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.
1. Go to a Candlelight Concert
Although there is a specific Valentine’s Candlelight Concert in Manchester, there’s a whole load of incredible opportunities to hear your favourite tunes like never before, surrounded by candlelight. Whether you’re Rihanna crazy, mad for Coldplay or Ed Sheeran, or you and your pals are the biggest Swifties around, there’s a Candlelight Concert for you! Enjoy an evening surrounded by hundreds of candles with your life’s best companions, your gals.
2. Experience a Cabaret or Drag Show
If Manchester knows how to do one event, it’s drag. From the constant events in and around the Gay Village to vogueing shows popping up in many of Manchester’s clubs and Albert’s Schloss’ regular Kunst Kabaret, we know how to let loose and have some fun. Why not go along with your pals, have a ball, drink in the the female and LGBTQ+ empowerment, and feel the love? There are plenty of specials at the likes of Feel Good Club, and Albert’s Schloss are sure to put on an extravaganza all Valentine’s weekend as usual.
3. Pop for a civilised afternoon tea
As fun as a night out can be, sometimes it’s a nice change to chat-chat over a quality cup of tea or coffee with cake in hand. We have some amazing afternoon tea offerings here in Manchester, with plenty of high end hotels such as The Edwardian and The Midland offering their own version, and the famous Richmond Tea Rooms which boasts lots of colour, fun, and exquisite food, as well as burlesque shows and late-night tea parties if you’re feeling raucous this Valentine’s Day with friends!
4. Have a boogie with Trevor Nelson at his Soul Nation Valentine’s Special
The iconic radio DJ Trevor Nelson will be gracing Manchester’s Band on the Wall for a Valentine’s Special this year, spinning the most soulful of tunes all night long. Although soul is often framed as a pretty romantic music genre, why not break that glass ceiling and go along with your pals? Nothing could be better than dancing the night away to the most dance-able tunes around, and is a great activity for a friends Valentine’s activity in Manchester. Find tickets here.
5. Mooch around the Northern Quarter with friends
Although the Northern Quarter might sometimes seem overrated, it does truly have an amazing selection of shops that will peak your interest. If plants are your thing, Northern Flower and Glass House have plenty of plant babies to go around, meaning you can take home a reminder of the special day. The NQ is also full to the brim with record shops, including Vinyl Exchange, Piccadilly Records, and Vinyl Revival, as well as vintage clothes shops and quirky homeware emporiums to get lost in. Whether you have money to spend or just want to window shop, why not get some retail therapy in this Valentine’s Day, with friends?
6. Get creative whilst having a tipple
Paint and sip has become an extremely popular activity in Manchester, and now there are so many creative outlets doing a similar thing. These classes are fantastic for a group of friends or just two of you, allowing you to pick from painting, ceramics, pottery, and so many more. You could even set out to make your items as Valentine’s gifts to each other, because why shouldn’t your platonic bestie be the love of your life?
7. Let your hair down at bottomless brunch
It may be a cliché these days, but you can’t beat going to bottomless brunch with the girlies! We have some great options here in Manchester and Valentine’s Day with friends is the perfect occasion to spend pretty much a whole day getting merry and tasting your way around the city. Not only does it lend itself to deep chats and proper socialising, but it’s just the best fun – especially in a city like Manchester! Whether you want to sample all the cocktails you can muster at Turtle Bay, or scoff all the pizza you can at Crazy Pedro’s, you’ll never be short of bottomless brunch options, and it’s made for Galentine’s.
8. Have a day out away from the city
Although the city centre provides a plethora of options for things to do, there’s always the option to hop, skip or jump outward. Whether you fancy strolling around a surrounding town or village, taking in the quaintness and history, going for a long walk through a forest or up a hill, or discover destinations less than an hour away, there’s something for you. Getting away from it all can take any pressure off the idea of Valentine’s Day, and give you a lovely day to remember, so it’s well worth the consideration!
9. Go to one of the many gigs on in Manchester
As a city with music in its veins, Manchester has an indulgent array of live gigs to choose from this February. From huge acts such as Liam Gallagher and The 1975, to new musicians in basement venues, we have it all. Going to a gig with friends that have the same taste in music as you is food for the soul, giving you the chance to dance and sing as much as your heart desires, spreading the love and embracing the feeling of togetherness that only gigs can.
10. Hire a barge
We’re going Fresh Meat style for this one, inspiration courtesy of Jack Whitehall‘s character JP hiring a barge whilst doing his dissertation in Manchester. Don’t worry, this offering is a little more sophisticated, with Dry Barge making the perfect spot for you and all your friends. The boat, Bohemia, makes voyages all year round, with space for up to 60 passengers, ready to party with a fully stocked bar and live music on offer.
Bohemia departs from Catalan Square in Castlefield, gliding down the historic canals of Manchester, with sights including Pomona and Old Trafford. The party boat also offers ticket bundles for Manchester United home games, meaning fans can chug up to the Theatre of Dreams, watch the game, and skip traffic on the way back – how perfect! Dry Barge is a refreshingly unusual activity for Valentine’s Day with friends, but is a truly memorable experience and makes sure you take in the beautiful surroundings of Manchester’s Bridgewater Canal. Book here.
11. Get competitive at an activity or gaming bar
If there’s one thing that’s popped off in Manchester as of late, its gaming and activity bars. Combining natural competitiveness and booze is perhaps a dangerous yet pretty fun concept, and it’s ideal for a group of mates for Valentine’s Day. In terms of activities, the likes of Roxy Ballroom, Flight Club and Sixes will get you riled up if you’re into sports, or even if you’re not. Smash your mates at table tennis, get your bats ready and aim for 180, all of which are made infinitely more difficult (and funny) once the booze starts flowing.
Retro gaming has also shot up in popularity, and with bars like NQ64, Pixel Bar and Urban Playground, we’re spoilt for choice. Grab a remote, hop on the dance mat, and fuel up that MarioKart, because these bars are all about the old school fun. Whether it’s friendly competition or real life or death stuff, you’ll have a memorable Valentine’s Day with friends at any of these Manchester destinations.
12. Fall in love with Dachshunds and Pugs at the Valentine’s Pup Up Cafe
What could be more wholesome than having a cuppa and feeling the love of a load of Dachshunds or Pugs? The Pup-Up Cafe is back in Manchester for Valentine’s Day, and if you and your friends are pup crazy, there’s no better place to spend a couple of hours. Following past successful sessions, the Pup Up Cafe will see the whole of the upstairs of Manchester nightclub Lola Lo packed out with pups and allowed to mingle in a safe, secure space. So secure a ticket here and thank us later.