Last minute Valentine's Day foodie ideas for under £50
In the face of the cost of living crisis, fewer of us have money to spend on elaborate gifts. Here's some ideas for what you can get your partner at the last minute to show them you care, without breaking the bank.
Valentine's Day is just around the corner. If you haven't got your partner a gift yet don't worry, you're not the only one. There's still time to get the person you love a Valentine's Day gift.
Whether it's your first Valentine's Day as a couple or you've been together for many years, there can be a lot of pressure on what to get for the big day. And that pressure certainly isn't helped by the current cost of living crisis.
With prices on everyday items still high, it can be hard to find a gift to show you care that's within budget. In fact, research by Finder shows that people in the UK spent an average of £23 on Valentine's Day in 2021, with this likely to have reduced for 2023 in the midst of the cost of living crisis.
Our advice would be not to spend beyond your budget, and there are plenty of way to spend time with your partner without breaking the bank. There will also likely be a number of deals to be had in the aftermath of Valentine's Day as retailers try and clear stock, so if you're waiting to celebrate until the following weekend there could be some discounts around.
If you need some inspiration, here is a list of ideas for foodies this Valentine's Day all under £50.
Best last-minute ideas to do or buy for Valentine's Day 2023
Last minute experience ideas
Bombay Sapphire distillery tour
Learn about the history of Bombay Sapphire at its state-of-the-art gin distillery. You'll get to see the different botanicals growing in the on-site glass houses and learn about the vapour infusion process used to make Bombay Sapphire's range of gins.
This tour has flexible booking, which makes it perfect if you're busy on Valentine's Day itself.
Book a Bombay Sapphire distillery tour for two for £40 at Virgin Experience Days
If you're a fan of the drink have a read of our guide to the best gins to buy as gifts.
Tour of Chapel Down vineyard with wine tasting
English wine is becoming more popular, and this is an opportunity to learn more about an English vineyard Chapel Down in Kent. On this walking tour, you'll get to learn about traditional wine making practises, the vineyard cycle and taste a selection of Chapel Down's sparkling and still wines.
This would be a great experience for when spring rolls around, and our friends at olive think it's one of the best vineyard stays in the UK.
Book a tour of Chapel Down vineyard with wine tasting for two for £50 at Virgin Experience Days
Sipsmith gin distillery tour and tasting
Sipsmith is the first copper pot distillery in nearly 200 years in the UK, and this tour and tasting would be a good gift for any gin lover or if you just want to learn more about gin. On the tour, you'll learn more about the history of gin and its return to popularity – which Sipsmith had a key role in – being given the first new licence to distill gin in London since 1820.
Book a Sipsmith Gin distillery tour and tasting for two for £50 at Virgin Experience Days
If you're a fan of gin have a read of the best gins to try guide from our friends at olive.
Prosecco cream tea for two at the Harrods Tea Room
Whether you're London based, or heading to the capital for a day out, this is an opportunity to spend a romantic afternoon in one of the most iconic locations in the city. Enjoy a cup of tea alongside freshly baked scones with clotted cream and Harrod's own jam, all washed down with a glass of prosecco. This is a great last-minute gift because you can buy now at the reduced price of £49, and choose a date in the future when you and your partner are free.
Buy tickets for a prosecco cream tea for two at the Harrods Tea Room for £58 £49 at Buyagift
If you're a fan of afternoon tea, check out our guide to the best afternoon teas in 2023.
Camden Town Brewery tour and tasting
If your partner always spends five minutes at the bar trying to decide what pint they want, this might be the tour for you.
After getting a half pint on arrival, you'll get a behind the scenes look at Camden Town Brewery's process and get to know how the brew house functions, including tasting beer straight from the tank. Expect to leave equipped with the knowledge to impress your friends next time you're at the pub.
Book a Camden Town Brewery tour and tasting for two for £50 at Virgin Experience days
Last minute gift ideas
Grind coffee subscription
Grind started as a coffee bar in East London, but now it have grown into so much more (you might recognise its signature baby pink packaging). They now have outlets all across London, including bars, coffee bars and restaurants as well as a coffee subscription service.
If your loved one is also a coffee lover, chances are a coffee subscription would be a good way to go. One of the reasons we've chosen Grind is the versatility — you can buy the house blend as beans, ground or in compostable pods to fit whichever machine your partner. If you haven't got a coffee machine, have a read of our guide to the best coffee machines to buy in 2023.
Sign up to a Grind coffee subscription from £13.50 per order
Have a read of our guide to the best coffee subscriptions to order online.
Green & Blacks chocolate club subscription
Nothing says Valentine's Day quite like chocolate. But there's nothing worse than getting chocolates you don't like, you know the ones — always left until last in the selection box. That won't be a problem with this Green & Blacks subscription. It comes in four options: milk, dark, organic or a mixture, and each box contains two 90g bars delivered through the door for six months. The perfect small gesture to show your partner that you care.
Sign up to the Green & Blacks chocolate club from £36 for six months
If you're a chocoholic, check out our guide to the best chocolate subscriptions in 2023.
Sweets in the Post subscription
The Sweets in the Post subscription does what it says on the tin, letting you send a delivery of sweets every month. The packaging is designed to fit through a letterbox which is perfect if your partner is out and about a lot. Each delivery contains six packs of different sweets which you select for the first box, and then after that it's a surprise – although you can ask them to leave out any you dislike.
You can choose to get a subscription for two, three, six, nine or 12 months depending on your budget.
Sign up to Sweets in the Post subscription boxes from £24 for two months at Not on the High Street
Read our guide to the best sweet boxes to order online.
Pasta meal kit for two from Pasta Evangelists
Pasta Evangelists are a fresh pasta meal kit service with the aim of bringing the restaurant experience to your home. This meal kit would make a great last minute gift, as well as taking care of dinner for Valentine's Day evening. And let's face it, getting an evening reservation for Valentine's at the last minute is going to be tough, and that's without the question of budget.
There's a huge range of dishes to choose from, like rich and comforting wild boar ragù with pappardelle or bright and zesty sea bass ravioli with lemon butter and samphire. You can also choose a bundle for two for £35 which includes pasta for two, focaccia, two side dishes and a dessert.
Shop Pasta Evangelists meal kits for two from £11.70
The Fine Cheese Co. subscription box
With this subscription your partner will receive four cheese each month, along with crackers. This would make a great gift for an adventurous cheese lover who is excited to try new things. The Fine Cheese Co. choose cheeses from smaller producers who mostly use traditional methods to make the cheese.
At £36 per box, this isn't the most affordable option but we think it's worth it. You could make a night of it with a delicious cheeseboard when the box first arrives, and with each box containing 800g of cheese we think you'll have some to spare.
Sign up to The Fine Cheese Co. subscription box from £36 per box
Read our guide to the best cheese subscription boxes for 2023.
Kocktail subscription
This cocktail box comes with four different drinks, each complete with their own garnish and recipe card. Not only is a truly delicious cocktail a gift in itself, but the packaging of these makes them feel really special and we think trying the different drink together would make a pretty great date night.
You have a choice of light and fresh cocktails — think sweet, fruity and refreshing — or dark and sophisticated — bold flavours for a more bitter palette. If you can't decide you can always get a mix of both.
Sign up to the Kocktail subscription for £29 per month
If you're a fan of cocktails delivered to your door, check out our guide to the best cocktail subscriptions and clubs.