In a lockdown fug – aren’t we all?! - and looking for some Valentine’s inspiration? With lockdown restrictions ongoing, Valentine’s Day 2021 is going to be very different from the norm. But while you can’t go out for a romantic meal or spend a special weekend with your beloved in a favourite hotel, there are still ways to celebrate Valentines here in Swindon.
While pubs and restaurants remain closed, many of Swindon’s finest eateries are offering special Valentines meals for you to enjoy at home. So come February 14th, pop a bottle in the fridge, get your glad rags on, and order a delicious takeaway meal.
Among the many restaurants that will be open for Valentine’s business (takeaway and in some cases delivery) are Los Gatos (12.00 - 22.00), Helen Browning’s Royal Oak (lunch and dinner), The Biplob (17.00 – 22.00), Fratello’s (12.00 - 22.00) and Greek Olive (14.00 - 20.00). First prize for romantic gestures goes to The Jewel in the Crown, (12.00 - 14.00 and 17.00 - 22.00) which is including a red rose with every order.
As for Valentine’s presents, lockdown cannot stifle the romantic imagination and some of Swindon’s best indie retailers have gifts galore.
Things we love at Oink Gallery include a Seletti “Love Edition’ mouse lamp at £90, a Seletti “Love in Bloom’ gold vase at £75, a Pure Evil ‘Marilyn’ hand finished screen print at £800, a Pure Evil ‘Lockdown 2020’ canvas print finished in a pink wood grain frame at £1,100, a Divine Savages ‘You Make My Heart Bloom’ limited edition A4 print at £40, some gorgeous ember and tide earrings at £30, and last but not least, Seletti Neon Linea Tubes at £65. Go to oinkgallery.co.uk to see more.
Kapada Vintage is Swindon’s go-to destination for vintage clothes but also has a wider range of gift ideas. Check out their funky Desert Palm Pyjamas at £38, a Raccoon Valentine’s Card at £3, a Midnight Meadow Candle at £12, a Labradorite Crystal Necklace at £18, or a Coffee and Orange Body Scrub at £16. Kapada offers click and collect every Saturday between 10.00 and 12.00 and free local delivery on orders of £10 and over. Just use the code: SWINDON at the checkout. See kapadavintage.co.uk for lots more ideas.
The Tuppenny is Swindon’s specialist purveyor of craft drinks, a veritable emporium of brewed, distilled and fermented greatness. Pamper pack deals for Valentine’s will include sparkling wines and their huge range of craft beers. The Tuppenny team deliver to SN1 to SN5, SN25 and SN26 post codes six days a week, and to SN6, SN7 and SN8 on Fridays. See the-tuppenny.myshopify.com for more details.
Of course, some of the best things in life are still free and unaffected by lockdown, and when it comes to romantic walks, Swindon and its surrounding area has a stunning array of beautiful green spaces to rival any town in the UK, from beautiful Victorian parks in and around the town to the Ridgeway, Britain’s oldest road. Add to that our stately home gardens, wildlife reserves and areas of outstanding natural beauty – this really is a place to explore and seal it with a kiss. Click here for more details:
visitswindon.org.uk/days-out/green-day-out