Head Of Steam ticks all boozy boxes. They’re nailing beers and cocktails, and serving up the exact kind of food your alcohol-addled brain could want. All high-quality, all with enough variety to keep you happy for many a midweek blowout.

We’ve long been fans of Manchester’s Blues Kitchen here at CT HQ. Art deco design features, generous Americana plates and a Northern Soul-heavy soundtrack – what’s not to love?

Tea-brining? Put your trust in the Butter Bird crew. They’re the chicken boffins, and we salute them.

Liverpool’s lovely Vetch features in the SquareMeal top 100 list for the second consecutive year, ranked at No. 36 and the highest spot of any venue in the city. We loved it and you will too.

Chotto Matte’s Valentine’s event takes place on February 13 and 14, showcasing Nikkei flavours. Two new cocktails at £14 each: the pisco-based Spicy Beso and a Highland Blush made with Johnnie Walker. The food menu includes sharing plates like beef carpaccio, fresh oysters, and a Tomahawk steak, alongside a Wagyu udon carbonara. For dessert, there is a shared baked peach melba brioche. There’s also a neon-lit Kissing Booth from February 11 to 14, plus photobooth for the main event.

For the big love day, Side Street runs a cocktail and small plates tasting on Friday February 13 and Saturday February 14. For £40 per person, guests receive five taster-sized house cocktails paired with matched snacks.

Salford’s biggest food hall, Kargo MKT hosts a range of events throughout February, including Lego building sessions, Valentine’s-themed arts and crafts, and K-Pop-themed family parties.

Ready for love, like Elton? (John, not Ben.) Pip at Treehouse Hotel hosts a Valentine’s weekend (February 13-15) packed with social experiences, ranging from Friday’s communal ‘Seats for Strangers’ dinner for solo guests to a Sunday drag brunch hosted by Anna Phylactic. The evening set menu (£60-£70) delivers Scottish landed clams and Yorkshire grass-fed beef, alongside Saturday’s illustration-led lunch and a new daily 4pm-6pm happy hour.

Albert’s Schloss on Peter Street has transformed into the glamtastically titled Chalet Albert up til the end of March. This means a menu of Alpine-inspired indulgence featuring cheese fondue and the gravy-drenched Baron Burger. The three-month takeover combines high-energy après-ski entertainment with five-shot schnapps paddles and even a competition to win a seven-night stay in Val Thorens.

Zouk Tea Bar & Grill offers a five-course Valentine’s set menu for £39.95, delivering technical Punjabi craft without the usual seasonal markup. The evening features live accompaniment from Royal College of Music musicians alongside signature dishes like Achari Lamb and Lasooni Tiger Prawns, while a morning cooking class (£150 per couple) serves as a hands-on alternative for those preferring to master the kitchen themselves.

From February 5 to March 14, Freight Island transforms into a dedicated Six Nations hub, screening every tournament fixture alongside its formidable culinary roster of Burgerism, Nell’s Pizza, and V.Goode Pies. General admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis, though reserved seating options start at £5 per person for those requiring a guaranteed vantage point and a house drink.