Aldi has launched the UK’s cheapest dine-in meal deal ahead of Valentine’s Day, and prices start at just £2.99 per person.
With only a week of January left, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner now, and that means restaurants across Greater Manchester are likely already getting booked up by couples keen to celebrate their love on the special day.
But for those keen to keep things on a budget, there’s always the supermarket meal deal, of course.
M&S tend to be the heavy-hitters when it comes to Valentine’s dine-in deals, with other retailers like Tesco, Morrisons, and Sainsbury’s also proving popular in recent years too, and many having already announced their menus for 2025 too – but now, there’s a new rival on the block and, apparently, it’s the cheapest you can get.
Aldi says its Valentine’s Day range is “a match made in heaven” for those looking to host date night at home this year.
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Aldi is launching the UK’s cheapest Valentine’s meal deal for just £2.99 per person / Credit: Simon Hadley (via Aldi UK)
With prices starting from just £2.99 per person, there’s everything from succulent seafood and steaks, to delicious desserts and drinks on the lineup this year – with shoppers guaranteed to be “pulling on those heart strings, not the purse strings”.
The cheapest meal deal combination on the menu this year includes Aldi’s Specially Selected Heart Shaped Pizza, available in either classic margherita or spicy pepperoni, for just £2.99, which pairs perfectly with the Valentine’s Day Mini Heart Shaped Garlic Bread topped with mozzarella cheese for £1.49, and finished off with the sweet treat of Pink Mini Heart Pancakes, also for £1.49.
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If you stick to just these three food courses, then this combo will only set you back £5.97 all together, but you can also choose to add bubbles onto the deal for under a fiver too.
A sneak peak at some of the options on the menu this year / Credit: Aldi
Some of the other options for mains include the Nduja-style Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts, two different Specially Selected Heart Shaped Pasta dishes, Duck Breasts with Plum & Hoisin Sauce, Gastro Wagyu Pies, and even Wagyu lasagnes, as well as plenty of choice for vegetarians and vegans.
Options for starters and sides this year include things like Gastro Wagyu Triple Cooked Chips, and two different Specially Selected Mac & Cheese dishes.
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And when it comes to desserts, those with a sweet tooth can choose from options such as the Tear and Share Cookie with a milk chocolate dip, Specially Selected Cheesecake Slices, and even a new Vegan Caramelised Biscuit Heart Sponge Pudding to finish things off.
Aldi’s Valentine’s range is available in stores from 10 February, so you can get the goods in just in time for the big day itself.
Featured Image – Aldi
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Two North West cities named among the ‘noisiest’ in the UK – including Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A new analysis has revealed a list of the noisiest cities in the UK, and two Greater Manchester locations are in the top five.
From blaring sirens and car horns, to house parties, barking dogs, and loud neighbours, escaping the noise of a city can feel almost impossible – even in your own home.
No matter whether you live in the hustle and bustle, or you’re out in the sleepier suburbs, noise can keep you up at night, disturb your peace, and lead to frustration. But just how loud are Greater Manchester’s cities compared to the rest of the UK? In a bid to get to the bottom of it, Alpine Hearing Protection has done some research to compile a top 10 list.
And both Salford and Manchester have found themselves not just within the top 10, but within the top five… and to make matters worse, Salford has actually claimed the number one spot.
The reason Salford has found itself at the top of the list, according to the research, is because it sits at the intersection of several major transport and urban hubs, with major motorways running through or around the city including the M60, M61, and M62.
Major rail routes also run through the city – including via Salford Crescent – which sees 16 million passengers every year, and also leads to Manchester Airport.
Top 10 noisiest cities in the UK
Salford
Portsmouth
Manchester
Southampton
London
Leeds
Stoke-on-Trent
Wakefield
Newcastle upon Tyne
Bradford
Parts of Salford are also very built-up, making pockets of the city noisy – especially in the concentrated centre where traffic, construction, nightlife and commercial activity get loud.
And of course, like any growing city, construction noises have been noted as ‘particularly bothersome’ for residents where major developments are springing up.
Manchester is third on the list of noisiest cities, due to many of the same reasons as Salford.
But the difference being that Mancunians are noted as one of the many reasons why the city is so loud – with residents making 5,301 noise complaints across Manchester between January 2024 and January 2025, and Hulme identified the loudest area with 304 complaints.
As well all know, Manchester is also home to many universities, which brings an active nightlife scene to the region, especially in the city centre, and in recent FOI data, it was revealed that the University of Manchester saw 2,049 noise complaints in the last five years.
Motorists warned of common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines
Emily Sergeant
With the temperatures drastically dropping now as we head into winter, motorists are being warned against a common driving habit.
On a wintry morning when the windscreens are frozen and your hands are equally as frozen too, it’s pretty common for drivers to start the engine, turn the heater right up, and remain stationary for several minutes to warm the car up before setting off on their journey… but did you know that doing this could see you, inadvertently, fall foul of the law?
That’s right – as ridiculous as it sounds, leaving your car engine running ‘unnecessarily’ while parked on a public road is illegal.
And to make matters worse, the rules on ‘engine idling’, as it’s known, apply regardless of whether the driver is using the heating, waiting for someone, or simply sitting in the vehicle.
Known as a stationary idling offence, Rule 123 of the Highway Code states that drivers must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while it is stationary on a public road, and according to the rule, a fixed penalty of up to £80 can be issued, right there and then.
Motorists are being warned of a common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines / Credit: PickPik | Wikimedia Commons
Fines will only be handed out if a motorist is stopped by a police officer who asks them to switch the engine off, and they fail to comply.
“However tempting it might be to sit in a vehicle with the engine running and the heater on to warm up, we strongly advice against it,” commented RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis.
“As well as polluting the air and wasting fuel, drivers who leave their engines idling unnecessarily on a public road also risk an on-the-spot fine of £80. On cold mornings, the best approach is to clear any ice or snow properly and ensure windows are fully de-misted before setting off, then get on your way and let the car warm you up.”
There are some exceptions to the rule, however, as keeping the engine running is permitted in certain circumstances.
This includes when a vehicle is stationary because of traffic conditions, when the engine needs to run so a mechanical fault can be investigated, or if certain work is being carried out on the side of the road.
Emily Sergeant -
27th January 2025 
