How to have an amazing GALentine’s Day in Newcastle

Please, don’t arrange any last-minute Tinder dates

4 years ago

Guides

“What else is there to do, as a single girl on Valentine’s Day, but pull a Bridget Jones and cry into a large glass of wine all night?”, I hear you ask.

Well, look no further: I’ve rounded up all of the best ways to spend a Galentine’s in The Toon, so you don’t have to go on any panic Valentine’s dates! (Trust me, don’t do it – no last-minute Tinder boy is worth it.)

Go on a Quayside ramble

Disclaimer: A minimum of six jumpers must be worn for this one. Grab your coat, your chum and a canned porn star martini and take a scenic walk along the Quayside to see the pretty lights. Granted, it’s no Parisian riverside, but the bench on Millennium Bridge in front of the Toon’s twinkling lights is one of my happy places and is a prime spot for a Galentine’s date.

Have a bad bitch baking session

No plain Victoria sponges allowed (Pinterest is your friend here!). Hop on the minimalist baking trend and plaster your baked goods with the most heart-attack-inducing icing, channel your inner bad bitch and cover it in quotes and mantras for a seriously iconic cake. From: “No Fuckboys Allowed” to “Boy Bye”, I’m sure you can think about your exes and find some great inspiration for an aesthetic masterpiece to celebrate the gals.

Have a Teleparty movie night

In an ideal world, everyone would be on one sofa with a sickening amount of snacks and countless bottles of wine, but since BoJo won’t let us this year… enter: Teleparty! (Note: The snacks and wine are still required). Known as Netflix Party in the first two lockdowns, Teleparty allows you to watch films with your pals and have a natter whilst all staying at home. Get your pals together on screen, stick Bridesmaids on, and snack away! Neck your wine if Netflix asks, “Are you still watching?”!

Get yourselves a feast fit for QUEENS

For most, food is the real true love of our lives, and Galentine’s should undoubtedly involve lots of it. If cooking is not your forté (or the stack of dirty pans just gives you the fear), Newcastle is the place to be if you’re after a good takeaway. Dabbawal easily takes first place for the best February 14th feast on offer: located in both West Jesmond and the city centre, the Indian street food restaurant is offering a six-course (!) takeaway Feast Box for £25 a head – prepare yourself for some serious food babies. If that doesn’t tickle your pickle (if you’ll pardon the pun), there’s Cal’s Own, Fat Hippo and more to deliver you some delicious grub.

Go on a coffee and cake crawl

Daily walks to get a take-out coffee bring me so much joy (seriously, I should send my student loan directly to Caffè Nero at this point). Newcastle has some amazing spots for coffee and cake, so why not grab a pal and take yourself on a coffee and cake crawl? Cake Stories is as loveable for its photogenic fairy lights and its huge variety of syrups as it is for delicious cakes, so certainly add this one to your route. Another hidden gem is the Backyard Bike Shop at By The River Brew Co., which you will find tucked away in the storage containers at the Quayside – a pretty picturesque spot for a hot bevvy.

Make the BEST Galentine’s cocktail

Bring Turtle Bay’s bottomless brunch to your house this Sunday with this lethal (but delicious) cocktail to celebrate the love you and your Galentine’s gang have for each other. The aptly coloured Pink Hooch Cocktail will guarantee a night full of giggles and far too much oversharing. Throw together some vodka, Raspberry Sourz and Pink Hooch with some pink lemonade to make this dreamy drink. Chin chin!

Although this isn’t the Feb 14th we had all imagined, this Galentine’s is the best opportunity to sack off that 4/10 rugby boy and make some happy memories with your pals. Remember – your girls will never disappoint you.

And the rugby boys definitely will.

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