Share the love this February and support your locals in the process.
There's plenty to love about Valentine's Day: regardless of your relationship status. Whether you're celebrating with friends, partners or showing yourself some love this month, you can bet there's plenty of food-based gifts that are perfect for the occassion.
This year, replace the age old box of chocolates with a unique Valentine's Day gift that supports local businesses too. This way, you're sharing the love with small businesses too.
The Savvy Baker- Valentines Brownie
Image: The Savvy Baker
The Valentines Brownie from the Savvy Baker is essentially a giant slab of chocolatey goodness, but all four come with a heartfelt message, including hilarious quotes like ‘cute butt’ and ‘I heart your d*ck’, and the wholesome ‘my fave human’ and ‘happy bestie day’.
Each brownie is priced at £15, a bargain given you can usually get four brownies from £11.00.
What's more romantic than sharing a dessert together? Not a sharer- jus neither. Luckily with this Valentine's Day selection from Oh So Bakes, there's a date night box that offers lots of individual sweet treats. Each delicious box includes 15 Triple Chocolate Brownie Pieces, 15 Kinder Cookie Pieces, white hazelnut dipping sauce, nutella dipping sauce, cookies and cream dipping box, as well as strawberries, Ferrero Rocher, foiled heart chocolates and marshmallows.
Each box costs £25, a 50% deposit must be given to sure the booking.
Packed full of delicious treats, this date night essential is probably one of the sweetest hampers we've seen and it's perfect for a night in on Valentines. Each set comes with half a bottle of wine or Prosecco per person, homemade fresh focaccia bread, olive oil, olives, a selection of meat & cheeses & antipasti, a large bag of crisps, a sweet treat platter and chocolate covered strawberries.
The Date Night hamper costs £50 and should be booked 24 hours hours in advance of collection.
The Gift Box Leeds- Valentine's Collection Cookies
Image: The Gift Box Leeds
If you want to say something heartfelt but don't quite have the words: you can find them pre-written on a giant cookie. These are seriously some of the most beautiful cookies we've ever seen and they come as a pair in a cute Valentine's Day box: all for a tenner too. You can collect from store from Friday 11th February or order online for national delivery.
Each box comes as a set of two cookies and are priced at £10 each.
As well as a selection of regular and gluten free Valentine's Day themed cupcakes, the chef behind Baking Creations is whipping up batches of giant heart brownie and blondie dessert topped with buttercream and a sweet 'Happy Valentine's Day' message on top. Priced at a tenner, this ones a sweet reminder to your loved one that comes without the pricetag.
All orders are available for collection on Sunday 13 February and cost £10 each.
If you're looking for some seriously beautiful gifts for Galentines or Valentines, the talented baker behind Amber's Baked Goods will have you covered. Expect gift boxes filled high the decadently-decorated cupcakes, dipping boxes with Love Heart sweets, homemade brownies and blondies, as well as a choice of Kinder, Bueno, Nutella or caramel dipping sauces.
Each box contains 12 sticks of blondies and brownies and 2 dips and will cost £16 each.
The sweet treats at Cinnammmm come with a date night activity: the DYO (that's decorate your own) boxes are perfect if you're looking for something to do this Valentine's Day- and it leaves you with a tasty dessert for afterwards too. If you'd rather receive a pre-made box, there's Plus Berry Kisses flavours available, as well as a range of heart-shaped cinnammmm's too.
Boxes cost depend on the variation chosen. Make sure to order online before postage on Wednesday 9 February for UK and Friday 11 February for local delivery.
From nights out to trips to the beach, Rebel Roots Theatre Company's latest production explores how spiking can change lives and why young people need to hear its message.
Imagine heading out with your mates, having what should be a brilliant night, only for one decision to change everything.
It's an uncomfortable thought, but it's one that Leeds-based Rebel Roots Theatre Company is bringing to the forefront with Aftermath, a play written by Lottie Burns that explores the devastating impact of spiking on individuals and their families.
At the centre of the story is Layla, a young woman preparing to leave home for university, and her father, David, who must confront the realities of women's safety as his daughter prepares to start a new chapter.
But Layla isn't the only one affected. Her brother Ethan is also spiked by his own friends during a trip to the beach, opening up another side to a conversation that often focuses predominantly on women.
His experience challenges the assumption that spiking is exclusively a women's issue, highlighting how men can also become victims, sometimes at the hands of people they trust. It raises important questions about male friendships, peer pressure and the way harmful behaviour can be dismissed as a joke.
Written by Burns while studying at Leeds Conservatoire, the play was inspired by growing concerns about spiking in 2021 and the way these fears were changing women's experiences of nights out.
Through Layla, Ethan and their father, David, Aftermath looks beyond the incident itself to explore its wider consequences, from damaged relationships to the difficult conversations that follow.
And it's exactly why this production deserves to reach young people in colleges and universities.
For many, heading to university means newfound independence, making new friends and experiencing student nightlife for the first time. Taking Aftermath into educational settings could help open young people's eyes to the realities of spiking, encouraging conversations around consent, trust, peer pressure and supporting those affected.
Rather than simply telling students to watch their drinks, the production offers an opportunity to understand the human consequences through a story they can connect with. It could also challenge audiences to reconsider their own behaviour and recognise when something that seems like a joke can have serious consequences.
The project has also received support from anti-spiking organisation CounterSpike. Rebel Roots Theatre Company is passionate about taking theatre beyond traditional venues, bringing new writing and important stories into pubs, community spaces and other accessible settings.
Ultimately, Aftermath is about more than one night out. It's about trust, family and the lasting impact of experiences that can affect anyone.
And if bringing this story into a college or university helps even one young person rethink their actions or better understand what someone else might go through, it's a conversation worth having.
We’re sure this production will enjoy another run thanks to its important message and core values. But if you want to catch it for yourself, you can see it this Saturday, 24 October, at The Attic in Leeds. It’s a pay-what-you-can event, starting at 7:30 pm, so don’t miss out.
Featured image - Supplied
News
A new bar dedicated to Guinness and games is coming to Leeds city centre
Clementine Hall
Expect live music, a load of craic and plenty of Guinness at Leeds' brand-new bar.
Opening on Leeds' bustling Merrion Street, 'Love, Jackie' is the latest concept from the team behind Roxy Ball Room and King Pins.
Love, Jackie will be taking over a 7,000 sq ft space,and will be promising proper prints, late nights and plenty of Irish charm.
Pouring will be the holy trinity of Irish stouts - Guinness, Beamish and Murphy's.
Image: Supplied
These will be served alongside Leeds' own Kirkstall Virtuous IPA and a vast whiskey selection that celebrates the best of Ireland.
Games wise, try your hand at crazy pool, interactive darts, shuffleboard and karaoke. There will also be live music every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The opening comes as Merrion Street enjoys a new wave of investment and hospitality openings, helping bring new life to one of Leeds' best known night life attractions.
Image: Supplied
Matt Jones, CEO of Professionals at Play, said: “Everyone knows a Jackie. She’s the one who gets everyone together, convinces you to stay for another and makes sure there’s never a dull moment.
“We wanted to create a pub with that same personality. Somewhere with brilliant drinks, live music, plenty of games and the kind of atmosphere that makes you forget you were only popping in for one.
“Merrion Street is coming back to life, and we’re excited to be part of its next chapter. We think Jackie will fit right in. And because Jackie’s never been one to turn up empty-handed, the first drink’s on her."
We'll keep you updated on opening times as and when we find out, but for now you can sign up here for a pint of free Guinness. Cheers to that!
Sophie Smith -
3rd February 2022 
