Pubs ramp up activity for Valentine's Day
Tipples for two
This year, Valentine’s Day at Stonegate Pub Company’s Slug and Lettuce is all about sharing. In addition to local activity generated by the bars in the 70-strong estate, there will be His & Hers Valentine’s cocktails where customers buying a featured drink can get the second free.
If two customers’ eyes meet across the bar, one can buy the object of their desire an Italian Martini – a blend of black raspberry liqueur with vodka, lemonade and twist of lime, or a Mash Sours – Jack Daniels with lime, sugar syrup and angosturas bitter – and enjoy one themselves.
Valentine’s wedding
In honour of the patron saint of sweethearts, couples planning a February 2014 wedding have been offered a special Valentine’s deal at the Pear Tree Inn & Country Hotel, in Smite, Worcester. The red-and-white themed offer, costing £2,014 and overseen by the Pear Tree’s in-house wedding co-ordinator, includes 40 white chair covers with red sashes, a bridal bouquet and special Valentine’s wedding breakfast menu.
Tasting menu
At the 14th-century Ingham Swan, awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand in the village of Ingham, north Norfolk, a seven-course Valentine’s tasting menu, including a pina colada frozen shot (£49.50 per person) will be created by chef-patron Daniel Smith. Seasonality is core to the pub’s menus and local ingredients are at the helm of the dishes for this Valentine’s special on Friday 14 February, which includes a starter of duck liver mousse, fig chutney, brioche bun. On request, the offer can be extended to Saturday 15 February. For Valentine celebrants wishing to stay over, five cosy rooms are available.
Beer lovers
Norwich beer-lovers celebrate in mid-February at Norfolk’s Cask Marque-accredited Trafford Arms, a free-of-tie Wellington Pub Company lease, where the Valentine’s beer festival, featuring 80 cask ales, is an annual highlight. Manager Chris Higgins expects attract around 3,000 customers and double weekly sales between 10 and 16 February.
Fancy meal
Lancashire based Ribble Valley Inns pubs have embraced St Valentine’s Day with a fancy four-course meal. Love birds will enjoy a glass of rose prosecco and hot mini sausages on arrival before getting down to the business of choosing their other courses. Highlights include a warm smoked haddock pate, gooey egg, soft shell prawns and caviar; and breast of Nidderdale chicken, leek and bacon stuffing, watercress and roast walnut sauce, baby roots and mashed potato. Truly loved up couples have the option of ‘a romance of chocolate for two with really wild bits and berries with frosted cream. It is served for lunch and dinner and costs £60 per couple.
Chocolate lovers
For those who love chocolate as much as each other, Brunning & Price pub the White Hart in Sevenoaks, Kent is the place to be. From 13 to 15 February, diners can enjoy a chocolate menu including six chocolate dishes with wine pairing, chocolate beers and chocolate coffees. Dishes include venison, bacon brownies and fig salad (£7.25); and chilli chocolate seared swordfish with roasted baby sweetcorn, fondant sweet potato and orange and coriander salsa (£13.50).
Now read our GP Generator om making the most of Valentine's Day.
