Articles

Originally published on Monday, 9th February 2009

		9th - 15th Feb • The Treatment It's not all about being in a relationship this Valentine's Day; we're all for some self-loving. Oye, mind out of the gutter people (even if that is genuinely what you have planned...) Ritual Rooms offer gorgeous private spaces for individual treatments, and are offering two for one during the Valentine's period; so grab a girlfriend and indulge, or else keep both for yourself and get twice the loving for half the price. Now what man ever gave you that? The Ritual Rooms, 13 New Quebec Street, Portman Village, W1H 7RR
		9th - 14th Feb • The Loves of our Lives • Free We all know we're celebrating the loves in our lives today; but what about all those loves lost? Hendrick's have the answer, with their hand crafted and string tied tokens of affection. The love gained parcel includes a miniature bottle of Hendrick’s Gin adorned with wild red rose petals and flourishing buds, whilst love losts get black rose petals and thorny stems. Each gift comes with a Victorian love telegram and your message. There's only 200 available, which will go to the most inspiring messages entered online.
		10th - 13th Feb • The Pop Up • Free Boys, this one's for you. If you're feeling a little dirty before your big Valentine date, book yourself a complimentary facial using a range of luxury men's skin care products at Kyoku's pop up salon. Sip a peppermint cocktail on arrival and relax into a bespoke 40 minute treatment. Best of all, they're free; just register online for a first come, first served appointment. The Kyoku Salon, 4 Regents Place, W1B 5EA, 0207 287 7711.
		11th Feb, 6:45pm - 10pm • The Last Chance • £20 As if Gunther Von Hagen's Bodyworlds exhibit wasn't frightening enough, they're throwing in some blind dating for a truly terrifying experience. But hey, this might be your only shot at some naked (albeit skinless) bodies, and you might even come out of it with a date for the day itself. Half the proceeds from the event go to the Heart UK charity, so you'll be saving someone's heart, even if it's not your own. The O2 (bubble), Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX
		13th Feb, 9:30pm - 2:30am • The Unlucky Ones • £8 A night dedicated to loners and lovers, haters and fighters, the single and the heartbroken... Join Jodie Harsh's Circus and Modern Love alongside pop glitterati Sophie Ellis Bextor and hubbie James from The Feeling for a night that nods at the less glossy side of love. And if you're hoping to wake up with somone on the day itself, head upstairs where Scottee will be hosting a Blind Date event. What chance does love have on Friday the 13th anyway? Well, it's a good excuse. Last Days of Decadence, 145 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JE. 020 7729 2896.
		14th Feb • The Perfect Ending • £85 So you've got a 6 course dinner at one of London's original grand hotels sorted, complete with pink champagne and roses, with a cunning plan to take her back to your grotty bachelor pad for some Valentine's loving at the end. Error. If you can convince your other half to bring along a toothbrush to "prove the seriousness of your intent" without getting a smack, the Langham will enter you in a draw to win that night in one of their £1000 suites. The Langham, 1c Portland Place, Regent Street, W1B 1JA.
		14th Feb, 5:30pm & 9pm • The Experience • £10 Take the traditional movie date to new, quivering heights with architectural foodsmiths Bompas & Parr's Scratch 'n' Sniff Cinema. You'll be provided with a scratch 'n' sniff board and instructed to release smells (including rotting meat and dusty books) to correspond with certain points in the movie, whilst the concession stands will include aphrodisiac cocktails and a naked body in the popcorn machine. Bon Appetit! Jotta Craft Fair, 29 Fouberts Place, W1F 7QG
		15th Feb, 11:30am • The Aftermath • £10 So the day of love is officially over, it’s Sunday morning, and you’re alone in bed wondering what’s up with your foolproof seduction technique. Founder of erotic emporium Coco de Mer, Sam Roddick, promises to provide sexual enlightenment from behind the pulpit today, and teach you to bring excitement, imagination, and toys into the bedroom. Now get practising. Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL, 020 7833 1010.