The pressure to spend time with your partner, or feelings of loneliness when you’re single, on the run-up to Valentine’s Day can be overwhelming. For those who’d prefer to mark the occasion with friends, we’ve got some great Galentine’s and Palentine’s activities so you can spend the day with those you love – platonically. Here are our suggestions for a lovely Valentine’s Day with friends.
BFFs over Boyfriends at Flight Club
Flight Club, the lively fairground-inspired cocktail and Social Darts bar, is calling all those focusing on friends this Valentine’s to round up their gang of guys or girls and celebrate platonic love with its Galentine’s Brunch.
Running between 13th and 15th February, Flight Club is giving the classic Galentine’s go-to – Bottomless Brunch – a fun and energetic twist with the addition of Social Darts to what is already a well-established Galentine’s tradition.
Flight Club’s two-hour bottomless brunch includes a welcome cocktail to get the good times going, followed by a bottle of Prosecco or four beers each, live DJ sets and bottomless sourdough pizza paddles for the full two hours. The two hours are split with 60 minutes at the oche and the second hour at a bar table to polish off the pizza and Prosecco post-Social Darts.
🎟️ Book here.
Bad Girl Books Romantasy Pop-Up
Manchester is set to get its first large-scale romantasy book event as Bad Girl Books brings its pop-up concept up North for Valentine’s weekend. The TikTok-born indie bookshop has already seen more than 3,000 people sign up for free tickets ahead of its Manchester dates in February, having sold out three pop-up events in 2025.
It now begins its 2026 tour in Manchester, taking over Des Fildes Studio & Gallery in Ancoats across multiple dates. The pop-ups create in-person spaces for romantasy readers to meet, discover new authors and celebrate a sub-genre whose growth has been driven largely by internet culture. There’s no more perfect an activity to get together with your pals on Valentine’s weekend.
🎟️ Sign up for free tickets here.
Awaken your inner child at Bubble Planet
This new immersive world is the ultimate place to let your inner child loose. And guess what? It could be just the Valentine’s activity to take on with your pals. Following successful stints in North America, Milan and even London, the bountiful interactive installation occupies a venue in Manchester.
Consider this permission to act like a 5-year-old again. The installation is filled with – you guessed it – bubbles, created using a plethora of techniques. In this dedicated bubble museum, not only will you encounter regular bubbles, but the experience employs VR technology, interactive elements, and mirrored effects to create something incredibly innovative.
Get competitive with your pals at Electric Shuffle
If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate the love between you and your ride-or-dies, Electric Shuffle has you covered. The activity bar is hosting a Galentine’s Brunch between 13th and 15th February, which promises good times, house party vibes and epic shuffleboard battles.
The two-hour bottomless brunch includes a welcome cocktail to get the good times going, followed by a bottle of Prosecco or four beers each, live DJ sets and bottomless sourdough pizza paddles for the full two hours. The two hours are split with 60 minutes at the shuffle table and the second hour at a bar table to polish off the pizza and Prosecco post-shuffle.
🎟️ You can book here.
Have a classy night with the girls at Refuge
Kicking off with an evening event on Friday 13th February, between 7pm and 9pm, Refuge is launching its first ever bottomless extravaganza – an evening of cocktails, indulgent comfort food and DJ energy for one night only. Whether it’s a romantic date, friendship or you’re sharing the love for good food, guests can expect a relaxed yet upbeat celebration to kick start the weekend.
Hosted in the ethereal Winter Garden at the heart of Refuge and Kimpton Clocktower, the tailored menu will be served in three waves, over 90 minutes, designed to encourage sharing. Plates include beef cheek nuggets, flatbread with hummus and Korean style chicken thigh and chips, with veggie options also available.
Priced at £45 per person, the experience is perfect for any occasion and is tipped to become one of the best bottomless Valentine’s in the city. Drinks included are the classic refuge lager, as well as Refuge’s favourite cocktails Caiprinha, Daquiri, Negroni, Whiskey sour, Sidecar, Paloma, Corpse Reviver No.2 and French Martini.
🎟️ Book ahead here.
