M&S has brought its popular Valentine’s Day dining deal for two back for 2022, and there’s lots of new treats on the menu.
With the international day of love only a couple of weeks away, there’s a lot for lovers to look forward to, and the range of themed meal deals by various supermarket retailers is certainly up there, especially for the foodies who like to treat themselves and tuck into a delicious feast, but still keep things on a more affordable budget.
M&S is known as being one of the original founders of the “dine in for £10” craze, so it’s no surprise that the retailer has brought back its popular Valentine’s Day offer for another year.
This year, savvy shoppers can bag themselves a starter, main, side, dessert, and a bottle of drink or box of chocolates all for just £20 – which works out at £10 a head, and cheaper than your average restaurant meal.
That’s not all either, as customers can save up to £16.50 when buying the items all together too.
ADVERTISEMENT
There are over 30 products that are included in the offer this year, and customers can create over 200 different menu combinations too.
M&S has brought its popular Valentine’s Day dining deal for two back for 2022 / Credit: M&S
Some of the options on the menu include Leek & Cheese Soufflé Tarts, and an Oak Fired Melting Camembert to start, as well as a creamy chicken ‘Pie Love You’, or Sirloin Steaks with Heart Shaped butter for the main, before tucking into ‘I’m Bananas for You’ banana sponge with a caramel blonde chocolate mousse and salted caramel sauce, or perhaps the indulgent Billionaires pots.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sides include sweet potato fries, buttery mashed potato, and mac and cheese, while some of the drink choices range from the Echo Leyda sauvignon blanc, to the Norton malbec.
For those following a plant-based diet, you can get the Plant Kitchen Vegan Duck Croquettes, two Plant Kitchen Smokey Saffron Aubergine Steaks, Plant Kitchen Sweet Potato Fries, Plant Kitchen Love Heart Churros, and a bottle of Conte Priuli Prosecco
M&S’s Valentine’s Day dining deal for two is available to buy online and in-store from Monday 9 February.
ADVERTISEMENT
This means you don’t have much longer to wait to take these tasty treats home, but it’s worth noting that the offer does actually end on Valentine’s Day itself, so you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared if you’re keen to make the most of the offer.
Northern Quarter institution announces store closure after almost 20 years
Daisy Jackson
Thunder Egg, a Northern Quarter institution, has announced its sad closure after almost two decades in the neighbourhood.
The boutique gift shop and fashion retailer is known for its colourful, kitsch and quirky products, whether you’re after some bold knitwear or some statement costume jewellery.
Brands stocked here include loads of different British brands, like Daisy Street clothing, Ohh Deer art prints, and Little Moose jewellery.
As the Northern Quarter has changed rapidly on all sides, Thunder Egg has been a constant ever since its launch onto Oldham Street in 2018.
When it opened, its neighbours included Dry Bar, Magma, and a lot of adult-only sex shops – all of which have now closed for good.
And now Thunder Egg will also be bidding farewell to its flagship store in the Northern Quarter (though you’ll still be able to shop their collections inside Afflecks and online).
In a statement shared online, Thunder Egg said that the ‘considerable rise in interest’ from large retail names moving into the Northern Quarter would drive rents so high that the increase would be ‘too big to swallow’.
Thunder Egg will be closing its Northern Quarter flagship store
They also cited ‘rocketing’ business rates, plus ‘relentless’ theft, and increasing online competition from cheap retailers.
Thunder Egg said that with their lease coming to an end this year, the time is right to depart.
They wrote: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank every single person, from customers to past & present staff, for making the last 2 decades in this location so magical!
“We are devastated to be leaving this space, but you can read more about why we’ve made the decision to on the 2nd image. We have nothing but fond memories here.”
Explaining the closure of their flagship store, they added: “It is with great sadness that we are announcing that our current flagship branch of Thunder Egg on Oldham Street will be closing after 20 years.
“Our current lease was coming to an end this year and surviving as a small independent business in the UK is HARD right now.
You can still shop Thunder Egg in Afflecks
“There has been a considerable rise in interest from large national & international retail names for shop spaces in the Northern Quarter in recent years. The proposed rent increase that would come with renewing our lease here was just too big to swallow this time.
“Business rates are rocketing, theft is relentless, competition from cheap online retailers is growing… all of the above combined together to push us into our decision to depart.”
Thunder Egg is set to remain open for at least the next couple of months, with no official closing date announced just yet – so get down to Oldham Street and show them some love.
Lovely last-minute Mother’s Day ideas from Selfridges in Manchester
The Manc
Mother’s Day is this Sunday – and if those words have just sent you into a blind panic, just take a breath and head straight across to Selfridges.
The huge department store has come up with all sorts of things that make for perfect last-minute gifts and experiences.
That includes a carefully curated selection of gifts available in-store, plus a very special Morning With Mum beauty workshop so you can spend some quality time together on Mother’s Day.
Selfridges can be your one-stop shop for the big day.
In both Exchange Square and Trafford Centre stores, you can pick up lovely gifts like feast-filled hampers, fabulous accessories, luxury chocolates, candles, and even cards.
As always, there are gifts you can have personalised in-store for a sentimental present for the mother figure in your life.
If you’re really stuck, you can pop along to the Beauty Concierge and book her an experience.
And over in Selfridges Exchange Square, you can pick up a beautiful fresh bouquet from The Royal Exchange Florists.
Selfridges has loads of last-minute Mother’s Day ideas
There’s rarely a gift more precious than quality time together, which is why Selfridges will be hosting a special Mother’s Day floor-wide beauty event on Saturday 14 March.
Ticket-holders will receive expert beauty advice from your favourite brands, while enjoying complimentary drinks and sweet treats.
There’ll also be plus exclusive gifts with purchase available, and giveaways on the day, and you can redeem the £20 ticket price against products purchased on the day.
You can even grab an artist print for mum at the vending machine.
Tickets for the Morning With Mum beauty workshop are on sale HERE.
You could also share a moment over a glass of champagne at San Carlo in both locations, or grab a sweet treat from the bakery in the Trafford Centre store.
Emily Sergeant -
3rd February 2022 
