LONDON | Take it from us. An expensive dinner out or a romantic night in with your partner just won’t cut it in London this Valentine’s Day. There are so many quirky and fun events taking place all over the city for you to either impress your loved one with or to escape all the mushy loved up stuff with your mates. Choose from one of these 16 alternative Valentine’s Day events and have a night you won’t forget anytime soon.
Barts
Barts has teamed up with luxurious chocolate company, Rococo, ahead of Valentine’s Day 2017 to create a super romantic and boozy night on Sunday 11 February. Guests will be invited into Uncle Barts’ clandestine apartment by a member of his trusty world-class bar team to learn how to expertly combine the decadent flavours of chocolate with classic recipes featuring Freya, the world’s first birch spirit. The cocktails will each be paired with a divine chocolate from Rococo. The evening includes 1 hour 30 minutes of chocolate cocktail making masterclass with one of Uncle Barts Shady Associates, producing 3 incredible bespoke cocktails, all for the price of £40.
Barts
Chelsea Cloisters
87 Sloane Avenue
London SW3 3DW
United Kingdom
The Climbing Hangar
The immersive pop-up legends, Bompas and Parr, are back in 2017 with their erotic climbing wall aptly named, Grope Mountain. After launching at New York’s Museum of Sex as part of interactive exhibition Funland, Bompas & Parr’s Grope Mountain comes to the UK, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Described by New York Magazine as ‘a Willy Wonka sex dream’, the cheeky installation is inspired by modern climbing walls and eroticises the physicality of climbing with bodily orifices and appendages. Climbers mount the wall and make their way through the carefully choreographed routes in an attempt to be crowned King or Queen of Grope Mountain. Who wouldn’t turn such an invitation down?
The Climbing Hangar
5 Parsons Green Depot
London, SW6 4HH
United Kingdom
Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
Following last year’s successful Stranger Things themed Halloween party, Night Call and U Suck have teamed up again to present a Dirty Dancing Valentine’s Party at Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen on 17 February. Celebrating the movie’s 30th anniversary, the party will transform the venue with disco balls, a wooden dance floor, palm trees, coconuts and watermelon cocktails. Plus, if you’re brave enough, you’ll get the chance to recreate the famous lift with professional dancers. Dress up and dance the night away to ’60s, ’70s and ’80s dance and pop music or sing along to Beyoncé, Robyn and Taylor Swift in the main room. It will surely be a crazy night of silly fun!!
Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen
2-4 Hoxton Square
London N1 6NU
United Kingdom
Pop Up Brixton
Night Star Cinema is taking over the hipster pop-up village in Brixton with a one off special Valentine’s pop up cinema event in London on Sunday 12 February. Watch the timeless classic, romantic comedy movie – Breakfast at Tiffany’s screening inside the quirky & distinguished Pop Box. Tickets are going for £15 per person and include some complimentary chocolates and surprise Valentine’s treats. And of course, feel free to indulge yourselves with cocktails and champagne flowing freely throughout the night.
Pop Brixton
49 Brixton Station Road
London SW9 8PQ
United Kingdom
Cutty Sark
The Cutty Sark’s silent disco parties are quickly becoming famous around London. And on 10 February, the next disco dance session will be taking place with a special Valentine’s Day theme. And with three DJ’s playing all night, all at the same time, you’ll be able to listen to all your favourite tunes without being mocked or judged by your mates. Get over your ex with some T-Swift while all the mushy lovers around you sway to Kiss from a Rose. Tickets are £29.99 each and can be purchased online.
Cutty Sark
King William Walk
London SE10 9HT
United Kingdom
The Hoxton
The Hoxton in Shoreditch is collaborating with the Nomad Cinema to create a unique Valentine’s pop-up Valentine’s Day experience with a showing of the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Snuggle up with your special someone or a random Tinder date alongside some hot boozy cocktails and try to get yourself around the surreal love story – being happy your relationship is somewhat less complicated. Or if you find yourself a little lost in love then head to The Hoxton’s panel discussion on the future of sex, dating and tech with the General Assembly on 7 February.
The Hoxton
Hox House
159 St John Street
London EC1V 4QJ
United Kingdom
Cahoots
This Valentine’s, Cahoots is celebrating the most romantic day of the year by putting on a starry-eyed spread. On Saturday 11 February and Sunday 12 February, take your lad or lady back in time to the speakeasy underground venue and enjoy the most romantic train ride in London. Indulge in a romantic hamper featuring pink champagne and miniature snacks served on tables adorned with fresh roses for a night of decadent fun. Just make sure you book ahead as this speakeasy rarely lets walk-ins through the doors.
Cahoots
13 Kingly Court
London W1B 5PG
United Kingdom
The Book Club
The Book Club is welcoming all dog lovers this Valentine’s Day with a special dog-friendly screening of Lady and the Tramp. The basement will be transformed into the back alleyway of Tony’s Townsquare Italian Restaurant for one night only, with checked tablecloths and candles, a menu of spaghetti and meatballs and an accordion player donned in chef whites. Bring your puppy along with you, or just come to play with everyone else’s canine friend as you re-enact the beloved spaghetti-kiss scene with your partner for a long night of nostalgic romance.
The Book Club
100-106 Leonard Street
London EC2A 4RH
United Kingdom
Mr Fogg’s Residence
This year, the household staff at Mr Fogg’s Residence in Mayfair will be hosting an exclusive G&Tea party on 11 February and a Valentine’s Tipsy Tea event on 12 February. On Saturday, guests will be shown to candlelit tables where they can enjoy an indulgent afternoon tea alongside an assortment of gin and tonic concoctions. The following day will see guests indulging in sandwiches, cakes, petit-fours and macarons alongside a selection of Hendrick’s gin teas and rose petal cocktails. You will then be given a twist on the traditional English drink of tea with gin tea-infused cocktails, served on trays decorated with red roses and rose petals.
Mr Fogg’s Residence
15 Bruton Lane
London W1J 6JD
United Kingdom
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
Feline Lonely this Valentine’s Day? Battersea Dogs and Cats Home understands this pain, both for humans without partners and pets without owners. The Dogs and Cats home thinks everyone deserves some love, not just for 14 February but for life, with their annual Feline Lonely event working to match humans with their ideal cat mate. The Battersea matchmakers will register people’s details and use their cupid calculator to match humans to cats. Take part in lots of cat-ivities on the night – strike a pose in front of the purr-retty photoboard, take a chance in the fun feline quiz and get involved in the paw-some poetry corner. Tickets include sweet treats (for humans) and a welcome drink. The ultimate purpose of this event is to rehome as many lost cats as possible so purchase your tickets beforehand to help support the shelter and take home a feline friend of your very own. The event is as popular as ever with all sessions but the 5:30-7pm time slot being sold out so book online now!
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home
4 Battersea Park Road
London SW8 4AA
United Kingdom
Secret Location
The pop-up masters, Christabel’s, are hosting a Bejewelled Cocktail Masterclass this Valentine’s Day, injecting a little flirt into the drink making process. After enjoying a glass of pimped up prosecco, guests will be able to mix and shake their way to creating ‘Flirt’ and ‘Zinger’ cocktails before transforming them into visual masterpieces with edible glitter, sequins, rose petals, vibrant ice cubes and flamboyant stirrers. All while enjoying canapes and rose popcorn for £45 on Tuesday 14 February.
Secret Location
Locatoin TBA
B&H Kitchen
The cocktail and champagne gurus, Bourne and Hollingsworth, will be a hosting a luxury Rosé Champagne tasting on Valentine’s eve. All your favourites will be attendance, including Moet, Veuve Cliquot, Ruinart and Dom Perignon. The extravagantly decorated B&H Kitchen is the perfect venue for a romantic night out with the opportunity for guests to feast on some of the restaurant’s high quality modern European food after the masterclass.
B&H Kitchen
42 Northampton Road
London EC1R 0HU
United Kingdom
Queen of Hoxton
Swap champagne and chocolate for a cheeky taste of history this Valentine’s with the Viking Aphrodisiac History Masterclass in the Queen of Hoxton’s rooftop WigWam. Inspired by the themes of love and romance, the event will see food historian Tasha Marks walk you through foods that were once considered an aphrodisiac on 12 February. You’ll sip, sniff and taste your way through 2000 years of frisky foodstuffs, including an Anglo-Saxon aphrodisiac that was traditionally presented to brides on their wedding night as well as apples, vanilla and Kama Sutra’s sweet potato biscuits.
Queen of Hoxton
1-5 Curtain Road
London, EC2A 3JX
United Kingdom
Beaver Lodge
The Beaver Lodge is throwing a boozy slumber party this Valentine’s Day. On Thursday 9 February, the Kensington hangout is looking to recruit sleepless soldiers to fight it out on the nocturnal battlefield of Beaver Lodge. Whether opting for naughty nighties, full length gowns or twin-sets, attendees will be encouraged to show off their sleepwear on the evening. As with all good PJ parties, pillows will be prepped, sweets will be stacked and popcorn will be poppin’ ready for the sexiest sleepover ahead of Valentine’s Day.
Beaver Lodge
266 Fulham Road
London SW10 9EL
United Kingdom
Bounce
This one is for all the anti-Valentiners out there. Teaming up with the dating app, Bumble, the ever-busy ping pong bar will be replacing all the romantic candlelit kisses and cutesy nicknames with the Love Police, who will be taking mugshots of any Romance Rebels. There will also be unlimited UV ping pong all night, UV face paint artists, group games and tournaments, and music from DJ Shredded Pete. Bumble will present a live art installation as well as cocktails for amorous pairings – for those who have to break the anti-Valentine’s rules and find someone.
Bounce
121 Holborn
London, EC1N 2TD
United Kingdom
The Moth Club
For this month, the nasty women (and men) of the world are being called to unite and celebrate Bleeding Love with Hooray Cabaret. On 16 February, the burlesque group will be trampling over Valentine’s nonsense to bring the love to where it’s really needed: our fellow human beings. Join them at The Moth Club for a night of comedy and burlesque in support of The Period Drama, who work to provide women in difficult financial situations with sanitary products. Because no woman should ever have to choose between going hungry or their dignity. Bring along some tampons, panty liners or any reusable sanitary items to donate, get in for £8 and support a bloody good cause while watching some lude theatrics!
The Moth Club
Old Trades Hall
Valette Street
London E9 6NU
United Kingdom