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Watch A Gig In Someone’s Living Room
What would you do if your date took you to an intimate gig and Emeli Sandé turned up? Or Tom Odell? That’s exactly the kind of unforgettable evening you can expect at a Sofar Sounds show, where performers are kept secret until they arrive at one of the venues (often in private home) across London. Previous artists to play include Bastille, Matt Corby and Happyness. It’s a must for any music aficionados who are keen to watch in a stripped-back, close-up, no-frills setting.
Go Chocolate Tasting
On the topic of perfect pairings, few duos surpass the synthesis of wine and chocolate. Award-winning chocolate club (yes, there are such things) Cocoa Runners host monthly tasting salons in Farringdon where you can spend an evening sampling an array of artisan cocoa treats alongside a complementary glass of vino. Note: it is entirely acceptable to sample this solo too, chocophiles needn’t let their relationship status curb their cocoa enthusiasm.
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Secret Cinema
This immersive cinematic experience is so much more than just your average movie night. Secret Cinema brings films to life, with impressive set design and live performance. Whether it’s Dirty Dancing, Moulin Rouge or – this year – Casino Royale and Stranger Things, prepare to step into the world of your favourite films in this fully interactive theatrical adventure. The only rule? Dress up or go home.
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Take A Cooking Class
The idea of cooking up a storm for your partner is all very well and good if you’re a Nigella protégé, but what if you can barely boil an egg? Esteemed cooking school L’atelier Des Chefs can save the day with its weekly evening classes where guests are taught to whip up a gourmet three-course French, Spanish or Brazilian feast before sitting down to enjoy their creations with a well-deserved glass of wine.
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Pottery
Thanks to that famous scene between Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in Ghost, pottery has serious romantic vibes. This Fulham pottery cafe is the ultimate place to impress your date with your artistic prowess – with a wide range of blank canvas homewares waiting to be decorated with your ingenious designs.
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Boating In Regents Park
Spend a lazy afternoon reading limericks to your loved one a la Bridget Jones on the idyllic boating lake in Regents Park.
From £7 at Regents Park, NW1
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Spend A Night At The Museum
Catching up on the latest exhibitions need not be reserved for a Sunday afternoon. The Royal Academy of Art run RA Lates on Saturday evenings where visitors can enjoy an array of activities inspired by specific exhibitions. From Peggy Guggenheim cocktail parties to UV Garden of Eden life-painting classes, these curated evenings a treat for your artistic other half.
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Belly Laugh At A Comedy Club
A small basement bar doesn’t immediately scream date night, but at The Top Secret Comedy Club you may catch some of the biggest acts in comedy taking risks with new material — Jack Whitehall, Trevor Noah and Amy Schumer are just a few of the famous names who have surprised the intimate room. You can also see the stars of tomorrow, with promising up-and-comers performing every day. A great idea to ensure a night of laughter, irregardless of chemistry.
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Travel To Another World
For a real conversation starter, head to Otherworld, a recently opened virtual reality cafe and bar. In separate pods with a selection of 16 games, you will be immersed in your own multi-sensory adventure, but still able to hear your date. Settle back into reality together at its First Class Lounge, a private dining room that beams 360-degree art projections — a world you won’t want to leave.
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Dine In The Dark
Remember that restaurant in Richard Curtis’s beloved About Time where Rachel McAdams and Domhnall Gleeson fall madly in love after dining together in darkness? Well, you too can find love in the dark. Dans Le Noir? is a gourmet restaurant run by blind staff who serve your food in a pitch black dining room. Yes, that means you have no idea what is on your plate. Sold as a sensory experience, diners can choose either meat, fish or vegetarian menus, the details of which will be kept secret until after you’ve eaten.
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Visit A Street Food Market
Street food proves its culinary credentials at Dinerama, East London’s alternative food market. With stalls like Thunderbird, Cook Love, and Chin Chin Labs, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding your feast – after you’ve enjoyed a rocket vodka rainbow flight at the Fünkenpümper bar, of course.
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Author: Katie Berrington and Amel Mukhtar
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