Here’s How The Team Is Celebrating Valentine’s Day
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, The Handbook team has been busy writing about all about the most romantic restaurants and prettiest hotels to visit. But who is actually celebrating? From old-school cheese and chocolate to the ultimate girls’ night out (featuring Bridget Jones), turns out the team has some exciting plans coming up.
If you’re looking for ideas, here are six fun ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day (whether you’re single, in a relationship or somewhere in between), just in case the pressure to celebrate has finally gotten to you…
A dinner party
(with plenty of bubbly)
“Valentine’s is a night to stay inside, but this year my husband and I have been invited to a dinner party with friends which feels like the perfect tonic. I’ll probably dig out something red, pink or heart print (or all of the above) from my wardrobe and treat the host to some sort of silly love token as a cheeky nod, along with a magnum of champagne to thank them for saving us from a night of forced romance. Nothing better than hanging out with great people within walking distance from my own home”. – Robyn, Managing Director
New restaurant, old friend
“As a food writer, Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to visit a restaurant I haven’t been to yet so I’m planning to book a table at Osteria Del Mare, Bocconcino’s newest opening. I feel like Valentine’s Day goes hand in hand with Italian food, so I’m pretty excited about digging into a big plate of spaghetti and drinking some excellent white wine with one of my best friends who is visiting from Oxford that weekend”. – Andrea, Food, Culture & Lifestyle Writer
Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to visit a restaurant I haven’t been to yet.
Spa-level pampering (at home)
“Every Valentine’s Day, I skip the suspense of waiting for my husband to plan something and book a Ruuby masseuse instead. Ruuby, the concierge beauty app, brings spa-level pampering straight to your door with just a tap. They offer couple’s massages, but honestly, I’d rather skip the snoring or giggles and enjoy the bliss solo. We take turns being pampered—romantic(ish), — it’s pure, uninterrupted heaven for me”. – Tamara, Contributing Beauty Editor
Galentine’s game night
“I love a good game night with my friends, and we can be quite competitive when we get together. I’m going to be challenging my friends to a quiz at London’s Quiz Room which looks like so much fun for anyone who loves a bit of healthy competition. It’s also cool that you can customise the games to suit your group so we’re going to go ahead with a music-themed quiz – not exactly your average flowers and chocolates sort of night”. – Caitlin, Client Account Manager
The perfect Valentine’s film
“I’m not big on Valentine’s Day generally, it being a Hallmark holiday and all that. This year, my partner is also overseas, so I’m having dinner and drinks with a group of friends before watching the new Bridget Jones film, which I’m really looking forward to”. – Natasha, Digital Editor
I’m having dinner and drinks with a group of friends before watching the new Bridget Jones film.
Old but gold: Cheese & Chocolate
“My boyfriend and I have this tradition of going out for fondue on Valentine’s, and we’ve kept it alive for what will be the third year this 2025. He also gifts me a box of assorted truffles and bonbons… At the end of the day, nothing screams romance more than cheese and chocolate”. – Nicole, Senior Graphic Designer
My boyfriend and I have this tradition of going out for fondue on Valentine’s.
An anniversary celebration
“Valentine’s Day and our anniversary are in the span of five days so my boyfriend and I thought we would make it special and celebrate both. So we’re playing table tennis in the afternoon at Battersea Power Station, followed by dinner at a Portuguese restaurant on the canal called Sporting Club London. And to carry on the anniversary celebrations on Sunday, we’re going to get a couple’s massage.” – Imogen, Junior Graphic Designer
