to couples saying “Eye do” since 2000.
How much: £22 pp | Book here
Valentine’s Disco Karaoke Duet
The UK’s authentic Hip Hop Karaoke (8pm-2am) at London’s legendary Queen of Hoxton serves up the ultimate Black experience, giving you a chance to rap, sing and laugh your way through Hip Hop and R&B classics with your lover. They’re doing a Valentine’s Special on 13th. Free shots and prizes for anyone performing rap duets!
How much: £5/£7 pp Advance | Book here*
Invoke the soul of Nina Simone at the Jazz Café
This Valentine’s Day why not serenade your lover by taking them to the Jazz Café to hear the Black Voices Quintet perform the greatest and most powerful numbers from the repertoire of one of the 20th century’s most seminal artists; Nina Simone?
This event promises to be an unforgettable experience from the Black Voices Quintet which was founded in 1987 to preserve black oral music traditions.
How much: £17.50 | Book here
VALENTINE XXX
WARNING EXPLICIT CONTENT: not your regular Valentine’s venue! If you’re like Rihanna, and chains and whips, excite you, The Valentine’s Day BDMS Dungeon Play Party organised by midnight Mistress May, an ebony dominatrix, could be an alternative opportunity for you as a couple to explore your sexuality. Enter their lair if you dare for an evening of divine decadence and sublime submission.
How much: £60 per couple | Book here
Rock the love boat
Imagine a delightful dinner date of four courses with live Jazz, aboard a boat that overlooks the beautiful city skyline? Well, that’s what you get if you book Valentine’s on the Barge at London’s Barge East, located on a canal in Hackney Wick, formerly #1 rated restaurant on TripAdvisor.
How much: starting from £40 pp | Book here*
Reawaken the lover in you
For all you romantics, who never quite got around to starting that painting hobby, here’s your chance. Try this evening workshop of step-by-step featured painting. It’s called Sip and Paint for a reason because as well as a brush you’ll get a glass of prosecco each to get those creative juices flowing. In the end, you’ll have a masterpiece or a master key to your lover’s heart.
How much: starting at £40 per couple | Book here
Original Flava supper club special
For an intimate and exclusive event with a Caribbean twist, Original Flava brothers Craig and Shaun McAnuff invite you into their kitchen for a supper club special (with vegan and veggie options). Cooked and served by award-winning chefs, you’ll be served up recipes from their #1 best-selling cookbook Original Flava.
How much: £47.50 pp | Book here*
Relax at K West with your Valentine
Take the effort out of Valentine’s with a spa experience and as it’s in the city, there’s no need to travel far. K West are planning the best day possible for their Valentine’s guests. With three packages to spoil each other, you can’t go wrong. We like the sound of K West’s My Valentine Spa Package (£369), which includes an overnight stay, full access to K Spa, breakfast and 50 minutes split spa treatment.
Richmond Way, London W14 0AX, Tel: 02080086600
How much: from £299 based on two people sharing | Book here
Love letters to a Black woman
In collaboration with the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton and Women of the Lens, award-winning director, writer and rising star Rebecca Graham offers soothing music and heartfelt poetry as an open letter to Black women. Called S.O.U.L of a Black Woman, the screening and free conversation that follows is about remembering that ‘black women have gifts to guide them to lives that will have them thrive to their heart’s content’.
How much: £9 pp | Book here*
*Some events via Eventbrite charge an additional fee for booking.
