Lockdown Valentine’s date night ideas: How to celebrate at home if you’re living together or apart

From fine-dining food deliveries to fancy lingerie, there are plenty of ways to mark the occasion

We think nothing says romance like a bowl of pasta and a bottle of fizz (iStock/The Independent)

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and with the country still gripped by lockdown 3.0, chances are you’re wondering how you can still show your loved one just how much you care.

Meals at restaurants are off the cards, as is a trip to your favourite bar, and for couples who are in long-distance relationships or who live apart, the day marks yet another annual event that must be celebrated over video call.

Read more: 9 best vibrators for solo pleasure

While there’s no denying that this year’s celebrations are going to be a little different, just because you have to stay at home doesn't mean you can't fan the flames of love.

Whether you are spending 14 February with your significant other at home, or celebrating virtually, there are plenty of ways you can mark the occasion with a dedicated date night.

Set aside time to get dressed up, open a nice bottle of something fizzy and feast on a delicious homecooked meal, be it in person or over Zoom, because there’s no reason why this lockdown Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be one to remember.

Organising an evening just for you will not only help to break up the monotony of lockdown, but will also give you both something to look forward to. So, we’ve brought together great ideas to help you create the perfect at-home date night, from fine-dining food deliveries to at-home spa sessions.

You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Get dressed up

If you’ve spent the majority of lockdown wearing the same pair of jogging bottoms, use Valentine’s Day as a fun excuse to put your glad rags on. Want to go all-out? Slip into this playful dress (£230, Realisation Par), which featured in our guide to the best women’s midi dresses.

Considering we're mostly sequestered in our homes, this option means you don’t have to give up on comfort entirely to look dressed up, with our reviewer highlighting that it is made from super-soft 100 per cent silk crepe with elasticated ruching at the back. Available in a range of colourways, our favourite is the strawberry print, which promises to be a hit all year round.

If you fancy adding some lingerie into the mix, we recommend investing in this leopard print set from Love Stories (£90, Womanhood), which featured in our guide to Valentine’s lingerie for being both stylish and comfortable. “Featuring a statement leopard print cup that is surrounded by fanciful black lace trims, the bralette looks just as elegant as it is bold and the fabric feels great against your skin,” our reviewer said.

For men, the time has come to swap the baggy T-shirts in favour of this smart flannel shirt by NN07 (£89, END), which adds a sartorial edge without compromising on comfort. In our guide to the best ones, it was chosen as best buy for coming in an array of muted shades and being “highly versatile”.

Cook up a feast

Restaurants might have shuttered their doors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t eat like kings at home and, if you're not in the same house, you could whip up a feast at the same time over Zoom.

If you’re missing eating at a particular restaurant, why not try your hand at recreating your go-to dish at home? Many of our favourite eateries have started to release their own books detailing some of their best recipes and, if Indian is your favourite cuisine, you’re in luck. We suggest trying recipes from Dishoom: From Bombay with Love (£26, Waterstones), which featured in our guide to the best restaurant cookbooks. “Whether you’re a longtime fan, or simply love Indian cuisine and are looking to recreate the signature dishes at home, then this is a must-have,” our writer said.

Alternatively, you could try your hand at a pasta dish. A fun activity you can do together in person or virtually, Pasta Evangelists (from £6.37, Pasta Evangelists) featured in our guide to the best recipe boxes. You can choose from a variety of dishes like crab and chilli ravioli with Amalfi lemon butter, wild mushroom and porcini triangoli with truffle butter, and Sardinian lamb ragu.

If you’ve left it too late to order, fear not, because there are plenty of amazing dine-in deals up for grabs at your local supermarket, including M&S. This year the grocer has upped its game and is offering customers a starter, main, side, dessert and a bottle of rosé for just £20. Starters include everything from a new salmon sharing platter to vegan mushroom pâté, while for mains there’s lots to choose from, be it duck breast or beef bourguignon. On the side, there’s tenderstem broccoli or truffled cauliflower cheese, and for pudding you can choose between tarte au citron, vegan churros with chocolate sauce and a profiterole stack.    

Tuck into a takeaway

If you don’t feel like cooking, you can call in your favourite cuisine from a fancy restaurant which not only saves you washing up, but is also a great way to support local businesses in your area.

For an at-home fine-dining experience from a more upmarket restaurant, try Nobu London, which offers a host of Japanese dishes such as yellowtail sashimi, black cod miso and Wagyu beef steak alongside saké and champagne.

Home By Nico is another great option for those outside London. Launched by top restaurant Six By Nico, the service means you can get the in-person tasting menu experience at your own dinner table. It costs £60 for two people and includes four courses and a bottle of wine. Delivery is nationwide and collection is available from its Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast, London, Manchester and Liverpool branches.

Grab a glass, or two

We’re all missing a night out at the moment, so why not bring the bar to you by stocking up on some bubbly and wine? The great news is there are plenty of online wine shops and vineyards still delivering across the UK.

In our guide to the best champagnes, the Leon Launois brut NV (£21.95, Slurp) took the top spot for its classic taste. “A blend of pinot noir (60 per cent), chardonnay (20 per cent) and pinot meunier, it benefits from the sprightliness and vibrancy provided by the chardonnay and the juicy overtones of the pinot noir,” our reviewer said.

If you’re looking for a red wine to pair with dinner, the Viña del Cura rioja gran reserva 2013 (£11.50, Tesco) is a great choice, and featured in our review of the best Spanish wines. Our reviewer said: “Huge amounts of intense, dark fruit flavours are matched by notes of vanilla and spice. A big wine to go with a big, meaty meal.”

However, if it’s white that takes your fancy, we suggest trying a bottle of Davenport horsmonden dry white wine (£17.50, Abel & Cole) instead. Winning best buy in the best organic wines of 2020, our reviewer said it is a blend of grapes including bacchus, ortega, faber, siegerrebe and huxelrebe.

If you’re more of a cocktail person, avoid having to buy countless ingredients by ordering some readymade drinks from Nio (£19.50, Nio). In our guide to the best letterbox cocktails, our reviewer said the drinks arrive in clever little square sachets, adding that the service allows you to choose from a range of 15 cocktails that arrive in letterbox-friendly packaging ready for you to tear and pour into a glass of ice.

Snuggle up on the (virtual) sofa

With dinner and drinks out the way, now is the perfect time to kick back on the sofa with a film or your favourite TV series.

If you don’t live together, organise a watch party using Tele Party (formerly Netflix Party). Available through chrome browsers, it’s an extension that allows you and your significant other to simultaneously watch the same TV show or movie by synchronising playback and adding a group chat function for you to discuss it while you watch.

If you’re theatre fans, try Marquee TV, which is a streaming service for dance, opera, music, documentaries and productions from places like The Royal Ballet Company, The Royal Shakespeare Company and Opera Zurich.

The subscription costs £8.99 a month or £89.99 a year, and means you can work your way through classics such as The Nutcracker, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and even Akram Khan’s award-winning Giselle, all from the comfort of your own home.

Indulge in a sensual at-home spa session

Rest and relaxation is something we’re all in need of at the moment, so why not set up your own spa in the living room? We’re talking massages, face masks, pedicures and maybe even a shared bubble bath.

For a dreamy dip, we suggest investing in a rich bath oil like Sister & Co rosa bath soak (£20, Sister & Co) that’s scented with jasmine, geranium, grapefruit and almond oils. Featuring in our guide to creating a spa day at home, our reviewer said that it leaves skin feeling silky soft.

If you want to turn the romance up a notch, we recommend buying a massage candle – these are specially formulated for use on the skin and often contain essential oils as well as emollients, like vitamin E and shea butter or coconut oil, to smooth and hydrate.

In our guide to the best ones, this vanilla and crème de cacao scented version (£24.90, Cult Beauty) from intimate lifestyle brand Lelo was highlighted for “striking the perfect balance between sexy and functional”. 

“The wax burns at just the right temperature, so it feels safe but sharp when poured close to the skin, or luxuriously warm from higher up,” our reviewer said.

For Valentine’s Day gifting inspiration, read our guide to the best jewellery pieces for her that are sure to impress