With just over two weeks to go until Valentine’s Day arrives, we’ve pretty much resigned ourselves to the fact things will be a little different this year.
Whilst it’s true that we are somewhat used to adapting our seasonal celebrations for the circumstances nowadays, the loved-up among us won’t have forgotten that Valentine’s Day is new ground for the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, given that it was one of the last events to take place ‘normally’ before the stark realities of the crisis set in last March.
That doesn’t mean the occasion should to go un-celebrated in 2021 though.
Yes, we can’t deny that it’ll be a little different this year, but there’s no need to miss out on feeling the love with your special someone, especially as there’s a whole host of ways to safely celebrate from the comfort of your own home.
Independent businesses all across the region are gearing up for Valentine’s Day by delivering date night experiences directly to your front door.
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Here’s the best of the bunch.
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Lockdown Love-IN
Park N Party
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKUZFnXFMaG/
One Manchester-based immersive entertainment company is eager to put a unique and lockdown-friendly spin on the national day of love.
Starting on Friday 12th February and running for three nights, Park N Party – the team behind a series of sell-out drive-in cinema and theatre performances in Manchester – is adapting amid the third national lockdown by bringing the entertainment to you.
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And they’ve aptly-named it the Lockdown Love-IN.
Lockdown Love-IN is an exclusive streaming platform, which sees singer and media personality Chrissy Bray provide a night of entertainment and music, accompanied by your choice of menu package, which has been expertly-crafted by top chefs, including options from the team behind Michelin star restaurant, Simpsons, prepared to simply reheat at home.
You can find out more and book your tickets for Lockdown Love-IN here.
Beer Tasting Experience
Seven Bro7hers Brewery & Sis4ers Distillery
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKRCIBmHumy/
Salford-based independent companies Si4ers Distillery and Seven Bro7hers Brewery are teaming up to bring the region’s lovers and best pals an exclusive live beer and gin tasting evening for one night only on Valentine’s Day this year.
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The two-hour event will be hosted on Zoom and the wonderful tasting pack will be sent directly to your front door prior to the tasting taking place.
Each tasting pack includes:
3 x 440ml Seven Bro7hers beers (Salty Tiers Sour, Honeycomb Pale Ale, and Bubble House Brut IPA)
3 x 5cl SIS4ERS Gins (Signature, Strawberry and Lime and Thyme)
3 x Fever Tree Tonics
3 x bags of garnish for your gins
A box of Cocoa Cabana Ancoats truffles to share (vegan friendly and nut free)
You can grab your tickets from the Si4ers Distillery website here.
Doughnut Decorating Kits
Doughnut Kitchen
https://www.instagram.com/p/CKPOtOcBm4e/
This Manchester-based doughnut company is committed to bringing delicately-decorated sweet treats directly to your front door all year round, and Valentine’s Day is no different.
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The Doughnut Kitchen’s Valentine’s Kits come in a themed box, complete with:
x4 Large Ring Doughnuts
White, Pink and Milk Chocolate
Pink / Red Heart Sprinkles
Pink Shimmer Sprinkles
Mini Jammie Dodgers
Valentine’s Toppers
Prices for the kits start from £12.
If you don’t fancy getting stuck into the decorating yourself though, don’t worry, you can simply order one of the showstopping pre-made Valentine’s boxes to be delivered instead.
All orders can be made via The Doughnut Kitchen on Facebook or Instagram.
Cheese & Wine Tasting
Decent Drop
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Decent Drop
Decent Drop’s Valentine’s Day Gift Boxes are perfect for the sceptics and hopeless romantic.
Along with the usual six wines and six cheeses that the Manchester-based, lockdown-born delivery company is known and loved right across the community for, the special Valentine’s Day kit will include a bottle of fizz and a miniature bottle of BRAND pink gin. Decent Drop has also teamed up with artisan chocolatiers, Cocoa Tree Café, to include a box of six bespoke chocolates that are sure to bring you “mouthwatering joy”, along with some fancy oat cakes and delicious chutney to complete each set, as well as the usual tasting notes.
Two person kits are £100, with one person kits setting you back just £75, and you will also receive an invitation for the interactive Zoom event too, which will be held on Saturday 13th February 2021.
Not quite found something that takes your fancy just yet?
Don’t worry.
There’s still plenty of time before the big day arrives, and we will continue to update this article with all of the lockdown-friendly, COVID-safe Valentine’s events that we can find happening across Greater Manchester this year, so keep checking back to make sure you don’t miss out.
What's On
The best things to do in Greater Manchester this week | 14 – 20 September 2026
Emily Sergeant
How is it the third week of September already? Time is flying.
With September well underway now and the trees starting to change colour and a chill reappearing in the air, that means the cosy seasons are on the horizon, and, of course, there’s loads happening across Greater Manchester this week.
If you’re finding it a bit tricky to pick what to do though, no worries, as we’ve chosen a few of the highlights for another edition of our ‘what’s on‘ guide.
Both free things and those that’ll set you back a few pennies are featured.
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Heritage Open Days 2026
Greater Manchester
Monday 14 – Sunday 20 September
Heritage Open Days 2026 / Credit: Paul Harris
The UK’s largest festival of history and culture has returned, and there’s thousands of free events on the lineup this next week.
Always proving to be a smash-hit success, both here in Greater Manchester and nationwide, over the last 30 years, the National Trust’s Heritage Open Days are back by popular demand for the next couple of weeks, and this means loads of the UK’s top attractions will be open to visit for free.
You can explore historic houses, factories, museums, music halls, and countless of other places and spaces – some that are normally closed to the public.
High School Musical / Credit: Matt Crockett (Supplied)
If you want to relive your childhood, High School Musical is now on stage at the Lowry.
We all know how High School Musical goes, right? Set at East High, we follow Troy and Gabriella (the star basketball player, and the geeky new girl) who meet over New Year, and then become ‘star-crossed lovers’ when back at school as they’re part of two different ‘cliques’.
The duo mess with the ‘Status Quo’ when they audition for the school musical. But will they stick to what they know? Or become stars of the stage? I’m sure you know the ending.
Read our review of the show and get last-minute tickets here.
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Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos
Science and Industry Museum
Monday 14 September – onwards
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos / Credit: BBC | Science Museum Group (Drew Forsyth)
Horrible Science: Cosmic Chaos has made its world premiere at the Science and Industry Museum, and is inviting visitors to explore our wondrous Solar System.
Fresh off-the-back of the new BBC Children’s and Education TV show, Horrible Science, the ‘thrilling’ new exhibition encouraging visitors to ‘do science the horrible way’, and join both scientists and supervillains to unveil the secrets of space.
The new exhibition propels families up into space where mystery, intrigue, and rocket-loads of silly and surprising science await. You’ll get to venture through a series of cosmic zones, walk in the shoes of astronauts, explore the life-giving energy of the sun, marvel at mysterious moons, and discover far-off weird worlds.
50% Off Kids Tickets at SEA LIFE / Credit: Supplied
Families looking for an affordable day out over the next couple of weeks can make the most of a new offer from a popular attraction, with 50% off child one-day tickets when purchased alongside a full-price adult ticket.
The offer gives families the chance to enjoy an underwater adventure for less at either SEA LIFE Manchester inside Trafford Palazzo, or even a tad further afield at SEA LIFE Blackpool.
Greater Manchester’s iconic heritage railway is currently hosting one of the most unique fine dining experiences in the region this autumn.
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Running on selected Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through the year, East Lancashire Railway’s ‘Red Rose Diners’ are described as being ‘the ultimate first class foodie experience’, as they start with a glass of fizz and stretch over an almost three-hour steam train journey through the Irwell Valley.
The experience includes a four-course dinner with complimentary sparkling wine, followed by tea or coffee and after-dinner chocolates.
Roll up, roll up. Vintage lovers, get ready for a free full day of live entertainment returning to Oldham town centre this weekend.
From old classic cars to live music and circus performances, Nostalgic Oldham is a chance to celebrate everything that makes this borough special – from its history and traditions, to the people and communities that shape it today.
There’ll be something for everyone to enjoy, whether that’s exploring the vintage vehicle display, watching live performances, getting involved in family activities, or seeing the new community mural unveiled.
Everything you need to know about Nostalgic Oldham is here.
The Manchester Home Show is returning this weekend, offering free advice and support for people looking to buy their first home.
Taking place in a central Manchester location, the event brings together everything from housing providers to mortgage experts, and last year attracted more than 750 aspiring buyers.
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You’ll be able to chat to experts, receive free financial and legal advice, and learn all about schemes like Shared Ownership, helping you to take that step closer to the property ladder in the North West.
It’s FREE to attend, but you must register your interest ahead of time here.
Dahlia has landed in the Northern Quarter, bringing Latin-inspired open-fire cooking, tequila and mezcal-led drinks, and a seriously impressive sound system under one roof.
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This comes from the same team behind Ramona and The Firehouse, and like those popular venues, it’s got a few different concepts in the one space.
Expect everything from achiote chicken and 400g churrasco steak to fresh tortillas, smoky sides, and house-made cocktails, with DJs keeping the vibe going late into the night.
Manchester’s newest restaurant opening has windows that look right across the pitch at the Etihad Stadium. This is Zadie’s – a glamorous new Japanese-Italian sort of hybrid, where dishes include a cacio e pepe with white soy burro bianco, and a roast lobster with tomato ponzu.
The space is pretty striking, built around a beautiful central bar, and with windows that look towards the South Pennines in one direction and into Man City’s home ground in the other.
Hispi may have closed its doors for good, but the gap for a neighbourhood restaurant in Didsbury has been filled pretty quickly, as stepping into its space is Arcadian
Arcadian is a new-to-Manchester open-fire restaurant, with dishes cooked over wood, charcoal and open flame.
This new concept from chef Andrew Sheridan will see the chefs themselves serving you your dinner, with plates like coal-seared beef tartare, grilled monkfish, and a Basque cheesecake with black cherries.
Inside this huge new hotel – that’s been taking shape between the Etihad Stadium and Co-op Live – as well as 401 beautiful bedrooms, you’ll also find a state-of-the-art gym, a new restaurant called Three Rivers, and coffee shop and wine bar, Blend.
And the jewel in its crown is the two-storey suite, complete with two kitchens, a ‘music concierge’, and a private terrace overlooking the Manchester skyline.
You can find out more and book a room at The Medlock Hotel here.
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Stuck for somewhere to have a bite to eat?
Just like we do every month, we’ve rounded up some of the best things we got to eat in August, so if you’re on the hunt for somewhere new to eat in September, then we’ve absolutely got you covered as there’s plenty of places across the city region.
It’s been another jam-packed month of insanely delicious eats, and we’ve been lucky to have a bunch of new openings too.
Did you know that Go Ape now runs adult-only sessions?
We nipped over to Go Ape at Rivington as we heard you can now act like a big silly kid there without having to share anything with actual children.
It’s one of the region’s top attractions for good reason, giving you a chance to clamber and fly through the treetops on a sky-high obstacle course, and now every Thursday and Friday evening, you can escape your work inbox and switch it out for a maze of ziplines, ladders, swings, and more.
Less than an hour from Manchester, you’ll find what is essentially a gigantic floating bouncy castle which makes for an incredibly silly afternoon out.
At Wild Shore Delamere you can take on slides, monkey bars, ninja jumps, tyre runs, and plenty of other opportunities to slip and spectacularly fall into the lake. And if you don’t fancy wiping out in front of a lake full of children, there’s also paddleboarding, wakeboarding, open-water swimming, and even a lakeside sauna.
How about that Manchester Museum is hosting its first-ever sleepover?
For the first time in Manchester Museum’s history, one lucky family will be given the chance to experience an incredible night at the museum.
This unique opportunity is being offered as part of a prize draw, allowing visitors to find out what happens once the sun goes down inside the Fossils and Dinosaurs gallery – in the company of Stan, the famous Tyrannosaurus rex, of course.
Not only will the lucky winning family enjoy an overnight stay in the gallery, but they’ll also be treated to a guided torchlight tour of the galleries after the Museum has closed, as well as other fun activities and a film screening too before bed.
Schools may be back, but unfortunately the rain has arrived, so if you’re running out of things to do, don’t worry as we’ve got you covered. To make life even easier, all the activities are accessible by the Bee Network AND they’re tried and tested by us, so we can guarantee you’ll love them.
Featured Image – Matt Crockett | Paul Harris | Supplied
What's On
A 23-foot glowing floating Earth installation has landed at Trafford Palazzo
Daisy Jackson
Greater Manchester shopping destination Trafford Palazzo is now home to a giant 23 foot Earth replica, which will be enchanting visitors throughout autumn.
Trafford Palazzo is home to lots of different unique experiential leisure and retail offerings.. There’s SeaLife,P. Louise City, Legoland Discovery Centre and now this 200,000 square foot retail destination is now housing the actual Earth too.
Known more formally as Gaia, this 23 foot floating sculpture has been installed at Trafford Palazzo and will stay here throughout September and the beginning of October, with a whole host of events arriving alongside.
From Wednesday 9 September to Friday 2 October, you can expect everything from live music, wellness and fitness experiences, and a free Space School.
From Thursday 10 September, there will be a series of candlelit concerts with each night themed around popular artists like Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Oasis and Hans Zimmer.
A wellness session in collaboration with The Wellness Hub is coming on Sunday 20 September where anyone who takes part can unwind and slow down underneath the impressive floating globe.
W5, BelfastCredit: Roy Riley Photography 07816547063Gaia, a huge floating Earth installation, has arrived at Trafford Palazzo
Later this month, you’re encouraged to try out a 150-person HYROX workout, on Thursday 26 September, which will be led by qualified Everlast Gyms coach, with the first 50 attendees scoring a free goodie bag.
And, every Sunday throughout September, kids can enjoy a free and fun learning experience titled ‘Sunday Space School’, where there’s face painting opportunities and a create-your-own spaceship workshop.
Leandra Dwyer, Asset Manager at Peel Retail & Leisure, said: “We’re thrilled to be hosting Gaia at Trafford Palazzo, adding another world-class experience to our destination.
Credit: Hochschwarzwald Tourismus GmbHW5, Belfast
“For one month, guests can observe this extraordinary artwork up close surrounded by our iconic Roman-inspired architecture and spectacular glazed dome, highlighting the unique setting we offer for a broad range of immersive events and installations.”
Created by Luke Jerram and officially unveiled in 2018, this touring artwork has attracted over 30 million visitors throughout its journeys across the world.
Gaia will be displayed inside Trafford Palazzo from 9 September to 2 October with a varied events programme to coincide – tickets and more info availableHERE.
Emily Sergeant -
27th January 2021 
